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The Sun Is Also a Star

Nicola Yoon (Goodreads Author)

4.12 · Rating details · 72,414 Ratings · 12,411 Reviews

Natasha: I’m a girl who believes in science and facts. Not fate. Not destiny. Or dreams that will never come true. I’m definitely not the kind of girl who meets a cute boy on a crowded New York City street and falls in love with him. Not when my family is twelve hours away from being deported to Jamaica. Falling in love with him won’t be my story.

Daniel: I’ve always been t ...more

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Hardcover, 348 pages

Published November 1st 2016 by Delacorte Press

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YA Novels of 2016

1,209 books — 9,507 voters

A Million Worlds with You by Claudia Gray

New YA Releases November 2016

63 books — 152 voters

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Nov 04, 2016 Emily May rated it it was ok

Shelves: coverly-love, 2016, contemporary, young-adult

The universe stops and waits for us.
She opens her palm and she’s going to take my hand. She’s supposed to take my hand. We’re meant to walk through this world together. I see it in her eyes. We are meant to be.

2 1/2 stars. I tried. I'm sorry, but I tried. I just couldn't love this like I wanted to.

My problem with Yoon's Everything, Everything was the twist. That awful twist. But her style was enjoyable and easy to read, so I was eager to give her books another shot. I was honestly ready to lov ...more

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Dec 17, 2016 Jesse (JesseTheReader) rated it really liked it

This was really great! I can't say why I docked a star, because it's spoilery, but I'll have a video review up soon going over my thoughts & what not.

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Jan 07, 2017 Christine Riccio rated it it was amazing

This was excellent, I loved it! Here's my full booktalk: https://youtu.be/6tHgsZN9XWA

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Apr 04, 2016 Bhavik marked it as to-read

Shelves: cover-love

How this cover was created:

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https://youtu.be/SJkjaapoNkw

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Dec 26, 2016 Kat O'Keeffe rated it it was amazing

Romantic and adorable, with a perfect balance of heart-wrenching moments. Endlessly hopeful yet still grounded in reality. Pretty much everything I want from a YA contemporary. I'm two for two with Nicola Yoon books read and loved, so there's no doubt I'll be reaching for her next novel as soon as it comes out!

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May 04, 2016 Sabaa Tahir rated it it was amazing

Within the first 20 pages of THE SUN IS ALSO A STAR, I knew I was reading something special, and within the first 50, I knew this was going to be one of my favorite books of 2016. Natasha and Daniel are funny, flawed, fully-developed characters who feel as familiar as old friends. Their love story is anything but simple, and you will root for them until the very last page. Nicola intersperses their story with beautifully wrought and deeply considered musings on other characters, physics, history ...more

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Mar 26, 2016 Riley rated it it was amazing

Shelves: ya-contemporary, romance, poc-characters, diverse-recs, own-voices, books-for-review, favorites

This book is incredibly beautiful in so many ways that I can't even begin to explain right now

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Dec 21, 2016 Lola Reviewer rated it really liked it

Shelves: love-story, die-of-cuteness

So this book isn’t entirely realistic. Too many coincidences. But what it is is SUPER cute.

Natasha and Daniel meet. Then meet again. And again. Could it be fate pushing them together? Natasha doesn’t want to think so; after all, she trusts science, not concepts that cannot be scientifically proven.

Daniel is moonstruck over Natasha. Unlike her, he believes in fate and love at first sight. Now he just has to convince Natasha that they were meant for each other.

It sounds so cheesy and clichéd, doe ...more

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Sep 15, 2016 Nat rated it liked it

Shelves: arc, diverse-reads

On a "perfect" fall day, seventeen-year old Natasha Kingsley and her family are twelve hours away from being deported to Jamaica. Tasha decides to take a long shot and visit the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to hopefully convince someone to let her stay, to not pay for her father's mistake.

“To be clear: I don’t believe in fate. But I’m desperate.”

She's desperate to stay with her friends, her home, her livelihood for the past ten years. Despite the fact that she does ...more

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Mar 03, 2017 Emma Giordano rated it it was amazing

I really really loved this book!!! It was an entirely unique story with a powerful message. Definitely a read I would recommend to e v e r y o n e .

