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Starstruck

3.3 of 5 stars 3.30 · rating details · 692 ratings · 144 reviews

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, wh...more

Hardcover, 256 pages

Published July 12th 2011 by Delacorte Books for Young Readers

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Aug 08, 2011 Kindle-aholic rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya

3.75 stars

A YA romance with a paranormal element.

I liked that this was the first book I've read with an overweight heroine where she doesn't have to lose weight or change herself to win the guy - she starts out the book already winning him just as she is. She just has to realize it.

Gwendolyn, "Dough", is overweight, from the wrong side of the tracks, works in her mom's bakery (where it's easy to grab a white cream donut or 2 or more), has a stick-thin twig of a younger sister, lots of snark, an...more

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Feb 06, 2012 kari rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, ya

3.5 stars
I like the voice of the narrator, Dough, in this book. Her sarcasm was funny and her thoughts seemed very real. Her constant negativity did get somewhat irritating after a time though. She's already said she's overweight and unpopular so I did start to feel that it was a little too much when she kept repeating that.
There are some things I was confused about. She seems to have been a normal size girl when she last saw Wish. A typical twelve year old girl would weigh about one hundred pou...more

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Oct 30, 2011 Kendra rated it 2 of 5 stars

Ugh! I can't believe I actually read this book! It was pretty bad, but I had to give it a second star because I will admit that I couldn't stop reading the first half. Then I had to force myself to finish the second half once the storyline got completely ridiculous.
First, I couldn't stand the main character. Gwendolyn (aka Dough) is full of self-loathing which, while perhaps not completely unrealistic for some teens, got really old, really fast. I felt like the constant self-deprecation and rid...more

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Oct 12, 2011 Kayla rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, reviewed

I needed a book that I could read in one day (it was the last day of Fall Break before I had to go back to school), and this book fit the bill being around 250 pages and having a paranormal romance story line, which I can always devour quickly. I enjoyed the different paranormal twist about using the stars to influence how others see you. There isn't another paranormal YA novel that I know of that has this same story line, so I liked that it was unique in a genre that tends to follow one trend f...more I needed a book that I could read in one day (it was the last day of Fall Break before I had to go back to school), and this book fit the bill being around 250 pages and having a paranormal romance story line, which I can always devour quickly. I enjoyed the different paranormal twist about using the stars to influence how others see you. There isn't another paranormal YA novel that I know of that has this same story line, so I liked that it was unique in a genre that tends to follow one trend for months and beats it to death until you're begging for something new.

With that said, I did have a couple of complaints about this book. For one, I thought Dough was way too obsessed with her weight. Every single thought she had dealt with her insecurities about her body, and that is no exaggeration. You couldn't read a single paragraph without her mentioning her "dimply thighs". Of course I can understand a teenage girl being weight-obsessed, but Dough thought of nothing else except how fat she was and how worthless that made her compared to her gorgeous boyfriend. She should have had more depth than that.

I also had a problem with how the "mystery" of Wish's sudden transformation from geek to god was discovered (I know that there really isn't a mystery surrounding Wish since his secret is given away in the summary, but still). It felt like such a cop out. A teenage boy, Christian, happens to get hired at Dough's family bakery at the exact same time Wish moves back, the teenage boy happens to also be from California where Wish is from, and he happens to have also dabbled in the magic of the stars. Christian actually knew what Wish was up to after seeing him just once from a distance. I mean, really? Did it all have to happen so fast? The entire book takes place in just a week's time because everything was figured out so quickly.

All in all, I thought Starstruck was a rather mediocre read that served as decent entertainment for one evening. Aside from that, there was nothing too special about it, and the characters weren't very memorable. I would still like to read Balog's Sleepless, though, because I've heard great things about it. I just hope the characters in that book have more depth to them than the characters in Starstruck did.(less)

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Sep 19, 2011 Bibliojunkies rated it 4 of 5 stars

****

From Delacorte (Random House):

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-dis...more ****

From Delacorte (Random House):

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 was exactly what I was looking for; fun, quick, quirky and not a part of a series. There was a beginning and an end to this story where everything was taken care of within the pages and finished with a sweet, happy ending that left me smiling and appealed to my little used sappy side.

