Cover Image: The Girl with Stars in Her Eyes

The Girl with Stars in Her Eyes

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Member Reviews

I enjoyed the voice but managed to let this one slip by in all the busyness. A me problem, not the book’s fault. Just ended up drifting away to read other things.

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The Girl with Stars in Her Eyes is an amazing music themed contemporary story with romance.. Loved the realistic view of fame and thought it was an enjoyable, quick read.

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A talented musician who doesn’t like the limelight but gets an opportunity to temporarily fill in for The Lilly’s, a popular girlband. The income will help make her dream come true to co-own a recording studio. Little does she know that she’ll come face to face with her childhood best friend who broke her heart.
It’s an entertaining second chance story with a few twists , great supporting characters revolving around the music industry.
I loved Toni, she stayed true to herself, she kept on keeping on.
This will be a series and I’m excited to read more about the other characters this girl band.

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Growing up, Antonia "Toni" Bennett's guitar was her only companion...until she met Sebastian Quick. Seb was a little older, a lot wiser, and he became Toni's way out, promising they'd escape their small town together. Then Seb turned eighteen and split without looking back.

Now, Toni B is all grown up and making a name for herself in Philadelphia's indie rock scene. When a friend suggests she try out for the hottest new band in the country, she decides to take a chance. She's in for a surprise when one of the decision-makers turns out to be none other than Seb. Toni can handle it. No problem. Or it wouldn't be if Seb didn't still hold a piece of her heart, not to mention the key to her future.- Goodreads

Short review for this one. It was a good story. I liked the dynamics of the characters. They played off each other extremely well because some characters (cough Toni) were high key annoying. Toni and her constant self-doubt, insecurities, and overall fear of fame was way too redundant as it felt like a never-ending theme in this novel.

I would have liked to seen more personality from Toni. She was completely defined by her insecurities where as Seb was much more well-rounded than Toni. Don't get me wrong his personality was centralized very specific things but there was more than one event, more than one person that helped shaped who he is.

Overall, again a good story, slow pacing but I enjoyed it none the less.

3 Pickles

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3.5 stars.

i enjoyed this book v much! the overall story is solid, i wouldn't say romance is at the forefront though. i also couldn't connect with the characters beyond the surface-level depth we got. i liked the music aspect of this though and i know a lot of people i'd recommend this story to!

- thanks to netgalley and the publisher for providing the digital arc in exchange for an honest review.

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A bit slow for my tastes. I did enjoy the characters and the other girls in the band. But the writing isn't strong enough for me to keep at this series.

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Toni grew up with her irascible father in small-town Pennsylvania after her mother abandons her for her dream of becoming a star. All she has is her love of music and her best friend Sebastian. That is, until he does that unthinkable and abandons her too.
Years later, as a struggling musician in Philadelphia, Toni find herself on the edge of a stardom she never wanted when Seb walks back into her life and she is left reeling. She knows she has to work with him for the sake of her career, but does she secretly want more?
Xio Axelrod has created a modern rock and roll romance. I was sold on this book when I read that the main character is a badass guitarist in Philly and Toni did not disappoint. I do not usually read Romance, but this book had a solid storyline with a few steamy scenes thrown in. It was a fun read that was over too soon. I cannot wait for the next book in The Lillys series!

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I really liked this book from the beginning! I think I am officially addicted to books with music at the forefront. I didn't feel a huge connection to either of the MC's but I really enjoyed seeing them rekindle their friendship and romance. I don't necessarily think I would market this as a Romance but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I finished it in just over 24 hours so it was one that kept my attention and kept me coming back for more. 3.5 stars

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All Toni wants to do is sing music her way. All Seb wants is to keep his band together. Forces behind the scenes conspire to bring Toni and Seb back into each other’s lives after many years. Toni decides to stay in the band, the Lillys, until she can become a music producer. The girl who Toni replaces doesn’t go quietly. First book in a series about members of the band.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

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This was an excellent book full of love, heart and a heavy dose of memorable music. A must read for anyone looking to escape for a while. Highly recommend

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Goodness! Bring on the sequel. Listening to Xio Axelrod in interviews talk about the "world" she created for this fake band, made me want to read the book. I wasn't dissapointed at all. The middle dragged a bit but there was much realism given to the ups and downs of the music industry. If it didn't have a romance in it, I would still love it. Maybe I'd love it more.

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I was pretty excited to try The Girl with Stars in Her Eyes. I enjoy romances with a musical/rockstar plot and I thought this one sounded so good. Unfortunately I thought this would be romance going in and it felt much more like women’s fiction with some romantic elements. I think if I went into it knowing it was more women’s fiction I may have enjoyed it more. DNF at 53%

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The Girl with Stars in Her Eyes is an amazing story, following Toni B. From a young age, she knew the downside of fame, and she wanted nothing to do with it... until amazing opportunity that could make her dream come true was brought to her.

There's a bit of drama, a lot of music, emotional, strong, and realistic are great a way to describe this book. And good afternoon read.

And as always Happy Reading!

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The Girl With Stars In Her Eyes was an interesting look behind the scenes of the music industry. Not sure why this one didn't really work for me, it was ok but it wasn't amazing. I think maybe the romance was not my favourite part and wished that the lead character was more the focus without any of the romance aspect of it complicating the story for no real reason other to make it hard for her to take her chance and be in a band,

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DNF at 73%. The story is fine but I’m not feeling drawn in or invested in how it will end. I’m not fully buying the romance. It might have been my expectations - I came in expecting a romance but this feels more like fiction with some romantic elements. But I’m also not particularly drawn into Toni’s story with her parents or the band. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the advance reading copy.

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This modern day take on second chances at love takes place in up and down the east coast. Very believable. I received this novel as an advanced reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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The Girl With Stars in her Eyes initially caught my eye because I’d heard it was inspired by The Runaways. I am obsessed with that band so I had to read this.

I’m so glad I did because this was such a great book. I was under the assumption that this was a romance but it was much more than that!
We do get a little romance but honestly it wasn’t even needed. Toni was a great MC and following her story was interesting enough.

I enjoyed the music side of the story too and I’m obsessed with The Lily’s! I’m so looking forward to the rest of the series.

This was my first book by Xio Axelrod but it definitely won’t be my last.

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Rarely do I find myself never wanting a book to end...but that is exactly how I felt with this novel! The author constructs such great character story lines and development; I was truly invested in the outcome of the characters throughout the entire novel. The chemistory and tension between Seb and Toni was ELECTRIC. I am so excited this novel is apart of a greater series but it's gonna kill me to wait til next March for the next book! A full 5 STARS.

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Xio Axelrod's The Girl with Stars in Her Eyes is the story of Toni Bennett and her journey to find what she wants. Toni is the daughter of a singer and guitarist who sent her to live with her father at his small town bar. After years of begin abandoned, first by her mother and then the friend she made in her new home, Toni made her why to Philadelphia to start a new life playing the guitar. While trying to save up to buy into a music studio, a chance encounter brings her past to her present and helps her discover what she is really meant to do. This is a story of a girl with nothing getting everything that she wants and needs and even finds desires she never thought she wanted.

I definitely enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it.

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My goodness. This book was everything i enjoyed reading Toni and Seb's story and Xio Axelrod transports you to New York, the parties and the Music scene whilst weaving a story of friendship and love
I loved every moment reading this book and cannot wait to start recommending it enough to everyone

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