The Stars Are on Our Side

𝘛𝘰 𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘧𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘣𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦. We met Tabitha and Gabe in Still Beating and Lotus, so it is 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐲 recommended that you read those first! You get both characters’ back stories in those novels, and I really don’t think you could appreciate their journey or some of the plot in this book without understanding what they have previously gone through. Before The Stars Are on Our Side, both our MCs had gone through the ringer. Tabitha is a single mom who was kidnapped watched the man she love, and father of her baby, die in front of her. Gabe is the brother of a different kidnapping victim and had a whole lot of drama happen to him too (no spoilers here-go read Lotus). When they met in Lotus they hit it off, but both had some things to work through and we find them at the start of this book having decided to be friends, albeit there is a lot of pining for what they can’t have. This book goes on to give us their twisted and emotional love story, while also including a side plot that gave us a lot of excitement and drama! The story is told both in the past and present, with Tabitha telling her story to Evan, the writer neighbor we met in Lotus. Through this interview process, we flash back to two years prior and get to know Tabitha’s story with the matchmaker and what happened to her and Matthew in that basement. In present time, we see Tabitha struggling with her mental health and trying to heal from the trauma she went through. While she wants to be with Gabe, she is haunted by her past and doesn’t know if she’ll ever be able to be with him in the way she thinks he deserves. Gabe is her safe space and solace, but he is dealing with demons of his own and a new danger arises that threatens to tear them apart. Jennifer Hartmann has a way of writing books to both emotionally devastate you and then wrap you up in a warm hug and heal your soul. The story of Tabitha and Gabe was no different. This book had me crying, laughing, smiling, and cheering on these two broken people with all my heart. Gabe is the biggest sweetheart of a MMC and does everything he can to care for, support, and protect Tabitha. He is so patient with her and promises over and over to wait for her, however long it takes. He says things like “I’ll be your wings”, “You can always land here”, and “You don’t have to save yourself this time. You’re not alone anymore”. I just cannot gush enough about this man and how wonderful her is to her. He also goes through so many things himself in this book, and is just such a selfless, strong, amazing MMC. Tabitha goes through such a journey in this book. We finally get her full story in the flashbacks, and everything she went through with Matthew had my heart breaking and tears flowing. Even knowing the tragedy that was going to happen, I still found myself falling in love with Matthew and being devastated with the ending we knew was going to happen. There was so much trauma that Tabitha went through and I appreciated how much she knew that she needed to heal herself before she could fully be with Gabe. I also would like to commend the comment made about difficulty accessing mental health care and how Tabitha acknowledged she needed therapy but couldn’t afford it. I loved that this book was dual POV and we could see both other their perspectives. While we felt that unrequited love from Gabe, we knew on Tabitha’s side that she felt just as much but wanted to protect him from her trauma. I felt like the pacing of this book was pretty fast, but as always with Hartmann’s books, the emotional aspect makes me slow down and really take it in. I was not expecting the side story that happens with Gabe, but appreciated that we had a bit more drama in the book and things going on outside of Tabitha’s journey. It added some more thrill to the book and had me hooked to see how far it was going to go! We also had so many past characters show up and play a role in this book! We got to hang out with Cora & Dean again (Still Beating) and had lots of time with Sydney and Oliver (Lotus). I also enjoyed Evan’s role in the book, and I need to go read his book now! I loved getting to spend time with our old favorites and get some more closure on their stories as well. The epilogue was such a wholesome time and I’m so glad we got that moment! Overall, a fantastic addition to this world that Jennifer has created. The hurting and healing she puts into her characters is palpable and I cannot recommend these books enough. If you’re looking for a book to rip your heart out, tear it to pieces, then put you back together again, I strongly suggest reading this series!