Gwen was a hilarious heroine. You know that feeling, when watching a tv show or movie with a heroine that is a complete mess and is about to do something socially inept and you scrunch down in your chair, because you just see it coming and you are completely embarrassed for them? I had this feeling when watching Never Been Kissed and You Again (among others), but this was the first time I ever had that feeling reading a book. And it was fabulous.

Wish, for his part, was sweet and lovable. He was the popular boy we wish all popular boys would be. You know, except for that whole Lumanati thing, oh wait, we love it when they are a little dangerous and damaged as well!

Beyond being a sweet love story, the book explored the image issues faced by both girls and boys. Gwen with her weight and being a social outcast at school and Wish with the lengths he was willing to go to be the good-looking popular boy. I thought the issues were dealt with honestly without making the story too depressing and heavy.

I gave Starstruck 4 stars and now am looking forward to reading Cyn Balog's Fairy Tale and Sleepless.

~Shel
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Aug 01, 2011 Sarah Beth rated it 5 of 5 stars

I absolutely love this author and her quirky, loveable style of writing. Each of her books is so unique and memorable for the vivid quality of the characters, the originality of the plot and the relatable prose.

This book is no exception. I was hooked from the very first page, and continued to be intrigued through to the very end. It's not often the main protagonist of a young adult novel is portrayed as being overweight, or anywhere far from near-perfect. I found it particularly refreshing that,...more

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Jul 31, 2011 Nian rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011

I read Cyn Balog's Sleepless before, and was pretty bummed out about the direction the story went. Likewise, I experienced the same frustration with this novel.

The Luminati story could definitely have been explored deeper. I was promised something supernatural/paranormal, but all I got was a mere mention of tattoos and astrology perfecting people's lives. Ummm, what? Care to explain some more, Balog? The Luminati are probably supposed to be mysterious and awesome, but I find them lacking and bo...more

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Jul 24, 2011 Steffy rated it 3 of 5 stars

I really like that book, it was an easy and funny read, perfect for the summer. I liked the character of Gwen, and I think she is easy to relate too….Everyone who has been quite chubby in high school will agree. However, even if Gwen is very self-conscious she has a witty sarcastic sense of humor that made me chuckle a lot during the novel….She even consider a Lipo straight from her vacuum cleaner. I also like the characters surrounding her, the mysterious Wish and the possible ‘Serial rapist’ (...more I really like that book, it was an easy and funny read, perfect for the summer. I liked the character of Gwen, and I think she is easy to relate too….Everyone who has been quite chubby in high school will agree. However, even if Gwen is very self-conscious she has a witty sarcastic sense of humor that made me chuckle a lot during the novel….She even consider a Lipo straight from her vacuum cleaner. I also like the characters surrounding her, the mysterious Wish and the possible ‘Serial rapist’ (Gwen’s words not mine) Christian.
I found the Luminati idea and explaining very interesting. It makes this book stand out….for once the mysterious boys/boyfriends is not a supernatural being….not really.
The only two little down point I think is that there is not a lot happening between Gwen and Wish, it’s never super good, neither bad. You don’t; really question their relationship and you sort of figure how it will end. Also I’m a bit disappointed bit to get a bit more of the Christian character. He is fantastic and smart….I really think he could have shaken things up between Gwen and Wish :P
Well, all in all, it was a quick enjoyable book that made me laugh/grin more often than not (people in the train probably thought I had issues laughing by myself). I think it’s the perfect fun read for the hollidays. I would recommend it if you want to distract yourself with something light and fresh.

