The Stars Between Us is a mix of many different elements wrapped into one story. There's sci-fi, mystery, a little romance and some family discord and social economic status bits thrown in. This book would be best for the YA audience and people just getting into sci-fi.

The author was descriptive in her writing and the dialogue was pretty good. There was some character development throughout the book which was nice to see. The synopsis was well written and drew me in.

Unfortunately this book was not it for me. None of the characters were likable in my opinion so it made it difficult to become invested. I had a hard time staying focused and motivated to get through this book. I found myself skimming through everything except the dialogue. The book did not really peak my interest until I was about 75% of the way through and even then it was just small parts of each chapter. There was a lot of substance but very little action. The story was slow and a bit predictable.

This book has a lot to offer. The concept was interesting but the execution fell short. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Some intrigue, some mystery, some attempted murder, and loads of interplanetary romance made for an enjoyable read.

I couldn't put this book down. Terrill did a fabulous job of keeping me guessing, especially by using third person POV. The characters were dynamic and unexpected, and it was just tropey enough that I thoroughly enjoyed it as a YA novel. Some sci-fi world-building elements reminded me of more serious works like the Foundation, while other times it was very reminiscent of The Thousandth Floor by Katharine McGee. For fans of the latter series, I would say TSBU is less Gossip Girl and more about self-discovery, but was just as fast-paced. I honestly enjoyed this more than I thought I would.

Initial Thoughts
This book wasn't on my radar before the publisher sent me a NetGalley widget but it sounded super interesting when I read the description. It's an August release and I am nothing if not organized when it comes to reading ARCs 😂

Some Things I Liked
Drama like Downton. I loved the society and drama elements in this story that felt like those found in my favorite, Downton Abbey.
Morally grey characters. Everyone had a little bit of an agenda in this story and I loved that there were a lot of moving parts with secrets, lies, and deception in every chapter. It made the story that much more intricate and exciting to read.
Plot twists. I actually wasn't expecting some of the twists. One major one, I saw right through, but some of the others were quite well hidden and took me by surprise.

One Thing I Wasn't Crazy About
The sci-fi setting. Honestly, it felt a little superfluous to the story. This plot could have been set anywhere and the story would have been the same. The space / science fiction elements didn't really serve much purpose in this story other than to give it "something" extra. I feel like it was unnecessary to the plot.

Series Value
This one is a solid stand alone. There's not much else to this story after the events of the epilogue and we don't really get to meet more characters that I'd like to see more about. I think this one is best left on its own.

Final Thoughts
This was a fast, easy to read sci-fi, romance stand alone with morally grey characters and drama galore.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book reminded me of 'the Inheritance Games', but only slightly. This is a sci-fi romance that is about a hidden identity. The plot twists had me unable to put the book down.

2.5 stars

This was sort of like an off world Inheritance Games. Vika wavered between being likeable and insufferable but then I need to remember she's 18 and alot of the childish behavior...I mean she's 18. There's the question of what money can actually do for you and if it changes you or exposes who you are. Also Hal is the worst. Quick read and engaging story.

3.5 stars (rounded up)

Thank you Cristin Terrill, Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, and Wednesday Books for the opportunity to read this novel as an ARC!

OMG!! This book was a great mix of sci-fi, a touch of fantasy, and a rom-com all in one! The writing style was unique and easy to follow, but it was a little hard to connect to the MC for me. This sci-fi thriller was just so fun and a great "whodunnit" sort of vibe. The characters were well-rounded and easy to keep track of. The ending did lack a little for me, but it was a great intro to YA sci-fi thrillers.

I think this book had a lot of retelling scoped into one book. There was Cinderella with a twist of Belle in the main characters. While there was no crown it was definitely rags to riches combined with hidden identity.

Definitely an ending you can see coming a mile away but it was a hea. I personally loved the setting of glitz and glam but it definitely had a few extra bad guys for the story to work, I did get an arc to of this so it may change before the final publication. I did really enjoy the ending though with Vika learning how valuable she is and being able to stand on her own two feet.

The Stars Between Us may just be one of those books that are hard to describe and review about. I'm not even sure if I could write a decent introductory paragraph, but let's just put it this way: young adult fantasy with vibes of dystopia.
There're a lot to love in this book, but what captivated me the most was the narration/prose. The characters were also really well-rounded.
Overall, this is a spectacular book. I especially recommend it to readers who don't read Science Fiction but would love to try it out.

ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Interesting young adult science fiction novel! Vika was an aggressive teen stuck on an impoverished planet. At the first opportunity to leave, she ran without looking back. But I found her character to be flat and predictable, lacking kindness and compassion.

There were a few surprises in this “who did it”, with enough uniqueness to keep the story flowing. Thanks to NetGalley and publishers for the complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review. Overall, 3.5 ⭐️ stars.

Although set on another planet(s), this is much more tame romance/mild murder mystery than anything else.

Vilka is a poor girl living in poverty on a wretched planet. Suddenly she finds she is betrothed to the heir of an insanely wealthy man who recently died. Before she can marry this stranger (which she is more than happy to do if it means she will have money), he is killed in an explosion. The new heirs, a couple who used to work for the old man, invite her to their planet (which is much nicer than her planet), to live in wealthy comfort with them for a few months.

