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The Stories Stars Tell

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Emma-Christian daughter of Mo and Amy Matthews, big sister to Shelby, lover of John Hughes films, and Salutatorian of the senior class-has spent her entire high school career playing it safe because she stifles her risk-taking gene for perfectionism instead. This behavior isn't necessarily because that's who she is, but because of all of those external expectations wrapped up in her parents' approval and the religious messages she's grown up believing. She's not a perfect girl; she just feels like she's supposed to be. Now, she's headed to college in the fall ill-equipped to face the challenges of real life. Though that one time junior year when she got drunk for the liquid courage to coerce Tanner James into kissing her might be an outlier, unlike most of her well-laid plans (even if she got what she wanted), she took the calculated risk to squash her infatuation for Tanner and it didn't work. She still wants to have sex with him.



Like Emma, Tanner hasn't forgotten that kiss junior year either, but for entirely different reasons. Party f-boy extraordinaire has reached high school graduation without options-a dead end. He's made choices rooted in the expectations of his friends and their the Bro Code. Except, he's tired of the party life and the Nowhere it leads. That junior-year kiss changed something in him, and now he'd rather be at home reading his favorite book. As graduation and the great empty beyond looms, Tanner questions every choice he's made. This upheaval unravels the protective box he's built to insulate himself for all the real stuff he's been avoiding, namely his older brother's death and the volatile divorce of his parents. 



One week before high school graduation, Emma and Tanner find themselves face-to-face at the edge of a cliff at the Quarry when it's time for the partner-jump during the traditional Senior Send Off. Under the light of the stars, they both face the terrifying adventure of making a different choice. Tanner asks Emma to be his partner; Emma says, "yes," both risking everything to write a new story they'd thought had already been written. It's just that change always has a price.

508 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2020

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About the author

C.L. Walters

10 books88 followers
As a kid, CL Walters’s world revolved around two things: stories and make believe. She’s built a real life around those two passions as a teacher of stories and a writer of make believe.
From a small town in Oregon, she attended college in a smaller town in Oregon majoring in English and adding experiences to fill her creative reservoir. She married her college sweetheart and moved to Hawaiʻi where she now lives. The rich diversity and cultural complexity of Hawaiʻi has added to the tapestry of her creative journey.

In 2020, she started Mixed Plate Press —a publishing imprint—with her husband and has grown it into a thriving business as a published author, writing coach, ghostwriter, editor, and teacher.

She says she reads and writes everyday and her mission as a writer is to create stories that resonate with the truth and offer a place of hope.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
Profile Image for jessica.
2,566 reviews42.8k followers
January 5, 2021
came for the lovely title and cover. stayed for the compelling story.

this is a slow burn, for sure. a slow burn with the romance, a slow burn with the character development, a slow burn with the plot. but once it warmed up, it really caught fire. the strength of this story is definitely how it respectfully handles the many issues and worries that plague those who are coming-of-age.

the only thing preventing me from rating this higher is the characters seem to be clichés of what the author thinks teenagers are supposed to be like. the whole virgin, goody-two-shoes girl and angsty, player boy are a bit too caricature for me, personally. this is also a bit lengthy for a YA book.

but overall, this is a solid story that honestly explores many important topics.

thank you mixed plate press for the book!

3.5 stars
Profile Image for Susan's Reviews.
1,138 reviews607 followers
May 6, 2021
Emma and Tanner - the couple that never was... until the last two weeks of senior year! The Stories Stars Tell takes you through their whirlwind relationship during those fateful final days.



