A pop star and a spy pair up against a menacing crime boss in this thrilling series starter.

19-year-old Chinese American popstar Winter Young is a global sensation with struggles of his own. Approached by a spy agency to help take down a target during a private concert abroad, Winter is thrust into an unfamiliar world teeming with high-tech gadgets and dangerous liaisons. There, he meets Sydney Cosette—a talented covert agent whose no-nonsense, often-brash attitude collides with his own demeanor.

Their upbringings and dispositions are wildly divergent, but the pair’s chemistry burns up the pages as they work to infiltrate the inner circle of the nefarious syndicate. Sydney’s own trauma has shaped who she’s become, and amidst the chaos of their situation, they forge an unexpected connection.

Marie Lu delivers a story replete with thrills, poignancy, and humor. Its fast pace and action-packed scenes make it impossible not to devour. The romance didn’t feel overwhelming, and rather added emotional depth to balance with the ratcheting tension of the spy narrative. ‘The Hating Game meets Mission Impossible’ is an accurate way to depict this propulsive, high-stakes caper that’s particularly fun for us fangirls to read.

I accessed a digital review copy of this book from the publisher.
The book follows a teen spy pair as they try to find information about an international bad guy. There are many cliches, but it is still an interesting story.

When this one started off I wasn’t sure that I was going to like it, but as I got into the plot I got hooked. The main characters, Sydney and Winter, are the only characters that you really get to know well throughout the story. They are both damaged by the their past. I think that’s why their souls reach out to each other. Although Sydney really fights it. The narrator does an amazing job with the material.

I enjoyed reading this book so much! I love Marie Lu's writing, and this sounded like a blast, and it was! There's just something about books with a famous person and a not famous person, that fantasy, that is just so addicting to read!

It seems like there's a pattern to her series-set in our world with a twist, and then a fantasy series (though Skyhunter might be an exception, since it sounds like it could be a dystopian) and this is the series set in our world. I loved the group of spies, and the methods that they use!

Oh, but their dynamics were a lot of fun to read! She really dislikes him, and he is pretty easy going about it, he has his reasons for participating. But they have to spend a lot of time in close proximity to each other, and oh, I loved it!

There were some really action packed moments right there at the end! Both of them were in peril, and the story had my gripped! After all the twists and reveals, that ending was just amazing! I loved how it wrapped things up, and I'm excited to see what the next book brings!

This was a really amazing read, and I can't wait for the sequel!

STARS AND SMOKE is one of my new favorite books. Marie Lu has written a book with everything I love: celebrities going undercover, close-proximity relationships, action-adventure, and likable characters! I could not stop listening to the audiobook. I adored Becca Q. Co’s narration and immediately put the physical book on my wishlist because I needed it on my shelves to do a reread!

Anytime there is a book about a celebrity, especially a singer, going undercover to hide their fame in the real world, I must read it. I loved Lu’s take on this idea. Mainly because she made a strong female lead with a chronic disability; that is amazing to read as a chronically ill individual, especially when I can relate to the character. It makes me feel seen.

Winter Young is a new book boyfriend. In my head, he’s what would be if BTS, Harry Styles, Tom Holland, and Simu Liu were thrown in a blender. He’s all my favorite things about those people, and then the added perk of being himself - you’ll love him. Then we have Sydney Cossette, a super-intelligent, multi-language-speaking spy, and you’ll want to be her. Her skills are goals.

Besides the cool spy stuff being one of the best parts, the banter between Winter and Sydney is fantastic! Marie Lu is always surprising with her writing, but this was a totally new style. I loved it. I can’t wait to reread it. I’ve recommended it multiple times already. It’s a delight!

CW: blood, chronic disability, anxiety/panic attacks, familial death, blood, gun violence

This was just such a fun read! It’s like an undercover agent movie in book form and is so hard to put down! The mystery around the villain is quite predictable but you’ll still be at the edge of your seat (especially during action scenes) wanting the two MCs to just be okay, and to just kiss already! I’m looking forward to the next book in the series.

