Stars and Smoke

By: Marie Lu

Narrated by: Becca Q. Co

Length: 11 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's summary

"Becca Co's versatile voice and acting experience shine in this new audiobook...mild sexual tension, witty banter, plot twists, and close calls will keep listeners engaged."- AudioFile Magazine

The Hating Game meets Mission: Impossible in this smoldering new novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Marie Lu about a superstar tapped to become a secret agent and the reluctant young spy assigned to be his partner.

Meet Winter Young—rookie backup dancer turned global pop phenomenon. His star power has smashed records, selling out stadiums from LA to London. Now he’s bringing his swoonworthy assets to a whole new arena...

Infamous criminal tycoon Eli Morrison has just one weakness—his daughter, Penelope. And Penelope has just one wish for her nineteenth birthday—a private concert with Winter Young. When covert ops organization The Panacea Group approaches Winter with this once-in-a-lifetime chance to infiltrate Morrison’s inner circle, Winter must use his fame, cunning, and charisma to pull it off—only he won’t be on his own.

Posing as Winter’s bodyguard is the fiery Sydney Cossette, Panacea’s youngest spy. Sydney may be the only person alive impervious to Winter's charms, but as the mission brings them closer, she's forced to admit there's more to this A-lister than slick dance moves and a handsome face. Panacea's unlikeliest partners just might become its biggest heroes—and maybe even more—if they can survive each other first.

A Macmillan Audio production from Roaring Brook Press.

©2023 Marie Lu (P)2023 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

*One of Seventeen magazine's most anticipated YAs of 2023!*

“Sexy, funny, action-packed, full of killer characters ready to break your heart and look good doing it. Marie Lu always delivers.” — Leigh Bardugo, #1 New York Times–bestselling author

“A nail-biting thriller and a breathless romance, a keen character study and a wildly entertaining international caper . . with characters so charming and wounded and well-crafted that you’ll want them to walk off the page.” — Sabaa Tahir, #1 New York Times–bestselling author of the Ember in the Ashes series and National Book Award Winner All My Rage

"To my mind, Marie Lu can do no wrong and this may be my favorite novel of hers. Stars and Smoke is thrilling and wonderfully romantic and so much more than that. There is wisdom and real emotional depth pulsing through these pages that’s as gripping as the plot itself." — Nicola Yoon, #1 New York Times–bestselling author of The Sun Is Also a Star

Unbelievable

Hard to believe the ages and experience implied. At 19 yrs old how did u have time for all the training and missions prior to this story. If the were a little older story would have been better.

I like Marie Lu

I enjoy several of Marie Lu’s books and was excited to see some new characters. Storyline was unrealistic, but entertaining. I liked the end and that goes a long way for me. I would continue to read more books with these characters if she makes this a series.

Hard to get used to narrator

It was hard to take the dramatic parts of the story seriously because the narrator’s voice sounds upbeat

Enjoyable YA listen

Suspend disbelief about the unlikely scenario, and just enjoy the ride. It was a fun, action-packed YA spy novel!

awesome narrator, unbelievable plot lines

Several plot lines require suspension of disbelief. The characters are intriguing and the narration is great, but the story itself is just okay.

A great start to a new series by Lu!!

A new series…yay!! When this one started off I wasn’t sure that I was going to like it, but as I got into the plot I got hooked. The main characters, Sydney and Winter, are the only characters that you really get to know well throughout the story. They are both damaged by the their past. I think that’s why their souls reach out to each other. Although Sydney really fights it.

Winter is a very famous musician who gets recruited as a spy, of sorts, by the same organization that he comes to learn that his dead brother worked for. This is where he meets Sydney, who he’s being partnered with for a mission. Sydney believes he can’t do it and is very vocal about it. But Winter is NOT the typical musician, and he proves very capable.

If you enjoy a good YA spy caper with lives of suspense, twists and turns, and a slow build romance, then this is your book! When I say YA, they are more college age, but the book is definitely YA appropriate. Im looking forward to book two!!

I enjoyed the easy listening story

I liked the story it was an easy listen. I was very happy there was no angsty-bitter or deep moody characters which some authors lean on when writing about teens.
My only complaint is there just had to be a dash of the main character being bi…..Winter alone and emotionally abandoned by his mom turns to one of his dancers early on his career. They we’re together for a while but Winter just couldn’t open up to him fully so they stayed friends….it was not needed. It’s sad that guys just can’t have a close relationship with the same sex without it being a sexual relationship…
All in all it was a good easy listening book. I think it would be a good road trip or commute book.
Looking forward to another of Marie Lu books in the future.

Fun to listen to!

This was a fun story! Yes, a little unbelievable, but it’s fiction. I love the characters and the plot.

Fun Just Not Believable

Fun story but simply not believable that a 19 year old is a super spy and has been a spy since she was 17. Liked the idea of a pop star being recruited for a spy job but should have had a handler that was older. Even just 5 years older would have made more sense.

Great plot. kept the reader enthralled. loved the characters. I can't wait for the next one!

I loved all of it. The worst part was that it ended. Great work!