Review: Defy the Stars by Stephanie Parent

Defy the Stars by Stephanie Parent
Publisher: Self-Published
First published: August 1st, 2012
Source: Received from author
Format: eBook
Pages: 325

Goodreads Summary:

Julia Cape: A dedicated classical piano student just trying to get through her last semester of high school while waiting to hear from music conservatories.

Reed MacAllister: A slacker more likely to be found by the stoners’ tree than in class.

Julia and Reed might have graduated high school without ever speaking to each other…until, during a class discussion of Romeo and Juliet, Julia scoffs at the play’s theme of love at first sight, and Reed responds by arguing that feelings don’t always have to make sense. Julia tries to shake off Reed’s comment and forget about this boy who hangs with the stoner crowd—and who happens to have breathtaking blue eyes—but fate seems to bring the two together again and again. After they share an impulsive, passionate kiss, neither one can deny the chemistry between them. Yet as Julia gets closer to Reed, she also finds herself drawn into his dark world of drugs and violence. Then a horrific tragedy forces Julia’s and Reed’s families even farther apart…and Julia must decide whether she’s willing to give up everything for love.

Defy the Stars is written in an edgy free-verse style that will appeal to fans of Ellen Hopkins and Lisa Schroeder; however, the writing is accessible enough to speak to non-verse fans as well. The novel’s combination of steamy romance and raw emotion will appeal to fans of Gayle Forman, Simone Elkeles, Jennifer Echols, and Tammara Webber. With a story, language and form that both pay homage to and subvert Shakespeare’s play, Defy the Stars is much more than just another Romeo and Juliet story.

I'd recommend this for an older audience (16+).

My Rating: 4.0 / 5

First thoughts:

A bittersweet love story everybody knows, a modern setting and a writing style that will make you crave more verse novels - that's Defy the Stars. It incorporates the good-girl-bad-boy-element which, in combination with Romeo & Juliet's tragic fate, ensures enough passion and heart-break for its readers to keep the story interesting.

Then I can't stand at all and I'm
sliding down,
             down,
                  down. (Kindle Location 2299)*

More detailed:

As someone who absolutely loves verse novels I jumped at the opportunity to read and review Defy the Stars. Up front I have to say that this is probably perfect for everyone who wants to "try" a verse novel since Stephanie Parent's storytelling is very easy to follow and can be read almost like a "regular" novel.

I know the glass is old,
softening, flattering, but still, I hardly recognize
that girl... Is it me? (Kindle Location 450)*

It's been a while since I've read Romeo & Juliet, but it was easy nonetheless to detect the elements of Shakespeare's love story which were beautifully incorporated into Defy the Stars. Needless to say, you can expect lots of passion, angst, and heart-break which always made me keep turning the pages, afraid that Julia and Reed will have to suffer the same tragic fate as the classical lovers.

What I also enjoyed were the music elements that were weaved into the story. As an aspiring pianist, we get to witness Julia practicing certain pieces of classical music and even for someone like me, who has really no idea about playing an instrument, it was great to see how she could get lost in the music she creates.

I want to change these
notes, but I am no composer. I can
     only play the song another has chosen for
     me. (Kindle Location 56)*

Considering certain elements like drug use, I'd definitely recommend Defy the Stars for an older audience. While I know that it's important that such topics are presented in YA as well, I'm not really sure whether I like the extent of it in this story, which is why I have "only" rated this with four stars. Other than that I really liked Defy the Stars and hope to read more by Stephanie Parent in the future.

Buy this book:

Amazon US | Amazon UK

Have you read Defy the Stars? If yes, what did you think about it?
If no, do you plan to read it?

I'd love to hear your thoughts!
Carina

* All quotes are taken from an eBook of Defy the Stars by Stephanie Parent.

Fictional Distractions of the Week #41

Welcome to Fictional Distractions of the Week. It is inspired by Book Journey's It's Monday! What are you reading? and Fiktshun's My Reading Pile and it will show you what I'm planning to read during the next week.

The books I plan to read this week:

The first thing I'm going to finish is Defy the Stars by Stephanie Parent, a modern Romeo & Juliet retelling in verse. While I'm not too far into it when writing this post, I like it so far.

Goodreads Summary:

Julia Cape: A dedicated classical piano student just trying to get through her last semester of high school while waiting to hear from music conservatories.

Reed MacAllister: A slacker more likely to be found by the stoners’ tree than in class.