👍
+ Sydney and Winter were quite cute together. They both have pasts they’re dealing with and a future that looks very different from one another which makes it difficult for them to admit their feelings, but the banter, the denying of feelings, the “fake” flirting, it was all great!
+ The action aspect of the book was really good. Spy tech gadgets, mortal danger, explosions oh my!
+ Both of the characters were three dimensional. Sydney who really wants to do her best but has some compulsions she’s fighting and a traumatic past she’s trying to get away from. And Winter, who’s a lot more than his superstar persona and is dealing with a big loss.
+ Representation: Winter is Chinese-American like the author and is bi or pan. These don’t really play much into the plot.

👎
- The two are supposed to be good at the spy stuff and are shown as such in most situations, but they were also phenomenally great at ignoring incredibly obvious clues and leads just for plot reasons. The reader is almost always ahead of the characters. I kept expecting another layer of twist which never came.
- The ending was kind of disappointing in terms of their character growth, it felt like a lot of the progress they had made was ignored. But I guess it makes sense for turning it into a series.

Rating: 3.8⭐️

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ALC!

This was a fun, pretty fast paced, easy read. I really enjoyed Winter as a character, but I like movies and books where a civilian is thrown into the world of espionage and counterintelligence.

I really enjoyed this! I love Marie Lu but I wasn’t quite sold on the superstar secret agent thing but I was very pleasantly surprised:) It’s just fun honestly and that combined with good writing is just chef’s kiss! 4.25

Okay, I loved it. I am definitely in my YA famous musician MC era after loving Darkhearts and this one. This was a fun read and I am love Marie Lu’s storytelling. I loved Legend when I read it for a YA Lit college course years ago (and really need to read the rest of that series) so I knew I wanted to try more of her works and this one really did not disappoint. How am I going to wait a year to dive back in with these characters when we finally get the sequel? The narrator of the audiobook was excellent, too. Thank you to NetGalley for the audio ARC!

I received a copy of the audiobook though netgalley for an honest review.

I'm thrilled that this book is the beginning of a series! The characters are so much fun. Sydney the spy and Winter the superstar. And I mean superstar! They play off each other so well. I'm looking forward to their banter in future books. The mystery was complex and definitely worthy of these two. I'll be listening to the next in the series for sure!

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this audio book.

I always enjoy anything by Marie Lu but I LOVED this. Well written with great characters and the pacing was perfect. Just enough action and intrigue to keep me drawn in completely. Hopefully more to come? The narrator was perfect as well.

If I could give this more 🌟 I would. Top 10 books this year.

I absolutely loved this book. It's every kids dream. To become a pop star, then become a SECRET AGENT?!? ARE YOU KIDDING ME. Yes, please!!

Then you weave in a subtle thing about chosen family (a huge thing for me personally). An absolute win, hands down.

And don't even get me started on @beccaco amazing job at Narration. As a master snarker, Sydney has a special place in my heart. And her ability to voice both her and Winter so smoothly. I'm over the moon.

Thank you @netgalley & @macmillan_audio for the ARC audiobook!

The narrator is great. I really enjoy the story. The action is good, but the characters are better. I hope this becomes a series.

Take a cheesy spy flick, throw in a dash of rom com, send them both off on a roller coaster of emotions and the result is Stars and Smoke. This book was fun. When a celebrity has to play the part of spy to help a secret organization, you know there’s going to be drama, and sending Winter Young into the thick of things made it no different. World famous pop star with inner turmoil meets rising spy with a less than stellar past home life goes wrong in all the right ways. By the end, you’re rooting for the mission and their love.

