As someone who really liked, "Fly With Me", I went into this one very excited.

While this one has its pros and cons, it sadly didn't quite grip me the way the other book did.

There are still tons of cute moments and quirky character traits in this one too, but I just didn't connect with Thea and Courtney as much as I hoped. The drama with Courtney's ex and her music career wasn't all that interesting to me, and Thea's reactions to everything at the end seemed a bit overblown.

Despite that however, it does have redeeming moments. For instance, their sandwich lunches and terrible flirting are cute to witness (even if I didn't always know what they were talking about). Many of their conversations felt awkward in a way that was realistic to two people attracted to each other. I also enjoyed that they both had hobbies they were very passionate about and were able to connect through that.

Overall, the book is sweet and a bit spicy and perfect for fans of song or celebrity fics. 4/5 stars.

Andie Burke tells stories that need to be told. Whether it's chronic illness, the deep scars left behind by religion or the complications of family distance, she doesn't shy away from navigating hard topics with sensitivity, compassion and humor. This isn't a cliched story about repressed sexuality inflicted by conservative religion: it's about how deeply that can influence ones' psyche, sense of self, and ability to move in the world. Burke trusts her reader with subtext: a side romance that takes place off the page is a stunning example of this, as well as her ability to turn a menagerie of exotic pets into mascots any reader would champion. It is a complex, nuanced, growth-fueled love story. It's real -- and it sings. The world needs more gorgeous sapphic love stories, and for that we need more of Andie Burke's voice.

Similar to other reviewers, I noticed an unusually large number of basic editing issues that should have been corrected prior to uploading the ARC. I'm shocked that St Martins put the ARC out in this condition, but trust it will get corrected prior to publication. Reviewing on that basis.

This was an extremely sweet slow burn sapphic romance between Courtney, a professional musician who is running away from her past, and Thea, a professional piercer and amateur photographer who is looking to settle down and escape her family’s expectations.

I absolutely adored two main characters, and their first meeting was super cute, I never thought I’d actually want to have a bearded dragon as a pet, but I fell in love with Billy Gibbons. The small town vibes and found family was another big positive in my opinion, the world would be a better place with more Ms. Jeannies in it.

I will say that I wish the pacing at the end was a bit better, it felt somewhat rushed and some of the sub plots felt unnecessary or should have been given more attention like the fight between Marshall and his father or Thea’s relationship with her own family.

Overall this was a great read that I would recommend anyone who enjoys a cozy, feel good, sapphic romance.

While this book was really good in a lot of ways, I feel like the writing may have fallen short in some areas.

I do understand that ARC copies are not final copies of a book, and may still be riddled with errors. However, even outside of that fact, it was a bit hard to follow at points. There were a couple moments where it switched between first and third person. The 2 FMC's, sometimes during interactions, it was hard to keep track of who was who because of this.

With that being being sad, I really enjoyed this story and the concept of it, and I did enjoy the authors writing style. I look forward to exploring more books from them n the future!

*I did receive this as a NetGalley Arc. This is did not influence or sway my opinions in any way. All opinions are my own.*

3.5 rounded up ✨
Overall, this was a cute and easy read. However, I didn’t find myself fully invested in the romance, which is part of my rating. I know a few friends who suffer from chronic migraines who would truly appreciate the representation in this story!
Although we get insight into both Courtney and Thea, the focus was definitely heavier on Courtney and her background, and I wish we got a little more Thea.
The cozy setting with the library, book club, etc contributed to this being an overall easy read. I wish I had connected with our FMC’s a little more but again, not a bad read! The bookshop pets were easily one of my favorite additions to this sweet and emotional romance.
I plan to post a feature (probably a reworked review to feature high points) on/around release day on my insta @thatbookishteach

this was very cute but also a little predictable. which is fine, a lot of romances are, so it didnt really take much away from it! i loved courtneys hesitation in sharing who she was before her current life, as a way to cope with the different sides of her she was forced to create after separating from the church. thea was a little annoying about it but, as an annoying girl myself this is NOT!!! a criticism, she's a little bit of an annoying person and i'll allow it. but i feel like some major shock and reeling was apt, the declarations of betrayal maybe not. the separation before the reunion was definitely for the best and one of the best 3rd act breakups ive read in a while though. overall i just looooooove the gays and this was very sweet and cute

This book was a slow burn for me. I went in with the same expectations I had after reading fly away with me. This is a totally different book. But with the same realistic relationship growth. The story being set in a red state made the content that much more interesting to me.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing this book to review. I love a sapphic romance with layered characters fighting to change mistakes from their past. Courtney Starling is trying to hide away from a major professional mistake. She takes to working at her best friend's bookstore in Kansas, hiding not only her identity, but also dark complications she is carrying from her ex. Thea Quinn moved to Kansas to set boundaries for herself and her overbearing mother. Both women are struggling to find their worth and not repeat the same mistakes they made before.

