Heavenly Bodies

by Rochelle Allison

It’s summertime in Atlanta, and all Isla Kelly cares about is hanging with friends and snagging her longtime crush. But weeks before senior year starts, her mother announces they’ll be moving to a tiny island in the Caribbean to take care of her ailing grandfather. Having to leave her best friends and the only home she’s ever known is bad; having to leave her father behind, too? Awful. But as Isla reluctantly starts adjusting to island life, she discovers that St. Croix isn’t the disaster she thought it would be. Making friends and growing closer to her mother’s side of the family, she realizes she has a place in this close-knit community. And then there’s Rigel, the fascinating boy at her new school. Everyone knows Rigel Thomas, his reputation, and his somewhat notorious family. From the pool at school to the best beaches on the island, he makes it his mission to win Isla’s heart. But life on St. Croix isn’t all sunsets and stargazing, and as Isla is pulled deeper into Rigel’s world, she learns that some things can only be discovered by slipping far beneath the surface.

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary

457 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 21, 2016

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Born and raised in the sunny US Virgin Islands, Rochelle Allison has been making up stories since she was a little girl. Nowadays, Rochelle lives just outside of Atlanta with her one true love and their kids. When she’s not writing, she's reading, hiking, swimming, having coffee with friends, playing word games or taking pictures. She can almost always be found with a book…and, often, chocolate.

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Reviews

[Rae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heavenly Bodies is written in my favourite Rochelle Allison signature dreamy and poetic style. Whilst the story revolves around the protagonist, Isla and her developing relationship with Rigel, it's Allison's obvious affection for her beloved hometown, St. Croix, that is the other 'heavenly body' in her book. Allison's ability to describe the surroundings through Isla's eyes almost makes you feel like you are there with her - when I Googled some of the places Allison names in her book they looked exactly as they were described and I swear I could smell guava at one point! But most of all Heavenly Bodies makes you remember what it was like in high school; the awkwardness and insecurities you felt, the wonderful friendships you made, spending hours at the beach with those friends and falling in love with 'that boy' for the first time. Heavenly Bodies is so good that I suffered from 'post reading depression' after finishing it as I just didn't want it to end. I am hoping Rochelle Allison will consider writing a college sequel!

[Maria C · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Rochelle's writing style. It's slow and sweet and transports you wherever she wants to take you through her descriptions. Can't wait to read more from her!

[Rhiannon St. Clair · Rating 5 out of 5]

**I received an ebook copy in exchange for an honest review**

Isla's whole life is uprooted when her mom unexpectedly moves her and her brother to the Caribbean to help care for her ailing grandfather. After spending years in a comfortable existence, Isla is forced to start over, making new friends and navigating her way through her senior year of high school.

Along the way she meets Rigel Thomas, whose good looks, charm, and success on the swim team have left most of the female population at their high school lusting after him. As her time in St. Croix progresses, Isla finds herself growing closer to Rigel, and discovering parts of herself that she didn't even know existed.

This book pretty much owned me the whole time I was reading it. Actually, if I'm being honest, anything Rochelle writes does. I've never read an author who has the ability to capture young love and adolescent life the way that she does. There were moments all throughout Heavenly Bodies where I found myself feeling everything inside that I imagined Isla was feeling at that exact moment in the story. And when those moments hit, I was slammed straight back into different times of my own adolescence.

So, why do I love Heavenly Bodies? I'll start with the plot. I read to escape reality, but on the same token, I am very much partial to books that mimic situations I'd find myself in. What happened to Isla? It sucked. Being torn away, unwillingly, from all of your friends, the guy you like, your dad ... none of those things are good. Or easy to handle, especially as a teenager. But, it's something that people face on a consistent basis. And in this case, it opened up a window of opportunity for Isla, to grow and get to know herself better and overcome some times that were holding her back.

I adored the characters. Isla was incredible. She's strong, she's independent, shes loyal to the ones that she loves and she took risks, even though she didn't necessarily want to at first. I admired her courage all throughout the move and adjusting to her new surroundings. I loved the relationships she had with her close friends back home, and with her cousin in St. Croix. And I loved how she tried to stop herself from falling ... and failed miserable.

Rigel is so dreamy. He's this good looking, popular, jock, but at the end of the day, he's a nice guy. He can be cocky at times, but not disgustingly so. And he cares so immensely for Isla. Even though they're young, the connection between the two of them jumped off the page and felt real and like it was just meant to be.

