Same Place, Same Stars

by Katey Taylor

Twenty-one-year-old Natalia battles a rare parasomnia sleep disorder that propels her to act violently, experience night terrors, and put herself in dangerous situations—all while she’s unconscious.

After waking up covered in unexplained bruises, she lands herself back in a mental facility. Making friends has never been easy, but at Awana, she quickly bonds with her fun-loving roommate Lindsay and falls for Gabriel, a handsome yet severely depressed resident she secretly meets at night.

As Natalia wrestles with the harsh side effects of her medication, her reality unravels, exposing disturbing truths about those she trusts most. Though romantic relationships are strictly forbidden at Awana, Gabriel becomes her lifeline amidst the chaos. To be with him, Natalia must risk everything—including her sanity, and she learns some choices carry devastating consequences.

Filled with shocking twists, Same Place, Same Stars, is a psychological drama that unpacks the many layers of what happens when dark secrets refuse to be ignored.

Paperback

Published May 13, 2025

About the author

Katey Taylor is a San Francisco Bay Area-based author and published poet, with work featured in online magazines such as DarkWinter Lit, SWAAY, and Fauxmoir. She’s recognized for her ability to address complex topics with sensitivity and depth. To find out more about her previous and upcoming novels, visit www.kateytaylor.com

Reviews

[Cara · Rating 5 out of 5]

SCARS ARE JUST REMINDERS OF THE TOUGHEST BATTLES WE HAVE FACED AND WON !!!!!!! Same Place, Same Stars written by Katey Taylor was so deeply heart breaking, it was raw, emotional, honest, gut wrenching, honest, pure, inspiring, beautiful, and vulnerable. Right after I finished reading this book, I said I needed a few days to recover, but I decided I can't wait any longer to write a review, because everybody needs to read this book as soon as possible, and no, I still haven't recovered from this emotional story, all I do is stare up at the ceiling with tears pouring down my face. I know this is a work of FICTION, but oh my goodness, it felt so real to me. These characters might not be real people, but this book does deal with some very real and personal topics, if you choose to read this book, please please check the trigger warning's before doing so, they will also be listed in my review. I went into this book one hundred percent completely blind and I was blown away the entire time, but I didn't expect to be so mentally unstable, I'm still not fully healed and honestly, I don't think I ever will be. This cover is absolutely gorgeous and just looking at it makes me bawl my eyes out once again. Katey, I will be sending you my therapy bill because I don't think I will ever be the same again and you shredded my heart to pieces with this beautiful and emotional masterpiece. I can't recommend this book enough, please do me the biggest favor and mark your calendars for May 13th, 2025 because you won't want to miss out on the publication of Same Place, Same Stars written by the queen Katey Taylor. The tears are streaming and the snot bubbles are bubbling.

THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY AND VICTORY EDITING NETGALLEY CO-OP FOR AN ARC OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW!!!!!!

IF YOU ARE A SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVOR, IF YOU ARE STRUGGLING WITH ADDICTION, IF YOU A RECOVERING ADDICT, IF YOU ARE ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY, I HEAR YOU, I SEE YOU, YOU MATTER, I LOVE YOU, I'M SENDING YOU ALL OF MY LOVE AND ALL OF MY HUGS, I'M PRAYING FOR YOU, I'M CHEERING YOU ON FROM THE SIDELINES, I WILL ALWAYS AND FOREVER BE YOUR BIGGEST AND LOUDEST CHEERLEADER!!!!!!

TRIGGER WARNING'S
~Suicide~
~Sexual Abuse~
~Eating Disorders~
~Mental Illness~
~Drug Addiction~
~Alcohol Addiction~
~Death of a Parent~
~Overdosing~

"Fix me? As if I'm a damaged old doll who just needs to be glued back together before it can be loved again".

"Every time I close my eyes, I take the risk that they will never open again".

"Art is to console those who are broken by life".

"To love is so startling, it leaves little time for anything else".

"Sometimes when you feel like you have been a burden to others your whole life, you start believing that being uncomfortable or miserable is all you deserve".

"The best therapists are supposed to be supportive and helpful, not make you feel worse, or like a monster deserving of discipline because of your illness".

