Sacha T. Y. Fortuné

This was my first book by this author, but I can promise it won’t be my last. I went in completely blind, and I was thrilled when it blew me away. There were a lot of moments when I really, really, really wanted to stop reading… but I couldn’t. I read it a few sittings over a long cruise with several consecutive sea days, so I had a lot of dedicated time to focus on the story and really feel it. And feel it, I did… feel it, you must.

The Pros & Cons

Quinn and Graham meet under unusual circumstances, both as victims of cheating, and find themselves together later down the line as fated partners, but their relationship is threatened by the daunting sorrow of infertility. The chapters jump from “Then” and “Now” tracing back the couple’s origin story, and it’s a doozy of a heartwarming rollercoaster that — unfortunately — plummets into the darkest depths of despair in their marriage.

I do love “real-life romance” — hell, I’ve got to love it, because I write it! — but this one was a gut-punch I didn’t expect. The writer accurately captures some of the nuances of marital intimacy, familial relationships and so much more — the tiny moments that can pivot everything, and that are often missed in films, books, and just about any other form of representation.

Thank God for the “origin” moments of levity, because honestly it’s a difficult read if not for those. You love the young couple because they’re simply awesome, and they’re meant to be. Graham is knee-bucklingly adorable in his over-the-top moments, and Quinn is a female character you actually enjoy reading about because she’s not “too much” of anything. She feels real. They are easy to love, and it’s heartbreaking when it flashes to the present-time when they’re both so awful.

Still, you can connect with them even in the bad times, and the story is so intricately woven between the two extremes that you feel like you are there with them. The steamy/sexy scenes — both now and then — are perfectly done (even perfect in its awfulness for the “now” moments), and I always appreciate writing that successfully straddles this fine balance with taste and grace.

My only tiny niggle was the ending. I don’t want to have a huge spoiler, but I think the supposed “solution” they found minimalises all they’ve been through in their journey to this point. It felt like something was added on that just didn’t belong there. It almost, almost, almost made me dock from my rating, but I eventually forgave it and gave the story the full five stars because it stayed with me so vividly as I write this weeks later, and I’m sure it’s not a book I’m likely to forget anytime soon.

Conclusion

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this read, particularly the writing style that jerks at your organs at times, the symbolism — “Category 5 hurricane” as a marriage, and the entire journey this book took me on. It was a fresh, tough look at real life that leaves a lasting message about who we are, how we can be better partners to our loved ones, and most importantly the overarching truth in all relationships: you are your own worst enemy.

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This is my second book by this author, and I only wish I’d read it first (as it was written first) rather than going backwards. The more recent one I read — “Easy” — stopped my world to such an extent that I don’t think I can even objectively judge another book by her. But I’ll try! Here goes:

The Pros & Cons

“Chasing Stars” was awesome. I love love love love love how you really feel like you’re in these characters’ heads, feeling every conversation and every doubt and every sorrow. The sentences ramble the way my mind does sometimes, and it’s so refreshing to read something that feels like the way you think. When the scenes get sexy, your entire body twinges and ripples with the character’s.

A couple of my faves:

“I need man smell and man arms and man skin and sweat. I just need someone to hold me together and make me feel like nightmares are just nightmares and I’ll be okay.”

“Oh my God. Ares kissed me. I am so happy my insides are coated in glitter and confetti. But I’m also on the edge of tears because it doesn’t change anything. I can’t have him. He’s not mine.”

Nikki’s friendship with Persephone feels so much like one of mine from my past that it’s scary. The supportive, silent friend bolstering the other who clearly has a much better life; the sacrifices we make as young women; and that seesaw of love/hate that make you wonder how you were ever even friends with this person in the first place… yup. Bang on.

Also, Ares’ male stupidity at times was just awesome. Yes, he was a complete clunkhead, but unfortunately that’s kind of how young guys (or any guys, if we’re being entirely honest) can be at times! Both he and Persephone won your hearts by the end though, never mind the up and downs along the way when you want to knock them down.

I also really appreciated all the adult relationships interwoven into the story — Nikki’s mother is terrifying, but is well balanced with Persephone’s and Ares’ mother who treats Nikki like one of her own and even takes on her younger brother as well. The father characters also bring a nice balance to round out the story, showing that past negativity does not necessarily always need to permeate the present and the future, and there is room for growth and change and maturity from both sides of the generational gap.

Conclusion

There were a couple of moments that I was hoping for a *wee* bit more to push me over the top, but overall this was a stellar read and a fabulous debut novel, and I would recommend to anyone needing something that grabs at your emotions and doesn’t let you go until the end.

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