The Bookworm says... Yes! The Sun Is Also A Star is truly a shining sophomore novel for the lovely Nicola Yoon. Natasha and Daniel collide in a near fatal moment on a corner in Times Square. It is a big day for each- Natasha's family is being deported, and Daniel has an interview with a Yale alumnus. Natasha is a firm believer in science and the accuracy of the scientific method; her only mission is to reverse her father's mistakes and keep her family in America. Daniel is a poet, a dreamer, who is trying to be happy in his life while living up to his parents' expectations. Once Daniel sees Natasha, his interview immediately fades from his mind. All that matters is getting to know this intriguing, beautiful girl with the "DEUS EX MACHINA" jacket and the afro. Daniel invites Natasha to get coffee, and she obliges; his most pressing issue is no longer the Yale interview- it's making a girl who doesn't believe in love fall in love.
The Sun Is Also A Star proved itself to be an outstanding new YA romance that questions the power of fate and expectations, and what happens if you defy them. I'm not going to lie, the beginning of this book did not have me sold. I was unsure if I would finish the book pleased or disappointed. Just looking at the exposition, the cliche is undeniable- love at first sight in Times Square? Come on. But, as I continued to read, Daniel and Natasha drew me in, their different cultures (Korean American and Jamaican) providing something unique and interesting to the story. After around 100 pages, I could not deny the quality of this story. By the end, any hint of cliche that would take away from the reading experience was gone. Upon finishing the book, I was beyond crushed that the twenty-or-so pages I thought I had left was actually a preview of Everything, Everything, Nicola Yoon's first novel. I could have read another hundred pages of this book easily. This is an adorable YA that is sure to tug at your heart strings- don't miss out!
"The sun is also a star, and it's our most important one."
Previously reviewed by Nicola Yoon: Everything, Everything
DISCLAIMER: Review is based on an advance reader's copy. Tentative on-sale date is November 1, 2016.