And All Their Stars

Water, Air, Earth, Fire #2.5

by Riley Nash

We’re complete opposites, the sun and the moon, things that were never meant to touch.

Everything changed the day this brooding, high-powered lawyer found his forever in a scrappy farm boy from Iowa. Jonah’s my sun, the center of my orbit. Separately, we’re lost souls. Together, we make something unforgettable.

I’ve planned out every single step of our happily-ever-after—a chance to start over in a new home and build a beautiful life together. Lazy early morning kisses, summer fairs and barbecues, our perfect daughter. Turns out, you can’t walk into the future without facing your past. The unexpected appearance of an orphaned boy brings back my oldest wounds. Jonah faces a choice between his identity and his family’s business. But no matter what comes, we’ll meet it together.

When our short-sighted plans fall apart, we realize the sun and moon are never alone; they exist in a universe of stars so much bigger and brighter and more chaotic than we could ever imagine.

This novella picks up right after the ending of Jonah and Gray's love story, Make Me Fall. To avoid spoilers and understand the characters and plot, please read Make Me Fall first!

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Novella, Contemporary, LGBT, Queer, Adult

114 pages, Paperback

First published September 14, 2022

About the author

International bestselling author Riley Nash (he/they) is based in the rainy PNW and writes stories about broken boys who find home in each other, hurt/comfort, and mental health rep.

Reviews

[Florence . · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 “Yesterday. Today. Tomorrow” stars

“There’s no reason to be afraid, because you’re my yesterday, my today, and all my tomorrows. I don’t have a past, present, or future that isn’t you.”

This is not a standalone and must be read after Make Me Fall. I will try my hardest to not spoil Make Me Fall in this review, as this is a novella to catch up with the couple in that book after their happy ever after, but I did try my hardest to not include any spoilers for Make Me Fall in this review.

One of my favourite book I have read this year is Make me Fall by Riley Nash. That book was just so perfect to me and reading it is still one of the best reading experience I have ever had in my life. I still cherish that book and I don’t think I will get over it. It’s just one that stays with you and refuses to leave you no matter what. So imagine how happy I was when the author announced a fairly long novella about the couple of that book, to show what they are up to and how their happy ever after is going for them.

And i’m happy to report that this might have been the most perfect novella I have ever read in my life. I never have rated a novella 5 stars before because they always seem to be missing something for me due to their length, but this one was just perfect. This included everything I could have ever asked for and it was done in the most perfect way ever.

This is only my 13th 5 stars book of the entire year and another one of those is Make Me Fall, so if this doesn’t tell you how much I just adore the couple in these two books, then I don’t know what will.

Brief summary
Jonah and Gray have been together for 2 and a half years. This story is about their life together and their journey to start their family.

I am larger, better than I thought. 
I did not know I held so much goodness… 
You have done such good to me.”

I don’t think I have often cried as much reading a book as I cried while reading this one. And most of it were tears of pure happiness for Jonah and Gray and the life that they achieved together. I just went on such a journey with these characters and seeing them being happy and getting the happy ever after that they alwayd wanted just made me so happy and so emotional that I kept crying while reading this story.

I was honestly way too emotional while I read this book. I read this story in one sitting and I had to stop reading about 10 times so I could wipe my face because I was crying too much to even see my kindle’s screen. And nothing about this book was particularly that sad or angsty. What got me was all of the feels I have for Jonah and Gray. They just are one of the best couple I have ever read about in a book and seeing them so happy together and finally getting everything that they both have ever wanted out of life just made me cry so much. I’m so invested in Jonah and Gray’s life and because of that I had all of the emotions while reading this book.

Jonah and Gray are just such fantastic characters. Jonah is just so sweet and patient, but also loving and caring and he shows it through everything he does. Gray is also sweet and loving, but he has a harder edge to him, due to him not having the best upbringing ever. These two characters are just so well fleshed out that it always feels like they will jump off the page and because actual humans. I just love them both so much.