Julia and Reed might have graduated high school without ever speaking to each other…until, during a class discussion of Romeo and Juliet, Julia scoffs at the play’s theme of love at first sight, and Reed responds by arguing that feelings don’t always have to make sense. Julia tries to shake off Reed’s comment and forget about this boy who hangs with the stoner crowd—and who happens to have breathtaking blue eyes—but fate seems to bring the two together again and again. After they share an impulsive, passionate kiss, neither one can deny the chemistry between them. Yet as Julia gets closer to Reed, she also finds herself drawn into his dark world of drugs and violence. Then a horrific tragedy forces Julia’s and Reed’s families even farther apart…and Julia must decide whether she’s willing to give up everything for love.

I'm very excited for the book I'm planning to read after that, which is Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire. I've heard so many amazing things about this one, so I gave in and downloaded it from NetGalley and am now hoping that it's actually as awesome as everyone's saying.

Goodreads Summary:

The new Abby Abernathy is a good girl. She doesn’t drink or swear, and she has the appropriate percentage of cardigans in her wardrobe. Abby believes she has enough distance between her and the darkness of her past, but when she arrives at college with her best friend, her path to a new beginning is quickly challenged by Eastern University's Walking One-Night Stand.

Travis Maddox, lean, cut, and covered in tattoos, is exactly what Abby needs—and wants—to avoid. He spends his nights winning money in a floating fight ring, and his days as the ultimate college campus charmer. Intrigued by Abby’s resistance to his appeal, Travis tricks her into his daily life with a simple bet. If he loses, he must remain abstinent for a month. If Abby loses, she must live in Travis’s apartment for the same amount of time. Either way, Travis has no idea that he has met his match.

Because it sounds like a fairly heavy read, I initially didn't even want to read Speechless by Hannah Harrington, but gave in and requested it after hearing so many amazing things about it. This will be my third read for this week.

Goodreads Summary:

Everyone knows that Chelsea Knot can't keep a secret

Until now. Because the last secret she shared turned her into a social outcast—and nearly got someone killed.

Now Chelsea has taken a vow of silence—to learn to keep her mouth shut, and to stop hurting anyone else. And if she thinks keeping secrets is hard, not speaking up when she's ignored, ridiculed and even attacked is worse.

But there's strength in silence, and in the new friends who are, shockingly, coming her way—people she never noticed before; a boy she might even fall for. If only her new friends can forgive what she's done. If only she can forgive herself.

And maybe, just maybe, I'll even have the time to start Defiance by C.J. Redwine, which I've also been hearing amazing things about.

Goodreads Summary:

Within the walls of Baalboden, beneath the shadow of the city’s brutal leader, Rachel Adams has a secret. While other girls sew dresses, host dinner parties, and obey their male Protectors, Rachel knows how to survive in the wilderness and deftly wield a sword. When her father, Jared, fails to return from a courier mission and is declared dead, the Commander assigns Rachel a new Protector, her father’s apprentice, Logan—the same boy Rachel declared her love for two years ago, and the same boy who handed her heart right back to her. Left with nothing but fierce belief in her father’s survival, Rachel decides to escape and find him herself. But treason against the Commander carries a heavy price, and what awaits her in the Wasteland could destroy her.

At nineteen, Logan McEntire is many things. Orphan. Outcast. Inventor. As apprentice to the city’s top courier, Logan is focused on learning his trade so he can escape the tyranny of Baalboden. But his plan never included being responsible for his mentor’s impulsive daughter. Logan is determined to protect her, but when his escape plan goes wrong and Rachel pays the price, he realizes he has more at stake than disappointing Jared.

As Rachel and Logan battle their way through the Wasteland, stalked by a monster that can’t be killed and an army of assassins out for blood, they discover romance, heartbreak, and a truth that will incite a war decades in the making.

What are your Fictional Distractions of the Week?

New Distractions #09

New Distractions is a weekly feature on Fictional Distraction, inspired by various memes that make us share the new books we got during a week, e.g. In My Mailbox by The Story Siren, This Week in Books by Pop Culture Junkie and Stacking the Shelves by Tynga's Reviews. 

The books I received this week:

For review:

Losing Lila | The Forsaken | Speechless

Untraceable | Defy the Stars

Bought:

Embrace

Huge thanks to Simon & Schuster UK, Hachette Children's UK, Harlequin Teen, S.R. Johannes, and Stephanie Parent.