"Darkness comes in many disguises, and no matter how deep you try to bury it, inevitably it will creep through the cracks".

Gardenia- Gentleness and purity, identified with a secret love between two people.

Natalia Sokolov is a pure angel with the biggest heart. Twenty-one year old Natalia battles a rare sleeping disorder called parasomnia which is an intense sleeping disorder that causes Natalia to do weird things when she's sleeping that she has no control over and she can't ever remember doing. Natalia hurts herself in her sleep, she acts violently, she chokes herself when she's sleeping, she sleep walks, and has vivid night terrors. One night, Natalia bruises herself so bad, she is sent back to a mental facility. Natalia had her first ward stay when she was only six years old and ever since then, Natalia has been in and out of mental facilities. Natalia is sent to Awana's Treatment in the Trees which is a two ranch styled home facility surrounded by tall redwood trees, it's a facility that helps people who are battling mental illnesses. Awana separates their male and female patients from each other. During her stay at Awana, Natalia takes many different medications and it makes her feel judged for something she doesn't even have control over, she has a fear of being outed as "the girl with a strange sleep disease". My heart goes out to Natalia and everything she went through, I just wanted to reach into my kindle and give her the biggest hug ever as she was battling everything on her shoulders. Natalia also has a roommate at Awana named Lindsay.

Lindsay Cartwright is such a ray of sunshine and the best friend you have always wanted in your life. Lindsay has amber eyes, a septum nose piercing, and blue hair. Lindsay is at Awana for many different addictions, she's basically wired to be addicted to everything such as pills, alcohol, and sex. Lindsay's parents kicked her out of their house after her third rehab stay. Behind Lindsay's charismatic confidence hides a bruised and damaged young child because she was emotionally abused as a child by her alcoholic mother. Lindsay is a very blunt type of person, but she's never scared to speak her mind. Man oh man, I just love Lindsay, she's super sweet, she has this magnetic energy that makes you want to always be in her orbit. Lindsay and Natalia form a bond with each other, they promise to remain friends after they leave Awana because they are the best friends they never had. I absolutely love these two young women, their bond was unbreakable. Lindsay was always so supportive during Natalia's panic attacks and Natalia was always supportive even when Lindsay had a relapse. Lindsay has this ability to boost one'e confidence, "you are so lovely, Natalia. You are one of the only people I have met whose inner beauty actually matches the outward beauty". I wish these two lovely women the best on their journey's to recovery, it was such a honor to watch their friendship bloom, it was oh so very beautiful. No matter their own battles, they were always there for one another.

Gabriel King is the sweetest soul ever to exist and the most kind hearted person ever. Gabriel is tall, tan, has messy hair, and such a sweet smile. Gabriel is at Awana because he's suicidal and depressed. Gabriel was in and out of foster homes growing up, but since turning eighteen, Gabriel has spent the last three years traveling coast to coast in a decked out van. My heart absolutely breaks for Gabriel, I just wanted to hold him for hours on end, he thinks the world would be better off without him. Gabriel also plays the harmonica, and making music helps distract his unsettled mind. Gabriel has been at Awana for six months before he met Natalia. Every night at two am, Natalia and Gabriel meet by Natalia's window, and Gabriel plays the soft melody of his harmonica to let Natalia know he's there. Every time they leave after their nightly visits, Gabriel asks "see you tomorrow? Same Place, Same Stars?" as he glances at the night sky above them. Ugh, Gabriel is the cutest ever, he refers to Natalia as Disney Princess's such as Rapunzel and Sleeping Beauty. As Gabriel and Natalia spend every night together, they both learn they are fighting their darkest battles, and they comfort each other all the time, Gabriel was super sweet and comforting during Natalia's panic attacks. "I guess some of the darkest minds live behind the most beautiful eyes". Despite falling in love with each other, Gabriel and Natalia have to keep their visits secretive, because like I said before, Awana keeps their male and female patients separated and can't be around each other. I couldn't help but cheer for Natalia, Lindsay, and Gabriel as they all fought their toughest and darkest battles, they all deserve the absolute best in this world.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a powerful emotionally charged story that is compelling. The characters are well developed. I would recommend this! Special Thank You to Katey Taylor and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Boooks with Tokyo · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5⭐️ First of all, thank you to NetGalley and the author for an arc of “Same place, same stars”. Honestly, I don’t know how I could give this book less than 5 stars. The fact that Katey Taylor has been able to write a story that treats a lot of triggering topics and mental illnesses in such sensible way, for me, it’s enough to deserve this rating. I loved experiencing this book through the eyes of Natalia, i really liked her as the FMC and she’s an amazing and strong woman. I highly recommend this book (but be sure to check the trigger warnings beforehand).

