Dreamy, charming, and full of vividly beautiful moments, Andie Burke's latest novel is a triumph. From witty banter to revelations about moving forward after trauma, it's a powerful story about self-love and finding your voice. I'm head-over-heels for With Stars in Her Eyes.

I am a big fan of Andie Burke and her meet disasters. It's important to have a book that answers the question if your bearded dragon gets out and climbs on someone can you overcome it and be more than friends? As funny as this book was, the thing that made it really shine was how the characters bonded over their shared love for the arts. Courtney is a musician and Thea takes photos. I love how they each learn about and appreciate the other ones passion.

While I liked this story, there were times that if felt a bit predictable and like the conflict was a bit forced. However, I adored how Andie Burke incorporated the characters reading historical romance and at times communicating through it. In my opinion all characters should be romance readers as it's obviously the best genre.

I think if you like a book that involves book and art this one will be for you. I did learn some cool things about photography. I would love to read more books connected to this one. At times I felt like I was missing out on exciting things going on with the other characters. I almost went back to see if I missed a book. Hopefully that means we will be getting a connected book very soon.

While "With Stars in Her Eyes" certainly offers moments of charm and undeniable chemistry, it doesn't quite reach the stratospheric heights suggested by the blurb. The premise of a world-renowned cellist finding unexpected connection with a tattoo artist in a quirky Kansas town is undeniably appealing, and Andie Burke delivers on the "swoon-worthy" aspect with some genuinely tender and steamy scenes between Courtney and Thea.

The initial meet-cute, involving a bearded dragon and a precarious ladder, is genuinely funny and sets a lighthearted tone. Burke does a solid job of establishing the individual personalities of the two leads. Courtney's vulnerability beneath her accomplished facade and Thea's quiet strength and artistic spirit are both well-developed. Their burgeoning friendship, blossoming amidst the comforting backdrop of a bookshop, feels natural and sweet. The historical romance book club provides a delightful and organic way for them to connect, offering glimpses into their shared interests and playful banter.

However, the "confusingly star-crossed" element introduced later in the story feels a little forced and slightly melodramatic. While the consequences from Courtney's past are meant to create conflict and raise the stakes, the execution feels somewhat rushed and less impactful than the earlier, more character-driven parts of the novel. The "surprising connections" also lean towards convenient plot devices rather than organic developments.

Ultimately, "With Stars in Her Eyes" is an enjoyable and easy read with engaging characters and a satisfying central romance. It's a charming escape, perfect for a cozy afternoon. While it doesn't quite achieve the "impossible to put down" status, it certainly offers enough sweet moments and heartfelt connection to earn a solid 3.5 out of 5 stars. It's a promising contemporary romance with a unique setting, though it could have benefited from a more nuanced and less contrived approach to its later conflicts.

With Stars in Her Eyes by Andie Burke is a delightful sapphic romance that combines the charm of a small-town bookstore setting with the warmth of a slow-burn love story. The novel follows Courtney Starling, a cellist who, after a career-altering migraine, retreats to her best friend's bookstore in Kansas to find solace. There, she meets Thea Quinn, a tattoo artist seeking a fresh start away from her overbearing family. Their initial awkward encounter, involving a bearded dragon, sets the tone for a relationship filled with humor, tenderness, and undeniable chemistry.

Burke's writing is engaging, with well-developed characters and a plot that balances lighthearted moments with deeper themes of chronic illness, trauma, and self-discovery. The chemistry between Courtney and Thea is palpable, and their evolving relationship is both swoon-worthy and relatable. The bookshop setting adds a cozy atmosphere, making it a perfect read for fans of character-driven romances.

While the pacing is generally steady, some readers may find certain plot points predictable. However, the emotional depth and character development more than compensate for this minor flaw. Overall, With Stars in Her Eyes is a heartwarming and enjoyable read that will resonate with anyone who believes in the power of love and second chances.

Sinopsis en español:

Segundos después de un meteórico lanzamiento de carrera, la violonchelista Courtney Starling sufre un aterrador ataque de migraña durante una actuación clave. Mientras los rumores dañinos vuelan, ella escapa a su lugar feliz: la librería de su mejor amiga de Kansas. Courtney está trabajando de incógnito cuando un grito la envía a saltar de una escalera de estantería para encontrar a la mujer que gritó acogada cerca de la caja registradora.

Cuando Thea Quinn llegó por un paquete mal entregado, no esperaba un encuentro mortificante con un dragón barbudo frente a un librero poco atractivo. Agarrando un próximo folleto del club de lectura y los fragmentos jirones de su dignidad, regresa a su nuevo trabajo de piercing en la tienda de tatuajes de al lado. Se mudó a este peculiar lugar para empezar de nuevo. ¿Pero tal vez el desastre de la reunión fue una señal? ¿Tal vez Thea necesita diversificarse más allá de su afición por la fotografía y conectarse con gente nueva... como en un club de lectura de romance histórico dirigido por un librero particularmente misterioso y sexy con un corte de pixie?

