Review: Where the Stars Still Shine by Trish Doller

Title: Where the Stars Still Shine

Author: Trish Doller

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Publication Date: 9.24.2013

Pages: 308

Genre: Contemporary

Series: No

Source: eARC from publisher

Rating: A+

Summary (from Goodreads):

Stolen as a child from her large and loving family, and on the run with her mom for more than ten years, Callie has only the barest idea of what normal life might be like. She's never had a home, never gone to school, and has gotten most of her meals from laundromat vending machines. Her dreams are haunted by memories she’d like to forget completely. But when Callie’s mom is finally arrested for kidnapping her, and Callie’s real dad whisks her back to what would have been her life, in a small town in Florida, Callie must find a way to leave the past behind. She must learn to be part of a family. And she must believe that love--even with someone who seems an improbable choice--is more than just a possibility.

Trish Doller writes incredibly real teens, and this searing story of love, betrayal, and how not to lose your mind will resonate with readers who want their stories gritty and utterly true.

Review:

I have to admit first off that I never heard of this book before Jen (JenuineCupcakes) and I were in a car together talking about our favorite books—as we’re prone to doing when together. She started raving about it and Trish Doller and the way she was so enthusiastic made me want to read it. So I did what any good blogger does … Went home, found it on Netgalley and clicked that pretty REQUEST button.

This is one of those time that Jen can shout “I TOLD YOU SO” until cupcakes fly because OMG was she right. Trish Doller just earned her way onto my short-list of authors I will forever love because of this one book.

Callie is one of those characters that is just so real, so visceral, that it hurts. You ache for this girl, you cheer for this girl … you bang your head against a wall and want to climb inside the pages of the book so you can stop her from making a mistake. It brought tears to my eyes watching as Callie struggled to reconcile her past with her mom to the future her dad was offering her. Watching as she struggled and stumbled and ultimately found a way to keep going was equally heart-wrenching and encouraging.

And did I mention it has just one of the best romances ever? Yes, guys, ever. The best romances are the ones where no one is trying to change anyone. Alex was exactly what Callie needed—he never made her feel like less of a person because of her past and what she went through.

While I might be all swoony over the romance (seriously, it’s like a punch in the feels, guys!), the over-all theme here is family. Doller created a vibrant, brilliant characters that filled these voids in Callie’s life she didn’t even know were there with a quiet grace.

Where the Stars Still Shine is a beautiful tapestry of words. It’s moving, poignant, and a book that lingers long after the last page is turned. I cannot recommend this book enough.

Buy: Amazon