[Kresta Maynard · Rating 4 out of 5]

21 year old Natalia suffers from a sleep disorder and spends most of her young life in out of mental hospitals/wards. When she finally lands in one that after a lot of therapy gets down to some of the root causes of her issues. But in the midst of it all she finally finds a best friend. The author Katie Taylor takes you along for the ride beside Natalia with her struggles. Some are sad, some are disheartening. Then a twist I didn’t suspect at the end. I grew to like the character of Natalia as she grew and became her own person. I was rooting for her the whole time.

Thank you @victoryediting and @netgalley for my honest review for an arc.

[Kate Brasington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Six stars really stay tuned for my review I don’t know if I’ll read anything else like this, this month ✨✨ARC REVIEW✨✨

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 6/10 stars
There was no spice in this book and that is okay because not every book needs to have spice to be an amazing journey!

‼️‼️This book is based in a mental health care facility and deals with a lot of different disorders and heavy emotions please check your trigger warnings your mental health matters!‼️‼️

✨✨Onto the Review✨✨
I have been marinating on this review for a while. I think I will be stuck on this book for a very long time.
Did you ever read the anonymous diaries series, or a book by Ellen Hopkins? I went down a rabbit hole of reading books like those when I was a little emo girl in middle school and high school and as an elder emo I have always been trying to find a book to help me catch that feeling again. This book was the book that gave me that nostalgic feeling!
You can really tell how much time and research Katey put into this book. There is some real raw depth to her characters and as a reader you really become emotionally invested in them and their stories. I also really enjoyed how well thought out the plots is.
There were some things in this book that I was unsure of but caught on to a little quickly but I think that is just because I love a puzzle. I practically lived in Katey’s inbox while I read this book and I’m glad we shared that because it was really nice to get a bit of her insight and also her reactions to my reactions.
This book made me sob, it made me laugh and it made me think so so hard! If you’re looking to get on an emotional roller coaster than get in and buckle up because Same Place Same Stars comes out on the 13th and I honestly think this might be my favorite read this year so far. I hope I get to read more of Katey’s books in the future and if any of yall decide to read this book please let me be a fly on the wall during your reading experience .

[Lindsey Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

I almost don’t know what to say about this amazing work by Katey Taylor. The difficult subject of several mental health conditions was done with great respect and authenticity. From the very first page, I was drawn into the emotional world of the characters, who are written with such depth that they feel like people I know, or even parts of myself.

Same Place Same Stars begins with Natalia in the middle of a very traumatic mental health crisis. With symptoms erupting at age 6, now 21 and under a conservatorship, Natalia’s latest episode paves the way to a new treatment center, Awana’s Treatment in the Trees. The gender segregated facility is located in a beautiful wooded area, a place where Natalia and her mother figure, Olga, hope she can finally get her parasomnia under control. Through medication and therapy, Natalia’s goal is to stop her extreme sleep walking that makes her a danger to herself and others.

Once she settles into Awana, she makes friends with her roommate, Lindsay. Lindsay has her own demons with addiction and, like Natalia, she has been in and out of treatment for years. The medication begins to work, but Natalia begins to have horrible side effects that lead to even more problems. The heartfelt relationships Natalia develops with the patients and staff of Awana evoked both warmth and sorrow, leaving a lasting impact on me.

This novel left me feeling both broken and whole. It’s the kind of book that sticks with you long after you finish it, and I will recommending it to everyone I can.

I received Same Place Same Stars for free. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

[Noelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

📖 physical
⭐️ 3.5

Rather predictable but it still held my interest.