Teaser quote: “Then I wake up and see the crowds of students standing outside, waiting to be let in. They’re all huddles in their tight, impenetrable circles. For some reason, this reminds me of that goofy sex-ed presentation they showed in sixth grade, the one where the egg is standing firm while all these little sperm flutter about, trying to break in, constantly getting the brush-off. Yes, in that scenario, I am the sperm. Thespian egg? Denied! Chess club egg? Denied! Future Homemakers of America egg? Denied! I don’t even bother to go near the really popular eggs, because that would be spermicide.”
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Jul 12, 2011 Amanda rated it 5 of 5 stars

See My Full Review Here: http://www.hippiesbeautyandbooksohmy....

My First Impressions: I read the book summary and thought it would make an interesting read. I was looking for a change of pace with the type of book I was looking for, AKA I didn’t want to read yet another book about vampires. The cover was pretty, the plot sounded neat, so I got it.

First 50 Pages: The reader meets almost all of the characters here, who they are and why they are important. We find out a ton about Dough (Gwendolyn)...more See My Full Review Here: http://www.hippiesbeautyandbooksohmy....

My First Impressions: I read the book summary and thought it would make an interesting read. I was looking for a change of pace with the type of book I was looking for, AKA I didn’t want to read yet another book about vampires. The cover was pretty, the plot sounded neat, so I got it.

First 50 Pages: The reader meets almost all of the characters here, who they are and why they are important. We find out a ton about Dough (Gwendolyn), her mother, and Dough’s long distance boyfriend, Wish. I laughed so hard at times through the first 50 pages, heck, I laughed through the entire book. Here is why:

Characters:

Wish: This character is Dough’s long distance boyfriend. Dough and Wish had been friends during elementary school, but he moved to California before they began middle school. Wish actually asked Dough out through an e-mail. They have never had an actual date or any interaction with one another besides e-mails and phone calls. Oh, and he is gorgeous and only has eyes for Dough. When he tells Dough that he is moving back to New Jersey, she basically freaks out. He is gorgeous and hasn’t seen Dough in a very long time and she is so utterly worried he won’t be interested in her once he sees how much weight she had gained.

Gwen AKA Dough: This character is so original and unique. She was like a breath of fresh air. Dough is hands-down my favorite character in the book, for good reason. Any girl, who has ever gone from being reasonably thin, to gaining a sizable amount of weight, will be able to connect with her. This character is so utterly human-like it is unreal. Dough’s inner monologue is what makes this character so life-like. Us, as readers, “hear” her pain and frustrations about her body. There have been countless times where I have looked in the mirror and hated what I seen staring back at me. The author did a fabulous job developing this character. Yes, she is very self-conscience, yes, she has little to no self-esteem and is constantly hyper aware of how she looks. Dough also compares herself to her thinner, younger sister, Evie and during the first part of the book she gains even more of a mountain of insecurities with the upcoming arrival of her boyfriend, Wish. But, the author gave Dough this amazing sense of humor. Dough is able to relieve her frustrations with humor and jokes about herself throughout most of the book. I didn’t see this as wrong or depressing. I’ve never known any teenage girl to not have any insecurity about their body. Every girl has their own way of dealing with their body image, and Dough’s way is most definitely through humor.

Christian: I wish we could have heard more about him. He is a minor character, but still has importance. He is the character that sets the second half of the book in motion, and let’s just say, there is a bit of a paranormal twist. His character could have been more developed.

Notes about The Plot: Only of my favorite things about this book was that the relationship between Dough and Wish had already long been started. This story isn’t about a popular, handsome young guy chasing after the chubby girl. That has been done so many times before. There is no “chasing” in this book. That part of their relationship has already been established at the start of the book.

Oh, there is also a bit of a surprise, a shocker, for an ending. Nope, I’m not going to say what it is. You will have to read the book to find out!

Final Thoughts: I haven’t read a book like this one in a long time. The Young Adult section of every book store is quite flooded with paranormal books. Even though this book does have a paranormal aspect, it isn’t overwhelming. Her story is very unique, she puts so much emotion and realism into her characters, and has an outstanding sense of humor. I can’t wait to read more of her books. I very highly recommend picking up, “Starstruck.”

