Prologue: Stars and Fears

Tabitha lies beneath a cold, starry sky, her body and soul marked by trauma. The stars, once symbols of hope, now terrify her, reminders of a past she can't escape. Gabe, her gentle friend and almost-lover, tries to coax her into peace, asking her to trust him, to imagine flying with the stars at her side. But even in his arms, the past intrudes—her murdered lover, Matthew, haunts her every attempt at intimacy. The prologue sets the tone: Tabitha's journey is one of fear, survival, and the desperate hope that love might one day outshine the darkness.

Almost-Everything, Never Enough

Gabe is Tabitha's anchor, her "almost-everything," but never quite her lover. He aches with longing, watching her wilt under the weight of her past. Their friendship is intimate but fraught, full of near-misses and unspoken desires. Gabe's patience is both his strength and his curse—he waits, hoping she'll see him as more than a replacement for the man she lost. Their circle of friends, each with their own scars, provide moments of levity, but the shadow of trauma lingers, threatening to pull Tabitha under.

Ghosts in the Daylight

Tabitha's life is a minefield of triggers—songs, strangers, even the way sunlight falls. At work, she's haunted by memories and by the kindness of fellow survivors, Cora and Dean, who understand her pain. She's a single mother, scraping by, her world narrowed to her daughter, Hope, and the small comforts of routine. Therapy is out of reach, so she turns to a local writer, Evan, hoping that telling her story might help her reclaim it. But the ghosts of her past are never far, and every day is a battle to stay afloat.

The Writer's Interview

Evan, the writer, becomes Tabitha's confessor. In his cluttered home office, she begins to unravel the tangled threads of her past—her childhood, her dreams, her first love. She speaks of Matthew, her psychology professor, and the forbidden crush that blossomed into something real. The interview is both catharsis and torment, forcing her to relive the night everything changed: the missing keys, the ride home, the abduction. As she speaks, the line between memory and nightmare blurs, and the true depth of her trauma is revealed.

Keys, Crushes, and Chains

Tabitha's recollection is vivid and harrowing. What began as a flirtatious, electric encounter with Matthew ends in horror—a stranger, a gun, and the sudden, brutal loss of control. She and Matthew are chained in a basement, their world reduced to darkness, fear, and the drip of water. The man who took them is a monster, but also a puzzle—his motives unclear, his cruelty methodical. Tabitha's survival instincts kick in, but so does her guilt: she brought Matthew into this, and now their fates are entwined.

The Basement's Bargain

Days blur into nights as Tabitha and Matthew endure unspeakable abuse. Matthew, ever the psychologist, urges her to manipulate their captor, to feign affection and create a bond that might save her life. The cost is high—her dignity, her sense of self—but hope is a weapon, and she wields it desperately. Their relationship, forged in terror, deepens into love, but it is a love marked by sacrifice. Matthew is determined to get her out, even if it means giving up his own chance at survival.

Surviving the Unthinkable

The ordeal reaches its breaking point. Matthew is murdered before Tabitha's eyes, his final words a plea for her to live, to tell their child about him. Alone, pregnant, and barely alive, Tabitha clings to his memory and the promise of new life. Her captor, unhinged, eventually lets her go, and she stumbles into the world, forever changed. The trauma lingers, but so does hope—her daughter, named Hope, is both a reminder of what she lost and a reason to keep going.

Hope and Haunted Nights

Tabitha's life after the basement is a patchwork of joy and pain. Motherhood is her anchor, but nightmares stalk her sleep. Gabe becomes her steadfast companion, offering comfort without demands, loving her with a patience that borders on martyrdom. Their intimacy grows, but the past is a third presence in every embrace. When Tabitha finally reaches for Gabe, it is as much an act of courage as of desire—a step toward reclaiming her body and her future.

The Weight of Healing

Tabitha's sessions with Evan force her to confront the full scope of her trauma. She confesses the truth about Hope's paternity, about Matthew's sacrifice, about the ways she's hidden from her own story. Healing is not linear—there are setbacks, relapses, and moments of despair. But with each confession, the burden lightens. Gabe, too, faces his own demons—his father's crimes, the scars of being the son of a monster, and the fear that he will never be enough for Tabitha.

Love's Unsteady Return

Just as Tabitha and Gabe begin to find their footing, a new threat emerges. Gabe's father's criminal past catches up with him, and a debt collector named Stoney arrives, demanding payment Gabe cannot provide. The threat is real and immediate—Stoney's men are watching Tabitha and Hope, and Gabe is forced to make impossible choices to keep them safe. The couple's fragile happiness is shattered by lies, sacrifice, and the return of old fears.

