Rewrite the Stars

by Julieann Dove

For ten summers Claire and her mother had been guests at the Prescott’s beach house at Kelly’s Cove. And for ten years she played with Mallory and her twin brother, Colin. But it wasn’t until she returned after college graduation for her last summer there, that she realized Colin had grown into a guy who made her knees knock just by smiling at her. Being from different worlds, she knew nothing would come from her attraction to him.

Having returned to the states from studying abroad for four years, the last person Colin thought he’d find staying in his bedroom was Claire Ashton. Lanky and awkward during her adolescent years, he had to look twice to make sure this was the same girl. After a week together it was obvious he’d overlooked something before, because he felt things for her he’d never experienced before. There was only one problem—his last name and all that came with it would never permit him to be with her.

In the end, it’s either love or prestige that will win in the game of love.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary

286 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 23, 2018

About the author

Julieann lives in Virginia, yet longs to live everywhere else. It doesn’t come as a surprise that along with her gypsy soul, comes an active imagination. That’s why she loves to write and invent worlds and people, so that she can formulate their happily ever after. Hobbies include cooking new recipes, sewing, and spending time with her cute boyfriend/husband and eight fabulous children. Vacations happen in Nantucket or the Carolina beaches—anywhere there is inspiration for her next book. One day she hopes to travel to Italy, drive one of those little cars around the countryside, and speak the language fluently!

Reviews

[Carlene Inspired]

Did not finish 50%
I have to give up, I'm at 50% and still no more connected to the story than I was at 15% or even 25%. The characters are presented as both mature and yet still childish, we're expected to believe that love comes easily with no effort, and the dialogue they share is incredibly formal. The believability just isn't there and despite the anticipation presented with the unknown to come, it wasn't worth it for me to continue reading.

[Maureen · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I read the book description of ‘Rewrite the Stars’ I knew this was a book I wanted to read. I love reading romance novels and this book just sounded so good. And I also loved that cover. So I was super excited when I received the email saying I could read this book.

In ‘Rewrite the Stars’ we meet Claire. Claire has spent her summers with her mother at the Prescott’s Beach House for years. And for years she spent her summers there with Mallory and her brother Colin. After Claire’s mom passes away, Claire is surprised that Mrs. Prescott still invites her to come stay at the Beach House. Back at the Beach House Claire sees Colin again for the first time in years, and she is immediately swapped away by him. And for Colin, seeing Claire again after all these years definitely awakens something in him. But they are from two totally different worlds. And Colin’s family is not easy. Their name and status mean a lot to them. But will their love be enough to stand up to Colin’s family?

When I first started reading this book I really enjoyed it. I really liked Claire’s character and I loved the whole summer romance thing she had with Colin. I definitely enjoyed reading about Claire and Colin especially in the beginning. And there romance seemed to develop very quickly. What became clear after reading only the first view chapters was that this book had more up its sleeve then only the romance development. I for one thought the book was already almost at its end, but we were only half way through and unfortunately I lost my interest a little then.

This book has a major twist in it that wasn’t bad at all, but took a long time to be revealed. And I just didn’t really like this book as much after the first half. It wasn’t a bad story, but I just thought it took to long. And I really didn’t like the decisions Claire made.
Unfortunately I also didn’t really ‘feel’ the romance between Clair and Colin as much as I would have liked.

Overall this book was nice enough, but not really one for me.

[Maranda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Childhood friends meet again and kindle romance. Snobby family dynamics and secrets lead to heartbreak for Claire and Colin. Twist at the end! "Book was provided by Caffinated reads with no requirements for a review. Comments here are my honest opinion."

[Laura Nelson (Tangents and Tissues) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whaaa?

*coughs*

What the...

*shakes head*

Let’s try this again.

Sorry, peeps. I’m afraid this is going to be one of those cryptic reviews where I can’t say much for fear of giving anything away.