The chapters are arranged in countdown format, jacking up the tension and suspense as we tick off each remaining day before Emma and Tanner graduate high school, and Emma prepares to leave for college.
Emma, the epitome of a "devout Christian girl," has always had a thing for Tanner. Tanner was too messed up, living the wild party life, to appreciate someone like Emma. But at a party one night in junior year, Emma - totally drunk - kisses Tanner and confesses that, casting aside her strict religious upbringing, she came to the party solely for that purpose. She may well be ready to surrender her V-card to him. Tanner is intrigued by Emma, but he is a hot mess with a lousy reputation (he is an f-boy) and he should stay away from her. His own parents wanted nothing to do with him after his brother, Rory, died from cancer.
This was a sweet story. Lots of tender moments and the chemistry between these two was palpable, but this novel could have used a fair bit of editing. Other reviewers have made this observation, and I agree with them. There were many parts that were repetitive, such as Emma and Tanner's numerous internal observations about their growing feelings for one another, and the repeated confrontations with Griff that could easily have been reduced to one or two incidences.
Excerpts of the fictional book, Kaleidoscope Concussion, that Emma and Tanner were reading together were scattered throughout this story. I didn't try to make sense of all of them, but I suspected Griff and Emma were the fictionalized characters who were vying for the unnamed protagonist's attention. I think those excerpts could easily have been dispensed with. They were often obscure or ambiguous (if not a tad pretentious?) Why do many readers and critics tout a modern novel as being great when they have to struggle to make any sense of the wording? I go and read poetry for that!) Those excerpts didn't add much to the main story, except for a touch of foreshadowing here and there, but I think we all got a sense that Tanner and Griff were going to come to blows at some point.
The author is in love with words, as are Emma and Tanner. I always cringe when I see the word "myriad" in a story - but there, I like things to flow. I figure that using these uncommon words interrupts the action if you have to stop and look up what myriad or kush means. However, the banter between young Emma and Tanner was charming.
Emma and Tanner's parting was inevitable, not only because this is a standard trope, and this story had many of the standard YA tropes, but also because both of them kept alluding to its inevitability throughout the story. And yes, it did make sense to set each other free at this point in their very young lives. You meet so many interesting people in college. Some will impact the rest of your life. It was only fair that they gave each other the chance to date other people. I think that is a good message to give to young people. Even truly devoted couples fall in and out of love with each other, no matter how good the marriage may be. It takes maturity to work through the inevitable problems life throws at you. Why not give yourself a chance to grow up and experience life before you settle down with "the one"?
This was a very well written, riveting, if somewhat protracted, read. You will be emotionally exhausted by the end, but the final page leaves you with a smile on your face, never fear!!! (No spoilers, though!) Despite the use of the word myriad, I'm still rating this a 4 out of 5 star read. Enjoy!
My thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review..
Profile Image for nina.
39 reviews12 followers
November 3, 2021
Thank you to Mixed Plate Press for providing me an eARC through NetGalley!

I originally requested this book because the description was quite intriguing. It revolves around two high school seniors, Emma and Tanner, at the end of their senior year leading up to their first year post-HS.

There were some moments in the book that I enjoyed such as the when Emma was with her friends as they kind of reminded me of me and my own friend group. I liked the discussions they had around faith as I feel I have gone through the same kinds of conversations with my family as well. Some moments were thought provoking and really made me think. However, maybe around the half way mark/when the MCs got together, I felt that things started to get repetitive and I started to get bored. I hadn’t deeply resonated with the characters so I wasn’t too invested in them and their stories so I felt as it dragged on in the end. This definitely made for an interesting story and I appreciate the conversations that took place in the book but I feel that after reading and a day of reflection, there was something missing to make it the best it could be.
Profile Image for C.L..
Author 10 books88 followers
January 23, 2021
Does the book count as a “read book” if it’s a book you’ve written? 😁 Because I’ve read this a gazillion times and I love it every single time - not tired of reading it yet. I know I’m partial and all, but I sure hope it resonates with other readers.
Profile Image for Brinley.
1,076 reviews69 followers
December 23, 2020
When I opened this book up, I expected a romance. I expected fluff, lighthearted banter, and laughter. I didn’t expect something thought provoking. I didn’t expect themes of religion, purity, and sexual abuse to be explored. Sometimes though, the unexpected turns out to be something you needed.

The Stories Stars Tell tells the tale of Emma and Tanner, both seniors set to graduate in eight days. After a single kiss junior year, they’ve orbited in different circles, coming close, but never interacting. When they finally collide, they begin rewriting their stories together, and charting a new path.

I absolutely love how much this surprised me. In most romances, everything turns out perfectly at the end. Sophomores are convinced they’ve found the one, and Seniors are ready to get married. I appreciate this book so much for staying away from that. Sure, Emma and Tanner believe they love each other, but that doesn’t magically solve their problems. They fight for each other, and build a life apart before beginning to building one together.

It’s rare in a book to love all of the side characters, as well as the main characters, but by the end of this, I was just as invested in them as Emma and Tanner. I was rooting for all of their relationships, and I loved how Walters even gave their relationships bumps in the road. Their friendships and traditions felt real, and I wouldn’t enjoyed even more of them.

Now, as for my one complaint, this did feel a bit long at points. Rarely do you see a 500 page contemporary, and there’s a reason for that. In fantasies, you have worlds to build, and magic to develop. Contemporaries don’t require this, and their page count is usually much slimmer due to that. Although I enjoyed this, I got a bit tired of it at the 70% mark. The story felt like it had gone where it should have, and not much was left to be said. Don’t get me wrong, the last bit was one of my favorites, but this was just too hefty of a book.

If you’re a fan of well developed characters, and a realistic romance, this is for you! I loved the part the stars played in this, and the title was like a little Easter egg. I’d definitely recommend this!

Thanks to Netgalley and C.L. Walters for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!
Profile Image for Olivia.
370 reviews
December 30, 2020
4☆

I requested this book on a whim, as I thought the synopsis sounded like something up my alley. I was pleasantly surprised.

