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Uncross the Stars
Fiona Lavender is the new girl at school. She has a chip on her shoulder and a penchant for poetry. Dario Martinez is the star quarterback, and the most unattainable guy on campus. Their stars cross when they are paired to study Romeo and Juliet for a senior English project. Their connection is fragile and undeniable. But, Dario is afraid of what love will do; and Fiona is waiting for love to claim her.
Will they uncross the stars and find the love they both need to heal their pasts?
Will they uncross the stars and find the love they both need to heal their pasts?
194 pages, Unknown Binding
First published December 15, 2014
287 people want to read
About the author
Janell Rhiannon
10 books217 followersI write historical fiction and fantasy. I am fascinated by Greek mythology. In graduate school, I focused on the ancient history of Greece and Rome. Hooked by the “sword and sandal” world, I studied everything I could about mythology and Alexander the Great.
The Homeric Chronicles series is dedicated to merging dozens of Greek myths, including Homer’s epics, with plays, history, and archaeology. My intent is to raise the heroines’ voices equally alongside the heroes, opening up a traditionally male focused genre to a female audience.
I live in CA and enjoy spending time with my children and grandchildren. I have a pack of two big dogs and two cats. I love to hear from readers. My favorite spot to scroll through is Twitter!
Interested in knowing more about the Greek heroes and heroines of Greek myth? Listen to my podcast Greek Mythology Retold. Available at iTunes and all other major podcast platforms.
*Other links available on webpage.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/g...
Homeric Chronicles (Historical Fiction/Mythology):
#1 Song of Sacrifice
#2 Rise of Princes
#3 Rage of Queens (WIP)
#4 Return of Kings (WIP)
Find me at:
Janell Rhiannon's website: www.janellrhiannon.com
Twitter https://twitter.com/theravenangel
YouTube @ Janell Rhiannon https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-cj...
Facebook @Janell Rhiannon Author https://www.facebook.com/JanellRhiann...
Instagram @ janell_rhiannon https://www.instagram.com/janell_rhia...
Pinterest @ Janell Rhiannon
The Homeric Chronicles series is dedicated to merging dozens of Greek myths, including Homer’s epics, with plays, history, and archaeology. My intent is to raise the heroines’ voices equally alongside the heroes, opening up a traditionally male focused genre to a female audience.
I live in CA and enjoy spending time with my children and grandchildren. I have a pack of two big dogs and two cats. I love to hear from readers. My favorite spot to scroll through is Twitter!
Interested in knowing more about the Greek heroes and heroines of Greek myth? Listen to my podcast Greek Mythology Retold. Available at iTunes and all other major podcast platforms.
*Other links available on webpage.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/g...
Homeric Chronicles (Historical Fiction/Mythology):
#1 Song of Sacrifice
#2 Rise of Princes
#3 Rage of Queens (WIP)
#4 Return of Kings (WIP)
Find me at:
Janell Rhiannon's website: www.janellrhiannon.com
Twitter https://twitter.com/theravenangel
YouTube @ Janell Rhiannon https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-cj...
Facebook @Janell Rhiannon Author https://www.facebook.com/JanellRhiann...
Instagram @ janell_rhiannon https://www.instagram.com/janell_rhia...
Pinterest @ Janell Rhiannon
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
May 5, 2015
This review can originally be found on Olivia's Catastrophe: http://olivia-savannah.blogspot.nl/20...
I was so excited to read this novel! I loved the cover the first time I saw it, and won an ecopy. I read that and then was sent a paperback copy from the author as well. Which makes me very happy to have it on my shelf! I liked this so much it was easy to read in one sitting.
First of all, isn’t the authors name so beautiful? Janell Rhiannon… I love that name ^.^
The first 100 pages of this book was fairly slow moving and kind of typical. It mostly revolved around the slow growing romance and at a certain point I wondered what more could happen in the story. But at exactly halfway things picked up and took a turn in a completely different direction! It quickly became much more than a romance, and I feel more and more in love the story.
At the beginning of the novel Fiona bothered me a bit. She acted a bit immature for a teenager and seemed to be unnecessarily mean to her mother. But that quickly turned around when we found out the reason for this which didn’t quite excuse it but meant that we could understand.
I felt that the romance was so cute as it grew. They were such a sweet couple, Dario and Fiona. There was also the Romeo and Juliet theme in the story which was a huge plus for me as well, because I have discussed that on this blog as well. The mention of poetry too? Definitely earning this book some bonus points.
There was a theme of family, football and university issues. I felt like they were all pretty clear and well brought across in the story.
Now for some fangirling speak. I really hated the character Ryan. HATED him, but that was allowed because we were supposed to! Some of the things he did and caused me to feel so frustrated! But then again, in a good way because that was exactly how I was supposed to feel. I have never felt such frustrated feels about things going wrong involving a book until now…
One thing that I didn’t like was Meagan’s character. What bugged me about her was how naïve she was. I couldn’t avoid feeling frustrated because she was being used in the most blatantly obvious way and she couldn’t see beyond the blind love she had for Ryan. I wanted to shake her or let her open her eyes – when someone says not ask questions you should easily know something fishy is going on!