I vacillated between cursing the author aloud, and in the next breath calling her an evil genius. This story’s twists have twists *shrugs* No joke *shakes head* One sums me up: agog (y’all know how much I love my one-word summations *smirks*)

On paper, this book reads as a star-crossed lovers’ story, but that doesn’t even scratch the surface. Trust me, you’ll question yourself on what you’ve just read. With mutterings of, “Seriously?”, and “That did not just happen?”, sprinkled throughout. Or, in my case profanities galore. Potty mouth thy name is Laura *snorts*

When we lose a loved one it’s hard to find our new normal. Keeping up a tradition by vacationing with her late mother’s best friend and her family is bittersweet for Claire Ashton. The difference in their lifestyles has never been so apparent, and her mom is no longer there to act as a buffer.

Plus, with the prodigal son returning, Claire is faced with an unwelcome attraction to her childhood friend. Colin Prescott is all grown up and has awakened Claire’s heart. Surely no good can come of this?

Colin is returning home to the heavy weight of responsibility. With a future he doesn’t wish mapped out by a domineering father, he yearns for escape.

Can Claire with her warm heart give him the courage to seek the life he wants?

Honestly, I didn’t know what end was up half the time with this book. It’s a case of once you start you can’t stop as the revelations keep coming and you keep turning the pages.

As a new to me author, it did take me a couple of chapters to get into the flow of the book, but once I did there was no stopping me.

I look forward to reading more of Julieann’s work in the future.

[Jenea · Rating 5 out of 5]

What do you do when you’re tells you that you are out of someones class and this is the person you are in love with? This is what the main character Claire will have to go through and figure out how to navigate. Would she walk away heartbroken or stay and fight for the her love story.

The story start shortly after Claires mother death. She is still a little lost after the loss but to me was a genuine sweet heart. She has managed to finish her degree while taking care of her ailing mother. Claire was definitely a strong and loving young woman, and one I could get behind to root for though all that is going on in her life. Claire and her mother always traveled to Kelly’s Cover, a place where the wealth go to stay for the summer. Melanie was Claire’s mothers best friend. But after her death she doesn’t feel like going anywhere or doing anything. But she decides to take up Melanies offer to still come up to the Cove.

Each summer Claire would play as a child and hangout with her mothers best friends children. Not they are all grown. Mallory is looking forward to getting married one day, while Collin has been away at school. He is the prodigal son. His father has plans for him, not that Collin wants any par of them. While Claire see something different in Collin that she never saw growing up. They fall in love only to be told they can’t be together. I wondered from the start if their love would be able to withstand what was being thrown at them.

Now this is a story that based on lies built on other lies. It was amazing the secrets that this family had. Melanie had secrets. Hell, the house keeper had her own secrets that played a part too. And poor Claire was caught up in it all. Claire and Collins love for one another was the dominating secret however. The reaction from Collins mother of all people just broke my heart for Claire.

I have to say, the writing was superb and written so engrossingly, I got all swept in this love affair between Claire and Collin and how all the secrets slowly came to light in one way or another. And well done Dove, there was a little twist there at the end that I did not see coming. I loved it! This is a story that will take you on a roller coaster ride of emotions of love and love lost. Some of the emotions came from the secrets held and the actions of all those involved. But it was one roller coaster ride that I thoroughly enjoy every page of and highly recommend for fans of forbidden romances.

[Esther Haddie's Haven · Rating 4 out of 5]

I RECEIVED AN ARC OF THIS BOOK THROUGH INDIESAGE PR IN PARTICIPATION OF A BLOG TOUR. THIS IS MY HONEST REVIEW.

This was a very sweet, yet deep read. I love that Claire and Colin had grown up together. As Claire grows older, things take a bit of a dark turn, but I tend to enjoy such books a lot. So it wasn't an issue for me. Although there were parts that just broke my heart.
Rewrite the Stars has, I think, a bit of a second chance-romance feel to it. Because Claire and Colin definitely shared a special connection during their summers at Colin's family cottage. Julieann Dove definitely had me waiting for what would happen on the next page. As a new author to me, I found her style of writing realistic, for me at least, and with an easy flow. The twist thrown in had me stunned. I was not expecting that at all.
I was definitely singing Rewrite the Stars from The Greatest Showman soundtrack every time I saw the title of this book.