The Stars Are on Our Side by Jennifer Hartmann 3.5-4 stars Spice: Spice: 🔥🔥🔥/5 Jennifer Hartmann’s writing is top notch. I can’t get enough of it. This book is best read after Lotus and Still Beating. I was excited to read about Gabe and Tabitha’s storyline as it was mentioned in the previous books. It did not disappoint. All these characters, by book number three, are near and dear to my heart. Jennifer created a cast of characters that will embed into your heart, especially after the horrors these characters endured. This book, like the others, has a ton of triggers so make sure to check those if you are someone who has triggers you don’t like to read about. It’s dark, gritty, and full of depth. Gabe was much more evolved than I thought as a character by the time his book came up. I was all here for it. I loved Gabe’s character and how much he adored Tabitha. Tabitha went through something unthinkable. It was a struggle to watch her go through so much and go back and forth with Gabe. I did find myself getting a tad annoyed with how much she pushed Gabe away but made it worth it by the time she came around. It was a slow burn and filled to the brim with sexual tension in between the dark and gritty memories of that basement. It was, like the other books, beautifully written and interwoven with just pockets full of wisdom and truth. #avidreaderbookblog #readingislife #bookbloggers #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #romance #romancebookstagram #romancebookstagrammer #dark #darkromance #triggers #slowburn #sexualtension #jenniferhartmann #jenniferhartmannauthor #jenniferhartmannbooks #spicy #bookaddict #books #booksbooksbook

This is a thrilling and emotionally charged novel, much like all her works. Before diving into the review, it's important to note that although this book isn't officially part of a series, it is best enjoyed after reading "Still Beating" and "Lotus" in that order. Characters from these two novels appear in "The Stars are on our Side," and many events take place after the timelines of the first two books. Now, that being said, let's start with this beautifully written book, which I absolutely adore. The story follows Tabitha, who, along with her professor, Matthew, is abducted by the same man, The Matchmaker, who is responsible for the kidnappings in Hartmann's previous novels. The tension is palpable from the very beginning, immersing you in the terrifying ordeal faced by the characters. The book explores the psychological and emotional challenges the protagonist faces, creating a character that is both vulnerable and incredibly strong. The bond between the her and Matthew adds another layer of depth to the story, highlighting themes of trust and solidarity in the face of adversity. After surviving the ordeal, the protagonist meets Gabe, whose presence brings a new dimension to her life. Their mutual attraction is undeniable, yet her past and the traumatic events create a conflict within her, making her feel it's unfair to Gabriel. The pacing is perfect, with each chapter leaving you eager to uncover the next twist in the plot. "The Stars are on our Side" is not just a story of survival; it's a powerful exploration of human resilience and the will to overcome even the most horrible situations. Both men are important in her life. And life is so unpredictable in so many ways. You think that you know everything, but everything can change in one second. Sometimes you think your life is over or just starting and imagine your future from the present you're living in, but turns out that it might be the beginning of something else and future is constantly changing depending on one's or others' decisions and actions. "I’m here with you, bringing you a little bit of joy and happiness when you could be entirely alone. Maybe that’s my purpose. Maybe I was always meant to be here, to give you the strength." Matthew. I discovered Hartmann's work with "Still Beating" and have been devouring her books ever since. By the way, I love all her books, but "Still Beating" is my favorite and has a special place in my heart. The way she manages to write a story that, although hard to tell, is so beautiful and heartbreaking all at once, you will fall for the protagonists and feel all the emotions as if you were there with them.

Following the story of tabitha and gabe (we met them in Still beating and Lotus). I waited for tabitha's story since I met her in still beating, I knew it will be hard to read but I needed her to have her HEA 💔❤️

An absolute must read, a consuming story full of fells and beautiful flawed characters. A captivating writing, storytelling mastered perfectly make this book the perfect companion for a starry sky. No words is left to chance and this story won’t be forgotten, its characters engraved in our souls.

