Stars in the City


Young Adult - Romance
190 Pages
Reviewed on 03/01/2024
Buy on Amazon

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    Book Review

Reviewed by Adanna Ora for Readers' Favorite

Valerie Joseph, a teen movie star, is on set with her jerk ex-boyfriend, Lance Cunningham, who cheated on her with her best friend, Hayley Braeden, to public knowledge. Working with them on set under public scrutiny is not the best of times for her, but she has a passion for acting and is determined to make the most of her career. No matter how badly treated Valerie felt in her relationship with Lance, the one person she never forgot because of the memories and good times was her ex-boyfriend, Davis, a basketball player currently in the same city. Is there any hope of them getting back together? Would the differences in their lifestyles and professions find common ground in their love? Find out in Stars in the City by Krysten Lindsay Hager.

Stars in the City will keep you glued from page one. The use of the first-person narrative, in which Valerie narrates her life story and we hear her inner thoughts, makes it more interesting. I loved everything about this book. I loved the way it shows the glitz, glamour, and ugly side of the entertainment industry. It also shows the pressure celebrities have to deal with to keep up a particular image in society. This reminds us that they are humans with emotions, feelings, and insecurities, just like every other person. I loved the different emotions one feels while reading the book and the lessons to be learned. The most important lesson for me was never to accept less than you deserve and that things are not always the way they seem. I enjoyed Stars in the City so much, and I hope everyone who reads it enjoys it as much as I did.

Pikasho Deka

Stars in the City is a young adult romance drama by Krysten Lindsay Hager. Valerie Joseph is a talented young actress with a significant role in the popular TV soap opera Charmed Lives. Fresh from her breakup with its leading star, Lance Cunningham, Valerie resigns herself to be alone on Valentine's Day when her co-star, Cecily Taylor, sets her up on a date with the up-and-coming popstar, Dex Doyle. However, Valerie can't stop thinking about her former high school boyfriend from her hometown, Davis St. James. When Davis, a rising college basketball star, unexpectedly comes back into Valerie's life, the former lovers realize their deeper feelings for each other. But Valerie's popularity and work commitments soon threaten to drive a wedge between their relationship. Will they end up together?

Krysten Lindsay Hager delivers an engaging tale of romance and drama set to delight readers of contemporary romance. Stars in the City is the story of two young adults navigating careers, college, love, and fame in this social media and technology-obsessed era. Hager crafts an absorbing narrative and doesn't shy away from showcasing the negative aspects of social media and how it impacts the lives of young people in different ways. The plot revolves around the love story between Valerie and Davis. Both have their own challenges and insecurities that they must overcome and, as a reader, it makes you want to root for them. Their story arcs keep you glued to the pages. I adored their relationship and, overall, found the book to be very enjoyable. Recommended to young adult contemporary romance lovers.

Frank Mutuma

Stars in the City by Krysten Lindsay Hager is about an actress called Valeria. Her life seems calm, but a lot of things are happening simultaneously. Hayley has been Valeria's best friend since she moved into the city. Making friends isn't easy, which is why Valeria is deeply hurt when Hayley betrays her by taking her boyfriend. Worse still, Valeria has to work with Lance. Cecily introduces Valeria to another guy, but things become more complicated for her when she gets in touch with her high school boyfriend. Valeria is very fond of him, and their communication is frequent. How does Valeria handle all the pressure that comes with her acting career, and how will her love life turn out?

Stars in the City by Krysten Lindsay Hager is a must-read! The page-turner got me hooked from the first chapter to the last with its well-crafted dialogue that brings the story and characters to life. Valeria's life is a glimpse into what famous people go through; things that are not seen by most fans who are willing to castigate such people easily. Reading this book also got me thinking about the impacts of social media and cyberbullying on people. Krysten also ensured a logical and systematic flow of events, leaving no room for confusion for the reader. The suspense and the drama keep one intrigued and yearning for more. The characters are well-developed, and the steady pacing also contributes to the overall beauty of the book. I look forward to reading something else by this talented author.