Review: Starrily by Kate Serzenta

I received an advanced review copy of this book for free via Reedsy Discovery. This did not affect my opinion of the book in any way.

Series: Perks of Being Paranormal #2
Published: April 2025
Pages: 309

Synopsis

From the moment she first met him, Callie knew that Simon Montague was a dead man walking.

From rock-climbing to wing-suiting, the infuriatingly charismatic tech CEO lives every moment of his life like it might be his last – and given his packed schedule of adrenaline-fuelled adventures, Callie calculated that statistically, one would be soon enough.

In order to secure funding for her ground-breaking work in astrophysics, Callie must work with Simon – and as much as she tries to resist it, the shy and play-it-safe scientist soon finds herself warming to his outgoing personality and thirst for life – the kind she had long since buried away.

But when the promise of a kiss is interrupted by Callie witnessing Simon literally flicker from existence, even her logical, rational mind struggles to find a scientific explanation. She learns that a supernatural phenomenon is threatening to tear Simon from reality itself – and only by facing her own dark and traumatic past can Callie learn what she needs to save the life of the man she’s reluctantly developed feelings for.

Starrily is the second book in the Perks of Being Paranormal series – fast-paced and witty paranormal romances that readers have praised as “cute and adorable” and “quirky, sweet, and heartwarming.”

My Thoughts…

This review was originally published on Reedsy Discovery.

Simon Montague, the charismatic CEO of a successful tech company, seems to have a death wish: from eating pufferfish to rock-climbing, he appears to always be on the lookout for a new dangerous activity. For sensible, risk-averse astrophysicist Callie Guidry, this is deeply annoying and close to infuriating.

Yet when circumstances force the two of them to spend time together in order to secure funding for Callie’s research, she finds that there may be more to Simon than meets the eye, and his outgoing personality and thirst for life re-awaken in Callie something she had long since buried away. But everything is not as it seems, and rational thought might have to give way to a part of Callie’s past she has been trying to forget if there is to be any hope of saving Simon from the supernatural phenomenon that threatens his very existence.

Kate Serzenta continues to deliver a cozy and heartwarming slow-burn romance in this second instalment of the Perks of Being Paranormal series. Both Callie and Simon have suffered in the past, reacting in completely opposite ways, and watching them learn from one other and lean into each other’s strengths to support their vulnerabilities makes for a delightful reading experience.

Where this book seems to struggle slightly is with the paranormal element itself which, though original and somewhat surprising, does not appear to be developed to its full potential, remaining a largely marginal element until fairly late in the story. The conflicts, though appearing solid in the build-up, are also resolved far too easily in the end, leaving the feeling of a rush preventing the reader from feeling fully satisfied by the (extremely cute) ending. Secondary characters could have also benefited from slightly greater development, especially those introduced later in the narrative, as they came across as little more than cookie-cutter figures embodying specific traits, making little to no impression and being forgotten as easily as they were introduced.

Overall, Starrily is a pleasant read that is sure to entertain and delight fans of the genre, despite a few minor issues.