4.5 of 5 Stars.

[HeartBreaker · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was one of those book where I expected one thing,but unfortunately got something else.Something that has nothing to do with the blurb.
I really didn't like this book.
First,I just couldn't picture Claire and Colin in love,their love seemed so fake to me.Then,in the middle of the book I though that things got better for Claire,but then she did something very stupid and completely ruined my opinion of her.And then in the end the author put some shocking twist that left me with my mouth open and confused look on my face.Well that twist at the end had knocked out at least two stars from my review.
I'm sorry but that just didn't sit well with me.
I can't recommend this to anyone.

[Isha Coleman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rewrite the Stars by Julieann Dove  
They were meant to be together, yet destined to be kept apart. Claire is the good girl from the wrong side of the tracks. Colin is the chosen one. His path has been determined by his last name. Thrown together for countless summers at a young age, it's only in adulthood that love takes hold of their hearts and disrupts their lives. Will they be able to survive the stones tossed their way? Rewrite the Stars is a modern twist on a classic plot. Despite the obviousness of the tale, Dove appeals to the heart with a serenity and sincerity that makes for a wonderfully sweet read.

[Paula D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Claire has known the Prescott family her whole life and loves spending time with the twins Mallory and Colin. Grown up now she is seeing Colin in a different light he’s a man and her heart skips a beat when they are close but one problem he’s a Prescott they are totally different worlds. A choice and Claire has to live with it daily to bad she couldn’t Rewrite the Stars. Angst read and so much more and at one point my mouth hung open and didn’t close till the end. I did get frustrated sometimes and wanted to scream at the characters but read it till the end! 5/5 stars

[Nadene (Totally Addicted to Reading) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book differed from any I have read before. Being familiar with the author’s work I expected to have a good time with the story and the characters. The story lived up to my expectations, the characters not so much. However, despite my disappointment with the portrayal of the characters, I enjoyed this story for what it was, an emotional read filled with secrets and lies.

Everyone in this story had secrets they prayed would never come to light. If these secrets were to be revealed it would destroy lives. Unfortunately, for Claire she found herself in the middle of it all and to make matters worse she was forced to keep her romance with Colin a secret.

My disappointment with the characters may with Colin and his mom, Melanie.
Colin, lacked the backbone to stand up to his father regarding his career and whom he chose to spend the rest of his life with. I never expected the Colin’s mother to react the way she did when she discovered Colin and Claire’s secret.

I loved Claire and could relate to her as an individual, however I had a hard time with her and Colin has a couple. They were childhood friends who spent Most of their summers together. Now that her mom has died the zeal to visit Kelly’s Cove had dissipated, however after much encouragement by her roommate she accepted the offer extended by her mom‘s friend. Her decision to return to Kelly’s Cove would bring about changes she never expected.

The story which is well written was engaging from the start. I was completely caught up in the story and I was amazed as the secrets unraveled. While reading the story I had a picture in my head about how it would unfold and what would transpire. So, you can imagine my surprise when the author threw in a twist that changed the dynamics of the story. I was happy with how it ended and it was good to see Colin and Claire making the right decisions.

I was hoping the author would have delved further into the housekeeper’s relationship to the family upon revelation of the secret. It would have been great to see the effect it would have going forward.

Conclusion/Recommendation
Rewrite the Stars tells a story of forbidden love. It demonstrates the ill effects that secrets and lies can have on relationships. This story will take you on an emotional roller coaster ride. It will leave you hankering for more and have you rooting for a happy outcome.

[Thuy Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was quite interesting. At first, I was enjoying the childhood friends to lovers aspect of the story, the next, it just went a bit dark. There is so much family drama coming from the hero's side. Sooo much deception, old money facade drama. I couldn't keep up. You have a Colin our hero who has a demanding father who pretty much has mapped out Colin's life for him, to take over the family business. Colin's dream is definitely NOT to do that, but he's so afraid of his father, it makes his speechless and he never stands up to his father.