Originally, I had issues getting into the book. The narration is 100% individual as not only do we have Natasha & Daniel's perspective, but we have mini chapters from a wide variety of characters. We have character's share stories from the past, side characters who are only in one scene, characters we will never hear from again, even very arbitr I really really loved this book!!! It was an entirely unique story with a powerful message. Definitely a read I would recommend to e v e r y o n e .

Originally, I had issues getting into the book. The narration is 100% individual as not only do we have Natasha & Daniel's perspective, but we have mini chapters from a wide variety of characters. We have character's share stories from the past, side characters who are only in one scene, characters we will never hear from again, even very arbitrary things like "eyes" "hair" and "fate" all sharing little anecdotes. I'm normally the type of reader to say "Just give me my protagonist's POV, I do not care for anything else" and that's really how the novel started out for me. I really resented these additional chapters as I felt they did not hold significant influence, but I was very wrong. I eventually fell in love with the storytelling, really appreciating the insight we get into how Daniel & Natasha's story changes peoples lives in so many ways. Although I had trouble adjusting, it was totally worth it and really well executed.

I was also a little weary because "a story of two people who fall in love in one day"? Literally the highest form on insta-love in YA to date. But honestly, it did not feel this way at all. There is something about the way this novel is written that allows their relationship to develop so deeply in such a short period of time without being ridiculous. Is it unrealistic at some points? Absolutely. But I think that plays into smaller bits more like certain topics of conversation or behaviors, not the overall story. I think Daniel & Natasha's story was very well written and entirely special.

Natasha & Daniel complimented each other very well. Natasha is independent, confident in her mindset, and totally practical. Daniel is a quirky, very open-minded, and a total dreamer. There is something about their personalities that are polar opposites that bounce off each other in a perfect balance. Even the way they somewhat clash at times feel very true and natural. They have a fiery dynamic full of chemistry and I absolutely loved them together.

It was also very intersting to see the fusion of these two cultures: Jamaican and South Korean. Their ethnicity plays a huge role in the story, and it all came across very authentically. I think it was especially intersting to see two different stories of children who respond differently to parents who grew up in different countries. The combination of these two cultures created an interesting dynamic in itself.

My favorite thing about this story was the ending (which is especially intersting because it's not directly from Natasha or Daniels' POV, which really shows how my feelings turned around.) It's definitely one of those endings that leaves at a point for growth, for development, and for hope. It made me bawl, partially from happiness, partially from relief. It definitely brought the story together in a way that stayed true to the unique nature of the entire book.

I definitely loved The Sun Is Also A Star. I've had this book for almost a year and I have no idea why it took me so long to pick it up, but I'm so happy I did. I absolutely devoured this read and would highly highly recommend it!! ...more

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Mar 09, 2016 Hailey (HaileyinBookland) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: owned, contemporary, favourites

*Received an advanced reader copy for review from the publisher*

I liked this one even more than "Everything, Everything." Nicola Yoon is just an amazing writer. Definitely a staple for your contemporary collection.
Video review to come!!

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Jan 13, 2017 Chelsea Humphrey marked it as dnf-paused

Shelves: from-publisher

DNF AT 30% in. I'm sure it's just me, but I just couldn't connect with the characters. Everything was a bit too unrealistic (even for my taste); I just couldn't buy all this falling in love in less than 24 hours and it felt a bit cheesy. Maybe it's poor timing of reading this one or maybe it's just not for me.

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May 02, 2017 Elise (TheBookishActress) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: coverporn, rep-poc, 5-star, read-2018, 2016-releases, catharsis-dot-mp3, faves-of-2018, favorite-characters, favorite-relationships, gave-me-hope-for-humanity

This is a book about how the smallest gestures can form the biggest pictures, how the smallest actions can change the course of a life. How seeing a girl can change your life. How falling in love with your secretary can change the course of someone’s life forever. How swerving in a car can get two teens together. How calling a security officer can save her life.

It sort of tore my heart into a million pieces.

Fuck, okay. I don’t know how to explain how much I feel about this book.

