This was just not for me. One big thing that completely turns me off from characters and their books is when they use foul language frequently. That turned me off right away. I think the book dealt with some issues that aren’t common in YA, like a brother with a pretty severe disability, and a parent with OCD. Zoe’s love for her brother was beautiful, we got to see so much kindness. Not all stories have “happy” endings, and that’s ok, I just can’t say that overall I liked this one very,UCD.

*ADvanced reader copy provided by Netgalley

First, let me just say that these two women make an INCREDIBLE team! I really hope to see many more novels by them, together.
The novel is written in two voices. Each voice is unique and powerful on it's own, and honestly - either one of the voices could have told the entire story - but the combination of both characters POV adds a depth and richness to the story that kept me turning page after page.
Many times, Dual POVs causes fatigue for me, ESPECIALLY when it is written by two different authors. Many times, the voices conflict with each other -yes, I'm looking at your Zenith- and even more often the story seems to drag, reliving the same moments from a different view. This is not the case for this novel. The two voices blend seamlessly together, immersing you into a world that you could easily escape into with them.
Zoe and Sam are both strong characters. They have real human flaws that are handled tactfully and accurately.
There are so many every day issues tackled in this story that at times, it did give me whiplash. It jumps from one issue to the next with neck breaking speed.
While typically this would totally turn me off, it only added more to reality of the novel. Life does not give you breaks, it throws everything at you during the worse possible times, and all at once.
The book centers around *Starworld*, the world the two girls create to escape everything else around them. This brought back nostalgic memories of my best friend and I passing our notebook filled with drawings, notes, stories and everything else you could imagine jammed inside. Each adventure they took made me laugh, cry and fall in love with them as it resurfaced emotions I'd long since forgotten.
And of course, like every teen angst novel - there is a love interest. This made my heart soar and then tore it apart into a million pieces. I cannot tell you how many times I sobbed while reading this book. That's not to say I didn't laugh - the laughing was equal with the crying, I'd guess - but this story will hit you in the gut. My favorite books are always the books that make you feel the love that the characters have for each other. They allow you experience that, not just yearn for it - but experience it fully through complete immersion. Starworld does that and then some.

Whether you are straight, LGBT, old, young, boy or girl this novel has something for you. The writing, characters, real world situations and heart felt narrative that the reader is something special - one of those stories you only get once in a blue moon, and a story that anyone struggling to be accepted should read.

Very good read about two lonely teens finding each other and themselves while battling some major life issues. Well written from a psychological perspective. I would call this a gentle love story, with much broader implications.

This book was just so amazing I don't even have the words to describe how good it was. The writing was amazing and the characters, I just fell in love with them. I felt my heart skip a beat and break at the same time when reading it. I just loved it so much and would highly recommend.

This was good - I think if I was in the target demographic it might’ve been a 5, but the “Starworld” aspects, while very real to my high school awkward chatting online phase, wasn’t fun for me to read. The rest of the story, though, was compelling and the girls’ varying difficult family lives kept me reading to see how they’d deal. My heart was broken in parts, because I get what it is to be awkward on top of teen angst on top of hard family life.

This book was received as an ARC from Candlewick Press in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book reminded me a lot of the Ridley Pearson Kingdom Keepers series without Disney. It is always an addiction of mine when I read about kids discovering that they have uncovered superpowers and the mischief and chaos that comes with it. From beginning to end this book grabs your attention and it feels like you are being transported into their world following along in the adventure which makes the story even more engaging and enjoyable. This book will definitely connect to the young audience because they can totally relate to Sam and Zoe and their need to escape reality.

We will consider adding this book to our JFiction collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this title. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get into the story. I appreciate the writing and know it will do well for you. Therefore, I will not be posting my opinion on Goodreads, in order not to skew it's rating.

Audrey Coulthurst's foray into Young Adult contemporary in collaboration with Paula Garner is a book that sets out to make a point, but that's it. The characters are juvenile, yet multi-faceted and well-developed. The plot is non-existent and dull since it revolves around two girls texting and creating a fake world. Starworld is a contemporary book that we've seen before, but with diverse representation that we haven't. I'd recommend to fans of slow-burning plots and contemporaries that evoke an emotional response, otherwise, this book isn't for you.

I LOVED this book! It really made me wish I had someone to *star talk* with. The writing was very well done and I enjoyed the switching viewpoints between Sam and Zoe.

SPOILER:

The only ~complaint~ I would have is that it seemed like Zoe was on an arc to come out as bi, and then... she didn't. Maybe that's just me though.

Overall a very good book! Thank you for the opportunity to read it! I will be posting a full review on http://kaitgoodwin.com/books within 2 weeks of Starworld's publication date.

I want to thank Netgalley for providing me with an arc of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I have so many feeling after finishing this book.
But first of all I have to say I absolutely loved it this book!

It centres around Sam and Zoe who are two teenagers from two different social groups who form an unlikely friendship.
Zoe is the popular girl who’s mom has cancer and brother is severly disabled.
Sam is the quiet artist who’s mom struggles with severe OCD.
I haven’t laughed and cried so much reading a book in a long time.
This is truly a tale of friendship, family and finding yourself.

I really identified with sams character personally she reminded me a lot of myself at that age when I was struggling with my own sexuality.
This book perfectly reflects what it’s like to struggle with all of these different issues and it really opened my eyes.

Overall this book was amazing.
I wish I had read this book when I was a teenager struggling to find out who I was. These characters feel like my friends now so I give this book a fully deserved 5 stars.

What an adorable story.

Starworld is the first novel I’ve read by either author, and I must say I am pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed it much more than I though I would.

The fantastical elements of ‘Starworld’ as designed by Sam and Zoe were outstanding. And the care and sensitivity with which each of their family’s issues were covered was masterful. The authors were clearly well-researched and informed.

The relationship between Zoe and Sam was also beautiful. With some people you just click, they become a part of you. And it’s hard to let that go if things go awry.

Sam’s chapters were hilarious. And whichever author wrote her ‘voice’ has a wicked sense of humour. And much love goes out to the creation of a cool and arty, yet socially awkward nerd girl.

I especially enjoyed the ending and how not everything was tied up in neat little bows - because life never turns out that way. 4.5 stars.

Thank you to Audrey Coulthurst, Paula Garner, Candlewick Press and NetGalley for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was pretty good. I don’t really know what to think about it. I wish there weren’t some aro antagonistic lines in this. I found myself unsure which character was which at times, remembering what each of their deals were. but it was a really good story and it’s nice reading a story with a sapphic lead that isn’t a romance, that isn’t requited. and that they’re gonna be friends again. also, Connors suck

Starworld was a great book that i has the honor of reading. I loved the girls text message World they created and the emotions they went through with their individual problems. I found both girl’s home lives extremely interesting and was happy that the book was more than just a one sided romance. I also liked that the ending was bittersweet and not like I expected.

I am well and truly in a book hangover here..

I started this book as my first ever ‘second read’. I read the book on the Kindle app on my iPhone and intended to read it during breaks at work and just casually on the go. Well, it’s safe to say that I could not just read this book casually, I couldn’t stop thinking about it! Starworld became my escape and I couldn’t help but abandon all of my other reads to carry on this crazy story.

Audrey Coulthrust is one of my favourite writers and I love how she brings the characters alive and the worlds they live in. Coulthrust makes everything and everyone so relatable in her stories and I just love diving right into them.

I must admit, I wasn’t too keen on the ending and I’m now suffering a crazy book hangover. Audrey .. please write another book VERY soon *stares up hopefully*.

I loved this book and would definitely recommend it as a quick read, it’s such an easy book to follow and get lost it.