I was lucky enough to receive a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All my opinions are my own. The Sound of Stars comes out on February 25, 2020. And now that we’ve gotten all of that out of the way, let’s get on to the review section of this review.

The Sound of Stars is about a human girl who loves books so much she begins to run a secret library in her home when the world is taken over by aliens and an alien boy who discovers a love for pop music when he finds it on Earth. Both struggle to fit in their own worlds, but find they fit in with each other as they try to save humanity. That premise alone caught my attention when I was browsing NetGalley. And a lot of the things I was hoping for came into play: an alien who doesn’t quite understand humans but LOVES their music, a bookish girl with a big heart, and a ton of book and music references. To me, it just feels like a debut novel. Which it is. But it lacks depth in some important areas for me like world building. And the themes of the novel aren’t exactly subtle. They’re more like neon signs in the middle of the night.

There were things that definitely worked for me though. I really liked Morris and his struggle with being an outsider in his own kind. I also really enjoyed the fact that there is more than one alien species. It’s mentioned in passing that of course there is and I really liked that. I also really enjoyed this band that the author came up with. Their interviews and lyrics that are spread throughout the novel were excellent.

I really wanted to like this one more than I did. I think if there had been more world building and more of a build up to the romance then this easily could have been a 5 star for me. I also wish the whole point of the story wasn’t shoved in my face. I think a little subtlety there would have made the point better. Maybe more flashbacks and less of the narrator’s opinions would have gone over better.

It was a really quick and easy read despite being over 400 pages in my ARC form. If this is planned to be a series (I don’t know why it wouldn’t be), I would happily pick up the next one. I think with more experience the series would just get better in this author’s hands. There is a lot of representation in the book which I thought was great and an area of the book that didn’t feel forced or overly plotted. It felt sincere and real which I appreciated.

I couldn’t get into this one or connect to the characters. The MC was just hard to like. The writing and dialogue was great, though.

Janelle ("Ellie") is living in a post-apocalyptic earth, still reeling from the invasion of an alien race known as the Ilori. M0Rr1 ("Morris") is an Ilori, shaped to look like a human and to prepare the Earth for the Ilori takeover. Ellie has defied the edict banning music, books, and art, and Morris finds himself drawn to them . What happens when they meet? Parts of the book are reminiscent of the "Fahrenheit 451" and the "White Mountains Trilogy," though much more tailored for a modern, female audience. Lots of yearning and angst, and I'd probably classify this as a YA contemporary sci-fi romance. Elements of the story are quite dark and there is some implied violence, but I generally vote this as a fun read for teens.

There are so many good intriguing, entertaining things about this book keep my attention like popular culture references used with song and book quotes, bounding friendship and connection between a human and alien (my childhood’s favorite movie is E.T., I was raised with my adoration of Spielberg and alien nations till I met Ripley in Scott’s Alien movie!), and of course road trip idea.
But there is also annoying things which also make me pissed off when I’m starting to read a book. Do you want examples? I don’t like slowness, barely moving pacing and I also don’t like the books with unexplained situations and unanswered questions. The ending is as important as the beginning for me! (Sometimes, it is more important, especially shocking, twisty ones are always my preference.)

So I tossed between 3 and 4 stars and finally I decided to give 3 because there are so much potential this book and I also like to read if there will be sequel which helps me to calm my nerves sharpened with too many question marks.

Both Janelle and Morris are relatable, lovable characters. But the slowness at the beginning prevents us to learn more about their stories and connections. And I wish the road trip wouldn’t be a quick journey to reach the church. It could take longer time with additional, enriched storylines.

I also liked the book’s approach to the LGBTQ community, and other basic and crucial heavy issues like unfairness, injustice, inequality.

I was so close to give four stars till I read the ending and I wanted to throw the book against the wall ( or throw out window like Bradley Cooper’s character did at “Silver Linings Playbook”, he was tougher grader than me because he threw Hemingway’s “A Farewell to arms”!!!) because I hate the ending wholeheartedly and it absorbed all the positive feelings about this book.

So I need a sequel ASAP for answers and unexplained parts and I wish the author plans to write it because I love those characters and I love to read more of them.

I think the debut novel has so much potential and the author’s intellectual,writing style is efficient and promising. So I love to read her upcoming works ( I hope it starts with a squeal 
Special thanks to NetGalley, Inkyard Press, (I need to thank specially the designer of this cover, it’s amazing work) for sharing me this ARC COPY with me in exchange my honest review.

