Under the Blue Moon

by Joan Schweighardt

An automobile accident in front of a homeless shelter causes Lola, a dog trainer/groomer in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to renew her battle with the grief she previously pushed below the surface of her daily life. Ben, formerly an architect in the same city, has been abandoned by his family and is currently homeless. Lola sees him on the day of her accident, trying to smuggle something into the shelter while all the people associated with the facility are outside with her, waiting for the ambulance to arrive and watching the drama unfold at the end of the street as the guy who broadsided her runs from the scene and is pursued by police.

Ben, who lives on a ledge under an overpass with his 18-year-old cat and two space-mates, wants nothing more than to find a job and get back on his feet (and thereby win back both his dignity and his daughter’s love). Lola wants a second chance for a meaningful life. Their individual pursuits put them on parallel paths that offer not only chance encounters with each other but glimpses into the mysteries of luck, love, art, compassion, and what it means to be human in these times.

187 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 10, 2023

Reviews

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Under the Blue Moon follows two characters in starkly different circumstances as their lives continually cross paths with one another. Lola was in the wrong place at the wrong time when someone broadsided her car, causing her to crash in front of a homeless shelter. Among the chaos, Lola notices a man smuggling something under his jacket into the shelter. Ben, a former architect and current ‘down-and-outer’ as he likes to say, takes advantage of the hubbub to ferry his 18-year-old cat Siggy into the shelter to spend a night away from the highway ledge he currently calls home. Lola and Ben have little in common, but their struggles, grief and goals put them on similar trajectories as they, like all of us, try to make sense of their lives.

This is a beautifully written, character-driven novel with just the right amount of plot to keep it moving along at a good pace. While both main characters were engaging, I especially enjoyed the portion told from Ben’s point of view. I found I was able to easily sink into his perspective and see the world through his eyes which is one of the greatest benefits of reading. I appreciated the author’s depiction of how quickly someone’s circumstances can change, landing them in a state of houselessness and how incredibly difficult it is to turn things around.

[Gabrielle Mathieu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Under the Blue Moon is humane and compassionate exploration of two intersecting lives, both impacted by grief. On the surface, Ben, a homeless man living under a bridge, and Lola, the owner of a successful pet grooming business, seem to have little in common, except for the coincidence of Ben witnessing Lola being hit by a reckless driver as he’s entering the homeless shelter.
There are parallels in their stories, though. Both have lost children, in one case in a metaphysical sense, and in the other, through an actual death. Sad and numb, both find the most solace in their companion animals. Ben, once a successful married architect, was unable to face homelessness without taking his beloved cat from the family home. Siggy is all that remains of the life he once had, which he lost partially through his own carelessness. Lola has a best friend who irritates her, and an ex-husband she can’t forgive. Her dogs provide acceptance and love while soothing her soul. Both Lola and Ben feel guilt for failing their children, which makes them hard on themselves—and others. This is the story of their gradual healing through connecting with their community and helping others.
Joan draws on her own work with Albuquerque’s homeless shelters to offer us insights into the daily challenges of living on the street, and her novel reminds us that just one unfortunate incident, like a fight in a bar, can change the trajectory of a life.

[Lucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Under the Blue Moon follows Lola and Ben, two people living under starkly different circumstances. Lola is in the wrong place at the wrong time when she is in a car crash that Ben witnesses. Ben is a disgraced former architect who calls the underside of a bridge his home. They are such different people experiencing the universal emotions of grief, longing, and a want for something that is different/something greater than their current experiences.

This novel is so incredibly written! The dual pov is well done and not overwhelming. I typically read stories that are driven more by plot than characters, but I think the Schweighardt did such a tremendous job with this character driven novel. I was emotionally invested during the entire read!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[G.P. Gottlieb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Men waiting to enter a homeless shelter gawk at Lola, who is stuck behind the wheel of her just t-boned car. A man enters the shelter wearing a zipped-up leather jacket, and because it’s in the 90s in Albuquerque, she wonders if he’s carrying a weapon. Under the Blue Moon is a quick, powerful story about luck, compassion, homelessness, grief, and what it means to be human, and I'm still thinking about the characters -

Also, I got to interview the author! https://newbooksnetwork.com/joan-schw...

[J.S. Burke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Under the Blue Moon has intriguing characters with varied backgrounds, seeking happier lives. I was quickly pulled into the story. Ben, a homeless man has a beloved cat. He’s classy and reliably careful with others. He’s easy to root for. Lola and Janet have an interesting friendship that evolves. The complexity of living homeless is well portrayed. The ending is satisfying, with room for a short sequel. Five stars!