Sydney Cossette is an up-and-coming agent for one of the most elite spy agencies in the world - the Panacea Group. They do things that more official government agencies cannot do - i.e. they can get through the red tape.

Winter Young is a global musical superstar. Ever since breaking onto the scene he's consistently topped the charts and sold out stadiums. But ever since the death of his brother, Winter is beginning to feel like there's something missing, like he could be doing something more substantial with his life rather than making music.

Winter is set to play an exclusive birthday concert for the daughter of wealthy businessman Eli Morrison. Unbeknownst to Winter, Eli is thought to be a big player in the criminal underground. He's someone the Panacea Group as tried, and failed, to bring charges against for years.

With Winter playing this concert, the Panacea Group sees an opportunity: recruit Winter to gain access to Eli. Pair him with Sydney who will pose as his bodyguard and they're guaranteed to get the dirt they need for a conviction.

Winter and Sydney will have to put aside their differences if they want to get out of this alive.

I really liked the idea of a celebrity being recruited into a spy organization. I like the idea of the enemies-to-lovers storyline between Sydney and Winter. Although if I'm being honest, I would almost say I felt like it was more of an opposites attract type of situation.

There's a definite initial animosity between Winter and Sydney upon first meeting. She thinks he's only as deep as his public persona and Winter can feel the coldness radiating off Sydney and how she immediately closes herself off, but I wouldn't say that they're enemies by any means.

For me, I liked seeing these two vulnerable people - both with equally traumatizing family situations who retreated into their careers - find the person who gets them. True, they both have found-families so they are not entirely on their own, but seeing two people find that person that they click with is magical and I felt that with Sydney and Winter.

I wished there was more time for discovering between Sydney and Winter, but as it stands once the mission starts there's very little down time.

The pacing is driven. It's pretty much go, go, go from the first page. I like that Marie Lu doesn't make things straightforward. That, much like Sydney and Winter, perceptions are challenged. While I won't say that I was surprised by everything, there were some great unexpected moments.

I think my favorite parts were when things slowed down a bit. The near-quiet moments when Sydney and Winter get to just be themselves and aren't pretending. These moments are both full of romance yet heartbreaking. I think that the ending is near-perfect. Whatever else happened within the story, the more predictable moments, I could not ask for anything better than the end that it all leads to.

Everything I look at seems to indicate that this is the first book of a series. Part of me hopes that is true. The other part is so happy with where we got to in the end, that I'm ok leaving things where they stand. I do know that, together, Winter and Sydney are very magnetic characters and I can't imagine there aren't a few more adventures in store for them.

I don't think that Marie Lu has ever written a book I didn't like. Just putting that in writing and as a follow up, please note that I loved Stars and Smoke.

This is book one of the series so it's definitely early stages but this book set the characters up for more. I loved Winter and Sydney and I especially loved them together. The whole spy aspect of it had me turning the pages to see what was going to happen and of course, I'm a sucker for the romance too so I loved how Lu built the relationship between Winter and Sydney. Characters are what get me invested and Lu does such a great job of building out who Winter and Sydney are before they even meet. They both have their own lives and history and it plays a role in how the story progresses.

If you're looking for a new YA series to start, definitely pick this one up.

Marie Lu is one of my favorite young adult authors, and her new book is a mystery/thriller/romance that does not disappoint. Winter Young is a world famous pop music star who is asked to join a covert operation by giving a private concert for the birthday of a crime lord's daughter. Acting as his bodyguard is Sydney Cossette, and she is a hardened spy looking for a promotion while hiding some secrets in her background. These two have nothing in common, but the attraction between them only grows the more they work together. I cannot wait for more adventures with such very appealing characters. Highly recommended.

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Roaring Brook Press and Marie Lu for the honor of reading this book!

I read Stars and Smoke by @marieluthewriter and boy was it amazing! This book has it all action, romance, danger, villains, and so much more! As I was reading I got sucked into the world of Winter (a popstar) and Sydney (a spy) two very unique and different people that come together using their special skills to save the world together! I loved that the book was in duo points of view between the two main characters Sydney and Winter. We get to see how each character responds and what the are feeling during different times through out the book. The cliffhangers at the end of the chapters keep me wanting to keep reading and not put my book down! It was a quick read that was easy to follow along. I can't wait for the sequel in this series! I rated this book 5 stars on my goodread.

