Eleanor Rogers’ novel is a journey of discovery as experienced by Tess as she navigates her way into adulthood. But what comes with this are encounters with those who’ve been struggling there for awhile. This could have been a real “forest for the trees” dilemma for Tess, but Rogers shifts her in the direction of being an agent of change for the broken & bent souls she truly believes have just lost their way somehow. For this rookie adult to be a heroine is good for so many reasons – especially for empowering young female readers. I found the many twists & turns of the story to be very engaging, and I loved that the reader gets to see how resolution is part of hope. In the end, Aphrodite Stumbles left me wondering where the outcome for Tess will now lead her, will she & her boyfriend fall in love, and what develops for the characters who survive their struggles? We need a sequel!!!