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Moonrising
A debut near future romance, where Sea of Tranquility meets Winter’s Orbit, told against the backdrop of the Moon’s first lunar colony, with a multicultural and LGBTQ+ cast, about a cynical agronomist and charming Emirati businessman who fall in love, and battle eco-terrorists.
In 2073, controversial agronomist Dr. Alex Cole has dedicated her life to mutagenetic food, the only solution to feeding a world torn apart by climate change. When fierce opposition from radical environmentalists wipes out her lab funding, a surprising lifeline appears in the form of Mansoor Al Kaabi, a charismatic Emirati businessman who needs a sustainable food supply for his guests on the Moon’s first hotel.
Alex moves to the Moon colony with Mansoor, and they immediately dive into the challenging work. As she smuggles in illegal chickens, fights a vexing tomato fungus, and dreams of olive groves on the Moon, Alex is surprised to find herself falling in love not just with the lunar colony, but with Mansoor, whose vision for the future of the Moon extends far beyond luxury hotels.
Back on Earth, eccentric genius Victor Beard and Mansoor’s younger brother Rashid fight to push the Homestead Act through Congress. Without the support of the US government, they’ll never be able to achieve their goal to relocate humanity to the Moon and secure a second chance for life on Earth.
When eco-terrorists threaten the lunar colony, Alex, Mansoor, Victor, and Rashid must choose what they’re willing to die for—and what they’re really living for. Is it their grandiose visions of saving the planet—or is it each other?
In 2073, controversial agronomist Dr. Alex Cole has dedicated her life to mutagenetic food, the only solution to feeding a world torn apart by climate change. When fierce opposition from radical environmentalists wipes out her lab funding, a surprising lifeline appears in the form of Mansoor Al Kaabi, a charismatic Emirati businessman who needs a sustainable food supply for his guests on the Moon’s first hotel.
Alex moves to the Moon colony with Mansoor, and they immediately dive into the challenging work. As she smuggles in illegal chickens, fights a vexing tomato fungus, and dreams of olive groves on the Moon, Alex is surprised to find herself falling in love not just with the lunar colony, but with Mansoor, whose vision for the future of the Moon extends far beyond luxury hotels.
Back on Earth, eccentric genius Victor Beard and Mansoor’s younger brother Rashid fight to push the Homestead Act through Congress. Without the support of the US government, they’ll never be able to achieve their goal to relocate humanity to the Moon and secure a second chance for life on Earth.
When eco-terrorists threaten the lunar colony, Alex, Mansoor, Victor, and Rashid must choose what they’re willing to die for—and what they’re really living for. Is it their grandiose visions of saving the planet—or is it each other?
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First published July 8, 2025
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About the author
Claire Barner
2 books47 followersClaire Barner studied public policy and education at the University of Chicago and has spent her career in operations. She is an avid gardener, on a mission to maximize the number of tomatoes her small bungalow lot can produce. She loves to cook freshly harvested vegetables, mix strong cocktails, and host lively dinner parties.
She and her husband are raising three children and love exploring Chicago’s garden walks, lakefront, museums, and forest preserves. Barner leads the parent engagement group at her children’s school and is committed to enhancing equity at Chicago Public Schools.
She and her husband are raising three children and love exploring Chicago’s garden walks, lakefront, museums, and forest preserves. Barner leads the parent engagement group at her children’s school and is committed to enhancing equity at Chicago Public Schools.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
March 20, 2025
Rashid put his hands on Victor’s hips. “Relax. Feel the rhythm of the music.” He moved Victor’s hips from side to side. “Now move your feet. Front. And back. And front. And back. Good.”
“It’s not good. I just stepped on your foot.”
“My feet can take it. These are sturdy shoes.”
What a random surprise find! I was desperately trying to find anything to read after finishing a horror story that left my brain all mangled.
I wasn't expecting this SciFi near future romance, a debut mind you, with not only two romances (MF & MM), but also with really respectful and natural Middle Eastern rep, to be this good!
I was using this as a palate cleanser, but I got sucked into the futuristic plot with mutagenic food, eco-terrorists (gasp, and the terrorists weren't the Muslim MCs!), and the lunar colony.
The story could stand alone without the romance, but I really grew attached to all four of the main characters. The two Emirati brothers lived very different lives, one was gay and spent most of his time in America, the older brother was split between his family obligations (in the UAE) and what he wanted for himself (on the Moon). So many casual references to how they practiced Islam at home vs in England and America, how they balanced their lives, how lonely Ramadan is in America, missing certain foods, and so on.
Mansoor did not regret his choice to live in America, but he missed home with an ache that never went away. He was sorry his visit would not line up with Ramadan. He had not observed that year. The Sunni population in Boston was mostly Lebanese, Egyptian, and Syrian, but they would have welcomed him. The truth was, Ramadan in the West made him lonely. He missed the lively Iftar in Abu Dhabi. The feasting after sundown was a raucous affair; the whole city turned out night after night. Muslims in Boston did not serve harees or fareed. Fish in Boston was delicious, if a bit bland, but no one was grilling madrooba.
I was moved by the Middle Eastern and Arab Muslim rep, and I really appreciated the author's afterword where she explained that she was writing outside her lived experiences and used a sensitivity reader, and it shows! I wish more authors would do this. I've added what she said:
That's not the focus of the book, at all. I just wanted to highlight how great it was to read that particular aspect. 🥹
Oh, I also got something in my eye over a greenhouse. Probably just that pesky moon dust, but still. A greenhouse!
I will edit and add to this review, I do think it deserves to be longer and less rambly.
“Please curb your impulse to put a Red Sox sticker on my car,” Mansoor shot back as the doors slid open. 🤨
Thank you to NetGalley for this eARC, my opinions are my own.
“It’s not good. I just stepped on your foot.”
