
I spent many years looking at the stars and, at one point, I wanted desperately to become an astronaut (Thanks, Space Camp). Years of abysmal grades in math and science grounded that dream, but I can always enjoy books set in or around the stars. LINK by Summer Wier is definitely a book steeped in starlight and wishes, but I just didn’t connect with this read. Perhaps you will have better luck because my two star review does look a little suspect amid all the great four and five star reviews it received on Goodreads. I will say that the author has generously donated a copy of the book and a nice stack of beautifully designed bookmarks to our classroom library, even after she saw my honest review, so I might not have loved the book, but I’m a huge fan of Summer Wier.

This picture in no way prepares you for how beautiful this cover is in person. It is really gorgeous IRL.
Goodreads Summary
For seventeen-year-old Kira, there’s no better way to celebrate a birthday than being surrounded by friends and huddled beside a campfire deep in the woods. And with a birthday in the peak of summer, that includes late night swims under the stars.
Or at least, it used to.
Kira’s relaxing contemplation of the universe is interrupted when a piece of it falls, colliding with her and starting a chain of events that could unexpectedly lead to the one thing in her life that’s missing—her father.
Tossed into a pieced-together world of carnivals and gypsies, an old-fashioned farmhouse, and the alluring presence of a boy from another planet, Kira discovers she’s been transported to the center of a black hole, and there’s more to the story than science can explain. She’s now linked by starlight to the world inside the darkness. And her star is dying.
If she doesn’t return home before the star’s light disappears and her link breaks, she’ll be trapped forever. But she’s not the only one ensnared, and with time running out, she’ll have to find a way to save a part of her past and a part of her future, or risk losing everything she loves.
Dreamy, fluid, and beautiful, Link pairs the mystery of science fiction with the minor-key melody of a dark fantasy, creating a tale that is as human as it is out of this world.
My Thoughts
This isn’t a terrible book. It was creative and had a unique plot that I definitely was not able to predict. There are a few revelations that I found really surprising and cool. At the same time, it was a book I struggled to finish. The pacing is far too rushed to create believable relationships, and that is a problem in a book that is focused on a love triangle. While one romantic interest is an established person in the protagonist’s life, the second comes out of nowhere and creates an insta-love scenario that will leave most readers dissatisfied. The dialogue is also a problem. The conversations rang false, and the banter felt corny and flat. Finally, no one feels like a real, nuanced character. The good guys and the bad guys are black and white, with none of the gray areas real people have. They just never came alive for me.
I also found the whole concept too esoteric. I honestly have no idea where the plot is or will be going. There are stars. There are black holes. There are some people who want to control the power of these two forces, but I don’t have a clue why. I have no idea why there is a carnival involved. Or ponies. (Not that those are bad things. I really like carnivals and ponies. These just didn’t fit the context for me. That might be the point, though.) Overall, I just struggled, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you will. Language and situations are appropriate for grades 7+.
This book is in our classroom library because Summer Wier is an awesome person. I sincerely hope you read it, love it, and tell me I’m a fool for not recognizing her genius!
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.