4.5 stars

This is the first book to make me cry in a while. It's emotional and centers around some tough issues, like bullying, divorce, traumatic brain injury and the resulting disabilities. For how much Noah is a bully at the beginning, I quickly changed how I felt about him when I saw him struggling and how much he changed. I've worked with kids that had TMI's before and it's unbelievable how a person can change so much. I thought this was a pretty realistic portrayal and appreciated the author's research.

Lily is having a pretty terrible senior year. Her parents are divorcing, putting her in charge of her brother, and she's getting bullied at school. I was angry about the bullying and wish she would have gone to administration to give them a chance to intervene. When Lily's biggest bully gets severely injured, they have a chance to do their relationship over. Lily being able to forgive Noah and move forward was big of her and not everyone could have let the past go. She became a relatable character after this, seeing her debate about what's most important and whether holding on to anger is worth it.

Noah is sweet and soft after his injury and I just wanted to protect him from everyone who was mean to him. I cannot imagine how frustrating and difficult it would be to overcome all of the obstacles Noah has and he does it with a smile most of the time. He and Lily were perfect together and I loved that she helped him help himself.

The ending was a bit rushed and felt unrealistic, which is why I knocked off half a star. I would have liked it to play out a bit longer, rather than have everything come together on one day and then end. Other than that, fantastic read with adorable main characters and an emotional plot.

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Bluefields and NetGalley for the copy

I'd like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me a chance at reading this really sweet, heartwarming romance.

The Starburst Effect was one of those books that warmed my cold heart. Okay, maybe my heart isn't cold as I chock it up to be, but for a teen read - and a contemporary one - it really was cute. I was a bit wary on how the author would cover the disability with someone who has a brain injury but I like to think she did quite well.

The story is pretty much summarized in the reviews and in the blurb. Star senior quarterback ends up with a brain injury that causes his whole world to change. The one person he ends up opening up to and befriending is the one person he and his friends treated so horribly.

Lily and Noah were super sweet. I felt like their enemies to lovers relationship was well done and that it progressed at a normal pace. The name of the book 'Starburst Effect' comes from the injury itself. Like an impact to a window or a piece of glass, the area has the most damage and there are cracks or tendrils that radiate out from the center. Memories can be lost - perhaps short-term ones - and speech and though process can be slow. Lily was patient and kind with Noah, in turn he helped her become a better person. Though, I will admit part of the reason that I brought it down a star is that on how cruel he and his friends were at the beginning was a bit strange for me because the only reason he dislikes her is because of something that is outside her control? Her parents fight and he calls her 'Trash' because he believes that people who live in trailers do that and that they equate trash. Way harsh, but I can't find any other reason why he would dislike her so much? She had a boyfriend at the beginning of the book who cheated on her, and she is an average looking girl? I guess people get bullied for the strangest things but that was his reason for hating her...

Which now brings me to the main reason I bring the book down a star. So, circling back to her parents fighting. They separate due to the fighting and begin the process of a divorce. This effects the family since Lily has a 9 year old younger brother and her mother and father both work, which leaves Lily as a caregiver. I feel that the divorce was not present enough in the book but kind of came in at the end and just was slammed into two chapters. Lily's dad is mostly non-existent through the book chocking it up at the end to him being in a depression and working longer hours to forget about the divorce. Same with mom, who is also working longer hours but to add more money to the table to make up for the loss of dad's funds. It's like, they pop up here and there to service the plot but I really think there could have been a bit more focus on how hard it is being 18 and watching your parents go through a divorce... while also having plans to move out and into college life. Of course Lily was focused on the college bit, yes, but I really think the whole 'divorce' aspect was not a big focus or chocked up to be a big problem as it should have been.

STILL. I enjoyed the book and enjoyed that there was so much love, cute moments and forgiveness. If you're looking for a very clean teen read with a strong female character, this is the book.

The Starburst Effect by Kelly Oram was a fantastic read! I enjoyed Noah and Lily's story. This was a fast, cute book that I enjoyed! Hope to read more by this author.

I really loved this one! Noah and Lily's story is one that will stay with me for awhile. I so appreicated the disability rep - especially when its shown through the eyes of something living through it first hand. I dont normally love YA books but this one was really special!

My oldest son is a TBI survivor who was also injured during a sporting event like the main character, Noah. I appreciate the awareness and reality that Oram brings to TBI survivors and the toll it takes on not only their lives but the lives of family and friends. I was captivated by this story and couldn't wait to see how it unfolded. The issue I struggled with was Lily's voice. She did not sound or respond like a teen. I also felt uncomfortable with the relationship between her and Noah. . .so, I am torn on how to rate the book overall.

