The Stars Are on Our Side

by Jennifer Hartmann

Tabitha Brighton's name made national headlines when she was kidnapped by the infamous serial killer known as the Matchmaker. She was also known for something being the only victim he ever willingly released. Now, two years later, she's ready to tell her story. Through a series of interviews with a local writer, single mother Tabitha relives every harrowing detail of her trauma, haunted by the memory of the man she was held captive with and ultimately lost. As she confronts her demons, she finds solace in Gabe—the new man in her life who will do whatever it takes to prevent her from slipping back into the shadows. But Gabe has his own troubled past that threatens to unravel their fragile connection. And just when Tabitha begins to believe in the possibility of new love and a fresh start, her world is turned upside down once again. Gabe always tells her not to look down, to keep flying. But even stars fall… And no one ever talks about the crash. The Stars Are on Our Side is a FOLLOW-UP novel to Still Beating and Lotus , featuring fan-favorite characters Tabitha and Gabe. It is HIGHLY recommended that you read both Still Beating and Lotus prior to reading this book for the most effective reading experience.

***

REVIEWS ☆☆☆☆☆

If you have room in your heart for a wrenching, exhilarating tale that will send tears of joy and sadness streaming down your cheeks in equal measure, sometimes simultaneously; this one is for you. ~ Author, Chelley St Clair

Stars is masterfully written. I was left in awe at how Hartmann was able to take the same horrific circumstances as in Still Beating, change them in fundamental, surprising ways, and leave me shattered, glassy-eyed, and slow-clapping every brilliant word. Bravo. ~ Author, E. R. Whyte

Infinite stars. This book is The Mona Lisa, The Starry Night, A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte, The Kiss, and Paris Street; Rainy Day all rolled into one, simply put, a remarkable work of art. a masterpiece. ~ nessreads

So adeptly written, emotionally rich with all colors of love, and electrifying at times. The story of a woman crippled by the tentacles of her own fears of rejection and abandonment, and of a man who is willing to fight the world for the right to love her—I loved every moment of it. ~ Book BistroBlog

I'm not ok. I'm a mess. I'm not sure what I just read. This was a fcking masterpiece. Mindblowing, devastating and one of the most beautiful stories I have ever read in my entire life. ~ Deea, GR reviewer

Incredible, unputdownable, thought-provoking, emotional, heartbreaking and heartwarming – these are a few of many adjectives I could use to describe this breathtaking and consuming story. Once again, Jennifer Hartmann has penned a narrative that will stay with me forever. ~ Literary Lust

When this lands on your kindle, you kiss adulthood away for the day! Her ability to effortlessly pull me into every book she writes cements yet again why she fast became one of my unicorn authors. Her books tick every box I seek within my books, from the dark, to the grit, to the angst, to the emotional upheaval, to the coming away from each book with a heart full to bursting. ~ Kitty Kats Crazy About Books

Gabe and Tabitha are a couple that will stay with me, indefinitely. This novel would never have seen the light of day without Still Beating and Lotus so it's hard to attest to that but... I think it's my favorite of the author's. And one of my favorite books, ever. ~ Sarah, GR reviewer

This narrative sticks with you; it's not something you read and then forget about. It's the kind of book you'll remember for the rest of your life. What a fantastic read. One of the best book I've ever read. I'm at a loss for words as I try to move on from this beautifully written and heartbreaking story. ~ Holly Annaleisha, GR reviewer

Genres: Romance, Dark Romance, Friends To Lovers, Dark, Contemporary Romance, Audiobook, Contemporary

478 pages, Paperback

First published October 3, 2024

About the author

Jennifer Hartmann resides in northern Illinois with her own personal romance hero and three children. When she is not writing angsty love stories, she is likely pondering all the ways she can break your heart and piece it back together again. She enjoys sunsets (because mornings are hard), bike riding, traveling, bingeing Buffy the Vampire Slayer reruns, and that time of day when coffee gets replaced by wine. She loves tacos. She also really, really wants to pet your dog.

Reviews

[❥ KAT ❥ Kitty Kats Crazy About Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

MY REVIEW AND OTHERS. can also be found on my blog:
╰┈➤KITTY KATS CRAZY ABOUT BOOKS

📚 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐒 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐎𝐍 𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄 📚 Is a full length friends to lovers novel by Jennifer Hartmann. Spoken in dual POV's.
Tabitha & Gabe. Flits between 'Past & Present.'

This is a follow up story from 'Still beating' & 'Lotus' and is advised to read those two prior to starting this.

When this lands on your kindle, you kiss adulthood away for the day!! Her ability to effortlessly pull me into every book she writes cements yet again why she fast became one of my unicorn authors, her books tick every box I seek within my books, from the dark, to the grit, to the angst, to the emotional upheaval, to the coming away from each book with a heart full to bursting.

A few months back Tabitha walked through Gabe's front door to go on a date with his stepbrother Oliver, when she locked eyes on Gabe she knew who she should've been going on a date with.

Now they are inseparable.

