We’re all saving somebody.Since the day she met Elijah, Teófila’s been the one being saved. The girl whose darkest shadows live inside her head and the boy who hides his own with a smile and a song.But after a terrifying encounter precedes his skyrocket to fame and fortune, the tables turn.And while attempting to forget his close call with another life—another end—he loses his way back to her.… life—
another end
—he loses his way back to her.
Now, years later, it’s Teófila’s turn to do the rescuing, even after he’s left her behind.
We’re all saving somebody, but what if we can hardly save ourselves?
What happens when best friends become forgotten lovers?
Or when it’s the moon’s turn to light the sun?
more
There is so much in this book with the time spanning from early childhood to mid twenties for the lead characters. So much happens, so much angst, so much happiness, so much self discovery and so much growth.
I’m not going to lie there were times when I found the pace of the story lagged a little, mainly in the first half, but the second half certainly made up for it. I am still trying to come to terms with everything that occurred in the story. What I really liked was how things weren’t fixed immediately, they were dealt with in ‘real’ timeframes making the story so believable. In fact the concepts within the story are real and valid.
I liked both Teofila and Elijah but grew to be wary of Elijah and wanted to tell Teofila to stop and wake up to herself! Being that invested in a story is a good sign I believe.
I am looking forward to reading Millicent’s story, I didn’t dislike her in this but she wasn’t my favourite character. She intrigues me though and I wonder what we are in store for with her story.
Teófila and Elijah go on an epic journey in this story. They grow and develop over the course of years and years. They start as youngsters and grow into adults, loving and living, and going through every of emotion under the sun. I truly, truly was fascinated with this emotional, at times quite sad, journey of friends turned more. Kudos to Cynthia for this one!
3-1/2 Stars
This book was extremely well written. You could feel the emotion in the words. There was a lot of depth to this story, more than I was expecting.
But I didn’t connect with any of the characters. I wasn’t a huge fan of Molly. Never connected at all with Elijah. Maybe if a couple chapters were in his point of view? I didn’t like anything about him in this book.
Teófila was all over the place. I liked her at some points & others I shook my head not understanding at all. I felt unfinished when I read the end. I’d hope for another book because I feel like there needs to be more.
I could not put this down! This is some raw, emotional story that will have you feeling all kinds of way. Teofila and Elijah go through some tough times and a certain transformation that will you feeling their emotions all throughout. It touches on some hard truths and topics that had me crying. I can’t say too much but I just don’t know why I hadn’t read this before. I can always count on Cynthia to bring on a heartfelt story. Reading this also helped me with some of my feelings at the moment.
OMG….I absolutely loved this book. Teofila’s Guide to Saving The Sun was my first Cynthia A Rodriguez novel and it definitely won’t be my last. This coming of age novel spanned about 20 years and will give you all the feels as we go on this journey with Teofila and Elijah. The story was well-written, raw and realistic and gives us a look at an all-consuming love, at the ups and downs and everything in between.
Watching Teofila and Elijah grow and mature throughout the years and seeing how their relationship evolve had me consumed with this novel and I could not put it down.
It is a story about love, hope, friendship, self discovery and second chances and it touched on some tough topics like coming of age, addiction, depression and more. It’s a story that shows how certain events can have an impact on our lives and how sometimes the brave face we show to the world can actually be hiding something else. This page-turner was a phenomenal read. It was utterly devastating yet oh so beautiful. Worthy of a five star status I loved it and would highly recommend this novel to all lovers of contemporary romance.
“Why do you hide this side of you fro the world?” I ask him.
“I never met anyone else who deserved it.”
“I’ve been in love with you for most of my life. But I never really took the time to learn how to love you.”
“Let me learn. Please?
A brilliant intense emotional and raw read that will break your heart and then mend the broken pieces bit by bit .
This is not just a story, its a lifes journey, it shows real situations and real life altering actions and the inevitable consequences from these actions its a hard and heavy read but oh so worth it . Elijah and Teofila have a love that is grown from the root a love so strong its enviable they will be each others rock, but the path of true love is never straight forward and both have to overcome some heartbreaking moments and dig deep within and fight the dark inside to hopefully help the sun shine again…..
“Because. You’re the moon and I’m the sun”
A beautifully written thought provoking book that you will remember well after you’ve finished the last page.
Cynthia A. Rodriguez is a new to me author and one that I will certainly follow and one whom I’ll read more. Her writing is phenomenal and realistic Raw, gritty and full of deep rooted powerful emotions written from the heart With the power to pull me toward introspection.
