The First-Ever Star Wars YA Romance Is Coming This Month
Ashley Poston’s Eyes Like Stars gives older tweens and teens who love Star Wars an age-appropriate read with action, crushes and a slow-burn love story.
If your kid has moved from lightsabers to crushes, you'll want to pre-order this new Star Wars book. Ashley Poston’s Eyes Like Stars, billed as the first-ever Star Wars YA romance, goes on sale July 21 from Random House and is recommended for readers 13 and up.
We know that tweens are into romance, and with sports themes being overtaken by romantasy these days, sci-fi feels like the next logical frontier (maybe Star Trek is next?).
Eyes Like Stars follows teenager Ardent Quay, who is getting ready for another cruise aboard her father’s star tour ship, the Starfarer. Then a shopping trip goes sideways, Ardent saves the life of a mysterious stranger, and things escalate quickly. That stranger, Sian, ends up hiding out on the ship while the First Order closes in, which turns Ardent’s routine trip into a much riskier ride across the galaxy.
Alongside the chase plot, the book leans into a swoony, slow-burn romance between Ardent and the frustratingly elusive Sian. According to the publisher, the novel also features an all-new cast with a few familiar Star Wars cameos, which should help pull in readers who already know their way around the franchise.
What parents should know
- Eyes Like Stars goes on sale July 21, 2026.
- It’s recommended for ages 13+.
- The setup mixes First Order-era action with a romance storyline.
- The publisher is positioning it as a strong summer-read pick for YA and Star Wars fans.
This article was crafted with the assistance of an AI language model. The final content was reviewed and edited by a human and reflects the editorial judgment and expertise of Today's Parent.