But..They have to jump through a few hoops to get to their HEA, Tabitha has a lot of healing and self love to get to where she can give her heart fully to Gabe. Their journey will pull on your heart strings like no other characters before them.

As part of her healing process she connects with an author who specializes in psychological thrillers and sits down and painstakingly lives through the darkest time of her life, from her loss, to her biggest achievement of her daughter.

This book put me through the wringer, suffering alongside her again through loss, to coming away with a heart full of love towards Gabe, he was the perfect man to stand by her side.

This author wreaks havoc on my soul, has my eyes brimming with tears, but slowly within the darkness she shines the light and I can't wait to see what journey she takes me on next..

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[Sydney Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5* Ugh it really pains me to say this but this one missed the mark for me a bit. I’m not sure if it’s just been too long since I read Still Beating and Lotus or what, but it didn’t gut-punch me like those did. Was still a beautiful and devastating story, JH is an incredible writer it just felt a bit redundant and the plot twist at the end unnecessary? Idkkkk I’m SAD

[Laura Jane ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

˚₊‧꒰ა “To rank the effort above the prize may be called love.” ໒꒱ ‧₊˚

Rating: stuck between 3.5 and 3.75 ☆

Jennifer Hartmann just knows how to write the most beautiful, heartbreaking, angsty, and healing stories. Her writing is truly one of my favourite things ever. Tabitha and Gabe are the definition of second chances and unwavering love.

Tabitha’s story was always going to be heartbreaking and I truly never wanted to go back to that freakin’ basement (shoot me!!!) but I knew we had to go back through her story to heal alongside her. Matthew was such a sweetheart but for me, this never took away from Gabe.

GABE! Omg this man is the definition of a green flag. What an absolute ANGEL! His patience and love for Tabitha, even when he accepted he would never get anything back, absolutely destroyed me!!!!! Truly why are we falling for the villains when perfect men like Gabe exist?! 😭

“Love’s not a competition, and it’s not always singular. I don’t care what the books say, or what society tells us. Don’t ever feel guilty for sharing your heart. You said it like it was a bad thing, but it’s not, baby. It’s not. It’s a beautiful thing.”

This was definitely slower in the first 50% and as much as I felt for Tabs, I just wanted to protect Gabe at all cost, his poor heart. I knew it would all work out in the end but it still was stressful to read at times! I definitely didn’t connect as much to the story or find it as captivating as Still Beating or Lotus, but I still loved it.
Also seeing CoraDean & SydOliver made my heart burst.

I have so many highlights but a few that hit the most:

“Time spent loving another is never time wasted. In fact, I’m apt to believe it’s the only time that truly matters in this life.”

“Give me the sun and the moon. Hand me the sea. Steal every star from the fucking sky… and I still have nothing. You’re my everything, Tabs. Without you, I have nothing.”

‘Truly living. That’s what love is. It’s finding that perfectly imperfect person that complements your heart, that brightens your shadows, that sees your broken, mismatched parts and wants to spend the rest of their life piecing them into place. And even if those pieces never fully fit, they love you anyway. They love you more. And I think we forget sometimes, the whole point of it all. We forget the beauty of living while we’re still alive. And there is no better way to live than to love.’ 🥹

Final note: I’d highly recommend reading Still Beating, Lotus and then this story, as we meet both Tabitha and Gabe throughout those books and this one ties it all up perfectly and we get our characters from the other books heavily throughout.

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

Love. It’s the one thing in this world that can be both a killer and a healer.

Jennifer Hartmann can always evoke so much emotion in her books. She's a talented writer and gives me all the feels when reading. The Stars Are on Our Side was such a highly anticipated book for me and I think it was fantastic in some ways, but there were a few things I had mixed feelings about.

This book follows Gabe (from Lotus) and Tabitha (from Still Beating). If you haven't read these books you might be a bit lost, and this review may have some spoilers from those two books. We know from Still Beating that Tabitha has been through so much trauma. She works hard to work through that but it takes time. Being kidnapped and watching someone you love die isn't something you just get over.

We got way more flashbacks than I was anticipating from Tabitha's time with Matthew and I don't know how I feel about that. I started to really feel for Matthew and feel the love between him and Tabitha, and even though I loved Gabe, I think it made it a little harder for me to connect to Gabe and Tabitha as a couple.

Gabe was so patient and loving with Tabitha and her daughter. I adored him. His family drama storyline I could have done without. I personally feel like there was so much with Tabitha, that it didn't need to be added in, but I was glad with how everything turned out.

I'm not trying to be nitpicky because overall I did really enjoy this one, but I thought for sure it would be an easy 5 star and it wasn't quite that. Still, it made me cry and left me with a big smile on my face so I give it a 4 star rating and recommend it to fans of Jennifer Hartmann.

[Leticia (jerseygirlsbookshelf) · Rating 5 out of 5]

"To rank the effort above the prize may be called love."
I never know how to describe a Jennifer Hartmann book. I could tell you the whole story of this one, and it wouldn’t be enough because her books are an experience. A feeling. And they stick with you.
I was one of those who wanted to read Gabe and Tabitha’s story. Thank you, Jennifer.

