This was my first of her books. While it might not be quite a forever favorite, I enjoyed this story as a whole. I will likely be reading more of her books! I had heard about the author through a fiction book group that recommended her to me, and I am glad that they did.

A slow-burn age-gap sapphic romance featuring two singers? Be still, my beating heart.

Eden has been a popstar for twenty years, but her last album flopped and she can't sell out her latest tour. Anna is the latest pop princess who's on the cusp of being a star. Eden needs to reach a newer, younger audience. Anna wants to be taken serious as an artist. When their management teams suggest pairing up for a duet and a tour, both Eden and Anna are hesitant. But together, they might just write the greatest love song of all time.

I don't have strong feelings about celebrity romances, but I do know it's a hate/love thing for a lot of people. I feel like the celebrity aspect of the story was handled well here, with some of glamour of award shows being shown alongside the invasive nature of fans and press wanting to know everything about someone's personal life. I liked that Eden was slowly figuring out, after her failed marriage, that she wasn't actually straight. As for Anna, she starts off being quite naive about the world and the music industry, despite being fully aware of who she is as a person. It creates a nice symmetry, where Eden and Anna both grow as people, in different ways, but because of each other's influence.

Such a perfect read with amazing representation. I truly loved it the entire time and couldn't get enough of this age gap perfection. I want to read more books about people so beautifully coming into their sexuality and traversing what that means. I would absolutely recommend this to anyone (even cis gender) because it is a beautiful insight into others journeys.

Stars Collide by Rachel Lacey is a wonderfully sapphic read with great characters and great representation. I especially liked Eden and felt for her as she struggles to come to terms with her identity. I thought that Anna really supported her through this tough time and I liked the way Anna grows as well learned to stand up for herself.

*insert disclaimer about this being a gifted copy from netgalley here*
Sapphic rep is easily my favorite LGBTQ+ rep. The way to my heart. This book has a pansexual MC & a late(ish) in life lesbian MC. INTENSE spice. And the cherry on top? A happy ending! My experience has been that an overwhelming amount of sapphic books have sad endings, and I was pleasantly surprised to see that not being the case here. This was a very cute read.

I really loved this book! I read the physical book and listened along with the audio as well. The narrator, Quinn Riley, did an amazing job voicing all of the different characters.

I related so much to Eden. My heart ached for her as she struggled so much with her identity. I just wanted to reach through the book and give her a hug. Anna did a wonderful job of supporting Eden through everything. Their chemistry was off the charts!

I got to 16% and DNFed. Unfortunately I just don’t think this book is for me. I’m not a massive fan of age gap in contemporary but it sounded so good I thought I would try it anyway. Eden is rather annoying to me and acts much younger than she is, so the age gap just got highlighted even more and I didn’t like it. Just not for me, I’m afraid.

(I’ve put 1 star here as I needed to select something to submit my mini review. But on my goodreads I left it unrated as I felt I didn’t read enough to rate it 1 star)

y'all this book was SO GREAT, i had a really good time reading it. the story follows eden sands, a pop star whose career is in a major flop, and up-and-coming starlet anna moss, who has idolized eden for most of her life. it's anna's dream come true when she's invited to perform with eded at the grammys, and also a way for her to reestablish herself as a mature performer and not the teen pop star she's seen as. as the two rehearse together and eventually decide to tour together, they realize they have a lot more in common than their music, and must decide if they want their romance to be for the long haul or just a one-hit wonder.

this book felt like a step up from rachel lacey's 'read between the lines' duology. the writing felt more polished & more sure of what it was doing. anna's discussion of sexuality seen thru eden's eyes was nuanced & allowed me to really understand where these characters were coming from. the deep dive into celebrity culture was another great addition. plus, the romance was great, and felt real. definitely recommend this one!

Rachel Lacey's Stars Collide invites readers into a mesmerizing world where music and romance intertwine, creating an enchanting tale of fame, dreams, and unexpected connections.

In the glimmering realm of superstardom, Eden Sands finds herself at a crossroads. Longing for more than her dwindling inner circle and a failed marriage, Eden's career is in need of a revival. When her team suggests a collaboration with the rising pop sensation Anna Moss, she hesitates unsure if this partnership will truly reignite her star power. Anna, on the other hand, idolizes Eden and yearns to be recognized as a serious artist. The chance to perform with her musical icon at the illustrious Grammys is an unimaginable dream come true. As they join forces and rehearse together, they discover a shared resonance, unraveling layers of their personal and artistic lives.

