When the Stars Lead to You is a story featuring a biracial STEM girl obsessed with the stars whose summer love story doesn’t end the way she doesn’t expect. I love summer romances and When the Stars Lead to You is no exception. Not only because it turns everything you expected on its head, but because it’s a story that stretches far beyond the beach.
Summary
Eighteen-year-old Devon longs for two things.
The stars.
And the boy she fell in love with last summer.
When Ashton breaks Devon’s heart at the end of the most romantic and magical summer ever, she thinks her heart will never heal again. But over the course of the following year, Devon finds herself slowly putting the broken pieces back together.
Now it’s senior year, and she’s determined to enjoy every moment of it as she prepares for a future studying the galaxies. That is, until Ashton shows up on the first day of school. Can she forgive him and open her heart again? Or are they doomed to repeat history?
Review
TW: suicidal ideation, suicide attempt, depression
When the Stars Lead to You is an emotionally gripping story about love, forgiveness, self-care, and mental health. A summer romance that ended without a whisper. It’s a story that confronts prejudice, love that sweeps you away in a tidal wave, and the tendency we have to fall deep into people without surfacing for air. Devon’s narrative voice carries you away. Whether it be her feelings of doubt and uncertainty, or her infectious happiness, she is one of my favorite STEM girls.
At the same time, When the Stars Lead to You is a story about mental health. Families that withdraw support when you need it and the power of someone to hear and see you. Its ownvoices representation for depression is such a crucial part of the story, asking ourselves what is the line for taking care of our ourselves? We cannot be a lifeline. That isn’t healthy for anyone. Because of that, When the Stars Lead to You is a wonderful novel on so many levels: mental health, race, sex-positivity, and self-awareness.
Their summer fling is something more real and terrifying. Not only to them and the power of those moments and kisses, but to their family. As a biracial main character, Ashton’s family is particularly prejudiced and racist towards Devon because of her background. When the Stars Lead to You examines privilege and expectations. Can we go against our family and our dreams? And even with privilege and money, doesn’t mean we can buy love, warmth, or compassion. Looking from the outside on shiny panels of illusions.
Overall,
When the Stars Lead to You is about a love that changes your whole world and realigns stars, but it’s also about a quest in that darkness and depth. The hard choices. We are each our own constellations, not merely objects waiting to be pulled someone else’s orbit. A quest to find ourselves and our boundaries, our limitations and gravity. Our own air. Find When the Stars Lead to You on Goodreads, Amazon, Indiebound & The Book Depository.