Review: Starstruck - Cyna Balog

• Reading level:
 Ages 12 and up

• Hardcover:
 256 pages

• Publisher:
 Delacorte Books for Young Readers (July 12, 2011)

Gwendolyn "Dough" X doesn't think she has much going for her—she carries a few extra pounds, her family struggles with their small bakery in a town full of millionaires, and the other kids at her New Jersey high school don't seem to know that she exists. Thank the stars for her longtime boyfriend, Philip P. Wishman—or "Wish." He moved away to California three years ago, when they were 13, but then professed his love for her via e-mail, and he's been her long-distance BF ever since. At the beginning of her junior year, though, Wish e-mails that he's moving back to Jersey. Great, right? Well, except that Dough has gained about 70 pounds since the last time Wish saw her, while Wish—according to his Facebook photos—has morphed into a blond god. Convinced that she'll be headed for Dumpsville the minute Wish lays eyes on her, Dough delays their meeting as long as she possibly can.But when she sees Wish at school, something amazing happens. He looks at Dough like she's just as gorgeous as he is. But Wish is acting a little weird, obsessed with the sun and freaked out by rain. And the creepy new guy working at the bakery, Christian, is convinced that there's more to Wish's good looks than just healthy eating and lots of sun. He tells Dough that a mark on Wish's neck marks him as a member of the Luminati—an ancient cult of astrologers who can manipulate the stars to improve their lives. Is Wish and Dough's love meant to be—or are they star-crossed?

My Thoughts...

This is yet another first for me, I haven't read anything by Cyna Balog before, but I can tell you I will be reading more after this. This is the story of Gwen aka Dough. She carried on a long distance relationship with her best friend Wish. He tells her that he is moving back to there home town, and while this news would thrill most girls it terrifies Dough. While Wish has been in California he has gone from awkward to gorgeous god like hott boy. While he was making this chance Dough packed on the pounds and was the butt of quite a few jokes. All she could thing was the moment he saw her he would dump her and run. While this isn't the case Dough is always waiting for him to realize he can do better. It isn't until he mom hires Christian to work in the family bakery  that things start to turn around for her. He tells her she has to project confidence and other will see it. So some new cloths and an attitude make over later and suddenly the cool kids start to notice her Still she can't shake the feeling that something is up with Wish. From there we go into a race against time, freak storms batter there small island town, Evie, Dough's sister gets sick with a high fever. Christian explains this is all Wish's fault, that he is apart of the Luminati, a group of people who use the stars to alter how others see them. Dough doesn't believe it until it is almost too late. This was such a well told story with a fresh idea! I absolutely loved Dough and could totally empathise with her she was so real and believable. Wish wasn't one of my favorite characters but he wasn't bad. I did however love Christian! The idea of the Luminati was pretty great too. This really went off without a hitch. The characters had a great voice, the story flowed, the plot was fresh and exciting. I give this one 4.5 stars, and glowing recommendations!