But what I love the most is Jonah and Gray as a couple. I am not kidding when I tell you that these two are now one of my favourite book couple of all time. They are just so perfect together. I just love everything about their couple. This story gave us so many scenes of Jonah and Gray doing cute domestic things together and it melted my heart to read each and every one of them. I just loved seeing them be so domestic with each other. Also I just love their connection so much. They are the definition of what being soulmates is. They just compliment each other perfect. They always seem to balance each other and to provide the comfort and the stability that the other needs, in every given situation. Also, I just love how they are always there for each other and would stand on each other’s side no matter what. But mostly, I love how they fight all of their battles together, as a unit. I love how much care and love they have for each other and I love how that shows in everything that they do. I love how they would never do anything to wrong each other because they love each other so much that that would never be an option. I just love the way that they always listen to each other and how they always seem to know when something is wrong. They are always there for each other, no matter what and I just adore that. And when they happens, I just love how they are always there for each other through it all.

I’m going to hold you, and take care of you, and remind you to smile every single day for the rest of our lives.

I just so happy to read more about Jonah and Gray’s life and I just adored reading about the life that they made for themselves, it was so perfectly them and it just suited them so much. This book was just the perfect glimpse into the lives of a couple that I really love reading about.

In conclusion, Jonah and Gray are just one of my favourite book couples of all time. I just love these guys so much. This couple have been a 2000 pages sequel all about them and their love and I still would have devoured every page of it like I was starved for even more content. They are just such a perfect couple and one that I never tired myself of reading about. If you see me re-reading this book and Make Me Fall like 10 times this year, it’s probably because it will be very hard for me to find any book that will compare to how much I love these two books and this couple.

I received an ARC of this book and this is my honest review

[Kati *☆･ﾟ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5***** stars


Riley Nash, you are gifted! I don’t know what to say. This novella was the perfect addition to Gray’s and Jonah’s story in all it’s ugliness, all their strength and kindness and love.

All my love for them and their wonderful little family. They deserve it. All of it. And so much more. ♡



**************
Water, Air, Earth, Fire Series:

Book 1 - Hold Me Under - 5.0 stars
Book 2 - Make Me Fall - 5.0 stars ♡
Book 2.5 - And All Their Stars - 5.0 stars
Book 3 - Show Me Wonders - 4.5 stars
Book 4 - Teach Me to Sin - 5.0 stars

Xmas Novella Bundle - Merry and Bright - 4.5 stars

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this is the sweetest, most touching novella I've ever read.
Who knew just 100 pages could make me so emotional?

[Maisha Farzana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riley Nash can write a damn grocery list. I'll read that in a heartbeat and cry my eyes out. Such is the fate that's been decided for me....

"Forget plans, forget spreadsheets, forget my fucking hangups. This one’s mine, and right now I’d burn down anything that tried to take him from me."

[Drache.... (Angelika) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartwarming novella following Gray and Jonah from Make Me Fall a few years after the ending of Make Me Fall.
We get to see homophobic and ableist people being homophobic and ableist and how 11 year old Eli becomes a part of their family.
Gorgeous writing full of emotions.
It wasn't perfect, but very touching.

[Amina · Rating 3 out of 5]

✰ 3.5 stars ✰

“There’s no reason to be afraid, because you’re my yesterday, my today, and all my tomorrows. I don’t have a past, present, or future that isn’t you.”

Let's ignore the fact that I have yet to write my reviews for the first two books in this series, but since I did read And All Their Stars over the weekend, in order to complete Riley Nash's Water, Air, Earth, Fire series before the release of the latest installment later this month, I felt it best to write it, while it's still fresh in my mind. 😊

“I can think of nothing that would make me happier in the world than to have children who turn out just like you, Jonah Scott.”

And I'm glad I did - it was such a sweet glimpse into Jonah and Gray's life, two and half years later after they officially became a couple in front of Jonah's family. And seeing them as fathers to a lovely little girl, Kenzie was absolutely adorable, albeit very limited 🥲; because the true focus of this story was the lengths they would go to bring a new foster kid into their family - Eli. Eli, an eleven-year-old orphan, who feels that he has no place in the world - no one who would want to keep him, one who painfully stirred up memories for Gray and his own traumatic childhood, and which urges him even more to make him feel accepted and welcome and at home - with them. 😟😟

“Happiness, horniness, but most of all that raw and eternal love so vast I’ll never get my head around it.”

