Reviewed by Valerie

TITLE:  Follow the Stars

AUTHOR:  Gwen Martin

PUBLISHER:  Self-Published

LENGTH:  270 pages

RELEASE DATE:  September 28, 2021

BLURB:

Can the Stars Make Two Friends Lovers or Break them Apart Forever?

When Noah loses his best friend Rory to cystic fibrosis, he feels lost without her unconditional love and support.

Ezra—the one who understands his grief—suggests they embark on something they’ve been planning for years: a road trip along the Eastern Seaboard. But Ezra has a secret no one knows—he’s been in love Noah for years.

Ezra fears he won’t be able to hold back his feelings as they fulfill Rory’s biggest dream on her bucket list. Noah worries the connection he has with Ezra’s lost without Rory to guide them together. But through their grief, the question remains: If you follow your heart, can you find love as bright as the stars?

REVIEW:

Follow the Stars is a remarkable love story about grief, friendship, love, and living in the moment as best friends Noah and Ezra set off on a road trip along the Eastern Seaboard. Noah has autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and his communication challenges are a central theme in the book. He is brilliantly portrayed; this is the most accurate and comprehensive representation of ASD that I’ve read in a novel. This book feels important. 

“I feel really alone. Everyone can express their feelings, their emotions, and my brain freezes when I try to do that.” I moved my finger from my temple to my mouth. “It’s like the connection isn’t there.”

Autism isn’t the only theme in this book, by a long shot. At the start, Rory, the mutual best friend of Noah and Ezra, dies of cystic fibrosis complications. She left her friends a letter imploring them to make the most of their lives – you only live once, she stressed repeatedly. She asked them to honor her life by embarking on a bucket list trip they had been planning for years to take as a trio. 

I love to read road trip romances and watch the relationships evolve as the miles pass. Here, the men travel from their homes in Florida to Asheville, Annapolis, Philadelphia, and New York City to fulfill Rory’s dreams. I enjoyed their exploration of those cities as well as Noah’s burgeoning feelings for Ezra, and the intensifying of Ezra’s years-long love for Noah. Along the way, Rory and Noah’s shared fondness of stars and astronomy is a highlight. Noah takes comfort in the stars and ironically, they ground him even though they’re deep in space, way up above. 

But blanketing it all is the hardship for both men to clearly understand the other and communicate effectively. There is particular attention paid to the difference in their handling of grief. 

“I was desperate to show my pain, but no matter how many times I opened myself up, nothing happened. Tears I was desperate to shed never came, and that loss sliced through me, my heart splintered and jagged around the edges.” 

Ezra is a wonderful young man who exhibits patience to the best of his ability, but it’s not always enough. It’s difficult for him to comprehend why Noah doesn’t outwardly grieve for Rory or why he can’t share how he feels more directly. It’s hurtful. He knows Noah is different and he can’t expect him to behave neurotypically, but that doesn’t make it any easier to bear. Rory fully “got” Noah and served as an intermediary to ease their communication issues. 

“I don’t know how to talk to him. You were the anchor for the three of us. The one who helped keep us from getting lost at sea. What are we going to do without you?” 

My heart went out to Noah for sure, but I had great sympathy for Ezra, as well. I also felt gratitude that he saw beyond Noah’s differences and loved him regardless.  

Noah can’t communicate well with Ezra, his parents, and others, but Ms. Martin excels in conveying his feelings to the reader through his thoughts. This is what makes the book so valuable for understanding ASD. It’s also what sets it apart. So often, books focus on the idiosyncrasies, sensory sensitivities, and stereotypical behavior or tics a person may display. Some authors who incorporate an MC with ASD choose to highlight the character’s strengths and ability to develop a lasting romantic relationship, rather than focus on the differences and difficulties a neurodivergent individual encounters. I enjoy that approach and it’s a good fit for light-hearted books. What Ms. Martin does in Follow the Stars delves much deeper, though, and I applaud her. She explores the hallmark of ASD – communication challenges due to problems recognizing and expressing one’s own emotions, as well as with reading social cues, nonverbal language, and understanding others. 

“It’s like we’re speaking two different languages,” Ezra said with a shake of his head.  

This book won’t appeal to everyone. The miscommunication is pervasive and repetitious, and while highly accurate, I think it will lead to frustration in some readers because of a universal dislike of miscommunication and The Big Misunderstanding in fictional work. The repetition creates a sluggish feel at times, too. It’s important to recognize that in this book, it’s not manufactured drama; it’s a realistic portrayal. I’m disappointed in the author’s failure to mention in the blurb that a main character has ASD, or is neurodivergent. Not everyone will be interested in a book where autism is front and center and communication difficulties are at its very core. The problem is, readers aren’t given a choice because it wasn’t divulged. Personally, I was pleasantly surprised because, as a parent of a young adult on the spectrum, I actively seek out MM romances with an MC with autism. I actually gained significant insight into my son’s experience, in particular, dealing with grief and giving voice to his feelings. I felt like I was given a rare look inside his brain, and I am so grateful.  

The messages of hope and perseverance are uplifting. I can’t imagine dealing with this type of tragedy at such a young age. Noah and Ezra struggle, but ultimately dealing with their grief while on the road changes who they are. The epilogue set five years in the future provides a realistic, heartwarming happily ever after.  

*On a side note, while in Philadelphia, the characters visit an “art garden”. I’m certain the author is referencing a real place called Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens. I have visited this incredible indoor/outdoor art installation many times and it is a fascinating, must-see attraction.  

RATING: 

BUY LINK: 

Amazon