I can’t wait to read another book by this author!
I was so excited to read this novel! I loved the cover the first time I saw it, and won an ecopy. I read that and then was sent a paperback copy from the author as well. Which makes me very happy to have it on my shelf! I liked this so much it was easy to read in one sitting.
First of all, isn’t the authors name so beautiful? Janell Rhiannon… I love that name ^.^
The first 100 pages of this book was fairly slow moving and kind of typical. It mostly revolved around the slow growing romance and at a certain point I wondered what more could happen in the story. But at exactly halfway things picked up and took a turn in a completely different direction! It quickly became much more than a romance, and I feel more and more in love the story.
At the beginning of the novel Fiona bothered me a bit. She acted a bit immature for a teenager and seemed to be unnecessarily mean to her mother. But that quickly turned around when we found out the reason for this which didn’t quite excuse it but meant that we could understand.
I felt that the romance was so cute as it grew. They were such a sweet couple, Dario and Fiona. There was also the Romeo and Juliet theme in the story which was a huge plus for me as well, because I have discussed that on this blog as well. The mention of poetry too? Definitely earning this book some bonus points.
There was a theme of family, football and university issues. I felt like they were all pretty clear and well brought across in the story.
Now for some fangirling speak. I really hated the character Ryan. HATED him, but that was allowed because we were supposed to! Some of the things he did and caused me to feel so frustrated! But then again, in a good way because that was exactly how I was supposed to feel. I have never felt such frustrated feels about things going wrong involving a book until now…
One thing that I didn’t like was Meagan’s character. What bugged me about her was how naïve she was. I couldn’t avoid feeling frustrated because she was being used in the most blatantly obvious way and she couldn’t see beyond the blind love she had for Ryan. I wanted to shake her or let her open her eyes – when someone says not ask questions you should easily know something fishy is going on!
I can’t wait to read another book by this author!
March 12, 2015
3.50 stars
This was short and sweet but with quite a bit of drama and intense emotions thrown into the mix to keep me interested throughout.
Fiona has returned to the town she once called home. She's a loner and plans to keep it that way when she starts her new school year, but of course she's paired off with the star football player for a rendition of Romeo and Juliet.
Dario is not your typical high school star athlete. Every one loves him but nobody truly knows him. He's smart, caring and troubled--and unequivocally attracted to Fiona. But he has demons in his past he has to deal with and an enemy that will do his best to ruin him.
I loved Dario. He was so conflicted over his past and his attraction to Fiona. He doesn't usually let anyone in, but Fiona had a way of making him open up about his troubled past. And my sympathy for him after learning his story only served to endear him to me more.
In Fiona's case it was a bit more challenging for me to connect to her. I understood where she was coming from but she made it difficult for me to like her. Ultimately, she won me over. Mostly because she seemed to bring out the best out of Dario. I soon found myself cheering them on and wanting to see them together.
I do have to say that the romance felt a bit rushed to me. But I guess the length of the story made it work that way. Thankfully the author made an effort to develop the connection between Fiona and Dario. This helped to convince me that the relationship was a viable thing and that their emotions were true. The use of honest dialogue and tender, stolen moments while they were 'studying' helped a lot in that regards.
Now, Meghan and Ryan. I understand that they played an important part in the story, but I could have done without being in their heads. It only served to annoy me. Ryan because his reasons for revenge were childish and his actions a bit over the top. And Meghan because really, how can she be so naive? I just couldn't wrap my mind around it and I could have done without having to read their POVs. Yep, they were that annoying.
In any case, the conflict and its resolution was well written and paced accordingly. I enjoyed the emotions that were portrayed by the main characters. Of course, there was a bit of teenage angst which was expected. But otherwise I found the main characters to be interesting, showing their maturity and acting according to their age.
All in all, a sweet yet emotion-driven story.
*I received a copy of this title in exchange of my honest opinion.
This was short and sweet but with quite a bit of drama and intense emotions thrown into the mix to keep me interested throughout.
Fiona has returned to the town she once called home. She's a loner and plans to keep it that way when she starts her new school year, but of course she's paired off with the star football player for a rendition of Romeo and Juliet.
Dario is not your typical high school star athlete. Every one loves him but nobody truly knows him. He's smart, caring and troubled--and unequivocally attracted to Fiona. But he has demons in his past he has to deal with and an enemy that will do his best to ruin him.
I loved Dario. He was so conflicted over his past and his attraction to Fiona. He doesn't usually let anyone in, but Fiona had a way of making him open up about his troubled past. And my sympathy for him after learning his story only served to endear him to me more.
