Although this is a YA title, it could also appeal to middle grade readers. A young spy/secret agent is teamed up with an international pop star to take advantage of an opportunity to infiltrate an international crime organization. There is a bit of a requirement for suspension of belief, but it reads like an action movie so not too surprising. And our heroine is required to reevaluate her assumptions about pop stars.

This was fast-paced and fun, with very low spice.

Great audio narration.

I really enjoyed this one. Thank you, NetGalley for sharing this with me. I'll definitely be looking forward to reading more.

Listening to this on audio was a fun accompaniment to my tasks, but fell short of some of my expectations overall.

I love spy stories and that element was fun, but at times felt a little more cheesy/unrealistic. I did enjoy the intrigue it added though. I could see fans of Ally Carter’s YA books enjoying this!

The romance is what most fell short for me. I just didn’t really get the happy, heartwarming feelings from watching them fall in love and it didn’t feel as authentic to me.

Trigger/content warnings: grief, recounting past neglect/abuse. Steam level is passionate kissing and some non detailed references to sex.

Fun espionage romance. It was cute enough, though slow at times. I did have to push myself through the first part because it was slow to start. I don't necessarily know if I would have finished it, if it was not a book picked by my book club. However, by the end I was not disappointed and was not unhappy that I pushed through and finished.

This book was a fun time!
The narrator does a really great job, and I really enjoyed her narration and I look forward to listening to more of her work.
My only issue with the book is the fact the characters feel a bit young for their age but it’s not a major issue.

THIS BOOK WAS AN ABSOLUTE DELIGHT! The audio book is A+ and truly helped you connect with all of the characters and drove the plot forward.

"Stars and Smoke" by Marie Lu is a delightful addition to the YA genre, seamlessly blending romance, espionage, and a touch of mystery. The story revolves around Winter Young, an international pop sensation, and Sydney Cossette, a formidable member of an elite covert ops group. The book effortlessly captivates with its well-crafted characters and engaging plot.

The depth of the main characters, Winter and Sydney, is a standout feature of the novel. Lu skillfully portrays Sydney as a prickly yet relatable character, whose walls are a shield against a world that challenges her aspirations. The effortless diversity woven into the narrative never feels forced, showcasing Lu's ability to create a rich and authentic world without merely checking boxes.

Winter, with his grief and survivor's guilt, emerges as an emotionally complex character, endearing readers to his struggles and growth. The author masterfully explores the intricate layers of the characters, allowing readers to understand and empathize with their actions throughout the book.

One of the book's strengths lies in its charismatic side characters, who contribute to the overall feel of found family. The ensemble cast adds depth and warmth to the narrative, creating a well-rounded and immersive reading experience.

The pacing of the story is perfect, making "Stars and Smoke" a potential new YA staple. The blend of romance and espionage keeps the reader hooked, and the found family theme adds a heartwarming touch. Marie Lu has crafted a compelling tale that not only entertains but also resonates with its readers. "Stars and Smoke" is a must-read for YA enthusiasts, offering a delightful journey into a world where music, secrets, and emotions collide.

Thank you to the publisher for an advanced listerns copy of this book.

I LOVED this book! The audio really created the world so much easier for me. I enjoyed every minute. As always Marie Lu wrote a book filled with creative world building, drama, and laughs when tension is high.

Marie Lu is such a fun author. Warcross was a favorite title for a number of years and TBH Stars and Smokes gives very similar vibes. It took me a while to commit to listening to this title, but when I finally did I fell into the story so quickly. Winter and Sydney are such opposites that they weirdly enough work, both as spy partners and as a possible couple. I enjoyed the dual perspective and the twist, while slightly predictable, was well done. The narrator did a wonderful job differentiating the voices. Penelope's voice had just the slightest inflection that changed throughout, that really did make the character.

This is another unsurprising winner from Lu, who does a great job of keeping readers on edges of their seat not only with the slow-burn of the enemies-to-lovers romance but also with the action and adventure of the overall narrative. Lu has excellent pacing in this book and creates well-rounded characters that we feel invested in. I'm definitely looking forward to the next one in the series!

Marie Lu has been my favorite author since I was a preteen and even in my adulthood that still holds true, There hasn’t been a single book of hers that I haven’t loved; Stars and Smoke was no exception to that. The execution of the plot was fantastic; it was just the right amount of action-packed while maintaining a lighthearted tone that makes it incredibly fun and easy to navigate. The YA approach suited this story very well. The cast of characters is well-fleshed out and explored throughout the book, which made for great character dynamics. And speaking of character dynamics, I absolutely could not get enough of Winter and Sydney! I don’t know that I would pitch their relationship as enemies-to-lovers, I think it’s a little more nuanced than that. Not to mention that they weren’t exactly enemies to begin with. Having said that, whatever it was that they had going on (labels and tropes aside) had me giddy and giggling; the witty banter, their constant back and forth, their caring for each other but desperately trying to pretend otherwise…it was *chef kiss* and I still think about them on a regular basis. I can’t recommend this book enough and I can’t wait to see where Marie takes this series!