One-third of Earth's population is killed when the Ilori invades, and Janelle (Ellie) managed to survive, but life under Ilori control is stifling and unbearable. Art, music, and literature have been banned, but Janelle loves books too much to follow the rules. When one of the Ilori, M0Rr1S discovers her secret, will her life be forfeit?

I had a hard time deciding on a rating for this book. I think I fall somewhere around 3 1/2 star, so I'm being generous and putting it at four. I'm all for a good alien invades story, and two cultures finding acceptance with each other. However, with this one, I found myself very bored at times. There were times when the narrative felt bogged down with details and explanations that happened far too often.

The characters themselves were interesting. I could definitely relate to Janelle's love of books and M0Rr1S' love of music. I thought it a nice touch that each section had a quote from a book for Janelle or music lyrics for M0Rr1S.

The middle of the book dragged on several times, and I found myself skimming to where something interesting happened. And the ending left me dissatisfied. I did not like it. It felt contrived and, honestly, if there is a second book, I wouldn't be interested in reading it.

This is a book for readers looking for a sci-fi YA romance with a wide range of representation.

This has a lot going for it. The SF-nal aspects of it are the most interesting - the "alien invasion" set up is well done, and I liked the complexity of the alien society. Unfortunately, for a book under the Harlequin imprint, I found what was obviously supposed to be an amazing love story trite and not entirely believable. I could believe in Morris falling for Janelle - his POV is sweet and convincing - but Janelle's reciprocation felt more convenient than true-to-life. The ending was rushed and relied much too much on a very convenient deus-ex-machina.

This book has been on my goodreads list since it was announced and it did not disappoint !! I was given an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review and here it is ! I grew up watching doctor who as well as bits and pieces of Star Wars and Star Trek, though I was never really into them until I was in high school. This book did not disappoint! I enjoyed both the sci fi and fantasy aspects of the novel as well as that doctor who feel to it! I am super excited for the release and cannot wait to get my hands on a physical copy! This novel is a must for anyone who is a sci fi nut like myself !

I loved this book, It was fun sexy and everything about it was just truly amazing! I hope there is a second book because I honestly couldn't put it down by any means!

It was a cute read. Not so much sci-fi as I was expecting but still ok. While I enjoyed the pop culture aspects, the book seemed a little scattered.

I received a digital advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

What a wonderful debut novel by Alechia Dow! I love alien stories, I really just adore anything to do with space. I grew up watching things like Star Trek and Doctor Who, so when I read the synopsis of this book I knew I had to read it as quickly as I could.

From the first page, I was immediately transported into Dow’s fantasy world. Dow is phenomenal at world building and I really felt like I was right there. I did feel like the book dragged a bit during the middle, but overall it was fantastic.

I loved that the book contains real life issues we are facing in today’s society and how they were weaved in and out through every chapter. There are tons of current pop culture references throughout this book, so it is not really something that can be “timeless” read. However, the story would have been really lacking if those references weren’t a part of it. I love the general theme of music can help you get through tough situations.

The relationship between Ellie and Morris was my favorite. It felt so genuine and unique. It wasn’t rushed or forced it was just pure, innocence, beautifully organic. Dow’s writing style keeps you wanting more. I really do hope we see a sequel to this. Maybe I am a sucker for a series.. But I really want to know more about Morris and Ellie and their future together.

Thank you so much to Alechia Dow, NetGalley, and Harlequin TEEN Publishing for allowing me to review this book. This review will be posted on www.featheredfables.wordpress.com closer to the publication date.

While the premise is amazing, the book had too much going on. It seemed a little all over the place. I wanted to love and connect to the characters but it just seemed like it didn’t fit. This book took me ages to get through because I never wanted to pick it up. There was so much potential but it just fell flat and left me with a lot of questions.

This sci-fi romance with copious pop culture references will please a wide variety of readers. Ellie and Morris are delightful in their fast-paced, engaging story with a pleasing twist at the end. Highly recommended.

Don’t miss this spectacular debut novel… Can a girl who risks her life for books and an alien who loves forbidden pop music work together to save humanity? This road trip is truly out of this world! A beautiful and thrilling read for fans of Marie Lu and Veronica Roth.

