This story is told in first person by Lydia Latrobe Roosevelt, the wife of investor Nicholas Roosevelt, who embarked on a steamship from Pittsburgh to New Orleans eight months pregnant with a toddler, to prove that the power of steam could travel both down and up the Mississippi River. This is historical fiction inspired by real people and their historic journey. The boat descended the Ohio and Mississippi River from Pittsburgh to New Orleans in 14 days. Roosevelt navigated the New Orleans steamboat not only down the river but back in places to show that travel back up the river was possible with steam. Prior to this time, boats descended the river and traveler’s road by horseback or carriage back upriver.

I switched between the ebook and audiobook while reading this story. The audiobook was narrated by Jessica Marchbank. This was my first audiobook listen by this narrator and I found her voice for the main character to be compelling, genuinely guiding me through the story in an absorbing manner.

I enjoyed parts of this story. The beginning setting the scene read slow for me. While I enjoyed the introduction of the characters, the first half of the book was a little heavy on Lydia’s pregnancy, subsequent childbirth, parenting and other people’s opinions on those subjects and how Lydia was doing it wrong. However, she was determined in her path and would let no one, including her husband at times, dissuade her.

Once the book moved into adventures with the steamship, I was very intrigued by the harrowing events of river travel, especially at that time since I was unfamiliar with the New Madrid earthquakes of 1811-1812. Lydia’s rah-rah attitude concerning her older husband was at times inspiring and others annoying. She was determined to remain at his side no matter the cost or danger. She did at times make other decisions about their children. Mothers with high-risk jobs will probably relate to Lydia.

While I admit that I probably would have enjoyed this historical adventure more from the point of view of Nicholas, others may enjoy Lydia’s strong female character in supporting her husband and raising her children all the while jumping in where needed to aid the success of the project and defying conventions of the time.

Thank you to Netgalley, Kensington Books, and HighBridge Audio for a copy provided for an honest review.

Diane McPhail, Follow the Stars Home, 3⭐
Narrator: Jessica Marchbank
Pub day: 08/20/24
#gifted from NetGalley and HighBridge Audio
🚣🏻‍♀️ Very strange audio narration; did not like it! The cover and title do not fit this historical fiction tale. It's first POV--the annoying kind that is repetitive. 3 stars instead of 2 because the history is actually very cool.

I just finished the audiobook version of Follow the Start Home by Diane C. McPhail.

This book is a fictional account of Lydia Latrobe Roosevelt, a woman who at the time was married, 8 months pregnant, and with toddler in tow, and despite all of this joined her husband in riding the steamship to New Orleans. This was a rather demonized mode of transportation, and many people did not trust it.
Through the book, we learn about the many challenges that had to be faced on this journey, as well as of the relationship between the women, men, and children on the ship. We learn about the risk of fire and explosion, as well as the forces of nature such as massive earthquakes and of the Mississippi actually flowing backwards as a result.

This is a very wholesome account of these people in their time. Domesticity looms large through the main characters, and nursing mothers and childcare play a large part in the book, as does some dealing with past traumas.

I would recommend this book to those looking for a more gentle read, and to learn about factual events that happened in America's past, particularly as the country (and technology) expanded.

The narration was pretty good as well.

Thanks to Netgalley for the advance audiobook version of this book.

I found this book very intriguing. I was drawn to this one when it was said that it was perfect for fans of Allison Pataki. She’s one of my favorite historical fiction authors, so I was sold. The Roosevelt last name is synonymous with the early years of our country, but Nicholas isn’t a notable name. I loved that Lydia stood by her husband, through everything. Nicholas took her thoughts into consideration, an almost unheard of thing in the early 1800’s. She was dedicated to his steamboat invention and took big risks by traveling on his newest boat while she was very pregnant with their second child. I can’t wait to see how this story pans out for them both, and how successful this boat trip was.

I enjoyed the narration of this book. It was nice to hear Lydia's experience described to me. Jessica did a great job drawing me into the story.

Thank you Highbridge Audio for my ALC of this book.

I'm unfortunately going to quit at 14% while I'm ahead. Unfortunately this book is taking way to long to go anywhere and constantly hearing about the main character's love for her husband without moving the plot is growing tiresome. The premise sounded interesting, but unless a book like this starts out with a banger, or goes somewhere quickly it will lose my interest every time..

I love historical women’s fiction and stories about those often forgot throughout history, but Follow the Stars Home fell flat in a lot of ways for me.

This story about Lydia Latrobe Roosevelt, a woman who was surrounded by men that were integral to the infrastructure of America (her father the lead architect on The Capital building in DC; her husband the engineer behind modern day steamboats), had a lot of promise as it chronicles her journey from Pittsburgh to New Orleans in her husbands new invention. Unfortunately, the story was a little bit too slow paced and repetitive for me. I also think we lost a lot by having the novel in memoir style especially historical context about marginalized folks during that time (expansion to the west and its impact on indigenous folks; the institution of slavery as the story moved south).

This was a book I was, unfortunately, dragging my feet on finishing as I lost interest pretty early on. I do think this may have been in part due to the narration, so I’d maybe give it another chance in a physical copy. Although it was a bit too one-dimensional for my liking, the writing was great so I’m sure there will be those who love this book. It just was not for me.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the audiobook copy in exchange for my honest review.

First, I wish to thank the author and Netgally for this arc. I always appreciate and get really excited when I get selected to read/listen to arcs. I am choosing to leave a review as a thank you.

I started this audiobook with so much enthusiasm because of the description of the book. However, respectfully, this was quite underwhelming and at some points of the story was annoying and almost DNF’d it.

Here are the notes I took:
1. POV from FMC - we love a first person pov
2. Age gap; husband is dads bff💀; attraction began during her teen years 🤢;FMC constantly reminds the reader of the age difference and how dad didn’t approve, annoying. Age gaps are okay but not when the attraction began while she was still a child no thank you.
3. FMC kind of annoying
4. Doesn’t actually get interesting until chapter 25 (about 64%) when their coal gets stolen 😑

I love a good historical fiction but this one was not for me.

I'm sorry this one is a DNF for me. The narrator was putting me to sleep. Though the story sounds interesting on premise, I think I'll need to physically read this one rather than listen.

Thank you High Bridge Audio for the #gifted ALC to review.

One of my favorite things is to read about historical events or people in a fictionalized way. Teach me the past but do it in a way that feels like entertainment. Follow the Stars Home is exactly like that.

Expect 👉🏼 1800’s, Historical Reimagining, the first river steamboat journey

Lydia is 8 months pregnant and has a toddler. But that won’t stop her from joining her adventurous husband on a dangerous journey down the Mississippi River in the first steamboat River journey that changed the shape of the Americas.

I cannot imagine taking on a trip like this even without being pregnant. The dangers they encountered on the river and off the river were perilous and the already healthy respect I had for people who lived then, increased exponentially.

Lydia balanced being a mother, a wife, a lady in charge and a supporter of her husband in the most graceful way. She was a magnificent character and I absolutely loved this story.

Jessica Marchbank did a fantastic job narrating this book and giving voice to Lydia’s incredible character.

4.5/5