Looking inward, I could feel Teófila’s insecurities and depression as my own. The story was both warm, and heartbreakingly beautiful.
“I stare up at the crescent in the sky and wonder if the moon ever gets lonely. I read somewhere that the sun lights the moon. How strange to never meet your only friend.”
I struggled with parts of the story feeling angry and disappointed in how easily Teófila could forgive Elijah.
“The boy birthed by the sun created in light and full of night.”
Yes, she was in love, yes, she was compassionate and understanding but yet, I couldn’t help being disappointed with her for being a bit naive and gullible blinded by her love falling into a dissent alongside him for awhile. I was glad that she was resolved to find herself and eventually evolved and asserted herself.
They grew up together and through the early years they were there for each other, best friends throughout. However, as Elijah’s career skyrocketed, I felt Teófila was there for him much more than vice versa. She was so forgiving, the second chances were more than once and ultimately her experiences with him led her to the realization she had to be there for herself!
I don’t think Elijah groveled enough and I never could truly feel his undeniable love for Teófila. Not until the end when he finally exposed himself to her in front of an audience did I feel he was trying to redeem himself for all he had done and put her through.
“I more than love you. I live you. I breathe you…”
I kept seeing amazing reviews on this book and the premise drew me in. This book did not disappoint and was definitely one of my top 2019 reads. I loved this story of friends to lovers and the span of time it took for their story to come to fruition pulled at my heart in so many ways. I always enjoy reading about characters and their personal/spiritual/mental growth and I found these characters to be so easy to attach to which lost me in their story that much further.
Truly an amazing read
Like a breath of fresh air.
This book, story, the writing is beautifully woven together.
The story is consuming and I found myself getting lost in Elijah and Teofila.
I don’t think I’ve ever routed for a couple more.
I don’t want to give anything away, just know you need this book in your life!
I don’t think I have words that can do this book justice. But I’m going to try……This wasn’t a book I would usually choose. Yet I’m so happy my friend recommended. That I had the chance to read this story. So different to anything I’ve ever read before. Even hours after reading, I can’t stop thinking about it. It’s going to be one of those books that stays with me for a very long time….
The book is about Teofila and Elijah’s journey through life together, over about a 20 year time period. During this time both characters go through so much together….
Now I’m not going to go into their story or give anything away. You must read and experience this amazing book for yourself.
Because this book is as beautiful as the Moon and the Sun
If I could recommend just one must-read book for 2019, regardless of reader preferences, it would be TEÓFILA’S GUIDE TO SAVING THE SUN. I just want to conjure up the perfect review that is going to compel others to pick it up and get into it.
It is not your everyday love story, nor does Cynthia Rodriguez allow you to drift idly into it by spoon feeding you the plot. Her writing is abstract and metaphoric, meaning you need to think about the words you’re reading in order to glean just what she means in writing them. There is a deep message for anyone who wants to listen.
Covering two decades, and told from Teofila’s POV, TGtStS is nothing short of epic. It starts in primary school and covers every angsty moment perfectly, dealing with the heavy issues of racism, self harm and addiction in the most respectful and succinct of ways. However much any reader may wish to avoid these issues, I still urge them to give this book a chance – seriously.
I loved T and Elijah even with all of their faults, and I could wax lyrical about the beauty of their friendship and the unconditional love they shared. But life isn’t perfect, and neither are people. Sometimes what some consider an innocuous event, can trigger a self destructive spiral for others and I felt every emotion from warmth to heartbroken tears as I read through.
It’s also not my usual read, nor did the cover inspire me, but having been repeatedly urged to read this book by a friend, I finally caved and read the blurb. I also listened to, and learned from the messages that Ms. Rodriguez has for her readers in this book. It may have gutted her to write it, but it also gutted me to read it. I have nothing but thanks for the opportunity to read this book worthy of 5 Stars.
This story is so beautifully written that it stayed with me well after I finished it. This book felt real! Real, raw, gritty and just a beautiful story told over a span of 20 years. This isn’t your typical insta love story. It feels like it’s a real story showing how life can be a beautiful disaster but Teofila and Elijah’s love is as friends to more was destined to be! This is a book I wholeheartedly recommend, it is phenomenal.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book
This was not what I expected and oh boy am I glad I picked it up it was truly one fantastic emotional story that will rip you apart and give you feelings you didn’t even know excisted. Teofila and her best friend Elijah have the messiest love and relationship but the strength of this woman is outstanding and I’m so proud of her that they are able to still exist. Best friends forever and being each other’s everything and it is beautifully written and all consuming I loved it.
