Malorie Blackman

What happens when love brings loss? When love brings lies? When love brings hate? Olivia and her twin brother Aidan are heading alone back to Earth following the virus that wiped out the rest of their crew, and their family, in its entirety. Nathan is part of a community heading in the opposite direction. But on their journey, Nathan's ship is attacked and most of the community killed. Only a few survive. Their lives unexpectedly collided, Nathan and Olivia are instantly attracted to each other, deeply, head-over-heels - like nothing they have ever experienced. But not everyone is pleased. Surrounded by rumours, deception, even murder, is it possible to live out a happy ever after . . . ? LONGLISTED FOR THE GUARDIAN CHILDREN'S FICTION PRIZE, 2016

Chasing the Stars

2.75 stars - TLDR; cool premise, plot is good and the plot twists were nice. I missed Malorie Blackman's writing so this was a fun way to bring me back

Long(er) review: ... I liked this book at first (the political aspect behind it, the elite rethinking their prejudice, promising plot & plot twists) but some things were weird and cannot be overlooked. 

Chasing the Stars is about Olivia who has been in space for 3 years with her twin brother Aidan, when he spots activity on another planet. Olivia decides to save the people on that planet, bringing them to their ship (against Aidan's advice not to) and meets Nathan. We follow this book between Olivia & Nathan's pov, both about 18-19 y/o and both fall in love the moment they see each other, which is where my frustration starts because the isntalove does not make sense to me. They confess their love for each other and they have barely consensual seggs?! Yeah, that sounds vague and unclear, right? That's exactly how it registers. As if that's not too fast, THEY GET MARRIED. They've only known each other for like a week! For Christ's sake. 

The instalove is justified by Olivia's loneliness and Nathan's death scare. Then Aidan gets jealous, because for years it was only him & his twin, but all of Olivia's attention goes to Nathan. Aidan concocts a plan to make it seem as if Nathan is cheating on Olivia, Olivia ices Nathan out, Nathan eventually finds out everything and he tells Olivia that it's not true. Obviously she doesn't believe him. Something happens where Nathan almost dies and Olivia stops it, but she almost let it happen bcs whe was so mad at him. Nathan's shocked and decides the marriage is over. Fast forward, Nathan comes with reciepts and Olivia finds out through him that he did not cheat, and that Aidan was behind it all. To add icing on the cake, Nathan is a complete asshole to Olivia when she apologizes. She says she'd do anything for his forgiveness, and he tells her to get naked... Eventually they get divorced. Also, why did they behave like mid-teens? I know this is YA but damn. I would think 18-19 y/olds would behave a bit more mature. 

I was so excited to read this and once I started, I hoped the book would follow the enemy more but it's way too focussed on the love. It introduces us to all these characters and the universe, but it didn't go into it more. It pains me to say all this bcs this is my fav author, but it's a reminder that fav authors also sometimes dismay their readers. Still love Malorie Blackman ofc, still managed to finish this book (I wasn't gonna dnf bcs I wanted to know how it ended), and I enjoyed Malorie Blackman's writing.

Joy KBA

2.75 stars - TLDR; cool premise, plot is good and the plot twists were nice. I missed Malorie Blackman's writing so this was a fun way to bring me back

Long(er) review: ... I liked this book at first (the political aspect behind it, the elite rethinking their prejudice, promising plot & plot twists) but some things were weird and cannot be overlooked. 

Chasing the Stars is about Olivia who has been in space for 3 years with her twin brother Aidan, when he spots activity on another planet. Olivia decides to save the people on that planet, bringing them to their ship (against Aidan's advice not to) and meets Nathan. We follow this book between Olivia & Nathan's pov, both about 18-19 y/o and both fall in love the moment they see each other, which is where my frustration starts because the isntalove does not make sense to me. They confess their love for each other and they have barely consensual seggs?! Yeah, that sounds vague and unclear, right? That's exactly how it registers. As if that's not too fast, THEY GET MARRIED. They've only known each other for like a week! For Christ's sake. 

The instalove is justified by Olivia's loneliness and Nathan's death scare. Then Aidan gets jealous, because for years it was only him & his twin, but all of Olivia's attention goes to Nathan. Aidan concocts a plan to make it seem as if Nathan is cheating on Olivia, Olivia ices Nathan out, Nathan eventually finds out everything and he tells Olivia that it's not true. Obviously she doesn't believe him. Something happens where Nathan almost dies and Olivia stops it, but she almost let it happen bcs whe was so mad at him. Nathan's shocked and decides the marriage is over. Fast forward, Nathan comes with reciepts and Olivia finds out through him that he did not cheat, and that Aidan was behind it all. To add icing on the cake, Nathan is a complete asshole to Olivia when she apologizes. She says she'd do anything for his forgiveness, and he tells her to get naked... Eventually they get divorced. Also, why did they behave like mid-teens? I know this is YA but damn. I would think 18-19 y/olds would behave a bit more mature. 

I was so excited to read this and once I started, I hoped the book would follow the enemy more but it's way too focussed on the love. It introduces us to all these characters and the universe, but it didn't go into it more. It pains me to say all this bcs this is my fav author, but it's a reminder that fav authors also sometimes dismay their readers. Still love Malorie Blackman ofc, still managed to finish this book (I wasn't gonna dnf bcs I wanted to know how it ended), and I enjoyed Malorie Blackman's writing.

Terry Leslie

At first I wasn't sure if I liked it or not but the more I read, the more I enjoyed it. It's one of them books that I was reluctant to put down and I got so into the story that now I've finished it, I feel kind of lost. It made me laugh, but mainly it made me cry. Despite a few mistakes made in editing, the book is really well written and you really get to know the characters. I love this book and would really reccomend it.

Ellie B

Katie Day

Olivia (Vee), is now captain of her own spaceship, an Explorer Vessel which set out seven years earlier on a deep space mission. She and her twin brother Aidan are heading alone back to Earth following the virus that wiped out the rest of the ship in its entirety three years earlier âe" including their parents. Nathan is part of a community heading in the opposite direction. A violent war is spreading through space so theyâe(tm)re heading for a peaceful patch from where they will plan an uprising. But on their journey, Nathanâe(tm)s ship is attacked and most of the community killed. Only a few survive, thanks to Vee and Aidan, who rescue them, bringing them on board their ship. Nathan and Vee are instantly attracted to each other, and in the midst of all the dramas and hostilities of this newly occupied ship, they fall head-over-heels in love. But not everyone is happy with their relationship. Someone is sowing rumours of Nathanâe(tm)s infidelity, Veeâe(tm)s flaws, and putting the lives of everybody on board at risk . . .

Chasing the Stars

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