What I liked:

- the romance, it made me feel very single, which usually means its written well. I loved how they made each other better and they were so cute together
- the friendships (Emma's) and their developments (Tanner's). I needed more Ginny and Josh
- the conversations in the story - how people need to first look at themselves and make themselves better, about religion and purity, etc, and I really loved that, I wish I had read this when I was 15/16 and insecure about everything.

Why I gave it a 4☆:

- the ending. I'm very particular about endings and I just wanted a little bit more into their life at the end, maybe them seeing each other again and ending there instead.
- long. For a romance book, it is a little too long and at times I was growing a little tired of reading it

This ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 1, 2020
I adored this book. Emma and Tanner were so relatable and brought me right back to my own experience with love in high school. Tanner and his friends made up a group of characters I would usually have a hard time relating to; but C.L. Walters told their stories with such care, even the least-likable among them felt real and believable. Emma's struggles with herself as a young woman in her relationship, family, and community rang true. This book was a pleasure to read and sure to be one that I come back to. I'm very much looking forward to more writing from C.L. Walters.
Profile Image for Ingrid.
481 reviews53 followers
December 31, 2020
Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with an E-copy of this book!
Review coming in the first week of January.

Happy new years eve xx
Profile Image for Janine Caroline.
Author 1 book37 followers
October 30, 2020
This beautifully written book has so many layers. The Stories Stars Tell is a YA love story that grabbed me from beginning to end. It explores loss, religion, purity, sexuality, toxic masculinity, friendships and family. I adored Emma and Tanner’s journey through the struggles and delights of self discovery. I’ve read and loved all Walters books but this one is my standout favourite.
Profile Image for BreeAnn (She Just Loves Books).
1,401 reviews113 followers
October 3, 2020
Every time I read a book by C.L. Walters, I am transported into the story, and I stay there until the end. This book was another amazing story by her, and it’s my favorite by her so far! I love that she is always able to touch on subjects that are hard-hitting, and real-feeling. They bring situations to life that people are struggling with and provide a perspective to consider and relate to.

Emma and Tanner are two teenagers, coming ever closer to their adult selves. They are both searching for who they are. This is a story of sexuality, but it also has religion mixed in, which gives it this interesting perspective that I haven’t read in a story before.

The characters were wonderfully written. They were brought to life by the descriptions and characteristics C.L. Walters provided. Emma is a teenager, almost an adult trying to understand her own sexuality. As a Christian, she struggles with the expectations provided by her parents, and her own fears and concerns. I loved how she felt so real in this story. I did not think that the exploration of sexuality was written in a negative context. Emma is researching, and making choices that are right for her at this time in her life.

Tanner has over-partied his teenage years. I think his questions about sexuality fit in well with Emma’s own, but also provided a different perspective. Together their stories intertwine and create this raw, real story that was a delight to read.

Overall, this story blew away my already high expectations for C.L. Walters. It was beautifully written with characters that drew me in. This is the type of story I wish had been available to me as a teen on the precipice of adulthood. It was relatable and all-consuming. I loved it!

Content Warning:
This story is one of sexual exploration, and while it is provided in a positive, informed way, it may not be a story for everyone.

To Read or Not To Read:
I would recommend The Stories Stars Tell to readers that enjoy coming-of-age stories with real-life situations.

I was provided a gifted copy of this book for free. I am leaving my review voluntarily.

My full review of this book will post to my blog on 10/5/20. All of my reviews can be found at https://shejustlovesbooks.com/all-boo...
Profile Image for Mary Tippett.
Author 9 books54 followers
October 31, 2020
The Stories Stars Tell Shines

A John Hughes themed novel about the friendships that shape our lives.
I’m a big fan of author C.L. Walters since I read her first book, Letters She Left Behind. But I’m an even bigger fan of John Hughes films. So when I saw she’d incorporated elements of Pretty in Pink, Breakfast Club, and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off into her newest novel, I nearly weeped for joy.

Walter’s “The Stories Stars Tell” is a triumph. Within the crisply written pages of her poignant young adult novel I found myself moving from laughter to tears and from painful nostalgic memories to heartwarming faith in the future.

The chapter where Tanner is blind-sighted by Emma’s pursuit of a kiss, and begins a transformation he never expects, absolutely warmed my heart. And Emma’s innocent perseverance of her relatable, if not questionable, goal of pursuing Tanner made me laugh. But Tanner did not have the confidence to handle her transformative powers in the beginning.

“I was who I was, and I would only drag her down. I turned, cut through the flowerbed, and walked away wishing things were different.” I started the chapter giggling and finished it weeping for Tanner.

Much of the book proceeds this way, with Walters employing lovely phrases like “a glittery explosion of awareness in my chest” to illuminate the characters’ inner thoughts and struggles.