Meanwhile, a poor boy who works for the generous couple, falls in love with Vika at first sight. She is having none of that, she has decided to trap some rich, older man into marrying her so she can continue the life she has become accustomed to.

Meanwhile, the poor boy ineffectually tries to woo her, even though she flat out tells him he’s not rich enough.

There is some mild kissing, a revelation that you can see coming a mile away, and alls well that ends well.

Vika is unapologetically ruthless in her desire to be rich and stay with the rich people. You do not root for her. You also don’t root for the poor boy to win her hand because he is so, lame. Obsequious and mealy mouthed and altogether not all that likeable. I found I didn’t really care how this ended. I was just glad it did.

I received this book as an ARC, which does not affect my review. I have to say, something I loved about this book was the plot twists and interlude section's identity reveal. I did not see that coming. However, I did not like the dual POV and the fact that as the book went on we saw Sky's POV more and more often.

Dystopian sci-fi romance? Sign me up! This is my first foray into reading Cristin Terrill’s work and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was such a fun romp that has showcases delightful tropes in faraway places.

Viktoria Hale lives a tough life on a planet whose inhabitants are barely getting by, and are kept that way by the rich people who wish to use them for labor on their much more affluent planet of Ploutos. Vika imagines a future where she can see the sun without the hazy fog that encompasses her world of Philomenus, and where her belly will be full. There was a time where her family did okay, but then her father's livelihood was demolished by a new invention that made his job obsolete. Since that time, at a young age, Vika has had to work to help them have the meager living they cobble together. Then Vika learns that her mysterious benefactor who paid for her and her sister to be educated by tutors, and had her go to this affluent planet for tests now and again, had her mentioned in his will. IF she married her son, Leo Chapin, she would be rich beyond her wildest dreams. She is horrified that someone could make her into property in this way, but she also feels she would do just about anything to get off her horrible planet into a life of luxury and wealth. Nothing is quite as simple as it seems, and Vika will learn that her very life might be at stake because of her connection to the Chapin will. Unless her nemesis, Sky Foster, can help her figure out who might want her, and the other heir's in the will, dead.

I have never read anything by Cristin Terrill before this novel, but I am sure to add her to my list of TBR authors in the future. She did an amazing job of capturing these two planets and their very different inhabitants. She drew a clear picture of the frivolity found in the lives of those living on Ploutos versus the hard but real life of those on Philomenus. She paints a picture of how wealth can change a person and how someone might be willing to give it all up to live a very different life than the one he grew up in. The planets and people are so clear to see by the reader, and with every page things get more complex and more interesting in the story. This is a book a blew through, as I could not put it down. It will be a fan favorite for sure, for those who like a little romance with their sci-fi mystery!

Cristin Terrill's latest novel, "The Stars Between Us," focuses on a poor barmaid named Vika as she works to uncover the person behind a recent string of bombings. Vika had resigned herself to a lonely, unfulfilling life on a polluted planet, but after learning she was selected to be the bride of a recently-deceased rich man's son, she had the oppertunity to leave her planet, family, and barmaid job behind. Unfortunately, her wealthy fiance dies before she gets the chance to say "I do."

The new couple inheriting the estate invite her to stay with them for a while, and Vika finds herself surrounded by more luxury—and eligible bachelors—then she thought possible. But with someone targeting the will's heirs, it's only a matter of time before her new life goes up in flames.

I enjoyed this book and thought it was a quick, fun read. Having previously read "All Our Yesterdays" by the same author, I wasn't sure if she'd be able to top her previous work, but she has once again proven herself as a master in the field of science fiction. The plot of "The Stars Between Us" had a natural, realistic flow, and the writing was well-crafted and enjoyable to read. The worldbuilding was also strong, and it was easy to visualize the two planets, the oppulent parties, and the glum slums.

I am a bit conflicted about our main character, Vika. She was described as being analytical and calculating, but more often than not she made brash decisions that worked against her and the people she cared about. I don't understand how someone depicted as valuing family was able to leave hers in the slums and go weeks without contacting them. If she had a valid reason for doing so, like working to dismantle the monetary system that oppressed her people or aiding the PFU rebels, then I would understand, but spending her days at shops and parties is a poor excuse. She also stressed the importance of marrying for money, only to completely change her mind near the end of the book. The inconsistent characterization wasn't realistic, and the insta-love didn't make it much better. I could see Vika and the person she chose having feelings for each other, but their relationship didn't seem strong enough for them to make the sacrifices that they did.

This was definately a solid read, and apart from my minor problems with Vika's characterization and the lackluster romance, I enjoyed it. I think this book would have the biggest appeal to teenagers, but adults would proably enjoy it as well. All in all, it had decent worldbuilding, good prose, and an exciting plot. I'd give it a solid 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.

I recieved an ARC from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honset review; all opinions are my own.