"Love at first sight isn’t a real thing—I know that. But there is certainly a something at first sight."
If you read Still Beating and Lotus (btw, you should before reading this one!), you’ll know these two characters. You’ll know there’s something going on between them, and while you know their past, you don’t exactly know where they’re going.
So… buckle up.

"What if I lose you?"
"I’m already lost. I need to go there to come back."
Tabitha’s had a harrowing experience at the hands of the Matchmaker, and she was the only person he’s ever allowed to escape. But while her body escaped, part of her is still down in that basement, and she’ll never be able to be herself again until she allows herself to go there again.
To take back what’s been stolen from her.

"My arms don’t question it. They only know how to hold her."
While she has friends, she has Gabe too, and Gabe is… well… everything. He’s there for her. He’s there for Hope, her daughter. He’s there when she’s happy, and he’s her shoulder to cry on when she crumbles. He’s her soft place to land.
He’s so in love with her that it’s both beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time.

"Why do you still want me? What are you waiting for?"
You see, Tabitha doesn’t see herself as worthy. She thinks she’s being selfish by leaning on Gabe because… what could she possibly give him? She’s not even a whole person anymore.
Me? I just see her as real. Too real. And strong. Because no one weak would be able to relive those awful times and come back.

"I’m being so damn reckless. And I think, maybe… It’s within the reckless moments that we truly live."
While she shares her story with a writer, even though it hurts, the healing process begins. She finds herself wishing for more, needing more, realizing she can have more—if only she allows herself to be happy.
To be loved. And to love back.

"The world falls away when he’s near. My demons scatter, taking to the shadows when I’m in his arms."
While Jennifer masterfully spins two love stories in one book, there’s other stuff going on. It’s not only her secrets coming to light—Gabe has a few of his own too. And like any secret out there, it has the power to destroy.

"I see you, Gabe," she murmurs on a sleep-laced breath. "I only see you."
I loved how the story progressed. Don’t get me wrong, it was heartbreaking to witness this kind of raw feeling, but it was also very honest. Two people who are in love with each other and have no idea where to go from there. He loves her more than anything. She loves him back, but she doesn’t know what to do with that love.
And they hurt each other because they love each other.

"I’ll take your leftover pieces. I’ll cherish those pieces. And I’ll spend my whole damn life doing everything in my power to make your heart whole again."
You need to know there’s an HEA. It can’t rain forever. And like any love forged in fire, theirs is one that’s meant to last. And while Gabe fights for her most of the book, she fights for him too when he needs her to—because he helped her find the strength she always had inside her.

"That’s what love is. It’s finding that perfectly imperfect person that complements your heart, that brightens your shadows, that sees your broken, mismatched parts and wants to spend the rest of their life piecing them into place. And even if those pieces never fully fit, they love you anyway. They love you more."
And fuck me, I’m crying because these specific words carry a lot of meaning for me.
Some people come into your life to ground you, while others will help you soar. Like Gabe, they will hold your hand and tell you not to be afraid. They will be there for you, whatever happens. They will fly along with you, telling you not to look down. That you got this.
Because, like Tabitha, you’re not alone anymore. Just keep flying.
Together, just like them.

[Liana Gold · Rating 4 out of 5]

God, this was a rollercoaster.
BRB I need to bring my sanity back.

[The Love Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars - I HIGHLY recommend reading Still Beating and Lotus before reading this book!

The Stars Are on Our Side is about Tabitha and Gabe, characters we've met in both Still Beating and Lotus. If you haven't read those books, you will be spoiled for major plot lines in those stories.

Tabitha, like Cora and Dean from Still Beating, was kidnapped and abused by the Matchmaker. Unlike their story, Tabitha is the only person that the Matchmaker let leave alive. Several years later and a single mom, it's clear that Tabitha's healing journey is quite painful. She hasn't really faced the things that happened to her in the basement, nor has she dealt with her lingering feels of love for Matthew, her deceased professor and man she was kidnapped with. This leads her to working with a psychological thriller author (hero from The Thorns Remain), because she wants to tell her story out loud.

Gabe has had feelings for Tabitha since the moment he laid eyes on her. He knew he had to be patient because of what she'd gone through, but it was hard watching Gabe struggle between wanting to be the man Tabitha loves, and watching him suffer quietly because it was clear that Tabitha was still in love with a ghost. He settles for the role of best friend, even though they both want more.

I'll be honest, Gabe deserved better. We knew going into the story that Matthew was dead, but it was frustrating because I believed in the chemistry between Tabitha and Matthew as a couple. This left me feeling lukewarm about Tabitha and Gabe. He spent most of the book waiting for her to accept him. I don't think it helped that the author spent a lot of time in flashbacks telling the story of how Tabitha and Matthew ended up in the basement, as well as detailing their time in the basement. We inevitably are led to sympathize with Matthew because we know he isn't making it out of that basement alive. It felt like an unfair love triangle, in that Tabitha had to settle for Gabe because while it was Matthew she wanted, he was no longer an option.