Claire is spending 3 weeks at the beach home where she used to spend with her mother as a child. She played with her friend Mallory, and her brother Colin. Its been years since she has seen Colin, and they finally see each other. They are taken aback and fall in love. But there are issues, obstacles....

There is a twist, I didn't predict, but it was interesting. It hits you just like BAM! I'm always a sucker for a childhood friends to lovers story, while it was definitely that, there were different additions to the story which will either make you frustrated or keep you wondering until the end.

[Beyond The Covers Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

With schooling done and some free time till her new career starts,Claire has her yearly invite to the Prescotts cottage.

Melanie Prescott was her late mothers best friend and since her passing she has become Claires angel,helping to pay her rent and buying her the ticket to the cottage.Claire has reservations about going it was always a trip for her and her mother,and with her gone its to emotional for her.

When Claire decides to go she has no idea how her life is going to change.


With all the Prescotts at the cottage they await the arrival of their son Colin,his twin Mallory is Claires childhood friend and Colin was always teasing them like young boys always do.

When she sees Colin a trip down memory lane flashes in her mind igniting the feelings she has had for Colin since they were teens.When Colin professes his feelings for Claire the embark on a hidden love affair.She know they have to come clean and let the family know,hiding it will only make it worse. But with being a Prescott comes with high expectations and Claires not sure she can meet them

Will the elder Prescotts keep they young pair apart or will Claire and Colin go against everything the family wants.


This story has a great twist to it,it keeps you guessing right till the end.

[Amy Stephens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Julieann Dove is a new author to me, and I must say, I really like her style of writing. I easily fell into the story line and the pace kept my interest all the way to the very end. I liked Claire right from the start. She'd been through so much, dealing with her ill mother followed later by her mother's death, and I emotionally connected with her. She was someone I could call a friend.

The author's writing was so heartfelt and genuine. There were scenes that deeply saddened me with Claire and Colin and I love when an author can get underneath my skin like that. Their story wasn't an easy one, with lots of underlying family secrets, but I couldn't stop reading.

If you're looking for a story that's sure to give you an emotional punch, definitely give Rewrite The Stars a try. I think Dove will really surprise you! I'm looking forward to seeing what else this author has written because of that bond I made with her style. Great story!

[Mary Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unexpected. That is the best word to describe this amazing journey of finding your passion and love then having the courage to grab it with both hands. Claire has had a rough year, losing the only family she has when her mother dies. Her mother’s best friend insists she returns to their summer home, something she did with her mom every year, to enjoy a summer break before starting her new job. She goes with a heavy heart but is thrilled to see Mallory, Melanie’s daughter. What she isn’t prepared for is a returning Colin, Mallory’s twin brother, and how her body and soul react to him. Colin is blown away when he sees Claire, remembering the flat chested girl that he would pick on years ago. His heart is all in but his family is pushing him down a path that doesn’t include Claire. Is there any chance these two will find a future together? Truly surprised by this story which is very difficult to review without giving away any of the amazing twists and turns. My best advice is to dive in and enjoy. I voluntarily read an ARC of this book and this is my honest review.

[☕️Kimberly (Caffeinated Reviewer)]

A standalone beach read. I was happy to get a sneak peek.

[Scarlett Ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

There aren’t many people who get to experience the lifestyle of the rich – but even so Claire is hesitant to joint the Prescott family for a week. For one thing – it used to be something she did with her mother & since she passed Claire would be making the trip solo, and for another – she could feel awkward and out of place for the entire time. But she is worn down and decides to take the week. There she runs into Colin – who she used to run and play with h as a child but she hasn’t seen in the past 4 years! Sparks fly and romance ensues – but they have to wonder if it is something temporary or if it could last.

