Thank you to the publisher for the gifted ARC

When Daniel de La Luna arrives as the first in his family to attend college, he feels woefully out of place. But his outgoing, athletic, and attractive roommate, Sam, is a beacon of light that helps Daniel through the first uncertain months. Even as their relationship deepens, the duo is pulled apart, first because of Sam's hesitation and then due to Daniel's family emergency. Will they find their way back to each other?

STARS is a hauntingly beautiful and gutwrenching coming-of-age story that covers plenty of ground, from race, class, and sexuality to loss and grief. The story is written from Daniel's perspective and addressed to Sam in the second person, retrospectively referencing their first year in college. I love this type of new adult novel where the MC looks back in time, which helps add more maturity to the narrative.

There's so much to love about STARS. I loved Daniel's inner monologue that reminds me of my overthinking self