I loved the secondary characters as well. Isla's crazy little brother and her grandpa and mom, the friends and the boy she left behind .. All of them were so enjoyable. And they all just fit together seamlessly. Like they were each meant to be in Isla's life.

Rochelle has this unique writing style that I love. Her words are beautifully poetic and she creates these amazing, vivid images with everything she writes. I know that whenever I pick up a story my heart will do that amazing feeling, skippy beat thing, I'll be swooning, and at some point the butterflies will get unleashed. That's exactly what Heavenly Bodies was like for me. I shed tears, I got goose bumps, my tummy flipped and flopped and oh boy did I swoon. There was a good mix of teenage angst, young, emotional love, and all things happy in this story.

Heavenly Bodies gets the Wordaholic Must Read seal of approval.

Five stars to this novel!

[Shanshe Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heavenly Bodies is a must read! Rochelle Allison is one of my favorite authors and she never disappoints. She does the teen years so well and has a talent for taking you back to those glorious (mostly)days of youth. It is so relatable you can hardly help becoming invested in these characters that remind you of yourself or someone you knew. Or of those crushes that were so all consuming -or even your first love!
This story follows Isla, who is excited to start her Senior year of high school with her best friends and the classmates she has known since childhood and the possibility of a burgeoning relationship thats finally coming to fruition. Her happiness on this front is short lived as her family has to make some tough decisions that will tear her away from her life as she knows it. Its easy to sympathize with her and imagine yourself in the same situation or relate to it if you have been.
Isla is forced to start her senior year in a whole new place while watching the lives of her friends and would-be BF carry on without her through social media and FaceTime chats. However, on this new journey she begins to rediscover her family's culture and roots , while growing closer to distant relatives. All this and the beauty of her new Caribbean home help her to realize that while yearning for what was, she might be missing out on the life she's living now. A certain beautiful curly haired swimmer boy probably didn't hurt either! ;)
Also I must say, perhaps St. Croix tourism association might want to add this book to their site as well. Rochelle's love for her birthplace certainly comes through in her writing. It certainly got me to googling this gorgeous place that I've decided I must visit ! And thanks to HB, I already have a head start on my must-do list! Ironically, I will need swimming lessons first ;)
All in all, I would recommend this read to young adults and young at heart adults as well! Don't miss out!

[Tiffany McGowan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heavenly Bodies, oh where do I start. Right from the beginning, I was hooked. Telling the story of a young woman being pulling from everything she's always known and into a world she had no plans of being a part of has been done before. But not in the way Rochelle has mastered it. From the inner selfishness that any teenager would feel even deep down in her heart Isla was doing the right thing for her family, to learning that change isn't always bad and can even result in the greatest discoveries of all. It's the kind of story you sink into, picturing yourself there living it as well. The kind of book you can't stop reading and never want to end. Rochelle has always had a flow to her writing, an ease that traps in the best of ways. She knows how to connect you to the characters, gives you reasons to feel good and bad. This book may be fiction, but it's one of many truths. A romance that reminds you not all in life is simple, but there's always a silver lining. When you leave a book wishing there was more, that's when you know you've found talent. I'm incredibly proud of you Rochelle and I can only hope you have more in store for use when it comes to Isla and Rigel.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

FIRST LOVE FLUTTERS

No one crushes summer romance and first love better than Rochelle Allison. Heavenly Bodies is just what we needed to take us out of this cold winter. I love a good book that makes me feel the first love flutters but I also love it when an author can immerse me in the setting. Rochelle wraps you in her words, sinking you right into the sunny sands and salty shores off the Florida coast as you experience youth, island adventure and the pitter-patters of true love. Heavenly Bodies isn't just a feel-good, fun summer romance, it brings the rich island culture to life, making you feel like you've boarded that plane with Isla and her family and flown straight to St. Croix beside them. I loved touring the island with Isla and her friends, but nothing topped the sweet spots that Rigel and Isla explored together... sigh. So satisfying. This book will make you crave all the delicious island food!

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story encompasses many of the feelings you run through growing up: the feeling of being young and in like, the playfulness of friends and the anguish of change. Set mostly in the beautiful St. Croix, we get a peek into what it is like to live island life. Isla is handed change that is not of her own volition. Uncertain of what this new life may bring, she navigates through it with a level head and an open heart.

