Starstruck by Cyn Balog

Title: Starstruck
Author: Cyn Balog
Genera: Chick-lit/Paranormal romance/Humor
Subjects: Love, astrology, supernatural, overweight persons, New Jersey
Length: 244 pgs. Hardcover
Rating: ê ê ê ê

Gwen “Dough” Reilly, who’s mom owns a bakery, has gained 70 pounds since she last saw her best friend and long-distance boyfriend, Wish. Now Wish is moving back to their New Jersey costal town and based off his face book pictures, he looks like he turned into a total hottie, which makes Gwen afraid that he won’t like her anymore when he sees her. When he does see her, he act like she’s beautiful as ever. Is it an act or does he not really care what she looks like? And why is he obsessed with the sun, and disappointed by the rain? Christian, the creepy new employee at Reilly’s Bakery, says that what Wish has been doing means he’s doing rituals that a cult of astrologers called the Luminati practice, and that what he’s doing could have major consequences and hurt people around him.

I was surprised how good this book was. I read Fairy Tale and Sleepless, and I don’t remember them being as funny as this book was. Gwen is self deprecating and self conscious about herself being overweight. Balog did a good job describing how overweight teens feel, I think. Not many authors have overweight main characters and I think it’s an interesting twist to the story. This book was very original for a YA. The Luminati was new. I never heard of them, and yeah, they’re not the “Illuminati.”

I really wonder what Cyn Balog will cook up next. Her next novel is Living Backwards, and it also sound interesting and I can’t wait to check it out.

I recommend this if you want fresh, different YA novel to gobble up on a lazy day. Or if you want a book that will make you feel good about yourself. Feel-good chick-lit, this book is. :P

Art Review:

The cover’s not very exciting. It’s matte with glossed stars. The stars remind me of Christmas lights for some reason.

~Haley G