Title: One Thousand Stars and You
Author: Isabelle Broom
Publisher: Penguin UK
[Synopsis]
One spark will light up both their lives.
Alice is settling down. It might not be the adventurous life she once imagined, but more than anything she wants to make everyone happy – her steady boyfriend, her over-protective mother – even if it means a little part of her will always feel stifled.
Max is shaking things up. After a devastating injury, he is determined to prove himself. To find the man beyond the disability, to escape his smothering family and go on an adventure.
A trip to Sri Lanka is Alice’s last hurrah – her chance to throw herself into the heat, chaos and colour of a place thousands of miles from home.
It’s also the moment she meets Max.
Alice doesn’t know it yet, but her whole life is about to change.
Max doesn’t know it yet, but he’s the one who’s going to change it.
[My Review]
One Thousand Stars and You is the first novel by Isabelle Broom that I’ve read and I really enjoyed it – I’m not one for really cheesy, over-the-top romance/ chick-lit (hate that word, sorry) but this managed to have a good dose of relationships, fun friendship and humour without being any of those offputting things…
The characters are great, and they’re a big part of what makes this book so enjoyable. Alice is likeable and sweet, and though at times she can perhaps come across a little naive, she makes a great protagonist. Her friends Maureen and Steph are vibrant, entertaining characters (though Maureen got on my nerves sometimes!) and Max seems like a great guy – kind, fair and brave considering everything he’s been through. It may be obvious from near the start that Max and Alice are going to hit it off, and there are various parts that are fairly predictable, but the story is lovely to read about anyway, so to me that doesn’t matter!
The setting for this book completely sucked me in – I’ve always wanted to go to Sri Lanka and I felt like I could really picture their trip, from the bustling streets and vibrant colours – Isabelle Broom manages to bring this amazing place to life for the reader. Definitely gave me travel envy (yes, this is fiction but still…!)
I really enjoyed One Thousand Stars and You, and would recommend it to anyone who fancies a light, entertaining but also quite emotional read. It’s touching, heartfelt and definitely has its funny moments!
[Rating: 4/5]
Many thanks to Penguin for providing a copy of this book on which I chose to write an honest and unbiased review.