I loved the domesticity of this - loved seeing Jonah and Gray just trying to navigate their lives into a steady stream of contentment - 'the pure, utter joy that they give each other is their reason for living'. Even when Jonah's struggling to find a balance with his job at his father's business, and Gray's trying to let go of the inner demons that claw away at him, there is a peace of mind, knowing that they have each other to rely on. 🥹🥹 When Gray sees Jonah, he feels it in his heart, that he's everything I love, everything I need. But, sadly, sometimes even that's not enough, and Eli is enough of a reminder that Gray knows that his life would be even more complete, if he can help this young boy, in the many ways, no one even bothered to care and help him. ❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹

“For the first time, I get to hold him the way I’ve always wanted to, tight and comforting and protective. And when I do, my heart stops because this feels right in a way I’ve only felt twice before, once with Jonah and once with Kenzie.

Forget plans, forget spreadsheets, forget my fucking hangups. This one’s mine, and right now I’d burn down anything that tried to take him from me.”

A lot of the perspective was told from Gray's POV in the novella, but I didn't quite mind, because he needed that reflective introspection a lot more, especially when it came to Eli. Jonah has such a big heart - welcoming others with open arms, that he knows that Eli will eventually come around. There was a lot of convincing and determination shown from both of them to make Eli be comfortable with them, but, it's Gray who really needed the reassurance that Eli wants to be with them as much as he does. 😢 That a part of him feels that his happiness can inadvertently become his own - that inner, protective streak that not only wants to shield this young boy from the pains of foster care, but to also remind him that his own struggles were not in vain. And, in the end - after a harrowing ordeal and a heart-warming ending, both Gray and Eli have a place where they are most certainly loved and wanted. 🤍🤍

“He’s the miracle, my miracle, and I have no idea what I ever did to deserve him.”

And because, Jonah and Gray are just as lovable and in love with each other than ever before - of course, they want to take it to the next step, in a romantic gesture of proposal so endearingly sweet - enough to give me cavities! 😄 But, it was worth it, to see the smiles that lit up their hearts on their blessed day. 🤍 🤍 That they could reach this point - without qualm or fear, or judgment, in a perfect occasion that is as ' messy and wild and always changing' just like their family is. It's not perfect, but it's theirs - and they wouldn't want to have it any other way. 🥰 🥰

And, why do I enjoy Victor's appearance more in the spin-offs then his own book! 🥲 Maybe, because he's just so larger than life in his own life, he's so much at peace within Gary's world - well, more on that later. 🤞🏻

[alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

*insert intense keyboard smashing here*

UGH if only epilogues could all be at least novella length 🥺

Jonah and Gray are putting down roots in Iowa with their adorable daughter Kenzie, but life refuses to play by the clear rules tabulated in Gray’s meticulous spreadsheets.

set to inherit his father’s business, Jonah finds himself on the receiving end of brazen disrespect from small-minded bigots that chips away at the nuggets of confidence mustered up with Gray’s encouragement. and when a Pokémon-loving, almost-teenage boy dive bombs into their lives in an unforeseen chain of events, Gray’s traumatic past in the system—hopping from one home to the next, feeling unwanted and alone—replays in stark clarity before his very eyes.

time skips in stories can be tricky, but it was clear what the author was trying to accomplish within this limited number of pages. occasionally my singular brain cell did need a few moments to recalibrate on the timeline as skipping around the space-time continuum can take a lot out of the poor guy, but each scene was carefully selected and drawn with a purpose. particularly Gray’s flashbacks, no matter how short, wrecked my soul. i am gone, reduced to atoms. it reached a point where my heart was coming apart at the seams just from seeing an italicized passage come up out of the corner of my eye. can you imagine if he never found Jonah 😭

they go together like pb&j, and the brief cameos of the first couple was the icing on the wedding cake. Victor’s snark will live on forever!