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Jun 28, 2011 Liza Wiemer added it

Shelves: arc

Cyn writes the most fascinating, creative, out-of-the-box, unique YA novels with memorable characters who have unconventional lives and unusual/supernatural experiences. Starstruck is no exception. Amazing. The title is perfect and if you don't read the back cover of the book, it's even better to discover what it means just by picking it up and reading it! TRUST ME, DO IT! Dough is one of the most painful characters I've read, the fat girl with low self-esteem who is bullied by jerks. But she al...more

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Jan 16, 2013 Spark740 rated it 2 of 5 stars

Oh glory. Yet another novel that fits onto the category of almost-long-enough, chic-flick-paranormal-crossover-wannabe shelf.

It's never quite what it wants, or seems, to be.
POSITIVE elements:
1) it's funny. The whole fat girl approach makes for some cute and hilarious situations, admittedly at Dough's expense.
2) the main character is very original compared to modern ya literature.
3) not much swearing or sexual content.

NEGATIVE elements:
1) three quarters chick flick, one quarter paranormal. Chron...more Oh glory. Yet another novel that fits onto the category of almost-long-enough, chic-flick-paranormal-crossover-wannabe shelf.

It's never quite what it wants, or seems, to be.
POSITIVE elements:
1) it's funny. The whole fat girl approach makes for some cute and hilarious situations, admittedly at Dough's expense.
2) the main character is very original compared to modern ya literature.
3) not much swearing or sexual content.

NEGATIVE elements:
1) three quarters chick flick, one quarter paranormal. Chronologically. Much of the book is very cliché. All the happy endings unfold as you like them. Although certain character developments caught me by surprise, they didn't make the character in question a deeper character. As seen in Gwen's case, her actions to try and attract Wish, though unexpected, actually make her a shallow character. At the end she and Wish go through the overly cliché motions of reenacting every childhood game they played. She is suddenly best friends forever (again) with Wish-unexpected and unfounded. Sure, he just saved her life, but she doubts her memory and she fell out of trust with him. He himself says he can't quit and doesn't know how - if a friend who had become a drug addict saved your life, but told you he couldn't quit and there was no therapy that would work for him, would you be all sunshine-and-daisies I love you so much let's be soul mates forever? No. You would tell him to get clean. Hopefully.
Except Wish isn't a drug addict. He's .... Well.... What he is is integral to the plot of he book and all the characters so....well let me go look... Maybe I should read it again... Nope got everything the first time.... well GEE WhIZ I don't know. this is the problem with sticking sudden paranormality in the last quarter of your novel. Here's what I got: stars, tattoo, sunlight, tornadoes, black shirts and prunes. Christian (aka Mr. Infodump) tells Gwen the island storms that eventually threaten her life are being cause by Wish who isn't using his star power right. The thing is we're never told right out that Wish's power over the starts is making him likeable. Christian hints at it, then Wish says he doesn't like acting like someone he's not. And are the stars making Wish gorgeous? Again we're not really told. At the end suddenly Wish like goes cold turkey on stars and tattoos and tornadoes and whatever and suddenly no one likes him anymore. Yet his exterior doesn't change. Gwen sees his exterior as godlike, but at the end she's all, it's the good old Wish I can love now because he's not wearing black shirts (Bolag must've stressed the fact he was wearing a white shirt about five times). Yet he still looks like a god. Sounds lame to me.
Some authors these days think putting a crapload of metaphors and similes on every page will improve their writing. it doesn't. here's a quote referring to a look of surprise:
"She looked like an alien was going to pop out of her belly."
Tell me, since when is astonishment shown by swelling of the abdomen? Since when does surprise have anything to do with mutated newborns?

