Starry Eyes, by: Jenn Bennett

       Ever since last year’s homecoming dance, best friends-turned-best enemies Zorie and Lennon have made an art of avoiding each other. It doesn’t hurt that their families are the modern day, Californian version of the Montagues and Capulets.
       But when a group camping trip goes south, Zorie and Lennon find themselves stranded in the wilderness. Alone. Together.
       What could go wrong?
       With no one but each other for company, Zorie and

Lennon have no choice but to hash out their issues via witty jabs and insults as they try to make their way to safety. But fighting each other while also fighting off the forces of nature makes getting out of the woods in one piece less and less likely.
       ​And as the two travel deeper into Northern California’s rugged backcountry, secrets and hidden feelings surface. But can Zorie and Lennon’s rekindled connection survive out in the real world? Or was it just a result of the fresh forest air and the magic of the twinkling stars?

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My Rating: ★★★★★

       This book is the perfect summer read. Romance? Check. Camping? Check. Comedy? Check! I love reading books about travel and road trips in the summer, but I had never read a book about backpacking until I was sent this book in my Uppercase Box. (Shameless shout out to them. Their boxes and book picks are always top notch.) I’ve not had a ton of experience camping, so I really enjoyed being able to read about it in this story. (Unless you count camping in a camper, but my mom, grandma, and I weren’t exactly “roughing it.”)
       First of all, I love a romance with funny banter. If I had a dollar for every time this book made me laugh out loud, I would be SO RICH. While the big heartfelt moments are what is most important to the plot development, I loved the transition scenes that had quick wit, cute interactions, and descriptions of Zorie and Lennon’s surroundings and experiences. I believe that the big scenes aren’t what make a book great, it’s the little moments that end up shining.
       I love books that feature unique main characters, and this book is no exception. Zorie is a girl living outside of California who is aware of her introverted personality and loves astronomy. She is funny, smart, and isn’t afraid to stand up for herself. While I haven’t ever gotten the chance to learn as much about astronomy as I would like to, I did get a little bit of knowledge by reading about a girl who is well-versed in the subject. In a roundabout way, I could connect to Zorie and her interest in astronomy through my desire to learn about it rather than actually knowing about the topic.
       Another thing I loved about this book was Zorie’s self-awareness. Every once in a while, she would do something or react in a way that conflicted her own interests. She wanted her relationship with Lennon to be like it was before the homecoming dance (I don’t want to give any more away. Spoilers.), but she didn’t want to get hurt again. Throughout the book, she was continually trying to find a solution for this predicament and was aware of both of these feelings. This awareness of herself was what made this book more realistic and believable. Without it, I think this story would have felt a little ridiculous.
       This book is excellent for any time of the summer, whether you read it in the car or on the beach, it is sure to satisfy all those travel and adventure desires.

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       Have you read Starry Eyes or any other summary reads that I need to know about? Let me know in the comments!

Your future backpacker,
Ashton

​Planning can't save you from everything. Change is inevitable and uncertainty is a given. And if you plan so much that you can't function without one, life's no fun. All the calendars, journals, and lists in the world won't save you when the sky falls.

― Jenn Bennett, Starry Eyes