I read the previous two “stand-alones” and I DEFINITELY recommend reading them both before reading this one. That being said, I like each book more one after the other. And I felt like this book really gave the ending we needed for Cora and Dean, and Mandy. But overall I absolutely adored this book and both of the characters. They are so deeply flawed and it’s beautiful, and I loved being able to fall in love with Matthew too. Not only did I understand their relationship much better but it made me understand Tabitha so much more. And I loved Gabe’s patience, gentleness, and acceptance and love towards both Tabitha and Matthew and their love story. The whole story was beautiful and heartbreaking and I’m so glad I read it. If you really only read one of the three books, this is the one. Truly Hartmann’s best work. The only thing I can hope for next is Clem (and Evan’s???) story? I loved being able Clem and I think reading her story would help me and others heal too. She deserves her HEA too and I hope we get it. Either way, thank you Jennifer for your beautiful world. Will be reading more. XO

After a few days of slump, this book had got me going. It was so well written and emotional to read. The struggles of a trauma survivor is depicted so well in this novel. Tabitha and Gabe are soo perfect for each other. It's a great read. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴇᴀʀᴛ ɪs ᴀ ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟɪᴄᴀᴛᴇᴅ ʙᴇᴀsᴛ. sᴏᴍᴇᴛɪᴍᴇs ɪᴛ ᴡᴀɴᴛs, ᴀɴᴅ sᴏᴍᴇᴛɪᴍᴇs ɪᴛ ʜᴜʀᴛs ᴛᴏ ᴡᴀɴᴛ. For those who don't already know, Still Beating is my most favourite JH book. EVER. The Stars Are On Our Side is SO nostalgic to that... I mean, of course it is, it's set in that world. But my God, the way Jennifer ties it all in SO freakin perfectly with the others, I just- 😭😭😭 I can't- I have no words- I just have ramblings... gooseflesh, and sobbing!! So hi, this book was everything- the most PERFECT wrap up?/HEA /love story- you need to read it if you haven't yet. Going back to the past/before Still Beating took place was absolute genius. Jennifer Hartmann!! 