Publication Date: February 20, 2026
Every Step of the Way is a lyrical, heart-aching debut about the loves we lose, the roots we return to, and the fragile beauty of starting over.
Noah thought she had her future mapped out — with Derek by her side, music in her veins, and the kind of love she believed could survive anything. But as Derek spirals under the weight of secrets and self-destruction, Noah finds herself fighting to hold onto someone who’s already slipping away.
When her life—and everything she dreamed of—comes undone, she turns to the one person who has always been her anchor: her grandmother. In the stillness of that familiar home, surrounded by old photographs, lingering memories, and gentle wisdom, Noah begins to piece herself back together.
But grief has many faces, and healing is rarely simple. As time moves forward and the past refuses to stay buried, Noah must confront heartbreak, identity, and the quiet strength it takes to choose hope.
A story of love, loss, and healing, Every Step of the Way is about the people who shape us, the weight of letting go, and the courage it takes to begin again.
Sometimes a happily-ever-after takes a detour into uncharted territory.
Noah’s love for Derek unfolds in Every Step of the Way as author Sofia Ramirez Castillo delivers a heartbreaking story of love and loss.
Using a “then and now” approach, the author uses Noah’s first-person perspective to tell the story of how the young woman with a guitar met the love of her life, married, and then watched her happiness fade away.
It’s also a story of overcoming grief and a resilience cemented by Noah’s relationship with her spunky grandmother. Through it all, Noah’s gift of music helps keep her hopeful for a better tomorrow.
Every Step of the Way confronts grief and heartache through the lens of a woman forced to start over.
Sofía was born and raised in San José, Costa Rica, and has been chasing big dreams ever since. At sixteen, she moved to the U.S. to pursue a career in professional wrestling. Along the way, she fell in love with storytelling, languages, and a life built around movement. Now based in Orlando, Florida, she’s a master’s-level sign language interpreter, aerial arts enthusiast, and avid backpacker who has explored over 30 countries. This is her debut novel.
