Oh my wow !! I feel completely shattered !! Weston - effing - Turner !!

One of the best reads this year, all genre considered. I beyond loved it ! Truly truly romantic and so heart breaking.. And the characters..Sigh..

I have so many things to write about this book and I am not going to be stingy in my words. This story deserves all the accolades and more.. When I read the synopsis and requested the book, never in my wildest imaginations had I known what I was signing up for. BLOWN ! So, here we go..

1] The prologue : "Almost Empty" WTF ? That a 12 year old boy penned down this essay, was heart breaking to say the least. Burning the sock, the action and the words meant so much to him. His pain was palpable.. The bullying scene where Weston stands up to the boys by roasting himself on a missing father ?? Hands down the best entry scene of a character ever. A few pages and we can already see how bad ass this character is going to be..
"I hate to say you have a dead-beat dad, but if the sock fits...?"
"Knock Knock". " Who's there?" "I don't know, but not your dad, that's for goddamn sure".

WORD !!

2] Amherst Asshole - Woah.. a teenage Weston.. So damn good. Does it make sense when I say his asshole-ness was awesome. Gave so much depth to his character ! This boy has built the Great Wall of China around his heart. Connor was such an affable character, total contrast to Weston, making Weston more intriguing to me. Who wants to read about the good boy, when the bad boy is sooo good ???

3] When Autumn and Weston meet - Awesome scene at the library and looks like Weston has met is match. Usually I don't ship those insta-love theories..But this one I totally shipped..Not they instantly fell in love.. But that connection ? Hot damn ! So well-written...

4] The Twist of Words - I totally understand Autumn's need to hear the words. Words that communicate feelings so effortlessly. Made me a little pissed at Connor for being so oblivious to other people's feelings. He knew Wes for so long and he still couldn't see the signs. And if that was not enough, to make Wes use his own words.. That was a low blow.. Owning that poem ? Low Low blow.. Reading the poem and still not seeing the link.. dumb dumb blow..

5] Joining the Army - This was one direction that I totally did not expect from either of the boys. It made their bond more confusing.. Who needed whom more ? One boy trying to prove his mettle to his father without thinking it through.. the other following him just to live up to his self-burdened emotional debt.. And Autumn still swinging like a pendulum not understanding Connor at all. Which is obvious because her version of Connor is a combination of Wes and Connor.

6] The 'Finally' scenes - So liberating and invigorating to read..I could feel myself getting breath less with each of Autumn's 'Finally'. So so good.. Stopped abruptly, but so many feelings in just a few pages..

7] The poems - Oh my the goddamn poems..

"For you, I would bring down the stars,
wreath their fire around your neck like diamonds,
and watch them pulse to the beat of your heart

For you, I would capture the candlelight in the palm of my hand
Give my breath to give it life, a whisper, 'My love'
So that it may grow
Bright and hot and burn me.. "

Oh yes yes !! Loved it !! Stomped all over my heart...

8] The sneak peak of the next book - The scene where Connor talks about the time they were 14..

"We were all.. boasting about whose ass we wanted to tap, and 'fucking that pussy'.. as if we weren't all virgins". But not you. You were shooting darts, and you had a crush on Kayla Murphy. I'll never forget it. You said, 'Kiss her in the little well of her collarbone, where her heart beats. All the guys just stared at you. Remember? You turned around with a dart in your hand and your face was like Fuck, what did I just say? But instead of taking it back or making a joke.. you just shrugged and said ' Yep, that's what I'd do' and went back to shooting darts. Our friends had no idea what to make of that and burst out laughing. Remember? They thought you were kidding. I laughed too, but I knew you weren't kidding. You weren't fucking kidding at all, were you Wes?".

Looks like Connor is about to redeem himself.. I can't wait to get my hands on it !!

Perfect weekend read! Love Emma Scott. She never disappoints, and this duet did not! The love triangle is not your normal love triangle. Very well executed!

Kind of like Pearl Harbour. I don't really appreciate a story about two guys fighting for one girl, especially if they are best friends. I don't really like a love-triangle relationship because we all know one will get hurt in the end, or worse while being the "third wheel" whenever the two is dating.

The story is very heartwarming and you could see the solid friendship of two guys. It's easy to get attached to the characters and relate to their individual issues.