As usual, I loved the author's writing, but I didn't love this particular story. It felt like a book that was written for the fans who had been wanting Tabitha and Gabe's book, while including a spin on the major elements of Still Beating. I just don't think Tabitha and Gabe were a good couple. I think they were a couple of convenience given that their romance was already heavily hinted at in Lotus. If you loved Tabitha and Gabe and wanted more of them, then this book will be for you. I definitely think everyone will love catching up with Cora/Dean and Sydney/Oliver as well!

[I’m a book mom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chills. I have chills. This was my 5th Jennifer Hartmann book making it my 5th five star review. Her writing leaves nothing to be desired. It leaves me wrecked in the most beguiling way. After reading Still Beating and Lotus, I did not think it was necessary to hear Tabitha and Gabe’s story, but I was completely wrong. I needed their story. I needed the messy love. The power in her writing is being able to clearly depict love and trauma simultaneously. Life is full of experiences that leave us feeling broken, but true love isn’t fragile. Love takes those pieces, fuses them together, and turns tragedy into beauty.

“There is no better way to live than to love.”

[TwinreadsandReds · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.75 stars

[Jess | jadecanread · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'M GETTING THE ARC!! PREPARE TO GET SICK OF ME!!!

Update--I read it and here's my review:

The Stars Are on Our Side and my heart is in shambles.

"Am I hurting you?" he asks.
"No," I murmur. "You're healing me."

First and foremost, this is an interconnected standalone in the world of Still Beating and Lotus. I HIGHLY recommend reading those two before jumping into this one. Not only will the cameos and friendships feel that much more substantial, it’ll be a better reading experience. Trust me.

Y’all when I found out that we were getting Tabitha and Gabe’s story?! I freaked out and couldn’t believe it, I was so excited.

This is friends to lovers goodness with heart wrenching angst. We finally see what transpired during Tabitha's time with the Matchmaker and why/how she made it out. I ached reading her recounts, especially when she described Matthew. Her journey to healing is a slow and rough one, but thankfully she has a wonderful support system by her side.

Just as expected of this series, the MMC is such a tender and overwhelmingly loving and loyal man. I loved Gabe’s devotion, patience, and supportive nature so much! He deserves the world.

My primary struggle with this book was how conflicted I was reading about Tabitha's loves. We see Tabitha and Gabe in the present with the flashbacks of Tabitha and Matthew interspersed throughout the story. My heart was split between the two relationships. In retrospect, I think I felt a deeper connection with Matthew. I was still rooting for Gabe, of course, because of how much he loves Tabitha, but the present was so focused on Tabitha's healing that I didn't feel the romance as much as I thought I would.

Overall, the yearning, the way the past is unveiled while there's a mystery/suspense plot in the present, and seeing these beloved characters interact and grow? Fantastic. I'm so freaking soft.

If you haven’t read any of these books yet, what are you waiting for!?

Thank you to Valentine PR and Jennifer Hartmann for an E-ARC of this book! All thoughts are my own.

My ranking of the series:
1. Lotus
2. Still Beating
3. The Stars Are On Our Side

[Bookish Meag 🩵 · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I think, sometimes, the things that frighten us become more bearable when you don’t have to face them alone,”

Releases on October 3rd! Out Today :)

✨MF Romance
✨Angsty
✨Violence
✨Protective
✨Kidnapped
✨Single Mom
✨Tragic Past
✨Starting Over
✨Boy Falls First
✨Trauma/Healing
✨Escaping a Killer
✨Unrequited Love
✨Friends to Lovers
✨Romantic Suspense


It is highly encouraged that you read Still Beating and Lotus before reading this book. It’s a standalone but you’ll have a better reading experience if you read those beforehand.

Blurb:
Tabitha Brighton's name made national headlines when she was kidnapped by the infamous serial killer known as the Matchmaker. She was also known for something else: being the only victim he ever willingly released.
Now, two years later, she's ready to tell her story.
Through a series of interviews with a local writer, single mother Tabitha relives every harrowing detail of her trauma, haunted by the memory of the man she was held captive with and ultimately lost. As she confronts her demons, she finds solace in Gabe—the new man in her life who will do whatever it takes to prevent her from slipping back into the shadows.
But Gabe has his own troubled past that threatens to unravel their fragile connection. And just when Tabitha begins to believe in the possibility of new love and a fresh start, her world is turned upside down once again.
Gabe always tells her not to look down, to keep flying. But even stars fall…
And no one ever talks about the crash.

Thoughts:
This was incredible, emotional, heart wreaching, and heartwarming. This story will have you in all the feels. Jennifer Hartmann can pull emotions from me like no one’s business. I’ve wanted Tabitha’s story since I read Still Beating. If you’ve read Still Beating, you know Tabitha was kidnapped by the matchmaker.

We met Tabitha and Gabe in the previous two books. The Stars Are On Our Side takes place in both the past and the present. Tabitha and Gabe have both been through so much. This was different than I expected it to be, in the best way possible. Jennifer Hartmann has a way with pulling you in to the story. This one packs a powerful punch. The trauma is heartbreaking but we get to experience the journey to healing with these characters. I loved reading this.

