What do you think?
Rate this book
Stella Nova
Not yet published
Expected 16 Apr 26One choice. Her future. Their fate.As a final resort to keep her college scholarship, Danika Metzner has agreed to be tutored by her ex-boyfriend's idol. But her new tutor, Gabriel, isn't just different--he's hiding something that defies everything Danika knows about reality. With every lesson, Danika is drawn further into his world, where something ancient is waiting, and the lines between friend, teacher, and other begin to blur.
When a devastating loss inverts Danika's world, she is forced to confront the impossible choice that will define her future--and Would you leave Earth forever?
When a devastating loss inverts Danika's world, she is forced to confront the impossible choice that will define her future--and Would you leave Earth forever?
433 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication April 16, 2026
3 people are currently reading
12 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 27, 2026
This was a solid read for me overall!
The beginning leaned a little more YA than I was expecting, but once the story opened up, I found myself getting more invested in where it was going. The concept is really interesting, especially as the world expands beyond Earth.
There were definitely some pacing issues for me, particularly in the middle where things slowed down a bit, but I still wanted to keep reading to see how everything played out.
What I enjoyed most were the characters. Danika’s journey was compelling, and I really appreciated the anxiety representation and it felt genuine and added another layer to her character. I liked seeing her growth as she navigates everything thrown at her, and the relationships added a lot to the story.
Overall, a good start to the series, and I’m curious to see where it goes next.
The beginning leaned a little more YA than I was expecting, but once the story opened up, I found myself getting more invested in where it was going. The concept is really interesting, especially as the world expands beyond Earth.
There were definitely some pacing issues for me, particularly in the middle where things slowed down a bit, but I still wanted to keep reading to see how everything played out.
What I enjoyed most were the characters. Danika’s journey was compelling, and I really appreciated the anxiety representation and it felt genuine and added another layer to her character. I liked seeing her growth as she navigates everything thrown at her, and the relationships added a lot to the story.
Overall, a good start to the series, and I’m curious to see where it goes next.
Review of advance copy received from Author
OMG what did I just read! This was an absolutely phenomenal book that I have Fallin hard for. This is book 1 in The Ex Astris Saga series. The author most definitely went hard and poured her heart out when she wrote this book.
JUST A HEADS UP MY REVIEW MAY HAVE SOME SPOILERS IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO KNOW PLEASE SKIP, THANK YOU FOR READING IF YOU DON'T MIND.
So, to the juicy parts I feel like this book is split into 3 separate parts. which for me help me understand things so much better. Those being How Danika and Gabriel met and the encounters they had to start with. Then the journey they took to Gabriel's planet. I absolutely adored this part the best. All the fun characters and the alien languages and so many more thigs. Then, the last being Danika and Gabriel arriving at his home planet and how they adjust and things of that nature.
I really loved this book so much. The way the author created and brought the characters to life. The way she created the worlds and scenes. As, I was reading I felt I could visually see this stuff in my mind. The emotions I felt reading it like I was there watching it all happen.
Overall, this was a book I will not forget, it is one that will stick with me, and I will constantly keep checking for the next in the series. This is the first book by this author I have read and I was so very impressed i will most definitely be keeping track of her in the future.
JUST A HEADS UP MY REVIEW MAY HAVE SOME SPOILERS IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO KNOW PLEASE SKIP, THANK YOU FOR READING IF YOU DON'T MIND.
So, to the juicy parts I feel like this book is split into 3 separate parts. which for me help me understand things so much better. Those being How Danika and Gabriel met and the encounters they had to start with. Then the journey they took to Gabriel's planet. I absolutely adored this part the best. All the fun characters and the alien languages and so many more thigs. Then, the last being Danika and Gabriel arriving at his home planet and how they adjust and things of that nature.
I really loved this book so much. The way the author created and brought the characters to life. The way she created the worlds and scenes. As, I was reading I felt I could visually see this stuff in my mind. The emotions I felt reading it like I was there watching it all happen.
Overall, this was a book I will not forget, it is one that will stick with me, and I will constantly keep checking for the next in the series. This is the first book by this author I have read and I was so very impressed i will most definitely be keeping track of her in the future.
Review of advance copy received from Author
💫Book Review💫
Summary: Danika is a typical high schooler struggling in history class. Her teacher recommends her getting a tutor so she can graduate. What Danika didn't expect was for Gabe, the hot loner, to be her tutor. As Gabe and Danika get closer, she trusted into a world she never knew existed. She and Gabe are left with a choice, could she leave Earth forever?
