Review: Distant Stars

Distant Stars book cover on blue background

I have a soft spot for young adult books, so it was a treat to be able to read Distant Stars by Kassandra Garrison. I don't often read about kidnapping plots, which intrigued me as to how it would be handled in this book. To say that the unexpected took place in this book is an understatement!

Many thanks to the author for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Content to be aware of: kidnapping and violence

Book Synopsis

Will Rutledge needs a fresh start. After aging out of the foster care system, he and his brother, Kane, have nothing but each other. Maybe that is why he agreed to his brother’s insane plan. With his brains and his brother’s muscle, what could go wrong?

Enter Hannah Cole. After a devastating loss, her faith in God is shaken. No amount of money could fill the hole in her life… not even if her dad has plenty of it. Suddenly, Hannah finds herself in the middle of the brothers’ reckless scheme.

Plans start to unravel when Will and Hannah develop feelings for one another despite their seemingly insurmountable differences. With Kane determined to finish the plan, the star-crossed lovers question God’s purpose and ask:

Are some stars just too far apart to collide?

Source: Amazon

Book Thoughts

This young adult novel offers a surprising and touching picture of redemption. It might not be for every reader as it does start off dark with depicted scenes of violence; however, the characters of Will and Hannah grew on me the more I read about their plight. Though their backgrounds could not be more different, it's interesting to see how they interact with each other, given that Will has committed a desperate criminal act. Physical appearances are initially prominent, but the content remains fairly clean for young adult readers on the romance side. All that being said, I found myself quite engaged in the plot to see how it would go and discovered a fresh look at second chances.

I appreciate that the characters are willing to accept responsibility and that there is a recognition of the power dynamics involved. The faith scenes are moving and bring an added layer to this story, making it easy to root for a happy ending after what starts out as tragic and traumatic. The way that things culminate provides an air of sweetness that points to God. Readers who are intrigued by the plot of kidnapping will find Distant Stars to be an interesting look at what it means for God to turn things around at pivotal moments in a young adult's life.

Book Summary

Format of book: 📱
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Recommendation: 👍

Comments

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