This was a fun read - Marie Lu did not disappoint.
I have read all of her dystopian fiction and really enjoy her writing style. She changes things up here to tackle the spy/thriller genre and in my opinion does it rather successfully.
The characters are relatable and multidimensional - with a steady amount of reveal into the characters as the story progresses through both Winter and Sydney’s perspectives. The chemistry between the two is magnetic.
There is not as much romance as I thought there would be. This is definitely a YA read.
The story comes to a swift conclusion, but the reader is left wanting at the end. I want more for and of Winter and Sydney.
The main thing that bothered me about the story is that I did not need consistent reminders of how drop dead stunningly gorgeous Winter is - that was a bit excessive.
The narrator of the audiobook sounded a bit bored at times in the delivery, but was not unenjoyable.
Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an arc of the audiobook. The opinions expressed are honest and my own.

I loved this read. The popstar turned spy angle really drew me into the story. I love that it features a (presumably) bi main character. I also love that the book didn't end entirely predictably.

3 stars!

"Stars and Smoke" by Marie Lu is a good book, but it's not a great book. I enjoyed the premise of this story quite a bit. I found it to be action-heavy and effective during scenes of intense espionage and violence. Just make sure you suspend your disbelief. Most of the twists and turns are predictable, so I found myself a little bit bored towards the middle-to-end of the story. I really enjoyed MMC Winter as a character. He is given a compelling character arc as he goes from being a worldwide pop singing sensation to a secret agent. Unfortunately, I didn't connect with Sydney as much as I wanted to. I like her backstory, but not much comes of it. I wanted to connect with her so badly because it's awesome to see a strong, tough, smart FMC being a spy in a YA book, but the writing just isn't strong enough. I also found the romance to be severely lacking, overly convenient, and sort of unbelievable. I must say, for all its faults, this book is expertly narrated by Becca Q, who does a terrific job bringing these characters to life.

Thank you to NetGalley, Marie Lu, Macmillan Audio, and Macmillan Young Listeners for providing me with an ARC copy of this book! All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for my review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

I love the concept of this book. It’s nostalgia heaven for my Gallagher Girls and 1D fanfiction phase in high school, and I still kinda dig it?

I loved the start and the chemistry between the leads, but ironically the action in the middle was slow for me? Maybe I’m just a wimp when it comes to action, plus it doesn’t always translate well to an audiobook 🤷🏻‍♀️

Either way, really glad to have gotten to read this one. 10/10 would recommend to any feminist teen obsessed with cute celebs.

Title: Stars and Smoke #1
By: Marie Lu

Genre:
YA Teen Fiction/Spy Thriller
Romance

Recommended Ages:
8th grade-adult

Red Flags:
murder, violence, loss

Summary:
Winter Young, is a nineteen year old, pop star living life in the lime light. He is abducted after a concert, and asked to go undercover to assist taking down one of the world’s biggest tycoons. Apparently, the tycoon’s daughter Penelope is a huge fan. Reluctantly, Winter knows he needs to live a more purposeful life, and feels this situation could meet his current needs. Enters Sydney Cossette, Winter’s undercover body guard from the Panacea Group. This top secret mission is exactly what Sydney is waiting for, however, the friendship with Winter is not on her radar.

Review:
This is my first novel by Marie Lu. I am not a huge science fiction fan, and tried her other novels several times. For this reason, I was a little reluctant to read this novel. I really enjoyed it though, with the young adult twists and unexpected turns throughout the novel. I believe teens today would love this read based on the hype of a super star and the suspense Lu’s build in her main characters. The story takes an unexpected twist and although it was slightly predictable after, I think my students would love it! I did listen to the audio version, and the narrator does a beautiful job!

Thank you to Marie Lu, Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, Roaring Book Press, and Netgalley for the Advanced Reader Copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

#reluctantreaderreads
#marielu
#netgalley #roaringbookpress
#starsandsmoke #macmillanchildrenspublishing

I really like this story I am the spying on was really fun. The only downside is that it could be a little predictable at times. It would keep you on your toes at some points, but other times you would see it from a mile away.