Book 1 of a pair of duologies, out April 16!
✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️
What you'll enjoy:
He falls first
Nerdy MMC
Training Arc
Forced Proximity
Unique magic
Hidden identities
✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️
My thoughts: I devoured this! I read it in 2 days, I stayed up passed my bedtime to finish. It didn’t feel like I was reading. The vibe Gabe gave me was of Edward from Twilight was emotionally intelligent, emotionally available, and emotionally mature. I had a blast the whole time. Part 2 has a lot of complex world building but everything was explained so well. I can't wait for the rest of the stories and would be honored to ARC read those as well. Thank you @kaileighsuyama
for the opportunity to read your work early!
Summary: Danika is a typical high schooler struggling in history class. Her teacher recommends her getting a tutor so she can graduate. What Danika didn't expect was for Gabe, the hot loner, to be her tutor. As Gabe and Danika get closer, she trusted into a world she never knew existed. She and Gabe are left with a choice, could she leave Earth forever?
Book 1 of a pair of duologies, out April 16!
✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️
What you'll enjoy:
He falls first
Nerdy MMC
Training Arc
Forced Proximity
Unique magic
Hidden identities
✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️
My thoughts: I devoured this! I read it in 2 days, I stayed up passed my bedtime to finish. It didn’t feel like I was reading. The vibe Gabe gave me was of Edward from Twilight was emotionally intelligent, emotionally available, and emotionally mature. I had a blast the whole time. Part 2 has a lot of complex world building but everything was explained so well. I can't wait for the rest of the stories and would be honored to ARC read those as well. Thank you @kaileighsuyama
for the opportunity to read your work early!
Review of advance copy received from Author
3,5 stars
This book is made of three different parts. The first one focus on how Gabriel and Danika meet each other on Earth, i found this part very cute and nice. The second part focus on the journey to Gabriel's planet, this part was a bit confusing because of all the alien language and the new characters.
The third part focus on Danika's arrival to Gabriel's planet and this part has some very nice moments and some confusing ones.
I think the plot is well created,it has a lot of alien politics and war aspect to it, Gabriel and Danika are adorable and I love Jane.
The reason I didn't give a higher ranking is because the second part was very tedious for me, I had to push through it in order to finish this book.
I think that the next book will have a lot of action and therefore I will enjoy it more.
Overall it's a good start for a series
This book is made of three different parts. The first one focus on how Gabriel and Danika meet each other on Earth, i found this part very cute and nice. The second part focus on the journey to Gabriel's planet, this part was a bit confusing because of all the alien language and the new characters.
The third part focus on Danika's arrival to Gabriel's planet and this part has some very nice moments and some confusing ones.
I think the plot is well created,it has a lot of alien politics and war aspect to it, Gabriel and Danika are adorable and I love Jane.
The reason I didn't give a higher ranking is because the second part was very tedious for me, I had to push through it in order to finish this book.
I think that the next book will have a lot of action and therefore I will enjoy it more.
Overall it's a good start for a series
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Holy cow, y’all! What do I even say about this book other than YOU HAVE TO READ IT NOW?! Stella Nova absolutely hooked me from start to finish. Danika is such an endearing FMC and a beautiful representation of dealing with anxiety, and Gabriel is so attentive (no spoilers but he does this one thing throughout the book that I’m obsessed with). The other characters are amazing and I cannot wait to see where they take us. This story made me laugh, cry, scream, basically all the emotions. It is beautifully written: the plot, the character building, the world building. It’s the whole package.
Kaileigh, you’re a phenomenal author, and I’m reading literally anything you write IMMEDIATELY.
Kaileigh, you’re a phenomenal author, and I’m reading literally anything you write IMMEDIATELY.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I've been procrastinating writing this review because, honestly, I loved Stella Nova so much that I'm not sure I can write an intelligent review.
The best way I can think of to describe this novel is ZETUS LAPETUS, and if you know what that means, then this book is definitely for you.
It is Zenon meets Star Trek meets Doctor Who meets Harry Potter. No further explanation will be given.
There is classic teenage angst, magic, science, space, aliens, adventure, unrequited love, myths and monsters. It. has. everything.
Just do yourself and read it.
The best way I can think of to describe this novel is ZETUS LAPETUS, and if you know what that means, then this book is definitely for you.
It is Zenon meets Star Trek meets Doctor Who meets Harry Potter. No further explanation will be given.
There is classic teenage angst, magic, science, space, aliens, adventure, unrequited love, myths and monsters. It. has. everything.
Just do yourself and read it.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews