I loved this book so much! I felt like I connected with especially the FMC. I loved the timeline and the writing. I will definitely read more from this author!

If The Stars Align by Nathalie Theodore is a romance that explores the dynamics between childhood friends, who have growing feelings for eachother. The premise had a great potential, especially with Dex's deep emotional complexity and mental health struggles. As for Sunny, well, her POV reads like a generic relatable Y/N. It's a sweet, fast-paced romance that will appeal to readers who enjoy quick developments and light reading.

If the stars align takes us in the years long journey of Dexter & Sunny childhood best friends who spent years hiding their feelings for each other. I loved how we got both of their perspectives, their journey wasn’t easy they spent years on & off until they found each other for good & got their happy ending. It was a nice & quick read we see dex & sunny’s growth through the years. I would say at times the pacing was too fast. This book touch important subject like mental health and the author did a great job with it.

I would like to thank NetGalley for sending me this arc in exchange of my honest review.

I haven't had a book make me feel so much in a long time. What a stellar debut novel. If the Stars Align spans over a decade following Sunny and Dex, childhood best friends who have been in love with each other their whole lives but it's only a secret to them. Somehow, the timing is never right for them and something or someone always gets in the way. Sunny struggles as a chronic people pleaser with an overbearing trauma surgeon mother who is never home, and Dex is plagued by crippling anxiety and had never been able to be his true self with anyone but Sunny. As we watch them grow into adults and all of the struggles that comes with entering the real world. we watch Dex and Sunny go through all of the ups and downs of life including hook-ups, break ups, career breakthroughs and struggles, toxic relationships, and learning how to overcome their own fears, trauma, and mental battles as they fight to come out on the other side together. Maybe one day, if the stars align, they can finally have the life together they've always wanted.

I really love how Nathalie Theodore explored mental health in her debut novel. It was really hard to read at some parts, Sunny and Dex experiencing emotional and mental trauma in real time, but that's really the point of the book and a testament to the author's talent. It was so real and hits close to home and I felt the loss, love, anxiety, sadness, and frustration right along with them. I don't want to spoil anything because you'll have to read it to find out, but I love how the author handled the characters overcoming their mental struggles, even the side characters, and it wasn't cheesy or cliche, it was so gratifying! After I finished the book, it affected me the rest of the night and I couldn't get it off my mind. I really loved it and it'll be a novel I remember for a long time.

My only complaint would be that I wish we could have explored Sunny's healing a little bit more and seeing her learn to be her own person. For her situation, I feel like it would take much longer to reach the point she did and it seemed a bit sudden, but was still satisfying to read regardless. I look forward to future novels by the author!

I recommend this book for people who like friends to lovers, exploring mental health and how it affects daily life, romance, rocky relationships and drama, some spice, and coming of age stories.

Dex and Sunny have a friendship and love story that spans decades from high school to grad school through ups and downs and unexpected turns, waiting for the stars to align and timing to work in their favor. It’s heart wrenching and fast-paced with relatable characters and swoony moments. I enjoyed the found family aspects and dual POV. I love how well the mental health issue was represented.

“It’s exhausting trying to be what someone else wants you to be.”

This book actually caused me physical pain because I was too emotionally attached 🫣😅 but the story was so good I couldn’t put it down! (TW: absent father/abandonment, miscarriages mentioned, panic attacks)

“But with Sunny, I was carefree.”

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the ARC!

I absolutely adored this book - what an epic love story. I read the book in two sittings, which I haven't done in a long time. The book had me hooked from the beginning with a story about childhood friends to lovers with the blend of emotion, humor and drama that kept me interested. I loved how it was set over a decade and we got to see Dex & Sunny grow and adjust in to adult life. I didn't realise the author had a background as a therapist until after I finished but it makes so much sense reading how she incorporated the knowledge of mental health in to the story. This book gives me 'One Day' vibes which I have not stopped thinking about since I watched the TV show last year, and I know I will be thinking about the characters and story for a long time. I would love to see this become a film! I was rooting for Dex & Sunny the whole time and this book has become a top favourite for me - an unforgettable love story.

5 stars isn't enough!

This book dealt with a lot of relationship building and how mental health plays a role in that. Part of my struggle with relationships does include mental health and it felt amazing to see this get represented in a novel. Novels like this help me get through some of the struggle and helps me relate more to other people.
The characters, especially Sunny and Dex in this book were hugely important. The book predominantly focuses on them and how they navigate relationships. The events that happen in this book were also good, though I would check trigger warnings for a couple of them. I liked the way that the author portrayed panic attacks especially, it added another layer to the story. Overall it was a really interesting read.

Unfortunately this wasn’t for me and I did not finish ag 25%. This was lacking depth and I felt like the pacing was off for me. It felt a little like the characters were young teens rather than young adults which meant I struggled to connect to them and the story. Thank you for the opportunity to review in exchange for my honest opinion

Wow! I just finished the most amazing book. If the Stars Align by Nathalie Theodore was one that will stick in my mind for some time.

4.5 rounded up!

Read this in a day! The title says it all. This had so much angst while so frustrating to read the characters suffer through a decade of not genuinely being happy was heartbreaking. If you have read Love Letter to Whiskey - same angst and frustrating vibes for the characters. Dex and Sunny were always end game. Sometimes you need to let life run its course to get there, it might not be pretty but once you reach the end, when the Stars Align, it will be worth everything.

An angsty journey of growth and experiences. However, both Dex and Sunny fail to communicate!! Is it a miscommunication trope if there isn't communication? It was so hard to get through knowing if they simply expressed themselves from the beginning they wouldn't have gone through all the hurt that they went through. But of course, that is the premise of their story. Their chemistry was off the charts, the solace they found in one of another, overall it was a really good read. I genuinely thought it was going to leave me on a cliffhanger and I was getting closer to the end and Dex was no where in sight!

For a debut novel - Nathalie hit the nail on head achieving the childhood-friends-to lovers, angst, and emotion.

Thank you, Netgalley for my copy of an e-Arc.

Thank you to Written in the Stars Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

It’s natural to reflect on life’s “what-ifs,” especially when it comes to first love. If The Stars Align beautifully explores this theme through the story of Sunny and Dex, childhood best friends from Ohio who have secretly loved each other since they were five years old. Despite their deep bond, life takes them in different directions after high school, setting the stage for a decade-long journey of love, heartbreak, and self-discovery.

Sunny, the only child of a single mother, finds solace in Dex (Ollie Dexter) and his warm, welcoming family. Her love for him feels inevitable, yet fear holds her back from ever confessing it. Driven by her mother’s high expectations, she pursues academic excellence, leading her to college and eventually law school. Meanwhile, Dex—charismatic and effortlessly charming—heads to UCLA to chase his dreams of acting, eventually becoming a beloved soap opera star before making his mark in Hollywood.

Spanning ten years, If The Stars Align follows Sunny and Dex as they navigate an intense, on-again, off-again romance, always seeming to miss the right timing. As they grapple with personal struggles and mental health battles, they gradually learn to embrace their true selves and fight for the love they deserve. Their journey culminates in a spectacular and deeply satisfying conclusion.

A compelling and heartfelt read, this novel will have you rooting for Sunny and Dex every step of the way, eager to see love triumph against all odds.

Such a beautifully written book! I loved how the author encompassed prevalent issues of mental health within the storyline, these were discussed beautifully. The book is a perfect friends to lovers, a perfect match if you love Colleen Hoover! The two main characters are likeable and relatable, I loved the dual point of view as well! Lovely book!