“My feet can take it. These are sturdy shoes.”
What a random surprise find! I was desperately trying to find anything to read after finishing a horror story that left my brain all mangled.
I wasn't expecting this SciFi near future romance, a debut mind you, with not only two romances (MF & MM), but also with really respectful and natural Middle Eastern rep, to be this good!
I was using this as a palate cleanser, but I got sucked into the futuristic plot with mutagenic food, eco-terrorists (gasp, and the terrorists weren't the Muslim MCs!), and the lunar colony.
The story could stand alone without the romance, but I really grew attached to all four of the main characters. The two Emirati brothers lived very different lives, one was gay and spent most of his time in America, the older brother was split between his family obligations (in the UAE) and what he wanted for himself (on the Moon). So many casual references to how they practiced Islam at home vs in England and America, how they balanced their lives, how lonely Ramadan is in America, missing certain foods, and so on.
Mansoor did not regret his choice to live in America, but he missed home with an ache that never went away. He was sorry his visit would not line up with Ramadan. He had not observed that year. The Sunni population in Boston was mostly Lebanese, Egyptian, and Syrian, but they would have welcomed him. The truth was, Ramadan in the West made him lonely. He missed the lively Iftar in Abu Dhabi. The feasting after sundown was a raucous affair; the whole city turned out night after night. Muslims in Boston did not serve harees or fareed. Fish in Boston was delicious, if a bit bland, but no one was grilling madrooba.
I was moved by the Middle Eastern and Arab Muslim rep, and I really appreciated the author's afterword where she explained that she was writing outside her lived experiences and used a sensitivity reader, and it shows! I wish more authors would do this. I've added what she said:
Moonrising's characters and subject matter contain many things outside my lived experience, none more so than Mansoor and his family’s culture and faith. I am grateful to my sensitivity reader Hagar El Saeed who helped me ensure the Arabic phrases, references to Islam, and scenes in Abu Dhabi were respectful. I appreciate the many resources the Chicago Public Library has to offer on the UAE and spent countless hours at the Harold Washington Library studying this fascinating place. I am also indebted to Omar Saif Ghobash, whose book Letters to a Young Muslim helped form my understanding of Mansoor’s father’s world-view and dreams for his children.
That's not the focus of the book, at all. I just wanted to highlight how great it was to read that particular aspect. 🥹
Oh, I also got something in my eye over a greenhouse. Probably just that pesky moon dust, but still. A greenhouse!
I will edit and add to this review, I do think it deserves to be longer and less rambly.
“Please curb your impulse to put a Red Sox sticker on my car,” Mansoor shot back as the doors slid open. 🤨
Thank you to NetGalley for this eARC, my opinions are my own.
January 9, 2025
Thoughtful and exciting science fiction with compelling characters. Set about fifty years from now, Moonrising describes the successful expansion of a tiny toehold colony on the moon thanks to a mixture of science, entertainment, and politics. This is the first novel, in my experience, to feature an action agronomist as the heroic leading character. The story highlights the best in people - and the worst. The plot is totally plausible from a scientific perspective while featuring a variety of characters displaying a array of very human strengths and foibles. I loved it!
July 20, 2025
I wanted more physics, astronomy, chemistry!!
But this was still pretty good. I didn’t enjoy the first half at all and almost DNF’d, which for me is something I rarely do. It was boring and dry, and nothing really happened. It starts with lots of info about multiple characters and their roles on earth and/or the moon colony. It wasn’t that gripping. But as soon as our FMC got to the moon and started trying to grow plants I was hooked. I guess I’m just a little obsessed with all things space. I did find it hard to connect with any of the characters except for the FMC Alex. None of them seemed that important compared to her, but even she was cringe at times.
All in all I enjoyed the second half of this book immensely, most likely because it took place in space.
But this was still pretty good. I didn’t enjoy the first half at all and almost DNF’d, which for me is something I rarely do. It was boring and dry, and nothing really happened. It starts with lots of info about multiple characters and their roles on earth and/or the moon colony. It wasn’t that gripping. But as soon as our FMC got to the moon and started trying to grow plants I was hooked. I guess I’m just a little obsessed with all things space. I did find it hard to connect with any of the characters except for the FMC Alex. None of them seemed that important compared to her, but even she was cringe at times.
All in all I enjoyed the second half of this book immensely, most likely because it took place in space.
June 21, 2025
Moonrising kicks off with an echo of the opening of Jurassic Park as Dr. Alex Cole, a scientist at the forefront of genetically modified food in the relatively near future, loses funding for her research only to be visited by a mega-rich investor (in this case NASA) who will fund her research for the next 10 years so long as she visits the moon and helps them figure out how to grow food there. While Jurassic Park told a story that questioned humanity’s use of science and warns about the perils of not asking if we should do something just because we can do it, this book does not have such lofty philosophical ambitions. Ultimately, this is a book filled with stereotypical characters wrapped up in an adventure tale.
The characters largely fall into three archetypes. First, the scientist. Two of our four primary characters fall into this category and both fit the stereotype of “highly intelligent scientist” to the letter. Alex and Victor are brilliant, don’t understand basic social cues, are terrible at personal relationships, believe they can change minds by simply yelling science at others, etc. Basically, pick a stereotype of a brilliant scientific mind and these two are sure to exhibit those characteristics. Impressively, while the characters showcase those characteristics, they don’t manage to actually exhibit any understanding of the Scientific Method or even rudimentary concepts of scientific integrity. The second archetype is the rich businessman. Mansoor and Rashid are brothers, and while some backstory is written to provide more depth (Mansoor once studied Biology in college and Rashid studied poetry and now paints), these two spend the entire book using money and politics to push forward the dream of colonizing the moon. Amazingly they don’t come across as smarmy, but that may be because most of politicking is done off page with merely recaps and results directly shown to the reader. Of course these two brothers woo our scientific types with Mansoor and Alex developing a romance while staying on the moon and Rashid and Victor getting a slower burn romance while on Earth. The final archetype is the eco fighter/terrorist. In this case, the less said about those characters the better as they are almost not characters at all with how little you actually get to know them or their motivations.
