Defy the Stars
Release Date: 07/30/12
e-book
325 pages
Julia Cape: A dedicated classical piano student just trying to get through her last semester of high school while waiting to hear from music conservatories.
Reed MacAllister: A slacker more likely to be found by the stoners’ tree than in class.
Julia and Reed might have graduated high school without ever speaking to each other…until, during a class discussion of Romeo and Juliet, Julia scoffs at the play’s theme of love at first sight, and Reed responds by arguing that feelings don’t always have to make sense. Julia tries to shake off Reed’s comment and forget about this boy who hangs with the stoner crowd—and who happens to have breathtaking blue eyes—but fate seems to bring the two together again and again. After they share an impulsive, passionate kiss, neither one can deny the chemistry between them. Yet as Julia gets closer to Reed, she also finds herself drawn into his dark world of drugs and violence. Then a horrific tragedy forces Julia’s and Reed’s families even farther apart…and Julia must decide whether she’s willing to give up everything for love.
Defy the Stars is written in an edgy free-verse style that will appeal to fans of Ellen Hopkins and Lisa Schroeder; however, the writing is accessible enough to speak to non-verse fans as well. The novel’s combination of steamy romance and raw emotion will appeal to fans of Gayle Forman, Simone Elkeles, Jennifer Echols, and Tammara Webber. With a story, language and form that both pay homage to and subvert Shakespeare’s play, Defy the Stars is much more than just another Romeo and Juliet story.
Reed MacAllister: A slacker more likely to be found by the stoners’ tree than in class.
Julia and Reed might have graduated high school without ever speaking to each other…until, during a class discussion of Romeo and Juliet, Julia scoffs at the play’s theme of love at first sight, and Reed responds by arguing that feelings don’t always have to make sense. Julia tries to shake off Reed’s comment and forget about this boy who hangs with the stoner crowd—and who happens to have breathtaking blue eyes—but fate seems to bring the two together again and again. After they share an impulsive, passionate kiss, neither one can deny the chemistry between them. Yet as Julia gets closer to Reed, she also finds herself drawn into his dark world of drugs and violence. Then a horrific tragedy forces Julia’s and Reed’s families even farther apart…and Julia must decide whether she’s willing to give up everything for love.
Defy the Stars is written in an edgy free-verse style that will appeal to fans of Ellen Hopkins and Lisa Schroeder; however, the writing is accessible enough to speak to non-verse fans as well. The novel’s combination of steamy romance and raw emotion will appeal to fans of Gayle Forman, Simone Elkeles, Jennifer Echols, and Tammara Webber. With a story, language and form that both pay homage to and subvert Shakespeare’s play, Defy the Stars is much more than just another Romeo and Juliet story.
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About the Author
Stephanie Parent is a YA author repped by Brenda Bowen of Sanford J. Greenburger Associates. She is a graduate of the Master of Professional Writing program at USC and attended the Baltimore School for the Arts as a piano major.
Giveaway Info:
1st prize: $30 gift card from Amazon and a e-book copy of Defy the Stars.
2nd place: 4 e-book copies of Defy the Stars.
Additional Prize: A query letter critique by Stephanie Parent.
All giveaways are open internationally!
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My Thoughts:
Defy the Stars is a frustratingly beautiful and heartbreaking novel. You know you've fallen for characters when you find yourself screaming at them and expecting them to listen to you. Then feeling devastated for them when you see the outcome you predicted. Right away you know that things aren't going to all sunshine and lollipops for Julia and Reed. I knew my heart was going to be broken, I just didn't realize how severely it would break.
Julia has everything going for her, she seems to have the perfect life, but looks can be deceiving. Her life was missing something, that spark that you don't even know you need until you find it and realize that you don't ever want to be without it again. She makes stupid decisions, lies, and forgives more than any person should. Reed is sweet and pathetic all at once. One minute I adored him and the next I didn't want anything to do with him. I think there comes a point in a relationship where no matter how much it hurts you have to let go of that other person to save yourself. Reed was one of these people that needed to be let go of and it was hard to watch Julia hold onto him even as he was breaking her.
This book is written in verse but didn't always read like a verse book if that makes sense. Not a bad thing at all, I just noticed that it was different from other verse books that I have read. I definitely enjoyed Defy The Stars even though the ending left me with tears streaming down my face.
Plot: You know all along where this story is taking you but as it pulls out emotion after emotion you forget that you knew all along.
Characters: The characters are so frustrating because as the reader you can see the logic that they can't and you just want to save them from themselves. (that wouldn't make for a very good story though) They are so believably flawed.
Writing: The verse style of Defy The Stars makes it easy to read this book straight through to the end in one sitting because of how wonderfully it flows.
Ending: Completely heartbreaking
Content: This book contains drug use, and some non graphic sexual content. This is by no means a light or fluffy read.
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