In Fiona's case it was a bit more challenging for me to connect to her. I understood where she was coming from but she made it difficult for me to like her. Ultimately, she won me over. Mostly because she seemed to bring out the best out of Dario. I soon found myself cheering them on and wanting to see them together.
I do have to say that the romance felt a bit rushed to me. But I guess the length of the story made it work that way. Thankfully the author made an effort to develop the connection between Fiona and Dario. This helped to convince me that the relationship was a viable thing and that their emotions were true. The use of honest dialogue and tender, stolen moments while they were 'studying' helped a lot in that regards.
Now, Meghan and Ryan. I understand that they played an important part in the story, but I could have done without being in their heads. It only served to annoy me. Ryan because his reasons for revenge were childish and his actions a bit over the top. And Meghan because really, how can she be so naive? I just couldn't wrap my mind around it and I could have done without having to read their POVs. Yep, they were that annoying.
In any case, the conflict and its resolution was well written and paced accordingly. I enjoyed the emotions that were portrayed by the main characters. Of course, there was a bit of teenage angst which was expected. But otherwise I found the main characters to be interesting, showing their maturity and acting according to their age.
All in all, a sweet yet emotion-driven story.
*I received a copy of this title in exchange of my honest opinion.
April 3, 2015
Full Review at: What's Beyond Forks?
I loved the premise behind this story, and was very excited to read it. I didn't completely connect with the characters. Many times they seemed a lot younger than what they were supposed to be in the book. They didn't catch on to things very quickly. Some of the stunts Ryan was pulling were pretty obvious, and no one put it together until the very end. Fiona and Dario's romance was instant, but they were pretty cute. We get some of Dario's history, but I would like to have known some more of Fiona's history too. This was a very quick read, and it kept my attention completely.
Uncross the Stars by Janell Rhiannon was kindly provided to me by the author for review. The opinions are my own.
January 10, 2015
Fate mean's our future's already determined. It's in our blood running through our veins like threads tying us to what's written in the stars.
When I first saw the cover and read the synopsis for Uncross the Stars I was in love. The cover is simply beautiful and I was intrigued by the books description. And when the author contacted me in regards to doing a review I did a little happy dance and dropped everything to read it.
Uncross the Stars was a really quick read that I managed to finish over the span of a day as I went about my daily routine. The writing style was so easy to read and it was interspersed with real moments of beauty.
The story centres around Fiona and Dario and their growing feelings towards each other. As they both try to deal with demons from their past, they are confronted with many trials as they are put to the test by forces from their present. People that they thought they could trust turn out to be anything but loyal and the main instigator was a rather evil young man.
So, she let herself drift off to sleep, hand in hand with the boy who was stealing her heart one beat at a time.
The romance between Fiona and Dario was rather sweet despite the quickness of their feelings. They were dealing with the normal teenage progression of relationships and the decisions of how far and how fast to take things. But things barely ran smoothly for these two and they seemed to be pushed apart at every turn.
"I think love at first sight happens smile by smile. The first one hooks you. The rest keep reeling you in."
Uncross the Stars dealt with quite a lot of hard hitting topics. But I think that one that I enjoyed reading the most was the storyline between Meagan and Ryan. As sad as it is, the interaction between the two of them is probably something that occurs every single day. Girls wanting to be loved who are willing to commit to doing things for a boy that they wouldn't normally do just to get some affection and love, and vice versa.
One of the drawbacks for me was that there were times when I found the characters to be a little younger than their years. They were rather quick tempered and tended to react without much thought to the situations that they were presented with. I found myself wishing that they would just talk to each other. They were professing their love but the communication between Dario and Fiona was rather limited.
All in all, Uncross the Stars was a quick, relatable story that picked up in intensity in the second half of the book when there was something happening on almost every page.
3/5 Stars
Copy provided by the author for an honest review.
When I first saw the cover and read the synopsis for Uncross the Stars I was in love. The cover is simply beautiful and I was intrigued by the books description. And when the author contacted me in regards to doing a review I did a little happy dance and dropped everything to read it.
Uncross the Stars was a really quick read that I managed to finish over the span of a day as I went about my daily routine. The writing style was so easy to read and it was interspersed with real moments of beauty.
The story centres around Fiona and Dario and their growing feelings towards each other. As they both try to deal with demons from their past, they are confronted with many trials as they are put to the test by forces from their present. People that they thought they could trust turn out to be anything but loyal and the main instigator was a rather evil young man.
So, she let herself drift off to sleep, hand in hand with the boy who was stealing her heart one beat at a time.
The romance between Fiona and Dario was rather sweet despite the quickness of their feelings. They were dealing with the normal teenage progression of relationships and the decisions of how far and how fast to take things. But things barely ran smoothly for these two and they seemed to be pushed apart at every turn.
"I think love at first sight happens smile by smile. The first one hooks you. The rest keep reeling you in."