A lot of other things go unexplained. How exactly does the tattoo work? How in the world did Wish NOT know Chris was a (ex)star-tattoo-tornado guy too? Why is Chris so uncaring about killing his girlfriend? He was like, "well I got into this cult and started experimenting, yeah accidentally killed my girlfriend- she died of fever, was always kind of small anyway-moved here to get a new life." And excuse me, but changing the position of the sun will NOT affect a tiny little 60000 people town on an island only, leaving the rest of the world unaffected. WILL NOT. Gosh the more I think about it the more nonsensical it gets!

I'll leave it at this. Too confusing to spend time on.(less)

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Apr 11, 2012 Serena rated it 1 of 5 stars

. Letto a tempo di record è un paranormal romance davvero insolito e fuori dagli schemi . Di per sé la storia è originale. Non ci sono vampiri ,licantropi,angeli o fate e questa è una vera novità. La protagonista è Gwendolyn Reilly ,per niente bella,grassottella, veste in modo spaventoso e considerata da tutti un’outsider. Questo già di per se è un passo avanti dalla solita ragazza bella ricca e dotata di qualche strano dono o maledizione. Lei è una comunissima umana. Sempre con una ciambellina...more . Letto a tempo di record è un paranormal romance davvero insolito e fuori dagli schemi . Di per sé la storia è originale. Non ci sono vampiri ,licantropi,angeli o fate e questa è una vera novità. La protagonista è Gwendolyn Reilly ,per niente bella,grassottella, veste in modo spaventoso e considerata da tutti un’outsider. Questo già di per se è un passo avanti dalla solita ragazza bella ricca e dotata di qualche strano dono o maledizione. Lei è una comunissima umana. Sempre con una ciambellina o un cannolo in bocca. Aiuta la famiglia a gestire il forno di loro proprietà insieme alla sorella minore Evie,bella,sexy e formosa. Il momento più felice di tutta la sua giornata lo passa al PC (Facebook) col suo vecchio amico d’infanzia, ora suo ragazzo a distanza, Philip “Wish” Wishman che da quando tre anni prima si è trasferito lontanissimo (California) sembra diventare ogni giorno più bello. Quando Wish le comunica che sta per tornare a casa Gwendolyn va nel pallone. Lei non gli ha detto che è ingrassata(106 Kg)”Perdere qualche decina di chili non mi farebbe male. Sembro un tacchino,con la pancia grossa,il naso aquilino e il doppio mento. Un tacchino con i capelli crespi e castani”. Gli ha inviato solo foto della sua testa. Ma quando Wish torna sembra effettivamente perso dietro di lei. Lui sarà invidiato da tutte le ragazze e permetterà a Gwen di non essere più un’outsider. La situazione diventa strana quando Wish comincia a comportarsi in modo assurdo, si veste sempre di nero anche quando fa un caldo soffocante, teme la pioggia,si stende alla luce delle stelle. Compare all’orizzonte Christian, un bel ragazzo che viene assunto come aiuto nel forno di famiglia. Lui crede che Wish faccia parte dei Luminati, persone in grado di sfruttare la forza “delle stelle per modificare la propria presenza e migliorare le proprie vite” . Da qui la vita di Gwen cambierà e per una serie di sfortune in modo abbastanza drastico,ma Wish rimarrà sempre al suo fianco. Come storia è inverosimile e purtroppo mi muove a molte critiche. Di per sé non è scritta male,la Balog si lascia leggere senza problemi e parte in modo molto simpatico con la presentazione della protagonista,ma poi la storia di per sé fa acqua da tutte le parti. Nel senso che è quasi inconsistente,piatta,senza azione o colpi di scena significativi. Il tema paranormal dei Luminati viene trattato all’acqua di rose,quasi non viene spiegato niente e il libro finisce senza capo né coda. Non ha un vero finale. Sembra buttato là ma non c’entra niente. L’unica nota positiva è Gwen e la sua autoironia che ci porta di pagina in pagina a sorridere”Non valgo tre punti esclamativi. Forse neppure una virgola” o meglio ancora le sue idee bislacche”è difficile che un buon taglio di capelli e dei bei vestiti riescano ad incantare Wish al punto da non permettergli di notare i chili di troppo,ma con l’aiuto di qualche droga allucinogena … magari ci riesco” oppure “se questa è l’unica chance che ho di migliorare il mio look prima dell’arrivo di Wish ,tanto vale fissare una data per la liposuzione con l’aspirapolvere”. Certe volte fa morire dalle risate. Comunque sia darei mezza stella come voto. Davvero deludente.