And with all that we haven’t even begun to talk about the actual plot of the book, which is really just a semi-adventure story about events, politicking, and science (sort of) to colonize the moon. We don’t actually see that happen, nor does it seem like the characters havefigured out how to genuinely make that long-term sustainable. Most of the building on the moon is focused on a hotel for space tourists, so I’m not sure what that has to do with actual colonization and it really undermines the four core characters’ claims that they are doing this to ease the burden of climate change on Earth by moving some of the population to the moon, especially as the primary focus of the project is a hotel. And that’s not even touching on the fact that a large portion of the plot is focused on the UAE interfering in US politics to make this space program happen. If you’re confused by all that, welcome to the club. In the end I think maybe the author took a bunch of random ideas about climate change, space, and GMO’s and put it together without much further thought.
At the end of the day, I found this book to be a pretty confusing, shallow read with very stereotypical characters. I’m not sure what the author actually thinks or is trying to say about space colonization, genetically modified food, eco terrorism, or any of the other topics raised in the book and it didn’t inspire me to think about any of those topics any differently either, which is what should happen with good SciFi. One star.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
The characters largely fall into three archetypes. First, the scientist. Two of our four primary characters fall into this category and both fit the stereotype of “highly intelligent scientist” to the letter. Alex and Victor are brilliant, don’t understand basic social cues, are terrible at personal relationships, believe they can change minds by simply yelling science at others, etc. Basically, pick a stereotype of a brilliant scientific mind and these two are sure to exhibit those characteristics. Impressively, while the characters showcase those characteristics, they don’t manage to actually exhibit any understanding of the Scientific Method or even rudimentary concepts of scientific integrity. The second archetype is the rich businessman. Mansoor and Rashid are brothers, and while some backstory is written to provide more depth (Mansoor once studied Biology in college and Rashid studied poetry and now paints), these two spend the entire book using money and politics to push forward the dream of colonizing the moon. Amazingly they don’t come across as smarmy, but that may be because most of politicking is done off page with merely recaps and results directly shown to the reader. Of course these two brothers woo our scientific types with Mansoor and Alex developing a romance while staying on the moon and Rashid and Victor getting a slower burn romance while on Earth. The final archetype is the eco fighter/terrorist. In this case, the less said about those characters the better as they are almost not characters at all with how little you actually get to know them or their motivations.
And with all that we haven’t even begun to talk about the actual plot of the book, which is really just a semi-adventure story about events, politicking, and science (sort of) to colonize the moon. We don’t actually see that happen, nor does it seem like the characters havefigured out how to genuinely make that long-term sustainable. Most of the building on the moon is focused on a hotel for space tourists, so I’m not sure what that has to do with actual colonization and it really undermines the four core characters’ claims that they are doing this to ease the burden of climate change on Earth by moving some of the population to the moon, especially as the primary focus of the project is a hotel. And that’s not even touching on the fact that a large portion of the plot is focused on the UAE interfering in US politics to make this space program happen. If you’re confused by all that, welcome to the club. In the end I think maybe the author took a bunch of random ideas about climate change, space, and GMO’s and put it together without much further thought.
At the end of the day, I found this book to be a pretty confusing, shallow read with very stereotypical characters. I’m not sure what the author actually thinks or is trying to say about space colonization, genetically modified food, eco terrorism, or any of the other topics raised in the book and it didn’t inspire me to think about any of those topics any differently either, which is what should happen with good SciFi. One star.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
June 23, 2025
Okay, space nerds and romance lovers, this one's for you.
Set in 2073, Moonrising is like The Martian meets a slow-burn sci-fi romance with chickens. Yes, illegal chickens. On the moon.
We follow Dr. Alex Cole, a badass agronomist who’s trying to grow food in a lunar greenhouse, after Earth basically kills potatoes forever. She teams up with dreamy hotel-builder Mansoor Al Kaabi, and sparks do fly both romantically and in the greenhouse, thanks to fungus, sabotage, and lunar drama.
Meanwhile back on Earth, there’s political chess, romance, and a push to make the Moon more than just a billionaire’s playground.
✨Why it’s cool:
Smart science but still super readable
Diverse, lovable characters
Romance that doesn’t hijack the plot
Real “what if we actually lived on the moon?” vibes
Overall Moonrising is a compelling speculative science, warm romance, and global-minded futurism read. With strong characters, thoughtful representation, and realistic world‑building, if you’re into space, sustainability, and subtle swoon, you’ll love this!
⚡️Thank you Books Forward PR and Claire Barner for sharing this book with me!
Set in 2073, Moonrising is like The Martian meets a slow-burn sci-fi romance with chickens. Yes, illegal chickens. On the moon.
We follow Dr. Alex Cole, a badass agronomist who’s trying to grow food in a lunar greenhouse, after Earth basically kills potatoes forever. She teams up with dreamy hotel-builder Mansoor Al Kaabi, and sparks do fly both romantically and in the greenhouse, thanks to fungus, sabotage, and lunar drama.
Meanwhile back on Earth, there’s political chess, romance, and a push to make the Moon more than just a billionaire’s playground.
✨Why it’s cool:
Smart science but still super readable
Diverse, lovable characters
Romance that doesn’t hijack the plot
Real “what if we actually lived on the moon?” vibes
Overall Moonrising is a compelling speculative science, warm romance, and global-minded futurism read. With strong characters, thoughtful representation, and realistic world‑building, if you’re into space, sustainability, and subtle swoon, you’ll love this!
