Book Review: The Stars are on Our Side by A.L. Jackson
As a longtime fan of A.L. Jackson’s emotional storytelling, I eagerly dove into The Stars are on Our Side, especially after reading the gripping Still Beating. Tabitha, a side character whose heart-wrenching journey haunted me in the previous book, finally gets her moment in the spotlight. I was thrilled to see how she would rise from the ashes of her traumatic past, seeking healing and a happily ever after. But as I turned the pages, I found myself with mixed feelings about the way this story unfolded.
At its core, The Stars are on Our Side tells Tabitha’s story, having survived a harrowing experience with a serial killer that cost her professor and romantic interest, Matthew, his life. Now a mother to their child, Tabitha’s quest for a brighter future leads her to Gabe, a character introduced in the spinoff Lotus. However, this background left me feeling slightly lost, as Gabe’s affection for Tabitha comes off as an instant connection, lacking the emotionally charged journey that characterized Cora and Dean’s relationship in Still Beating.
Gabe, while a nice guy, struck me as almost too saintly, serving more as a backdrop to Tabitha’s healing journey than as a strong romantic lead. It felt as if Jackson aimed to create a gentle love story, yet I found myself yearning for more intensity and emotional depth. When it comes to characters, Matthew, despite being long gone, loomed large and undeniably compelling. I couldn’t shake the feeling that his presence overshadowed Gabe’s, making it hard to root for their new love story. Tabitha’s past and present felt disconnected at times, leaving me wishing the narrative would have explored the transformation of her feelings more deeply.
One aspect that caught me off-guard was a plot twist introduced late in the book regarding Tabitha’s pregnancy. The revelation that she and Matthew had a relationship prior to their captivity was both surprising and frustrating. I couldn’t help but feel like the story robbed us of fully understanding that connection; it could have beautifully enriched the narrative if revealed earlier. For me, this was a missed opportunity that had the potential to deepen not just Tabitha’s story, but her relationship with Gabe too.
I also found myself questioning some of the plot decisions. With Tabitha being a public figure thanks to her harrowing past, her financial struggles seemed out of sync. Why hadn’t she considered a crowdfunding platform? It felt like a glaring oversight, especially with a million followers on social media. The disparity between her fame and her financial situation left me scratching my head as the narrative progressed.
Despite its shortcomings, there’s something undeniably poignant about Tabitha finally finding her happily ever after. Fans of Still Beating will appreciate the return of familiar faces and the closure she deserves. It’s clear that healing is often a complicated journey, and perhaps that’s where this book shines.
In the end, The Stars are on Our Side offers a tender exploration of survival and love, albeit in a less impactful way than its predecessor. If you’re a fan of emotional romances with elements of resilience and survival, you may find joy within these pages. For me, it was a satisfactory, if not wholly striking, read—but it left me yearning for the raw emotional punch that has come to define Jackson’s work.
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