Same Place Same Stars by Katey Taylor is a beautifully written psychological drama about complexities of mental health.
I devoured this book.
I was hooked from the beginning!!
It was amazing and engaging.
I was instantly sucked in by the atmosphere and writing style.

SCARS ARE JUST REMINDERS OF THE TOUGHEST BATTLES WE HAVE FACED AND WON!!!!!!! Same Place, Same Stars written by Katey Taylor was so deeply heart breaking, it was raw, emotional, honest, gut wrenching, honest, pure, inspiring, beautiful, and vulnerable. Right after I finished reading this book, I said I needed a few days to recover, but I decided I can't wait any longer to write a review, because everybody needs to read this book as soon as possible, and no, I still haven't recovered from this emotional story, all I do is stare up at the ceiling with tears pouring down my face. I know this is a work of FICTION, but oh my goodness, it felt so real to me. These characters might not be real people, but this book does deal with some very real and personal topics, if you choose to read this book, please please check the trigger warning's before doing so, they will also be listed in my review. I went into this book one hundred percent completely blind and I was blown away the entire time, but I didn't expect to be so mentally unstable, I'm still not fully healed and honestly, I don't think I ever will be. This cover is absolutely gorgeous and just looking at it makes me bawl my eyes out once again. Katey, I will be sending you my therapy bill because I don't think I will ever be the same again and you shredded my heart to pieces with this beautiful and emotional masterpiece. I can't recommend this book enough, please do me the biggest favor and mark your calendars for May 13th, 2025 because you won't want to miss out on the publication of Same Place, Same Stars written by the queen Katey Taylor. The tears are streaming and the snot bubbles are bubbling.

THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY AND VICTORY EDITING NETGALLEY CO-OP FOR AN ARC OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW!!!!!!

IF YOU ARE A SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVOR, IF YOU ARE STRUGGLING WITH ADDICTION, IF YOU A RECOVERING ADDICT, IF YOU ARE ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY, I HEAR YOU, I SEE YOU, YOU MATTER, I LOVE YOU, I'M SENDING YOU ALL OF MY LOVE AND ALL OF MY HUGS, I'M PRAYING FOR YOU, I'M CHEERING YOU ON FROM THE SIDELINES, I WILL ALWAYS AND FOREVER BE YOUR BIGGEST AND LOUDEST CHEERLEADER!!!!!!

TRIGGER WARNING'S
Suicide
Sexual Abuse
Eating Disorders
Mental Illness
Drug Addiction
Alcohol Addiction
Death of a Parent
Overdosing

"Fix me? As if I'm a damaged old doll who just needs to be glued back together before it can be loved again".

"Every time I close my eyes, I take the risk that they will never open again".

"Art is to console those who are broken by life".

"To love is so startling, it leaves little time for anything else".

"Sometimes when you feel like you have been a burden to others your whole life, you start believing that being uncomfortable or miserable is all you deserve".

"The best therapists are supposed to be supportive and helpful, not make you feel worse, or like a monster deserving of discipline because of your illness".

"Darkness comes in many disguises, and no matter how deep you try to bury it, inevitably it will creep through the cracks".

Gardenia- Gentleness and purity, identified with a secret love between two people.

Natalia Sokolov is a pure angel with the biggest heart. Twenty-one year old Natalia battles a rare sleeping disorder called parasomnia which is an intense sleeping disorder that causes Natalia to do weird things when she's sleeping that she has no control over and she can't ever remember doing. Natalia hurts herself in her sleep, she acts violently, she chokes herself when she's sleeping, she sleep walks, and has vivid night terrors. One night, Natalia bruises herself so bad, she is sent back to a mental facility. Natalia had her first ward stay when she was only six years old and ever since then, Natalia has been in and out of mental facilities. Natalia is sent to Awana's Treatment in the Trees which is a two ranch styled home facility surrounded by tall redwood trees, it's a facility that helps people who are battling mental illnesses. Awana separates their male and female patients from each other. During her stay at Awana, Natalia takes many different medications and it makes her feel judged for something she doesn't even have control over, she has a fear of being outed as "the girl with a strange sleep disease". My heart goes out to Natalia and everything she went through, I just wanted to reach into my kindle and give her the biggest hug ever as she was battling everything on her shoulders. Natalia also has a roommate at Awana named Lindsay.

Lindsay Cartwright is such a ray of sunshine and the best friend you have always wanted in your life. Lindsay has amber eyes, a septum nose piercing, and blue hair. Lindsay is at Awana for many different addictions, she's basically wired to be addicted to everything such as pills, alcohol, and sex. Lindsay's parents kicked her out of their house after her third rehab stay. Behind Lindsay's charismatic confidence hides a bruised and damaged young child because she was emotionally abused as a child by her alcoholic mother. Lindsay is a very blunt type of person, but she's never scared to speak her mind. Man oh man, I just love Lindsay, she's super sweet, she has this magnetic energy that makes you want to always be in her orbit. Lindsay and Natalia form a bond with each other, they promise to remain friends after they leave Awana because they are the best friends they never had. I absolutely love these two young women, their bond was unbreakable. Lindsay was always so supportive during Natalia's panic attacks and Natalia was always supportive even when Lindsay had a relapse. Lindsay has this ability to boost one'e confidence, "you are so lovely, Natalia. You are one of the only people I have met whose inner beauty actually matches the outward beauty". I wish these two lovely women the best on their journey's to recovery, it was such a honor to watch their friendship bloom, it was oh so very beautiful. No matter their own battles, they were always there for one another.