I finished this book weeks ago, but it's only now that I feel okay enough to finally write a review (I'm still not okay enough to read the sequel, though)

Bring Down The Stars was, quite frankly, heart wrenching. Like, it literally tore my heart to shreds. It had me crying every few chapters. I wish I was lying.

And that is the reason why I hated and loved and hated it. It was just so beautifully heartbreaking. It was the most beautiful love triangle I'd ever come across.

Why? Because in this love triangle, all three of them loved each other. (Some romantically, some otherwise.) And the characters were all so good, that there was no way I could hate any of them, much less choose a side. And that was why it tore me up so much. Because I was hurting for both of them.

Ugh, I'd hoped to be more professional, but oh well. I'd also hoped this book WOULDN'T END IN A CLIFFHANGER! But apparently, it's not my lucky day!

(I do have the ARC of the sequel, but I don't have the energy to start reading it right now.)

I fell completely and utterly in love with this book! Weston is just.......wow. It’s what I’ve come to expect from Emma’s books. Perfect

Thank you Emma Scott, Netgalley and publisher for giving me a change to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is not the first book I have read by Emma Scott and it WILL NOT be my Last!! I flew right through this book, I couldn't put it down. Emma has a way of making you feel like you are right there in the book with the characters. Bringing Down The Stars had just the right amount of angst that it didn't make you annoyed with the characters!

When I'm feeling overwhelmed I have this really dumb reaction to it, which is to start laughing. And right now, little laughs keep bursting out of me.

It's not been five minutes since I've finished this book, and I'm still shell shocked. But I'll try my hardest to put my thoughts in order so that I can write this review and start next book ASAP.

I don't how else to describe it than: Oh, my god .

I'm having such a hard time putting my feelings into words, there is just an overabundance of them. I both deeply loved and hated every single second of this story. I live for the drama and the angst, but they make me so impossibly frustrated. Throughout the whole book my stomach was in knots and my chest felt tight. There was just so many emotions, so much pain, love, guilt, hope and everything in between.

And the poetry. Man, the poetry. I'm not really a poetry kind of girl. But those few poems in this book got to me. They made me feel something. The longing was absolutely heartbreaking.

Connor was a well meaning, clueless idiot, Wes was a self-sacrificing,stoney-faced-softie idiot, and Autumn was a blind idiot. I hated them, I loved them. I want to shake the dumbness out of them, and I want them to be happy and healthy and together. And I'm not making any sense. (trust me, I know.)

This is one of those rare times where I won't spoil anything because I truly believe this is a book everyone has to experience fully and without much background info. Just jump blindly into it and soak it all in. I promise you, you won't regret it!

I can’t … words would not be enough. The tears that are streaming down my face wouldn’t be enough to tell you how beautiful this book is.
As I write this, a thought keeps replaying in my head “How do I do it justice?How do I explain how beautiful this book is?”.
Bring Down The Stars will leave a hole in your heart. It will tear your soul apart. It will leave you feeling confused, a little lost and a little emotionally drained.

The entire time I was reading the book I felt this unrelenting feeling of angst and a restlessness due to the weight of the burdens and selflessness faced by the characters. 70% in and I was cursing the author for making me feel all these feeling….100% in, I was a blubbering mess without an ounce of decorum. Saying this book is a tear jerking contemporary romance would be an insult.. It is so much more.

Weston, his responsibilities burdens him to have a practical side but he has an artistic soul. His poems are food for the spirit. Filled with passion and emotion, his words leave you feeling breathless.

Connor, I honestly don’t know what to say much about him.. Fun loving but has a huge chip on his shoulder.

Friendship, brotherhood and loyalty is what binds Connor and Weston together.It is also this very reason that weights down the need to follow a path one would consider selfish.

Autumn is a romantic at heart. Hearts and flowers are what she craves for after having had her heart broken by her ex. Connor is the breath of fresh air that makes her heart beat again but Connor sings to her soul… She just hasn’t realised it yet.

Emma Scott has bewitched me with her poetic words in Bring Down The Stars. It has left me feeling empty, Overwhelmed and incomplete. But mostly, it has left me feeling despondent and melancholic.

I can’t recommend this enough.. I highly highly highly recommend this book!

Thanks Netgalley and the publisher/author for this ARC for my honest review.