⚡️Thank you Books Forward PR and Claire Barner for sharing this book with me!
December 22, 2024
This is an excellent Sci Fi story with a lot of intrigue and the right amount of romance. I had a great time with it.
June 13, 2025
2073.
Dr Alex Cole is a leading researcher in one of the most controversial scientific fields: mutagenic foods. Climate change has created climate refugees who have no access to fresh foods, and Alex believes mutagenic food can help save them. Mutagenic food has a bad rap in the United States, thought, and Alex is often the target of an environmental terrorist group. Victor Beard, genius and one time investor in Big Ag supporting Alex's research, has abandoned agriculture for rocketry. Working with UAE billionaire visionary Mansoor Al Kaabi, they convince NASA to hire Alex to help grow her mutagenic crops on the moon in an effort to make the colony self-supporting, and to supply fresh food to Mansoor's luxury lunar hotel. Mansoor is desperate to spend time on the colony himself, and his younger brother, Rashid, is desperate to start making a name for himself worthy of his family, so Rashid steps into Mansoor's shoes, working closely with Victor to lobby for support of the lunar colony expansion.
With four main characters, all of them complicated and messy people, I was a little nervous about how Claire Barner was going to pull off her debut. As a character driven reader who also loves multiple factors driving the plot, this book ended up a big hit for me. Even though a large portion of this book takes place on the moon, every bit of it is believable to me, from the rejection of mutagenic foods to the moon-based scientists frantically working with their limited time to conducting experiments, to the incredibly bad decisions Alex makes by continuing to sleep with someone who ideologically opposes the thing she is most passionate about. Science fiction like this is successful because it makes the near future feel like a reality.
I loved the dual romantic plotlines, and the balance between the two: neither romance holds more weight than the other, and I was equally invested in Alex and Mansoor as I was in Victor and Rashid. The relationships are intimately tied to and critical for the plot, but not the whole focus of the book, which works especially well in a science fiction setting for me.
Thank you to Diversion Books for an eARC. Moonrising is out 7/8/25!
Dr Alex Cole is a leading researcher in one of the most controversial scientific fields: mutagenic foods. Climate change has created climate refugees who have no access to fresh foods, and Alex believes mutagenic food can help save them. Mutagenic food has a bad rap in the United States, thought, and Alex is often the target of an environmental terrorist group. Victor Beard, genius and one time investor in Big Ag supporting Alex's research, has abandoned agriculture for rocketry. Working with UAE billionaire visionary Mansoor Al Kaabi, they convince NASA to hire Alex to help grow her mutagenic crops on the moon in an effort to make the colony self-supporting, and to supply fresh food to Mansoor's luxury lunar hotel. Mansoor is desperate to spend time on the colony himself, and his younger brother, Rashid, is desperate to start making a name for himself worthy of his family, so Rashid steps into Mansoor's shoes, working closely with Victor to lobby for support of the lunar colony expansion.
With four main characters, all of them complicated and messy people, I was a little nervous about how Claire Barner was going to pull off her debut. As a character driven reader who also loves multiple factors driving the plot, this book ended up a big hit for me. Even though a large portion of this book takes place on the moon, every bit of it is believable to me, from the rejection of mutagenic foods to the moon-based scientists frantically working with their limited time to conducting experiments, to the incredibly bad decisions Alex makes by continuing to sleep with someone who ideologically opposes the thing she is most passionate about. Science fiction like this is successful because it makes the near future feel like a reality.
I loved the dual romantic plotlines, and the balance between the two: neither romance holds more weight than the other, and I was equally invested in Alex and Mansoor as I was in Victor and Rashid. The relationships are intimately tied to and critical for the plot, but not the whole focus of the book, which works especially well in a science fiction setting for me.
Thank you to Diversion Books for an eARC. Moonrising is out 7/8/25!
November 6, 2025
*4.5 stars*. Very interesting book, I really enjoyed the aspect of mutagenetic food-fascinating and probably something our world should be looking at considering what is happening to our environment. The characters were fully developed and connected to each other in an organic way. The Moon colony was fascinating-I could have read an entire book just about how the colony functioned! The story is fast-paced, entertaining and absorbing. A great debut novel! A favorite of the year and I definitely recommend it. I will be watching for this author’s next book!
From the book blurb: “In 2073, controversial agronomist Dr. Alex Cole has dedicated her life to mutagenetic food, the only solution to feeding a world torn apart by climate change. When fierce opposition from radical environmentalists wipes out her lab funding, a surprising lifeline appears in the form of Mansoor Al Kaabi, a charismatic Emirati businessman who needs a sustainable food supply for his guests on the Moon’s first hotel.
Alex moves to the Moon colony with Mansoor, and they immediately dive into the challenging work. As she smuggles in illegal chickens, fights a vexing tomato fungus, and dreams of olive groves on the Moon, Alex is surprised to find herself falling in love not just with the lunar colony, but with Mansoor, whose vision for the future of the Moon extends far beyond luxury hotels.
Back on Earth, eccentric genius Victor Beard and Mansoor’s younger brother Rashid fight to push the Homestead Act through Congress. Without the support of the US government, they’ll never be able to achieve their goal to relocate humanity to the Moon and secure a second chance for life on Earth.
When eco-terrorists threaten the lunar colony, Alex, Mansoor, Victor, and Rashid must choose what they’re willing to die for–and what they’re really living for. Is it their grandiose visions of saving the planet–or is it each other?”
From the book blurb: “In 2073, controversial agronomist Dr. Alex Cole has dedicated her life to mutagenetic food, the only solution to feeding a world torn apart by climate change. When fierce opposition from radical environmentalists wipes out her lab funding, a surprising lifeline appears in the form of Mansoor Al Kaabi, a charismatic Emirati businessman who needs a sustainable food supply for his guests on the Moon’s first hotel.