This was a very intense story, please be aware of the trigger warnings before picking this up.

Thank you Valentine PR for opportunity to read this ARC!

[Dead Inside · Rating 4 out of 5]

“It’s fascinating how the non-existents of something can feel like the most prominent thing of all, the hum of nothingness rings the loudest echoing in every room. A gaping hole is a backbreaking weight, that missing piece is the heaviest piece.”
4.5 stars
The writing in these books is phenomenal, the only reason this is not 5 stars is because I don’t care for Gabe.

[Romancing the Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read 579 pages in one night and I’m emotionally wrecked.

📔 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼:

📚𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲: Love after loss, he’s loved her all along, angsty romance.

📖 𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀: Gabe instantly fell for Tabitha, despite her traumatic past and her inability to open up to a future. Their relationship starts strong, until her demons threaten to pull her back into the darkness. Now faced with telling her story to a crime writer, and while Gabe is dealing with demons of his own, they must decide if their love is worth fighting for.

🌟 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄: If you read Still Beating, I’ll only have to review this book in one sentence: Get ready for more heartbreak.

But if you haven’t gotten into this series yet, or if you haven’t read Jennifer Hartmann before, I can tell you this book was more of the same from her: more excellent dark-ish romance with deeply romantic undertones and some major feels along the way.

Tabitha is introduced in Still Beating as the only woman who ever survived The Matchmaker serial killer. And throughout this book you get glimpses into what her time in confinement was truly like, and how her partner in the basement, Matthew, impacted her life. From start to finish she’s still very much working through her feelings, and struggling to start anew with Gabe.

But Gabe? He’s definitely a man written by a woman. Smitten from their first meeting. Absolutely obsessed with keeping Tabitha safe. Suffering through some major unrequited love and the pain that comes along with it.

This is the kind of couple who truly fights to be together. And it’s not an easy fight by any means. But that makes the happy ending even more poignant, in my opinion.

📝 𝗔 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲… TBH, you absolutely should AT LEAST read Still Beating before this. I also read Lotus, which was 4.5 stars for me as well, and also is some good pre-reading material as it talks about Gabe more.

𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 4.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 3/5 🌶🌶🌶

🆓️ on KU

𝑰 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒏 𝑨𝑹𝑪 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒊𝒏 𝒆𝒙𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏 𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘.

[Christi (christireadsalot) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. The Stars Are On Our Side is the newest release from Jennifer Hartmann! As this book is a follow up to Still Beating and Lotus, it is highly recommended to read those two books beforehand (see the author’s note at the beginning of the story for more info).

I love JH’s writing and she’s always an auto-read author for me. But I definitely did struggle with this one. This book is heavy and deals with dark circumstances that our characters have gone through. Basically the heroine Tabitha was a captive victim of a serial killer and watched the man she loved die while they were chained in a basement together and endured horrible things. These events happened in the past, which we know from Still Beating, she was a victim of the same man who held those characters captive.

So going into this read you know Tabitha has gone through a lot and lost the man she was down there with. Now she’s a single mom to her young daughter and in this book we see Tabitha relive and rehash the experience throughout the entirety of this book as she tells her story to a psychological thriller novelist (a character from The Thorns Remain). Whereas in Still Beating you get the captivity part at the beginning of the story in one chunk, this book continually brings you back into Tabitha’s trauma as she tells her story to the novelist she’s working with. I had a hard time seeing Tabitha “over” or even in a healing state of mind from everything that happened to her, so the romance happening felt too soon and unbelievable to me. I just felt like the hero, Gabe in this deserved more and didn’t see her in a place to even be on the same page as him. Not gonna lie, I was more swayed by her tragic love with the man she was held captive with…even knowing what becomes of him.

This is definitely a slow burn, friends to lovers romance, more-so unrequited love (on the hero’s side). Gabe has some drama from his past as well that is brought into the story and I honestly felt like that wasn’t needed, the characters and story had enough going on already. So that is why I’m conflicted, because while the romance wasn’t my favorite part of this read, the story itself of healing and finding strength within yourself was powerful and strong and I do still just love JH’s writing. In the end, I’m so glad Gabe and Tabitha get their HEA together because wow have these characters gone through it and are the most deserving for an HEA. We do get to see a ton of Cora and Dean (the couple from Still Beating), as well as Sydney and Oliver (the couple from Lotus—Gabe’s best friend and his stepbrother).

I received an ARC, all thoughts in this review are my own. The Stars Are On Our Side has a pub date of October 3, 2023.

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a spinoff of Still Beating, and it would make more sense if you’ve read that. It’s also a spinoff of Lotus, which I haven’t read.

This is Tabitha’s story (she’s the side character from Still Beating who is the fellow survivor of the serial killer. She got captured with her professor, he died, and she had his baby). When I read Still Beating, I wanted her to get a HEA. Well, she does! So, that’s the best thing about this book. And it’s nice to see Cora and Dean again (Mandy is also there, and she can go kick rocks).

