Bound by Stars absolutely captivated me from start to finish. I went in curious—Titanic in space is a bold pitch—but I was not prepared for just how quickly I’d fall in love with this story and its characters. E.L. Starling delivered a YA sci-fi adventure that feels both fresh and classic, one that balances big themes of class, privilege, identity, and survival with deeply personal character moments and a slow-burn romance that genuinely earned every beat.

Weslie Fleet is the perfect lens for this story. Raised in the crumbling ruins of Earth, she is someone who knows exactly where she comes from and refuses to let the luxury of Mars’s elite—or their judgment—erase that. I loved that she wasn’t your typical fish out of water heroine who’s dazzled and lost. Weslie is sharp, practical, and unafraid to call things as she sees them. Her engineering mind gives her a unique way of looking at the world, and that perspective added so much texture to both the plot and her relationships. It’s rare to find a YA protagonist who balances vulnerability and resilience this well. She never reads as too perfect or too bitter—she’s just trying to survive in a world that was never meant for her.

Then we have Jupiter, who absolutely stole my heart. I’ll admit—I was wary when he was introduced. It would have been easy to write him as a cliché rich boy or cold heir to a corporate empire. But Starling gave us something better: a thoughtful, kind, emotionally intelligent young man trying to navigate expectations he never asked for. The slow-burn between Weslie and Jupiter was pitch-perfect. Their chemistry built so naturally, grounded in respect and understanding. I especially loved how Jupiter never tried to change Weslie or save her—he simply believed in her and stood beside her. Watching them shift from reluctant allies to partners to something more was one of the most rewarding parts of the book.

And then there’s ILSA. What an absolute scene-stealer. Every moment with ILSA was gold. I loved the humor, the sass, the underlying loyalty—and the fact that Weslie’s personality shone through in ILSA’s programming made their bond even more meaningful. It also added a layer of commentary on how we shape the technology around us, intentionally or not. More than once, ILSA’s quips had me laughing out loud—and in the tenser moments, her presence brought a surprising emotional weight.

The worldbuilding here is another strength. The Boundless itself is practically a character: sleek, opulent, but as fragile as the society it represents. The contrast between Earth’s decay and Mars’s elite luxury was stark and effective, laying the groundwork for the novel’s exploration of class divisions. I appreciated that Starling didn’t shy away from the darker side of this world—how wealth can insulate and blind, how survival often depends on which deck of the ship you’re allowed to walk on. The parallels to Titanic were clear but never overplayed; the book stands firmly on its own.

As for pacing, I’ll be honest: the middle portion did slow down a bit for me. After the strong setup, the transition into the deeper conspiracy and shipboard intrigue lost a little momentum. But once the Boundless began veering off course, the narrative absolutely came alive again. The last 20-25% of the book is pure adrenaline—high stakes, major twists, and moments that had me holding my breath. I appreciated that the action never overshadowed the emotional core of the story; even in the chaos, the relationships and character arcs remained the heart of it all.

I also want to call out the supporting cast. Asha, Skye, Curran, Tar, Gianna—these aren’t just background figures. Each brought something essential to the story and to Weslie’s journey. I especially liked the found family vibe that developed as the group faced increasing danger. The dynamics felt authentic, and I was genuinely invested in each character’s fate.

Now, about that ending—wow. I won’t spoil anything, but it left me both satisfied and desperate for more. The cliffhanger was brutal in the best way, perfectly setting up the next chapter in this story. It’s rare for a YA book to stick the landing quite this well, especially in a series opener, but Bound by Stars pulled it off.

Thematically, this book had more depth than I expected. Yes, it’s a romance and an adventure, but it’s also a meditation on power, survival, and the ways we define ourselves in hostile systems. It asks hard questions about privilege, sacrifice, and what it means to belong—or not—in a society built on division. These themes elevated the story and gave it lasting impact.

If I had any critiques beyond the minor pacing issue, it would be that I wanted even more worldbuilding about Earth and Mars. We get glimpses of how the world fell apart and how the Martian elite consolidated power, but I would have loved a bit more detail. Still, this is a small quibble in an otherwise strong narrative.