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Aug 18, 2011 Sandra rated it 5 of 5 stars

I absolutely loved this book. What drew me in immediately was the character of Qwen - her problems are so realistic but her sense of humor about them made me laugh at least five times during the book. I couldn't wait to read what she was going to say to make me laugh next. Qwen was just an awesome character all around. I want to be her friend IRL.

I also enjoyed the banter Qwen had with Christian, the winter help at her family's bakery. There was an are they or aren't they question running throug...more

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Jan 23, 2011 Sarah rated it 1 of 5 stars

Starstruck by Cyn Balog left me cold. I was not at all impressed with this mediocre story.

Synopsis: 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...more

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Jan 01, 2012 Haley rated it 3 of 5 stars

“Dough” Reilly, who’s mom owns a bakery, has gained 70 pounds since she last saw her best friend and long-distance boyfriend, Wish. Now Wish is moving back to their New Jersey costal town and based off his face book pictures, he looks like he turned into a total hottie, which makes Gwen afraid that he won’t like her anymore when he sees her. When he does see her, he act like she’s beautiful as ever. Is it an act or does he not really care what she looks like? And why is he obsessed with the sun,...more

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Aug 05, 2011 Isamlq rated it 3 of 5 stars

I cringed. Multiple times. On Gwen's behalf. So many unfortunate things happening to one girl: an accidental encounter with someone's nails that turns bloody for her; a wardrobe malfuntion that's so ill timed, it's almost tragic; a ten dollar hair cut on the fly. And a pinching incident that had me questioning her intelligence.

I wanted to smack WISH on one occassion too. One incredibly revealing moment where he more or less says 'being beautiful sucks.'

But, I confused myself by hoping for a mo...more

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Nov 05, 2012 Greta rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: food-challenge

Brief summary:
Gwendolyn "Dough" is in a panic. Her long distance boyfriend, Wish, is coming back to live near her again. She's changed, though. She's gained a lot of weight, is pretty much invisible at school, and is worried what he'll think of his "loser" girlfriend. When Wish arrives, it is obvious he has changed too. He's rock star beautiful and he is instantly the most popular guy around. And yet, he wants to be with Gwen?! The new guy, Christan, working at Gwen's family's bakery thinks he...more

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Aug 02, 2011 Idris rated it 4 of 5 stars

I wasn't sure if I was going to like this book, but when I started reading, I immediately forgot all my doubts. Cyn Balog with an addictive prose, brings us a funny and realistic story about a girl who has weight problems.

Gwen, also known as Dough, receive an email of her boyfriend, Wish, who lives in California. He is coming back and that is when Gwen's life turns upside down. What is she going to do? Her boyfriend hasn't seen her since he moved to California, and she has gained about 70 pound...more I wasn't sure if I was going to like this book, but when I started reading, I immediately forgot all my doubts. Cyn Balog with an addictive prose, brings us a funny and realistic story about a girl who has weight problems.

Gwen, also known as Dough, receive an email of her boyfriend, Wish, who lives in California. He is coming back and that is when Gwen's life turns upside down. What is she going to do? Her boyfriend hasn't seen her since he moved to California, and she has gained about 70 pounds.

This is the first time I read a YA book that has a main character who is fat. (Something I think should be more in YA books) She doesn't has a stunning red hair, or an amazing body, or a lovely face. Gwen can be a normal girl, like any other that has real problems, real problems like overweight, or being ignored by the rest of the school. Also add a great personality, funny situations and comments and you will be able to see her clearly. But of course, her character is also complicated. She feels bad about her shape, and she is trying all the time to find something in her body that is nice, like her toes. Specially when she finds out that her boyfriend is coming back. You can see her worried and sad, and trying to look better.

