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babbieabbi's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I didn’t think I would like this book at first, but I didn’t know what I was getting into. This book was so challenging to read for me, but it would have meant the whole world to me if it existed when I was 15. I can relate to so much with each twin, and the family dynamics were crushingly close to home. This book wrecked me emotionally, but in the best way. I feel so seen
sleepysamreads's review
5.0
I really really loved this. I didn’t have very many expectations going into it, but I definitely wasn’t expecting it to be as touching as it was.
It’s really interesting to see how each of the twins are grieving their brother’s death. They both grieve in very different, but also very similar ways. I found that really interesting.
I’ve never read a book with a genderfluid person! I’ve read a few books with characters who have different gender orientations, but never someone who is fluid on the spectrum. I really enjoyed reading Clare’s perspective and her discovering that about herself.
I really like Taylor! I think the way the author writes them was wonderful! I don’t think I’ve read a book with a non-binary character who we didn’t know their assigned sex at birth. I LOVED this. I think this is a beautiful way to introduce someone to the idea of a non-binary person. This is one of the reasons I think this book would be wonderful for those pre-teens who are ready to bridge the gap between middle grade contemporary to YA contemporary!
I also haven’t read a book with a character who is the specific type of neurodivergent that Audrey is. I think a lot of readers who are autistic might relate with Audrey a lot. (Though they never label Audrey’s neurodiversity as autism, she does have some of the characteristics, as well as a panic disorder and OCD qualities.)
This was a very refreshing book with beautifully unique characters that I definitely recommend!
It’s really interesting to see how each of the twins are grieving their brother’s death. They both grieve in very different, but also very similar ways. I found that really interesting.
I’ve never read a book with a genderfluid person! I’ve read a few books with characters who have different gender orientations, but never someone who is fluid on the spectrum. I really enjoyed reading Clare’s perspective and her discovering that about herself.
I really like Taylor! I think the way the author writes them was wonderful! I don’t think I’ve read a book with a non-binary character who we didn’t know their assigned sex at birth. I LOVED this. I think this is a beautiful way to introduce someone to the idea of a non-binary person. This is one of the reasons I think this book would be wonderful for those pre-teens who are ready to bridge the gap between middle grade contemporary to YA contemporary!
I also haven’t read a book with a character who is the specific type of neurodivergent that Audrey is. I think a lot of readers who are autistic might relate with Audrey a lot. (Though they never label Audrey’s neurodiversity as autism, she does have some of the characteristics, as well as a panic disorder and OCD qualities.)
This was a very refreshing book with beautifully unique characters that I definitely recommend!
_mercury_'s review against another edition
3.0
3.7 stars.
I found it on the New Book shelf in the YA section of my library, finished it a while ago, and have been reading bits over and over. Did I like it? Yes. Did I love it? Maybe a 6.8/10.
I loved all the Audrey parts, they were sweet and relatable, and I liked how the dialogue didn't have quotation marks. The Clare parts, I read but didn't love cause I didn't relate as much to her as I did Audrey. Audrey was smart and artistic, but wanted to be like her sister Clare. Clare was going through her own personal problems, and was trying to figure out who she was, so really it was a case of both of them imagining the other was living a perfect life when really it wasn't.
I found it on the New Book shelf in the YA section of my library, finished it a while ago, and have been reading bits over and over. Did I like it? Yes. Did I love it? Maybe a 6.8/10.
I loved all the Audrey parts, they were sweet and relatable, and I liked how the dialogue didn't have quotation marks. The Clare parts, I read but didn't love cause I didn't relate as much to her as I did Audrey. Audrey was smart and artistic, but wanted to be like her sister Clare. Clare was going through her own personal problems, and was trying to figure out who she was, so really it was a case of both of them imagining the other was living a perfect life when really it wasn't.
mesy_mark's review against another edition
3.0
This was a complex book of identity, loss, and uncertainty.
Audrey might be neurodivergent, tests are still inconclusive. But one thing that is or certain, she is now at Peak for her education and has been there since her older brother Alex died. Clare her fraternal town born under a different star sign is in a normal school. In with the popular group but now seems to be shifting out of that way as she went through her brother's phone. Phone with videos on it that put her in the traditional masc position. This spurs her.
As Audrey wants out of Peak and Clare is discovering at the same time that she might be a little fluid in gender something she realizes that after getting used to Taylor, a nonbinary person. And Clare might even have feelings for them.]
