TOPAZ HORIZON

I've got the perfect read for the New Year for you! 

When I picked up Steady Sarah by Justine Camacho-Tajonera, I thought I was in for a romance. I expected a love story front and center—childhood friends discovering each other in a wholly new way, sparks flying, and happily-ever-afters unfolding. But this novel surprised me in the best way possible.

While there is a love interest (a childhood friend who appears sporadically and only becomes significant halfway through the story), this isn’t really a romance. It’s deeper and more profound: a story about facing life’s changes and curveballs with courage, curiosity, and an open heart.

Sarah Silvestre’s journey begins with upheaval—both personal and professional. Instead of retreating into the comfort of what’s familiar, Sarah takes this chaotic time in her always-steady life to reassess how she's been living: as a capable office manager, dependable daughter and friend, and reliable girlfriend. Meh. So thank goodness we meet Sarah when her world turns upside down because it pushes her to embark on a waterfall-chasing adventure across the Philippines!

Sarah's story resonated with me, especially how she confronted the unknown. I'm not a Sarah, so I don't relate to her fears. Sarah is someone who thrives on obedience and stability, someone who likes life neatly tied up in a box. Yet when the ribbon unravels and she finds that the box is empty, she doesn’t stay stuck moaning about it—she sets off to find something new. That's my girl!

Personally, I’ve never been one to keep things in a tidy box. Growing up, and even as a child, I insisted on doing things my way. Marching to the beat of my own drum has often brought me loneliness and trouble with the conservative people in my life (that's basically every single one of them, haha). But it has also brought me to people, places, and adventures I could never have imagined. That’s why Sarah’s story spoke to me—because I'm so glad I was never that girl... the girl everyone wanted me to be. Sarah finding her way by leaving home, climbing mountains, and jumping into waterfalls is a reminder for all of us at life’s crossroads: throw caution to the wind, live boldly, love deeply, and be outrageously brave.

My dear Loyal Readers know that my life motto is "The brave may not live forever but cowards never live at all."

Oh, and I've added a new one: "When Death finds you, may it find you alive."

Back to Sarah and her journey!

I like that this book introduced the love interest halfway through. That really drives home the fact that you may or may not find true love along the way, that a romance is beside the point. What matters is that you find yourself.

Steady Sarah is not just a call to adventure; it’s a call to authenticity. By the end of the novel, Sarah isn’t "steady" anymore, at least not in the way she was before. And that’s a good thing. She’s steady in a new way—steady in her courage, her self-awareness, and her trust in life’s unfolding.

This novel is an inspiring reminder that, sometimes, the best way forward is to leap, even when you don’t know where you’ll land. 

Congratulations, Justine, on your book!

Purchase Steady Sarah by Justine Camacho Tajonera at Amazon and Fully Booked.

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I review books written by Filipinos. If you're a mom, I'll prioritize it!