Book review: The Sun is also a Star

The Sun is also a Star, by Nicola Yoon

Description: (from Penguin UK)

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 the good son, the good student, living up to my parents’ high expectations. Never the poet. Or the dreamer. But when I see her, I forget about all that. Something about Natasha makes me think that fate has something much more extraordinary in store—for both of us.

The Universe: Every moment in our lives has brought us to this single moment. A million futures lie before us. Which one will come true?

A review copy (eARC) of this book was provided by the publisher through Netgalley. Some things might change in the final copy.

I read and liked Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon back in January, it wasn’t a favourite and some things bugged me but I was really curious to read The Sun is also a Star! It was a very fast read, but I got so invested with the characters! Stopping to do something else was a pain. Plus I almost highlighted 20% of this book because there were so many wonderful quotes and amazing and important passages. If I had read a physical copy, it would be filled with post-it notes!

From the first 10% of this book, I already knew I was going to love it. A thing that really touched me is how, every time both main characters’s path cross somebody else’s, there is a passage about this minor character, why they’re here and how they feel and what the encounter with Natasha or Daniel brought to their life, even if that’s just in passing by. That’s really something that made all the difference for me, showing that every action or non-action has an impact on somebody else, that everybody is the hero of their own story.

“I remind myself that I don’t like poetic language. I don’t like poetry. I don’t even like people who like poetry. But I’m not dead inside either.”

But mainly, this story is about Natasha and Daniel, told in dual POV. This whole story happens in a day and while I saw some people being disturbed by the instalove, I though it was very well handled. Of course it is better to take time to get to know somebody, but some stories don’t need weeks or months. Some only need a day and that’s okay, it does happen.

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 invitable that you will.

A lot of important topics where addressed, how the cultural heritage of the protagonists has an impact on their life and also the relationship they have with their parents which is complicated, I love that the story also takes time to acknowledge the parents feelings and where those feelings come from.

“You know why they’re staring, right? – “It’s either because I’m not black or because you’re not Korean.”

I was a crying mess when I finished this story and like all books that make me cry: totally recommend. Especially if you like being torned inside out by feelings, smiling at fun but also deep dialogues and learning from your readings.