Navigating with You: A Heartwarming Sapphic Romance

Synopsis

I’m going to start by saying this is one of the sweetest books I’ve read in a long time. I’ve picked up other things by Jeremy Whitley but this is the first that I’ve finished. After reading this though it makes me want to get back to some of his works like Princeless.

Navigating with You is a charming POC led sapphic romance, that brings together two young women from very different backgrounds. Neesha Sparks is a disabled vocal community activist who loves costume design. While Gabby Graciana appears to be a happy-go-lucky surfer. The two of them both start a new school on the same day. And while Neesha isn’t looking for friends she stands up for Gabby when the principal is harassing her. Causing Gabby to stop at nothing to be her friend.

Though they are two very different people the two of them realize that they have something in common. They both love the manga, Navigator Nozomi. When neither of them can find the books anywhere they start a competition together. Neesha and Gabby challenge each other to find the seven volumes of the manga. The prize for the contest is that the winner gets to keep the manga. While they are trying to get the volumes they start a book club, reading the manga together.

Through their collecting we learn more about the two young women. Gabby’s issues with her own bisexuality and the death of her mother. Neesha’s issues surrounding her disability and past broken hearts.

Together as they collect the volumes the two of them become closer. Neesha is the one to fall first, resigning herself to just being Gabby’s friend. Gabby meanwhile is long distance dating a boy who isn’t treating her right. Gabby learns through reading the manga and being around Neesha that she deserves better.

The development of their relationship is mirrored by two characters in the manga they are reading Nozomi and Kazane.

They both grow as people and together as they search for the different volumes of manga. The end of the story is at a comic convention where they resolve to find the final volume of the manga. In the process they end up telling the mangaka of the story of their romance. She gifts them the seventh volume of the manga. She lets them them know of how her own own romance inspired the manga.

REVIEW

This book was definitely four stars. It was great to see a two WOC involved with each other romantically. It was also good to see them involved in somewhat geeky hobby. Navigating with You also has great portrayals of the issues of disability. Neesha isn’t reduced to simply her disability. However it is important to her life and shapes her decisions with and without Gabby.

Gabby’s PSTD is also dealt with a deft hand, and portrayed very realistically. Overall this book was pretty high on the list of my recent reads. My only issue with is it is a little slow at the start.