Alex moves to the Moon colony with Mansoor, and they immediately dive into the challenging work. As she smuggles in illegal chickens, fights a vexing tomato fungus, and dreams of olive groves on the Moon, Alex is surprised to find herself falling in love not just with the lunar colony, but with Mansoor, whose vision for the future of the Moon extends far beyond luxury hotels.
Back on Earth, eccentric genius Victor Beard and Mansoor’s younger brother Rashid fight to push the Homestead Act through Congress. Without the support of the US government, they’ll never be able to achieve their goal to relocate humanity to the Moon and secure a second chance for life on Earth.
When eco-terrorists threaten the lunar colony, Alex, Mansoor, Victor, and Rashid must choose what they’re willing to die for–and what they’re really living for. Is it their grandiose visions of saving the planet–or is it each other?”
July 8, 2025
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.5 stars
Moonrising is the debut book from Claire Barner and I really loved this one. I think the world building and the set up is quite interesting. This is a book set in the relatively near future (how is 2073 less than 50 years away!), so while it is more advanced than our current world, it still feels very familiar. The problems they are facing are a logical extension of those from our own time, particularly the devastating toll of climate change. Parts of the world are increasingly uninhabitable, food production is becoming limited, and the wealth gap between the rich and poor is widening.
I found myself very engaged with all four characters’ journeys and really loved the near future setting and how it builds on our current world. There are a lot of interesting ideas here to explore and I was very caught up in the story. I think this is a wonderful debut book and I will definitely be looking forward to more from Barner.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
4.5 stars
Moonrising is the debut book from Claire Barner and I really loved this one. I think the world building and the set up is quite interesting. This is a book set in the relatively near future (how is 2073 less than 50 years away!), so while it is more advanced than our current world, it still feels very familiar. The problems they are facing are a logical extension of those from our own time, particularly the devastating toll of climate change. Parts of the world are increasingly uninhabitable, food production is becoming limited, and the wealth gap between the rich and poor is widening.
I found myself very engaged with all four characters’ journeys and really loved the near future setting and how it builds on our current world. There are a lot of interesting ideas here to explore and I was very caught up in the story. I think this is a wonderful debut book and I will definitely be looking forward to more from Barner.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
August 18, 2025
MOONRISING is a thoughtful, character-driven sci-fi story set just 50 years into the future, where Earth teeters on collapse and the race to colonize the moon is in full swing. With a perfect blend of science, politics, and romance, this novel brings a fresh take on space fiction even for readers who don’t usually gravitate toward the genre (like me lmao)
Told through three compelling POVs, the book shines with both emotional depth and intellectual intrigue. While all the characters are engaging, Rashid and Victor absolutely stole the show. especially Victor, who manages to be hilarious, competent, and unexpectedly lovable (his line about “I sent them a spreadsheet” lives rent-free in my head)!
It's got action-packed agronomy and tense politics between the US and UAE, and and delivers a fully plausible, richly imagined world, and makes science feel thrilling without ever being overwhelming. A brilliant debut that celebrates both human ingenuity and vulnerability. I’m already hoping for a sequel!
Told through three compelling POVs, the book shines with both emotional depth and intellectual intrigue. While all the characters are engaging, Rashid and Victor absolutely stole the show. especially Victor, who manages to be hilarious, competent, and unexpectedly lovable (his line about “I sent them a spreadsheet” lives rent-free in my head)!
It's got action-packed agronomy and tense politics between the US and UAE, and and delivers a fully plausible, richly imagined world, and makes science feel thrilling without ever being overwhelming. A brilliant debut that celebrates both human ingenuity and vulnerability. I’m already hoping for a sequel!
August 20, 2025
Really enticing story with fun scientific ideas tied in. I love the ideas around space travel and colonization. Made the idea of space travel more exciting than terrifying.
May 3, 2025
First I would like to say thank you to Claire Barner for contributing an ARC of Moonrising to a giveaway that I was the lucky the winner of.
Moonrising is a sci-fi dystopian story set 50 years from now. The Earth is on the brink of destruction and countries are now looking to colonize the moon.
Space sci-fi isn’t always my favorite genre but this book made me loooooove it. There was a perfect balance between romance and science. The science talk was interesting and easy to follow, and the romance wasn’t too much and added such a lovely touch.
I enjoyed the three POVs. Mansoor’s and Alex’s POVs were interesting but I fell in LOVE with Rashid and Victor’s story. They are just perfect and Victor “I thought I handled it, I sent them a spreadsheet” Beard was by far my favorite character.
Alongside the science there was a lot of political intrigue happening between the US and UAE that I enjoyed.
For a lot of this book I felt almost uneasy, this being set only 50 years from now with our current climate (political and physical) hits close to home. But I do think it works in the readers favor, and makes the story more engaging.
If you’re a sci-fi and/or a dystopian fan, this is a book you for sure need to add to your tbr.
Moonrising is a sci-fi dystopian story set 50 years from now. The Earth is on the brink of destruction and countries are now looking to colonize the moon.
Space sci-fi isn’t always my favorite genre but this book made me loooooove it. There was a perfect balance between romance and science. The science talk was interesting and easy to follow, and the romance wasn’t too much and added such a lovely touch.
I enjoyed the three POVs. Mansoor’s and Alex’s POVs were interesting but I fell in LOVE with Rashid and Victor’s story. They are just perfect and Victor “I thought I handled it, I sent them a spreadsheet” Beard was by far my favorite character.
Alongside the science there was a lot of political intrigue happening between the US and UAE that I enjoyed.
For a lot of this book I felt almost uneasy, this being set only 50 years from now with our current climate (political and physical) hits close to home. But I do think it works in the readers favor, and makes the story more engaging.
