Waypoints: Special Edition

by Mariah L. Stevens

Ten years after high school, Zae Richardson is stuck. He's delivering food, suffering from depression, and living with an abusive, drug-addicted father. One night, he sees the girl who once made his life Hell: Janiyah Jones. She's walking down the street in the lower districts, dressed in glitter and heels, bruises painted onto her skin. After discovering her in a traumatic, compromising situation, Zae makes a choice that will change everything for both of them.

He takes her home.

258 pages, Paperback

Published July 10, 2025

About the author

Mariah L. Stevens is a half-Black author and artist who lives in the PNW. She is diagnosed with Autism, BiPolar 1, and CPTSD. Mariah has been writing since she was 13 years old, and she plans to use her passion and life experience to help other survivors through the power of prose. She is a sex trafficking and Bulimia survivor that advocates for recovery and a life worth living. She encourages mental health awareness, as well as ED awareness in Black individuals, and weaves all of these elements into her work with the sole purpose of helping others seek recovery.

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Mariah is a very creative person. She loves to write, draw, design fabric, sew lolita-style dresses, design her own book covers, and do different types of crafting. She loves Japanese fashion, Kingdom Hearts, Disneyland, and her cat, Chiiyo.

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Mariah listens to metalcore and post-hardcore, has way too many pictures of MGK and Zendaya in her phone, and has 3 Kingdom Hearts tattoos.

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She also really loves Godzilla.

Reviews

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spice: 2

Tropes:
forced proximity
rescue romance
protective mmc
enemies to lovers
trauma bonding
one bed

Trigger Warnings:
human trafficking
drug abuse
physical abuse
graphic violence
consent issues

Let me give a brief summary of Waypoints before I go into my thoughts on this one. Because I felt a lot! Zae is an adult man still living at home with this abusive drug addicted father. He feels like he's been left behind by everyone and has accepted his fate. He works as a "Door Dasher" to make just enough money that his dad this takes from him to pay for his drug habit. One night, he stops in at a diner for a bite to eat and sees a bruised woman come in. He quickly realizes she's his highschool bully... but something is drawing her to him. He can't seem to think she needs help, only to later when delivering some food to a questionable address, Zae sees Janiyah in the home, beaten and used. Zae makes a decision then that will change his and Janiyah's lives.

Yall... human trafficking isn't talked about enough. I've read books with women empowerment who work as sex workers because they wanted to. But this, this is the side we should talk about. The side were a woman who had the whole future ahead of her is stolen and enslaved, unable to make the choices for her own body. This story, Waypoints, is a semi-autobiographical story of the author's. She makes a note in the beginning that we won't know which parts are her history, which are fiction but it just shows how powerful Mariah is. Someone helped her, she made it out and is able to tell her story. I just have so many emotions and feelings!

I did enjoy the relationship between Zae and Janiyah. I'm grateful to Zae, who made the decision that no one, even his bully, deserved to be in the life that Janiyah was. While I broke for them both, I'm glad they had each other to lean on. They both suffered so much trauma, and watching them both learn to trust the other with it was beautiful. Thank you, Mariah!

[Mackenzie Hirschmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don’t be fooled by the cute cover. This book discusses dark & deep topics and I definitely encourage you to read the trigger warnings. I honestly didn’t know what to expect but it was a really capturing book. When I say that I mean it had me at the edge of my seat. It kept me intrigued and I wanted nothing but to get to the happy ending. Zae and Janiyah are both complex characters that both have their personal issues that you learn throughout the book. I loved getting to know each of them and witness their growth through. Among the deep topics there were definitely the funny moments and the spicy scenes that meshed well with the story. All in all it was a great read with uncomfortable topics that should definitely be heard and talked about. I appreciate Mariah for sending me the ARC copy and am so grateful to have been given the chance to read and review this book🩷

[Kiki ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to start off by saying it’s very important you check the trigger list. It’s important to take care of YOU.

You are in for a ride of emotions and just angst! The story unfolded so beautifully on the page, as the pain stabbed me in the heart. There were times I had to pause. Those babies (the FMC AND MMC) deserve so much love and support.

The banter had me. Their chemistry and how it unfolded. Especially as Zae battled with his emotions while facing his former bully and his present home life.

Both Janiyah and Zae are incredibly strong as they navigate through their pain and trauma. Healing is not linear, and I absolutely love how this was a realistic perspective into that. Healing from trauma is not one set road, it looks different for everyone.