Overall, Bound by Stars was an absolute win for me. It delivered on its high-concept premise with heart, intelligence, and a cast of characters I can’t stop thinking about. Weslie and Jupiter’s story feels far from over, and I’ll be first in line for book two. If you love YA sci-fi with smart commentary, unforgettable characters, and a romance that will keep you rooting hard, this is one not to miss.

Huge thanks to Entangled Teen and NetGalley for the ARC—I am so grateful to have had the chance to read this early. Now, I’ll just be here counting the days until the sequel.

4 stars ⭐️ I love a Sci-Fi read! Bound by Stars is a YA romance with Titanic vibes. As with any Sci-Fi, if you keep an open mind you’ll probably love it! This had twists and it was captivating. I cannot wait for Book 2!

Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for the ARC. All opinions are my own 🫶🏼

OMG what a heart-pounding story!

I stayed up all night to finish Bound by Stars because I COULD NOT go to sleep without seeing what happened next. This story is action-packed and full of high stakes, secrets, and betrayal - and I was completely hooked from start to finish!

Weslie is such a brilliant and strong main character. I loved how smart, resourceful, and determined she was, even when everything was stacked against her. Her dynamic with Jupiter had the perfect amount of tension and chemistry, and the class divide gave it star-crossed-lovers Titanic-in-space vibes in the best way.

The setting was so well done and the pacing kept me on edge the entire time. If you love dystopian sci-fi with a sharp, capable heroine, a slow-burn romance, and nonstop action, Bound by Stars needs to be on your TBR!

Bound by Stars by E.L. Starling is a YA Titanic retelling—with a twist. The ship is in space, the roles are reversed, and the romance burns just as fiercely.

This is a clean, slow-burn story with no spice, but plenty of emotional tension. It captures everything iconic about the original—class divide, impossible love, and inevitable tragedy—then launches it into space aboard a luxury starcruiser. The worldbuilding is atmospheric, the stakes are high, and the romance is tender and bittersweet.

The gender-flipped dynamic between the leads brings a fresh perspective to a familiar tale. And when the disaster hits, it’s not just dramatic—it’s devastating. Starling leans into the heartbreak, making every decision feel weighty and personal.

If you’re looking for a high-stakes love story without steam, a sci-fi twist on historical tragedy, and an emotional ride that sticks with you, this one delivers.

4.5 out of 5 stars. Still thinking about that ending.

Weslie has won the trip of a lifetime to Mars, on a ship full of the rich elite. She quickly realises she doesn't belong, despite her growing feelings for the golden boy of Mars, Jupiter.

This was a quick and easy read looking at the struggles between the haves and the have nots. The most memorable part of this book was Ilsa, the robot sidekick who stole every scene she was in and absolutely made the story. The rest was good enough, but Ilsa will be reason I encourage others to pick the book up.

Thank you to the publisher for sending a copy for review.

“A Thrilling Ride Through the Stars — with Heart, High Stakes, and Hope”

Titanic meets The Passengers in this action-packed YA adventure that had me hooked from page one. Bound by Stars launches readers on a high-stakes journey from Earth to Mars, where danger lurks, secrets unravel, and two teens from opposite worlds collide in a way that could change everything.

The heart of this story lies in its characters: a girl with grit and a groundbreaking invention that could save lives, and a boy burdened by privilege but desperate for meaning. Their chemistry, dreams, and vulnerabilities make them feel like friends you’ve known forever—which makes the drama all the more gripping and their fates all the more gut-wrenching.

While there were moments I wanted a bit more depth in the world-building and story development, the pace, emotion, and tension carried me through. This is one of those YA sci-fi reads that keeps your pulse racing and your heart fully invested. Fans of star-crossed stories and space-set adventures will absolutely devour this!

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 stars (rounded up for sheer heart and momentum)

This book is so good! Weslie is a girl who isn't afraid to be herself and fight. She does not back down and does what is right. Jupiter is a boy who doesn't give in, he will continue to fight with all that he's got. I loved there relationship and seeing them grow together. My favorite was definitely ILSA. That bot has me laughing so hard so many times. I actually really liked the story line and the trip to Mars theme. You really know how to add some twists and shocking moments that really had me mind blown. This story was so great and I could not get enough. Thank you so much E. L. Starling and Entangled Publishing for allowing me the opportunity to be a part of the ARC Team!❤️

Refreshing!! This one was a good one I was not expecting any of the twists that happened! Keep an open mind when reading this and just enjoy the ride!
Ratings:
Plot 4/5 ⭐️
Spice .5/5 🌶
Billed as a YA novel and it stuck to it!

