It’s fourteen days until graduation and salutatorian Emma Matthews regrets choosing her studies over her social life. Meanwhile, popular party boy Tanner James is ready to clean up his act. Emma and Tanner have always been attracted to one another, but now they’re facing their last chance at romance. What starts as a kiss becomes something deeper, but as high school ends they realize how many challenges they’ll have to overcome if they want to find love together.

THE STORIES STARS TELL has a classic setup: Emma and Tanner are social and academic opposites that are drawn together by their insecurities and regrets. Their passion is feverish and the story is filled with lusty yearning and hungry glances. The chemistry between Emma and Tanner is the driving force and author C.L. Walters’s ability to capture the “heart full of helium” nature of young love is unparalleled. But the novel has much more to offer than just sensual scenes and dramatic declarations of love. Emma and Tanner are well-developed characters who struggle to overcome their stereotypical identities and move onto the next stage of life. They deal with big issues–grief, religion, changing friendships, parental expectations, and sexual assault. Walters uses Emma and Tanner’s experiences in THE STORIES STARS TELL to capture the full complexity of the transitional period that comes at the end of high school.

The real highlight though, is how Walters uses her writing to address real issues. Her balance between realism (people are imperfect) and optimism (we should strive to be better) is delicately calibrated. The story has enough drama to be gripping, but also projects a message of acceptance and healing. Ultimately, THE STORIES STARS TELL shows characters that are pushing themselves to make healthier decisions, which makes for a satisfying narrative while also setting a good example for impressionable readers. THE STORIES STARS TELL is the pinnacle of teenage romance novels. The story that Walters has created is passionate, but it also explores the flaws of each character in a mindful, thought-provoking way.

In THE STORIES STARS TELL, C.L. Walters has crafted a world where the stars align into the perfect story—but only because she gives the reader the opportunity to watch her characters grow and change in ways that bring them together in the most satisfying of ways.

~Stephani Hren for IndieReader