Throwback Thursday: Review: Made of Stars by Kelley York

Made of Stars by Kelley York

Publication Date: October 1, 2013
Page Count: 320
Published by: Entangled: Teen

Synopsis from Goodreads:

When eighteen-year-old Hunter Jackson and his half sister, Ashlin, return to their dad’s for the first winter in years, they expect everything to be just like the warmer months they’d spent there as kids. And it is—at first. But Chance, the charismatic and adventurous boy who made their summers epic, is harboring deep secrets. Secrets that are quickly spiraling into something else entirely.

The reason they’ve never met Chance’s parents or seen his home is becoming clearer. And what the siblings used to think of as Chance's quirks—the outrageous stories, his clinginess, his dangerous impulsiveness—are now warning signs that something is seriously off.

Then Chance's mom turns up with a bullet to the head, and all eyes shift to Chance and his dad. Hunter and Ashlin know Chance is innocent...they just have to prove it. But how can they protect the boy they both love when they can’t trust a word Chance says?

I really loved this book. So much that after I finished reading I couldn't get my thoughts together enough to write a proper review. As I'm writing this now, I remember having all sorts of feelings going on while reading. The writing was beautiful. The characters were memorable. The story was tragic and sad and unexpectedly moving, with an ending that broke my heart and made me cry.

Made Of Stars was told in alternating POVs from half siblings Hunter and Ashlin. The siblings spend summers with their father, which is where they first encounter Chance. The 3 friends reconnect every summer, but this year it's different. Things have changed - Hunter and Ashlin are older and more mature and are now willing to act on their feelings. Chance is different this time too, and Hunter and Ashlin soon come to realize they never really knew Chance at all.

Hunter and Ashlin had complicated feelings for their friend, Chance. They both knew the other loved him, but there was never really any sort of rivalry for his affections - it was almost as if they were willing to share him so they could continue being around him. That may sound odd, but love doesn't always make sense.

As much as I loved the story, I didn't exactly like the twisty, sad, and abrupt ending. I was left hanging with my feelings and wanting more resolution. All this time later, and I'm still wondering what happened to these characters that I had come to love.

Despite the ending, Made Of Stars was still a really great book that I highly recommend. Especially if you are looking for an LGBT that's a little bit different.

My rating: 4 stars