(also came out feeling low-key H&S heartwarming found family vibes and that’s never a bad thing)

Thank you to GRR and the author/publisher for providing an advanced copy of the book. This is my honest review :)

[⋆｡°✮ Lucy InTheSky ✮°｡⋆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

"When I used to sit out here as a kid and read to the frogs for hours, I tried to imagine how it would feel to not be lonely, a question I’ve been asking for as long as I can remember. But not this time. Today, all the precious things we used to dream about are right here, right now, just like this."



It's a good thing I'm outside where noone sees me because I've been bawling my eyes out for the past hour reading this. The emotions, my god, the emotions.

4.5⭐ but I'll round it up, because Gray and Jonah are a fantastic couple and this novella just wraps up their journey with the beauty of their amazing relationship.
It's packed with intense emotions, depth and is quite possibly the first fostering story that I absolutely liked.

Gray and Jonah are happily living their family life in Hollow Creek where the community has kind of accepted them - I still don't agree with the whole mechanic thing and living here, but fine - , they are dealing with the potential of fostering Eli, Jonah's distant relative, who's lost both of his parents. Gray has a really hard time connecting with Eli, because that's bringing up intense past events and emotions up to the surface and I think I can't love Gray's character even more than I do. I love this guy, he's fucking amazing.

"I dream about Eli, walking alone down the side of a dark highway. I dream about myself as a boy, wandering, just as lost. Because I abandoned him, just like everyone else. I walked away at the first opportunity and shut the door on him forever. I never said I was sorry. But I am."

Gray finally manages to open up and face the darkness of his past by accepting Eli into his heart and home. Eli is Gray's mini-me so I'm really curious about this family, I hope I'm going to read more about them.

The things that stayed with me the most

🟢 "Jesus Christ, the day my man discovered tree law. He’s made a name for himself as the lawyer to visit from across the state for all your arboreal woes." 😆

🔵 "He leans all the way over until our foreheads are touching. “You’re the fucking man. Thank you. I never thought someone would try so hard for me.”

🟣 "Objectively, I’m pretty sure Gray’s the one being irrational and stubborn. But he’s been through awful things, the kind of loneliness that fucks you up for the rest of your life, that changes the entire chemistry of your brain, and I can see it all breaking out of his carefully-constructed walls and tearing him apart."

🟡 "Just looking at his face makes my heart expand until it breaks apart into a thousand bittersweet shards. He’s my true north, the only path I’ll ever walk. I lace my fingers with his. “For you, anything.” I’ve never meant anything more."

and last but not least

"I’ve never felt so peaceful in my life—the sky, the grass, and the inside of my chest all still and cool and restful, with Gray’s warm hand heavy in mine."



There was one hot sex scene, but it's laced with the struggle Gray is going through, it's raw and emotional and I of course loved it.

I hope we haven't heard the last of Gray and Jonah yet. ❤️

[patrícia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gray

“And I know, without question, this is not just the best day of my life but a day so beautiful I would never have believed it possible, even if I had read it in a fairy tale”

Jonah

“When I used to sit out here as a kid and read to the frogs for hours, I tried to imagine how it would feel to not be lonely, a question I’ve been asking for as long as I can remember. But not this time. Today, all the precious things we used to dream about are right here, right now, just like this.”


Gray❤️Jonah❤️Kenzie❤️Eli ❤️

I’m feeling so sappy right now that I’m putting heart on everything… these guy.. come on…

This will make you swoon, cry, laugh, a bit chockehold , but also just happy and believing in love!

[haletostilinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐︎4.5 stars rounded up!⭐︎

A great short look into Gray and Jonah's HEA together as they unexpectedly expand their family and work through some unresolved issues they still expectedly or unexpectedly had after the end of their full length book.

We get to see these two continue to be absolutely head over heels in love while raising their daughter and getting introduced to an 11 year old boy named Eli, who is similar to Gray in many ways.

Gray works through some things with his man by his side, and Jonah goes through a few things as well.