I don’t even know where to start. I don’t know what words to use, hope my words do this book justice.
I haven’t been able to read in like 10 months and I didn’t think would find the motivation to read again with everything going on in my mind. I thought I would just read the prologue and see how it starts, but I could not put it down. The way can writes is just magical, she takes you on a journey with her words and it feels like you are watching the movie play right on front of your eyes.
She explores difficult subjects, such as addiction, depression and cutting and she does it brilliantly. It isn’t just in passing or a few mentions in the book, she makes u understand the emotions en choices of the character.
This story will make you laugh, cry and even reflect on your own path of discovery. The importance of choosing your own sanity and healing over love.
The beautifully observed story is about the course of Elijah and Teófila’s lives as they find and lose and find each other again. It is a loaded journey, shadowed by the scars of their histories. Time, it seems, does not heal all wounds.
It is a novel that will compel you to think deeply about the consequences of unacknowledged mental illness, questions love and loyalty and the emotional journey toward healing and forgiveness.
I fell in love with Cynthia’s writing after Evol and now she has a lifetime fan in me.
I implore you all to read this book, if there is a time you will take my advice…DO IT NOW!!!.
The book is a span over 20 years of their lives when he made her mad for destroying her ant hill. The years they have their ups and downs but it shows them being friends and together as a couple. He hits it big and she comes out on tour for a bit and it seems like everything is ok but they r secrely addicts. She leaves to get cleaned but he cant it takes him a bit but hopefully he will see the light. The ending is a teary one. I enjoyed reading this book
I know this is fiction, but I feel like authors always hide some truth inside their stories. Some topics are impossible to write about and come across as authentic, unless you’ve been through it. You have to feel the hurt before you can explain it. Cynthia writes about human emotion and gets to the very root of it, in a way that some people spend a lifetime trying to achieve. Yet, she does it effortlessly, which means that she’s writing from her heart.
“Why do you hide this side of you from the world?” I ask him.
“I never met anyone else who deserved it.”
Teófila’s Guide to Saving the Sun is a novel that touches on so many subjects… coming of age, addiction, vices, depression… just to name a few. As heavy as you’d think that would feel, it has a spark of hopefulness throughout. You can have a hundred people tell you that you can’t do something, but it just takes that one person who believes in you enough to carry you through. That is Teòfila and Elijah.
If you’re looking for a light and romantic read. This is not your book. But. If you’re looking to open your mind and read a book by an author, who has quickly become one of my favorites, then Teòfila’s Guide to Saving the Sun is for you.
Cynthia A Rodriguez knocks it out of the park once again. TGTSTS is a culturally rich, immersive more-than-love story you can feel down to your bones. Rodriguez’s writing is like food for the soul!
This is a beautifully written story about Teofila and Elijah, who grew from children into adults, and how their relationship developed from friends / lovers, over a 20 year time span. This author had done an amazing job in penning about subjects which are dark, and cover racism, addiction, and self harming which could be triggers for some readers. This story is an emotional roller coaster journey throughout, and is a raw, gritty, and powerful read. I was totally captivated throughout this addictive page turner, and I recommend for all.
This book has a raw beauty to it. It speaks of truths to the darker side of life some may be afraid to speak about but after reading this you will see you are not alone. It also shows the lovely side of falling in love with who you are and growing to become a stronger person. So you can love true and honestly.
Teofila’s journey with Elijah spans decades. Theirs is one literally written in the stars. It makes you believe that fate can make things happen and that things do happen for a reason good, bad, silly and crazy because it all defines the person who you will become. Cynthia’s telling of their story is one so honest that there were times I was left speechless and breathless only to find it all again a few pages later.
It will leave you asking yourself, “Do I take a left turn here and see what fate has in store for me?”It’s
Wow where to start with a book like this.
The author has proven yet again how much writing out of the norm, works for her.
She tackles subjects that most authors shy away from, and she does it with class and grace.
This book will take you on a journey of self discovery, and have you relating to so many thoughts and feelings that hopefully will make you realize YOU ARE NOT ALONE!
The world can be such an ugly place, so let this book be a stepping stone on the path of rediscovering the hidden beauties lost amongst the dark.
Cannot commend this author enough with this masterpiece that obviously came from the heart.
Would give more stars if I could.