I know when I read one of Rochelle Allison’s stories; I can count on a myriad of emotions. Her words timelessly evoke the way it felt to see your first love that first time. And you remember fondly, the touches and whispered words that were all your own. I found myself immersed in the journey of Isla and her newfound love…of the island and whatever or whoever she will find. Once again, I closed the book with a truly satisfied smile.

[Faye Byrd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heavenly Bodies is a perfect beach time read. Starting from Atlanta, Isla is the typical teenage girl, heading into senior year. Her world is upended, but she soon finds her stride with new friends and an interesting boy. Riley is easy going and doesn't say much, but he doesn't have to. He draws you (and Isla) in, leaving you waited with bated breath to hear more. When these two come together, it's chill and easy, until it isn't. I recommend Heavenly Bodies to anyone who is looking for anticipation, plot and excellent writing skills. Definitely a 4.5 in my book!

[Kristina Høeg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spoiler free review.

Heavenly Bodies belongs with its brother and sisters – in the sky.
Allison Rochelle story is so well written and it catches you from the get-go.

Circumstances out of her hands takes the main character Isla on a trip of finding herself.
The teenage years brings many challenges and Isla faces hers with such dignity and grace – and in between finding her own heavenly bodies.
The story is beautiful and Rochelle Allison’s words are like poetry.
This five star book is a must read… but beware – you’ll get a new book boyfriend.

[cejsmom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed Rochelle's first book, and her second didn't disappoint. The story kept me reading and interested the entire way through. Isla is a character who readers can identify with - no matter what their age. She's searching for who she is in a world that has some major upheavals for her. The cast of characters who are there to help her out are as interesting/well developed as she is.

[Christina Szczepan-santos · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I loved the YA of it.
Isla was uprooted unexpectedly by her mom to take care of her ailing grandfather.

The way Rochelle describes the island I felt like I was there.

I loved Isla & Rigel together. I hope we hear more form the other characters in the book.

Well done!
*Arc in exchange for an honest review*

[Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

i still can't get the same vibe that i get from her fanfics which i think are still better than this and For the Win
waiting for Starry Eyed Inside i won't give up on Rochelle i know she's an amazing writer

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the things I admire about Rochelle's writing is her ability to create beautiful moments. While the whole story is wound tight with amazing island imagery and little spots of ache, there are those trademark glittering moments that make you fling the book aside (just for a moment) just so you have adequate space for your heart to explode.

Heavenly Bodies is the fluttery-stomach love and blushing cheeks and sweaty palms that make you feel it right in the centre of your chest.

It's hesitant-sweet touches and smirky-cute boys and sunshine and the smell of suntan lotion and the beach and a warm summer breeze against your cheek and first love, first real kiss, first down-there butterflies, first everything.

Heavenly Bodies is a beautiful first novel from Rochelle, and I'm so super-super ultra mega excited to see this book out in the sunshine where it belongs

*edit: forgot to mention that I was advanced an ARC x

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again I love this book because, of course, Rochelle’s writing is so great. First off, I love the name of the characters in this story. Isla, Rigel, Nando, Camille, Orion. So unique! I enjoyed the dynamic between Isla and her moms the struggle to forgive her mom over moving her from her home. She grows so much, from being a naive girl thinking her parents were in a perfect marriage, to accepting the fact that her mom and dad may never live together again.
She’s such a positive person by always believing the best in people. Here faith in her relationship with Rigel was so endearing. I loved watching them grow closer as the year went on. She learned so much about herself, and her mom’s roots, and I loved reading about it.
This also made me want to book a flight to St. Croix halfway through the book. Her descriptions of the this place was so detailed I could picture everything so clearly. Great job again, Rochelle!

[sic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Allison's books are to be savoured — expecting big plot twists to happen is not advised and that's why I always enjoyed reading her works. I finish them feeling like somehow I was part of that little town with those real people. Like I was the one shifting my hands through the sand. I read it while going through grief and it was just right to keep my thoughts in lighter subjects.

Still, I must say I missed more romance between the main characters, more silly little nothings whispered between them here and there. I also felt like the story between the MMC and his siblings was underdeveloped and, just like the FMC, I felt like something was being hidden from me and there was more to it. That's why I'm giving 3,5 stars (rounded).

Really hoping for more works from the author!

