Rachel Lacey

From Rachel Lacey, award-winning author of Read Between the Lines, comes a sexy slow-burn romance about two dynamic divas who collide on the world's biggest stage. Eden Sands has been a star for twenty years, but it's lonely at the top. Her mediocre marriage just ended, and her inner circle is smaller than ever. The stage is the only place she's ever felt like she truly belonged, and yet, her last album flopped, and her upcoming tour hasn't sold out. Eden's desperate for her star to shine bright again, but when her team suggests a collaboration with an up-and-coming young star to give her a boost, she balks. Anna Moss is pop music's rising star. She's idolized Eden Sands for most of her life--so it's a dream come true when she's invited to perform with her at the Grammys. Anna's tired of being defined by her bubbly persona. She wants to be taken seriously as an artist, and a duet with Eden could be just what she needs. As Anna and Eden rehearse, they soon realize they have more in common than their musical talents. Now they just have to decide if what is between them is a one-hit wonder or the making of a romance worthy of one of the greatest love songs of all time.

Stars Collide

Jazelle H

words are so pretty! And powerful. They can change lives.

“It means we were each other’s sexual awakenings.”

never told the world I was straight, so I guess I don’t see why I need to tell them I’m not.

you’re more than your sexuality. So much more.”

“I finally felt it . . . the need to kiss someone more than I needed air. I felt that. For you.”

She was thrilled and terrified and dying of anticipation. A confusing cocktail of emotions that left her feeling jumpy as hell. Hopefully, by the end of the week, she’d be settled, because she couldn’t take much more of this emotional roller coaster.

It felt unfamiliar, touching a woman this way, but at the same time, it felt like the most natural thing in the world.

This time, they snuggled together in the middle of the bed, and Eden felt her world right itself. In Anna’s arms, her equilibrium returned. Her pulse was still a little faster than it should be, but she didn’t think it had anything to do with fear or stress. That was her reaction to Anna, the reaction she finally felt comfortable acknowledging. She rested her head on Anna’s chest. It felt so good, so comfortable.

“You don’t have to label yourself before you’re ready . . . or ever, if you don’t want to. How you identify is so personal, and you’re under no obligation to share it with anyone.”

Eden felt an uncomfortable tug in her stomach. She’d always been drawn to women. When she watched movies or TV shows, she inevitably ended up talking about the actresses while her friends gushed about which actors they thought were the hottest. Did that . . . mean something?

Women were beautiful. So many curves, a softness that belied their underlying strength.

"...we shouldn’t be embarrassed by other people’s behavior, right?”

Eden’s tone was flat and dull but hard. Like flint. Anna had the impression that if she struck stone, she might spark, and wow, that was unexpectedly sexy.

“Your sexuality is never something to apologize for.”

“We can’t always control the way the media portrays us, but there are ways to help steer the narrative.”

“Gorgeous older women in a position of authority have always been your catnip.”

I named her Villanelle because one minute she loves you, the next minute she’s drawing blood. A very complicated lady.”

“So, the difference between bisexual and pansexual is fairly nuanced, and some people define it different ways, but to me, bisexual means that you’re attracted to more than one gender, and pansexual means that you’re attracted to a person regardless of their gender.”

“It’s not silly. Never let anyone convince you that your ideas aren’t valid, Anna.” 

❝ "You’re more than your sexuality. So much more.” ❞

❓ #QOTD Who was your celebrity crush growing up OR favorite artist as a teen? ❓

🦇 After her divorce, pop star sensation Eden Sands' latest album lacked the spark fans and the industry have expected of her after 20 years. Meanwhile, Anna Moss, her fellow Grammy nominee, is beginning to rise, though people in the industry don't take her as seriously as she hoped. To rekindle that spark, Eden invites Anna to join her on stage during her Grammy performance, only for fans to focus on the spark between them. Following the unexpected popularity of #Edanna, Eden invites Anna to open her upcoming tour. The more time they spend together, the more they realize that chemistry exists off-stage, too. Is there something more to what they're feeling?

💜 Eden and Anna's love story also gives a respectable nod to many realities of life as a celebrity. As a young star, Eden is forced to mature quickly. Allowing the adults in her life to make major decisions on her behalf stole Eden's control, leading her to claim that control in extreme ways as an adult. Fans have mobbed Eden, tugging at her hair, getting in her personal space, and claiming some unspoken right to flash cameras in her face, leading Eden to further seclude herself under the guise of safety. So much of her young life was controlled that she lost the chance to explore her identity beyond the pop star on stage. Meanwhile, Anna is forever seen as a teen character she played (while in her 20s), prompting no one to take her seriously. One of the things I loved most about this book was the mentorship between the two women. While Eden helped Anna recognize the control she could have over her career, Anna helped Eden recognize who she was and the life she could have outside of the spotlight. A lot of the conflicts in this story were internal; Eden's self-discovery and sexual awakening, the words of a controlling and toxic ex haunting Anna. Eden and Anna helped one another through their self-growth. 