This is a very character-driven novel, navigating chronic health issues, fear of failure, manipulative abuse, and self-worth. Both characters are in their head, but Burke does an excellent job of avoiding the "miscommunication" trope and even dropping a joke about it between them. The healthy open conversations these two women share are a breath of fresh air. It demonstrates mature relationship building and gives the reader a chance to see the growth of these two women. The romance is sweet, patient, and very real. The additional cast of characters adds a lovely found family to the main plot. Burke builds a solid scaffolding around the two women in the people they are surrounded by. The supporting cast has rich backstories of their own and are fully fleshed out characters who add whimsy to the page.

If you are a fan of strong character development, found family, and cozy sapphic romance then this read is for you.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC!

This is my first read from Andie Burke and I look forward to reading more. This is a cozy and sweet small town sapphic read.

I loved this story so much. It was really heartfelt, and the slow burn added so much to their connection. I loved that it was dual POV because we really got to see what each character was feeling.

Longer review to come closer to publication date in September.

I was really between giving this a 2 or a 3 but ultimately I decided to round up because it is an ARC and some of my issues were the fact that this book feels like a pre-edited drafts. I read a good amount of ARCs and this, by far, was the poorest in terms of grammar, POV, and typos. But again, this will probably be fixed before this book gets published, and it is an ARC after all.

Overall, I was really disappointed with this book because I loved Burke’s debut and I was really looking forward to this one. Both characters sounded exactly alike and it was hard to distinguish who was saying what sometimes, and they were both so negative and cringe. I felt like they had very little chemistry, and their slow burn had no tension.

I didn’t care about any of the side characters, and I felt like this story simultaneously so much going on but then again nothing happening at all. Some things were too campy to be reality, and others were real and raw - it felt like the author didn’t quite know what she wanted the overall vibe of the book to be.

Lastly, I felt like there were loose ends that weren’t tied up - but I honestly was just glad the book was over.

Thank you so much for the ARC!

Well, this was...not good.

Before I get into this review, let me start by saying that I am, of course, aware that ARCs are not finalized copies and that there is still room for changes to be made before the book goes to print. Even with that in mind, I can't ignore the extent to which the writing and its desperate need for significant editing influenced my opinions on this book. It is rife with grammatical errors, mismatched modifiers, and other technical issues that made it extremely frustrating to read. The entire book was written in first-person with the exception of one sentence that was inexplicably written in third-person. I lost count of the number of times I had to reread sentences because they simply did not make sense as written. If I'm too focused on issues with the technical writing aspects of a book to actually focus on or enjoy the story itself, we have a problem.

When I wasn't too busy trying to make sense of the poorly constructed sentences, I couldn't really bring myself to care much about the two main characters or their relationship. Thea and Courtney were not distinct enough for me to keep them straight the majority of the time. There were very few, if any, dialogue tags, and because the two main characters had such similar voices, I often struggled to determine which character was speaking. Similarly, because this book had a dual POV and utilized first-person narration, I found myself constantly forgetting whose POV I was meant to be in despite the fact that, for the most part, the POV changed back and forth with each chapter.

I didn't feel there was much character development in this book, nor was their much depth to either of their individual histories. For example, Thea often spoke somewhat vaguely about feeling like an outsider in her family despite being "close" with her mom and speaking to her regularly and often. There wasn't much insight as to why she felt that way or how it really impacted her beyond the surface-level discussion of wishing that wasn't the case. Courtney's religious trauma and clearly abusive relationship with her ex-husband, Jeremiah, were also largely glossed over. Despite them being mentioned on several occasions, those aspects of her life were primarily talked about in somewhat vague terms. Things that seemed important, such as Courtney's prior abortion and Jeremiah's blackmailing, were constantly brought up over the course of the book but then seemed to disappear toward the 80% mark. There were so many opportunities for this story to delve into and unpack heavy, significant topics, but they were missed essentially every time. While I can understand wanting to keep a romance novel on the lighter side, what I can't understand is opting to go that route after throwing in aspects that explicitly contradict that tone.

This was my first Andie Burke novel, and if it's representative of her writing as a whole, I'm afraid it might be my last. I expected more from it, especially considering it's her third traditionally published book, and unfortunately it was just a letdown in almost every way. I hope the pervasive technical errors are corrected in full before this book is officially published and that future readers are able to get more enjoyment out of it than I did. As a lesbian, I really am rooting for sapphic books to be good and successful so we can continue to see ourselves represented in this medium, and it's a shame when they miss the mark.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Before I get into my review of “With Stars In Her Eyes”, I’d like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC!

This was my first time reading an Andie Burke book and I had fun! This book was well written when it came to the settings and characters.

My only “complaint” is that this book just felt kind of average…? I was excited for this plot but at some points, I felt the plot was lost.

I can’t point out where without spoiling the book, but in some moments near the 70%-80% mark showed this.

However; if you’re looking for a cute cozy book to read while it’s raining outside I feel like this might be the book for you.

I want to give Andie Burke another shot so I hope to start “Fly With Me” soon!