Emma Scott is a brilliant author. I adore her writing style. This duology is beautiful. You won’t be let down if you read it.

The first time I tried reading this book, was around Christmas last year but I couldn’t even get through the first chapter of it. I wasn’t really in the mood to force myself through that chapter to see if it would get better afterwards and so I put the book down again. But I was sent a copy of Bring Down the Stars for review so I knew that it wouldn’t be fair to give up on it right away which is why I decided to give it another chance. And I’m very glad I did because I ultimately, really enjoyed this novel.

When Autumn’s boyfriend cheats on her, she decides that she’s done with boys and relationships. But then she meets Connor Drake. Connor who always makes her laugh, who is understanding and thoughtful and who writes poems for her that slowly make her fall in love with him. But why does she suddenly feel an inexplicable pull to Connor’s best friend Weston? Weston who is the complete opposite of Connor and only known as “the Amherst asshole” on campus. The more time she spends with the two, the more tangled up her emotions get. But then, during a time of increasing strife in the Middle East, they both sign up for the Army Reserves. A few months later, they’re both sent to Syria and Autumn stays at home, not knowing if she’ll ever see them again.

Even the second time around, I was still struggling with getting through the first chapter of Bring Down the Stars. I can’t really pinpoint the exact reason for that but I think it might be because it was entirely set in the past when Weston and Connor met for the first time and were only like 12 years old. After the synopsis I’d just expected the book to start differently and I think it was just incredibly unexpected that I was suddenly thrown into a chapter that was about a father leaving his family and a couple of 12-year-olds being bullies in the cafeteria. Personally, I think it would’ve been better to incorporate that back story in one of the later chapters as a flashback after Weston and Connor have already been introduced, so that you understand who’s who and why that flashback is so very relevant for the story.

However, once I’d gotten through that first chapter, I started to really enjoy this novel. Bring Down the Stars was a super quick read that made me laugh, yell, swoon and cry. Autumn, Weston and Connor were some of the best main characters I’ve read about in quite some time even though Weston’s and Connor’s actions just made me want to throw my kindle at the wall sometimes. I also have to say that I wasn’t really the biggest fan of Connor for most of this book but the chemistry between those three characters was just absolutely amazing. Another thing I loved about this book were all those beautifully written poems that were part of the story and took it to a completely new level.

Overall, I have to say that this was a great book and I really enjoyed this. The only reason I’m giving this four instead of five stars is that it took me two tries to actually read the full novel and that even the second time round, I was still struggling with that first chapter. Nevertheless, I can’t wait to read the sequel Long Live the Beautiful Hearts now and I hope I’ll enjoy it just as much as this book!

OMG! This is such an amazing book! The best part about not reading reviews before reading a book is the element of surprise. Thankfully, I decided to go in the dark and found myself completely absorbed into the story.
I love a good love triangle book, but this one was so much special. Reading about two best friends falling for the same girl, trying not to fall in love with neither of them so I could try to understand Autumn's choices was hard... My poor heart was breaking!!!!
Bravo, Emma Scott!

This duology was a definite hit! I loved the dual pov's, and the poetry was lovely. I felt like the story flowed well and found both main characters to be engaging and I didn't bore of either of the pov's. At times I felt like shaking my kindle, screaming nooooo because one or the other would do something daft but the story wove together so well and I don't think I'd have loved it as much if events hadn't happened as they did. I read this one in three sittings, and cried so hard at the end, thank goodness I could start the second straight away because that cliffhanger was brutal!

I really wanted to like this, because it has a 4.4 rating on Goodreads and so many 5*s here, but it was a huge miss for me. The first chapter was engrossing, and I had a very particular idea of the style and direction it would go, but I was quickly proved wrong... it meandered and dragged in a number of dissatisfying ways:

- There was no real plot. It was just a series of cheesy dialogue. I’m here for cheesy dialogue when there’s an exciting plot carrying it along (e.g. Nora Roberts’ older romance novels) but this was just one note without, honestly, any real structure.

- Autumn is very annoying. For a girl who is studying social anthropology and political science - and on scholarship (?!) - she really didn’t come across like she had a clue about anything. I think the central relationship should’ve been the friendship between the boys, which was set up so well at the beginning, and it would’ve made a better love story/triangle when bringing Autumn into the mix. Also, Autumn is constantly described as delicate (“She was so slender; small, and delicate...”) - (“...a casual arm around Autumn’s delicate shoulders”) - (“...followed the movement down her delicate throat”) + more, and I found myself rolling my eyes. Wished she’d been given more than that.

