Can you fall in love in a single day? What if that day might be your last in America? Nicola Yoon’s “The Sun Is Also a Star” asks these questions through a chance meeting between two teens in New York City.
This book pulls you in with its impossible romance. A practical girl facing deportation and a poetic boy headed for a medical career cross paths at the worst—or perhaps best—possible time.
The novel stands out with its unique structure, diverse characters, and blend of romance with science, poetry, and immigration issues. It’s a love story that doesn’t shy away from hard truths.
The Story at a Glance
Natasha Kingsley has 12 hours before her family is deported to Jamaica. Daniel Bae faces a college interview that will cement his path to becoming a doctor—a future his Korean parents demand. When they meet by chance, Daniel believes it’s fate. Natasha trusts only science and facts.
Set in a single day across New York City, the story unfolds through alternating viewpoints. We see both main characters’ perspectives plus occasional chapters from secondary characters whose lives touch theirs.
Published in 2016, this contemporary YA novel became a National Book Award Finalist and inspired a 2019 film adaptation.
Love, Science, and Fate
The plot moves at a breathless pace. With only one day to work with, Nicola Yoon creates urgency that pulls you through the story. Every minute counts as Natasha tries to find a legal miracle to stay in America while Daniel tries to prove that love can happen in a day.
“People spend their whole lives looking for love. Poems and songs and entire novels are written about it. But how can you trust something that can end as suddenly as it begins?”
This tension—between choosing to believe in love or remain practical—drives the narrative forward. The plot balances predictable romance beats with unexpected turns, especially in its final act.
The alternating perspectives work brilliantly. Natasha’s chapters feel factual and direct. Daniel’s flow with poetry and emotion. This contrast shows their different worldviews before they even begin to change each other.
Characters With Depth
Daniel and Natasha avoid becoming typical romance stereotypes. Daniel may be the romantic, but he’s also struggling with cultural expectations and family pressure. Natasha is logical but carries deep wounds from her father’s failed dreams and her impending deportation.
Their backstories feel real and carefully crafted. Daniel navigates being Korean-American with parents who expect particular success. Natasha deals with being undocumented after moving to America as a child.
Secondary characters add richness to the world. Natasha’s father, once a promising actor, now drowns his disappointment in alcohol. Daniel’s brother Charlie acts tough but hides his own struggles. Even brief characters—like a security guard or subway conductor—get moments that show their humanity.
The relationship development happens quickly but feels earned. Nicola Yoon makes their connection believable through shared moments of vulnerability and genuine curiosity about each other’s lives.
Storytelling Techniques
Nicola Yoon’s writing shifts between straightforward prose and lyrical passages. When describing scientific concepts or immigration procedures, she writes with clarity. When exploring emotions or connections, her language becomes more poetic.
“We are capable of big lives. A big history. Why settle? Why choose the practical thing, the mundane thing? We are born to dream and make the things we dream about.”
The narrative structure stands out as truly original. Beyond the dual perspectives, Nicola Yoon includes brief chapters exploring topics like quantum physics, hair care, Korean family expectations, and even the backstories of minor characters. These create a rich context that makes the main story more meaningful.
Cultural representation feels authentic throughout. Both Korean and Jamaican families, traditions, and experiences are portrayed with specificity and care. The book explores immigration from multiple angles—those who came willingly seeking opportunity and those brought as children facing deportation.
Science weaves through the romance in fascinating ways. Natasha’s belief in data and observable phenomena contrasts with Daniel’s faith in destiny. The book references everything from multiverses to behavioral science, using these concepts to deepen the central question: is love scientifically explainable or something more?
Why This Book Matters Now
“The Sun Is Also a Star” tackles immigration issues that remain relevant today. Through Natasha’s family, we see the human cost of deportation policies. The book asks us to consider what makes someone “American” when they’ve lived here most of their life.
The novel speaks directly to teens facing big decisions about their futures. Should they follow their passions or practical paths? How much should parents’ expectations shape their choices? These questions resonate with readers of all ages.
For romance readers, the book offers both satisfaction and challenge. It delivers the butterflies and connection we expect but questions whether love alone can overcome real-world obstacles.
Compared to similar YA romances like “Everything, Everything” (also by Nicola Yoon) or “The Fault in Our Stars,” this book stands apart through its engagement with social issues and cultural specificity. While those books focus primarily on the couple, “The Sun Is Also a Star” places its romance within a broader social context.
My Reading Experience
I finished this book in two sittings. The countdown structure—as hours tick away toward Natasha’s deportation—creates natural momentum that kept me turning pages.
The book made me think about my own belief in coincidence versus fate. Do small moments of connection happen randomly, or is there meaning in these encounters? I found myself considering this question days after finishing.
The ending surprised me. Without spoiling anything, Nicola Yoon avoids both the too-neat happily-ever-after and the totally tragic ending. Instead, she offers something more complex and satisfying.
This book would appeal to readers who enjoy:
- Romance with substance
- Diverse characters and perspectives
- Stories that blend science and emotion
- Books that tackle social issues
- Unique narrative structures
Final Thoughts
“The Sun Is Also a Star” delivers both heart and mind—a romance that makes you feel while also making you think. Nicola Yoon balances the rush of first love with the harsh realities of immigration policy, cultural expectations, and life’s random chances.
The book earns 4.5/5 stars for its original structure, well-developed characters, and thoughtful exploration of fate versus choice. Minor pacing issues in the middle section and a few unlikely coincidences keep it just short of perfect.
If you liked this book, try:
- “On the Come Up” by Angie Thomas
- “I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter” by Erika L. Sánchez
- “Emergency Contact” by Mary H.K. Choi
This story reminds us that every random encounter has potential. Each person we pass has their own complex life. And sometimes, when we least expect it, the universe gives us reasons to believe in something more than what we can prove.
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