I received the arc through Netgalley in exchange for an honest opinion. All opinions ahead are based solely on my experience reading the book.

Lily's life is not at its best point and having to go through her last year in high school and start the journey of adulthood are definitely not the best of help. As for Noah? Noah is forced to start over in life and face his mistakes.

I must admit I have been struggling with reading YA lately as many tend to fall flat plot wise but I'm glad I found such a profound story. Also, it can be rather tricky to find different types of disability representation in romance books in general and I wish we could really have more stories like this one: true character development, intense and heartfelt.

The ending felt a little bit rushed but other than that I would absolutely recommend.


Tw: bullying, life threating injuries

Thanks Negalley and publisher once again for the chance.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read "The Starburst Effect" by Kelly Oram, slated to release June 20th, 2022!

It's not often that I rate a book 5 stars, especially a young adult novel, at that! This book was pleasantly surprising - it was extremely emotional, heartfelt, and intense. I was engaged with the storyline the entire time. I could have easily read it in one sitting if I hadn't started it late last night. This book also reminded me that I never want to be back in high school - ever. Teenagers are totally brutal to one another.

This novel tells the story of Lily and her next-door neighbor Noah. Noah is a legend at their high school - the star quarterback, until an accident renders him unable to play anymore due to a TBI. The characters were incredibly well-developed. This is a book that I would have enjoyed being even longer. :) Everyone should read this book!

I was holding on to read this book, bullying in young adult books is hard to read, but I was very surprised to find a book that put a good spin on the situation
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This book tells the story of Lili Rosemont, a teenager who is going through her last year of school and is marked by the group of popular boys, one of them her lifelong neighbor Noah Trask. Things begin to change drastically for Lili, the arguments between her parents lead them to separate just at the same time that the bullying becomes stronger and her boyfriend leaves her for another girl. Relationships at school start to get difficult as she has to take care of her little brother and other responsibilities at home
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Everything seems difficult until she gets tangled up in helping the neighboring family after Noah suffers an accident leaving him with major brain trauma that leads him to have to learn everything all over again and find his place in school. In this forced relationship, Lili and Noah find someone to lean on and something more
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It is a beautiful book with representation of disability, bullying and depression but with a bright side about maturing, love and the power of forgiveness to grow
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I loved the story of Noah and Lili, and their ending but it seemed a little rushed on, and I would love more words before they get there between them and Zoey too. But still I really enjoyed reading it
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Thanks to Kelly Oram and Xpresso Book Tours for give me this Beautiful Book in exchange for my honest opinion

This was a fun cute read that let me escape the real world for a while and that’s the best part of books. Definitely a summer read that I enjoyed and will likely pick up a physical copy to add to my shelf of summer favorites

Lily Rosemont lives next to the biggest jerk in all her high school Noah Trask. Noah has made it his mission to makes lily's life miserable and he's been bullying her for years. Putting the whole school against her. And to top things off her parents are getting a divorce. Now Noah is facing a altering life change he has had a accident on the field and is dealing with a lot of disabilities. Noah no longer top of thw food chain at school needs lily's help to complete a project if he wants to graduate. Will lily learn to forgive him? Will they be friends now?

TheStarburst Effect was a YA romance book that was swoonworthy and deals with deeper topics like brain injury, peer pressure, major life changes and bullying. I highly recommend this book.

The Starburst Effect by Kelly Oram, 304 pages. Bluefields, 2022. $5.
Language: PG13 (14 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Lily (17yo) and her neighbor Noah, the star senior quarterback for their high school team, have never gotten along, simply because Noah is an arrogant jerk. Things go from bad to worse when he nicknames her Trash and it catches on, making Lily a social outcast. A football injury sends Noah into a coma and the bullying diminishes slightly, but now Noah is coming back to school – and he isn’t the same.
In all of her books, Oram depicts couples who learn to become partners in the relationship, even when one of them appears unequal at first glance – and this new book is not an exception. I love that Oram shows how both Lily and Noah need and help each other despite every assumption that Noah is less than because of what happened to him. Throughout her story, Lily and readers learn how forgiveness, communication, patience, and considering the consequences of your actions will improve all of your relationships – not just your romantic ones.
Lily, Noah, and their families are implied White. The mature content rating is for mentions of boobs, underage drinking, and some intense kissing. The violence rating is for a football injury and bullying.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

This book is heavily based on bullying. It’s a difficult thing to read about but it happens everyday and in my opinion it’s unacceptable. I couldn’t put this book down; it was such a great read. There was so much redemption throughout the book, but it took a while to get there. Life is hard for Lily, there is so much going on for her and it’s her senior year of high school, when everything is supposed to be simple, easy, and fun. It’s anything but that.