- Granted, I’m not a fan of the “I laid eyes on her and suddenly I’m in love” storyline, but Wes becomes so helplessly infatuated, even though he really doesn’t even know her. I’m always wary of when my students read stories like that, as it really does set unrealistic expectations for young girls about love and romance. I get that it’s a love story and there are elements of exaggeration for entertainment purposes, but you can have a believable love story without making the protagonists so helplessly smitten because they felt “electricity”.

- The love triangle. This was frustrating because it’s obvious who she’s meant to be with for the whole book. It was a matter of waiting till we know she ends up with him (of course there was a cliffhanger where that didn’t happen at the very last minute, but the whole book was her not clueing in on Connor’s messages being Wes. On that note, who puts so much stock in a guy based on his poetry? Especially when you find him so dull face-to-face? Again, Autumn doesn’t have a clue. Somebody take back her scholarship.)

So, there’s a lot more, but clearly I’m in the minority of readers who did not like this, and I guess I’m also not the intended audience, so my opinion is probably not much help. I got the second book because I’m intrigued to see if it gets better, but if it doesn’t I don’t think I’ll be able to review it. Also, it’s worth noting I’ve heard great things about the author, so I would definitely be willing to read her other work! Maybe this particular story just wasn’t for me.

This story was not what I expected at all! I've only read a few of Emma Scott's other works and this one truly is beautiful. The love that is shown throughout the book in different aspects is really interesting. Weston and Connor's friendship alone is a very interesting dynamic and the Drake family is one that I definitely feel has hidden motives for the things that they do. Autumn is also a really refreshing character and some aspects of her personality I could relate to as the reader. Ruby her best friend reminded me a lot of some of my friends growing up and I found that to be also pretty interesting. The way this book ends on the cliff hanger has me excited to read the second book in this duet right away!

I love how this book starts, with both boys at school so you get to see how this strong friendship built to a point that they would literally do anything for each other. We then get to see Connor and Weston go off to College and this is where the real fun starts. Weston meets Autumn first and they have a challenging first meeting which leaves both of them intrigued by the other but instantly Connor arrives and lets say Autumn is smitten from the get go.
I loved all three of these characters in their own right and that made me really enjoy the three person POV (Which would normally be 1 too many people for me). Autumn, Connor and Weston were all so different that it was clear whose POV you were reading from even without the headings.
This love triangle was fun and different, it was all woe is me and who should I love but instead it was genuine love for both people. The boys were best friends because they represented parts that the other person didn't have but that is exactly what Autumn fell in love with each of them.
I'm sure that everybody who has read this book has an ideal pairing in mind and mine would be Weston & Autumn and Connor & Ruby. I would have loved to read the next book in the series anyway but the ending to this book was left on such a cliff hanger that I just need to know!!
I love Emma Scott's writing style, it was so easy and nice that the book flowed so quickly. I enjoy the character descriptions and how the families are all realistic and a little bit messy which makes them relate able and more fun to read about.
At no point do we spend too much time on irrelevant characters and places which is a nice change. It isn't very often that I pick up a Romance book but I am so glad that I was given the opportunity to read this book.

Thanks For Reading

This is my third Emma Scott book and I can honestly say I have found each and everyone of her books absolutely soul crushing. As always Emma's writing brought me right into the story and made me fall in love with her characters. Not just the main characters but the side characters as well.

In Bring Down the Stars we are introduced to Autumn who has just suffered her first heart break. She isn't looking for a new romance she wants to focus on school and her family. There are important things in life and she has decided for now men just aren't one of them. That is of course until she meets Connor and Weston. The two men have been best friends since middle school. Connor the wealthy son of a business man and politician who just wants to live a happy life and Weston the poet who has been running his whole life, born on the wrong side of the tracks, wanting to prove he is worthy and support his family.

Meeting both Connor and Weston on the same day is unexpected and initially Autumn isn't interested in anything beyond friends but as time goes on Connor wears her down. The odd thing though is he is one person in person and a different on paper. All at the same time she feels an odd draw to Weston his best friend of all people.

