Review: Steering the Stars by Autumn Doughton & Erica Cope

Steering the Stars by Autumn Doughton & Erica Cope
Publication date: March 7, 2015
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Category: Young Adult - Contemporary
Source: Purchased
Summary: Aspiring writer Hannah Vaughn worries that she is doomed to live out the rest of her existence in a sleepy Oklahoma town. For as long as she can remember, she’s dreamed of something more – adventure, excitement, intrigue. When her sister invites her to London and she’s accepted to a prestigious writing program at The Warriner School, she jumps at the chance. But will it be epic or an epic fail? Nothing ever happens to straight-A student Caroline McKain and that’s exactly the way she likes it. With her best friend in London and junior year looming on the horizon, all she wants is to remain invisible. So when she is suddenly thrust into the spotlight, she must ask herself: Can an invisible girl really take center stage? Follow Hannah and Caroline as they navigate the complexities of first love, family and growing up.(greads.com)

The good

I bought Steering the Stars blindly. None of my friends had read it or even listed it on Goodreads. I had never heard of it. It just popped up on Amazon as a recommendation after I bought a different book and I was immediately drawn to the pretty cover. Then I saw it was about best friends and I thought, why not? (Plus it didn’t hurt that the price was right. Can’t beat $2.99.) Turned out to be one of my best book impulse buys this year!

Best friends Hannah and Caroline live in a small Oklahoma town and have never really been apart. That is, until Hannah gets accepted into a prestigious writing program at the Warriner School in London and decides to go. In a way, it’s really an adventure for them both, although Caroline wouldn't have initially agreed. For Hannah, she’s never been out of the state, much less the country. She’s going to live with her half-sister and her family, who she barely knows. It’s a new school, new people, new everything. For Caroline, it’s about figuring out who she is aside from being Hannah’s “best friend”. What is she interested in? And does the guy she’s crushed on forever notice her back? (This was one of my favorite parts of the book!). Both stumble a lot along the way, feel tempted to give up but they eventually find their footing. But the one thing they know they can depend on is each other.

Even miles apart, there’s no denying these two are best friends and the authors do an incredible job of showing this. We get constant emails, texts, IMs and phone calls. We see how much they support each other in spite of the distance. How much they love one another. I mean, that’s not to say they don’t encounter any obstacles. They hit their own bumps in the road too and there’s this one moment while they’re fighting that really stood out to me. Both girls are obviously sad to be fighting and one of the guys in their lives implies that it’s not that big of a deal. Like, this is what’s making you so crazy right now? And Hannah just rips into him about how it’s a huge deal and how she feels like she has a hole in her heart without her best friend. Friendship is so important and I loved seeing both girls stand up for that.

(No) Reservations

I can’t think of any! The portrayal of the friendship and dual narration was spot on.

Do I recommend?

I do! As someone who loves positive female friendship, this one was just so great. I definitely recommend it.