Lily’s family is going through a tough time, her parents are getting divorced, and they must learn as a family how that dynamic is going to work, Lily is bullied by her neighbor and so many other kids at school that she retreats into herself. All the while helping to take care of her younger brother. But then something happens, there’s an accident at a football game and Noah the mean neighbor has a brain injury.

As you can imagine everything changes in his life, I’d like to think this was a definite piece of karma being dealt out to him for being so mean to everyone and Lily. What comes around goes around because Noah is now a new person, with disabilities who is left by all his friends and who comes to the rescue, that’s right Lily. The person he bullied the worst. It really shows what a strong and resilient person she becomes throughout the book. The two of them begin to grow together and learn from one another. It’s a great journey they are on. Again, I really couldn’t put this book down.

There is a great sense of redemption and learning from your past mistakes in this book. I’m hoping everyone can be saved in one way or another, of course I don’t wish tragedy on them to achieve it though. Interesting read, nonetheless.

The Starburst Effect hat mir sehr gut gefallen. Da es für mich spannend, unterhaltsam und einfach eine schöne Geschichte ist . Ich mochte vor allem die beiden Hauptcharaktere und wie sie mit ihren jeweiligen Situationen und Herausforderungen umgehen. Einzig der Schluss, dass alles ein Happy End hatte war für mich dann etwas zu weit Fiktion aber ich liebe, dass es so geendet hat wie es geendet hat. Denn genau deshalb lese ich ja Geschichten, weil ich mir ein glückliches Ende für die Figuren wünsche, die mir über hunderte von Seiten ans Herz wachsen. Ich mag auch, dass diese Buch etwas ernster ist als andere Bücher von Kelly Oram. Den das gibt einem einen ganz neuen Blickwinkel.
Ob Noahs Situationen ihr gelungen sind realitisch nachzustellen, kann ich nicht beurteilen. Aber für mich scheint es gelungen und ich mochte auch sehr wie sie Noah und Lily darstellt.

I absolutely loved this book! The love story between Noah and Lily was adorable, but what really stood out to me was the disability representation. Having a disability myself, I always get excited when any type of disability is shown in a book, especially in a main character, since that is not an occurrence that happens often. I thought that the author handled the topic well and respectfully. This was a cute, quick YA read that I highly recommend reading.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of The Starburst Effect in exchange for an honest review.

This novel talks about Lily, the protagonist who seems to be going through several problems (her parents are getting a divorce, shes getting bullied at school and she's lost most of her friends) while also talking alot about Noah, the love interest. Noah was a bully throughout the first few chapters of the novel however he experiences a traumatic brain injury during a football game. This changes his whole life.

Lily and Noah both grew together as people, they both helped each other develop and learn new things about themselves. They are very supportive of each other.

In the book, one finds that there are several characters that properly portray what high-school bullying truly is and how sometimes people do bully others to fit in, in the case of Noah and Austin.

What i didnt like was that one could find a lot of repetition throughout the book, when i was reading parts of the book, i felt that I had already read something similar in previous chapters.

Overall rating: 3.5/5 stars.

I honestly never know what to expect going into a YA romance, but this one was so charming! I loved how genuine the characters seemed and how supportive lily was of Noah, despite him not always being the best to her. That's realistic and something a lot of people have to learn to understand in their lives - not everyone is always their best. I really enjoyed this one!

I loved the YA vibe of this one while still tackling the hard topics as there were several to juggle. Noah Trask is Lily Rosemont's neighbor and tormentor. He doesn't miss an opportunity to put her down, especially in public, being that he's the star quarterback of the football team and one of the most popular and good looking guys in school. As for Lily, her life is imploding piece by piece. As if it wasn't enough that the boy she was seeing decided he wanted to see someone else without telling her, she's now become an obvious social pariah at school. The bullying is nonstop and cruel, with the intent to make Lily humiliated and ashamed. The taunting certainly achieves its goal, no thanks to Noah instigating it and having his crew take over.