This is a cute and upbeat, enemies to lovers YA book. YA is not really my style, and so I wasn’t totally in love with it. However the writing was great and the story line would be good for a younger group than me. Solid book for sure.

I am such a hardcore Marie Lu fan. She is such a queen of her craft. Stars and Smoke is yet another stunner that I just could not get enough of.

“A little like the sun and moon, aren’t we? Never in the sky at the same time.”
Marie Lu. Stars and Smoke (Kindle Locations 4768-4769). Kindle Edition.

With our two main MCs, Sydney and Winter, one comes from nothing and the other from everything. Yet together these two weave so perfectly together. I loved Sydney’s prickly disposition and consistent alertness. Winter on the other hand had charm I just couldn’t get enough of and I loved watching these two work together.

There’s also such a thrilling aspect to this book. You’re constantly on edge with what will happen next. There was even one twist I didn’t expect, but when it happened I knew what was coming and was so nervous for our characters. I admit, I don’t know if loved the ending. It felt right for the story, but I just wanted more I guess. With that being said, there IS a second book so I could not be more excited about that.

Cannot wait to see where Winter and Sydney’s story goes next… it’ll be a long year of a wait! However, if you’re a Marie Lu fan… don’t sit on this it’s definitely dazzling in all the thrilling Marie Lu ways.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this novel. 4/5 stars.

Did I binge this within 3 hours? Yes, yes I did. I knew I was gonna be a sucker as soon as I saw it was compared to Kingsman. A pop star turned spy with a feisty bodyguard who's a teenage spy? COUNT ME IN. Overall, I enjoyed this as a fun read. Were there plot holes and other things that probably weren't great? Yes, but this was a fun, entertaining read. I really liked the dynamics between Winter and Sydney, and the plot set up as a whole was done well. I love the overbearing caretakers in the secret spy organization. I also couldn't guess the plot twist, so I LOVED that portion of it. Does it make any sense that Winter is able to do anything of the spy things besides only because of his background in dance? No, not really...but I loved it nonetheless.

There's a decent amount of world building too with the Panacea organization to where there could easily be more stories. Syndey and Winter's story as partners (maybe romantic) is also left open at the end and I think I would be perfectly okay reading more of their story.

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I have read and loved other books by Marie Lu. This is a great addition to her others! Definitely young adult but an older YA for sure. Give it a read!

Thank you for the advanced copy of this book! I will be posting my review on social media, to include Instagram, Amazon, Goodreads, and Instagram!

Stars and Smoke by Marie Lu is a fast-paced thriller that kept me entertained from page one. While I was hesitant about the premise of a pop star turned secret agent at first, this one ended up being a lot of fun, and the main characters have such an entertaining dynamic. Fans of the spy genre, superstar characters, and the enemies to lovers trope will not want to miss this first instalment in Marie Lu’s latest series.

As a global pop phenomenon, Winter Young is used to being in the spotlight. However, when he learns that he can help a covert ops organization catch an infamous criminal, Eli Morrison, Winter finds himself agreeing to go undercover. Together with an agent posing as his bodyguard–an agent who is unenthused about working with him–he must get close to Eli’s daughter, who is a fan of his, during a private concert for her extravagant birthday party. As the mission becomes more dangerous, Winter and Sydney must race against time to carry out the mission successfully, if they can find a way to get along with each other first.

❀ ENTERTAINING MAIN CHARACTERS

I loved Winter and Sydney, and both of them are well-developed. While Winter is world famous, he has his own insecurities and vulnerabilities, and he is still grieving the loss of his brother, who turns out to also have worked for the agency. Sydney has her own pain and become an agent at a young age after a difficult life at home, and I liked learning more about her as the story progressed. The dynamic between them is well-written, and they balance each other out. I love the contrast between Winter, who is always in the spotlight, and Sydney, who lives her life undercover. Watching them get closer was so entertaining.