Stars and Smoke is an espionage thriller with little espionage and and even less thriller. It isn’t Marie Nu’s best but it was a bit entertaining. Some of the dialogue was forced and typical where I was rolling my eyes thinking “kinda hallmark-y”. I am not sure I will reach for the next book in the series.

Thank you fir the advance copy in digital and audiobook. The narrator was quite good though. I will look for other books she narrates.

This YA debut by Keah Brown is a nerdy queer love that is perfect for end-of-summer reading. We follow Andrea who is "recovering from the latest surgery for her cerebral palsy" And she has made the perfect list to make the best summer ever! An Art show, an amusement park date to Drew Barrymarathon, and falling out of love with her best friend Hailee.

This is a lighthearted queer romance that's sweet and a fun read. This is a story of a girl battling with her own feelings and not wanting to ruin her friendship. I do have to say that they felt younger than their age and the writing felt off at times but over it's about 300 pages of an easy read with loveable characters, disability & diverse rep, and well-done parent relationships.

A fast YA summer read about being oneself, growing up, and the joy of summer.

I enjoyed this book and I could not stop listening. I really enjoyed the characters and the writing was really well done. It made you want to keep reading.

Marie Lu never fails me. I loved this book so much! I was a little scared because this book isn’t the normal genre that she writes. I was curious to see how well she could write a thriller book. Well I have no reason to doubt that she can’t write a book in any genre.

My favorite part of this book is the relationship between the two main characters. Their banter and the way they interact had me screaming (in a good way) I love the tension between them. It really has me as the reader invested into their relationship.

I also like the way she built their personalities. They are both very different yet I could understand both of their feelings.

And the trope of a bodyguard is one of my favorites, but this one is reversed with the woman being the body guard, and I’m all for it! I will admit Sydney definitely had me mad at her during some points because of how stubborn she is, but I like how Marie knows how to write a strong female protagonist!

The ending had me needing more of this duo and so I’m eagerly waiting the next book!

Pop stars and secret agents combine surprisingly well in this thriller by Marie Lu. It helps that both Winter and Sydney are complex characters. Winter is not your typical self-centered oblivious star. He's making up for a lifetime of feeling inadequate. Sydney is harboring secrets of her own and won't let herself get close to anyone. Throw the pair into an intense situation with implications that could be world altering and you have a fast-paced, action oriented story with a little bit of pathos behind it. While the writing can fall into cliche at moments (especially in fight scenes where there are many references to shocks and starbursts of pain, to light leaving a person's eyes) the pacing is spot-on and the ending is quite satisfying. It's not especially deep but makes for an exciting listen.

Im gonna be honest I thought this was a pop star romance but I was pleasantly surprised by this fun and adorable spy romantic thriller.

I love Marie Lu’s writing. Let me start by saying that. I’ve read every Marie Lu book there is. I was super excited to see that she was going to write a spy romance.

I loved the characters and the story in this one. I’m super excited to continue the series because there were so many hints at more stories to come and secrets left unrevealed. I think the world is really interesting as well and I always love Marie’s nods to her other works.

The plot got a little far fetched for me at points where I felt like these highly intelligent characters would have put some of these elements together faster than they did so that’s where it lost a star but overall, it was a really enjoyable read.

I also loved the narrators here. Dual POV is one of my favorite points of view to read from and having two narrators made it even better.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I enjoyed this YA fantasy. Pop star and secret agent, enemies to lovers. What could be more fun than that? It is one of my favorite tropes. I loved the mystery. The story was interesting and kept me pulled in. I cannot wait to read the next adventure. Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

This is a story about stealthy stardom

If your a fan of the author- this is a much different reading experience! That being said, if you’re in the mood for a blend of espionage and high school drama, “Stars and Smoke” is the perfect choice. Think of it as “Mission Impossible: The High School Edition.”

Thank you so much Netgalley & Roaring Book Press & Macmillan Young Listeners for the Alc!

Another fun read from Marie Lu! This was a very different tone from other novels I have read from her, demonstrating her abilities as an author. I enjoyed the depth of the characters that were slowly unraveled throughout the whole book, rather than being revealed to readers right from the start. The building tension and suspense kept me engaged all the way through. And the narrator was wonderful at giving each character their own voice!