Review: Starstruck

Title: Starstruck
Series: No
Genre: Young Adult- Supernataural
Author: Cyn Balog
Publisher: Delacorte Books For Young Readers
Release Date: July 12, 2011
Book: ARC sent by publisher

“Gwendolyn “Dough” X doesn’t think she has much going for her—she carries a few extra pounds, her family struggles with their small bakery in a town full of millionaires, and the other kids at her New Jersey high school don’t seem to know that she exists. Thank the stars for her longtime boyfriend, Philip P. Wishman—or “Wish.” He moved away to California three years ago, when they were 13, but then professed his love for her via e-mail, and he’s been her long-distance BF ever since.

At the beginning of her junior year, though, Wish e-mails that he’s moving back to Jersey. Great, right? Well, except that Dough has gained about 70 pounds since the last time Wish saw her, while Wish—according to his Facebook photos—has morphed into a blonde god. Convinced that she’ll be headed for Dumpsville the minute Wish lays eyes on her, Dough delays their meeting as long as she possibly can.

But when she sees Wish at school, something amazing happens. He looks at Dough like she’s just as gorgeous as he is. But Wish is acting a little weird, obsessed with the sun and freaked out by rain. And the creepy new guy working at the bakery, Christian, is convinced that there’s more to Wish’s good looks than just healthy eating and lots of sun. He tells Dough that a mark on Wish’s neck marks him as a member of the Luminati—an ancient cult of astrologers who can manipulate the stars to improve their lives. Is Wish and Dough’s love meant to be—or are they star-crossed?”

This book is nothing what I expected. It had some great elements in the book that had me hooked. First off the main character, Dough. I loved this girl. She is so insecure that you just want to help her. She is one character that is real in all kinds of ways. She is selfless and thinks about others. I do dislike the way she see’s herself. She is constantly putting herself down and I am glad that someone saw her for her.

Now, the plot of this book is somewhat ironic. Wish is unsatisfied with the way he looks so he turns to worshiping the stars and sun which make him in turn handsome. I thought this is strange yet ironic scenario. He likes Dough for who she is but doesn’t like himself? HUH? In the end it doesn’t matter what other people think about you, it what you think about yourself that matters. In the mist of everything, Wish put all of that aside to save the one person he loved before it was too late. Wish, I am so proud of you!

I really enjoyed the loved interest in this book. Though I thought it could go either way, it did take me surprise but it was also kind of obvious. I really like that Dough had such a great relationship with Wish. I loved that they had a back round history to each other and even sustained a long distance relationship. It really showed how much they truly do care for each other.

Starstruck is great, written book with a unique yet similar storyline. We all want to change something about ourselves but it is worth risking the person we love? I loved that this plot hit so many things at home for people. It brings to light what really matters, what we think of ourselves.

I give it 4 BITES!

Happy Reading!