If you’re a sci-fi and/or a dystopian fan, this is a book you for sure need to add to your tbr.
abandoned
October 21, 2025Am I in a rut?
May 16, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC!
Oh man I really wish I loved this book. I was so excited going in, especially with those comp titles, but this just didn't land for me.
I found the world of this book deeply fascinating. The political climate of the end of the 21st century well written and had me hooked from the first chapter. I also really enjoyed all of the science, to the point of enjoying the mundane day to day running of a colony on the moon. The world and the character's felt generally really well thought out, and felt very real as a result. Each POV had such a strong and unique voice it really felt like being in their head.
My favorite couple were without a doubt Rashid and Victor. I wish we had had more time with them, they were so sweet and fit so well together.
I was less sold on Alex and Mansoor. I loved Alex as a character, but Mansoor rubbed me wrong the entire book. Why did no one else find it creepy that he found a woman and was so interested in her that he put her in a position to be isolated on the moon where he would have constant access? I wanted to route for him and his desires for space colonization but I do actually find him accelerationist and cruel in his focus to escape from our home planet, even if he was doing it for the sake of the human race. Maybe I've just lost my taste for billionaires trying to escape into space recently.
Much of the story ended up feeling sort of... empty. The many months long timeskips were likely required for the book not to feel stagnant but made me feel like we were both moving too fast and not fast enough, because we would jump forward only for our main characters to be doing the exact same thing they were doing 4 months ago. I found the world interesting enough that this wasn't always horrible but it was always slightly jarring and didn't quite fit in my mind.
Ultimately I enjoyed my read and wouldn't be against reading more from this universe/author but I was left a bit disappointed by the story as a whole.
Oh man I really wish I loved this book. I was so excited going in, especially with those comp titles, but this just didn't land for me.
I found the world of this book deeply fascinating. The political climate of the end of the 21st century well written and had me hooked from the first chapter. I also really enjoyed all of the science, to the point of enjoying the mundane day to day running of a colony on the moon. The world and the character's felt generally really well thought out, and felt very real as a result. Each POV had such a strong and unique voice it really felt like being in their head.
My favorite couple were without a doubt Rashid and Victor. I wish we had had more time with them, they were so sweet and fit so well together.
I was less sold on Alex and Mansoor. I loved Alex as a character, but Mansoor rubbed me wrong the entire book. Why did no one else find it creepy that he found a woman and was so interested in her that he put her in a position to be isolated on the moon where he would have constant access? I wanted to route for him and his desires for space colonization but I do actually find him accelerationist and cruel in his focus to escape from our home planet, even if he was doing it for the sake of the human race. Maybe I've just lost my taste for billionaires trying to escape into space recently.
Much of the story ended up feeling sort of... empty. The many months long timeskips were likely required for the book not to feel stagnant but made me feel like we were both moving too fast and not fast enough, because we would jump forward only for our main characters to be doing the exact same thing they were doing 4 months ago. I found the world interesting enough that this wasn't always horrible but it was always slightly jarring and didn't quite fit in my mind.
Ultimately I enjoyed my read and wouldn't be against reading more from this universe/author but I was left a bit disappointed by the story as a whole.
April 27, 2025
4.5⭐️ rounded up.
So you know the movie WALL-E? Earth became a total wasteland so they sent a ship to outer space while WALL-E tried to clean up the planet. Well this isn’t a Disney movie and the earth isn’t destroyed…yet.
The overall plot is very timely (billionaires going to space?) even though it’s set in the not so distant future. There’s action, intrigue, romance, you really get it all.
Alex is a scientist who’s kind of hated for her work in mutagenic plants. Years before someone messed it up and now no one trusts it. Her friends and mentor Victor has moved on from ag work and decides to build a rocket to the moon. Unbeknownst to Alex, Victor is working with a wealthy businessman, Mansoor.
Mansoor and his family are funding a new moon hotel (transport vehicle by Victor) but they’re ultimately hoping by inhabiting the moon, they can alleviate some of the stresses on the earth. Together Mansoor and Alex travel to the moon where she begins working to raise fresh produce in the lunar environment.
Back on earth, Victor is working with Mansoor’s younger brother, Rashid to get additional U.S support for a lunar colony.
Oh, and there’s an eco terrorist group trying to upend everything.
The relationship with Mansoor and Alex is one of mutual respect and real fun to watch. Then there’s Victor and Rashid and I absolutely adore the two of them.
I was a little concerned at the beginning because Mansoor and Rashid are Muslim and from Abu Dhabi and I hoped their culture and beliefs were presented accurately and fairly. To my great relief it was and the author even enlisted the aid of a third party to ensure accuracy.
Thank you NetGalley, Diversion Books and Claire Barner for the opportunity for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
So you know the movie WALL-E? Earth became a total wasteland so they sent a ship to outer space while WALL-E tried to clean up the planet. Well this isn’t a Disney movie and the earth isn’t destroyed…yet.
The overall plot is very timely (billionaires going to space?) even though it’s set in the not so distant future. There’s action, intrigue, romance, you really get it all.
Alex is a scientist who’s kind of hated for her work in mutagenic plants. Years before someone messed it up and now no one trusts it. Her friends and mentor Victor has moved on from ag work and decides to build a rocket to the moon. Unbeknownst to Alex, Victor is working with a wealthy businessman, Mansoor.
Mansoor and his family are funding a new moon hotel (transport vehicle by Victor) but they’re ultimately hoping by inhabiting the moon, they can alleviate some of the stresses on the earth. Together Mansoor and Alex travel to the moon where she begins working to raise fresh produce in the lunar environment.
Back on earth, Victor is working with Mansoor’s younger brother, Rashid to get additional U.S support for a lunar colony.
Oh, and there’s an eco terrorist group trying to upend everything.