I hadn’t read anything by this author before but I really enjoyed this book. Colin and Claire were such an odd match but the author made it believable that they could end up together. I won’t give too much away because I think this is a book many could enjoy – but I was not at all expecting the ending. I had it in my head how the book would go and I wasn’t sure if I was happy with it or not, but the author threw a curve ball at us. I was very pleased with the ending she wrote; I liked how the tension and conflict rose steadily until the very end. It made the conclusion of the story that much sweeter. The book was a fairly quick read – but it could also be because I didn’t want to put it down. There were a few moments where I was not on board with Colin or Claire; their decisions were selfish and just mean, but in the end it was made okay. Overall I’d give it 4 stars and would recommend it to a large majority of my reader friends.

**4 stars - I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader copy of this book.

[Jennifer Pierson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rewrite the Stars starts after Claire loses her mother, and finally graduating college. She has a month off before she starts the job of her dreams, and her mother's best friend invites her back to Kelly's Cove, a place that she spent her summer's at as a child, where she played with her friend Mallory, & Mallory's twin, Colin. Only now, they are all grown up, and all of a sudden, Claire & Colin have caught feelings, but his family isn't happy about it, so they are doing everything they can to keep them apart. This story had me conflicted on how to write this review. On one hand, I had a hard time really imprinting on the characters (which is only my opinion), but on the other, the twists of secrets & lies kept me turning the pages while dropping f-bombs. And I definitely enjoyed that huge twist that threw me for a huge loop, while putting all of my emotions through the wringer, but can't describe because it would give a big part of the plot away if I did so, so yeah, this review is very cryptic. I was intrigued enough by Julieann Dove's talented writing style to check out more work by her in the future, so I'm just going to make this short & sweet by HIGHLY RECOMMENDING to all!

[Samantha March · Rating 3 out of 5]

The beginning of this book did a great job at reeling me in. Claire was an immediately likeable character and I was curious to learn more about summers at the beach house with the Prescott family. The romance between her and Colin kicked off very quickly, but I wasn’t put off by the fast pace. I actually wish more of the book kept up that pace, because after the first section of the book, it seemed to really slow down, but then the ending actually felt rushed. I liked the overall storyline and the romance is sweet, but a little too much for me at times. If you are a true romance fan I could see you liking this one, but even some of the wording young Claire and Colin used seemed slightly unrealistic and a little over the top sometimes. The end had a twist that I actually really liked, but I do wish we could have seen just a little more of that. The majority of the story focuses on what happens after leaving the beach house that summer, and I started to get invested in Claire’s life and her decisions, and to have it change so suddenly at the end was a little confusing as a reader. Overall it was a nice read that kept my interest, but not a personal favorite.
I received a review copy

[Brittany Alexander · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was okay. And the ending pissed me off. There's nothing worse than that. There really isn't.

There wasn't really a connection between Colin and Claire. I honestly felt like there was more of a connection between Claire and Alex than Claire and Colin.

I did find myself getting distracted often, the book unable to hold my interest for long periods of time. I just felt that this book had so much potential and it fell flat. I feel that Claire and Colin's relationship could have been spectacular, but instead, it was just flat.

However, I really like Alex and I wish that the reason of why Colin and Alex's families are feuding was explained.

Overall, I give this book 3.5 stars

[Laura Voss · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was provided a copy for review purposes.

Julieann created a story that is full of depth. I liked the idea that the main characters were trying to get past the family drama and make a relationship work. Claire and Colin knew each other growing up. They had spent time together in the summers, but there was never a relationship between them. It drew me out of the story when they were instantly deeply in love with each other. I missed the suspense and buildup of the relationship.  I did like that the story had different layers of secrets and drama that were unfolding. This family has held onto all of their baggage for years and poor Claire has to be in the middle of it when it all comes out. 

