Book Review: Stars in the City by Krysten Lindsay Hager

I’m very pleased to be welcoming Krysten Lindsay Hager back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her novel, Stars in the City.

These stars seem to have it all…

Valeria Joseph seems to have it all: career as actress on the soap opera, Charmed Lives, and everyone wants to be her. Her so-star, Cecily Taylor, fixes her up with a rising pop star named Dex Doyle and suddenly Valeria has a bigger spotlight on her.

Then, on the busy streets of New York City, she runs into her first love, Davis, who she never got over. Davis is a college basketball player who is dealing with high pressure stressors of his own and they find themselves supporting one another and falling back in love.

But, just like being on a daytime soap is full of drama—so is the publicity that surrounds Valeria. Throw in a pop star who’s crazy about her, an award show event that trends on social media for all the wrong reasons, and tons of swoony moments. Can Valeria find true love in the big city?

*****

To the outside world, Valeria Joseph has it all. She’s an actress on the popular soap opera, Charmed Lives and has the attention of a handsome pop star. However, the life of an actress isn’t always as it seems and when Valeria runs into her old boyfriend, can she find something she thought she’d lost forever?

Although Krysten Lindsay Hager has previously featured on Novel Kicks, this is the first opportunity I’ve had to review one of her novels. I was excited to be invited onto the blog tour and couldn’t wait to get started.

Being targeted at 10 – 18 years, I am not the target audience in terms of age. However, I found myself enjoying this book very much. It had the feel of the Sweet Valley High books or the Sisters books by Marilyn Kaye but with a modern feel. It’s a book I would have picked up had I been that age and I hope to read more if this book is the first in a series.

Valeria is someone many people can relate to. She’s young and trying to navigate her own life with immense external and internal pressures. I think we can say we’ve all experienced that at some point in our lives. Yes, we aren’t all actresses but it can be applied to many other situations. I was worried whether Davis was going to be too good to be true. Whether he is – well, I am not going to say. The supporting cast was a good mixture of personalities and layers.

This novel explores the power of social media and what it can do to the psyche. I think it’s so easy for people to forget that there are people on the other end of those Social channels – people who read and take to heart what you’re saying about them. The likes of Facebook and Instagram have their good points but It makes me so much more grateful I grew up without them and the constant instant impact they have to mental health.

It also discusses the pressures girls have upon them and how we are constantly being compared to each other or the example of “perfect” the media portray. I think boys can get something from this too from the point of view of Davis – he is also facing pressures put upon him by other people.

Overall, I think this was a great story with realistic, relatable, compelling characters and teaches us a good lesson on being true to yourself and your convictions. It tells us that it’s important to find the things or people that have that positive impact in our lives. It has something for many people even beyond the age in which it’s aimed at and I for one will be hoping there are more books involving these characters. I think they have much to teach us about being kind.

About Krysten Lindsay Hager –

Krysten Lindsay Hager is a bestselling author of YA and contemporary romance. She writes romance because she loves bringing people swoony moments and hope-filled happily ever afters. She writes about falling in love, fame, fitting in, frenemies, first loves, and finding your way in the world.

She loves reading, watching movies, and lipstick.

Say hello to Krysten Lindsay Hager via her website, Facebook, Instagram, Bookbub and Pinterest. 

Stars in the City is was released in March 2024. Click here to buy on Amazon UK, Waterstones, Amazon US, Amazon Canada, and Amazon Australia. 

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Laura

I’m Laura. I started Novel Kicks in 2009. I wanted a place to post my writing as well as give other writers like me the opportunity to do the same. There is also a monthly book club, a writing room which features writing prompts, book reviews, competitions, author interviews and guest posts.

I grew up by the sea (my favourite place in the world) and I currently live in Hampshire. I am married to Chris, have a cat named Buddy and I would love to be a writer. I’m trying to write the novel I’ve talked so much about writing if only I could stop pressing delete. I’ve loved writing since creative writing classes in primary school. I have always wanted to see my teacher Miss Sayers again and thank her for the encouragement. When not trying to write the novel or writing snippets of stories on anything I can get my hands on, I love reading, dancing like a loon and singing to myself very badly. My current obsession is Once Upon a Time and I would be happy to live with magic in the enchanted forest surrounded by all those wonderful stories provided that world also included Harry Potter. I love reading chick lit. contemporary fiction and novels with mystery.