The relationship with Mansoor and Alex is one of mutual respect and real fun to watch. Then there’s Victor and Rashid and I absolutely adore the two of them.
I was a little concerned at the beginning because Mansoor and Rashid are Muslim and from Abu Dhabi and I hoped their culture and beliefs were presented accurately and fairly. To my great relief it was and the author even enlisted the aid of a third party to ensure accuracy.
Thank you NetGalley, Diversion Books and Claire Barner for the opportunity for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 29, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley, publisher Diversion Books, and author Claire Barner for providing an eARC. I'm leaving this review voluntarily and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
.
.
.
The worst part about this book is that it ended.
I loved it so much. Honestly. Zero complaints.
Me reading this:
This was such an engrossing story on morality and just how far people will go to fight for their beliefs and their passions. The concept of (basically) GMO food becoming necessary and the factions against it, the carbon footprint and pollution concern of space travel, the fear-mongering and rejection of science and how beliefs can sometimes override science, plus cultural differences... my god this was a fascinating study.
I did not expect a quad-POV narrative, but I was totally hooked. Each perspective had a unique voice, giving each character depth and immersion. My favorite was (to my surprise) Mansoor, who I never expected to identify with given he's a betrothed Emirati semi-royal kajillionaire trying to turn his family's oil money into something morally palatable (genius billionaire playboy philanthropist?), but I loved his vision and his drive, even if I didn't love some of the personal decisions he made along the way. That's what makes a great character, I think: when I can disagree with them but still love them.
Don't get me wrong, I also loved agronomist Alex with her experimental plants and secret contraband chickens. I thought her passion and steadfast tenacity in her beliefs despite being faced with literal armed terrorists was awe-inspiring. And Rashid was so much more than just Mansoor's brother, with his own motivations and dreams and the pressures of being the youngest son. Being the youngest, anything he succeeds at will simply be meeting expectations and not considered significant, but any toes out of line would bring great shame and embarrassment on the whole family just by association. Nonetheless, watching Rashid come into his own talents and realize his potential was a tender and inspiring journey. I'd be remiss not to give our last POV character, Victor, some love too. Poor Victor, absolutely a genius but less charismatic than Mansoor, is going through a divorce and I get the feeling he's undoubtedly on the spectrum, given the main reason for his divorce is repeatedly missing social cues. I have such a soft spot for Victor, I just wanna give him a big ol' hug, but I think he'd probably hate it.
I really don't know how this book managed to cram two separate romances, four POVs, a space race, scientific breakthroughs, terrorism, a hostage situation, LGBTQ rights, politics, and a whole bunch more into only 330 pages without feeling like any corners were cut, but it did! These 330 pages flew by and, again, I was left wanting so much more not because I was seeking answers or I felt unfulfilled, but because I was so satisfied I wanted to keep indulging. This is an insane debut, and Claire Barner is definitely a new voice to sci-fi and romance that I'll be thrilled to see more from.
Bonus: REPRESENTATIONNNNNNNNN let's hear it for sensitivity readers and getting guidance on how to respectfully depict other cultures! Because yes, Rashid and Mansoor are Muslim. They're not very good Muslims (by their own admission) but at one point Mansoor pauses and upon reflecting on some recent events, feels like he should pray, and the scene is handled so beautifully and (as far as I, a white agnostic woman, can tell) respectfully. There's also some Arabic phrases spoken throughout the book, and some social interactions that take place in the UAE that required particular handling to be culturally appropriate, and I really really love the care and thought that was put into this by the author and her sensitivity readers.
.
.
.
The worst part about this book is that it ended.
I loved it so much. Honestly. Zero complaints.
Me reading this:
This was such an engrossing story on morality and just how far people will go to fight for their beliefs and their passions. The concept of (basically) GMO food becoming necessary and the factions against it, the carbon footprint and pollution concern of space travel, the fear-mongering and rejection of science and how beliefs can sometimes override science, plus cultural differences... my god this was a fascinating study.
I did not expect a quad-POV narrative, but I was totally hooked. Each perspective had a unique voice, giving each character depth and immersion. My favorite was (to my surprise) Mansoor, who I never expected to identify with given he's a betrothed Emirati semi-royal kajillionaire trying to turn his family's oil money into something morally palatable (genius billionaire playboy philanthropist?), but I loved his vision and his drive, even if I didn't love some of the personal decisions he made along the way. That's what makes a great character, I think: when I can disagree with them but still love them.
Don't get me wrong, I also loved agronomist Alex with her experimental plants and secret contraband chickens. I thought her passion and steadfast tenacity in her beliefs despite being faced with literal armed terrorists was awe-inspiring. And Rashid was so much more than just Mansoor's brother, with his own motivations and dreams and the pressures of being the youngest son. Being the youngest, anything he succeeds at will simply be meeting expectations and not considered significant, but any toes out of line would bring great shame and embarrassment on the whole family just by association. Nonetheless, watching Rashid come into his own talents and realize his potential was a tender and inspiring journey. I'd be remiss not to give our last POV character, Victor, some love too. Poor Victor, absolutely a genius but less charismatic than Mansoor, is going through a divorce and I get the feeling he's undoubtedly on the spectrum, given the main reason for his divorce is repeatedly missing social cues. I have such a soft spot for Victor, I just wanna give him a big ol' hug, but I think he'd probably hate it.
I really don't know how this book managed to cram two separate romances, four POVs, a space race, scientific breakthroughs, terrorism, a hostage situation, LGBTQ rights, politics, and a whole bunch more into only 330 pages without feeling like any corners were cut, but it did! These 330 pages flew by and, again, I was left wanting so much more not because I was seeking answers or I felt unfulfilled, but because I was so satisfied I wanted to keep indulging. This is an insane debut, and Claire Barner is definitely a new voice to sci-fi and romance that I'll be thrilled to see more from.
