I'm a huge music lover and books about music are must-reads for me. Xio Axelrod hits all the right notes (nope, couldn't resist!) with 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗚𝗜𝗥𝗟 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗥𝗦 𝗜𝗡 𝗛𝗘𝗥 𝗘𝗬𝗘𝗦, a heartfelt novel about self-discovery, second chances and finding forgiveness.

Antonia Bennette is an uber talented musician trying to make a name for herself in the Philly indie rock scene so she can keep doing what she loves. When she's invited to audition to fill in on guitar for a hot new girl band called The Lillys, Toni agrees hoping to bank some quick and much-needed cash. But the new gig comes with some big surprises - her estranged childhood best friend and former crush, Sebastian, is managing the band and despite her fear of the spotlight, Toni finds she may want this new position to be more than temporary.

This book has it all - a troublemaking guitarist whose substance abuse issues get her benched, an intimate look at the music-making process, a friends-to-lovers/second chance romance, discussions of racism and sexism in music, dealing with parental issues and childhood trauma and more. I worked at MTV for a long time and the dynamics of the band and the politics of the music industry are spot on. I also loved the way Axelrod describes how the band members play their instruments. You feel like you're in the studio with The Lillys (who already have their own IG - @thelillysrock - and a single on Spotify!) and even though the women kick ass, they're also vulnerable in such relatable ways that it's hard to believe they're not real.

This is the first book in a series about The Lillys and I will be front row (nope, not able to stop the music puns and yup, I know that one was a stretch) for the next one! 4.5 stars

Thanks to SourcebooksCasa, Let's Talk Books Promo and Netgalley for the copy to review.

The story talks about life as a musician, a little bit of stardom in the rising band, band drama and a second chance romance. I enjoyed the story, but I felt like it was surface level on all of the topics. I wasn't fully pulled into the band or the romance because of it. I thought the writing was good, the dialoged, descriptions etc. I hope to read the next book in the series and hopefully learn more about this band and the characters. Thank you to the publisher for the free review copy.

3.75 stars

It was nice.
The band's dynamics and the music world, the obstacles and challenges in that industry felt very real and I really enjoyed reading about the band life and journey to success.
I really liked Toni as a main character, she was driven and fierce about what and where she wanted to be in her life (and with the Lillies). Seb, I couldn't connected with him. The seb from the past and present didn't felt like the same person but that happens sometimes so I understand.
My problem was that this is being marketed as romance and besides the flashbacks, there is very little romance here, and although I was rooting for Toni and Seb in the end, the relationship between Toni and her parents was so overcomplicated (and more interesting) that the romance took a step back.
This is a series that apparently will feature the other Lillies so I'm excited about continuing reading about their lives.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a great dive into the world of music, behind the sciences and into the heart of the musicians. I loved how super talented Toni stepped out of her comfort zone in order to reach her dreams. I could feel her love for music! This was a fun book that was so easy to read, it just flowed which was perfect for a book set in the world of music.

The Girl with Stars in Her Eyes is a contemporary romance about a young Black woman making her way through the music industry, and her reconnection with her childhood sweetheart.

Antonia – Toni – Bennette has no interest in super-stardom, or, really, any level of fame. She grew up with a mother obsessed with the spotlight, and Toni has no aspirations to grab it for herself – she just loves music, and wants to make a living at it. Living in Philly, working as a session musician and an artist in residence at an eclectic club, Toni is paying the bills, though not exactly living the dream. She wants to make music without being shouted at by random middle aged men who doubt her talent. Out of the blue, she runs into someone she thought she would never see again, the boy who left her behind: Sebastian Quick.

Seb is not exactly in a good place. He is currently on the hook for looking after Candi, a loose cannon and the guitarist of the Lillys, a band on the rise. Seb manages the girl band and has a close friendship with all of the members, and a dysfunctional relationship with Candi. When Seb unexpectedly sees Antonia again after eight years, he is blown away. He feels guilty, but also desperately wants to reconnect. Toni isn’t having that, and Seb leaves her be, regretting the loss of her despite the intervening years.

But fate has its own plans, as Toni is called in for an audition in New York, where she sees Seb again, and has to work with him. Given their new proximity, Toni finds herself softening toward Seb, and Seb has a harder and harder time keeping a professional distance.