This author is not afraid to tackle some tough issues. Tanner’s long time friend, Griff (which sounds a lot like “Steph” from Pretty In Pink for a reason, I suspect), is a loathsome character. His introduction brought some foul language to the story that gave me a jolt. Although it was arguably necessary to show how teen boys talk to each other and how toxic Griff is to Tanner’s attempts to change, I would have preferred a trigger alert of some kind.

My favourite line: “It was written in the stars for a moment in time, even though sometimes I imagine the stars aligning again.” Who hasn’t felt this way about a past love, someone who slipped through their fingers, or a treasured friendship that drifted apart?

Walter drops a fairly hefty bomb in her acknowledgments, revealing a personal truth in her quest to speak directly to and comfort young people who’ve experienced unwanted sexual encounters and who’ve grappled with religious patriarchal incongruities. The revelation had me revisiting parts of the book yet again, and tearfully acknowledging some bitter truths. Walters had me laughing at the start of her book and weeping by the end. What a ride!
Profile Image for Brandann Hill-Mann.
Author 3 books79 followers
September 2, 2020
I received an ARC of this book from the author in exchange for the opportunity to give an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This is the fifth book I have read by C.L. Walters, and by and far the best she's put out to date. Walters has a way of digging into topics which are difficult to think about and are sometimes not talked about for these reasons. Her knack for writing teens who show complexity of character in order to provide nuance for a topic, in this case teen sexuality and dangers of perfectionism, gives us a shining beacon of a book that I wish I'd had access to as a teen.

Tanner and Emma are teens barreling toward the end of childhood and graduation, on that precipice of adulthood and holding their breaths (and hands) before they jump. Events of past and present entangle their paths, and the ensuing relationship reveals strengths and weaknesses in both while they reach to one another for comfort. Emma is the classic good girl stereotype who wants to take a risk. Tanner is the "f-boy" who is regretting partying away his potential. Together they find healing.

This is a sex-positive story written in part from the perspective of a Christian, which makes it unique in my experience. Emma's story finds her making informed, deliberate choices about her sexuality, learning to express her wants and needs, and reconciling it with her faith. Walters does remarkable work erasing the shame which is often thrust upon teens of faith, especially girls. Emma walks away from the story confident in her choices, and stronger for them, and is not punished by the narrative for choosing, consenting to, and enjoying sex, which is something else we frequently see in media. The ending, in my opinion, is a brave choice for the author to make. I will not spoil it, but I think anything else would have been too trite or needlessly too-good-to-be-true.

There are a few passages in the book where I think Walters might have benefitted from pushing herself a little further in writing the more explicit scenes. I also wanted more impact from a revelation about Tanner's past, which I will also not spoil, but I think the pacing may have suffered for the pause that would have been required.

C.L. Walters grows with every book she publishes. If you're going to take a chance on an indie author, and you absolutely should, this is one book I suggest you start with.
892 reviews16 followers
October 12, 2020
I was reading The Stories Stars Tell and thinking to myself how amazing the writing was and how the author was slowly building the story up, taking the time to explain each character and their situation and really making the reader understand what was going on. And once the backstory is set, before you know it, you're strapped in and enjoying the book right until the end. And that ending, oh my heart!!!!

This book in a nutshell - Emma feels the pressure of being the good Christian girl who never does anything wrong. Tanner is one of the school's popular jocks, partying hard with lots of drinking and sex. Both want something different for their life though and look to each other for assistance.

I won't say anymore as I do like to keep my reviews spoiler free but after this book, I am excited to read more from this author.

Thank you so much to the author for the complimentary copy of her book in exchange for my honest review.
Profile Image for Mae Wagner.
Author 19 books95 followers
August 18, 2020
As a teen/young adult, there weren’t stories like this. There was nothing to give way to the questions and thoughts I had.
Growing up in a fundamentally religious setting, as a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, there was only constant shame.

This book is beautiful and raw, honest and relatable. Will aspects of the sexuality within these pages make people uncomfortable? Possibly.
But discomfort that comes from honest conversations should be a lot more sought after, over the misery that comes from shaming girls/women.

The characters in this story are rich and vibrant, flawed and devastatingly beautiful.

I needed this story as a girl.

I am so grateful for it now!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Lily.
Author 3 books14 followers
November 8, 2020
The Stories Stars Tell is a well written coming of age story. It addresses lots of important themes such as loss, expectations, sexuality, consent, purity culture and self discovery but in an accessible and honest way.

As I've been reading shorter books lately I was initially daunted by the size of the book (nearly 500 pages) but C.L.Walters has a very readable style to her writing which made it easy and enjoyable to read. I also think the length was necessary to give time to develop the characters, introduce families and friends, the backstory and then also explore the present timeline enough for the book to have a well paced plot.