The story embodied resilience, healing and the fight for yourself. Overcoming the unimaginable, the obstacles and cruel things. The growth the characters, for both of them was so refreshing to watch. How much confidence and finally taking back their power.

[Rachael Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book had so much trauma. make sure you check those trigger warnings. enemies to lovers, he falls first, slow burn, angst, touch her and die vibes and spice, there's a little bit of everything in this one!

[Jocelynn LeBlanc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Waypoints
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First of all I want to say thank you Mariah for the opportunity to read this as an ARC & I also apologize for the late review (life was crazy) but I am honored and so glad I got to read your work for the first time.
Secondly, I want to say anyone that wants to pick this book up to definitely read the trigger warnings before hand. This book discusses very deep topics and it is dark.

I was instantly gravitated towards this story, the way Mariah written this trauma survivor story was very well done. My heart feels deeply for Janiyah, she had been through hell and back and this book was definitely a journey of her healing and fighting back for herself.
All I was hoping for in this book once I started was a happy ending for both Zae and Janiyah. They both deserved eachother and both deserved to feel loved and respected after the lives they were living. Even past all the dark and deep topics of this read, there were still moments of light and laughter I had. There was also some sexual scenes that occurred as well but it flowed and was well done given the circumstances.
This book was definitely not what I was expecting especially for how beautiful this cover is, but it was definitely worth the read. These topics definitely should be discussed more because these things really happen to people and I’m sure anyone who maybe has been in these situations will feel seen when reading this.
Thank you again Mariah for the opportunity to read your book💗

[Linsey Toney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Waypoints is a fantastic book! The author mentioned that this book is based off her real life with added elements but not written in first person to protect her mental health, she will also not say what is real or added which I completely understand and respect! This book has multiple subjects that maybe triggering, and/or relatable to some readers. Please read trigger warnings, your mental health matters!! I absolutely admire the author for being able to tell her story, to be a fighter, and to be brave enough to not only overcome her situation but share her story with us! I think this book is emotional, written well, and held my attention. I love the relationship between Zae and Janiyah. I love that Zae was a protective MMC. I don't want to say too much and give away the book but if the triggers don't effect you then I would recommend this book!

[Jessie Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man this one had me crying before I even got to chapter 10.
Knowing this was a semi-autobiographical story I went in open minded but my heart broke. I am proud of you for writing books that contain a little bit of you in all of them. This one definitely pulled at my heart strings. I did have to put it down for a bit to catch my breath but I couldn't put it down for long....I needed to know how this story ended. And your books never disappoint. I was so drawn in. The angsty banter, the characters and the memories they had from years ago...the feeling of safety with a certain someone.
This book was frickin' fantastic. I'm so incredibly proud of you and how hard you have worked through everything and now have an outlet for others to hear part of your story 💜

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Mariah's best book yet 💖 Her writing has grown so much over the years and I think this is her most mature work, and her most loveable MCM. I loved the dynamic of the two main characters, I genuinely felt like they took care of each other.

Bully romance is something that Mariah often incorporates into her stories, and I felt like this one was super well done; Janiyah being the former bully rather than the MCM added an extra layer to their relationship and made it feel like they were on more equal ground.

The subject matter is something very personal to the author, and I feel like she did a great job portraying that everyone, no matter what they've been through deserves love ❤️

[Katie Cooper · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC Reader*
Waypoints by M L Stevens
Release Date: July 10th

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This story was unique in that it is semi-autobiographical. There are several serious issues discussed within including trafficking, abuse, substance use, victim blaming, bullying, and more. It was a slower start for me to get into, but after a few chapters, I was hooked. The writing is also really good. I was struggling, however, with always expecting the other shoe to drop. So.. just so you know, despite ending a little abruptly, there is a HAE!

[Ashley Artechi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have cried and laughed and giggled and cried again over the story of Zae Richardson and Janiyah Jones. The traumatic abuse both go through in this book is beyond imaginable. The fact that it’s a semi autobiographical story of trafficking and abuse is absolutely heartbreaking. The healing, the love, the protectiveness of Zae over Janiyah. I mean there was so much in this book that it broke my heart and I needed to purchase the book. Tropes: forced proximity, enemies to lovers, rescue romance, let’s runway and some spice. Please check the trigger warnings but read this book 5 ⭐️

[MrsGhostlyxD · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is absolutely amazing, so much raw emotion was put into it and it bleeds from the pages in the most beautiful way. It brought me out of my reading slump and I’m so grateful that I found it xD