This is an adventurous romance set in the future aboard the ship Boundless, whose maiden voyage lifts off from Earth bound for Mars. Weslie is from Earth and has secured passage in first class by winning a robotics competition, where once she lands on Mars, she will make her final presentation to a panel of judges. Jupiter is the reluctant heir to one of the six big companies that are like royalty on Mars and rule over the industries. They come from different worlds but find friendship and love along their journey from Earth to Mars. But this is not a smooth sailing when Earthers are considered a class below Elysians, vandalism, and threatening messages signed by a rebel group called E.F.E. warn of a plot to eliminate the elite, and something bigger is at play that may prevent the ship from ever reaching its destination.

This book is perfect for fans of Titanic and Interstellar. It will keep you engaged with its intriguing world building, well paced plot and twists, witty robot sidekick, and it ends in a cliffhanger, making you want to come back for more!

Huge thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy!

Bound by the Stars by E.L. Starling is a sharp, fast-paced YA sci-fi romance—a Titanic retelling set aboard a spaceship en route to Mars. Told in dual POV, it blends adventure, slow-burn romance, and just the right amount of high-stakes drama.

Weslie, a robotics prodigy, earns a coveted spot on the Boundless, where she meets Jupiter, an artist and heir to one of the elite Big Six families. Though neither is searching for love, their connection grows against the backdrop of class divides, secrets, and a voyage that’s headed for disaster.

The Titanic parallels are clear and purposeful—arranged marriage, stark social hierarchy, forbidden romance—but the sci-fi twist makes the story feel fresh.

The dynamic between Jupiter and Weslie is fantastic, filled with tension, banter, and heart. And ILSA, Weslie's bot, adds a surprising dose of humor—she had me laughing out loud. The pacing is quick, the worldbuilding easy to follow, and the stakes build to a thrilling finale.

If you enjoy emotionally-driven stories set in space with romance, danger, and depth, Bound by the Stars is one to add to your list. A compelling read for fans of YA sci-fi and reimagined classics.

Thank you Entangled for my eARC!!!

Weslie Fleet wins a golden ticket aboard the Boundless, humanity’s most opulent starliner. Armed with her bot, ILSA, she departs Earth to find she has been thrust into the spotlight with Mars' elite. Weslie finds herself paired up with the golden boy of Mars' high society, Jupiter, and the two of them find way more than they bargained for. As the the Boundless veers off course and the ship beings to fail, will they beat the odds and survive?

I wasn't so sure going into this book. I love fantasy, but haven't been a big sci-fi fan. I think this book certainly turned that around. Being Titanic inspired was fantastic, and it translated very well into space, I found. Weslie and Jupiter have a great amount of chemistry that isn't overly angsty, as this book is YA. ILSA, I think, steals the show with her snark. There is a great amount of action that keeps the plot moving forward, then add in the twists with the failure of the ship and everything beyond, and it makes for a really great read.

The ending leaves enough open to have a sequel, which I sincerely hope happens, because I'd love more Weslie and Jupiter, and I'm dying to know how everything resolves in the end.

This book was a decent read. There were parts I really enjoyed. I know many people will love it, just wasn't a book for me.

The premise and the core of this is so good. A space Titanic retelling. And for the most part, it was fairly enjoyable. However, the pacing is a little uneven in that it took a while to get started, and then all of the action was in the last 60 or so pages. I also feel that wear. The writing goes wonky is in the fact that most of the story we aren’t there for. Adding Reves POV or continuing the story in general may have connected me more.
Ultimately, it was entertaining, but it could have been so much more

I really enjoyed this one! It’s been awhile since I’ve read a dystopian so this was really refreshing. I loved the premise of a completion winner earning a ride on Boundless to Mars. iSlA is my fave!! Jupiter and awesome were also great characters! The titanic esc qualities were giving so much to the plot! Really enjoyed it with the dual POV and that ending!!

