Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett

If you don’t already know this, Jenn Bennett writes some of the best YA Contemporary that’s out there. I adore her style and her characters and her words and just everything.

I’ve been eagerly waiting for Starry Eyes and when I just happened to get my hands on it early, there was no way I was waiting to dive in.

Zorie and Lennon have been best friends forever and more recently they were exploring their romantic feelings. But Zorie can tell you the exact date everything changed only she doesn’t really know why. She and Lennon have avoided each other like the plague since he stood her up at homecoming and her hurt feelings haven’t allowed her to reach out to him. Add in the fact that her father and Lennon’s mom’s don’t exactly see eye-to-eye and it makes for a pretty hopeless situation.

Now they are both on the same “Glamping” trip and Zorie is determined to show Lennon she’s moved on and his presence doesn’t bother her one bit… by showing her interest in another boy on the trip. Of course things don’t go as planned, and a horrible fight with friends leaves Zorie and Lennon stranded in the woods with only each other to depend on to get them out.

Both Zorie and Lennon are dealing with some major things happening in their lives … and the one person that they would typically confide in, (each other) has been MIA. The solitude of the trail and camping allows them to open up to each other and share the things that have come between them. And they are some pretty major things. Now I’m not much of a hiker or camper, you might be able to convince me on this glamping thing, but I absolutely loved what Bennett created here.
This was such a unique setting to use for these characters and I adored Lennon’s love for the trail and how it allowed him the time to come to terms with the things happening in his life.
As always Bennett manages to weigh some heavy and overwhelming issues with lighthearted moments, and the story is so lovely and emotional and as always, the romance is sweet and delightful and I just want more and more.

I have to add a special shout out to Zorie’s mom because she is amazing and lovely and what every mom should be regardless of biology. I love her.

Bennett stories are the bar upon which I rate all other YA contemporary and if you haven’t yet read her books go and do so immediately. This is another one I’m so excited to add to my bookshelves.

Thank you to the publisher for an early copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.