When Noah has a serious accident resulting in a traumatic brain injury (TBI), he has to start all over from scratch. Lily is approached to inquire if she can help Noah with an independent project that will require them to spend a lot of time together. I understood her conflict because why should she go out of her way to help someone who made her life miserable? Noah doesn't remember that part before the accident, but he is certainly appalled that he behaved that way. I do admire and respect Lily, that despite all of her hardships, she stuck with her morals and always took the high road no matter what the consequences were. She dealt with a lot of aftermath that most other teenagers would've completely crumbled apart from. As much as she hated how everything seemed to be tearing her apart, it also made her stronger in a way that she didn't notice until much later.

The whole experience of Noah and Lily interacting to become friends and more was an eye opener for both of them. As the reader, it seemed obvious to empathize with Lily because her family is struggling, her friends are ditching her, people don't want to associate with her and she's not welcome to any parties. However, watching Noah's struggles through Lily's eyes also depicted a different journey altogether on Noah's behalf, where simple things were so easily taken for granted. He needed a lot of assistance and he was constantly frustrated and wanted to be more independent. There's also a big lesson in forgiveness, which was not just between Noah and Lily, but with so many other characters, too. Maybe Lily was too soft-hearted and forgiving for some, but I think she held her ground well and made her voice heard, yet was able to understand the futility of hanging on to bitterness and resentment. If anything, other people and their actions did not define her and while there's closure in all regards for those disputes, a little part of me wanted her to hold her grudges a bit tighter or give people a harder time in asking for lenience. Noah, on the other hand, had a very interesting character transformation. He went from being hateful and despicable to someone we can all empathize with, even endearing and sensitive, to a person that everyone could be inspired by. This book definitely caught my attention regarding all of the various characters and relationship arcs happening and certainly only hope for the best for Noah and Lily in the future.

Thank you Netgalley and the Publisher for my ARC in exchange for my honest review. This book was super cute!!

I really enjoyed this book. This was an easy read in terms of writing style, but fairly heavy in terms of subject matter. The story is told from Lily's POV and the premise is that Noah is the most popular guy in school, but also a major bully and treats Lily (his next door neighbor) terribly. Then he's in a football accident and suffers a traumatic brain injury, which completely changes his personality. After this, we get to see him get closer to Lily and how both deal with the fallout (of him making her life miserable before the accident) and him learning to cope afterwards. I really can't speak about the disability rep from a TBI, as I don't know anyone personally who has the same disability, but I hope that it was good rep. I did enjoy seeing rep that isn't common in books, so that was nice. I also really liked seeing Lily and Noah come together, although I do feel like that transition into friends (and then romance) happened a little too quickly. My favorite character was probably Mason, Lily's younger brother, and I LOVED the family dynamics in this book. Lily and Mason (despite being about 8 years apart) are super close, and more so after their parents' divorce, and I just loved all the moments seeing them together. Overall, I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys YA contemporary and I'm looking forward to reading more by the author!

This was so cute. Noah and Lily deserve everything.

The romance was so cute. I loved how they interacted with each other. Although, I'm still a little confused about whether Noah liked her before his accident or not. I wanted a clearer explanation.

Lily was so relatable. As a fellow bullied high-schooler, I related HARD. Although I wasn't called Trash, I related to a lot of the things she thought and felt and at some points, I almost cried. She's so sweet. I loved her.
Noah was also a cinnamon roll. I loved him and his outlook on life. I can't imagine having TBI and feeling that positive all the time. Also, I laughed at some of the things he said.
Mason and Susan were also amazing side characters. The rest of the characters I didn't really care about (her parents and Zoey).

It was interesting to read about a character with TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury). I don't personally know anyone with this condition, so I don't know if it's accurately represented through Noah, but I still enjoyed learning about it and seeing his family and Lily learn to help him.

There were a few characters that had a "redemption": Noah, Austin and Zoey. Noah's redemption was good. He starts off as a jerk (obviously for him to be her bully) but I ended up loving him so much. He's so precious. He regretted and genuinely apologised for his actions. I'm still confused about whether he was always that way (with his parents) as it was never answered. Austin's was meh. His redemption was acceptable and I liked that he apologised to Lily. Now, Zoey. Hated her. I hate that she was forgiven by Lily. No real best friend does what she did. Ever.

The ending felt a little too perfect, everyone was friends, all forgiven, and the main couple got back together.
Also, as usual, it was pretty predictable. It follows the normal contemporary romance plot line: meet, date, break up, and they live happily ever after. But it was still enjoyable.

Overall, super cute book that gave me butterflies. I'd highly recommend it.