I love celebrity romances, and making it sapphic really was a recipe for success, but I don't think the writing did the subject justice. I couldn't buy the romance, it did not feel like it was built up properly. I could not buy the chemistry.

Pop star Eden Sands star-meter is on the decline and she just got divorced. When her team convinces her to have rising star Anna Moss join her in a Grammy’s performance she finds herself once again in public favor. Eden decides to bring Anna on tour with her and the two spend more and more time together. Anna is openly pansexual and while in her company Eden discovers she isn’t as straight as she once thought and realizes her difficulty in connecting with men may be because she is only attracted to women. Their friendship blossoms into a full-blown relationship.

I really like Rachel’s books, but this one didn’t capture me like the other books I’ve read from her. In celebrity romance I always struggle when the focus is only on them coming together because the coming together in a high-profile relationship is the easy part, it’s the what happens after that is difficult and the more interesting story. I’m going to be honest I was nervous this was going to turn into Gaylor fan-fic and was very pleasantly surprised that it never crossed into that territory. I did like both Eden and Anna. Anna provided very good pan representation and Eden’s self discovery was very lovingly written. I really liked the two of them together, but don’t think that in reality their journey would have been such smooth sailing.

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I received a free copy of Stars Collide from Netgalley and Montlake in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first sapphic romance I’ve read so I will say that I have nothing else to compare it to. Stars Collide is a great story told with complex characters in a series of settings that test them as individuals, as a pair, and as famous people.

Eden’s stardom has been going on for twenty years, and Anna’s has only just begun. When Anna is offered the opportunity to tour with Eden, she can’t possibly refuse. Eden is her idol and Anna knows she could learn so much…but she didn’t count on learning that her attraction to Eden might be returned.

The main trope in Stars Collide is celebrity romance, with both characters having different levels of fame. Added to that is that Anna is openly queer, and Eden isn’t, though it becomes increasingly obvious to fans that the two singers have chemistry. The only reason this novel lost a star for me is that I figured out how much I don’t like celebrity romances. But if you do, Stars Collide will be a definite hit.

This was my first of her books. While it might not be quite a forever favorite, I enjoyed this story as a whole. I will likely be reading more of her books! I had heard about the author through a fiction book group that recommended her to me, and I am glad that they did.

A slow-burn age-gap sapphic romance featuring two singers? Be still, my beating heart.

Eden has been a popstar for twenty years, but her last album flopped and she can't sell out her latest tour. Anna is the latest pop princess who's on the cusp of being a star. Eden needs to reach a newer, younger audience. Anna wants to be taken serious as an artist. When their management teams suggest pairing up for a duet and a tour, both Eden and Anna are hesitant. But together, they might just write the greatest love song of all time.

I don't have strong feelings about celebrity romances, but I do know it's a hate/love thing for a lot of people. I feel like the celebrity aspect of the story was handled well here, with some of glamour of award shows being shown alongside the invasive nature of fans and press wanting to know everything about someone's personal life. I liked that Eden was slowly figuring out, after her failed marriage, that she wasn't actually straight. As for Anna, she starts off being quite naive about the world and the music industry, despite being fully aware of who she is as a person. It creates a nice symmetry, where Eden and Anna both grow as people, in different ways, but because of each other's influence.

Such a perfect read with amazing representation. I truly loved it the entire time and couldn't get enough of this age gap perfection. I want to read more books about people so beautifully coming into their sexuality and traversing what that means. I would absolutely recommend this to anyone (even cis gender) because it is a beautiful insight into others journeys.

Stars Collide by Rachel Lacey is a wonderfully sapphic read with great characters and great representation. I especially liked Eden and felt for her as she struggles to come to terms with her identity. I thought that Anna really supported her through this tough time and I liked the way Anna grows as well learned to stand up for herself.

*insert disclaimer about this being a gifted copy from netgalley here*
Sapphic rep is easily my favorite LGBTQ+ rep. The way to my heart. This book has a pansexual MC & a late(ish) in life lesbian MC. INTENSE spice. And the cherry on top? A happy ending! My experience has been that an overwhelming amount of sapphic books have sad endings, and I was pleasantly surprised to see that not being the case here. This was a very cute read.

I really loved this book! I read the physical book and listened along with the audio as well. The narrator, Quinn Riley, did an amazing job voicing all of the different characters.

I related so much to Eden. My heart ached for her as she struggled so much with her identity. I just wanted to reach through the book and give her a hug. Anna did a wonderful job of supporting Eden through everything. Their chemistry was off the charts!

I got to 16% and DNFed. Unfortunately I just don’t think this book is for me. I’m not a massive fan of age gap in contemporary but it sounded so good I thought I would try it anyway. Eden is rather annoying to me and acts much younger than she is, so the age gap just got highlighted even more and I didn’t like it. Just not for me, I’m afraid.