Twenty-one year old Natalia only knows one thing about her past — she was abandoned at a train station in Russian and adopted by the stranger who found her.
She is living with a sleep disorder that causes her to sleepwalk, harm herself, or just kept her awake for days on end. Due to her parasomnia disorder, she has been in and out of many rehab facilities. The latest seems like a great fit. Here she makes her first best friend and develops a crush on a boy. But her friend/roommate isn’t telling Natalia the whole truth, and in order to see her new boyfriend Gabriel, she needs to skip her medication and sneak out of her window late at night.


I found Natalie super annoying at times and immature which made reading less fun since she was the narrator. I can understand why she was immature; she was always homeschooled and her guardian wouldn’t expose her to much, but that doesn’t mean I liked it.

I was definitely interested in the strange happenings at the facility but I could tell that Dr. Beckham was a piece of shit prying on the girls, that Lindsay was in an abusive relationship with him, that Gabriel was a figment of Natalia’s imagination. So nothing was shocking, but again, the story held my attention.

[Sydney White · Rating 2 out of 5]

Starting with the good: positive female friendship representation and a mental health story that ends happily. Other than that, however, this book had its drawbacks.
Same Place, Same Stars felt like the epitome of corny mental health lit I thought we left in the 2010s. Some scenes, like the one where the love interest kisses her scars and tells her they are just memories of the toughest battles she's fought and won, felt unbearably cheesy, and the romantic chemistry just wasn't there.
I wish more research had been done on parasomnias in order to write this book. I had a feeling while reading this book that research into parasomnia had been minimal, and the fact that there were no doctors, experts, organizations, or patient advocates mentioned in the acknowledgements further hints at that. Parasomnia is a complex disorder with mental and physical components, and I wish we as readers could have been more informed about it.
Writing about any disorder, but especially rare, stigmatized ones, requires an immense amount of research to portray properly. This book unfortunately missed the mark.

Thank you to Netgalley and Katey Taylor for the ARC! This in no way impacts my review, all opinions are my own.

[Kathirine S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Katey Taylor did it again!!! Massive book hangover and was left speechless finishing it last night but I’ve since collected my thoughts to write my review.

Same Place, Same Stars is a beautifully written and emotional read that sticks with you about a deeply wounded young woman, Natalia who is sent to a mental facility to help sort a series of lifelong sleep issues. The friendship dynamics are so raw and authentic between Lindsay and Natalia. I especially love the heart-wrenching relationship between Natalia and Gabriel. I felt every moment of their highs and lows. The story is deep, a little dark, and full of emotion in the best way. If you love books that explore mental illness, and the complexities of trauma, this one is a must-read.

Thank you NetGalley and the author for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

[beauty_andbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I really liked:
✅Mental health rep done accurately! You can tell research was done when describing diagnoses, treatment and meds.
✅Okayyyy plot twists! 😆 This was my third book read of Katey Taylor’s, and I really appreciate how she always has good plot twists in a contemporary setting. It’s a good mixed genre.
✅Serious content and themes, which are always a fave of mine. I will list TW below, but please look them up on storygraph.
✅Likable characters! I know we all say this, but the main character was very relatable as a young adult woman. Well written for sure.

Thanks to Katey Taylor for sending me an ARC! I always really enjoy her books.

TW: sexual abuse/mental abuse, suicidation/suicide attempt, drug abuse/overdose, eating disorder, mental health/illness, sexual predatory (underage), medication withdrawal, familicide/murder

[NJOMZA · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5🌟

“Scars are just reminders of the toughest battles we have faced and won”

(Make sure to check the trigger warnings beforehand)

This book isn’t just a story. It’s a slow descent into a surreal environment and the silence of a psychiatric ward where love isn’t just forbidden, it’s dangerous.

Miss Katey Taylor has beautifully written a haunting and emotional story about sleep disorders, trauma and a love that flickers in the dark under the same stars.

I couldn’t put it down, I felt so many emotions and when it ended, I just sat there, staring!!!! That plot twist at the end of the book blew my mind🏹☁️🩵

[Jessica Milliner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Natalia lands herself back in a mental facility after battling a rare sleep disorder. She became friends with Lindsay, who is her roommate, and fell for Gabriel, who is severely depressed. Since relationships were strictly forbidden in the mental facility, Natalia's bonds with Gabriel helped her. Also, Natalia had to deal with the side effects of her medication and manage her life. It's a well-written read. I couldn’t put the book down.