I loved reading Antonia’s story. She’s really tough; she has to be out of necessity, working in a male-dominated field as a young Black woman. Toni had a rough childhood, and you can see that in her goals and the way she conducts herself. She’s very motivated and professional, and really takes advantage of any opportunities that come her way. Toni longs for stability, and tries not to rely on anyone else more than she has to. I also loved her chemistry with Seb; they both are incredibly scarred from their rough upbringings, and have a lot to work through, both individually and together. Seb is a great love interest, and I loved his tenderness toward both Toni and all of the women in the Lillys.

This is a really strong novel, mostly because the main characters are so well established. I normally don’t like shorter flashbacks throughout a novel, but it makes sense here, as we see Sebastian and Antonia growing up together in little vignettes. It’s easy to sympathize with both protagonists, but the supporting characters really add another dimension to the story. The band members are mostly interchangeable, with the exception of Lilly and Candi, who are very distinct and memorable. I’m interested in what their story is, and maybe if there’s another book we’ll get to see more of the internal framework of that relationship. I liked that Candi isn’t entirely villainized, but is more depicted as a self-destructive and selfish person than an evil one. A lesser writer would rely on an audience hating one character to garner sympathy for another, but Candi comes across as crying for help rather than a Disney villain. Similarly, other antagonists aren’t over-the-top, mustache-twirling evil, but regular people with discernable motivations. I also really enjoyed Jordan, the band’s lawyer and Seb’s friend, who really comes across as kind of a voice of reason amid all of the band’s antics.

Though I absolutely adored this book, a few things stuck out to me that didn’t quite work. I would have liked to see more internal growth from Seb, and I wanted more resolution of his unhealthy dynamic with Candi, which we didn’t really get to see. The plotline with Toni’s parents worked in some parts, but there were times when it didn’t really fall in line with the rest of the story. Both parents were very well fleshed-out, but Toni’s conflict with her mother didn’t feel resolved, and felt a bit out of place towards the end of the story. Also, the ending is a bit rushed. I liked the way it resolves, but it feels a little anticlimactic given the pace of the narrative previously.

Overall, I would not hesitate to recommend The Girl with Stars in Her Eyes to any romance reader. It’s excellent and I will be looking forward to reading more of the author’s work.

Ok, this book was pitched as a romance, but I think it would be better classified as Women's Fiction, as I feel that the romance was a subplot, rather than the main plot.
This book heavily centers on sexism and colorism in the music industry, and I think it does a pretty good job with it. There are some characters that really dragged down the story for me with their shenanigans (Candy mostly) and so that is why this is a middle of the road rating.
I think that if it had been pitched to me differently, my enjoyment would have gone up.

This story is written with an ease and magic. A beautiful descriptive story that follows Toni Bennett. Toni is an indie rock singer and guitarist. Toni is struggling with abandonment issues due to a careless mother and nearly nonexistent father. Toni is careful in both her career and her personal life choices. Toni faces the inherent sexism of the rock music industry. Toni is very careful with the connection makes and keeps people at arm’s length even with her friends. When Toni is given the chance to audition with The Lillies, a hot new all-female band, she gives it a try.
The author weaves in a love story between Toni and Sebastian, her first love, also a musician. It has a fascinating look into the Rockstar behind the scenes moments. This story is a stunning vivid read! I can not say enough amazing things about how beautiful this book is. This is one of my top reads of 2021 so far.

The Girl With Stars in Her Eyes follows Antonia “Toni” Bennett who’s just trying to make a name for her self in the indie rock scene in Philadelphia, when she is invited to audition for Lilly’s the hottest new band in the country. After the audition she finds out a blast from the past her, childhood best friend Sebastian Quick—who left her behind in their small town without a word or explanation—is one of the decision makers for the band. Sebastian now not only holds a piece of her heart but may also hold the key to her future.

This book is the perfect example of why I love to read. The story evoked so many emotions in me, the type of emotions only certain books can give, the type of emotions I find myself searching for in book after book and only the most special ones can give me. This is definitely one of my top favorite books of 2021 and I feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to read an ARC.

I especially loved the focus on all the bad ass women. The Lilly’s are such an amazing group of completely different women. I loved that they were all unique and imperfect. Strong bad ass women but still so real and flawed. I really could have read an entire book about just the Lily’s, and their music, but the romance between Toni and Seb was the icing on the cake. I loved their friendship and everything they were able to overcome.
I seriously can’t recommend this book enough!!

The Girl with Stars in Her Eyes by Xio Axelrod is a fun and charming book, perfect for anyone who loves music romance fiction.