This was probably one of the softest sci-fi stories I've ever read. Yes, it is about two planets--a poor one and a rich one--and a young woman named Vika who is given a chance to leave one planet for the other to find a new life. But, other than the fact that the characters sometimes take space"ferries" from one planet to the other, this book could totally have been set on Earth.

Like the ferry concept, everything on both planets is very much rooted in Earth concepts. (There ain't much science in this Sci-fi). People buy curtains for their penthouse, go to the symphony, tend bar, have picnic lunches, etc. It feels so much like any other Earth-bound story about star-crossed lovers that it become jarring when space stuff gets randomly dropped into the plot (like when they encounter a native animal.)

So, this disconnect--expecting Sci-Fi but not really getting it--ended up being a BIG hurdle for my enjoyment. However, if you ignore all that, this is still a solid, enjoyable story about a girl and a boy and ANOTHER boy, (all interesting characters).

There are mistaken identities, people changing their wills, attempted murders, lavish parties in gorgeous gardens, gossipy rich people, and rough, but dependable poor people. It has all the basic elements of a good period YA romance. I'm sure this book will make plenty of people happy. It just didn't line up with my personal expectations, but I still appreciated the craft of it.

Thanks to the author and NetGalley for granting me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

There's always been a mystery to Vika Hale's life.
Ever since she was a child, she's had an unknown
benefactor providing for her and her family, making
sure that Vika and her sister received the best
education they could. Now, Vika longs for a bigger
life than one as a poor barmaid on a struggling
planet, but those dreams feel out of reach.

This book is a great blend of numberless literary genres and universes in a way that can look either very messy or very good.
It looks like a fantasy, as it looks like science fiction, as it feels like dystopia, as it feels like a period na/ya, but in the future. The protagonist is kind of uninteresting but the story as a whole is good to read and the construction of the universe and the main plot are cohesive enough for you to keep reading and be anxious to find out what will happen in the end, although the plot twists are somewhat predictable. 3.5.

Thankyou to netgalley for providing me with an
eArc.

Viktoria Hale, called Vika, lives on the planet Philomenus, which is controlled by its nearby sister planet Ploutos. The Philomenis barely get by, mostly by working as menials for the wealthy people of Ploutos who pay for their daily travel by ferry between the two planets. The trip each way is less than an hour thanks to the invention of the hydrino fission reactor by Rigel Chapin, now the richest man on Ploutos.

As the story begins, Rigel Chapin has just been found dead, and his will shockingly specified that his son Leo would get all of his billions only if he married Vika. Vika had never met Leo, and only had encountered Rigel once when she was a child. Something about her appealed to Rigel back then, and he studied her over the years, deciding that she was the one he wanted for Leo’s wife.

Vika’s life suddenly turns upside down, not once, but twice. It turned out that Leo Chapin, on his way back to Ploutos from abroad, was traveling on an airship that exploded mid-journey, killing all aboard.

Vika thought her inheritance was lost before it was even realized. As outraged as she had been over the manipulation by Chapin, she couldn’t deny the idea of money had been overwhelmingly appealing. Then Vika was summoned to Ploutos to learn that the next inheritors in line, a married couple who acted as Chapin’s former housekeeper and handyman, invited Vika to come live with them in the Chapin penthouse and share in their good fortune. She accepted, and began to live the life of luxury she always dreamed about. Moreover, there were several men who found her appealing, for various reasons, and wanted to marry her.

But being rich, which had great advantages in terms of comfort, was not as wonderful as she thought it would be. She saw lots of shallow and greedy behavior, and didn’t know whom around her she could trust. Moreover, whoever wanted Leo Chapin dead was not done trying to get rid of the benefactors of his fortune.

Evaluation: This sci-fi/romance/thriller is directed at the young adult market, but I think it has broader appeal. It’s not too complex (a plus) and somewhat predictable (not necessarily a minus) and has an outcome that will please most readers.

A YA sci fi standalone novel. Vika is very poor living with her parents on a dystopian planet but there is a secret in her background that provides her an opportunity to live among the rich as one of them on a beautiful planet. Much of Vika's story is formulaic, although kudos to the author for creating an original world, until a mystery emerges over who is killing the heirs to a tremendous fortune. There are some unexpected twists in this part of the story which redeems much of the book. Vika is a bit self righteous and I didn't like her character until she started to realize money isn't everything, and don't ignore the character Ariel who deserves a book all of her own. This was an enjoyable story and I recommend reading it.
Thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

The Stars Between Us is a delightful blend of genres. There is the sci-fi setting on new planets, but there is a dystopian flavor to pair of worlds - one poverty stricken and the other wealthy beyond belief. Add in mysterious murders and attempted murders to solve and a simmering romance, and you have The Stars Between Us.

From the first page, I was pulled into Vika's world and the intrigue that followed her change of fortunes and the dangers that followed in its wake. The characters were so engaging and relatable. The mystery about what was going on on the mysterious murders and supposed accidents kept me on the edge of my seat until the final reveal. The deeper exploration of what wealth does and doesn't provide for people as well as how wealth changes people made reading the book and even richer experience.

Cristin Terrill's writing is beautiful as always! I highly recommend this book; there is something for every reader to enjoy.