A rock-star romance that’s filled with emotional growth.
High school senior Indigo Mitchell-Jamiolkowski is over having a famous actor for a sister.
But when Violet offers Indie $500 to come to New York Comic Con as her personal assistant, Indie can’t say no. In addition to being an aspiring concert violinist who’s preparing to apply for Juilliard, Indie is a huge fan of special effects makeup artist Melody Nguyen, who’s appearing on a panel at the convention. The trip goes awry, and the sisters begin fighting. Indie meets Xander Jones, lead guitarist for the boy band the Heartbreakers, and they spend the day together—he even introduces her to Melody. And though Indie has a hard time believing Xander would be interested in her, he continues to seek her out. As their relationship grows, Indie struggles with family conflicts, and Xander works to step into the spotlight often occupied by his bandmates. This third entry in the series is a charming stand-alone love story in which both leads experience real growth as they lean on each other. Readers will enjoy watching the emotional connection between Indie and Xander strengthen, and they’ll root for Indie and Violet to work on their sibling bond, even as their relationship fractures under the weight of fame and their parents’ divorce. Indie’s exploration of her post–high school options is well developed. Xander and the Mitchell-Jamiolkowski family read white, and Indie’s best friend is cued Mexican American.
A rock-star romance that’s filled with emotional growth. (Romance. 14-18)Pub Date: Oct. 7, 2025
ISBN: 9781492652441
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Sept. 27, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head.
The finely drawn characters capture readers’ attention in this debut.
Autumn and Phineas, nicknamed Finny, were born a week apart; their mothers are still best friends. Growing up, Autumn and Finny were like peas in a pod despite their differences: Autumn is “quirky and odd,” while Finny is “sweet and shy and everyone like[s] him.” But in eighth grade, Autumn and Finny stop being friends due to an unexpected kiss. They drift apart and find new friends, but their friendship keeps asserting itself at parties, shared holiday gatherings and random encounters. In the summer after graduation, Autumn and Finny reconnect and are finally ready to be more than friends. But on August 8, everything changes, and Autumn has to rely on all her strength to move on. Autumn’s coming-of-age is sensitively chronicled, with a wide range of experiences and events shaping her character. Even secondary characters are well-rounded, with their own histories and motivations.
There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head. (Fiction. 14 & up)Pub Date: April 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-4022-7782-5
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Feb. 12, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2013
BOOK REVIEW
SEEN & HEARD
Immersive and engaging, despite some flaws, and destined to capture imaginations.
Magic, mystery, and love intertwine and invite in this newest take on the “enchanted circus” trope.
Sisters raised by their abusive father, a governor of a colonial backwater in a world vaguely reminiscent of the late 18th century, Scarlett and Donatella each long for something more. Scarlett, olive-skinned, dark of hair and attitude, longs for Caraval, the fabled, magical circus helmed by the possibly evil Master Legend Santos, while blonde, sunny Tella finds comfort in drink and the embraces of various men. A slightly awkward start, with inconsistencies of attitude and setting, rapidly smooths out when they, along with handsome “golden-brown” sailor Julian, flee to Caraval on the eve of Scarlett’s arranged marriage. Tella disappears, and Scarlett must navigate a nighttime world of magic to find her. Caraval delights the senses: beautiful and scary, described in luscious prose, this is a show readers will wish they could enter. Dresses can be purchased for secrets or days of life; clocks can become doors; bridges move: this is an inventive and original circus, laced with an edge of horror. A double love story, one sensual romance and the other sisterly loyalty, anchors the plot, but the real star here is Caraval and its secrets.
Immersive and engaging, despite some flaws, and destined to capture imaginations. (Fantasy. 14 & up)Pub Date: Jan. 31, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-250-09525-1
Page Count: 416
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Review Posted Online: Sept. 18, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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