Told through dual perspectives, we meet Antonia 'Toni' Bennette as she grows up neglected by both her parents but always finding comfort in music and her guitar. When Toni is sent to live with her dad, she meets Sebastian Quigley and their love for their guitars and music connects them, until Seb turns 18 and leaves town without a word. Years later as Toni is on the verge of achieving her dreams, she is offered an opportunity to audition for an up and coming band, the Lilly's, and her path crosses with her long lost best friend.

Toni's ambition and drive to succeed was amazing. The first half while a touch predictable and mostly necessary build up, it was a nice read and really came alive with the introduction of the Lilly's. These strong female characters quickly became the best parts of the book. I appreciated how it handled not only drug and alcohol abuse but also how women are treated in the music industry. I am excited to hear that this is the first of a series because now that this foundation is laid the next book is bound to be even more incredible.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and Netgalley for granting my wish to read this book.

I’m off the deep end..watch as I dive in.”

This book🥺. The ache in my chest will not be soothed at the moment. I don’t know how I’m supposed to review this masterpiece of a book. Why is my face so wet? This book is the reason y’all. Have mercy!

This book is beyond girl power. Antonia Bennet is such a force to be reckoned with. How do you guard your heart around the one that broke it several years ago?

This book is all heart, and soul. I can’t tell you the feeling of seeing this fierce, bad ass, mega talented, black woman with the power of Prince or Lenny Kravitz on the guitar. Toni has been through so much! From a mother that abandoned her, to a father who treated her like sh*t, to a guy she loved that left without even a backward glance.

I get chills just thinking about how this should be on the big screen. THIS is why I love indie romance! Xio dug deep, and spared us nothing. We aren’t worthy of her amazing talent! I knew this book would be huge when I first started seeing the buzz about it last year. I’m so glad that it didn’t disappoint.

I loved the differences, and complexities of all the women in The Lilly’s. They were KILLER BAD ASS WOMEN WITH MADDD SKILLS. What musicians they all were, but Toni stole it. Toni & Seb..even better! Just trust me when I say, you need this book in your life!

So, in a nutshell:

One of my very top reads of the year

This needs to be on the big screen

I need all the music on a soundtrack

Please, and thank you. Xo

After seeing one of my favorite booktubers swoon about this book, I needed to read this for myself and I'm so glad that I did! If you're a music lover, adore stories about the underdog and books that are all about the love for music and the passion, the upsides and downsides of the industry that come with it, then this needs to be on your reading list immediately!
Not to mention the second-chance romance in this book that nearly broke me dear lord I adored every second of this powerful story!

Toni Bennett can play the guitar not only really well, but she can bring the house down with her performance. But, she doesn’t want to be a star. She doesn’t want to chase fame like her mom, who performed gigs in small town clubs and eventually abandoned her when she was 12 to pursue her dreams. Back then, Toni was forced to live with her dad, who she met for the first time. Good thing there was Seb, an equally talented and handsome boy who became her best friend. They practiced playing the guitar together and as years went by, they promised to get away from their deadbeat town together. However, one day, Seb just left, no letters and no explanations! Fast forward to 8 years later, Toni is now a resident performer in a pub. She received a call to audition as part of The Lilly’s, a band that’s fast becoming known to music industry. Although reluctant, she knew she had to do it not only for the money but also for the exposure and future contacts. When she finished the audition, she learned that Seb (yes her Seb!) is the manager of The Lilly’s! Can she move past her feelings and work with the band to realize her own dream???

This was a delight to read. I can almost hear the band playing their songs! Too bad I didn’t listen to the audiobook. I enjoyed reading the band members’ dynamic relationships; Seb and Toni’s character development and their second chance romance (which was also quite steamy!), and the BTS of the music industry.

Thanks to LetsTalkBooksPromo, Berkley Publishing and Netgalley for my eARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Girl With Stars in Her Eyes by Xio Axelrod was a musical romance with angst, heartbreak and dramatic emotions. It talks about raw love and complicated friendship that is narrated with abundance of musical tone.

Toni and Seb were childhood besties as they were each other's escape in a dark time. But then Seb left her. Toni's dream was to become a famous musician and when she finally gets the chance in an upcoming girl's rock band, she faces her past again. Because Seb is the band's manager.