❀ INTERESTING THRILLER

This is unlike the sci-fi/dystopian books that Marie Lu typically writes, but I found myself enjoying her take on the thriller genre. At first, I was unsure how I would feel about the idea of a pop star becoming a secret agent, but I found this a really unique take on the superstar concept that ended up being a lot of fun to read. There are many interesting parallels between Winter’s life as a star and the world of spies, such as his background in dance that helps him in training, and the mix of these two fields worked out well.

❀ TWISTY AND UNIQUE

Stars and Smoke by Marie Lu is a twisty and unique take on the thriller genre. I loved the concept of a pop star and a spy, and the main characters have such an entertaining dynamic. This is a great read for fans of the enemies to lovers trope, and those who enjoyed Marie Lu’s previous novels will not be disappointed.

This was so much different than any of Marie Lu's other books - and I absolutely loved it! It provided a much-needed escape and sucked me in from the first chapter.

It's a spy thriller and has enemies-to-lovers vibes as well, because Sydney hates Winter at first, and he feels ambivalent about her. But boy do they have chemistry! I absolutely loved Winter as a character and preferred his chapters, which is unusual for me as I usually prefer the female character's narration. But Sydney was a pretty grumpy character and Winter was the sweetheart. Again, I love when the gender roles are flipped like this.

I liked the first two-thirds of the book the best, as I felt the last third was mostly an action scene. Marie Lu is good at writing these, but I just don't like action scenes.

It was so much fun getting to explore the world of pop stardom through Winter's perspective and spy world through Sydney.

I really hope there will be a sequel, even though this one wraps up well. I saw rumors of a sequel floating around Goodreads so I hope that's true.

Also, can I just say how much I love the cover?

*Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. I am so excited to read this early!*

Stars and Smoke is a turn from Lu's usual genre, YA Scifi. This YA mystery, thriller, romance carries the same sense of tension and adventure as Lu's other books. From the get go, readers are introduced to Winter Young, international pop star with a massive following. After a concert he is recruited for a mission in exchange for information on his brother's death. From this point on, readers are taken on a wonderful twisting and thrilling ride. Winter is joined by Sydney, a spy and part of an elite group of covert operatives. Together, they are tasked with infiltrating a crime ring after Winter is hired to hold a private concert for the daughter of a crime lord. Overall it's a really fun story thanks to Lu's amazing writing and ability to pull a reader in to the characters and plot.

Marie Lu is one of my favorite authors. She has a way of creating a new world and drawing you into it completely, not letting go until the very end. I loved everything about this book: the bad ass bodyguard with a secret past, the super famous yet somewhat flawed pop star, and the mission to save the world. There was so much going on that I could not put this one down. Can’t wait to see what happens next!

Author Marie Lu is a New York Times Bestselling YA author. Her latest offering matches up a superstar and a spy resulting in about a romance-action/adventure mash-up. The novel did feel a bit like a movie in its pacing, style, and story arc. The author did strive to flesh out back stories for the two leads as a foundation for their motivations, but with mixed results. Although the novel wasn’t necessarily teed-up for a sequel or series, the door was left cracked to the possibility.

While there was nothing particularly unique, memorable, or compelling about the characters, relationships, or plot, Stars and Smoke was a pleasant and fast read. This would be a good selection for a beach read this summer for young adult readers looking for light fare.

To give you a better understanding of my love of ML's books, I devoured the Legend trilogy (and also convinced my brother to do that same once he was old enough). I devoured The Young Elites trilogy. My brother has devoured the Warcross series (thus far). And, unsurprisingly, I devoured Stars and Smoke as well.

Like all her other books, this is fast-paced and so, SO easy to read. The writing is so digestible. I also loved the Mission Impossible/Totally Spies/Johnny English vibes in this book! Winter and Sydney were fun characters. Also helps that I was totally imaging Winter as Jimin from BTS. That being said though, this isn't my favorite of hers. In fact, I'd say, in ranking, this book would probably linger around the bottom of the list and that's for two main reasons:

1. I found the book to be predictable. After a certain something-something happens in relation to the crime boss Winter and Sydney are spying on, you kinda know exactly what the twist is going to be and how the rest of the book is going to play out. That, coupled with the knowledge that there's going to be a sequel, equates to little-to-no stakes towards the end.

