Lush on Thursday

Lush on Thursday is essentially the spotlight feature here at Christina Reads YA. For a further explanation of what the feature means, read my first ever LoT post :).

Today's pick is...

These Broken Stars by Meagan Spooner and Amie Kaufman
Release Date: December 10, 2013
Published by: Disney-Hyperion

It's a night like any other on board the Icarus. Then, catastrophe strikes: the massive luxury spaceliner is yanked out of hyperspace and plummets into the nearest planet. Lilac LaRoux and Tarver Merendsen survive. And they seem to be alone. 

Lilac is the daughter of the richest man in the universe. Tarver comes from nothing, a young war hero who learned long ago that girls like Lilac are more trouble than they’re worth. But with only each other to rely on, Lilac and Tarver must work together, making a tortuous journey across the eerie, deserted terrain to seek help. 

Then, against all odds, Lilac and Tarver find a strange blessing in the tragedy that has thrown them into each other’s arms. Without the hope of a future together in their own world, they begin to wonder—would they be better off staying here forever?

Everything changes when they uncover the truth behind the chilling whispers that haunt their every step. Lilac and Tarver may find a way off this planet. But they won’t be the same people who landed on it.

The first in a sweeping science fiction trilogy, These Broken Stars is a timeless love story about hope and survival in the face of unthinkable odds.

So I really dislike this cover, and I think I may be the only one in the blogosphere who does. The title font is definitely gorgeous, but the author cursive font looks weird with it as does the font for the blurb. The stars look kind of tacky to me, and honestly? When I see two white people dressed as fancily as that and doing something as ridiculously cliche as reaching for each other, it makes me think of privilege (and the stories in YA that are filled with it), and makes me wonder whether I'll like their POVs. Yes, I am being very judgmental, but also to make a point, which is...

The power of book bloggers prevails, and the weight of the cover fades away in light of the story - AKA why this title looks awesome:

• Science fiction trilogy. I've heard that this one is not so focused on sci-fi - in fact, the publisher's marketing point on Edelweiss is: "ACCESSIBLE, GIRL-FRIENDLY SCI-FI: this genre is poised to grow, and this gripping, romantic novel is a perfect candidate to capitalize on this hot new trend." - but I still want to see what kind of world the authors have built out in space and on this new planet.
• Romance. Yeah, I'm a romance addict. What can I say? The tragic element - I've seen this book compared to the Titanic in space - can either be a major plus or negative.
• Character-driven. Beth Revis blurbed the book, and the synopsis is giving me the feel of a character-driven book, and we've already established that all my favorite books are like that.
• Bloggers are already raving about the book, specifically Wendy Darling and Kat Kennedy.

Now, if only Disney-Hyperion liked book bloggers and allowed us to request titles online...

What are you hoping to read soon? Is there a book you think I should read ASAP? Something you've read recently that you lovelovelove? Have you read These Broken Stars/are you anticipating it?