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved this book. Isla Kelly has life all sorted out just as her senior year is about to start... until all of a sudden she doesn't. Her parents are uprooting her and moving to St. Croix to care for her ailing grandfather. Reluctant and sad, Isla has to find her way. Learning island life, making new friends, and befriending the guy everyone loves, Rigel. This journey is about choices and learning to let down barriers and trust, accepting life in the moment and not longing what's no longer yours.

The imagery is perfection - vivid without being laborious. The characters - all of them - are richly developed and compelling.

This is a great read.

[Betsy Saueressig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rochelle has a gift for, and love of words. This story transports us to a tropical paradise, through the eyes and heart of a 17 year old girl.
From her anger and sadness at the choices her parents make for her, moving her from Atlanta to St. Croix days before her senior year begins; Isla finds that home is where the heart is. Even if that heart sometimes beats in the chest of a beautiful boy, with secrets and fears of her own they face together.
Her characters are well developed, and flavored with the beautiful imperfections of real life.
Salt, sand, and wind, butterflies of first love and the rush of "coming of age" are perfectly tangible through Rochelles poetic talent for words.

[Luvmi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've never been to St. Croix but after reading this spectacular book I feel as though I could make my way around with ease. I finished in two days I couldn't put it down. Isla and her family are ai vibrant and strong in their transition. Every character has a significant purpose in this story and each one of them experiences stimulating character growth. Buy this now and get lost with lemongrass ice tea and guava tarts.

[Retse J. Johnson-Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful coming of age story...

Heavenly Bodies brought back nostalgic memories of growing up and reminded me of the things I dealt with as a high schooler. I love the characters, especially Nando! Thanks again for an awesome read Rochelle Allison!

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this!

I love this book and really love the way Rochelle writes. It was a sweet story with some drama thrown in for good measure. I really enjoyed reading this.

[Wendi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love her writing so much. Loved this story,I zoomed right through it. And omg I wanna go to St.Croix now.

[May Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perhaps my favorite one of Rochelle's. I felt as if I was transported on the island with the characters. Watching Isla and Rigel fall in love was sweet.

[Lisbeth Tejada · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want to feel like you're having a crush on a cute, sweet, boy (that somehow still manages to have some bad boyish vibes), then read a Rochelle Allison book.

[Santanna]

I dont want to rate it because I DNF. I started it, then put it down and didn't pick it back up for 2 months. It's probably just my mood which is why no rating.

[Grace Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is like my 4th time reading this book luv it

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s almost the beginning of senior year, and Isla Kelly is buzzing with excitement. She cannot wait to go back-to-school shopping with her best friend Sage and maybe... just maybe... finally get it right with her longtime-crush-but-never-quite-boyfriend Benny Reid. Now that he’s just asked her to homecoming (and kissed her silly on her front porch), it seems Isla is about to have the best senior year ever.

Until she walks in the door and sees her mother waiting at the top of the stairs. The look in Mama's eyes says a lot, but nothing could prepare Isla for what Mama actually says:

Grandpa Harry had a minor stroke. He needs a nurse but cannot travel. Mama is the best person to care for him.

So Isla has to move.

To St. Croix.

Next week.

Oh, and her dad isn’t coming because he’s battling a sickness of his own... otherwise known as his drinking problem.

In one stunning conversation, Isla’s life turns upside down, and she has no hope of it ever being right again.

But sometimes hope arrives when and where you least expect it.

No, it doesn’t hurt that she’s moving to St. Croix instead of Siberia. Her mother’s birthplace is a warm, friendly paradise full of palm trees, passionfruit juice, and beaches.

And sure, it makes things easier that Isla’s favorite cousin Camille is eager to show her around school, include her in social activities, and introduce Isla to all her beautiful friends.

And on that note, it certainly bodes well for St. Croix that one of its native sons is a beautiful blond-haired boy named Rigel.

The star of the high school swim team, Rigel is more than just a pretty face... which is saying something because he has a very pretty face. But he’s kind and patient and more than willing to help Isla conquer her anxiety about being underwater. Sure, the school requires that Isla learn to swim, but Rigel being her oh so attentive tutor?

Well, that’s just lucky, I guess.

"Heavenly Bodies" is as sweet as passionfruit juice and as beautifully romantic as St. Croix itself. Although the move to the island is about Isla’s grandfather, this story is all about Isla’s journey of self-discovery, and author Rochelle Allison tells it beautifully. From the disappointment of leaving Atlanta to Isla's nerves about being in the water, Allison makes us feel every bit of Isla’s emotions, walking that line between teenager and budding adult with fine precision. In Rigel, Allison creates a dynamic, fascinating character we can’t wait to know and can’t help but love. The cast of supporting characters adds the perfect splash of humor and hi-jinks to the story, and any one of them is compelling enough to emerge as a possible lead in another book down the road (hint, hint, Ms. Allison).