[Allison Bates · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful and haunting book. So many things that had me completely shocked. Natalia's story is one that will leave a lasting imprint and impression. If you're looking for a compelling read that handles mental illness and difficult subjects this book will be for you.

I recieved a free arc from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[bookloverness · Rating 4 out of 5]

Natalia is sent to a mental facility to get help on her sleep disorder that has gotten out of hand. She becomes best friends with Lindsay who's her roommate and is fighting her own demons. I loved their friendship. Natalia also, for the first time, falls in love with a very depressed Gabriel. Causing her reckless behavior. I was shocked by the amount of stuff happening at the facility. And I wasn't expecting that twist towards the end, but I loved the book!

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually really liked reading this! Understanding mental illness when it’s so bad your in a hospital was so interesting! The writing was great! I definitely lost myself reading and that’s something I love !

[Najla · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. The story reminds you how humans (well, most) don’t want to be or can’t be alone, compound that with time (having too much on your hands) makes it worse and so the little things matter so much more. As do the big things, like hope and wanting. Thank you for the Advanced Reader Copy.

[Eltona · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of those rare stories that stays with you long after the last page.
Katey Taylor, you’ve outdone yourself.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

NOTE: PLEASE read all trigger warnings before reading. This book deals with some very heavy topics.

This was a deeply challenging and heartwrenching book to read. Very different from most of my recent reads, I was glad to dive into Same Place, Same Stars.

It has taken me a while to write this review, as I struggled to find the right words to express how it made me feel. I fell so deep into Natalia's world, it was like I was suffering with her during her stay at Awana. The highs, the lows, the terror.. everything was so deep and raw. Katey did an excellent job of portraying how it can be to stay in a facility.

Natalia leaves the only family she has ever known, Olga, and goes to live in a treatment facility called Awana. Natalia suffers from parasomnia, a rare sleep disorder that causes her to act out and hurt herself / others in her sleep.

Once at Awana, Natalia develops a friendship with her roommate Lindsay, and they become strong allies against the hard parts of living in the facility. Natalia also meets Gabriel, who appears outside her window one night. Gabriel is forbidden, as males and females live in separate areas of the facility and aren't to mingle.

I felt deeply invested in Natalia, Lindsay, and Gabriel, and it broke my heart as the story progressed and I discovered just how all the puzzle pieces fit together. The strength Natalia and Lindsay both finally allowed to bloom was a beautiful thing to witness.

What an emotional ride! It certainly felt like a rollercoaster, between the sweet scenes of Natalia and Gabriel, and the harrowing pieces between.

Thank you so much to Katey Taylor for the eARC of this book. My opinions are my own.

[EmG ReadsDaily · Rating 4 out of 5]

An intense and emotional psychological drama, set within Awana an exclusive mental health facility. Our protagonist is twenty-one-year-old Natalia who has a severe parasomnia, a puzzling sleep disorder that results in night terrors and unexplained injuries. As she navigates treatment at Awana, Natalia makes some memorable connections and uncovers some unexpected truths.

This story explores layers of dark secrets, female friendship, complexities of trauma, forbidden connections, addiction, the fragility of memory, as well as varying illnesses.

'Under the same place and the same stars, I'll always remember you.'

This story explores varying complex topics with compassion, authenticity and sensitivity. Due to the nature of the story, there are a variety of content warnings, and this book will me a difficult story for some readers.

Give this a read if you are seeking:
🌟 Mental health representation
🌟 Resilient FMC
🌟 Mental illness handled with authenticity and sensitivity
🌟 Fierce female friendships
🌟 Girl interrupted vibes
🌟 Forbidden romance sub-plot


With thanks to Katey Taylor and Hot Tree Promotions for the advanced reader copy (digital) of this story, in exchange for an honest review.

[Alee Gill · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and the author Katey Taylor for the advanced copy

Set at a new-age treatment center for varying mental illnesses and addictions, we follow a young woman’s journey receiving treatment for her rare sleep disorder.

* Interesting/unique plot
* Thought provoking, addressed several heavy topics
* Mystery
* New adult
* Internal monologue