This isn’t a bad book, the way June First is. But it’s not nearly as good as Still Beating. Maybe this is my own fault, for not reading Lotus. Because Tabitha met this book’s hero, Gabe, in that book. When this story begins, Gabe already loves Tabitha. That gives it an insta-love vibe. So, their relationship has much less of a JOURNEY than Cora and Dean had in Still Beating.

Gabe isn’t a bad hero, but he’s just kind of…there. He’s almost TOO saintly. This feels like less of an intense love story, and more of just Tabitha’s healing. That’s fine, but it makes this a bit lacking in the relationship area. It’s less interesting and emotionally raw than Still Beating, even though it tries to be those things. (It also throws in a random crime subplot with loan sharks / mafia stuff, which feels like Too Much, on top of the serial killer stuff that’s already there).

There are flashbacks to Tabitha’s time in the serial killer’s basement with her professor, Matthew. Since we know that Matthew died there, this isn’t really a love triangle. But, it kind of has that vibe, since it shows both Tabitha’s story with Matthew in the past, and with Gabe in the present. In stories where the heroine has more than 1 guy, but only gets a HEA with 1, I often end up liking the wrong guy. This book is no different (even though I knew who the HEA was with): Matthew is a more compelling hero than Gabe.

I do think that people can have more than 1 big love, in a lifetime! But I don’t feel like this book really sold me on her and Gabe’s epic love. By the end, I still felt like Matthew was her great love, and Gabe was just…there. Patient, and nice, and a good man for her, but just...there.

There’s also a “twist” towards the end that I disliked so much, it might make this book 2.5 stars instead of 3. It’s revealed that Tabitha and Matthew slept together BEFORE getting kidnapped, and that’s when she got pregnant – as opposed to how everyone thinks she got pregnant when they were forced to sleep together while imprisoned. She kept this secret so that people wouldn’t think badly of him, for sleeping with a student. Her reasons make sense.

But I don’t understand why this information was hidden from the reader. We could have learned it early on, from her inner monologue. Or from her privately telling someone like Cora, who’d keep it quiet. Because after we learn it LATE in this story, it makes their whole relationship different. But we didn’t get to see that play out on the page. So, I feel like we were robbed of seeing their real relationship, for no good reason. Just for the sake of this book being like, “surprise! Here is a twist!”

Also, I’m not sure if I would call this a “plot hole,” but this book kept saying how Tabitha has no money, a minimum wage job, and can’t afford therapy. She is FAMOUS! This serial killer case made national headlines! It got documentaries! People come up to her and recognize her in public! Why doesn’t she put up a crowd funding thing online, like, “I survived the Matchmaker serial killer. Please help me provide for my daughter.” I'd give to that GofundMe! At first, it’s said that she didn’t go online much, so that seemed to explain it...but THEN, we learn she has over a MILLION Facebook followers! So, if each of them gave her a dollar, she’s have a million dollars. Maybe she’s got too much pride to do a GoFundMe, but she also wants to provide for her daughter! So, the more we learned about her situation (that she’s famous and has TONS of followers, but also financial woes), the less sense it made. Why doesn't one of her friends at least use her fame to crowd fund enough money for her to be able to afford therapy??!!

This book was just okay. But, it was nice to see Tabitha get an HEA.

[Syndi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a high hope when I started The Stars are on Our Side. Sadly, I do not love the book. But the story is OK. A lot of back and forth between present and past. Miss Hartmann could make this book as good as Still Beating, but she fails to deliver that complex story.

I did not love nor hate it.

3 stars

[warhawke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Type: Standalone
POV: First Person - Dual
Rating:




It had been two years since Tabitha Brighton was released by a notorious serial killer, but the scars in her heart never truly healed. Gabe Wellington’s constant presence became her much-needed remedy, but he had his own past to survive.



It felt impossible to not fall for Gabe. However, his loyalty and selflessness became both a boon and a bane. There were times Tabitha made me angry, yet it’s hard to blame her.

I don’t know if I’ll ever be okay.

I liked how the story was told in past and present timelines. Tabitha’s past played a significant role in her current relationship. However, there were certain aspects of the current timeline that felt unnecessarily distracting to the relationship.

The Stars Are on Our Side is a story of survival and healing. It would appeal to readers who enjoy contemporary romance with elements of darkness.




✨️🔹️✨️. . . (F)BR with Twinsie CC . . .✨️🔹️✨️



For more reviews/interviews/book talk/promo visit:



For graphics, trailers & author services visit Warhawke Design Studio.

[Kayleigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

wasn't too into this ones main love interest. but I was very interested in the old one in the flashbacks

[Kylie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25/5 ⭐️

RTC

[ya.vl · Rating 4 out of 5]

В мене якісь змішані відчуття після прочитання цієї книги 🤷🏿‍♀️
З одного боку це було капець як боляче 💔
З іншого це було капець як тупо і одне суцільне знущання над Гейбом і його почуттями🤦🏿‍♀️
Я звісно все розумію і розумію його, він прекрасно знав на що йшов але так було боляче за нього🥹💔
В принципі невзаємна любов вона завжди така але ж так боляче
Він просто прекрасний чоловік😻 я навіть не знайшла жодного недоліка
А от до Табіти в мене було багато запитань🤷🏿‍♀️
Дуже вдячна авторці що вирішила добавити розділи з минулого і дізнатись більше про Метью, не буду брехати- мене дуже здивувала цікава деталь про зачаття Хоуп, я була дуже дуже здивована 😦
Навіть не уявляю як йому було важко дізнатись про вагітність Табіти в останні хвилини свого життя🥹
Болюча книга не спорю але вона однозначно про вплюв любові на життя людини🥰
Ще дуже класно було бачити в книгі Кору і Діна, Сідні та Олівера, Медді та Ріда😻
Книзі поставлю 4⭐️ а вже чи читати її це на ваш розсуд 🤷🏿‍♀️

[Aly Lauck · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a sweet book with some triggers, but a HEA ending.

[Alina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Тропи:
- від друзів до коханців
- мати-одиначка
- знайдена сім'я
- травматичне минуле


Найважча книжка, яку я читала 💔
Дуже емоційна 🥺🥹

Шлях Табіти до зцілення, був болючим. Було складно читати моменти в полоні.

Згадки про Метью 😭💔 Найскладніше для мене було, коли знаєш що герой не виживе, читати про нього.
«Але я тут, з тобою, приношу тобі трохи радості і щастя, коли ти могла б бути на самоті. Можливо, в цьому моє призначення. Можливо, мені завжди судилося бути тут, щоб дати тобі сили вижити.»
Він був її силою там, він був її підтримкою, і головне він був її рятівником 😭

Гейб - мʼякосердний, терплячий і такий лагідний❤️‍🩹 Для нього у мене особливе місце в серці, його характер так схожий на мого чоловіка ❤️‍🩹
Чекав би її всі роки і терпів би всі болісні моменти, якщо знадобиться, щоб у них було майбутнє.

«Тільки тобі вирішувати, чи варте твоє кохання всіх тих болісних моментів, які ти можеш через нього пережити»

Моя мила Табіта, такий важкий в неї шлях - полюбити та прийняти себе. Але кінець щасливи�� і радісний 😍

«Життя — цікава штука. Лише частина його полягає в тому, що воно нам підкидає, тоді як більша частина визначається нашою реакцією на ці речі. Те, як ми реагуємо, справляємося і, зрештою, як ми піднімаємося вище. »

Так радісно було бачити Кору і Діна, Олівера та Сідні 😍 але не Менді-шменді 🫣🤪

[Ch’ · Rating 5 out of 5]

An extremely powerful story of healing, falling in love, just falling, trying, living, and most importantly, flying. Tabitha. Gabe. Matthew. They stole my heart to never give it back. I remember Jen worrying about me disliking this book as she knew the tropes that aren’t my favorites but she could write any trope I could possibly loathe and I'd end up loving it in her book, and The Stars Are On Our Side was no exception.
We finally discover Tabitha’s story, her past and her present, every wound and trauma in between. She’s a resilient woman fighting to survive and mend the broken pieces of her heart. Gabe is a selfless angel on earth, his love for Tabitha left me speechless. And Matthew, my passionate Matthew who deserved nothing less than the whole world.

Until I read this book, I never believed in having more than one soulmate. I never thought it was possible to fall in love with different feelings but the same intensity with two individuals at separate times in your life, but Jen taught me otherwise. The heart can do things I never thought imaginable.

Another aspect I absolutely loved was seeing all of the characters we love. I was in tears because we not only had our Still Beating/Lotus gang, but also Evan and Summer. Due to this detail, reading this book felt like coming home after a long journey; those characters are a source of comfort to me. I'd like to add that Oliver and Summer were both highlights of this book; I cherished each moment they were in and just wanted to wrap them in my arms. I particularly enjoyed the friendships, especially Cora and Tabitha's and Syd and Gabe's.

Don't let yourself be deceived into thinking you know everything about Tabitha's story because, believe me, you don't.

This is a Jen book, so, a heart-wrenching story mixed with beauty, raw pain, love in many forms, stars, roller coasters, and magic.

[tasnia 🍉 · Rating 1 out of 5]

Br with farah 💘💗💓💕💞

Quotes
“My mind was all I had. And him. I still had him.” 🥹🥹

“I always wanted to be a father one day. The thought of never meeting my child is my greatest fear.” PAIN 🥲 it hurts knowing how it ends 🥲

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5! This book. THIS BOOK. Definitely read still beating and lotus first but.. I SO ENJOYED THIS! Just dropped .5 because that ending..?

[Kinsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have not yet read Still Beating and Lotus, please read those first before diving into this one as they are interconnected within the same universe. Also. Check trigger warnings as this contains very heavy topics.



::sigh:: This was incredible. Like the ones before it, it was so raw and real. I had such visceral, emotional reactions reading this. Just like Still Beating has, this one will stay with me for a very long time. Its story and underlying lessons are so impactful. 