Los almuerzos amistosos se convierten en momentos robados entre las estanterías. Los viejos problemas de Courtney y Thea se sienten evejeras. Pero así como su química se calienta hasta un punto de combustión, las consecuencias del pasado de Courtney llegan literalmente a su puerta exactamente en el momento equivocado. Nuevas revelaciones y conexiones sorprendentes llevan a la pareja de sentirse alegremente enamorada a estar confusamente cruzada por las estrellas. Ambas mujeres deben decidir a qué están dispuestas a renunciar felices para siempre.




Reseña:

Me encantó, disfruté de la lectura, me cayeron bien las protagonistas, la historia estuvo entretenida.

This is what I wish for most bookstore romances to be! Really enjoyed the chemistry between the MCs as it felt effortless and genuine, despite the somewhat-slow burn. Appreciated the time the author took to develop both MCs’ support systems and their nuanced conflicts. Looking forward for more from Burke!

After reading an ARC for Burke’s other book, I was really excited about this one. Unfortunately I just didn’t enjoy it at all. The characters felt so unrealistic, and just frustratingly unwilling to help themselves. There was also just such a huge disconnect between the regular story and slow burn romance versus the spicy scenes (they felt completely out of the blue compared to how slowly it was set up to happen).

I had such high hopes for this book. The blurb sounded amazing, and the cover was so cute—I really wanted to love it. Unfortunately, I found it hard to get into the story, and I ended up dragging my feet to finish.

One of the biggest challenges for me was connecting with the characters. I felt like there was little to no character development, and the two main characters felt so similar that I struggled to tell them apart at times. I really wish there had been more distinct personalities to help differentiate them.

The writing style also made it a tough read for me. I found myself having to reread sentences just to make sense of them, which pulled me out of the story and made it hard to stay engaged. It distracted from the overall experience, and I think it impacted how much I could enjoy the book.

That said, I did appreciate the representation of chronic health issues, as well as the exploration of fear of failure and self-worth struggles. Those themes made the characters feel more grounded and real, and I always love when a book touches on those kinds of topics in a meaningful way.

All in all, it wasn’t a bad read—it just didn’t quite live up to my expectations. It’s not a book I’ll be talking about nonstop, but I do think it had some redeeming qualities.

2.5 but I’m rounding up.

First, thank you to the author, publisher & NetGalley for the arc!

I’ll start by saying that the premise of the book was great. The potential is definitely there, but it was not executed in a way that worked for me. The beginning of the book was excruciatingly slow, and I had to push myself to continue.

I liked their little insta-love moment, and I loved how passionate they were about the things they loved.

I think that it was a little repetitive, and I think that I wasn’t properly invested in their romance as I should have been.

I want to start off by thanking NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of With Stars in Her Eyes by Andie Burke!

With Stars in Her Eyes was a cutie sapphic romance based in a small town in Kansas. Thea Quinn has moved from Alabama to Kansas to have a fresh start away from her family who considers her the black sheep of the family, but is constantly expecting her to do favors and help without any sense of gratitude or personal space given to Thea and her photography hobby. Thea meets Courtney Starling, a bookstore clerk at the local Menagerie Books, where minor chaos ensues thanks to a tiny dragon! (or a lizard with 3D printed wings) Little does Thea know that Courtney is actually Kestrel from her favorite band, The Violet Trikes. A lot of half truths, secrets, friendship, spicy scenes, emotions, blackmail and love later this book ended sweetly and steamy!

Overall I wanted to like this book more than I did. The storyline is right up my alley, but the timeline was hard to follow with whose point of view and what was happening in the story, also some of the writing seemed choppy and would jump around so I had to double back and reread to get my bearings with what was going on with scene changes.

Just to note - there weren't any trigger warnings given before the ARC, so I'm hoping they will be added in before pub day, but the following potential triggers were mentioned in the book:
abortion, ex-spousal abuse (mentally), parental abuse in the form of exploiting a child for performing, panic attacks/PTSD, infertility, religious trauma

“Fall for Him” by Angie Burke was one of my favorite reads in 2024. So I knew I had to pick up this one. I was a little hesitant because I don’t tend to gravitate toward f/f romances. But I didn’t need to worry about it with this book. Thea and Courtney are both trying to find their “person” as a bookstore owner and a tattoo artist. I loved this book was more about the relationship and less about the physical aspect of it. The author did a great job of dealing with heavy themes in the story without bogging it down, which is a feat. Now I did prefer “Fall for him” over “With Stars in Her Eyes” as I preferred the couple in that book over Thea and Courtney. However that in no way doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy this story.

A bit of a slow start — but isn’t that how most relationships start? Loved Courtney and Thea — and the writing is better than most sapphic romances. Secondary characters were plentiful and had developed personalities — and Ms. Burke makes her main characters flaws and foibles feel as real as our own. I’d have loved a bit more closure on Thea’s relationship/boundaries with her family — but that feels nitpicky for an overall multi-dimensioned and poignant story. Will look for more from Ms. Burke!

⭐⭐⭐⭐ — 4.5 Stars!