💜 In my favorite scenes, Anna coaxes Eden to talk through her thoughts (finally, a sapphic book that avoids using miscommunication to simmer the story in tension). Anna reminds Eden, "You don’t have to label yourself before you’re ready . . . or ever, if you don’t want to. How you identify is so personal, and you’re under no obligation to share it with anyone.” For many people, recognizing who they are--labels or not--is a lonely process. Anna never pushes or rushes Eden, but she does help Eden work through her concerns. You're never too late to decide who you are. I didn't navigate my own sexuality until after college, but I wish I'd had a friend to help me understand it, the way Eden had Anna. Even when their relationship blossoms into more, their friendship never wavers. Rachel Lacey does an incredible job at describing how out of tune you can feel for so much of your life, only for the static to clear because of an event, a realization, or a person. I've met that person and I can say with certainty that it can change everything. 

🦇 Though I loved the internal conflicts both MCs had to navigate to mature and develop, the lack of strong external factors seems unrealistic. The major external factors are the mobbing fans and Anna's ex; the latter of which creates the only major blow-out scene in the entire novel. While we see Anna mature throughout the story (both in how she treats Eden and in her career growth), her maturity unravels in that scene. Eden, who is usually steadfast in her composure, steps beyond the professional veneer she wears in a moment of immature jealousy. That scene, presented in the last few chapters, felt like a rushed, inserted source of conflict before a HEA ending. Even Anna's ex felt out of character in these scenes, jumping from one extreme to the next, brought in as a last-minute trigger for Anna's insecurities about her relationship with Eden. There were other external conflicts to explore that would have strengthened the story. For example, the media is never posed in a negative light (as if the media wouldn't distort the truth or paparazzi wouldn't mob both popstars). What if Eden was only enamored by the situation (a concern that could have crept alongside Anna's other doubts)? During the second half of the novel, Eden and Anna were surrounded by so much BLISS that I kept waiting for a real problem to challenge their relationship. The strongest relationships navigate problems and survive, all the stronger for it. 

🦇 Recommended to anyone in need of a warm and fuzzy romance read. Ideal for fans of sexy slow burns, workplace romances, and celebrity romances.

🎤 Workplace Romance / Forced Proximity

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

❝ "You’re more than your sexuality. So much more.” ❞

❓ #QOTD Who was your celebrity crush growing up OR favorite artist as a teen? ❓
 
🦇 After her divorce, pop star sensation Eden Sands' latest album lacked the spark fans and the industry have expected of her after 20 years. Meanwhile, Anna Moss, her fellow Grammy nominee, is beginning to rise, though people in the industry don't take her as seriously as she hoped. To rekindle that spark, Eden invites Anna to join her on stage during her Grammy performance, only for fans to focus on the spark between them. Following the unexpected popularity of #Edanna, Eden invites Anna to open her upcoming tour. The more time they spend together, the more they realize that chemistry exists off-stage, too. Is there something more to what they're feeling?

💜 Eden and Anna's love story also gives a respectable nod to many realities of life as a celebrity. As a young star, Eden is forced to mature quickly. Allowing the adults in her life to make major decisions on her behalf stole Eden's control, leading her to claim that control in extreme ways as an adult. Fans have mobbed Eden, tugging at her hair, getting in her personal space, and claiming some unspoken right to flash cameras in her face, leading Eden to further seclude herself under the guise of safety. So much of her young life was controlled that she lost the chance to explore her identity beyond the pop star on stage. Meanwhile, Anna is forever seen as a teen character she played (while in her 20s), prompting no one to take her seriously. One of the things I loved most about this book was the mentorship between the two women. While Eden helped Anna recognize the control she could have over her career, Anna helped Eden recognize who she was and the life she could have outside of the spotlight. A lot of the conflicts in this story were internal; Eden's self-discovery and sexual awakening, the words of a controlling and toxic ex haunting Anna. Eden and Anna helped one another through their self-growth. 

💜 In my favorite scenes, Anna coaxes Eden to talk through her thoughts (finally, a sapphic book that avoids using miscommunication to simmer the story in tension). Anna reminds Eden, "You don’t have to label yourself before you’re ready . . . or ever, if you don’t want to. How you identify is so personal, and you’re under no obligation to share it with anyone.” For many people, recognizing who they are--labels or not--is a lonely process. Anna never pushes or rushes Eden, but she does help Eden work through her concerns. You're never too late to decide who you are. I didn't navigate my own sexuality until after college, but I wish I'd had a friend to help me understand it, the way Eden had Anna. Even when their relationship blossoms into more, their friendship never wavers. Rachel Lacey does an incredible job at describing how out of tune you can feel for so much of your life, only for the static to clear because of an event, a realization, or a person. I've met that person and I can say with certainty that it can change everything. 