Uncross the Stars dealt with quite a lot of hard hitting topics. But I think that one that I enjoyed reading the most was the storyline between Meagan and Ryan. As sad as it is, the interaction between the two of them is probably something that occurs every single day. Girls wanting to be loved who are willing to commit to doing things for a boy that they wouldn't normally do just to get some affection and love, and vice versa.
One of the drawbacks for me was that there were times when I found the characters to be a little younger than their years. They were rather quick tempered and tended to react without much thought to the situations that they were presented with. I found myself wishing that they would just talk to each other. They were professing their love but the communication between Dario and Fiona was rather limited.
All in all, Uncross the Stars was a quick, relatable story that picked up in intensity in the second half of the book when there was something happening on almost every page.
3/5 Stars
Copy provided by the author for an honest review.
April 1, 2015
This is my second Liza Palmer experience all I can say is it just gets better every time. Anna is my new favorite character I loved that she is flawed and in a sense a mess right now in her life. She is divorced and trudging her way through life. She is focusing mainly on her career right now trying to make a niche for herself in the man’s world of advertising. While she is focused on her work she is pushing her personal life on the back burner until she goes on a work trip and meets the mysterious Lincoln. Thinking she will let loose this one time she has a good time with him while she is there thinking nothing will happen after that. However Anna isn’t that type of girl she’s always thinking ahead and never really living in the now. I think that is why I so identified with Anna so much because I’m the same way. I love all or nothing. My problem has always that I can’t just live in the now I’m always thinking 20 steps ahead which has always been my downfall.
The other thing I loved was the surprise friendship between Anna and her new coworker Sasha. Two people who don’t really have much in common on the surface but who indeed have way more in common than they even know. I love when there is a solid female friendship because sometimes in life we don’t see that. There tends to be this “mean girls” mentality at times and I for one don’t understand why we can’t support each other instead of tearing each other down. Liza Palmer is a wonderful writer whose characters are always off or imperfect but that’s why I love and gravitate towards them. I love real life people rather than that perfect story book type, that’s what I connect with I like to see myself in them. I highly encourage everyone to read this book it’s funny, it has characters you will definitely relate to plus a little romance thrown in for good measure.
The other thing I loved was the surprise friendship between Anna and her new coworker Sasha. Two people who don’t really have much in common on the surface but who indeed have way more in common than they even know. I love when there is a solid female friendship because sometimes in life we don’t see that. There tends to be this “mean girls” mentality at times and I for one don’t understand why we can’t support each other instead of tearing each other down. Liza Palmer is a wonderful writer whose characters are always off or imperfect but that’s why I love and gravitate towards them. I love real life people rather than that perfect story book type, that’s what I connect with I like to see myself in them. I highly encourage everyone to read this book it’s funny, it has characters you will definitely relate to plus a little romance thrown in for good measure.
October 22, 2015
I really thought I was going to like this book. I think the major reason why I didn't is because it was too short. I wasn't able to connect with the characters because I barely had time with them.
The two characters I disliked the most were Meagan and Ryan. Meagan because she went along with everything Ryan was saying and even when there were huge red flags, she never stopped to think things through. She betrayed her best friend Faith a lot of times and she didn't even bat an eye.
Ryan, because I think that if he really wanted to destroy Dario, he would have gone only for the Football area and not his personal life with Fiona. When the book was starting and Ryan would only tease Fiona, I liked that Ryan but he really went to the dark side with all of this. He would really annoy me with his antics and just...no. He can go die.
The characters were childish for their age, which was one of the things I disliked most of the story.
The ending. Once again, I wish it would have been longer to get more background on each character and that way the reader could fully understand the ending, but I was left confused even though I think it has to do with Dario being the one everyone likes, the one that is good at everything. But still, some questions were left unanswered.
This story has potential, though. It just needs to be longer and it needs to go more deep with the characters. Everything was kind of superficial.
Even though this is my view on the book, I still believe others will enjoy it. I have seen a few good things being said about this book on Facebook by readers so, while this wasn't my cup of tea, maybe it will be for you.
The two characters I disliked the most were Meagan and Ryan. Meagan because she went along with everything Ryan was saying and even when there were huge red flags, she never stopped to think things through. She betrayed her best friend Faith a lot of times and she didn't even bat an eye.
Ryan, because I think that if he really wanted to destroy Dario, he would have gone only for the Football area and not his personal life with Fiona. When the book was starting and Ryan would only tease Fiona, I liked that Ryan but he really went to the dark side with all of this. He would really annoy me with his antics and just...no. He can go die.
The characters were childish for their age, which was one of the things I disliked most of the story.
The ending. Once again, I wish it would have been longer to get more background on each character and that way the reader could fully understand the ending, but I was left confused even though I think it has to do with Dario being the one everyone likes, the one that is good at everything. But still, some questions were left unanswered.