The two different perspectives - Emma and Tanner - gives you the opportunity to experience both characters personal stories in depth, but also their story together. I really connected with Emma's character specifically and her perfectionism and anxiety. It was interesting to see how the two of them grew as people on their own but also helped each other. It was also refreshing to see this idea that sometimes you need to work on yourself first before a relationship can truly work, rather than relying on the other to "fix" you completely.

It's also interesting to see the different friendships that both main characters have and how these develop throughout the book. For example I found Emma's friendship group to be incredibly heart warming; the way they care about each other and support each other shows the power of good friendships, but they're also not afraid to call each other out and assert their opinions and be independent. Tanner's on the other hand shows how toxic some male friendship groups can be, but also how there is the power to change and to want something different for yourself. The character of Griff to say the least is awful and there was a lot of shocking language from him. Some may not like it but I think it shows how brave C.L.Walters is to address topics with such unflinching realism. I especially liked Josh and Tanner's interactions as well; it's nice to see a shift to what could be an honest, supportive male friendship for him. It's also nice to see the idea that a boy showing emotion or wanting to have a more serious connective relationship with a girl should not be considered as "un-manly."

I also liked that it dove in to both the characters relationships with their parents. Emma's resonated with me; even though I'm not a Christian and haven't been brought up in a Christian household, a lot of her character I could still relate to. Tanner's also resonated with me and broke my heart a little bit; the loss and grief that broke his family apart is very real and raw.

One of my slight criticisms is that I don't think we really got a proper ending in Tanner's perspective. In the seven months later section, it would have been nice to see the change in Tanner through his own voice and not just through Emma's eyes during the final chapter. As the whole book switched between both Emma and Tanner's perspectives, it seemed a little odd that Tanner didn't get a chapter at the end as well as Emma. That's just my personal opinion though.

Overall, it's the kind of book which is both painful and comforting, where you find yourself moved to both cry and laugh at different times. Whilst I would say I'm not really a "romance reader," all of C.L.Walters' books have proved that I don't always dislike books with heavy romance themes. She creates such compelling characters with a lot of depth that you can't help yourself getting invested in their story. She brings up so many topics in her work and is never afraid to write realistically which is something I really love.

The Stories Stars Tell is so much more than a romance story and I think is an really important contemporary read for young adults. The Afterword also makes the book even more hard hitting and you can tell how much emotion and work C.L.Walters has put in to this.

This is the fourth C.L.Walters book I have read this year and I am always in awe of her talent and dedication to her work.
Profile Image for A..
57 reviews9 followers
August 22, 2020
Book Review: The Stories Stars Tell ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I got this book from @cl.walters as an ARC.

✨This book is one of self discovery for both of the characters, Emma and Tanner.

Emma is exploring her sexuality and what that means in terms of her faith and her religion, her family, her anxieties and fears and socially.

Tanner is exploring what it means to be a man and how that notion doesn't always match up with real life. And I think partly too, there's an overlap where he is rediscovering his sexuality and how that fits in terms with the masculine ideal, and in the framework of his emotions.

💫Right off the bat, I loved Emma's friend group. They were strong, independent in their own ways, but a solid unit together too. They were there to support each other. I'm also a sucker for John Hughes' movies, so that was excellent to see in there as well.

The book was riveting and I had a hard time putting it down not only for the language of how the book was written: "The moment I’d looked up into his brown eyes, and they twinkled like brilliant stars offering light, I’d forgotten to be afraid.” But also because the characters were wonderful and I found myself rooting for Tanner more than once as he struggled to pull himself out of the mire.

⭐️All in all, I loved this book and I can't wait to read more from CL. Walters.
Profile Image for Paola.
138 reviews2 followers
August 31, 2021
Do you know the feeling of reading a book and liking it so much  that you wish you could read it for the first time again and that makes you kinda sad 'cause you know it's not possible?! Well, I read this book twice and even though I didn't think it was possible, I completely fell in love with its story twice. I swear the second time I read it I devoured it like the first one and I might sound crazy but I think I loved it even more! Every single page caught my attention till I was completely engrossed... both times! I'm telling you... This is the kind of power CL Walters stories have!
The Stories Stars Tell is a love story that has it all: college romance, the good girl and the bad guy falling for each other and  love scenes that will make you swoon. Trust me, It will have you glued to the page from beginning to end. What else? The Stories Stars Tell is a beautiful, deep and delicate analysis of feelings like friendship, loyalty, love and self acceptance. The author examines all the cultural misconceptions about love and sex until she shatters them all. At the beginning of the story we have girls who are considered "frigid" just bacause they are tentative about sex, girls who are slut shamed because they're confident about it, boys who are worshipped because they're party guys and tombeur de femmes and boys who are afraid to show their feelings cause that is considered a sign of weakness. But, while the story unfolds, the author makes us understand that it doesn't matter what kind of approach we have toward love, sex and life. The only thing that matters is for us to find our truth and don't be afraid to show who we really are, cause those who really love us will respect our truth and they will be by our side forever. We are enough just the way we are, just by being ourselves!
So... What are you waiting for? Go read this book and let it make you feel pure and perfect just the way you are! And then, once you finish it and you're desperate to read more, you can preorder your copy of In The Echo of this and Ghost Town and When the Echo Answers ebooks! By preordering the first one, you get the second one for free. I mean... What are you still waiting for?!
Profile Image for Sania Jain.
74 reviews30 followers
October 13, 2020
I received an ARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review 🌸
The views are entirely my own.

