BOOK REVIEW: Stars Like Gasoline by Jessika Grewe Glover
A stunning read of inner strength and the power of family with hint of suspense and the paranormal.
Over the last two years, I have gotten to know Jessika as a person and a author, and at some point she’s going to have an event that is on a day that I don’t have work responsibilities so I can finally attend. Regardless, at some point this summer, I’ll be in Cali and will hopefully get the chance to meet up with her. Sorry, I digress… Stars Like Gasoline is Jessika’s 3rd book, and the first one that she completely, from beginning to end, self published. I was so excited to have been gifted a copy, but I am more excited to share my thoughts and feelings about it now that I have finished it.
Please, add it to your TBR list right now. Stars Like Gasoline has a little bit of everything - it’s a ghost story, a mystery, a romance, a thriller, and a contemporary adult fiction. It’s a book about the strength of family and of self; about finding love and what it means to sacrifice; about tragedy and grief and finding the strength to start over; about art - beautiful art and the power that art has in our lives.
You’re interested, right? I know you are! Here is a quick synopsis: Celia has moved home to Vero Beach, Florida to be closer to her brother, Oscar, in the aftermath of Oscar’s fiance’s (Nate) sudden death while on deployment for the military. Celia moves into a haunted house that was once part of Nate’s family. She takes on the position of an art curator at the local art museum and then the fun begins. She discovers a journal of a dead French artist and while fending off a stalker, she and Oscar with the help of some friends must figure out what the journal, the missing Japanese artist, the ghosts, and the stalker all have in common.
I don’t think my synopsis does the book justice, so I’m just going to tell you some of my thoughts and takeaways, as you have come to expect from me. And just hope that you read it and see for yourself!
This book was beautifully written. There is a maturity and flow to the writing that hooks you from the beginning. Characters are developed to be complex and authentic. They took up residence in my head, and they are having a hard time leaving. I fell in love with Oscar, through the depth of his love for Nate, the hopes and dreams that they shared were so clearly depicted that it broke my heart for him, but to see his growth from beginning to end showed how powerful love and grief are in equal measure. Love of family and what we are willing to do for love is a powerful motif that is woven in and out of almost every scene. We have clearly established love and then we get to experience new love along with the characters.
A thousand cranes slipped to the side and onto the pillow, where a final puzzle piece of wintry Florida moonlight locked the shadows away.
I absolutely love Celia's extended family. They presented more of the lightheartedness but with the strong opinions that come from who they are. I loved their over the top reactions, their superstitions and the representation of their culture. Remember, food really does make everything better! Again, all of this is showcased with an eloquence and style that makes you feel like you are part of the family.
The plot itself is more complex than you may think. There are numerous sub plots that are moving fluidly in parallel movement with each other, until the end when they begin to come together and all the pieces fall into place. The epiphany occurs during the suspense filled climax on the boat, and it leads into a perfect conclusion. I will admit there were a few moments when I felt that a diagram of connections between characters, both dead and alive, would be helpful to keep everything straight. There was so much going on, little events and puzzle pieces that were all important hints to how everything eventually comes together. It was easy to miss or overlook an important element. I even messaged Jessika at one point expressing some concerns; she held strong and didn’t give in.
That mystery in and of itself was developed in a way where we were just mainly along for the ride. The depiction of certain events developed a mood and tone that at times created suspense (the random breaking of the mirror) and at others created a lightheartedness that just filled my heart (the birthday party). For example, the setting of the book is Vero Beach and being right on the water, the strong summer storms were the perfect backdrop for some of the more ominous experiences that Celia has to go through. I felt the descriptive writing and imagery painted that clear image and made the emotions of the characters tangible.
Ghost stories and mysteries and thrillers aren’t supposed to be beautiful (in the stereotypical sense), but this truly was a beautiful book. The ghosts themselves become an integral part of the overall mystery, and I love the resolve Celia has to not let them run her out of her house.
Ok, so here are a few of the additional aspects I truly loved about the book:
The depiction of the art that Celia works with at the museum and that she encounters throughout the changing events of the plot.
The blend of the scary - the ghosts, the attacks - and the beauty of the depth of the characters - Celia, Oscar, Adrian. (I liked Adrian from the beginning, but there are secrets to learn that I found very revealing of his overall character)
I’m a fan of water, so I loved the references and moments related to the ocean and the beach. Otters, by the way, are my favorite animal.
The pacing of scenes in the ebb and flow of high tension to lower narration and development is perfect. It’s not too overwhelming or too slow burn, transitions are well placed and fit will with the handful of POV changes we get.
Jessika appeared on our April 2023 episode of the Speaking LITerally podcast to talk about Stars Like Gasoline. To learn more about the book from the author directly, click here to listen to the podcast on Spotify.
God only knows why I had that memorized when I’d only seen the piece a handful of times. The Catholic side of the family would be appalled by my use of a Wiccan spell, but La Madre María hadn’t been working so far.
Where does this land on my bookshelf?
Top shelf my friends! I promise you won’t be disappointed in giving this book a chance. Celia and Oscar are some of my favorite fictional siblings and will always have a place in my heart. I knew I was going to enjoy the read, as I have enjoyed her Another Beasts Skin series, but this one truly showcases Jessika’s talent at setting a tone, developing a complex plot line with multiple moving parts, and crafting characters with such depth and emotion that they truly seem to be in the room with you. I loved this book, and have already found myself recommending it to others!
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If you are really bored, you can read about some of my personal adventures in life raising two teenagers, commentating on professional wrestling shows and loving a husband who is fighting Chronic Myeloid Leukemia and all the lesson I learn along the way. Educate This.