This story is concentrated mostly on Toni's journey from a deprived childhood to stardom. Her second chance love story is a part of it. It was a slow burn that picked up pace in middle. I loved Toni and her struggles. Seb wasn't exactly easy to love but he grew on me. Their chemistry is intense but so much flawed emotions are between them that it was a tough journey. My favorite part was reading about the music. The glamour. The industry. The struggles of rockstardom. The beauty of music with its healing touch.

The Girls with Star in her Eyes by Xio Axelrod is the perfect read for every romance lover and every music lover.

I reviewed an early copy voluntarily from Netgalley and Sourcebook

After reading the description for The Girl With Stars In Her Eyes I knew that I needed to read it and when I found out that Sourcebooks Casablanca granted my wish for it on Netgalley I was totally over the moon.

I absolutely love and adore Toni so much because she is so spectacular. I love her fierceness and how she stayed true to herself no matter what happened. So I eventually warmed up to Sebastian as the story progressed and I definitely saw a different side to him once he opened up about some awful things involving his dad. I found the chemistry between Toni and Sebastian to be intense but also beautiful.

This book was an emotional roller coaster ride that punched me in the gut, broke my heart, made me ugly cry, showed me the beauty of friendships, made me believe that Dreams can come true and taught me that sometimes second chances are worth it.


I recieved an advanced copy for free, and this is my honest opinion.

Although she’s a talented musician, Antonia "Toni" Bennett doesn’t crave notoriety or the spotlight. Toni’s dream is become part owner in a local recording studio, but she doesn’t have the funds to buy her way in. When given the opportunity to play with an up and coming all-girls band, she reluctantly takes the temporary gig so she can earn enough to make her dreams come true.

Sebastian Quick left his small town in Pennsylvania with only one regret, that he broke his promise to his best friend when he left her behind. When fate brings Toni back into his life, he realizes it is past time to make some changes in his life and possibly in the band who’s members are his found family.

The Girl with Stars in Her Eyes is a lovely story about second chances and making dreams come true. The book spends more time on the women’s fiction side of the slow-burn romance line, and the pace matches accordingly. The story follows both Toni and Seb as they face inner-demons, learn to trust, and discover what each really wants in life. The romance plays second fiddle to their individual stories. One of the reasons is that there is a no-fraternization clause in their contracts, keeping the pair apart as they reconnect. I love that the no-frat clause is used as a tool to build sexual tension and allows the pair to get reacquainted rather than jumping into bed together.

As Toni connects with her new bandmates, she learns to trust and falls in love with playing with the band. It causes her to reevaluate her dreams, her life, and I love the path she ends up taking. Each of the supporting characters is strong in her own right, and I look forward to reading each story. The music and characters help shape the story and Toni/Seb’s journey.

Overall, I really enjoyed The Girl with Stars in Her Eyes, although it took me a long time to become completely invested. It starts out slow, but it’s fitting for the overall story. It’s one that when done, I loved knowing the characters and enjoyed the journey.

My Rating: B, I liked it.

I was very excited to read this book as I've read past books by this author which I loved. Unfortunately, I could not get into this one. It was long and slow for me. I don't know if this was the writing style or the story itself, which revolved around the music industry. I don't know that much about the music industry and didn't find myself interested in the story surrounding it. There was also a second chance love story which was secondary to the main parts of the book.

Lots of reviewers are RAVING about this one but it was just an okay read for me. Thanks to NetGalley for an early audio review copy. I liked the dual perspective second chance friends to lovers romance. It was a slow burn build-up but the chemistry was definitely there. I also really enjoyed the focus was a girl group of kick-ass women musicians. Despite that though the story was just okay. I wasn't fully invested or kept on the edge of my seat. Recommended for fans of Jasmine Guillory

The Girl with Stars in Her Eyes is a fun, quick, charming, and indulgent read. The story follows Antonia "Toni" Bennett (and yes, she's heard all the jokes before) as she makes a name for herself in the Philadelphia indie rock scene, aspiring to one day work as a producer. Abandoned at a young age by her mother, a singer chasing her own dreams of stardom, and sent to live with her father in a small town, Toni meets Sebastian Quigley, a fellow guitarist who promises they will one day make it out together. Then Seb turns 18 and disappears with half their collective savings, leaving Toni behind on her own. Years later, with an offer to buy into and own part of a music studio but not enough cash, Toni auditions for an up and coming band. She nails it and is unexpectedly thrust into the spotlight and back into Seb's orbit. With all those repressed feelings and anger built up, Toni has to decide whether the fifteen minutes of fame is worth it with Seb holding the key to her future dreams and, possibly, her heart.