Also, by the end these two solidify their HEA with a wonderful exchange of vows to be married. We also get a very brief glimpse of Victor and Ethan from book one.

Definitely, highly recommend if you've read this series so far and have loved these couples, especially Gray and Jonah.

Two massive thumbs up from me! 😍

My Ratings for the Water, Air, Earth, Fire Series:

🔆 Hold Me Under: 5 stars (my review)
🔆 Make Me Fall: 5 stars (my review)
🔆 And All Their Stars: 4.5 stars
🔆 Show Me Wonders: TBR

[Gloria (in a slump? idk) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just looking at his face makes my heart expand until it breaks apart into a thousand bittersweet shards. He’s my true north , the only path I’ll ever walk.

This is one of those ones that knot your intestines and make your brain forget that food isn't supposed to go to your heart. Does this make sense? I hope so😂 I don't know about y'all but I just think it's really cool that some people just sit down and put pen to paper and make me feel every emotion under the sun. This was fantastic, it was ethereal, it made me bawl my eyes out, it made me choke on my coffee, it had me clutching my pearls, and most of all, it is now forever etched into my hippocampus (the part of my brain that houses my memory)✌🏾

I'm literally not going to say anything else cause YOU HAVE TO READ THIS!!! But read book 2 first 😘

Thank you Riley Nash for gracing us with this masterpiece 💜

[Renae Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

***Full RtC***

Emotionally beautiful coda for Gray and Jonah. Even after their HEA there are many loose ends that needed to be addressed.
I love how everything was tied together with some lovely heartfelt surprises. Lots of happy tears for this couple.

[Ash🍉 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second read: [1 July 2023]
That was just as good as the first time 😭

*

First read: [14 Sept 2022]
I cried a lot but in a good way

[Mimi · Rating 5 out of 5]

It should be fucking illegal to cry this much during a novella that's barely over a hundred pages long and yet...

[Tare · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Every one of our kisses is different, unique, and I’ve cataloged all of them in the nerves and synapses of my body until I’m made of them.”

This was such a perfect little novella expanding Jonah & Gray's story. Make Me Fall is one of my favorite books of the year and I was so excited to read more about these two.

I cried at least 3 times reading this. We get more back story on Gray and his struggles as a child growing up in the foster care system - it was heartbreaking. We also get to see him & Jonah grow their family. I loved Kenzie and Eli so much.

But overall, I really just adored seeing this couple again. They rank up there in my top couples ever. They have such a deep connection and are so supportive of each other. You can tell by every interaction how much respect & trust they have with each other. I particularly loved seeing the slice of life moments of these two - they still have on-fire chemistry, they are playful, they are sweet and tender, and they are, above all else, stupidly in love with one another.

This novella gave me everything I didn’t know I was missing in Jonah & Gray’s story and I would happily read many more just showing us the progression of the beautiful life they have built together.

[Liya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfection. Beautiful, emotional and full of love

[Cyndi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, I officially had to scratch the number 24 off my "hours since I last cried" sign. I didn't know I needed this extended epilogue and never would have thought to ask for it, but now I want one for all of my favorite book couples. This was such a beautiful glimpse at what came next for Jonah and Gray and I recommend it to everyone who read and loved Make Me Fall. Everything about this novella gave me the feels, especially seeing Gray interact and bond with Eli.

Also...Victor!!! I can't believe there was once a time when I wanted to throttle him. His complete disgust with traditional social constructs, hilarious (and some times insulting) lack of a filter and absolute refusal to be anyone other than himself is ridiculously endearing. I'll be waiting patiently for his and Ethan's novella next, please and thank you.😇

*I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest review.

[Ashleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars

RILEY STOP MAKING ME HAVE FEELINGS

[Nelly S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Layla · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Baby,” I breathe. “God I love you so much. I’m going to hold you, and take care of you, and remind you to smile every single day for the rest of our lives. And I’m gonna make sure you always know that Kenzie and Eli and I chose you. You mean everything to us. And I promise you’ll never be alone. Do you understand?”