Let's start her ...more

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Feb 24, 2016 April (Aprilius Maximus) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2016

My heart aches but I'm so happy at the same time. HOW DOES SHE DO THIS?

Here's my review - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Swubk...

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Nov 06, 2016 Larry H rated it it was amazing

I'm between 4.5 and 5 stars, but I'll round it up.

No, I'm not crying. You're crying.

Daniel has always tried to be a dutiful son to his parents, who emigrated from South Korea, but he's always played second fiddle to his older brother Charlie, who is more confident, smarter, and has had a visceral dislike for Daniel since they were younger.

But with Charlie's recent academic fall from grace, their parents are starting to put more pressure on Daniel to follow their wishes, which include getting in ...more

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Jan 02, 2017 Warda rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

“We have big, beautiful brains. We invent things that fly. Fly. We write poetry. […] We are capable of big lives. A big history. Why settle? Why choose the practical thing, the mundane thing? We are born to dream and make the things we dream about.”

Reread and this book still speaks my language. It still makes my heart ache to the fullest and gives me hope like no other.
I remember reading this book around the same time last year and feeling that it came to me at a specific point in my life whe ...more

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Apr 22, 2017 Maureen rated it really liked it

This book is so beautiful I am crying??????? So many emotions?????

I really loved Natasha and Daniel. A lot. I loved that this story in any other context would be insta love and essentially was but because there was so much character development and how long it was it didn't feel like it. I loved being in New York City with them. I loved their whole day it was so great.

Also the epilogue was everything??? And I need a sequel novella like NOW.

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Dec 02, 2017 Whitney Atkinson rated it it was amazing

Shelves: audiobook, favs-of-2017, made-me-think, read-in-2017

4.5 Stars

Representation: Black (Jamaican), undocumented MC, Korean love interest

YES. I read this back-to-back with The Hate U Give and I'm just so here for black girls in YA right now. I devoured Natasha and Daniel's story. I can't say enough good things about it. Really, I only have one complaint, which I'll get to.

But first and foremost, this book is genius. It takes place in 3 perspectives: the 2 characters, and then the universe, which shows you the outside perspective of characters you meet 4.5 Stars

Representation: Black (Jamaican), undocumented MC, Korean love interest

YES. I read this back-to-back with The Hate U Give and I'm just so here for black girls in YA right now. I devoured Natasha and Daniel's story. I can't say enough good things about it. Really, I only have one complaint, which I'll get to.

But first and foremost, this book is genius. It takes place in 3 perspectives: the 2 characters, and then the universe, which shows you the outside perspective of characters you meet in passing glances but whose lives intricately align with the main characters'. This book is thought-provoking, and not just because it deals with the topic of deportation and what it means to be American. This discusses alternate universes and the phenomenon of coincidence and whether fate and true love are real. The third POV of the universe was such a nice feature and extended your thinking beyond the love story between the two main characters.

And there's so many things I could compliment beyond the actual plot. The discussion of science versus poetry, the challenging of racism, the discussion of choosing your own destiny, of family troubles inherited by sons and daughters of immigrant parents, and much more. Everything ties together BEAUTIFULLY and I think the threads on the cover of the book really fit this fact. There are so many threads, so many things working together to make this book strong, and they all hold up in the end.

I absolutely loved our characters. Natasha was unforgivingly blunt and headstrong, and I was rooting for her and her struggle the entire book. Daniel was precious and hilarious and such a great supporting character for Natasha. Their dialogue was cute without being cheesy, realistic and thought-provoking without being pretentious. I said in my review of Everything, Everything that it really felt like the same John Green dynamic of writing where the characters are real and witty but they have a level of realism that Green's always lack. The way they grew closer was heartwarming. The way they grew apart was heartbreaking. I was rooting for them.

The only downfall to this book was that since it takes place during only one day, the instalove was real. I understand this is a discussion about love at first sight and fate and people who are meant to be together, but I think there could have been a subtler way to navigate their feelings rather than just "I see her and she is perfect and we shall be together forever." A more cautious approach to this might have made it more bearable, but it's definitely difficult just because of the short time frame and the topic itself is hard to avoid seeming like instalove.