I had the opportunity to read some reviews about this book, and I found a few of them saying that Gwen spends all the book complaining about her shape and she was annoying. In my case, I didn't find her annoying. I found her realistic, and I identified with her, even thought I don't have weight problems… well…not anymore. : S

What I didn't like about this book was the Luminati thing. The book was perfect without that, specially because all that Luminati thing came almost at the end of the book. I thought it was a joke, or something like that. The book was really short for making things more complicated with supernatural themes. Also, I didn't enjoy too much the end. What I understood about it was that Wish needed to be plain and normal to be with her… and hey, a girl has right to dream, right? Why not a hut guy? Why he didn't stay in the way he was?

Well, like I said before, this is a short and funny and light story, good for spending a nice time. But also, among jokes, you will find how cruel can life be when we are not a magazine model, and how cruel people can be for the same reason. Recommended!
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Apr 05, 2011 Gilbert&Gomez rated it 4 of 5 stars

I loved the characters Wish and Gwendolyn and how they were best friends before they started dating. Wish and Gwen know each other so well it’s just plan creepy. But, I guess that was the conflict; Gwen knew Wish so well that she instinctively knew something was up, even if she didn’t know what until Christian told her. Oh and speaking of Christian, he was the randomness guy ever! I mean first off he seems like a delinquent. Secondly, he had a creepy feeling about him; that is until Gwen got to...more

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Jan 29, 2011 Mary (BookHounds) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, young-adult, book-it-forward-arc-tours

Do looks matter? Are they worth compromising your life in order to appear as something you are not? These ideas are explored in Starstruck. I read this one straight through and really enjoyed it. I thought Gwendolyn "Dough" is very likable and sympathetic although she doesn't make you feel sorry for her. She knows she has gained weight and doesn't look like she did when her best friend, Wish, moves to California. Wish has his own secrets and feels as unloved as Dough does, except he has a secret...more

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Feb 09, 2012 Jessica (Sugar Coated Book Reviews) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: eh-just-okay, favorite-covers

I started this book because it was small and the concept seemed pretty all right. I found this book while I was shelving at the library and figured I'd give it a shot. When I finally started reading, I was automatically hooked. Balog really knows how to write smart, witty characters.

I'm not going to shell out the synopsis of the story in this review. Why? The book jacket preview pretty much speaks for itself. There's no surprise. Which.. Kind of sucks. The reader knows everything that's going to...more

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Jul 31, 2011 Mitchii rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: humour, young-adult, fantasy, stand-alone, 2011-reads

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. “Well, wouldn’t you, if your girlfriend transformed into a Victoria’s Secret model while you became the Pillsbury Doughboy?”

He shrugs. “If she loved me, why would I care what I looked like?”

I love Pillsbury hotcake mix, the vanilla flavored one. *coughs* Anyway, having enjoyed Cyn Balog’s Sleepless (which also led to a massive crush to a certain sandman *whispers~ Griffin*) I decided to try one of her book. When I read the summary I know for a fact that it’s not going to focus too much on the ‘l...more

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Sep 16, 2011 Jessica Day rated it 3 of 5 stars

I'm a big fan of Cyn Balog's writing. I really like her style and I love how she always comes up with these random stories out of the blue. Starstruck was unique, as all of her stories are, and her creativity stood out. Starstruck kept me interested however it seemed to missing something. For one, the ending was extremely rushed. It was sudden and instead of creating thrill, it simply confused you. Also, Dough is just such an annoying main character. She constantly talks about her weight, like h...more

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Jul 15, 2011 Mella rated it 4 of 5 stars

Whoa. I finished this within two days! This was a really good read. I can't say that I relate to the main character too much (because I'm a twig) but I will say that I liked her. She doesn't have much confidence at the beginning but I did appreciate her ability to retort when that idiot insulted her. Wish, I didn't care for a lot but he was an extremely nice guy. And I thought that him and Dough suited each other. But my FAVORITE character was Christian. I loved him the moment he said, "Can I ha...more