The Past Never Sleeps

To protect Tabitha, Gabe does the unthinkable—he breaks her heart, pushing her away with lies of infidelity and indifference. The pain is mutual, but necessary; only by severing their bond can he hope to keep her safe from Stoney's threats. Tabitha, devastated, spirals into grief, haunted by the echo of past losses. Both are left adrift, their love a casualty of violence and circumstance.

The Debt Collector

Gabe sells everything—his house, his car, his future—to pay off the debt, but it's not enough. Stoney demands more, threatening Tabitha and Hope directly. In a final, desperate act, Gabe arranges a meeting to hand over the money, prepared to sacrifice himself if it means saving the woman he loves. Tabitha, refusing to be a bystander, tracks him down, determined to fight for their future.

The Red Lingerie

Parallel to the external threats, Tabitha's internal journey reaches a turning point. With the support of friends and the hard-won tools of therapy, she reclaims her sexuality and agency. A red lingerie set becomes a symbol of her healing—a gift to herself, and an invitation to Gabe. Their reunion is passionate, raw, and honest, a testament to the power of love to mend even the deepest wounds.

Sacrifice and Safe-Words

The truth comes out—about the debt, the threats, the lies told in the name of protection. Tabitha and Gabe confront the pain they've caused each other, using the language of safe-words and consent to rebuild trust. Their love is no longer about martyrdom or rescue, but about living for each other, choosing each other every day. Together, they face the aftermath of violence, the scrutiny of the public, and the slow, steady work of healing.

The Lie That Shatters

For a time, it seems as if the damage is irreparable. Tabitha and Gabe are separated, each believing the other lost. The pain is acute, but it is also clarifying—both realize that love is not about grand gestures or perfect timing, but about showing up, again and again, even when it hurts. With the help of friends and the lessons of the past, they find their way back to each other.

The Viral Escape

In a climactic confrontation, Tabitha uses the only weapon she has—her story. Livestreaming the showdown with Stoney and his men, she turns the eyes of the world on their would-be killers, forcing them to retreat. The viral video becomes both a shield and a testament to her resilience. The couple is saved, not by violence, but by courage, quick thinking, and the support of a community that refuses to look away.

Luck, Loss, and Lavender

With the threat gone, Tabitha and Gabe begin to rebuild. They move in together, blending their lives and their scars. The past is not erased, but it is integrated—Matthew's memory honored, Hope's paternity acknowledged, and the lessons of trauma woven into the fabric of their new family. Lavender, once a trigger, becomes a symbol of healing; luck, once doubted, is embraced as the gift of survival.

Flying, Finally Free

Years later, Tabitha faces her greatest fear—flying. With Gabe and Matthew's father by her side, she jumps from a plane into a starlit sky, her heart full, her family whole. The story ends not with a wedding or a grand declaration, but with the quiet, hard-won joy of living fully, loving bravely, and believing, at last, that the stars are on her side.

Characters

Tabitha Brighton

Tabitha is the heart of the story—a woman marked by trauma, but defined by her resilience. Once a psychology student with dreams of understanding the mind, she is thrust into a nightmare when she and her lover, Matthew, are abducted and held captive. Her survival is both a triumph and a burden, as she grapples with guilt, PTSD, and the challenge of raising her daughter, Hope, alone. Tabitha's journey is one of reclaiming agency—over her body, her story, and her future. Her relationships—with Gabe, with her friends, with her own past—are fraught but deeply human, and her growth is hard-won. She is fiercely loyal, slow to trust, and ultimately, a testament to the power of hope.

Gabe Kent (formerly Wellington)

Gabe is Tabitha's anchor—a man whose own scars run deep, the son of a criminal, haunted by the fear that he is unworthy of love. His devotion to Tabitha is unwavering, even as it costs him his own happiness. Gabe's journey is one of learning that love is not about sacrifice alone, but about living fully and choosing joy. He is gentle, self-deprecating, and quietly heroic, willing to risk everything for the people he loves. His relationship with Tabitha is both a balm and a crucible, forcing him to confront his own demons and redefine what it means to be a partner.

Matthew Gleason

Matthew is both a memory and a presence—a psychology professor whose forbidden romance with Tabitha is cut short by violence. In the basement, he is Tabitha's co-survivor, her strategist, and her comfort. His sacrifice—provoking their captor to save Tabitha and their unborn child—haunts her, shaping her understanding of love, loss, and survival. Matthew's legacy is complex: he is both the source of Tabitha's deepest wounds and the reason she finds the strength to heal.

Hope

Hope is Tabitha's daughter, conceived in love and born in the aftermath of trauma. She is both a reminder of what was lost and a reason to keep going. Her presence grounds Tabitha, offering moments of joy and purpose amid the struggle. As she grows, Hope becomes a symbol of resilience—the proof that life can bloom even in the darkest soil.