[maureen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a romance. This is a story about feeling unworthy. This is a story of being from the wrong social Class.
Claire and Collin spent summers together. They were friends who spent the summer playing and enjoying being children. They go there separate ways once they are older. Only To run into each other once again at the beach after Colin has been abroad for several years. When they see each other there is an instant attraction. There is one problem, Colon is from a very rich and influential family. They don’t feel that Claire is quite good enough. It’s that age old question will love conquer all?? I liked this book but I did have some trouble connecting with the characters. There is a huge twist at the end that I’m still not sure I liked.

[Treena Ross - Rockstar Book Muse · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 STARS

THIS STIRY WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO CONNECT TO.
ALTHOUGH THE CHARACTERS OF COLIN AND CLAIRE WERE GROWN UP THEY SPOKE TO EACH OTHER AND ACTED KIND OF CHILDISH. ALTHOUGH I LIKED THE CHARACTERS INDIVIDUALLY TOGETHER THEY WERE UNRELATABLE.

THIS STORY IS ABOUT LOVE AND CLASS. WHICH ONE WILL WIN? WELL THE STORY TELLS US AND THERE IS A BIG TWIST AT THE END. HANG THROUGH IT AND TRY TO RELATE AS MUCH AS YOU CAN.

I RECECIVED AN ARC IN EXHANGE FOR A REVIEW.

[Janine Bürger de Assis · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really tried to like this book, but it was not possible. I couldn't connect with the characters of care for them. The story has a big twist that instead of a shock was a letdown. I fell in love with the cover, but not with the book.

[Margaery · Rating 1 out of 5]

In less than a hundred pages, I knew then that this book is a fail. This book caught my attention because of its interesting blurb and its beautiful cover. Sadly, the story was not able to deliver.

I had trouble keeping up on who’s brain I was in most of the time. There were no clear transitions.

The characters talk in an unnatural vocabulary. It’s like synonyms replaced commonly used words. They sounded unrealistic and odd.

And the conclusion seemed as if it was a lazy solution to all the problems.

This is, by far, the most disappointing book I have read in 2018.

[Adrianna Schuh]

I’m struggling a bit with this one, because well. I’ve never written a review on a book that I DNF’ed. So let me just tell you why I initially chose to review this book. The cover, honestly it’s gorgeous and I’m still so in love with it. And I mean the synopsis definitely interested me because I’m always up for star crossed lovers romance. Like yes please!

But I have to be completely honest, I was turned off my this book within the first few pages. The language is just so odd. So formal, but not in a way that makes sense for the characters. It just seemed like the author was trying too hard to make the characters sound smart. It was very forced. I stopped reading at about 35% because I felt absolutely no connection to this story or the characters and I straight up cringed every time someone spoke. I’m super disappointed, because this is only one of a few books that I haven’t finished. And I absolutely hate not finishing books. But I think sometimes you have to know when to call it, for your own sanity haha.

I think the story itself has tremendous potential if the writing gets a bit more relaxed and polished. I never like to say that am author’s writing isn’t good, especially because I’m currently writing my own book. But I also try to be as honest as possible! So my final opinion, this one probably isn’t worth your money.

Thanks for reading guys! Talk to you soon! ❤ Adrianna

[Gabby (What's Beyond Forks?) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full Review at: What's Beyond Forks?

Claire is mourning her Mom's death, and this place and these people hold so many memories that include her mom. So, it's hard for her. Claire and Colin are childhood friends who haven't seen each other in years. I know they have known each other forever, but it's been a while, and the romance happened super fast. Too fast to feel much of the chemistry, but the lust was definitely there. Shortly after, things get serious, the story takes a darker turn. My heart broke for all the characters. Seriously. The soul of every single one of them is dying. Their lives are all interconnected tragedies. Then something happens to completely changes everything. I like the whole concept, but I needed more from that ending. It all changed and wrapped up so quickly, but there were more things I needed to know about the future of these characters. It desperately needed an epilogue. Overall, I'm not sure how I feel about the book just yet. Too many feels still. I really hope there's an epilogue extra out there in the future, because that could really make a difference in the reading experience of this book.
Rewrite the Stars by Julieann Dove was kindly provided to me by the author for review. The opinions are my own.