I was expecting this book to be space-age sci-fi/fantasy, and was (pleasantly) surprised to discover that it's actually a modern fantasy featuring Hindu mythology. I had to stop a few times while reading, and educate myself on the unfamiliar zodiac and mythical creatures, which I count as a /good/ thing. I loved learning about another's culture, and being exposed to - what for me was - new magic.
A central theme of this book is being separated from one's heritage, and how to navigate first learning your family's culture, and then deciding which pieces to adopt and which to eschew. And more simply, it's a story about how Sheetal, a young adult, has to navigate the complicated range of feelings all teens go through when they discover that their family are all just other, complicated, flawed adults too. Her journey through doubts and discovery was timeless, and moving.
Not to mention, that this book is a winning trifecta of inclusion: Indian mythology, an Indian-American heroine, and LGBTQA supporting characters.
All that said, for all its good parts, the book also has its flaws. One minor minus, I found the book to be /too/ YA; it felt at times like I was watching a CW show. For example, Sheetal might be /more/ upset at any given moment that she has split ends, than that she her father is dying in the hospital. Or more concerned that somebody lied to her, than that they want to harvest her organs.
But a bigger problem I had with this book, is that I didn't feel the conflicts were resolved satisfactorily by the end. One big dilemma for Sheetal is that she must choose: a life on Earth or a life as a star. And... she doesn't. Another central conflict: Sheetal's grandmother is racist and wants political power so that she can pass racist laws... And she gets that power. Sure, there's a bigger message here about "being yourself" doesn't mean having to compromise which cultures you connect to, OR family is complicated and sometimes racist but we still love them... Those themes just don't make for a satisfying /story/ conclusion.
All in all, I still recommend the book. It's a great conversation starter.