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This week I got some very awesome books and cannot wait to delve into them. I've actually already read (and looooved) Losing Lila and my review for it will be up on Tuesday. My next read will be Defy the Stars which is a verse novel and since I haven't read one in a long while, I decided to move it to the top of my tbr-pile.

Which books did you receive this week?
Carina

Fictional Distractions of the Week #40

Welcome to Fictional Distractions of the Week. It is inspired by Book Journey's It's Monday! What are you reading? and Fiktshun's My Reading Pile and it will show you what I'm planning to read during the next week.

The books I plan to read this week:

Just an hour ago, I started the first book for this week - Rock and a Hard Place by Angie Stanton. While I'm not too far into it yet, I can already say that it has a very pleasant style of writing and will probably be a very fast read.

Goodreads Summary:

One day while watching the Interstate exit for her dad’s long awaited return, Libby’s life is rocked when Peter Jamieson steps off his tour bus and into her life. After a couple chance meetings with Peter, Libby breaks away from her rule abiding behavior and her life changes course.

Peter longs for normalcy away from the screaming fans who know nothing about the real him. He is amazed to discover Libby has never heard of him or his band. Soon their friendship turns to love. While Peter battles his family's growing interference so he can spend time with Libby, she struggles with her eccentric aunt who turns more bizarre each day.

Their lives are torn apart when Peter's family intrudes and Libby disappears. Peter’s desperate search for her comes up empty. Can they find their way back to each other while the world plots against them?

Then I'm going to be reading Losing Lila by Sarah Alderson. I read the first book of this series, Hunting Lila, during my vacation and fell in love with it and now can't wait to find out how Lila's story will continue.

Goodreads Summary:

Alex and Lila are on the run, desperately trying to stay one step ahead of the Unit, which somehow is managing to track their every move. Whilst Alex is determined to keep Lila safe and her ability secret at any cost, Lila’s only thought is of finding a way back to California so that she can rescue her brother and mother from the military base where they’re being held.

Struggling to control both her growing power and her deepening feelings for Alex, Lila decides the time has finally come to stop running and start fighting. Together with Alex, Demos, and the people she’s come to think of as family, Lila plans not just to save her brother and mother, but to completely destroy the Unit and everything it stands for.

But the plan requires Lila to return alone to California, make friends with the enemy, and to risk losing everything - Alex, her family, and even her life.

After that I'm planning to read Glitch by Heather Anastasiu, which I've heard quite good things about so far (a few mixed things though, too) and therefore am looking forward to reading it myself. I hope that it'll live up to my expectations.

Goodreads Summary:

In the Community, there is no more pain or war. Implanted computer chips have wiped humanity clean of destructive emotions, and thoughts are replaced by a feed from the Link network.

When Zoe starts to malfunction (or “glitch”), she suddenly begins having her own thoughts, feelings, and identity. Any anomalies must be immediately reported and repaired, but Zoe has a secret so dark it will mean certain deactivation if she is caught: her glitches have given her uncontrollable telekinetic powers.

As Zoe struggles to control her abilities and stay hidden, she meets other glitchers including Max, who can disguise his appearance, and Adrien, who has visions of the future. Both boys introduce Zoe to feelings that are entirely new. Together, this growing band of glitchers must find a way to free themselves from the controlling hands of the Community before they’re caught and deactivated, or worse.

And I'm also crossing my fingers to get around to start a fourth novel, which would be Defy the Stars by Stephanie Parent. While I'm not too fond of the cover, it sounds like it could be a really good read - a verse novel + a retelling of Romeo & Juliet.

Goodreads Summary:

Julia Cape: A dedicated classical piano student just trying to get through her last semester of high school while waiting to hear from music conservatories.

Reed MacAllister: A slacker more likely to be found by the stoners’ tree than in class.

Julia and Reed might have graduated high school without ever speaking to each other…until, during a class discussion of Romeo and Juliet, Julia scoffs at the play’s theme of love at first sight, and Reed responds by arguing that feelings don’t always have to make sense. Julia tries to shake off Reed’s comment and forget about this boy who hangs with the stoner crowd—and who happens to have breathtaking blue eyes—but fate seems to bring the two together again and again. After they share an impulsive, passionate kiss, neither one can deny the chemistry between them. Yet as Julia gets closer to Reed, she also finds herself drawn into his dark world of drugs and violence. Then a horrific tragedy forces Julia’s and Reed’s families even farther apart…and Julia must decide whether she’s willing to give up everything for love.

What are your Fictional Distractions of the Week?