I thought this was a fun read, with some unexpected twists to it. I loved all the information the author included about the music scene and some of the inner workings, showing the reader a different side than what is gleaned from gossip and magazines. I didn't realize this was to be the first book in a series, and I wanted to know so much more about the other characters, especially Lilly. There is definitely more to her past that the author could and should reveal in the future books. Perfect as a summer beach read. I almost passed up this book because I'm not a huge romance reader but I loved the cover. I definitely judged it before I read it, though it is a bit long at 464 pages.

I would recommend this book to fans of music and readers of Daisy Jones and The Six, The Unraveling of Cassidy Holmes, and The Final Revival of Opal and Nev.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

What happens when an act of luck brings fame when all a singer wants to do is stay behind-the-scenes?

Antonia "Toni" Bennette is a woman on a mission. Make enough of a name to get steady temp gigs, gain some traction to help create a solid music rep, and avoid the spotlight. Sounds easy, right? Not so much when music industry trauma seeps into every corner of childhood, especially parental abandonment and addiction to fame. I really appreciated that Toni had goals, saved for a future, and wanted to walk that dangerous line. Her arc was pretty captivating.

Sebastian "Quick" Quigley is another character all together. As a love interest, he left a lot to be desired. In the eight years since he abandoned Toni, he began to build an industry name and worked as co-creator of the Lillys. Unfortunately, constant refrains of self-loathing didn't really match up to the clear arc that Toni needed him to be on. I couldn't buy him in the romance.

The book is slow to get into with a lot of backstory in the beginning. Yet the power of an all-woman rock band was very, very intriguing. Most well-known leader singers like Debbie Harry front a band with men. The Runaways with Joan Jett are an exception full of issues and traumas of its own. Riot grrl music of the 90s featured a lot more all-women bands but it's been a minute. And Xio Axelrod knows all this when you read the book. Her knowledge and capital power of the industry and genre are extremely helpful in navigating how the Lillys work together.

Overall, I really enjoyed the parts with the band the most. Felt more organic and genuine than the romance. A better genre fit may have been women's fiction with romance elements. Will I read more in the series? Of course! I enjoyed Axelrod's knowledge and skill. The book just needed more tweaking and some removing/reworking of plot points.

Three stars from me. Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for providing an advanced copy for an honest review.

Title: The Girl With Stars in Her Eyes
Author: Xio Axelrod
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Contemporary Fiction

I’ve been on a music fiction kick ever since I read The Songbook of Benny Lament by Amy Harmon (5⭐️) back in March. I’ve been seeking out any and all music books I can find. After, Benny Lament, I read about Opal & Nev in The Final Revival of Opal & Nev (4⭐️) and now it was all about Toni Bennett and the Lilly’s in The Girl With Stars in Her Eyes! I couldn’t get enough of the band and it sounds like I won’t have to since it looks like this is book one in this series named The Lilly’s. Alright, but first things first let’s talk about The Girl With Stars in Her Eyes!

“They say the road to stardom is paved with broken dreams.”

Antonia “Toni” Bennett grew up desperate for her mother’s attention and following her from gig to gig. She was lonely and her only true companion was her guitar. Eventually, her mom decides to ship her off to her father in a small town in Pennsylvania. There she lives over his bar, is expected to work, and doesn’t really receive much attention from her father either. She meets Sebastian “Seb” Quick and though he is a little older, they immediately become best friends. They play music together and work hard saving their money, so they can get out of town together. Only, as soon as Seb turns eighteen, he leaves everything behind, including Toni, without looking back.

Eight years later, Toni plays music at a quiet club in Philly. She’s mostly happy. Until, one day she’s asked to try out for one of the hottest indie rock band’s. A band that unknowingly to Toni Seb manages. Can they heal old wounds?

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I loved the music in this one, obviously. I thought the author did a good job on character development too. I felt like I was right there along with Toni though out the story has she dealt with hardships along the way. Any there were plenty of hardships for this poor girl! The ending really got me when Toni finally got some validation and approval from her father. 🥲

Thank you @netgalley and to the publisher sourcebooks casablanca for honoring my request to read and review to eARC. The one is out this Tuesday, May 4th and I highly recommend it! It was also an add-on pick for May’s @bookofthemonth 💙 #netgalley #thegirlwithstarsinhereyes