A lot of protagonist-centred sci-fi written for YA and YA+ audiences can be sloppy about characterization and world-building. Happily, The Wrong Stars doesn’t fall into that trap. We get romance and a solid protagonist competence-fantasy, but without the maundering inside or outside of her head that’s such a common pitfall.

A solid read, a satisfying adventure tale, a relationship I cheered and feared for, and an intriguing setting with intrinsic stakes I care about. It makes me want to continue the series to find out what happens next. A success by any measure.