The Stars Between Us is the story of Vika, a barmaid who has always had a difficult life. A mysterious benefactor names her in a will and her life has the potential to change forever. On one condition…she must marry. However, a tragic accident occurs before she can meet her groom-to-be. Vika finds herself swept up in with the elites as the Gardeners, the next in line to inherit, take her into their circle. Vika must navigate high society while attempting to find out whether the accident was truly an accident…

The Stars Between Us had so much potential! In execution though, things felt a little uneven. Vika is a difficult character to like, particularly because of how she initially changes for the worse after being elevated to the elite. At the same time, she is a very stubborn and aggressive character because that is how the world has taught her to be. The romance felt flat and I didn’t have a good sense of his personality, due to Vika being very snobby around him and always reminding him of his “place.” I think most readers will begin to put together the clues surrounding the mystery before the characters, which can feel a little frustrating. I think this could be a great entry point into YA sci-fi for readers who do not have much experience with it.

Thank you to Cristin Terrill, Wednesday Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.