(I’ve put 1 star here as I needed to select something to submit my mini review. But on my goodreads I left it unrated as I felt I didn’t read enough to rate it 1 star)

y'all this book was SO GREAT, i had a really good time reading it. the story follows eden sands, a pop star whose career is in a major flop, and up-and-coming starlet anna moss, who has idolized eden for most of her life. it's anna's dream come true when she's invited to perform with eded at the grammys, and also a way for her to reestablish herself as a mature performer and not the teen pop star she's seen as. as the two rehearse together and eventually decide to tour together, they realize they have a lot more in common than their music, and must decide if they want their romance to be for the long haul or just a one-hit wonder.

this book felt like a step up from rachel lacey's 'read between the lines' duology. the writing felt more polished & more sure of what it was doing. anna's discussion of sexuality seen thru eden's eyes was nuanced & allowed me to really understand where these characters were coming from. the deep dive into celebrity culture was another great addition. plus, the romance was great, and felt real. definitely recommend this one!

Rachel Lacey's Stars Collide invites readers into a mesmerizing world where music and romance intertwine, creating an enchanting tale of fame, dreams, and unexpected connections.

In the glimmering realm of superstardom, Eden Sands finds herself at a crossroads. Longing for more than her dwindling inner circle and a failed marriage, Eden's career is in need of a revival. When her team suggests a collaboration with the rising pop sensation Anna Moss, she hesitates unsure if this partnership will truly reignite her star power. Anna, on the other hand, idolizes Eden and yearns to be recognized as a serious artist. The chance to perform with her musical icon at the illustrious Grammys is an unimaginable dream come true. As they join forces and rehearse together, they discover a shared resonance, unraveling layers of their personal and artistic lives.

Rachel Lacey's writing effortlessly transports readers into the glamorous world of the music industry. Her prose dances with elegance, evoking the essence of each scene and allowing readers to feel the pulsating rhythm of the characters' lives. Through Eden and Anna, Lacey skillfully portrays the triumphs and tribulations that accompany fame, shedding light on the solitude and sacrifices that often shadow the glitz and glamour.

The relationship between Eden and Anna blossoms with a tantalizing, slow-burning passion that fuels the story. Lacey deftly weaves a tapestry of emotion, allowing their connection to develop organically amidst the whirlwind of fame and scrutiny. Their shared vulnerabilities and aspirations create a captivating synergy that propels the narrative forward, inviting readers to witness the transformative power of genuine companionship.

Beyond the romance, Stars Collide explores profound themes of self-discovery, artistic growth, and the strength found in collaboration. Lacey delves into the notion that when two brilliant minds converge, they can create something transcendent, breaking free from the confines of individual talent and giving rise to unparalleled artistic triumph.

Stars Collide starts with hot new star Anna joining her idol Eden as a special guest on her Grammy stage. Their chemistry was an immediate hit and leads to Eden inviting Anna to join her on tour as her opener. Things begin platonic but quickly change to something more making presumably straight Eden question everything about her life.

This was the sapphic pop star romance of my dreams. It was the perfect balance of sweet and steamy. I loved seeing their friendship blossom into a beautiful love story. I also loved Eden’s sexual awakening and journey to finding herself and her identity after being a celebrity for most of her life with other people telling her who and what to be.

I recommend this book for sapphic readers and pop fans. It’s fun and hot and a great choice for a vacation read.

Thank you so much to Montlake and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

This is kind of a book theme now isn’t it? I love it just to be clear.
I love these two individuals in this book. They were easy to hate and love.

A celebrity feel-good-romance? Yes, please. Sometimes you really just want a sweet (yet angsty) romance that makes you feel all the nuances of love. Anna and Eden have a very interesting dynamic in the beginning (Anna being the rising star and Eden being the jealous actress who's losing her touch). Eventually, the two build a friendship that leads to a great romance. The relationship and support of each other's careers was very sweet and heartfelt, especially the part where Eden was rediscovering her sexuality.
In general, the story was a great read that will become part of my go-to romance recommendations.

I do not read a lot of romance, so all I ask is to be entertained while I read. I found this book to be very entertaining and cute. It manages to be modern and talk about topics like fandoms and ships without being too over the top and cringe about it.

It's a very easy read and the representation of sexuality and coming out is well done, and I like how all those conversations were handled in this book.

Plus, the smut was great. I really wasn't expecting there to be that much of it but I am definitely NOT disappointed by that.

Love a cute sapphic romance with adults acting like adults. Highly recommend.

I think that this book had potential to be a 4 or 5 star, I just couldn't get over the immaturity of Anna. Like, everything is the best thing in the world. Everything is amazing. Everything is sunshine and roses... The woman literally responds with "yay," to almost everything and its quite astounding... I liked the premise, I just hated that the characters' connections weren't genuine-feeling.

I really enjoyed this age-gap, sapphic romance between two music stars. Both characters felt nuanced and real to me and I liked them equally but for different reasons. I'll 100 percent be reading more of Rachel Lacey's books.

Honestly, I didn’t want to put it down to go to sleep...so I just kept reading. If you enjoy forced proximity, age gap, and celebrity romances you will 100% want to check this out.

What a perfect way to start off my Pride month reading. Lacey's dulcet and engaging celebrity romance put me in a just the right spot to kick off a fantastic June.

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for providing an eARC for a honest review.

I found the book very enjoyable, the two main characters were very likeable and you really wanted them to get together and be happy. All the supporting cast were well rounded and I’d really like to read more from the author.