2. I didn't believe the romance between the characters. They both don't really like each other and then suddenly... they do? And they're always thinking of each other? And they're all over each other? It was like a flip of a switch. It was a little too sudden for me. The banter was great, but I just wasn't seeing the chemistry.

I will also say that the pacing was a little off. Up until Sydney and Winter go off on their spy mission, which is between the first quarter-to-half of the book, it's pretty slow. Borderline boring. However! Once we hit the first bit of action, things really turn around. It's almost consistent action/drama from that point on, which is a pleasure to read. If there's anything ML excels it, it's action sequences.

Even with those reasons, I could give this 4 stars. However, because I hold ML books to such a high standard and I know that there's better from her collection, I took a star away. Sorta my way of saying it's a good book, but I'm gonna be recommending her other books over this.

I will talk about this book on my podcast after Ramadan. I've already talked about it on my bookstagram account @meetcuteromancebooks. Marie Lu has another incredible series out and this time it's about spies!! I absolutely loved this book.

I’m sorry but it turned out I’m not the right audience for this book😭

Winter Young is a mega superstar recruited into a spy mission and partnered with the youngest member of the spy company, Sydney Cossette. I felt like this book attempted to be action-packed and romantic but failed at both. Nothing really happened until halfway through the book and Winter & Sydney’s chemistry felt off. No actually everything felt mid. The spy company, the conflict, the mission, the dynamics, nothing stood out.

The writing was unbearably descriptive, with lots of flashbacks, thus overshadowing the action scenes. Both of the main characters didn’t have solid personalities. The dialogues felt so juvenile and mediocre, if their age wasn’t mentioned I’d guess that it’s around 12-15 y.o.

This is my first Marie Lu’s book and TBH I couldn’t believe that she wrote something like this, after all her experience writing multiple books. I had such high expectations so I guess that’s on me.

Stars and Smoke is a mild YA thriller with a slight romance element to it. I liked that the romance was there, but not the focal point of the story. However, one part of it felt rushed.

The thriller part didn't necessarily keep me on the edge of my seat, but it kept me intrigued enough to want to keep reading and see what happened next.

I liked how the ending could lead to a second book but it could also be left as a standalone novel.

I haven't read other YA thrillers because it's not something I see a lot of. I do recommend Stars and Smoke to readers that like spy novels with high tech gadgets.

Thank you to Roaring Book Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Roaring Brook Press in exchange for my honest opinion.

Genre: Thriller, Teen Romance, Mystery
Heat Level: Medium (Nothing is on the page but there is a long flashback of Winter's love affair with one of his friends/backup dancers.)
Representation: LGBTQ+

I loved Lu's sci-fi books, so I had to see what she was up to here. And it's an entirely new genre (way to go—exploring new types of books).

This is a fun, light read. Not quite my normal fare.

Winter is angsty because of his mom. (He is very vulnerable.)
Sydney is angsty because of both her parents. (She's a strong female character.)

They both put on a face for other people. So, it only makes sense that they would be attracted to each other.

I guessed both the twist and the ending. But I'm not positive if teens will or not—they are also sophisticated readers. Regardless, I think this is a good palette cleanser and has potential to become a series. There's enough push and pull between the expectations around a superstar and a secret agency dispensing justice to keep things interesting. I'm going with three stars, but I'm on the fence if I should raise it because I'm not the target audience.

Happy reading!

Winter Young is a teenage music star. Sydney Cossette is a teenage spy in training with an agency called Panacea. When Panacea discovers that a millionaire criminal is planning on sending a ship full of chemical bioweapon to another country, they bring Winter in to partner with Sydney. Apparently, the millionaire's daughter is Winter's biggest fan. Things take a turn almost immediately, and the mission is in danger of failing. It doesn't help that Winter and Sydney are developing feelings for each other. Will the mission succeed, and will everyone make it out alive?