Book Review: The Stars That Guide You Home

 

I’m beyond excited to be writing and sharing this post today. But I’m also a little anxious as I want to do this incredible book I’m talking about justice. The Stars That Guide You Home is an up and coming 2021 release from one of my best friends Jemma. She has put her heart and soul into this novel and I was honoured when she asked if I’d like an advanced review copy to read and review for you all. 

TSTGYH is a historical romance that follows the love story of Tom and Sophia who live peacefully in a quaint village, tending to their farm until the day Sophia is cruelly snatched from their home by King Edmund. From there she is forced to become Edmund’s Queen; a position she fled the Capital to avoid years prior, yet she doesn’t stop dreaming of being reunited with her sweet, loving Tom. And when James, a Doctor arrives to tend to Sophia, they come up with a plan to reunite her with her beloved but leaves the trio in constant fear of being rumbled and possibly ripping Tom and Sophia apart forever. 

This book is beautiful, simply beautiful. The way Jemma writes has you attached to the characters from the get go, each turn of the page giving you hope that these star crossed lovers will reunite and get their own fairy tale happy ending. However you have to endure the same suffering as the characters as they’re torn apart, tortured, reunited and subsequently torn apart again. There are many times that you wonder if these two will ever get their happy ever after, each additional blockade that stands between them keeps you reading on until it’s gone 1am and you should have gone to bed hours ago. 

And then there’s the plot twist that I did not see coming. Now I was privileged enough to read a few of the chapters as Jemma wrote these along with our friends Sophie and Kim but there was always a bit that a Jemma never shared with us. And after reading it last night and then having to reread it again to make sure I read it right, I’m glad she left us a surprise. It is an incredible plot twist, one you’ll never see coming until you’ve read it and reread it to make sure you’ve read it correctly. It sets up the conclusion perfectly, one that left me emotional, immensely proud and eager for the rest of the world to read it. 

With opulently described settings and well written, fleshed out characters that take your stereotypical, Neanderthal handsome leading man and your fair, whimsical damsel in distress and flip them on their head, Jemma has succeeded in adding her own flair to the historical romance genre. Due to be released in ebook sometime in January and print form later in Spring, The Stars That Guide You Home is one I highly recommend you put on your 2021 TBR lists.