Nevertheless, I highly recommend this. It's cute but also meaningful, and it makes you think in a way that's so rare in YA contemporary. The subject matter is important. The characters shine so brightly. The audiobook is superb. Just read it. ...more

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Sep 28, 2016 Wendy Darling rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2016-publication, rh, november, young-adult, realistic-fiction, poc, own-dtb-tbr, 2016-favorites, to-review, read-2016

So adorable! I loved everything about it...except for one thing. (Just like with EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING, interestingly enough.)

Review to come.

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Dec 28, 2016 Shelby *trains flying monkeys* rated it it was ok

Shelves: everyone-loved-but-me, from-publisher, goodreads-choice, is-this-a-kissing-book, read-2016, young-adult

1.5 stars

Warning: This reviews is just mostly gifs.

I probably should have done this before reviewing this book.

photo 4a726fe1e155d3176877bbac77775031_zpseyfu9nwo.gif

This is more my style though..

photo c13c07d5969c6c0e8c98a1d4dfea3027_zpschz3liqj.gif

So you now have been warned. Keep reading if you want. If you are a fangirl troll..please know this:

Because this book was just stupid. FOR ME! Half of GR loves it. More than half actually. Go and love their reviews.
The book is told in choppy little chapters, from multiple points of view. This really could have worked, it's worked for me before.
There was ...more

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May 31, 2017 Pouting Always rated it really liked it

It's Natasha last day in New York and she is scrambling to figure out a way to stop her family from being deported back to Jamaica. So when she meets Daniel the timing is a little inconvenient. Daniel the son of South Korean immigrants has always been an obedient son yet second best to his older brother Charlie. When his older brother is home from Harvard on probation the pressure on Daniel is only intensified. Daniel heads out that day to go to his interview for Yale, pursuing his preordained f ...more

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Nov 17, 2016 Maxwell rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2016, kindle, ya, botm

This could've so easily been another cliché, sappy teenage love story. But it was so much more than that. Nicola Yoon took the familiar elements from young adult contemporary novels—yes, even "insta-love"—and managed to create something original. I especially appreciated the chapters that broke the mold, that looked outside of the lives of our two main characters, Natasha and Daniel, and commented on the people they passed in the street or met during their whirlwind 12 hour romance. And I loved ...more

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Nov 11, 2016 Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin rated it it was amazing

Shelves: blogging-for-books, own, young-adult

Yeah, I cried!

I was so happy to get this book because I loved Nicola Yoon's book, Everything, Everything! I loved this one too.

Natasha is being deported to Jamaica because of some stupidity on her fathers part. She came to America when she was eight and she's now going into her senior year and doesn't want to leave her friends and life.

Daniel is an American/Korean boy who just wants to live his own life but his parents have other ideas. Daniel and his brother Charlie are to be doctors and tha ...more

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Jan 30, 2017 Matthew rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: gr_awards_2017, 2017, coming-of-age, kindle, library, young-adult

This was a nice little book with a sweet story. A great book for a simple escape. While the scenarios in it are highly improbable, if you can suspend your disbelief for a few hours, it is quite charming.

Lots of chapters. Lots of SHORT chapters. I LOVE SHORT CHAPTERS! I needed a book with short chapters since I am currently reading (or have recently read) some books with loooooooog chapters.

I enjoyed this as much as Everything Everything. Looks like I can continue to count on Yoon for a simple g ...more

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Apr 04, 2016 Adam Silvera rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2016-reads, favorites

A constellation-worthy love story. I can't wait for you all to read this one.

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Nov 16, 2016 Heather 'Bookables' rated it it was amazing

Shelves: contemporary, 2016-favorites, favorites

HANDS DOWN MY FAVORITE CONTEMPORARY BOOK OF THE YEAR!
It was beautiful.
It was magical.
It was heartbreaking.
It dealt with immigration, strained family life, racism, it had diversity
It was a beautiful, beautiful book.
Please listen to this book, I LOVED the audio version to pieces!