This story has potential, though. It just needs to be longer and it needs to go more deep with the characters. Everything was kind of superficial.
Even though this is my view on the book, I still believe others will enjoy it. I have seen a few good things being said about this book on Facebook by readers so, while this wasn't my cup of tea, maybe it will be for you.
March 11, 2015
Uncross the Stars is my first book by Janell Rhiannon and I quite enjoyed the sweet, high school romance I found myself experiencing. Initially intrigued by the gorgeous cover and the synopsis that was reminiscent of Romeo & Juliet, I dove in. This book is exactly what a young adult romance should be, innocent and uncertain, packed with insecurities and histrionic emotions. Janell Rhiannon took me back to high school, where everything feels bigger and more life altering than it really is. Janell definitely captures the fickle social alliances and first loves of high school, giving Dario and Fiona’s story an authentic and reminiscent quality.
Both Fiona and Dario were charming characters. True to their ages, they both felt very young and naïve, full of big dreams but completely unsure how to make them come true. We get bits and pieces of the complicated pasts that fuel their inability to love and trust, but I would have liked to know more about them as individuals in order to really connect with the characters, especially since I was left wondering what happened with Fiona’s most recent stepfather that she was so quick to dismiss.
The first half of the book moved slowly, picking up about midway when the storyline really gained some traction. My exasperation with Ryan grew as the book progressed, so I was really hoping for more of a comeuppance when karma finally got him in her crosshairs. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that we get another book or at least a novella to look into Dario, Fiona, and Ryan’s futures. I look forward to watching Janell Rhiannon continue to develop her craft and delve into her characters, excited to see where this author plans on going next.
Both Fiona and Dario were charming characters. True to their ages, they both felt very young and naïve, full of big dreams but completely unsure how to make them come true. We get bits and pieces of the complicated pasts that fuel their inability to love and trust, but I would have liked to know more about them as individuals in order to really connect with the characters, especially since I was left wondering what happened with Fiona’s most recent stepfather that she was so quick to dismiss.
The first half of the book moved slowly, picking up about midway when the storyline really gained some traction. My exasperation with Ryan grew as the book progressed, so I was really hoping for more of a comeuppance when karma finally got him in her crosshairs. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that we get another book or at least a novella to look into Dario, Fiona, and Ryan’s futures. I look forward to watching Janell Rhiannon continue to develop her craft and delve into her characters, excited to see where this author plans on going next.
April 29, 2015
I recently read the new release, Uncross the Stars by Janell Rhiannon. This is a YA full of young love, a lot of angst, and the story depicted how far someone will go to feel loved, whether the love is from a significant other, or the love one received from popularity. The story started off great, but I felt like I never fully connected with the characters, especially Dario. While I understood his reasons for not wanting love, his character felt very wishy washy. The storyline moved quickly at times, but felt a little rushed in the end. Dario's BFF, Jason, was so conniving that it was a little scary and the author's description of him was perfect. Future serial killer anyone? A scene towards the end of the book really stuck with me as scary and made me question if Dario and Fiona should stay together. To me, it blemished Dario's character and I don't think he ever redeemed himself. I did enjoy the overall story and because the story ends with a cliffhanger, I will undoubtedly read the next one. If you love those angsty YA's full of drama and young love, check out Uncross the Stars.
February 14, 2015
Sullen teenage angst and petty jealousy. Fitting in. Peer pressure. The stuff nightmares are made of. All laid out in stark detail in this book.
This book was, at certain points, really beautiful …
“I think love at first sight happens smile by smile. The first one hooks you. The rest keep reeling you in”
At other points, it was incredibly frustrating. I really just wanted to bang their heads together at times.
But what this story dealt with very well, was the pressure to be liked, to be noticed, to be wanted. And that was the real treat of this book. On the whole, despite the whiny teenagers, this was an enjoyable read.
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review
This book was, at certain points, really beautiful …
“I think love at first sight happens smile by smile. The first one hooks you. The rest keep reeling you in”
At other points, it was incredibly frustrating. I really just wanted to bang their heads together at times.
But what this story dealt with very well, was the pressure to be liked, to be noticed, to be wanted. And that was the real treat of this book. On the whole, despite the whiny teenagers, this was an enjoyable read.
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review
March 31, 2015
Fiona and Dario reminds me of young teens who get starry-eyed at the prospect of finding love that's real. What they don't know is that as their feelings for each other deepen, secrets can never remain untold. The question is, would the budding relationship they have survive the secrets they may unearth?
For the full review, go to The Bookwhore Diaries
For the full review, go to The Bookwhore Diaries
Want to read
January 11, 2015beautiful cover
March 12, 2015
Uncross the Stars had potential. It sounded really intriguing and I hoped there to be epic romance, and I was so excited when the author offered me a chance to read and review it. However, the story and the characters felt flat and quite one dimensional. I think it's mostly because the story is so short so everything was kind of superficial and I didn't have time to get attached to characters or enjoy the plot twists. Some blame goes to the structure of the story, because it ruined any mystery it might tried to attempt. And honestly, I felt for Ryan so much because of the beginning and his point of view and it took me a lot of time to actual see him as the villain of story (and he was quite unlovable because how he treated other persons). I mean, I felt for Ryan so much at the beginning and it made me dislike Dario, which wasn't good for the story, especially since in the end Ryan didn't have redeemable qualities.
Fiona and Dario, well, they didn't have the epic romance I hoped for. I didn't feel any spark between them, more like just high school sweethearts who had all the misunderstandings, drama and vowing for forever love. I really wanted to like both of them together and apart but I couldn't and then the book ended. Uncross the Stars were all about romance and betrayal but when the romance didn't made my heart skip a beat, the whole story felt kind of flat and I couldn't make myself to care what happened to the characters.
It wasn't all bad. I liked the synopsis and Rhiannon's writing style, and the story has potential. It just should have been longer, to take more time to scrutinize the character's feelings and their reactions of what happened, and the structure should have been different. Maybe stick to Fiona and Dario's point of view because then there would have been more mystery around who orchasrated the whole betrayal. I kind of like that we got Ryan's and Meagan's perspective but it did ruin any mystery and mostly made Dario seem totally blind. And yeah, everyone had daddy issues. I'm not kidding, because Fiona, Dario, Meagan and Ryan all had daddy issues. I mean, what? I could get two of them to have daddy issues but it seems unbelievable that all the main characters had same kind of issues with their absent fathers, and it shaped all of them.
Uncross the Stars has potential but it doesn't live up to it. While the writing style and idea behind the story was enjoyable, the execution didn't work out, at least not for me. However, if you enjoy high school romance stories with some issues and lots of drama, then Uncross the Stars might be for you. I must say, I do love the cover! It's gorgeous.
(A copy of this ebook was provided in return for an honest review.)
Fiona and Dario, well, they didn't have the epic romance I hoped for. I didn't feel any spark between them, more like just high school sweethearts who had all the misunderstandings, drama and vowing for forever love. I really wanted to like both of them together and apart but I couldn't and then the book ended. Uncross the Stars were all about romance and betrayal but when the romance didn't made my heart skip a beat, the whole story felt kind of flat and I couldn't make myself to care what happened to the characters.
It wasn't all bad. I liked the synopsis and Rhiannon's writing style, and the story has potential. It just should have been longer, to take more time to scrutinize the character's feelings and their reactions of what happened, and the structure should have been different. Maybe stick to Fiona and Dario's point of view because then there would have been more mystery around who orchasrated the whole betrayal. I kind of like that we got Ryan's and Meagan's perspective but it did ruin any mystery and mostly made Dario seem totally blind. And yeah, everyone had daddy issues. I'm not kidding, because Fiona, Dario, Meagan and Ryan all had daddy issues. I mean, what? I could get two of them to have daddy issues but it seems unbelievable that all the main characters had same kind of issues with their absent fathers, and it shaped all of them.
Uncross the Stars has potential but it doesn't live up to it. While the writing style and idea behind the story was enjoyable, the execution didn't work out, at least not for me. However, if you enjoy high school romance stories with some issues and lots of drama, then Uncross the Stars might be for you. I must say, I do love the cover! It's gorgeous.
(A copy of this ebook was provided in return for an honest review.)
April 12, 2019
3.5 Stars
Looking at that cover of Uncross the Stars by Janell Rhiannon, how could you not become intrigued? Combined with the synopsis, which hints at a forbidden, star-crossed lovers type of feel, it immediately got added to my TBR. Once I dove in, it had a total Shakespearean vibe within a modern day setting which I found to be pretty interesting.
“Fate means our future's already determined.”
Uncross the Stars is described as a love story, but I felt that the romantic aspect was completely overshadowed by the betrayals. Dario is the star quarterback of his high school with everything great going for him. His best friend, Ryan, is jealous and wants to steal the spotlight. The novel almost became a tale of the antihero, rather than the hero. When it came down to it, Ryan was ruthless, cunning, manipulative, and not afraid to ruin anyone who got in his way. Fiona was the innocent bystander in the entire situation. She fell for Dario and became the perfect way for Ryan to get to his best friend. At the end of the day the reader is left feeling extremely bad for her because she's somewhat insecure, incredibly trusting, but a little naive when it comes to the relationship department. It’s hard to describe any of these characters in much detail because there wasn’t a lot of character exploration. What we learned about them felt very surface level, which also lead to a hard time connecting to them.
“It's in our blood running through our veins like threads tying us to what's written in the stars.”
