This one is a bit hard for me to rate. I have so many nitpicks about this but overall it wasn't an entirely horrible read.

First things first, I will say this was pretty fast paced and entertaining, and I can see the appeal. However, this didn't 100% work for me.

For one, I could not STAND Vika. She was extremely shallow to me and very much all about herself and her looks and how she was better than her sister etc, that it just became grating after a while.

Second, the world building was severely lacking. You have one very poor planet and one very rich planet and that's basically it, we know nothing else.

Third, Sky was so pitiful at times that I just wanted to shake him. He allows everyone to walk all over him and talk to him in any way and just never stands up for himself until the very end of the book.

I felt that the majority of these characters were pretty bland and one dimensional, so it made it really hard for me to care for anyone.

I will say some of the twists were pretty interesting and worked seamlessly for the plot. I also felt the second definitely picked up more than the first half.

I really liked the written out accents for our characters and the mystery we were trying to solve.

The romance was a bit instalovey and I didn't buy the chemistry between our two love interests.

Overall, this just didn't work for me as well as I wanted it to, which is a shame because I really wanted to like this. I will say I was never bored and it was a very accessible read.

Thank to Netgalley for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review

I think this YA read would be good for young readers interested in sci-fi stories with a touch of very closed door romance.

Unfortunately, it did not work for me. Vika kept talking about feeling like she should help her family but never actually did. I also found a few of the plot points hard to believe such as the male character being unrecognizable in just glasses and some hair dye.

Not gunna lie, this book took me an eternity. Vika is insufferable for about 45% of the book and Sky is just as dimwitted. However, around 50-60% a miracle happens and the story just, I dunno - evolves? The mystery and the romance and sci-fi of it all meshed finally. I’m glad I powered through. I can’t fully recommend it because of the long suffering I suffered in this for so long, but I enjoyed it in the end and I guess that’s really what matters? Maybe?

The Stars Between Us is a fascinating and beautiful story. I loved the characters and I loved the storyline.

The Stars Between Us is a Young Adult romantic space opera. It is a retelling of Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens.

The heroine is 18 year old Viktoria/Vika. She is a barmaid living on the poor planet of Philomenus. She gets the opportunity to move to the richer planet Ploutos.

There is romance. There is a mystery. I was fascinated by it all. I love books set in space. And I really enjoyed seeing the glamorous lives of people on Ploutos.

When a very rich man from Ploutos dies Vika is named in his will. I really enjoyed all of the drama with the will. It made the book so much fun.

There are multiple possible love interests in this book, including Sky Foster who works for the husband that Vika is staying with. I thought that the romance was fun and the mystery was really good. And I absolutely loved the travel back and forth between the two planets. Overall this was an enjoyable read. Such a good YA book for those who love stories set in space.

this is pretty much only about a spoiled, selfish brat. gosh, i cant stand vika. there is a loose mystery happening, but the predictability and shallow nature of it all made my focus predominately be on how much i hated vika, which is never something you want to happen when reading a book. i actually think all of the characters are pretty one dimensional, so its such a shame that the story also suffered because of the lack of in-depth characterisation.

Overall, I struggled to enjoy this book. I'm not a fan of science fiction though the cover and title had pulled me into requesting it. I thought I would give it a try because the premise sounded interesting. However, I struggled to relate to Vika and the book wasn't as engaging or fast-paced as I expected it to be. Overall, it was a struggle to finish reading the book, and took well past the time at which it was published. Therefore, I wouldn't rate the book highly.

The book was interesting and engaging, and I was hooked on the main characters compelling arc. Additionally, the cover is very well designed and apt for the genre it fits into.

I had an okay time reading this one and I really enjoyed Vika’s characterization. She felt very real and made choices that made sense for her, even when I disagreed with them. Unfortunately, this book still fell a little flat for me. I am the biggest fan of Terrill‘s other books because of how twisty and complex and fun they are while still remaining YA.

This, however, had quite the simple plot and romance. I also saw the twist coming from 3000 light years away, which made for kind of an uninteresting reveal. The romance was also pretty unsatisfying, and I feel like the ending wrapped up way way way too quickly. I do not feel that this was bad by any means, I just wish it had the typical depth that I know the author can put into her stories.

3.5 stars - this reminded me of a Bridgerton story in space. It was a quick and enjoyable read. I would have given it four stars but it was a bit predictable.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of <i>The Stars Between Us</i> in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

<h4 style="margin-top: 84px;">The Gist</h4>

<i>The Stars Between Us</i> by Cristin Terrill is a young adult science fiction novel that follows Vika Hale, a girl from the lower echelons of society living on a poverty-stricken planet. Vika's life takes a drastic turn when she learns she is the heiress to a massive fortune left by a wealthy benefactor. As she is thrust into a world of luxury and intrigue, she must navigate a web of secrets and danger. Along the way, Vika discovers that the legacy left to her is intertwined with a mystery that could have far-reaching consequences for her world and beyond.

<h4>The Details</h4>

The idea of a young girl from a poor background suddenly inheriting a fortune and entering a world of high society is intriguing and sets the stage for a compelling story filled with mystery and drama.

Also, Terrill creates a richly detailed universe with distinct planets, societal structures, and technological advancements. The setting is immersive and adds depth to the narrative.

The novel explores themes of social inequality, power dynamics, and the impact of wealth on individuals and societies. These themes resonate well and add a layer of thoughtfulness to the story.

While Vika is a strong protagonist. I didn’t appreciate Vika’s sense of entitlement and how badly she treated others. Some secondary characters lack depth and development. Their motivations and backstories are not always fully explored, making them feel one-dimensional at times.

