Bound by Stars

by E.L. Starling

Read Dates: 7/7/25 to 7/9/25

Review

Bound by Stars is a fresh twist on the classic Titanic story—but instead of an ocean voyage, we’re traveling through space aboard The Boundless, a luxury vessel headed for the Mars colony. The story explores rigid class divides, privilege, and identity, but through the lens of a young adult cast. Our main character wins a coveted spot in first class—something well beyond her usual status—and finds herself navigating a society where she clearly doesn’t belong. There’s still schooling on board, social expectations to manage, and that classic YA tension of trying to figure out who you are while the world keeps reminding you who you’re supposed to be.

What really stood out to me was the main character’s emotional depth—she’s guarded, hesitant to trust, and clearly shaped by trauma from her family. While I wish the book had dived deeper into her backstory and more fully explored her relationships (especially with her parents), she still felt like a compelling and well-developed lead. The pacing was strong, the plot moved steadily, and even though some of the side characters could have used a little more spotlight, I found myself really enjoying the journey. This was a fun, thought-provoking sci-fi read with familiar themes and a cool futuristic spin—and I’ve already recommended it to a few friends!