The stories Stars tell took me to a younger version of myself. The characters are so relatable.
The curiosity in Emma as she is going through her teen years is amazingly portrayed. The self doubts a girl faces in those school years is something Emma is juggling through. That and well of course exploring more!
We see Tanner's perspective about his self explorations as well.
He wants to throw away all the bro code or cool rules and just want to feel something real for once.
The details in which scenes were written is beautiful.
Trust me the writing is going to make you skip your heartbeat. ❤️
The characters are so well developed that I literally found myself rooting for Tanner more than once.
The story is about sexual explorations. It is written in an informed and positive way but it may not be a story for all.
Suggested to all those who enjoy reading about real life situations and stories about self explorations.
Profile Image for nina.
39 reviews12 followers
August 26, 2021
I originally requested this book because the description was quite intriguing. It revolves around two high school seniors, Emma and Tanner, at the end of their senior year leading up to their first year post-HS.

There were some moments in the book that I enjoyed such as the when Emma was with her friends as they kind of reminded me of me and my own friend group. I liked the discussions they had around faith as I feel I have gone through the same kinds of conversations with my family as well. Some moments were thought provoking and really made me think. However, maybe around the half way mark/when the MCs got together, I felt that things started to get repetitive and I started to get bored. I hadn’t deeply resonated with the characters so I wasn’t too invested in them and their stories so I felt as it dragged on in the end. This definitely made for an interesting story and I appreciate the conversations that took place in the book but I feel that after reading and a day of reflection, there was something missing to make it the best it could be.
Profile Image for CR.
3,383 reviews32 followers
October 15, 2020
This slow burn romance was beautifully done. Emma and Tanner were so adorable and I just couldn't stop grinning throughout reading this story. Although this is a whopping 500 page story I felt like it was over far too soon. I needed more.

This is one of those well rounded stories that doesn't shy away from the topics that need to be discussed. From sexuality to religion and more. I enjoyed every page and couldn't put it down.

This story about coming of age and self discovery is one that will blow you away. I loved every second I spend with each character and I can not wait for more.
Profile Image for Ali's  In Literature .
675 reviews20 followers
January 7, 2021
The Stories Stars Tell is an expertly told coming of age love story that deals with major themes of religion, bereavement, neglect, and sexual assault in a sensitive and ultimately uplifting way. Emma, Tanner et al are about to graduate High School but find themselves navigating long-repressed feelings for one another while also battling the weight of different - but no less suffocating -expectations that become all-consuming. Though some pages are genuinely heartbreaking to read, I found there to also be a cathartic element to many of the confrontations and an overwhelmingly optimistic ending, without dulling the realities the YA protagonists find themselves dealing with.

I was initially attracted to this book because of the beautiful cover (seriously, it's SO pretty), and the mention of John Hughes movies. I'm of the age that grew up with Pretty in Pink, The Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, and Sixteen Candles, so I immediately felt connected to Emma and her friends. But I'm also from a strict Catholic background and Emma's struggle with religion and ideas of intimacy felt very real, and relatable to me. There wasn't anything I disliked about the book. Although yes, it is longer than many books in this genre, at no point did the pacing feel anything but perfect (besides, we were, in effect, reading two books at once! ;)

Highly recommended read. (Also, please read the afterword).

Favourite Quote(s):

* To all the good girls trying to be perfect: perfection is impossible, so be bad every once in a while. To all the good boys trying to be bad: it’s okay to be vulnerable. The world will be better for it.

* Fire claimed the fire in me and cooled me back into stone. But at night, when the stars came out, it became a beautiful storied sky. I drifted into that sea and got lost there remembering Rory and my star stories.

* "So, here’s my final thought. Don’t get stuck. Don’t get stuck looking backward. You might miss out on something ahead of you. Don’t get stuck looking forward. You might miss something beside you. Accept the present like the gift it is. Rip off that wrapping paper of the present and open the box to see what’s inside every single day. If we don’t, we might miss out on the opportunity to write a new story under the beauty of the stars. It’s only when we fully embrace the beauty of now that we’ll be able to truly live..."

Trigger Warnings: Sexual assault

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for the opportunity to give an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
62 reviews3 followers
January 25, 2021
Let me start with my couple of gripes before I get into the good stuff!