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Apr 02, 2011 Brian rated it 3 of 5 stars

Mermaids....Werewolves, Zombies...Vampires...this book tackles a supernatural figure I have YET to read about, the Illuminati, who are people who can take energy from the stars and use it to manipulate their appearance with dire consequences. IN this book, Gwyndolyn "Dough" is a heavy girl who gets picked on at school becuase of her weight. Her boyfriend Wish, has been away for a while, and when he comes back, everyone is shocked that he is interested in her. He is MOVIE STAR gorgeous. Does he R...more

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Aug 19, 2011 Heather from NightlyReading rated it 3 of 5 stars

Reviewed at http://www.nightlyreading.wordpress.com

I started off this book loving it! I loved the main character of Gwen. She is sassy and totally hilarious. The things that she says and that go through her mind had me giggling to the point that my kids were looking at me weird!

For a moment, I thought that maybe Gwen and Christian would get together. They seemed more like a perfect match. They are both total outcasts and seemed to get along for the most part. I am not really sure what to say abo...more

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Nov 24, 2010 Kate rated it 4 of 5 stars

STARSTRUCK, by Cyn Balog, is a refreshing contemporary story of a not-so-normal girl who experiences a bit of the supernatural. When her best friend/long-distance boyfriend moves back to her hometown, Dough feels that he will take one look at her and run the other way. She is surprised to realize that he wants to be with her more than ever, even though she has become overweight over the years.

I really enjoyed this book. Balog created a main character that was amazing and funny, even when others...more

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Apr 25, 2012 dontouchmychocolate rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Frankly, I think the long-ass synopsis of this story did not give me what it had promised. More frankly, I think the author failed to really capture the "paranormal" element of the book.

Three-quarters of Starstruck focused on Gwen "Dough" and her feelings towards high school and her schoolmates, trying to fit in and trying to figure out her boyfriend Philip Wishman "Wish", who's moved back to town. In the last quarter, the paranormal steps in. Pretty soon, it's over.

And even when that's done, w...more

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Jul 12, 2011 Samantha rated it 4 of 5 stars

I picked up Starstruck because I loved Cyn's previous books, Fairy Tale and Sleepless, and I was not disappointed. The story is light but carries depth, and the supernatural element enjoyable and not overplayed. The humor was impeccable and the timing spot on. Dough was such an engaging character and her reactions to different situations were completely realistic. Simply put, I loved it. Wish did get on my nerves a few times, but what guy doesn't? Again, an engaging and realistic character. Oh,...more

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May 28, 2011 Suz rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: fans of general hospital

If you enjoy the daytime soap opera General Hospital, then you will for sure enjoy this book. It is hilarious, it is over-the-top, super geektastic as only one Damien Spinelli can be. The stories are embellished a great deal, the character's are engaging and likeable even when they're not trying to be, and Diane Miller is one hell of an amazing attorney.

I have loved Spinelli from the moment he graced my screen in 2006 and I continue to still love him today, all of his techo-babble, his serious...more

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About Cyn Balog

Cyn Balog is a normal, everyday Jersey Girl who always believed magical things can happen to us when we least expect them. She is author of young adult paranormals FAIRY TALE (2009), SLEEPLESS(2010), STARSTRUCK (2011), TOUCHED (2012), and her most recent release: DEAD RIVER (2013).e. She lives outside Allentown, Pennsylvania with her husband and daughters.

She also writes under the pen name Nichola ...more

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Quotes from Starstruck

“I'm not just one flavor. You're not either. So it all comes down to which 'you' you want to show the world.” — 18 people liked it

“Twenty minutes later, I walk out of Melinda's hotel with a plate of finger sandwiches, a bag of prostitute clothes, and a weird wedge on my head that makes me look like you could tip me upside down and fill it with cream of mushroom.

I need another donut.” — 5 people liked it

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