Andie Burke's debut novel, Fly With Me, is one of my all-time favorite novels *and* one of my all-time favorite romances. I have returned to it again and again, especially during times of grief, because it's a book that understands how, sometimes, being a grown-up is holding impossibly hard things in one hand and holding life-affirming, transformative love in the other hand. Both things can be true and real at once. And you don't need to have everything in the world figured out before you embrace it. I loved Fly With Me because Stella and Oliver were grown dang women, with their own hopes and dreams and sorrows, and their relationship made them both happier and better.

And now that I've read With Stars in Her Eyes, I can simply say that Andie Burke has a gift for understanding and conveying real love in messy times. Thea and Courtney's story is full of tough life stuff — religious trauma, chronic illness, PTSD, mothers who do not understand boundaries — but it's also full of tenderness and compassion and hijinks! It takes a really skilled writer to get as meta about romance novels as Andie Burke does in this book. It seems like a trend lately, especially with more established writers, but Burke actually nails it with self-deprecating hilarity and heart. There's nothing cringey about it. (Just clinch covery!)

I related so much to Olive and Stella, and I relate just as much to Courtney and Thea, because I, too, am a chronically ill exvangelical black sheep with a huge heart who still wants to be wowed by the universe, even when the world's bleakness feels overwhelming. There's also a surprise dragon!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book and provide an honest review.

I’m so grateful I got the chance to read this one thanks to NetGalley! Right from the start, I was pulled in by a powerful moment involving Courtney that really set the tone for everything that followed. Both Courtney and Thea are navigating some deep personal struggles—learning to set boundaries, trust themselves, and break out of old habits. The story does a great job showing how illness can affect someone in ways others might not fully understand, and I appreciated the honesty in that.

One of my favorite parts was the communication between Thea and Courtney—it felt natural and strong, and it really helped their relationship grow. That said, the timeline got a little messy toward the end, which pulled me out of the story a bit. Still, I absolutely adored the side characters and would love to dive deeper into their lives and the town itself.

Though it took a little while to really get going after the first chapter, the ending was worth the wait. It’s one of those reads that balances heavier topics with heart and warmth. The writing felt intentional, the banter was top-notch, and those little food puns were the perfect touch. A sweet, heartfelt story that felt very real. Big thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and St. Martin’s Griffin for the ARC!

Although the concept is captivating, the execution is lacking. The writing is sophomoric, with poor grammar and a distinct lack of character development. The scene where our love interests meet is banal and mostly about sexual attraction writ large, and in a clumsy way.

This needed a clear-eyed editor who was not afraid to demand rewrites. It has promise, but it does not deliver.

Please, someone, explain mismatched modifiers to Burke:

"Squid Tattoo Shop was located in an enormous old brick building surrounded by giant old trees that used to be St. Clare Preparatory School."

This happens repeatedly in the book. It's an easy catch, which tells me not enough eyes were on this book in the early stages. (Also don't use the same word twice in a sentence. Did an editor or copy editor even look at this?)

I hope it can be fixed pre-release because I love the concept; the poor writing gets in the way.

This was a sweet romance but parts of it were just too frustrating. I liked the characters and their past traumas seemed realistic. The Hannah Montana energy with Courtney's secret musical identity was fun but I was expecting the reveal to be more lighthearted not so cranky. Courtney's evil ex and that whole situation was just dumb and was just annoyed the whole time. The miscommunication and Courtney's refusal to just tell anyone her actual feelings was grating.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’m so thankful to have gotten to read this story courtesy of NetGalley! I was immediately drawn in as we experienced an intense event with Courtney that kicks off the rest of the story. Both our main characters struggle with listening to themselves and establishing boundaries with those close to them, while trying to grow out of old patterns. This story gave an inside look at how someone’s illness can impact them in unexpected ways as others can view things differently. I appreciated how well Courtney and Thea communicated overall and it helped build their bond. I will say there were a few points where the time line, especially in the last quarter or so, got confusing and took me out of the story a bit. I loved all the side characters and would love to learn more about them and the town over all. While it took a bit for events to begin kicking off after the initial chapter, I’m satisfied with the ending and enjoyed Thea and Courtney’s story.

With Stars in Her Eyes is a cozy, dual POV, slow-burn sapphic romance with loveable characters, a sweet found family and a dreamy setting. Courtney is a musician working at her friend's bookstore after a migraine causes her last show to be disastrous. Thea just moved to town and is working a piercing job looking for a fresh start. After an encounter with an animal side character, sparks fly. The dialogue between the characters had great banter and was really done well. The side characters added so much to the story, providing more depth. All of the relationships, whether romantic or platonic, were well developed and made me want to be a part of this community! Overall, this was a solid 4-star book. Thank you to NetGalley, Andie Burke, and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC of this book

This was a really sweet, cozy sapphic romance. I enjoyed the world that the author created, as well as the build up of the romance. There was a good balance of banter and also dealing with serious topics such as chronic illness.

I found it a little slow to get into at the beginning, but once the story got going I enjoyed it and found myself really invested in their relationship.