Rachel Lacey's writing effortlessly transports readers into the glamorous world of the music industry. Her prose dances with elegance, evoking the essence of each scene and allowing readers to feel the pulsating rhythm of the characters' lives. Through Eden and Anna, Lacey skillfully portrays the triumphs and tribulations that accompany fame, shedding light on the solitude and sacrifices that often shadow the glitz and glamour.

The relationship between Eden and Anna blossoms with a tantalizing, slow-burning passion that fuels the story. Lacey deftly weaves a tapestry of emotion, allowing their connection to develop organically amidst the whirlwind of fame and scrutiny. Their shared vulnerabilities and aspirations create a captivating synergy that propels the narrative forward, inviting readers to witness the transformative power of genuine companionship.

Beyond the romance, Stars Collide explores profound themes of self-discovery, artistic growth, and the strength found in collaboration. Lacey delves into the notion that when two brilliant minds converge, they can create something transcendent, breaking free from the confines of individual talent and giving rise to unparalleled artistic triumph.

Stars Collide starts with hot new star Anna joining her idol Eden as a special guest on her Grammy stage. Their chemistry was an immediate hit and leads to Eden inviting Anna to join her on tour as her opener. Things begin platonic but quickly change to something more making presumably straight Eden question everything about her life.

This was the sapphic pop star romance of my dreams. It was the perfect balance of sweet and steamy. I loved seeing their friendship blossom into a beautiful love story. I also loved Eden’s sexual awakening and journey to finding herself and her identity after being a celebrity for most of her life with other people telling her who and what to be.

I recommend this book for sapphic readers and pop fans. It’s fun and hot and a great choice for a vacation read.

Thank you so much to Montlake and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

This is kind of a book theme now isn’t it? I love it just to be clear.
I love these two individuals in this book. They were easy to hate and love.

A celebrity feel-good-romance? Yes, please. Sometimes you really just want a sweet (yet angsty) romance that makes you feel all the nuances of love. Anna and Eden have a very interesting dynamic in the beginning (Anna being the rising star and Eden being the jealous actress who's losing her touch). Eventually, the two build a friendship that leads to a great romance. The relationship and support of each other's careers was very sweet and heartfelt, especially the part where Eden was rediscovering her sexuality.
In general, the story was a great read that will become part of my go-to romance recommendations.

I do not read a lot of romance, so all I ask is to be entertained while I read. I found this book to be very entertaining and cute. It manages to be modern and talk about topics like fandoms and ships without being too over the top and cringe about it.

It's a very easy read and the representation of sexuality and coming out is well done, and I like how all those conversations were handled in this book.

Plus, the smut was great. I really wasn't expecting there to be that much of it but I am definitely NOT disappointed by that.

Love a cute sapphic romance with adults acting like adults. Highly recommend.

I think that this book had potential to be a 4 or 5 star, I just couldn't get over the immaturity of Anna. Like, everything is the best thing in the world. Everything is amazing. Everything is sunshine and roses... The woman literally responds with "yay," to almost everything and its quite astounding... I liked the premise, I just hated that the characters' connections weren't genuine-feeling.

I really enjoyed this age-gap, sapphic romance between two music stars. Both characters felt nuanced and real to me and I liked them equally but for different reasons. I'll 100 percent be reading more of Rachel Lacey's books.

Honestly, I didn’t want to put it down to go to sleep...so I just kept reading. If you enjoy forced proximity, age gap, and celebrity romances you will 100% want to check this out.

What a perfect way to start off my Pride month reading. Lacey's dulcet and engaging celebrity romance put me in a just the right spot to kick off a fantastic June.

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for providing an eARC for a honest review.

I found the book very enjoyable, the two main characters were very likeable and you really wanted them to get together and be happy. All the supporting cast were well rounded and I’d really like to read more from the author.

I absolutely loved Eden and Anna' story, it was the perfect combination of friends to lovers, slow burn and celebrity romance. Definitely one of my favorites this year.

It was a super cute and romantic story, once I started it, I couldn't put it down.
The slow burn and tension was so good and I enjoyed so much Eden's journey and that finally could live true to herself.

This was an average read. I dont red many lesbian romance novels but i did not feel the connection between the characters. And didnt really like the premise of the story. The characters didnt really do it gor me either. Kind of slow in parts

*4.5

I really adore this book. It was cute and full of queer joy and I smiled all the time reading it. The characters are so relatable, expecially Anna. She’s a fangirl just like me and I adore how unapologetic she is. And I love every single reference to fandoms.
The romance is pretty good, I really love slow burn romance, so I enjoy this! The age gap is very little for me, but I enjoy it as well.
This book is a really comfort book and I am happy to have read it!

Thank you Netgalley and Montlake for the ARC!