Stoney (Chester Stonehocker)

Stoney is the face of the new threat that emerges in Gabe and Tabitha's life—a debt collector with ties to organized crime, ruthless and calculating. He is a master of psychological warfare, using fear and leverage to control his victims. Stoney's presence forces Gabe to confront the limits of self-sacrifice and the necessity of trust and partnership.

Evan Hart

Evan is the writer who helps Tabitha tell her story, serving as both therapist and audience. His interviews force her to confront the full scope of her trauma, and his gentle probing helps her find the words—and the courage—to reclaim her narrative. Evan is a reminder that healing often requires witnesses, and that stories, once told, can become tools for survival.

Cora Lawson

Cora is Tabitha's confidante and fellow survivor, her journey paralleling and intersecting with Tabitha's own. Their friendship is a lifeline, offering understanding, validation, and the reminder that healing is possible. Cora's relationship with Dean, forged in similar trauma, provides both hope and a cautionary tale.

Sydney Neville

Sydney is Gabe's best friend and neighbor, a source of levity and fierce loyalty. Her own history of loss and reunion with Oliver gives her a unique perspective on love and resilience. Sydney is the friend who refuses to let Gabe or Tabitha give up, her irreverence masking a deep well of empathy.

Oliver Lynch

Oliver, Sydney's partner and Gabe's stepbrother, is a survivor of his own ordeal—abducted as a child and returned to the world as an adult. His wisdom is hard-won, his presence grounding. Oliver's journey is one of reintegration, learning to live in a world that moved on without him, and his relationship with Sydney is a testament to the endurance of love.

Martha and Pat Gleason

Matthew's parents, Martha and Pat, are both a source of comfort and a reminder of what was lost. Their relationship with Tabitha is complicated—tinged with grief, gratitude, and the shared love of Hope. They represent the possibility of forgiveness, the endurance of family, and the ways in which the past can be both a burden and a blessing.

Plot Devices

Dual Timelines and Interwoven Narratives

The novel's structure alternates between Tabitha's present-day struggle to heal and the harrowing events of her captivity. This dual timeline allows the reader to experience both the immediacy of her trauma and the slow, painful process of recovery. The interwoven narratives create suspense, deepen character development, and highlight the ways in which the past is never truly past.

The Writer's Interview as Framing Device

Evan's interviews serve as both a narrative frame and a therapeutic tool, forcing Tabitha to confront her memories and articulate her pain. The act of telling her story becomes an act of reclaiming it, and the interviews provide both structure and momentum to the plot. This device also allows for meta-commentary on the nature of trauma, memory, and the ethics of storytelling.

Symbolism: Stars, Luck, and Lavender

Stars represent both hope and fear—distant, beautiful, and sometimes cold. Luck, embodied in Matthew's watch and the star ring, is both doubted and embraced, a symbol of survival against the odds. Lavender, once a trigger, becomes a marker of healing. These motifs recur throughout the novel, providing emotional resonance and thematic unity.

Safe-Words and Consent

The use of safe-words in Tabitha and Gabe's relationship is both literal and symbolic—a way to navigate intimacy after trauma, and a metaphor for the boundaries and trust required in all relationships. The language of consent, negotiation, and mutual care is woven into their love story, challenging traditional romance tropes and foregrounding the importance of agency.

Foreshadowing and Parallelism

The novel is rich in foreshadowing—songs, objects, and phrases recur, linking Tabitha's past with her present. The parallel between her captivity and Gabe's ordeal with Stoney creates a sense of inevitability, while also highlighting the ways in which trauma can repeat, mutate, and, ultimately, be overcome.

Analysis

Jennifer Hartmann's The Stars Are on Our Side is a raw, unflinching exploration of trauma, survival, and the long, nonlinear road to healing. At its core, the novel is a love story—but not the kind found in fairy tales. Instead, it is a love forged in darkness, tested by violence, and redeemed by the slow, stubborn work of trust and forgiveness. Hartmann refuses easy answers: her characters are messy, wounded, and often at odds with themselves. The novel's structure—alternating between past and present, confession and action—mirrors the way trauma lingers, shaping every choice and relationship. The use of symbols (stars, luck, lavender) and the centrality of consent and agency mark the book as both a romance and a survivor's manifesto. Ultimately, the story insists that healing is possible, not through forgetting or erasing the past, but by integrating it—by telling the truth, by loving bravely, and by choosing, again and again, to live. The stars, once terrifying, become a promise: that even in the darkest night, there is light enough to find your way home.

Last updated: October 19, 2025