The novel's pacing can be uneven, with certain sections dragging while others feel rushed. This inconsistency can disrupt the flow of the story and affect reader engagement.

Some plot twists and developments are foreseeable, which can diminish the overall sense of suspense and excitement. Experienced readers of the genre might find some aspects of the storyline predictable.

<h4>The Verdict</h4>

Overall, <i>The Stars Between Us</i> by Cristin Terrill is a solid entry into the young adult science fiction genre with an engaging premise and vivid world-building. The exploration of class and power dynamics adds depth to the narrative, and Vika's journey from rags to riches is compelling. Terrill's imaginative universe and thematic exploration make "The Stars Between Us" a worthwhile read, despite its flaws.

This book was action-packed, suspenseful, and fun! I couldn’t put it down! I just loved everything about it! Definitely did not see that ending coming!

I LOVE MCs that are vaguely unlikeable, and this was a quick and mostly enjoyable read. Getting into the world took a bit of work, but this ended up surprising me with how fun it was.

I love Chistin Terrill's book "All Our Yesterdays", and The Stars Between Us was one of my anticipated reads after finishing that book. The Stars Between Us was full of romance, space, and murder. I think Chrisin does a good job of capturing the audience right away, and stays true to the write style that her fans love. The romance is always a big part for me, and I think Leo and Vika's relationship is sweet, but definitely for fans of insta-love, or at least of Leo's side! The book is sometimes labeled as an enemies-t0-lovers, but I think that is only one sided, haha!
Vika, as a main character is tricky for me. I love when authors make main characters that we sometime don't like and then leads us to sometimes not trust them. I think Vika is a complicated MC, and her attitude isn't always the best, but I think it's interesting to read stores that change the reader through the MC's decisions.
All in all I liked the story enough to recommend it to friends. I don't think the story is doing anything groundbreaking, but I had a fun time reading it. I'm glad not all things were predictable, but majority of the store kind of follows the surprise inheritance trope. Which again, is okay, I just hope reader go into this book for a good time, and enjoy themselves.

I loved reading this space opera! It's so good, filled with dangers, plot twists and incredible characters! 5/5

The Stars Between Us is the story of a young lady named Vika Hale whose family is struggling to survive on a planet rife with low-income and struggling people. Due to an event from her childhood, her whole world is turned upside down by a wealthy family and very absurd circumstances of a will. The Stars Between Us has many things going for it because it can fall into several categories for readers. It is based in space and has slow-burn romance, political intrigue, and mysterious double-lives characters. I was hooked from the first page as we watched Vika go from dirt poor to wealthy in the blink of an eye. Still, not all is peaceful in the new world of the rich, and Vika soon learns money can't solve everything. Though money is not evil, what and how people react to having a lot of it varies widely among humans. I loved this stand-alone, and it was a delight to read.

This is another of those "I chose this book because of it's cover but i stayed because of the plot and world building books".

I wouldn't give it five stars, but it got pretty close!

Also, the cover screams of Eris (the goddess) from the Dreamworks movie Sinbad. 100% the reason I picked it. Terrill's writing skills are why I stayed.

My thanks to the author and publisher for a free eARC in exchange for a review!

Vika Hale is off to a rollercoaster of ups and downs when it's found out that the magarich Chapin patriarch makes her marriage to his son Leo a part of inheriting a fortune, then a ship explosion ruins her chances, or perhaps not when Mira and Hal who call her up for another chance at making her dreams of wealth a reality.

Accidents continue to hound them and when money makes men into the worse versions of themselves and those closest to her are hiding secrets, Vika's life - not wealth - are at risk.

I enjoyed Vika's friends more than I at times liked her (while I understood her plans and concerns for money, her distaste for her the women in her family was harder to grasp) Sky, Archer and Ariel were all intriguing.

I also thought the naming of the planets with Ploutos and Philomenus was clever because of the Greek myth of the brothers where Plutus was very wealthy, but would share none of his riches to his brother. Out of necessity, Philomenus bought two oxen, invented the wagon or plough, and supported himself by ploughing his fields and cultivating crops.

Meet Vika Hale, a barmaid living on a planet barely keeping its head above water. But, wait for it, she's got a secret benefactor who's been taking care of her and her sister since they were young. Suddenly, she's whisked off to an extravagant world to attend the will reading of her billionaire benefactor. And guess what? She's bestowed with inheritance! But, it's not all sunshine and rainbows as she's informed that she's been handpicked to marry the deceased billionaire's son, Leo Chapin. But, fate has other plans, and Leo dies in a spaceship explosion. Vika's allowed to stay on Ploutos, thanks to the kindness of Leo's caregivers. She's given a healthy allowance and allowed to mingle with the society's wealthy. But, there's a catch, someone's targeting the Chapin heirs, and Vika vows to get to the bottom of it. The novel is a fun, futuristic retelling of a Victorian-era story with dual POVs, Vika, and Sky Foster. Vika's not perfect, but she's trying to make the best of two worlds and learn how to be cunning enough to avoid being taken advantage of. It's a chess game, and Vika's the queen, making it an extremely engaging read.

The Stars Between Us by Cristin Terrill mixes the drama of high society with a futuristic setting. I'll be honest that the planetary setting isn't my standard bailiwick, but I am generally down for the billionaire's heir subplot. So, I went in net neutral.

Vika has to learn to navigate a new world and must learn who to trust.

This book navigates romance and adventure and is something many YA fans will love.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me. All thoughts are my own.