They say the road to stardom is paved with broken dreams.

Growing up, Antonia "Toni" Bennette's guitar was her only companion...until she met Sebastian Quick. Seb was a little older, a lot wiser, and he became Toni's way out, promising they'd escape their small town together. Then Seb turned eighteen and split without looking back.

Now, Toni B is all grown up and making a name for herself in Philadelphia's indie rock scene. When a friend suggests she try out for the hottest new band in the country, she decides to take a chance. She's in for a surprise when one of the decision-makers turns out to be none other than Seb. Toni can handle it. No problem. Or it wouldn't be if Seb didn't still hold a piece of her heart, not to mention the key to her future.

Though she may not have been graced with the advantages of some and has had more than her fair share of hard knocks, the moment Antonia “Toni” Bennette makes her debut in The Girl with Stars in Her Eyes, you know she’s meant to be a rock star.

Toni is the type of fictional heroine that a reader can root for from the very first page: smart, full of pure heart, incredible drive, and amazing talent. And then when Toni meets Sebastian Quick, another poor kid from the wrong side of, well, everything, sparks fly and it’s musical magic. Sebastian is strong, talented and as driven as Toni, but he’s also in a tragically desperate situation and it’s because of that desperation that he and Toni’s magical destiny is in question.

I adored every moment of reading The Girl with Stars in Her Eyes. Axelrod brings a haunting humanity to the sexy rock and roll spotlight and readers will be singing along with Toni, Sebastian, and the Lillys as they follow them on their road to stardom. This book reads like an impeccable performance that you don’t want to end and will have you shouting, “Encore! Encore!” by the time you reach the last page.