Characters: 3.50⭐️
Setting: 4.00⭐️
Plot: 3.50⭐️
Themes: 4.00⭐️
Personal enjoyment: 3.00⭐️
Emotional Impact: 3.00⭐️
Overall rating: 4.00⭐️

Bound by Stars is described as a gender flipped <i>Titanic</i> in space. We have our main character Weslie who won first class passage on the Boundless headed to Mars to show off her communication device called ISLA (think Baymax from Big Hero 6). There she meets Jupiter who is heir to one of the "Big Six" families who leave off Earth on a space station called Elysium.

Overall, this was a good story with some twists and turns, but I felt the pacing was a little off in the beginning. There were a lot of parallels to other things like Titanic, Big Hero Six and even the movie called Elysium. It was a fun read.

The Space love story with Titanic vibes. What a great underdog tale. Things are not always the way they seem. Loved this book!

This book for me was an unexpected great read. This was a great space related read. It's YA without being YA if that makes any sense. There was a good cast of characters in this book.

I had never really read a science fiction, space romamce bwcore but I enjoyed this. Jupitet amd Weslie were great main character. They had just the right amount of dimension in their relationship with the perfect combo of banter.

ILSA was probably one of my favorite characters because she is just spunky and sassy and just makes me smile. She just drew me in, in every way.

I am so thankful to Entangled Publishing and the author for allowing me to read this book.

Described as a Titanic retelling set in space, E.L. Starling's Bound by Stars follows Earther girl Weslie and Mars's high-society golden boy Jupiter.

It has all the drama of the Titanic story and nearly the same amount of chemistry between our main characters. Here, the love is more distributed among a love triangle, friends, and family. The chemistry between Weslie and Jupiter follows a steady rectilinear line. From (one-sided) enemies to friends, to lovers. One of the main strengths of this book is the banter and sarcasm of the characters and between them.
If you could describe the personalities of Weslie and Jupiter, you could say that they are the epitome of black cat x golden retriever.

The story and themes were compelling. It addresses class struggles, choosing between friends and family, (family) duty, and finding yourself. The pace was not too fast and not too slow; I devoured every single word. The author did an extensive job researching the stakes of being able to live on Mars, though she bends it into this story-driven book instead of turning it into hardcore Sci-Fi.

The beginning (in which Weslie and Jupiter are 'enemies') was one of my favourite parts to read and get familiar with the whole setting and the characters. The middle (in which they're friends) is where the story starts to develop towards the ending, which was definitely the most dramatic, action-packed, Titanic-ish part of the whole. With the thrilling ending, I can't wait to see what's next!

Rating:
- Overall: 4/5 ⭐️
- Spice: 1/5 🌶️
- Romance: 3.8/5 💞
- Themes: 4.5/5 ⭐️
- Characters: 4.5/5⭐️

Thank you to E.L. Starling, Entangled Publishing, and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you Entangled for an ARC copy of this book! I don’t usually enjoy “space” type books but I did enjoy this one. Wes and Jupiters characters were really well written and the twist at the end left me wanting more!

I was sold when I heard the premise of this book:

Young Adult Science Fiction
Space opera
Titanic inspired
Classism
Robot companion
Forced proximity
Forbidden romance
.5🌶

Weslie won a contest and has earned a first class trip from Earth to Mars, where she will present her prize-winning robot, ILSA. This is a loose science fiction novel inspired by the maiden voyage of the Titanic, which is what sold me.

On the voyage, she meets the heirs of the Big Six, the most prominent families that live on Mars. She makes a lot of assumptions about Jupiter because his family is one of the Big Six, who own businesses and land on both Earth and Mars. She's guarded, and her conversations with them throughout the book are a reflection of her past experiences and the classism people from Earth experience due to where she is from. The one-liners from ILSA were hilarious, giving just the right touch to add some humor into already awkward interactions.

This book is a journey of teenagers exploring the projectory of their life, figuring out who they are, and where they want their life to go while managing family dynamics and expectations based on birthright. It's about learning to trust others for who they are, not who their family is to the world, and connect with them on a deeper level. The budding romance between Weslie and Jupiter, while managing their conflicting feelings for each other, was sweet and endearing.

I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who is interested in reading YA, loves the story of the titanic, and wants an introduction to the genre of science fiction.