🦇 Though I loved the internal conflicts both MCs had to navigate to mature and develop, the lack of strong external factors seems unrealistic. The major external factors are the mobbing fans and Anna's ex; the latter of which creates the only major blow-out scene in the entire novel. While we see Anna mature throughout the story (both in how she treats Eden and in her career growth), her maturity unravels in that scene. Eden, who is usually steadfast in her composure, steps beyond the professional veneer she wears in a moment of immature jealousy. That scene, presented in the last few chapters, felt like a rushed, inserted source of conflict before a HEA ending. Even Anna's ex felt out of character in these scenes, jumping from one extreme to the next, brought in as a last-minute trigger for Anna's insecurities about her relationship with Eden. There were other external conflicts to explore that would have strengthened the story. For example, the media is never posed in a negative light (as if the media wouldn't distort the truth or paparazzi wouldn't mob both popstars). What if Eden was only enamored by the situation (a concern that could have crept alongside Anna's other doubts)? During the second half of the novel, Eden and Anna were surrounded by so much BLISS that I kept waiting for a real problem to challenge their relationship. The strongest relationships navigate problems and survive, all the stronger for it. 

🦇 Recommended to anyone in need of a warm and fuzzy romance read. Ideal for fans of sexy slow burns, workplace romances, and celebrity romances.

✨ The Vibes ✨
🩷 Bisexual / Pan Leads 💙
💞 Sapphic Romance
🎤 Workplace Romance / Forced Proximity
🎙️ Dual POV
🎵 Slow Burn
⏳ Age Gap
💗 Friends to Lovers
🏳️‍⚧️ Transgender Rep
❤️‍🔥 Sexual Awakening
🌶️ Spice

Cheri Fuller

I think this is my favorite Rachel Lacey book. The characters and their issues felt legit and I loved being along for the ride while they figured it all out.

This is a fun, lighthearted celebrity friends-to-lovers sapphic romance set in the music business. It’s been a tough year for Eden Sands - her star seems to be on the wane, she’s just gone through a divorce, and she’s having trouble selling out her upcoming tour. Enter Anna Moss, a rising star, who just might be the answer to all of Eden’s problems.

Contemporary romance is often not my favourite genre. It can be a little predictable and tropey, and can feel phoned in. This book was a pleasant surprise - the characters were fun and likeable, their relationship built in a natural and logical way, and you could tell why they would like each other. The writing was solid, and never devolved into purple prose. Sex scenes in romance books can sometimes be squicky, but when it gets physical between Eden and Anna, the writing is tight and controlled (and hot.)

If I have a criticism, it’s that the traditional third act misunderstanding/argument/heartbreak is just a tad melodramatic. It was also resolved much too quickly - either spend the time exploring a genuine conflict/relationship bump or just don’t include a fight at all. Introducing a reasonable conflict (and it was) and then resolving it a chapter later feels like a missed opportunity. Honestly, I’d have been happier if they’d just had a proper conversation. I’d love it if more romance authors had the confidence to break free of the formula a bit.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to anyone looking for a lighthearted, sweet romance. With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Wonko the Sane

This is a fun, lighthearted celebrity friends-to-lovers sapphic romance set in the music business. It’s been a tough year for Eden Sands - her star seems to be on the wane, she’s just gone through a divorce, and she’s having trouble selling out her upcoming tour. Enter Anna Moss, a rising star, who just might be the answer to all of Eden’s problems.

Contemporary romance is often not my favourite genre. It can be a little predictable and tropey, and can feel phoned in. This book was a pleasant surprise - the characters were fun and likeable, their relationship built in a natural and logical way, and you could tell why they would like each other. The writing was solid, and never devolved into purple prose. Sex scenes in romance books can sometimes be squicky, but when it gets physical between Eden and Anna, the writing is tight and controlled (and hot.)

If I have a criticism, it’s that the traditional third act misunderstanding/argument/heartbreak is just a tad melodramatic. It was also resolved much too quickly - either spend the time exploring a genuine conflict/relationship bump or just don’t include a fight at all. Introducing a reasonable conflict (and it was) and then resolving it a chapter later feels like a missed opportunity. Honestly, I’d have been happier if they’d just had a proper conversation. I’d love it if more romance authors had the confidence to break free of the formula a bit.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to anyone looking for a lighthearted, sweet romance. With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Stars Collide

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