Gabriel King is the sweetest soul ever to exist and the most kind hearted person ever. Gabriel is tall, tan, has messy hair, and such a sweet smile. Gabriel is at Awana because he's suicidal and depressed. Gabriel was in and out of foster homes growing up, but since turning eighteen, Gabriel has spent the last three years traveling coast to coast in a decked out van. My heart absolutely breaks for Gabriel, I just wanted to hold him for hours on end, he thinks the world would be better off without him. Gabriel also plays the harmonica, and making music helps distract his unsettled mind. Gabriel has been at Awana for six months before he met Natalia. Every night at two am, Natalia and Gabriel meet by Natalia's window, and Gabriel plays the soft melody of his harmonica to let Natalia know he's there. Every time they leave after their nightly visits, Gabriel asks "see you tomorrow? Same Place, Same Stars?" as he glances at the night sky above them. Ugh, Gabriel is the cutest ever, he refers to Natalia as Disney Princess's such as Rapunzel and Sleeping Beauty. As Gabriel and Natalia spend every night together, they both learn they are fighting their darkest battles, and they comfort each other all the time, Gabriel was super sweet and comforting during Natalia's panic attacks. "I guess some of the darkest minds live behind the most beautiful eyes". Despite falling in love with each other, Gabriel and Natalia have to keep their visits secretive, because like I said before, Awana keeps their male and female patients separated and can't be around each other. I couldn't help but cheer for Natalia, Lindsay, and Gabriel as they all fought their toughest and darkest battles, they all deserve the absolute best in this world.

3.5 stars. The story reminds you how humans (well, most) don’t want to be or can’t be alone, compound that with time (having too much on your hands) makes it worse and so the little things matter so much more. As do the big things, like hope and wanting. Thank you for the Advanced Reader Copy.

5/5⭐️ First of all, thank you to NetGalley and the author for an arc of “Same place, same stars”. Honestly, I don’t know how I could give this book less than 5 stars. The fact that Katey Taylor has been able to write a story that treats a lot of triggering topics and mental illnesses in such sensible way, for me, it’s enough to deserve this rating. I loved experiencing this book through the eyes of Natalia, i really liked her as the FMC and she’s an amazing and strong woman. I highly recommend this book (but be sure to check the trigger warnings beforehand).

Natalia is sent to a mental facility to get help on her sleep disorder that has gotten out of hand. She becomes best friends with Lindsay who's her roommate and is fighting her own demons. I loved their friendship. Natalia also, for the first time, falls in love with a very depressed Gabriel. Causing her reckless behavior. I was shocked by the amount of stuff happening at the facility. And I wasn't expecting that twist towards the end, but I loved the book!

In *Same Place, Same Stars*, Natalia finds herself back in a mental facility after waking up covered in bruises, setting the stage for a gripping psychological drama. Quickly forming a bond with her lively roommate, Lindsay, she becomes entangled with Gabriel, a handsome yet troubled resident. Their forbidden connection offers Natalia a glimmer of hope amidst the chaos of her medication's harsh side effects and the unsettling truths that begin to surface. The novel expertly explores themes of trust, love, and the consequences of choice in a setting where every relationship is fraught with danger. With shocking twists that keep readers on edge, this novel delves deep into the complexities of mental health and the weight of dark secrets. A compelling read that reveals the lengths one will go to for love and the cost of sanity, *Same Place, Same Stars* is a captivating exploration of resilience and vulnerability.

Thanks Netgalley for the free ARC! This was an enjoyable read with interesting characters, humor, and suspense. It kept my attention and had me invested in the storyline. I feel that the target audience for this novel would be young adult, but may be classified as adult reading because of sensitive topics such as sex and drug use.

Natalia lands herself back in a mental facility after battling a rare sleep disorder. She became friends with Lindsay, who is her roommate, and fell for Gabriel, who is severely depressed. Since relationships were strictly forbidden in the mental facility, Natalia's bonds with Gabriel helped her. Also, Natalia had to deal with the side effects of her medication and manage her life. It's a well-written read. I couldn’t put the book down.

* Interesting/unique plot
* Thought provoking, addressed several heavy topics
* Mystery
* New adult
* Internal monologue

Same Place, Same Stars is a powerful and gripping portrayal of mental illness and what life can be like inside a psychiatric hospital. Katey Taylor does an excellent job of capturing the emotional turmoil and complexities of mental health struggles, making the story feel raw and authentic. The depiction of the hospital setting felt realistic and well-researched, providing insight into an experience that is not often explored in such depth.

What really stood out to me was the unexpected twist at the end—I didn’t see it coming at all, and it added a whole new layer to the story. It was one of those moments that made me rethink everything and appreciate how well the plot was crafted.

Overall, Same Place, Same Stars is an emotional and thought-provoking read that sheds light on important topics with honesty and sensitivity. If you’re looking for a book that offers a compelling look at mental health with a surprising and satisfying ending, I highly recommend this one.

21 year old Natalia suffers from a sleep disorder and spends most of her young life in out of mental hospitals/wards. When she finally lands in one that after a lot of therapy gets down to some of the root causes of her issues. But in the midst of it all she finally finds a best friend. The author Katie Taylor takes you along for the ride beside Natalia with her struggles. Some are sad, some are disheartening. Then a twist I didn’t suspect at the end. I grew to like the character of Natalia as she grew and became her own person. I was rooting for her the whole time.