So, basically, the Star does not actually denote hope and inspiration, but rather sows a dream out of reach? That's sad
I got a Star-ry outcome too.
It really depends on the reading and the surrounding cards and no the Star does not always mean a dream out of reach.
If you are confused about a card and other people's views are not making sense, it may help to go back to the source or the original creators' meaning for the card. I'm not sure which deck is being used here but Waite for example says:
"The summary of several tawdry explanations says that it is a card of hope. On other planes it has been certified as immortality and interior light. For the majority of prepared minds, the figure will appear as the type of Truth unveiled, glorious in undying beauty, pouring on the waters of the soul some part and measure of her priceless possession."
So we have a start there: on a mundane level the Star is Hope. That for me is possibly what others are saying here. It is hope so I hope such and such asks me out. Don't underestimate the power of hope.
Waite goes on to say it also means: immortality and interior light. So it means 'star quality'. It means radiance. Immortality may refer to a memory of someone who has passed away and your thoughts on them or how they live on through their work, songs or children. It may refer to how someone seems ethereal and other wordly.
Waite also says it is a type of Truth unveiled. Sometimes life does unveil beautiful truths we never thought possible.
Moving onto the Thoth Crowely picks up on Waites' description of the Star relating to the Kabbalah. So Waite says:
"But she is in reality the Great Mother in the Kabalistic Sephira Binah, which is supernal Understanding, who communicates to the Sephiroth that are below in the measure that they can receive her influx."
Your eyes will glaze over if you have no interest in Kabbalah so I won't push the point but Crowely does talk about the Star in relation to Truth; immortality and a sentence I particularly love:
..."the inexhaustible possibilities of existence."
Which again is related to Hope. Crowely also relates the Star to Venus and Love. He relates the Star to the "...blindness of humanity to all the beauty and wonder of the Universe..."