Sebastian "Seb" Quigley and Antonia "Toni" Bennette are two kids from a depressing little town in Pennsylvania. But, they are connected by their dismal home lives and their passion for rock n' roll. They have plans to get out of town and make something for themselves. Then, Sebastian disappears, leaving Antonia to find her own way out.

Eight years later, a random encounter brings them back into each others' lives. For eight years, they've been on different tracks, not only carrying the baggage from their childhoods but picking up more along the way. Nonetheless, the connection is still there. Can they find their way back to each other.

Seb is torn between his lingering feelings for Toni and his complicated relationship with a self-destructive heiress turned rock star. Toni is torn between her love of making music and her desire to stay behind the scenes.

This book was quite the roller coaster. The beginning was a tiny bit hard to get into - lots of people and personalities to sort. However, once the ride really began, I was all in!

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the opportunity tor read a digital advance copy in return for an honest review! Looking forward to the rest of the series!

Antonia and Sebastian met as teenagers and became the best of friends when she moved to his small town. They reconnect unexpectedly years later, both being involved in the music industry. The plot revolves around them working through the Sebastian’s unexpected desertion and Toni’s burgeoning career as a guitar player/singer and producer. This was a very solid novel. Good characters all around, good dialog and good plot. I liked the opportunity to get behind the scenes with a band and understand a bit of the misogyny still present in that world. The best romance’s have more to them than just mutual attraction and steam. The Girl With Stars in Her Eyes fits that bill. Recommended!

Antonia Bennett loves music with everything she is but she loathes fame just as much. Her mother changed drastically when fame came knocking, leaving Toni with a stranger who happened to be her father in a town that was dying. Her saving grace growing up was Sebastian, the older boy who helped Toni find her musical vibe and parts of herself.
Flash forward years later and Toni is quietly making a name for herself in the Philly music scene...without succumbing to fame. When Sebastian and Toni run into each other unexpectedly, Toni is thrown for a loop.....Sebastian left her high and dry years ago with no explanation. All Sebastian knows is that this is the second chance he has hoped for with Toni and he isn't going to let her walk away without an explanation.
Axelrod has written a lovely story for those that loved DAISY JONES & THE SIX & A STAR IS BORN (I can't take credit for those titles but damn if it isn't a wonderful comparison). I am going to find more titles from this talented author and devour that just as quickly :)

Wow! This book ripped my heart out! It truly sledgehammered and broke it into million pieces! My face stained with tears! They still drip, they won’t stop!

This is heartfelt, real tear jerker, poignant story of Antonia Bennett: a musical prodigy, a unique, outstanding talent who could captivate your heart and enchant your soul with her powerful voice! She’s extraordinary! But she’s also insecure, hiding at your comfort zone! Her mother abandoned her. Her father mistreated her and her love of her life left her without explanation!

She ached a lot. Her heart bled, her soul crushed, her resilience tested several times. But she survived, she’s tough, she’s talented, she’s good hearted, she’s fighter!

Now it’s time for her to shine. She deserved the all spotlight, applause, appreciation even though she’s afraid of being trapped by the power and ecstasy of fame! She’s on the verge of big breakthrough but unfortunately the man broke her, betrayed her trust, her one and only love is back! Seb is at her band but she doesn’t want him back! She’s tarnished but she
survived. She still tries to gather the pieces of her broken heart. How will she work with him? How will she protect her heart?

This is emotional, well written, genuine, unputdownable, amazing indie novel that I truly enjoyed and engaged with the characters. Toni’s heartbreaking, compelling story conquered my heart!

I’m rounding up my 4.5 stars to 5 well deserved, power of music, self discovery, a star is born stars!

Special thanks to Netgalley and SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.