Emma Scott does an amazing job of weaving the story passing the story back and forth between Autumn and Weston showing just how completely the emotions and feelings felt between the parties in this book really are. By the end of the book my heart was broken for just absolutely everyone involved. I can not wait to start reading the second novel in the series "Long Live the Beautiful Hearts" though I expect it to be just as heart breaking and there to be many many tears.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinions and review.

4 poetic stars

I don't even know what to say. The end of this book just made my heart and eyes hurt. I can't believe it. ( But for the record I just want to add that I'm so f* relief that book 2 is already on my Kindle).

BRING DOWN THE STARS is my first read of this author and man!!! Such a captivating writing style. This synopsis may show you is about two boys and one girl, but this is so much more. It is not about loving someone for his beautiful smile, or beautiful eyes or the physical, it's about loving a soul. The connection you feel with someone that you can't control or explain. And I could really feel the love through this pages. I really recommend it and I'm going straight to book 2 now.

Bring Down the Stars & Long Live the Beautiful Hearts by Emma Scott
*****
Thanks, NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this duet.
First time reading Emma Scott, I heard a lot about her, and her writing awhile ago but didn’t have the opportunity to read her work until now. Going in blind is the best way to read a new author.
Based on a play from Cyrano de Bergerac, the story is about a triangle of true friendship, unrequited love, and the power of pretty words and poetry. I can honestly say, I’ve not read enough or understood the prose of poetry. Therefore, I’m not a huge fan of poetry, but in this case, the poetry only adds more romance to the storyline. Having admitted my lack of knowledge of poetry, I feel inadequate to write a review that will showcase Emma Scott’s talent. What I can do is try and express how this story has affected me and share some lines from both books which have impacted and left a mark on my soul. This duet is not for the faint of heart; it pulls heavy on your heart and soul and will leave you wrung out like a dirty dish rag. Yes, it’s that powerful, and that emotional! Highly recommended!
“Feelings,” I said, “are like tonsils. Mostly useless, and occasionally a source of pain and discomfort.”
“Parfois, le cœur se cache derrière l’esprit. Sometimes the heart hides itself behind the mind.”
“I worried I would grow up to be trash too, and would hurt any woman I might someday love, so I vowed not to love anyone.”
“…pretty words weren’t enough without something real behind them,”
“The fight you have to fight is for you so that the love you feel for her has a chance.”
“For you, I would bring down the stars, wreath their fire around your neck like diamonds, and watch them pulse to the beat of your heart.”
"Something good and whole in her spoke to the something rotted and broken in me."
"I'm in love with her. The truth was bold and start on the blank page of my heart. I put my pen to paper and began to write."
“I have loved you with both Hands tied behind my back Bound with pen and ink Paper and words Sealed with someone else’s name until this moment in which I am nothing but a man who loves a woman. There is nothing left to say Except to give all of my heart For you.”
“You have a thousand hearts’ worth of love to give. A thousand tears may fall when one heart breaks. But never cry for shame.” He cupped my chin in his thick hand. “Even love lost was well-spent.”
"She's in love with my soul, he said. And my soul is you."
He held my heart in his hands with reverence and care.
He helped me find my soul’s greatest purpose in life.
He loved me with a love so pure and vibrant, I knew I’d never feel anything like it in a hundred lifetimes.
It was real.

All the stars for this beautiful story. This was one of those reads where I just wanted to speak to the characters and intervene to alter the decisions they were making. My stomach was in knots for most of the book and I know I've lost my heart to Weston Turner.

I'm delighted that I can head straight into the second book of this duet. I need to know what happens next.

Weston and Connor couldn't be more different. While Connor is the life of the party, Wes is willing to be an outsider, too hurt to let anybody get close to him. While Connor is always smiling, Wes is wary and pensive.
Among all the differences though, they have a lot in common as well: they love each other with a brotherly love, they seek their parents approval, and they want the same girl, Autumn, even though they don't think they deserve her.

Truth be told, Bring Down the Stars was nothing that I thought it would be.
And even though the story is very compelling, I couldn't find myself in it. And if you can't feel a story, it's difficult for you to truly love it.
I see why this book is so well loved and hightly rated though. Emma Scott's words are ravishing and they describe and incredible -even though heartbreaking- love.