Uncross the Stars is a very quick read. I didn’t feel like there was a lot of action happening or character development. There were also some grammar issues sprinkled throughout. However, the backstabbing and bullying, is incredibly appropriate to the age group written about. I thought that the events very easily could have unfolded in any high school with any group of kids. Your heart kind of breaks for those involved and what they’re struggling to overcome, but hoping that they come through it stronger and wiser. While I did have some minor struggles, I can see the potential and would definitely be interested to see what else Janell Rhiannon puts out into the world.
Looking at that cover of Uncross the Stars by Janell Rhiannon, how could you not become intrigued? Combined with the synopsis, which hints at a forbidden, star-crossed lovers type of feel, it immediately got added to my TBR. Once I dove in, it had a total Shakespearean vibe within a modern day setting which I found to be pretty interesting.
“Fate means our future's already determined.”
Uncross the Stars is described as a love story, but I felt that the romantic aspect was completely overshadowed by the betrayals. Dario is the star quarterback of his high school with everything great going for him. His best friend, Ryan, is jealous and wants to steal the spotlight. The novel almost became a tale of the antihero, rather than the hero. When it came down to it, Ryan was ruthless, cunning, manipulative, and not afraid to ruin anyone who got in his way. Fiona was the innocent bystander in the entire situation. She fell for Dario and became the perfect way for Ryan to get to his best friend. At the end of the day the reader is left feeling extremely bad for her because she's somewhat insecure, incredibly trusting, but a little naive when it comes to the relationship department. It’s hard to describe any of these characters in much detail because there wasn’t a lot of character exploration. What we learned about them felt very surface level, which also lead to a hard time connecting to them.
“It's in our blood running through our veins like threads tying us to what's written in the stars.”
Uncross the Stars is a very quick read. I didn’t feel like there was a lot of action happening or character development. There were also some grammar issues sprinkled throughout. However, the backstabbing and bullying, is incredibly appropriate to the age group written about. I thought that the events very easily could have unfolded in any high school with any group of kids. Your heart kind of breaks for those involved and what they’re struggling to overcome, but hoping that they come through it stronger and wiser. While I did have some minor struggles, I can see the potential and would definitely be interested to see what else Janell Rhiannon puts out into the world.
March 28, 2015
After another one of her mom’s failed relationships, Fiona Lavender becomes the new girl at school once again. Dario has a propensity for football as strong as his love of poetry. When they get partnered to perform a scene from Romeo and Juliet for senior English, the immediate connection is undeniable. Fiona has always dreamed of true love, but Dario has always feared what loving someone will do to him. Can they uncross the stars or is it beyond their control?
The idea of this book intrigued me from the beginning. Romeo and Juliet is one of Shakespeare’s most famous plays, and I was curious how it could be rewritten with a modern twist. While I didn’t enjoy the book as much as I thought I would, it had an interesting story.
Dario and Fiona had an extremely fast relationship. The relationship began in an instant and became perplexing just as quickly. I wish their romance had been more gradual instead of so speedy. Though, when thinking about how Romeo and Juliet only knew each other for three days and decided dying would be better than not being together, the time frame worked.
The book switched perspectives multiple times, focusing on the most influential characters. Knowing the deep thoughts of the characters made it easy to follow the rising actions and impending doom of Fiona and Dario. That’s not to say the author gave anything away too quickly. Trying to find out how the author would intertwine the pivotal points of the Shakespearian play, such as the death of the lovers (I really didn’t want them to die!), kept me intrigued.
Some of the parts were a tad cliché, but it made for a great light read. I found the ending interesting and a tad peculiar. I wish there had been more of what happened between Ryan and Dario at the end of the novel. On the plus side, it was obvious where their relationship stood.
Unlike the famous play, Uncross the Stars, had a happier ending—for most of the characters. It’s a light read about finding true love and learning to use fears in a positive way. If you’re looking for a quick escape, it would be a good pick.
The idea of this book intrigued me from the beginning. Romeo and Juliet is one of Shakespeare’s most famous plays, and I was curious how it could be rewritten with a modern twist. While I didn’t enjoy the book as much as I thought I would, it had an interesting story.
Dario and Fiona had an extremely fast relationship. The relationship began in an instant and became perplexing just as quickly. I wish their romance had been more gradual instead of so speedy. Though, when thinking about how Romeo and Juliet only knew each other for three days and decided dying would be better than not being together, the time frame worked.
The book switched perspectives multiple times, focusing on the most influential characters. Knowing the deep thoughts of the characters made it easy to follow the rising actions and impending doom of Fiona and Dario. That’s not to say the author gave anything away too quickly. Trying to find out how the author would intertwine the pivotal points of the Shakespearian play, such as the death of the lovers (I really didn’t want them to die!), kept me intrigued.
Some of the parts were a tad cliché, but it made for a great light read. I found the ending interesting and a tad peculiar. I wish there had been more of what happened between Ryan and Dario at the end of the novel. On the plus side, it was obvious where their relationship stood.