THIS IS SO BEAUTIFUL I CAN'T 😭😭

Jonah and Gray are definitely one of my favorite couples I've read this year.

Riley Nash has knocked this out of the park.

[oshiiy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars ⭐️

I picked up this book without reading any reviews, blurbs, or anything about it. After finishing a few chapters, I realized it’s actually a sequel to another book, one that I had read before and even rated four stars, but completely forgot about. It’s been quite some time since I read that book, which explains why I didn’t remember much of the main story.

I really loved the story here, especially how Gray and Jonah were both finding their happiness together as a family, extending their love to two children, Kenzie and Eli. I loved how both of them secretly adored him and wanted to keep him as part of their family forever.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's nothing better than getting a novella as a follow-up to a novel that you absolutely love! This one delivers too - all of the feels. It made me feel more things in 100 pages than any book should have the right to make me feel in such a short amount of time. 😭

And All Their Stars picks back up with Gray and Jonah after the events in Make Me Fall. They are living in Iowa with their little girl, Kenzie, building a life together. Jonah is still struggling with managing his family's business and expectations. Gray is putting together the family he never had but always wanted. He has a plan. He knows what he wants. But when a young pre-teen named Eli shows up and throws Gray's plans out of whack, he has to come to terms with things about himself he'd been keeping bottled up his entire life.

Yet again, Riley Nash delivers a beautiful story that tugs all of the heartstrings. By that, I mean rips them apart and reties them into a new, perfectly crafted bow. I can't wait to see what new ways they will destroy me with Oliver and Jackson's story in book three!

[knjiški moljac · Rating 5 out of 5]

didn't sleep at all but instead cried my eyes out because of this. i love their little family so much. they deserve the world.

[Ellie ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reread December 2023:

Gray and Eli didn’t have to make me cry so much 😭😭😭
It’s still the best novella ever 😍

_________________________________________________


"He’s my true north, the only path I’ll ever walk. I lace my fingers with his. “For you, anything.” I’ve never meant anything more."

"I stare after him, trying to comprehend what just happened and why everything in my life gets so much better every time that goofy brat opens his mouth."

SWOON. SWOON. SWOON.

It's the cutest novella I've ever read.
Jonah and Gray are so precious and I'm so happy that they got to have everything they dreamed of in their life. What a cute little family they have now! I'm not crying, you are.

I love them so much!!

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hands down best novella I’ve ever read! I actually sobbed during this and it’s only 100 pages wtf I’m EMOTIONAL.

5/5 no notes.

“Everything will happen according to plan, because I made a spreadsheet. Nothing can go wrong when you’ve made a spreadsheet.”

Oh Gray honey😔 Famous last words…

But don’t worry, Jonah is his safe space, his true north.

“And when I do, my heart stops because this feels right in a way I’ve only felt twice before, once with Jonah and once with Kenzie. Forget plans, forget spreadsheets, forget my fucking hangups. This one’s mine, and right now I’d burn down anything that tried to take him from me.”

[Pingmg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another book by Riley Nash that wrecked me. It grabbed my heart and squeezed It tight, blew me away and moved me to tears. Perfect novella for Jonah and Gray!

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a sweet follow up for Gray and Jonah.

[m · Rating 5 out of 5]

I tried to imagine how it would feel to not be lonely, a question I’ve been asking for as long as I can remember. But not this time. Today, all the precious things we used to dream about are right here, right now, just like this.

The conclusion we deserved for these two absolute sweetie pies!!!! 😭😭😭 I was so invested in Eli’s storyline (and how a surprise foster 11yo affected everyone) that I completely forgot about Jonah and Gray’s development as a couple until it came up a second time 🤣 There were hard moments for everyone but always with support, love, and healing - it was beautiful to read and made my cry more than once. Everything just felt so real I couldn’t help but get swept away in the emotions. ❤️

[JennyBuysBooks | Find me on Fable! · Rating 4 out of 5]

This made me pleasantly emo.

[Mx. T *Chaotic Reader* · Rating 5 out of 5]

100 pages of me crying over baby Gray, sweet Jonah and their kids. Perfection.