{Review+Giveaway} Under a Million Stars by @Rita_Branches

Can a beating heart bleed from the shattered pieces?

Her heart cracked when her best friend walked away; it completely shattered when she lost her family in a tragic accident.

Now orphaned at seventeen, Charlotte Peterson is forced to live with her former best friend, Jacob Parker. Charlie, a talented pianist, desperately wants their loving friendship back, but something is holding Jake back. The more she spirals into the darkness of depression, the more she needs him.

Jacob vowed to stay away from her—no matter how much he still loved her. Armed with secrets that would have destroyed both of their families, he chose to end their friendship and walk away, which nearly killed him. As he watches the girl he once knew begin to fade away, however, he realizes that their relationship is more important than the truth he's hiding.

Now it's up to Jacob to put the pieces of Charlie's broken heart back together—even if it means revealing the secrets he so desperately wants to protect her from. Will Jacob find a way to bring back the carefree, talented girl he once knew, or is it too late for both of them?
*It's a Stand-alone*

Under a Million Stars is a young adult contemporary standalone novel by author Rita Branches. Last year, I read and absolutely loved Painting Sky by this author, so I knew that I had to grab Under a Million Stars as well. While, I didn’t love this book quite as much as I loved Painting Sky (it was a very different tone), I did really, really enjoy this story. It will make you an emotional wreck, so be prepared for that. The story starts out with Charlotte finding out her parents and her brother have all just been killed in a car accident while they were on their way to watch her play in a piano recital. Talk about some harsh grieving. Charlotte really goes through an emotional ringer, and Rita is such a strong and descriptive writer that she brings the readers right through that emotional wringer with Charlotte (and Jacob)

Under a Million Stars is told in dual narrative between Jacob and Charlotte. They used to be best friends, and their parents are actually Charlotte’s godparents and guardians under her parents will. (side note: Yay for Rita getting the terminology correct for this part!) Jacob and Charlotte don’t speak anymore because of a strange falling out they had years ago. You know pretty early on that Jacob is holding on to some important information  regarding that but it is all very hush hush for a while. And no, I am not going to ruin anything.

Under a Million Stars is a story that is about so many things. It is just as much about Jacob as it is about Charlotte and everything she is going through. These two will make you smile just as much as they make you cry. They are wonderfully complex characters that still stay true to their age. Under a Million Stars is a fantastic example of deep, complicated and multi faceted young adult fiction done right. I really enjoyed this book. And it has further cemented author Rita Branches in my mind as a strong writer that I want to read more of. While I would not consider Under a Million Stars to be a light, happy go lucky read by any stretch of the imagination, it is a beautiful read. But you might want to read this one with tissues near by. Or maybe I am just a big cry baby…which I will admit might be the case. Either way, Under a Million Stars really ripped my heart out of my chest at times.

Bottom line: If you are looking for a wonderfully detailed, emotional read with multi dimensional characters, Under a Million Stars is the book for you.

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