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Mar 19, 2017 Justin rated it really liked it

Ahhhhh!!! Why, Nicola Yoon, why?! Why am I reading your books in he first place? Why am I looking past the ridiculously sappy teen romance that litters the pages of your books and feverishly turning the pages? Is it the insanely short chapters? The story? The different points of view? The random science lessons? Why?!

I was skeptical at first. The plot summary on the inside jacket of the book almost made me throw up, and I got really dizzy from all the eye rolling. This book also takes on a more ...more

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Oct 26, 2016 Hannah rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

My spoiler free video review is now up on my channel!: https://youtu.be/XdtcQVXo1jA

Truly one of the best books I have ever read.

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Aug 26, 2016 Lainey rated it it was amazing

Well hello favorite book I've read so far this year.

And also one of my favorite books of all time.

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Jan 25, 2017 Hannah Greendale rated it really liked it

Shelves: contemporary, young-adult, national-book-award-nominee

Natasha and her family are undocumented immigrants; they're being deported from the US in twelve hours, so she's headed to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services building hoping to find a way to stay in America. Daniel is on the precipice of the prestigious future his parents have lined up for him whether he likes it or not, and he's on his way to a college admission interview with a Yale alum. When Natasha and Daniel meet for the first time in New York City, their paths align an Natasha and her family are undocumented immigrants; they're being deported from the US in twelve hours, so she's headed to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services building hoping to find a way to stay in America. Daniel is on the precipice of the prestigious future his parents have lined up for him whether he likes it or not, and he's on his way to a college admission interview with a Yale alum. When Natasha and Daniel meet for the first time in New York City, their paths align and their futures - once certain - spiral into infinite possible outcomes.

It's difficult to choose which is the more likable lead in The Sun is Also a Star. Both Natasha and Daniel have distinct personalities, a shared innocence, and uniquely different families who challenge them in varied ways. Natasha is Jamaican and Daniel is Korean, which further complicates their unanticipated attraction toward one another, particularly for Daniel whose parents want him to marry a Korean woman. Natasha and Daniel may be me more philosophical and wise than your average teenager, but they manage to come across as believable old souls.

People say these things to make sense of the world. Secretly in their heart of hearts, almost everyone believes that there's some meaning, some willfulness to life. Fairness. Basic decency. Good things happen to good people. Bad things only happen to bad people.
No one wants to believe that life is random.

Growing up and seeing your parents' flaws is like losing your religion. I don't believe in God anymore. I don't believe in my father either.

Natasha is highly pragmatic with a scientific mind. Daniel is a hopeless romantic and dreamer who loves writing poetry. Despite their diametric personalities, their chemistry leaps off the page.

"When are we doing the stare-into-each-other's-eyes thing?" I ask.
She rolls the very eyes that I want to stare into. "Later. After your interview," she says.
"Don't be scared," I tease.
"What's to be scared of? All you'll see is iris and pupil."
"The eyes are the window to the soul," I counter.
"Stuff and nonsense," she says.

Interspersed throughout the book are brief histories - backstories of secondary or tertiary characters - as well as chapters dedicated to scientific topics relevant to the story.

According to the multiverse theory, every version of our past and future histories exists, just as an alternate universe.
For every event at the quantum level, the current universe splits into multiple universes. This means that for every choice you make, an infinite number of universes exist in which you made a different choice.

The Sun is Also a Star is a dazzling teen romance in which opposites attract and love is challenged to defy universal odds. ...more

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About Nicola Yoon

Nicola Yoon

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Nicola Yoon grew up in Jamaica (the island) and Brooklyn (part of Long Island). She currently resides in Los Angeles, CA with her husband and daughter, both of whom she loves beyond all reason. Everything, Everything is her first novel.

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Quotes from The Sun Is Also a...

“There’s a Japanese phrase that I like: koi no yokan. It doesn’t mean love at first sight. It’s closer to love at second sight. It’s the feeling when you meet someone that you’re going to fall in love with them. Maybe you don’t love them right away, but it’s inevitable that you will.” — 365 likes

“Maybe part of falling in love with someone else is also falling in love with yourself.” — 246 likes

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Preview — The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon