The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon

Narrated by Bahni Turpin, 

Raymond Lee & Dominic Hoffman

Synopsis (via Goodreads): Natasha: I’m a girl who believes in science and facts. Not fate. Not destiny. Or dreams that will never come true. I’m definitely not the kind of girl who meets a cute boy on a crowded New York City street and falls in love with him. Not when my family is twelve hours away from being deported to Jamaica. Falling in love with him won’t be my story.

Daniel: I’ve always been the good son, the good student, living up to my parents’ high expectations. Never the poet. Or the dreamer. But when I see her, I forget about all that. Something about Natasha makes me think that fate has something much more extraordinary in store—for both of us.

The Universe: Every moment in our lives has brought us to this single moment. A million futures lie before us. Which one will come true?

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I loved that Natasha was very scientific and only wanted to believe in the things that she could prove. Of course that meant she didn't believe in love, because how do you prove that?

Daniel's poetic heart and his endless enthusiasm swept me away from the beginning. He was determined to prove to Natasha that love existed, and he wanted to do it with science. They didn't agree on a lot of topics, which I actually found refreshing, so it was fun to watch them learn new things about each other and themselves.

I also learned a lot while listening to this audiobook. Some of my favorite parts were the explanations about different religions, certain histories, and various scientific facts. I enjoyed the conversations about alternate and parallel universes, and how every choice brings with it an infinite number of possibilities. The author clearly did her research and wanted to make sure we were somewhat educated on the subject matter. However, it didn't come across as a lesson, just some additional commentary on what was already being discussed. I think it helped me to better understand the characters and their story.

The adults in this book were the worst. They were selfish, racist, and unwilling to listen to their children. I'm still angry with Natasha's father for saying something a parent should never say, Daniel's brother for being an unapologetic asshole, and Natasha's lawyer for being selfish and unconcerned with his professional responsibilities. 

At the same time, the author points out how every seemingly inconsequential action can have unforeseen consequences. Daniel stopping to leave a dollar in a musician's hat caused him to briefly miss passing Natasha on the subway. Natasha being a few minutes late to her appointment allowed her to pass in front of Daniel for the first time. There were so many small side stories that showed just how much one person could affect the lives around them. 

I think the author raises some important questions about immigrants and what happens to them once they are living in America. In the end, it didn't matter that Natasha's brother was born here, it mattered that his parents had overstayed their travel visa. Children that have no say in whether or not their families remain in America are being forced to leave the only homes they've ever known.

The Sun Is Also a Star was a very thought-provoking story that touched on a lot of relevant subjects. The ending wasn't perfect, but it was incredibly satisfying.