With Stars In Her Eyes is one of those books that wraps you up in its pages like your favorite cozy blanket — equal parts swoony romance, heartfelt vulnerability, and just the right amount of spice. Andie Burke delivers a sapphic love story that feels so refreshingly real, with two beautifully imperfect women who find each other exactly when they need it most. Courtney’s journey of healing after the crushing blow to her music career and Thea’s fresh start in a new town feel incredibly authentic, making their connection all the more powerful. Their meet-cute (or should I say meet-disaster?) involving a bearded dragon is hands-down one of the most charming and hilarious introductions I've read in a while — it sets the tone for a romance filled with wit, warmth, and undeniable chemistry.

What makes this book truly shine is how Burke balances the tender, flirty moments with deeper themes of chronic illness, trauma, and self-discovery without ever losing that hopeful, feel-good spark. You’ll root hard for Courtney and Thea, not just as a couple, but as individuals learning how to stand tall and choose happiness for themselves. If you're a fan of books that celebrate queer joy, creative passion, and the magic of finding home in another person (and maybe also in a quirky little bookshop!), this one belongs on your TBR stack immediately.

I was pleasantly surprised with this book. A sapphic romance with a literal bookshop owner and tattoo artist come on nowwwwwww and the whole point of the story is about finding your person who feels like home what a sweet story it does tackle some heavier topics so do look into that before reading this, but I really enjoyed the story.

I am absolutely loving all of the new authors I've been reading this year! With Stars in Her Eyes is my first book by Andie Burke, and it was a cozy escape I didn't know I needed!

This story follows Courtney and Thea, who have found themselves in the same town trying to escape from a disastrous performance and build a life outside of family expectations. Their chemistry is instant, with both finding the other beautiful, but their slow-burn flirtation and quiet moments where they really get to know each other are so soft and sweet. I loved the lunches they had, and how Thea supported Courtney when she struggled with her illness. It was never a hindrance to her.

The writing and storytelling in this really shone on the joy of having a found family. Both Courtney and Thea struggled with their family and found the safety and comfort we would associate with our blood relatives in their friends. Also, the setting was awesome! A bookstore and tattoo parlor in a quaint town! I want to move there!

The only reason I am rating this 4 stars is due to the pacing. Some areas dragged a little, and the conflict towards the end felt a little rushed. Other than that, this was an awesome story! I can't wait to see more from Andie!

Thank you, NetGalley, for this ARC.

This started out so well and I really enjoyed the first 70ish% - but the conflict honestly pissed me off so much that I struggled to continue. I was so frustrated at both characters for their lack of communication and maturity?? I was also waiting for some of the side plots to be fleshed out more/resolved and they just…weren’t? I have so many questions - Jeremiah? Thea’s family dynamic? Courtney’s family history? Marshall’s issues with his dad?

I struggled to differentiate between Courtney and Thea’s points of view/dialogue and found myself having to go back a few times to figure out who was speaking/thinking - maybe because they were both so similar?

I did enjoy Thea’s photography and I liked the migraine representation. The start of the book was sweet and I liked watching the two attempt to flirt 😂

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s press for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

With Stars In Her Eyes follows Courtney and Thea as they navigate their personal issues while their relationship grows. The focus of the character development was all on Courtney, but Thea had some things to work through, too, which I felt was not addressed. While I wanted more flushed out for Thea, overall, this was a good read and I enjoyed the banter between the two FMCs. This is my first Andie Burke book and I will add her earlier books to my TBR.

Thank you NetGalley and St Martin's for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

A sapphic romance between two girls struggling to find the ‘right’ person for them. When Courtney comes home to her best friends’ bookstore she didn’t expect to have a run-in with a hot piercer, and then quickly fall into a close relationship.
This book was so good, and I absolutely loved everything about it. I love how Burke wrote heavy themes into the book without the book itself being too heavy, it’s an impressive feat. I loved the side characters (and want a book between two specific side characters if you know who i mean), and the stores.
Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Griffin for an eARC of this book.

With Stars in Her Eyes ✨

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Andie Burke for the opportunity to read this ARC! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book is written from the POVs of Courtney and Thea. Courtney is a musician that has come back to Kansas after a catastrophic event on tour. She works at a local bookstore. While Thea has come to the small town in search of a fresh start. Thea has a passion for photography and ends up meeting Courtney at the bookstore. They start having lunches together and grow closer while sharing deep conversations and books. However, as they get closer there are secrets that Courtney is holding on to. As things come to the surface, will Courtney and Thea be able to hold onto the bond that formed between them?

As mentioned in the author’s note at the beginning of the book, there are some heavier subjects related to Courtney including chronic illness and history with high-control religion. These things peeked my interest in the book, as I have experience with both. I also connected with the author being a pediatric nurse. Overall, I really did enjoy this book. Courtney and Thea were great characters, and I always love the side characters that come with a small town. I will say that’s it’s not a quick read and I did feel like there was some unnecessary drama, but that didn’t deter me. If you like your romance books with a little more depth, then I think you’ll love this one!

This book was a little disappointing. The comfort of a “cozy” book is there but the constant lack of character development. The book felt pretty repetitive at some point and there would have been more out of this. It definitely had the potential!
Thank you St. Martin's Press & NetGalley for the ARC!