1) There was reference to Tanner's loss of his v-card to AN ADULT WOMAN at the age of 15, I won't spoil it by saying who but the WHO makes it even worse. It is only mentioned a couple of times, briefly, so it's something you can skim over if that bothers you. But for me personally, I felt like this needed to be addressed more if it was going to be mentioned. As in, addressed by his MOTHER who should've definitely followed up on that nugget of information. You'll understand if you notice it in the book!

2) This book was pretty darn lengthy. I enjoyed it and it covers a lot of tough topics: religion, purity culture, coming out as gay, bullying, consent, etc. But around halfway through I found myself skimming more and more and struggling to reach the end. It is a quality book, but I think it could be a bit shorter.

***GOOD STUFF***

As I mentioned above, the tackling of the topics of: religion, purity culture, coming out as gay, bullying, consent, etc were wonderful and thoughtful additions to the work. That's the biggest positive about this novel. The conversation regarding religion and relationships was nicely done and I appreciate how Emma and Emma's parents had REAL reactions to that dilemma. As someone who grew up in the Bible Belt, I can say that the author's depiction of this issue is pretty spot on!

The characters are very human. Tanner is great most of the time, he's so conscious of Emma and respects her boundaries but also pushes her to step out of her comfort zone (in ways that aren't toxic), and he lets her go whenever she needs space to figure things out. I won't get too spoiler-y but he definitely proves that he truly cares. He also is so flawed, thanks to a multitude of things but the process of him working through those flaws and growing up and dealing with his parents (who I REALLY wanted to give a few good smacks to the noggin) is beautiful. Emma has to deal with conflict with her parents and her friends, as well as with HERSELF and her anxiety is wonderfully relatable.

Overall, this work is certainly worth reading if you can stick in there for the long haul! There's a lot to pull out of here and it is a very thoughtfully written work, which is one reason why I believe it is so long. There are a lot of beautiful moments in this book.
Profile Image for Vera Lazzaro.
Author 9 books25 followers
January 4, 2021
Diving into this book, I got what I thought I'd get. And then things changed.

Emma is your typical high-school religious girl, all As and headed to one of the best colleges, having movie nights with her best friends Ginny and Liam (who's gay! I was so, so ready to be bothered by the gay best friend trope...) and Tanner is the bad boy, the fucker with the tragic past, always partying with his friends and having whoever girl he wants.

Seen the premises, I was sure I would not enjoy this book. But I did.

Emma was raised by religious parents, and despite never questioning her faith, she does question her religion and what the Church tells her to do, or not to. Emma knows what she wants - to have sex with Tanner - and knows doing it won't make her any less worth of God's love. She fights for that indepecende even when she fears it might take her dad's love away. Emma is anxious, an overthinker. She's the gifted child, forever pressured by the people she loves to always be at her best. She's incredibly real.

Tanner is the product of weak parents who didn't know how to deal with the pain of a child's loss. He looks for numbness where he knows he'll find some, and for a while, it works. Until he meets Emma and starts falling. But he fucks up, because he doesn't think he's worth it, he doesn't think Emma will stay or find a way for them to work. This, too, is real.

Love doesn't always work out right.

Spoiler down below:
I love how Walters left open the possibility of them getting back together again, but what I love even more is how she let Emma and Tanner realize they had to move in different ways in order to grow.

Thanks NetGalley for the EARC copy.
Profile Image for ysa.
70 reviews5 followers
December 30, 2020
The premise of this book got me, the reason why I requested this in the first place. I liked reading this book until I hit the 50% mark; the scenes felt like repetitive and that's why the story fell flat. During the first part of the book when the mcs didn't get together yet, I liked their chemistry. But when they already got together It was just them kissing all the damn time that I just tend to skim over these scenes. I also think that this would have been better told by one POV, and that is with Emma's. Tanner's POV felt a copy paste of Emma's with some words thrown in because they're describing the exact same scene happening to both of them that wasn't necessary at all. I felt I would've been contended seeing this scene unfold in one POV only. The characters didn't also resonate with me that I would've been relate to them. They're the same age group as me so I would have been able to relate to them, but oddly, I didn't. Perhaps I liked Atticus, and he's the only nice person with a personality in there. I would have liked this better if it had something new to offer, but sadly it didn't, the feeling that I already read this book but with just different character names and setting is what made it dragging towards the end. I do liked C.L. Walters' writing though, and I look forward to reading more works by them in the future.

Thank you so much to Mixed Plate Press and Netgalley for providing me an e-book of this in exchange for an honest review of this book.
Profile Image for Lindsey.
220 reviews6 followers
January 29, 2021
Emma is about to graduate high school and she still has a lot of questions. She's been crushing on the school's bad boy and her plan to kiss him and get over it never went the way she wanted it to. Her faith and religion make her feel wrong and like her feelings are bad, but she can't stay away from Tanner. He's more than the party boy everyone sees him as, and Emma is the only one who sees it that way. Tanner and his family have been destroyed and he's been trying to hold himself together for years, and he can't stop thinking about that kiss from Emma junior year.