This was a book of how loss. Alex passed away and C; are blamed Audrey for it. Audrey just wants to prove that she is normal and can fit in with the friend Clare has even though she has a fallout with that group. Clare just wants to figure her thoughts and where they are leading her ad is despite avoiding her sister and catch with her brother.
Audrey might be neurodivergent, tests are still inconclusive. But one thing that is or certain, she is now at Peak for her education and has been there since her older brother Alex died. Clare her fraternal town born under a different star sign is in a normal school. In with the popular group but now seems to be shifting out of that way as she went through her brother's phone. Phone with videos on it that put her in the traditional masc position. This spurs her.
As Audrey wants out of Peak and Clare is discovering at the same time that she might be a little fluid in gender something she realizes that after getting used to Taylor, a nonbinary person. And Clare might even have feelings for them.]
This was a book of how loss. Alex passed away and C; are blamed Audrey for it. Audrey just wants to prove that she is normal and can fit in with the friend Clare has even though she has a fallout with that group. Clare just wants to figure her thoughts and where they are leading her ad is despite avoiding her sister and catch with her brother.
darthsquidious's review against another edition
4.0
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Despite being marketed as a YA book, Under Shifting Stars has moments that can be meaningful, and relatable, to readers of all ages. Even as someone outside of the target age range, I enjoyed this story a lot both because of the well-written characters, and the lessons about learning to love oneself. Under Shifting Stars helped me remember that self-discovery doesn‰ЫЄt end with adolescence and that it‰ЫЄs okay to continue exploring my identity...
See my full review at https://butwhythopodcast.com/2020/07/29/advanced-review-under-shifting-stars/
Despite being marketed as a YA book, Under Shifting Stars has moments that can be meaningful, and relatable, to readers of all ages. Even as someone outside of the target age range, I enjoyed this story a lot both because of the well-written characters, and the lessons about learning to love oneself. Under Shifting Stars helped me remember that self-discovery doesn‰ЫЄt end with adolescence and that it‰ЫЄs okay to continue exploring my identity...
See my full review at https://butwhythopodcast.com/2020/07/29/advanced-review-under-shifting-stars/
sophielucy's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
cassiahf's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
arinreads's review against another edition
5.0
this was... beautiful.
not too complicated or too dramatic but very unique and also very important. there are a lot of things going on, and i think all of them were handled quite masterfully.
wouldn't say it was an "absolute favourite" kind of a five-star but it reached some places in me and people should definitely read this!!
not too complicated or too dramatic but very unique and also very important. there are a lot of things going on, and i think all of them were handled quite masterfully.
wouldn't say it was an "absolute favourite" kind of a five-star but it reached some places in me and people should definitely read this!!
readabookorfive's review against another edition
2.0
Under Shifting Stars is a book I so deeply wanted to love. LGBTQIAP representation is something so important to me and when I saw this book had not only a non binary character in but also a gender fluid character in i was so excited to dive in, unfortunately I didn’t like it.
One of my main issues was the writing style, I just found it to be so disjointed and jarring especially in Audrey’s POV. The characters definitely didn’t feel the same as each other but I didn’t really enjoy the writing style for either of them.
I did on the other hand, like the way grief was handled in this book. It broke my heart watching these two having to go through this loss and how it effected them and their family. Apart from the scene with Claire when she finds the video, that made me feel so sick to my stomach. But, other than that it was handled with so much care and respect and I loved that about it.
Overall. I just did not like this book and I am sad about it. I thought it would be a favourite of the year but it just fell so completely flat for me. I do commend the author for having diversity in their book as well as dealing with some heavy topics but it just wasn’t for me. Although, I know some people will read it and absolutely love it which is great!
One of my main issues was the writing style, I just found it to be so disjointed and jarring especially in Audrey’s POV. The characters definitely didn’t feel the same as each other but I didn’t really enjoy the writing style for either of them.
I did on the other hand, like the way grief was handled in this book. It broke my heart watching these two having to go through this loss and how it effected them and their family. Apart from the scene with Claire when she finds the video, that made me feel so sick to my stomach. But, other than that it was handled with so much care and respect and I loved that about it.
Overall. I just did not like this book and I am sad about it. I thought it would be a favourite of the year but it just fell so completely flat for me. I do commend the author for having diversity in their book as well as dealing with some heavy topics but it just wasn’t for me. Although, I know some people will read it and absolutely love it which is great!
nymphoutofwater's review
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0