👏🏻🫡 For a better reading experience, I would recommend reading Still Beating and Lotus before this one, as stories are connected. As always, I'll leave you with a few of my fave quotes. ᴡʜᴀᴛ ɪғ… ᴡʜᴀᴛ ɪғ ɪ ʟᴏsᴇ ʏᴏᴜ? ɪ’ᴍ ᴀʟʀᴇᴀᴅʏ ʟᴏsᴛ, ɪ ɴᴇᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ɢᴏ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴄᴏᴍᴇ ʙᴀᴄᴋ. ʟɪғᴇ ɪs ᴛᴏᴏ sʜᴏʀᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴡᴀsᴛᴇ ᴘʀᴇᴄɪᴏᴜs ᴛɪᴍᴇ ᴏɴ ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ ᴡʜᴏ ᴅᴏɴ’ᴛ ᴀᴘᴘʀᴇᴄɪᴀᴛᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴠᴀʟᴜᴇ ʏᴏᴜ—ғᴀᴍɪʟʏ ᴏʀ ɴᴏᴛ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴏᴡɴsɪᴅᴇ ɪs, sᴏғᴛ ʜᴇᴀʀᴛs ᴀʀᴇ sᴜsᴄᴇᴘᴛɪʙʟᴇ ᴛᴏ ʟᴇᴀᴋs. ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴛʜᴇ sᴍᴀʟʟᴇsᴛ ᴘᴜɴᴄᴛᴜʀᴇ ᴄᴀɴ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ɪᴛ ʙʟᴇᴇᴅɪɴɢ ᴏᴜᴛ. ᴛʜᴇʏ’ʀᴇ ᴘʀᴏɴᴇ ᴛᴏ ʙʀᴇᴀᴄʜᴇs, ᴛᴏᴏ, ᴡʜɪᴄʜ ᴍᴀᴋᴇs ɪᴛ sᴏ ᴇᴀsʏ ғᴏʀ ᴀ ᴋɴɪғᴇ ᴛᴏ sʟɪᴅᴇ ᴛʜʀᴏᴜɢʜ. ғᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴀᴅ sᴛᴜғғ ᴛᴏ sɴᴇᴀᴋ ɪɴsɪᴅᴇ. ᴘᴀɪɴ, ʙᴇᴛʀᴀʏᴀʟ, ʀᴇɢʀᴇᴛ. ɪ ʜᴏᴘᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴇxᴛ ᴛɪᴍᴇ ʏᴏᴜ sᴍᴇʟʟ ʟᴀᴠᴇɴᴅᴇʀ, ɪᴛ ᴅᴏᴇsɴ’ᴛ ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ʏᴏᴜ sᴀᴅ. ɪ ʜᴏᴘᴇ ʏᴏᴜ’ʟʟ ᴛʜɪɴᴋ ᴏғ ᴛʜɪs ᴍᴏᴍᴇɴᴛ ɪɴsᴛᴇᴀᴅ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ʙɪʀᴅ. ᴛʜɪs ᴅᴀʏ. ᴛʜɪs ʀᴏᴏᴍ. ᴍᴇ. ɪ’ᴍ ᴋɪʟʟɪɴɢ ʜɪᴍ. ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴇ’s ʙʀɪɴɢɪɴɢ ᴍᴇ ʙᴀᴄᴋ ᴛᴏ ʟɪғᴇ. ʀᴇᴀʟ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ᴅᴏᴇsɴ’ᴛ sɴᴀᴘ ᴏʀ ғɪᴢᴢʟᴇ ᴏᴜᴛ ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜsᴇ ᴏғ ᴄɪʀᴄᴜᴍsᴛᴀɴᴄᴇs ᴀɴᴅ ᴛᴏᴜɢʜ ᴅᴇᴄɪsɪᴏɴs. ɪᴛ ᴅᴏᴇsɴ’ᴛ ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴅɪssᴏʟᴠᴇ ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜsᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ɪᴛ ᴛᴏ, ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜsᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ʙᴇɢ ɪᴛ ᴛᴏ. ᴛʜᴏsᴇ ᴛʜɪɴɢs ᴏɴʟʏ ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ɪᴛ ʜᴜʀᴛ. ᴛʜᴏsᴇ ᴛʜɪɴɢs ᴏɴʟʏ ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ɪᴛ sɪɴᴋ ᴅᴇᴇᴘᴇʀ, ᴜɴᴛɪʟ ʏᴏᴜ’ʀᴇ ᴄʜᴏᴋɪɴɢ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʟᴏᴠᴇ. sᴜғғᴏᴄᴀᴛɪɴɢ. ʙʟᴇᴇᴅɪɴɢ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴡʜɪʟᴇ sᴛɪʟʟ ʙʀᴇᴀᴛʜɪɴɢ. ʟᴏᴠᴇ ʟᴀᴛᴄʜᴇs ᴏɴ ᴛᴏ ʏᴏᴜ, ᴄᴏɴsᴜᴍᴇs, ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇɴ ɪᴛ ʜᴀᴜɴᴛs ʏᴏᴜ. ғᴏʀᴇᴠᴇʀ. ʟᴏᴠᴇ ɪsɴ’ᴛ ғʀᴀɢɪʟᴇ. ɪᴛ’s ғ______ sʜᴀᴛᴛᴇʀᴘʀᴏᴏғ. ᴜɴғᴏʀᴛᴜɴᴀᴛᴇʟʏ, ᴏᴜʀ ʜᴇᴀʀᴛs ᴀʀᴇ ɴᴏᴛ. ᴘᴇʀʜᴀᴘs, ɪɴ sᴏᴍᴇ ᴡᴀʏ, ᴛʜᴇ sᴛᴀʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴛʜᴀɴ ᴊᴜsᴛ sᴛᴀʀs, ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴍᴀʏʙᴇ, ᴍᴀʏʙᴇ…ᴛʜᴏsᴇ sᴛᴀʀs ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ ᴀʀᴇ ᴏɴ ᴏᴜʀ sɪᴅᴇ