Thank you to Crown Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for the eARC to read and review! Finding Jupiter is OUT NOW!
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary Romance
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Recommend to Others?: Yes
ABOUT: Sparks fly when Orion and Ray meet for the first time at a roller rink in Memphis. But these star-crossed souls have a past filled with secrets that threaten to tear them apart before their love story even begins. Found poetry, grief, and fate collide in this powerful debut.
Ray: Just once I’d like my birthday to be about me, and not the day my father died. I want to be Ray Jr., the tall girl from Memphis with the poetry beats and the braids that stay poppin’. And when I meet Orion at the skating rink, that’s exactly who I am. He pulls my hand, and instead of being defined by my past, he races me toward my future.
Orion: When I dive into the pool, it’s just me and my heartbeat. There’s no dad, no dead sister, and no distracting noises. But I can’t hold my breath forever. And since I met Ray, I don’t want to. The closer we get, though, the more I see I’m not the only one caught in her wake.
With a lyrical blend of found poetry and poignant prose, this stunning debut captures young Black love and a decades-old family secret that may shatter a romance that feels written in the stars.
REVIEW: Finding Jupiter is one of the best YA contemporary romances I’ve ever read. I was so impressed by this sweet and heartwarming, black love story. It was a uniquely told story of star-crossed lovers with all the Romeo and Juliet vibes without being obvious or overshadowing the characters and plot.
Orion is a swimmer with Olympic potential. He is also kind, romantic, and charming. He wears his heart on his sleeves even though his dad wishes he wasn’t so sensitive. The first time he sees Ray performing a routine on the skating rink with her friends, it’s love at first sight.
At an early age, Orion was diagnosed with sensory processing disorder (SPD), “a condition in which the brain has trouble receiving and responding to information that comes in through the senses.” His SPD ties tightly linked into his character and how he connects with others. You can see this in his sometimes tense relationship with his dad, the solace Orion finds underwater, certain compulsive routines, and his interactions with Ray.
Ray is a super talented poet who has walls around her heart. Seeing her mom still grieving the loss of her husband has made Ray wary of love. It’s too risky, so she just wants a summer fling before heading back to boarding school. But she never expected to feel so strongly for Orion.
I wasn’t too sure about Ray at first because internally she seemed very adamant about her dislike of love and relationships. I wish she’d been a little more upfront with Orion, especially when it was clear how open and honest he is about his thoughts and feelings. But I understand where she’s coming from and why she’s so hesitant. Not to mention meeting Orion kind of throws her off. He is everything she didn’t know she wanted or needed. That kind of powerful attraction can be scary.
In the end, I loved the buildup of their relationship. It’s a rollercoaster of emotions for all involved. And when family secrets are revealed it is a devastating, heartbreaking blow that I didn’t see coming at all.
Finding Jupiter is a real page-turner that will captivate you. I highlighted many great quotes throughout the book. I wish there’d been an epilogue to see where the MCs are down the road since Orion is starting college in the fall and Ray is entering her senior year of high school. Their love is so true, pure, and enviable. I would love to read more about Ray and Orion.
I highly recommend this amazing story!
AS ALWAYS, HAPPY READING!!!
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