"Heavenly Bodies" may be Rochelle Allison’s first solo project—she co-authored Olympic-themed "For the Win" with Angel Lawson earlier this year—but I for one hope it isn’t her last. In the meantime, I’ll content myself with reading "Heavenly Bodies," and I think you too should dive right in!

[Rose Mashal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to come :)

[Between · Rating 4 out of 5]

*** An ARC was provided for an honest review.***

Sometimes you need an escape and books are the perfect vessel for the voyage. Enter St. Croix, the star of Rochelle Allison’s debut YA novel, Heavenly Bodies. As an avid reader of fanfiction and Allison’s previous ff works (more on that on another day), I was greatly looking forward to her original fiction work. Anyone who knows Rochelle Allison, and I’m fortunate to call myself one of those people, knows that her love of the land that spent her formative years, St. Croix, is beloved to her. Most of us can only dream of living in such an idyllic setting, but fortunately, through her novel, we get a chance to live vicariously through Isla Kelley, the main character in Heavenly Bodies.

Isla finds herself in every teenagers worst nightmare—having to move just before their senior year. But Isla doesn’t make just any move, she finds herself moving from Atlanta to St. Croix, where her mother grew up, to help care for her ailing grandfather. Caught in between her life in the states and her new life in St. Croix in a private school, Isla is fortunate enough to have a built in friend through her cousin Camille. Through Camille, Isla is shown the ins and outs of life in St. Croix as well as the tiny school she is now expected to graduate from.

If you are anything like me, I love YA novels, especially coming of age novels set in and around high school. There is something about the nostalgia and angst of being taken back to the time period. First loves, first tryst with alcohol, and first…everythings. Allison is a master at captivatingly telling slow burning love stories and she delivers just that in her debut novel, Heavenly Bodies. The setting of St. Croix is just the cherry on top.

[Emily Goodman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heavenly Bodies by Rochelle Allison is a story of a journey of a young girl embarking on a journey to adulthood filled with tough decisions, first loves, and self discovery. I truly enjoyed reading Isla girl's story. Allison brought St. Croix to life within the pages of this book. She truly painted a wonderful picture of what island life, love, and a young girl is all about.

In Heavenly Bodies we meet Isla, a young girl who is thrown into an alternate lifestyle just days before her Senior year. She is moving away from life as she knows it to a small island in the Caribbean thrust into a culture she barely remembers and a family she often doesn't see. But, there are some perks to island life that come in the form of her hot fellow classmate and swim teacher Rigel. Rigel is a temptation she's not able to resist.

Throughout this book I kept wanting Allison to reach this pivotal moment. The moment everything could make it or break it. However, it seemed this book just read flat. Don't get me wrong, the temptations between Rigel and Isla were interesting, the characters fun loving and jovial. But I kept waiting for that moment where it'd all fall apart and be put back together again. In my opinion just a little bit of drama, loss of love, or chaos would have set this book apart from the rest.

With that being said, Allison is definitely a storyteller. Her story shows great promise. It's interesting and tempting filled with a touch of angst you expect in a YA or New Adult book. I would definitely pick up another of her books after reading this one. Hopefully as she continues to write, her novels will evolve.

[ItzAl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel by Rochelle Allison made me so very happy! And that is no small thing this November. Rochelle is, in my opinion, the queen of the sweetest love stories. She weaves a romance so effortlessly that you feel delightfully tangled in the web with her characters.

Isla Kelly is about to start her senior year in her beloved hometown of Atlanta with her best friends and her it's-about-time possibly new friend-turned-boyfriend. Her life seems pretty well put together. Until it all just falls apart. Her grandfather, who lives in St. Croix, is in poor health. Her mother decides to go back home to nurse him back to health, and she's taking Isla and her little brother with her. To make matters worse, Isla's dad won't be joining them. At least not right away. Or, Isla begins to wonder, ever?

Take this journey with Isla to St. Croix to begin a new life and a new senior year, making new friends and getting to know everyone's favorite swimming superstar, Rigel. You'll fall for so much in this sweet love story: for Isla and Rigel, for Isla's family, and for island life in beautiful St. Croix.