Stars and Smoke

In this tension-filled spy novel, Marie Lu expertly combines action, humour and romance. Its James Bond-esque plotline and explosive romance make for a page-turning read, in which you never quite know what might happen next. The addition of an international popstar adds an unexpected level of depth: Winter is still very young, dealing with megastardom and an ultra-dedicated fanbase reminiscent of boybands and K-pop fans, and Lu explores this with compassion and understanding. All in all, this is a great book that adds a modern twist to a classic Y.A. plot.