As graduation approaches, they both decide to give their feelings a chance. What follows is a heartfelt slow burn relationship that is more than the average romance on the eve of college life. Both Emma and Tanner are well thought out characters who are more than even their friends seem to understand. They are both self-aware and totally lost which is a sweet spot eighteen-year-olds have cornered. It's been a while but I remember that feeling and Walters accomplishes this story so well. While it's a slow burn romance I never felt like my feet were dragging or I was begging it to speed up, it was perfectly paced.

I cannot recommend or love this book enough.
Profile Image for hollie.
952 reviews31 followers
December 31, 2020
When I say I really wanted to like this, I mean I really did. But everything about this book was so dull to me and I actually found it increasingly hard to finish. Maybe it’s one of those books I just didn’t read at the right time considering I’m on a bit of a dark mystery/thriller kick, but this book felt like I was reading a fourteen year old trying to write a book about her older peers.

The characters first of all were bland which is likely why I didn’t like this character driven story. I felt Emma was as boring as watching paint dry with not a lick of personality about her and Tanner was your stereotypical boy. I can’t name one redeeming personality trait from either of them.

I don’t want to bash this author because clearly she can write and if I was several years younger, I’d of lapped this book up. However, this was full of cliches and an uninspired plot and I couldn’t help roll my eyes at a few scenes especially towards the middle.

Sadly, this book just didn’t do it for me.
I received this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Rachael.
187 reviews15 followers
December 31, 2020
This is one of the first books I've read that includes both Scripture quotes and fairly graphic sex scenes. Normally it is one or the other in romance novels, especially YA/NA. I actually felt it was more relatable; I remember having some of the same doubts and worries the main character Emma had when it came to aligning my choices with religious and societal expectations and ideals.

The bad boy hiding a vulnerable nice guy inside is very familiar; three different popular books/movies came to mind numerous times while reading. At one point I wondered if the market isn't getting over-saturated with this trope, then I decided I don't quite care yet, since I still enjoyed Tanner's character.

I didn't think that the excerpts from the fiction novel at the start of each chapter really added to the story or helped move it along or anything. I also felt like the side characters were a little one dimensional but still enjoyed their minor plotlines.


*rec'd a free digital ARC from netgalley
Profile Image for Michelle.
83 reviews3 followers
March 29, 2021
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

TW: sexual abuse, sexism, toxic relationships, alcohol, partying, sex
I liked this much more than I expected to! This gave me so many nostalgic feelings for the types of books I used to read in high school. The characters of Emma & Tanner were so flawed, but done in such a strategic way. This book touched on important topics such as conflicting ideas within Christianity/faith, feminism, women in society, the patriarchy, social anxiety and more. This story truly captures the essence and raw emotion of coming to terms with your future after high school. I will say 2 cons I had with this book is that it is a tad long for a YA contemporary and towards the end there were a few plot points and characters I found to be quite random. Overall, highly recommend if you're looking for a good YA novel to pick up that's on the brink of New Adult, with a few steamy scenes and heavy topics.
Profile Image for Habby AB.
9 reviews
March 15, 2021
This is the second book I've read by C.L. Walters, and she surely delivered. Again.

The book touches on the challenges of young adults coming to terms with their sexuality, along with the lines of consent and the shame that comes with. It's a book I wish I had read in my teens, navigating through my own sexuality and everything tied to it.

It's also a story of self discovery for both characters. From the perspective of a young Christian girl, Emma feels real and vibrant. I loved the character Tanner and his storyline which is raw and relatable. The rest of the cast is just as colorful and flawed.

I enjoyed this book very much, and would recommend it. This book is beautiful and honest. It's one of those books I wish I had all the time in the world to finish in one go. But also not wanting it to end. Perfect combination.
Profile Image for Ashley.
41 reviews
January 23, 2021
Emma- beautiful Christian raised senior who’s ready to learn true freedom in college away from her conservative parents and hometown. A guarded girl trying to find her faith and her voice.

Tanner- Typical misunderstood bad boy but not in a bad way. I fell in love with his character after each of his chapters pulled back layers.

Favorite quotes:

“Probably most of us are carting around shit inside that won’t make it out into the light until we start the next book of the series.”

“Religion does it all the time, pick and choose — cut up the Bible into convenient soundbites to perpetuate beliefs. Everyone does stuff like that to promote their argument. Like fake news.”



Wow, grab tissues for this one. Definitely a coming of age book with such a deep romance. Very much enjoyed this book, the writing was spectacular!
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