Unlike the famous play, Uncross the Stars, had a happier ending—for most of the characters. It’s a light read about finding true love and learning to use fears in a positive way. If you’re looking for a quick escape, it would be a good pick.
March 18, 2015
Uncross the Stars is a quick, but enjoyable read. If you enjoy teenage angst and loads of high school drama, this is definitely the book for you. I do wish there would have been more time for deeper character development, as it would have helped me connect with Fiona and Dario more. I also longed for a more intense air of mystery to thicken the plot. While those things were somewhat lacking, overall it was a good YA romance.
The author’s writing style is one with great potential. The writing wasn’t flawless, by any means, but the story was still fairly easy to read. I really loved the emotion she was able to inject under the surface of the story. Fiona and Dario were perfectly cast characters in this dramatic teenage tale.
Having a teenage son of my own, I have to say that teens are quite different these days than what the author portrayed in this book, but that is also what made me enjoy it. Fiona helped remind me of how things used to be when I was in high school, although I wasn’t a geek back then. It’s funny that I can relate to her more as an adult.
I will definitely read more by Janell Rhiannon, and I urge you to take a chance and read Uncross the Stars. Anyone that loves YA romance will really enjoy this book!
The author’s writing style is one with great potential. The writing wasn’t flawless, by any means, but the story was still fairly easy to read. I really loved the emotion she was able to inject under the surface of the story. Fiona and Dario were perfectly cast characters in this dramatic teenage tale.
Having a teenage son of my own, I have to say that teens are quite different these days than what the author portrayed in this book, but that is also what made me enjoy it. Fiona helped remind me of how things used to be when I was in high school, although I wasn’t a geek back then. It’s funny that I can relate to her more as an adult.
I will definitely read more by Janell Rhiannon, and I urge you to take a chance and read Uncross the Stars. Anyone that loves YA romance will really enjoy this book!
April 11, 2015
Reviewed on my blog http://readingawaythedays.blogspot.co.uk
3.5*
Uncross The Stars was a good, quick, coming of age story that deals with high school rivalry, first love and perceptions of people because of appearance and achievements.
This book surprised me, I thought it was going to be a straight forward star crossed lover book but it wasn't. The characters aren't perfect and 2D with no personalities, they have flaws and insecurities. Darios character was my favourite he was a sweet jock with issues with love. What surprised me was Dario's character felt like the usual female leads with insecurities and scared of Love. I loved this role reversal.
Uncross the stars wasn't all sweet and light. It has dark themes of jealously and shows school rivalry at its highest which I found I really enjoyed. It just came out of no where and bang you have this dark story of rivalry. And to see the lengths some people go out of jealously and the vulnerable people used and hurt along the way was written really well.
My only issue was the book was a little short and felt rushed at the end and I was unsure if there was a opener for more to come. However even with this small issue I really enjoyed it and hope to read more from Janelle Rhiannon.
3.5*
Uncross The Stars was a good, quick, coming of age story that deals with high school rivalry, first love and perceptions of people because of appearance and achievements.
This book surprised me, I thought it was going to be a straight forward star crossed lover book but it wasn't. The characters aren't perfect and 2D with no personalities, they have flaws and insecurities. Darios character was my favourite he was a sweet jock with issues with love. What surprised me was Dario's character felt like the usual female leads with insecurities and scared of Love. I loved this role reversal.
Uncross the stars wasn't all sweet and light. It has dark themes of jealously and shows school rivalry at its highest which I found I really enjoyed. It just came out of no where and bang you have this dark story of rivalry. And to see the lengths some people go out of jealously and the vulnerable people used and hurt along the way was written really well.
My only issue was the book was a little short and felt rushed at the end and I was unsure if there was a opener for more to come. However even with this small issue I really enjoyed it and hope to read more from Janelle Rhiannon.
November 29, 2015
The idea of this book intrigued me from the beginning. Romeo and Juliet is one of Shakespeare’s most famous plays, and I was curious how it could be rewritten with a modern twist. While I didn’t enjoy the book as much as I thought I would, it had an interesting story.
To read the rest of the review, simply follow the link: http://www.aleisuremoment.com/2015/03...
July 19, 2018
Uncross the Stars fue una decepción para mí, porque prometía ser un libro muy tierno y romántico, pero al final fue 90% drama y 10% romance, además de que el amor fue muy poco creíble e instantáneo.
Lo personajes fueron otro punto en contra del libro, porque ninguno de ellos me gustó y tampoco logré comprenderlos.
El final me dejó confundida y me hizo sentir que perdí mucho tiempo en leer este libro.
Lo personajes fueron otro punto en contra del libro, porque ninguno de ellos me gustó y tampoco logré comprenderlos.
El final me dejó confundida y me hizo sentir que perdí mucho tiempo en leer este libro.
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March 23, 2015The cover is really beautiful.
I was expecting so much more from this book. The beginning was so good.
I was expecting so much more from this book. The beginning was so good.
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