Really, really wonderful sci-fi debut. Some solid twists and turns, this was more of a road-trip adventure than I expected and I didn't see the end coming at all! I think what I love best about this is the way that Ellie talks about her favorite books. In the Sci-Fi genre, especially in this kind of dystopian subgenre, the books that survive the apocalypse are the narratives the heroes take with them to build a better future. I loved that in this story, it included books that teenaged Black girls would be reading right now- forget this Catcher in the Rye, To Kill A Mockingbird, Huck Finn stuff. Ellie's reading The Hate U Give, When Dimple Met Rishi, Six of Crows, Simon and the Homo Sapiens Agenda. The stories she tells Morris to pass the time keep them alive and connect them. It's solidifying a canon for a future generation, one that feels relevant, personal, and diverse. I didn't realize that this was going to be a series, so I'm really excited to see more from this world and Alechia Dow!

There was so much to love in this book.

First and foremost this is a story about star-crossed lovers. A bookworm and the music-obsessed alien who loves her. That alone was enough to make me pick this book up, but it is so much more than that.

Dow creates a startling look at what the world would look like if we were invaded by aliens. The punches here aren't just about humanity being failed by a system beyond ours, but the failings of our own system leading us down a path of destruction. It explores themes and identities not typically represented in YA romance, but in a way that it doesn't feel forced or thrown in as an afterthought.

What an absolutely fabulous debut. I loved this book and can not wait to see what else this author comes up with.

The Sound of Stars is about a girl named Janelle (Ellie), who loves books. Her problem, though, is that the world was invaded by aliens called Ilori, and one-third of the world’s population was killed, and the Ilori hate music and books. If Janelle is caught with any of these books in the Ilori controlled community, she would be severely punished. Morris is an Ilori who loves music. Problem is, he was raised to be emotionless and to not indulge in any of the humans music or art, and to enforce the Ilori’s rules.
This book had me falling in love immediately. Ellie is a black girl who struggles with self-image and racism, and learns to love herself throughout the book. Morris is innocent and curious, and I loved seeing him interact and grow with Ellie over the course of the book. I enjoyed that the two go on a road-trip to save the world with books and music in the back of their car. I cannot wait for the sequel!

I fell head-over-heels in love with The Sound of Stars from the very beginning! The characters were fantastic and so incredibly well-written, I was rooting for them throughout the entire story! I can't wait to see what else this author has in store for them.

I was excited to read this book based on the premise. We have an alien who loves music and a girl who loves books who fall in love with each other. I loved the references to different songs and books throughout the story. I just felt that parts of the story dragged on a bit. Other parts weren't developed enough. Other times, I thought the author tried to make too much happen in the book. Still, I think this is a strong debut from the author.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me a copy of the book for an honest review.

'I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.'

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Review posted immediately on Goodreads. Instagram will be in a day or so from this date.

Overall rating: 3.5stars
A debut sci-fi novel about a human girl who breaks alien rules by secretly distributing books to others in her compound, teaming up with an alien who is supposed to have no humanity, but loves music, going on a road trip to save humanity.

Positives:
I like the world building. It's contemporary, so easy to follow along and relate to. Pop culture is used throughout, which I enjoyed. Examples: Harry Potter, Fleetwood Mac, Prince, Beyonce, etc.

I like that Janelle chapters begin with book quotes and Morris' chapters begin with music quotes. A good representation of each character. I loved their relationship and watch it build through out their journey.

Discusses current, real life issues throughout the book. Equality and justice. Good representation of LGBTQ community. The way music and literature give us a reason to keep living, helps us get through the darkest parts of our lives.

I love how the band ties into the main story, but I wish I had more time with them.

Negatives:
Kind of a slow start. There was a lot of over - explaining where I felt like I was constantly rereading the same thing.

There were also parts I wish I had more time with, like the compound in Texas. It was almost unnecessary, unless we will visit them again as allies to a rebellion. The things that happened along the way, happened so fast made the events lack depth. I understand the road trip had to be quick because they were on a time crunch. So, I think maybe 2 things should've happened and be stretched out, than many things happening. However, I did like the quick stops to dance and build the relationship between the two characters.

I didn't love the ending. I liked meeting certain characters, but it felt rushed. Will there be a second book? I hope. Nothing was resolved except that love can save the world, but that didn't happen yet. Only the love was established.

Overall, I enjoyed it. It kept me wanting to read further. To make sure they made it safely to their final destination and watch their love grow.