In this we follow Tabitha and Gabe. It’s dual POV as well as past and present timelines. In the present Tabitha is learning to process her grief and trauma since her escape from captivity of the infamous serial killer, the Matchmaker, all while being a single mother. Gabe is in love with Tabitha but is afraid to disrupt her recovery and isn’t sure what she feels for him. Tabitha recounts all she endured at the hands of the Matchmaker in her interviews with a writer. You get a front seat to it all, the horrors of what she went through in that basement, her journey with trauma and grief, her struggles as a single mother, her learning if it’s even possible to love again. I absolutely LOVED getting Dean, Cora, Oliver & Sydney sprinkled through out this - that was so healing.

“That’s what love is. It’s finding that perfectly imperfect person that complements your heart, that brightens your shadows, that sees your broken, mismatched parts and wants to spend the rest of their life piecing them into place. And even if those pieces never fully fit, they love you anyway. They love you more. And I think we forget sometimes, the whole point of it all. We forget the beauty of living while we’re still alive.”

Thank you so much @valentine_pr_ and @author.jenniferhartmann for the ARC 🫶🏻

[Crystal (Crystalreads2) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book deserves all the stars in the world.


The Stars Are On Our Side is a masterpiece. It’s a story of trauma, tragedy, motions of living, healing, and love. This book is Tabitha and Gab’s account. Their story is beautiful, powerful, and complex.

If you think that you know Tabitha's story, from reading from reading previous books, think again. This review will be vague as I don’t want to give away any spoilers.

Warning: Have tissues and comfort food on hand. Going into this book, I knew it would be gut-wrenching and filled with raw emotions. I cried like a baby several times.

The book is well written between past and present, and the words follow effortlessly off the pages. In the past, we read what happens with the monster and Matt; in the gift, it's the sacrifice, unrequited love, support, falling, and flying.

So far, this is my top read of the year. It took me two days to collect all my thoughts, and I will live rent-free in my mind for a long time.

[D.L. Howe · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️

BR with my girl Cass!

Why did I read this?!

I obviously knew what was going to happen. In fact, I welcomed the pain, said I needed a good cry. I’m a freaking idiot.

We met Tabitha in Still Breathing, heard her horrible, depressing tale. We met Gabe in Lotus and that’s also where these two met.

This is the full story. There’s no fluff, no promise of a HEA, just everything that happened to Tabs and Matthew in that basement.

It’s also about Gabe’s undying love for Tabs and being there for her in any capacity. Even if that means only being her friend.

Honestly, I had no idea I’d feel as much pain for Gabe as I knew I would for Tabitha and Matthew.

Suffice to say there’s a lot of pain in this, but there’s also a lot of hope. I mean there’s a reason Tabitha named her baby Hope. No matter how ravaged the heart there’s always a little bit of hope and sometimes you find something or someone that will make that tiny fragment of hope grow.

That’s what I feel this story is about. And it’s beautiful. No matter how hard or ugly, there’s still beauty.

If you haven’t read this series, you’re totally missing out. Trust me, I’m in the midst of the pain this book inflicted and it worth it. Hands down.

[Flavia Florean-Dumitru · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, just so you know, this book is part of a series. On Goodreads, this piece of information is missing. The explanation is that the first two books are released with a publisher while this one is released independently.

So read them in order:

Still Beating
Lotus
The Stars Are on Our Side

Still Beating features Cora and Dean’s story - they are captured by The Matchmaker. In this book, we also meet for the first time with Tabitha, the leading female character from The Stars Are on Our Side.

Lotus features Sydney and Oliver. Oliver is captured when he is a kid. He escapes 20+ years later and reconnects with his step brother - Gabe, the leading male character from The Stars Are on Our Side - and Sydney (his best friend)

And finally.. The Stars Are on Our Side: Gabe and Tabitha.
Tabitha was captured by The Matchmaker along with her psychology professor, Matthew. You’ll hear her story as she relives it while talking to a writer.

What I want to say is… I did not expect to LOVE Gabe’s and Tabitha’s story SO MUCH. Gabe is in love with her, she waits for her as she heals and Tabitha, well, as Gabe’s mother said: she has no idea what to do with his love.

They have to go beyond themselves to both heal and trust each other and their story is beautiful.

Loved reading it!

[Ira Bartoschyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ну, вміє жінка так написати, що розриває серце ❤️‍🩹
Історія Табіти це нереально просто, сповнене трагедії, сильного болю і великої стійкості. Спогади про полон і про «чоловіка», як вона його називала, були дуже болісними. Усе, що там відбувалось, і смерть Метью мене сильно вразила😭 він був таким промінчиком сонця в тій темній темниці.
Вона заслужила такого чоловіка, як Гейб, після всього, що з нею сталось.
«Я ніколи не проситиму тебе вибирати. Я ніколи не проситиму тебе відпуститийого. — Я торкаюся її щоки, сподіваючись,що вона відчуває мою правду, бо це правда. — Кохання — це не змагання, і воно не завжди єдине. Мені байдуже, що пишуть укнижках, або що говорить нам суспільство. Ніколи не відчувай себе винною за те, що ділишся своїм серцем. Ти говориш так, ніби це погано, але це не так, крихітко. Це не так. Це прекрасно»