Bonus: REPRESENTATIONNNNNNNNN let's hear it for sensitivity readers and getting guidance on how to respectfully depict other cultures! Because yes, Rashid and Mansoor are Muslim. They're not very good Muslims (by their own admission) but at one point Mansoor pauses and upon reflecting on some recent events, feels like he should pray, and the scene is handled so beautifully and (as far as I, a white agnostic woman, can tell) respectfully. There's also some Arabic phrases spoken throughout the book, and some social interactions that take place in the UAE that required particular handling to be culturally appropriate, and I really really love the care and thought that was put into this by the author and her sensitivity readers.
September 7, 2025
Moonrising deserves a star for the spectacular cover alone—I mean it’s freaking gorgeous. The story, too, deserves praise, though I had some minor gripes.
The blurb in this case was accurate and not misleading (which I find increasingly common with some novels). We have three POVS: Victor (my favorite), Alex, and Mansoor. Victor is the smart guy, the magician when it comes to math, physics, etc. However, his plight, is people. Then we have Alex, a scientist who wants to, in her words, “feed the world.” She needs funding and to fight the stigma of scientifically grown/enhanced food which receives the name “mutant” food. Finally, Mansoor is a fellow Middle Eastern (I’m half Lebanese/Armenian [another story for another day]) who wants to turn the moon into a sort of tourist attraction.
I really love Victor. His POV is so well written, he’s got a lot of quirks that make him lovable. From his very first chapter we know the kind of guy he is, and he has a good arc too. He is queer, which, I loved. I feel like I know people like Victor, and that’s why I am so fond of him. I liked Alex, she was easy to root for, and she has an interesting background with her father, previous work, etc.
Mansoor, in contrast, didn’t read as strong to me. That’s not to say he’s poorly written—that’s actually far from it—he merely has less going on in his storyline. His brother, Rashid, however, is incredibly well written for a non-POV character. What would have made Mansoor a bit stronger was more internal thought on his end.
The writing itself is good, I learned a new word “taciturn” which I will be using! The plot itself is also good; the last few chapters are incredibly terse, and, at first, I was thrown off. But the more I think about it the more I like it. I also really appreciated that the ending ended the way it did. I don’t want to spoil anything, all I will say is that it felt realistic given the parameters of the world.
There are times when the plot feels slower towards the middle, but the characters make up for it. I also didn’t see any science that was super off or fantasy—I wouldn’t classify it was Hard Science Fiction because there were some liberties, but it is definitely in the realm of more realistic as opposed to something like Star Wars.
I am excited for more novels from this author! Very strong novel.
The blurb in this case was accurate and not misleading (which I find increasingly common with some novels). We have three POVS: Victor (my favorite), Alex, and Mansoor. Victor is the smart guy, the magician when it comes to math, physics, etc. However, his plight, is people. Then we have Alex, a scientist who wants to, in her words, “feed the world.” She needs funding and to fight the stigma of scientifically grown/enhanced food which receives the name “mutant” food. Finally, Mansoor is a fellow Middle Eastern (I’m half Lebanese/Armenian [another story for another day]) who wants to turn the moon into a sort of tourist attraction.
I really love Victor. His POV is so well written, he’s got a lot of quirks that make him lovable. From his very first chapter we know the kind of guy he is, and he has a good arc too. He is queer, which, I loved. I feel like I know people like Victor, and that’s why I am so fond of him. I liked Alex, she was easy to root for, and she has an interesting background with her father, previous work, etc.
Mansoor, in contrast, didn’t read as strong to me. That’s not to say he’s poorly written—that’s actually far from it—he merely has less going on in his storyline. His brother, Rashid, however, is incredibly well written for a non-POV character. What would have made Mansoor a bit stronger was more internal thought on his end.
The writing itself is good, I learned a new word “taciturn” which I will be using! The plot itself is also good; the last few chapters are incredibly terse, and, at first, I was thrown off. But the more I think about it the more I like it. I also really appreciated that the ending ended the way it did. I don’t want to spoil anything, all I will say is that it felt realistic given the parameters of the world.
There are times when the plot feels slower towards the middle, but the characters make up for it. I also didn’t see any science that was super off or fantasy—I wouldn’t classify it was Hard Science Fiction because there were some liberties, but it is definitely in the realm of more realistic as opposed to something like Star Wars.
I am excited for more novels from this author! Very strong novel.
July 13, 2025
quite mixed feelings about this one!
writing wise, it’s pretty well done. super engaging and easy to read while being very unique with strong and interesting characters, plots, and science. very unique esp in the type of book it is: not sure i’ve ever read sci fi that feels so realistic! (or at least, very rarely, now that i’m remembering “everything for everyone”). as other reviewers said, cool muslim rep!
at times it felt a little rushed (it covered a lot of time/big inventions in a relatively short book) and some of the action sequences felt too fast. but my main two issues are the politics of this story and the queer characters.
on politics, i came in being like huh interesting idea not sure if i’m into it tho and left being like soooooo i don’t like the idea of “goodness” and “badness” in this book. like, the “terrorists” had legit concerns and i feel like they were just waved away? and while i do understand that many ppl can be super anti science, all of the “mutant food is dangerous!” stuff got old rlly fast bc a lot of ppl saying it were 1) scientists or 2) cared about the environment and the environment def benefited from this food. and i’d understand if it was completely proven in this world that it was safe. but idk vaccines ig? it just felt a little forced and i honestly could not hate/disagree with the terrorists. maybe that says smth about me but i rlly can’t politically agree with space colonization! specifically as a way to solve poverty and climate change bc it rlly rlly would not
anyways.
my other problem was with the queer couple. i actually looooved them and their dynamic but we got nowhere near the amount of them as the hets. for one, both hets got a pov while only one of the queers got a pov. for another, the hets got together pretty early on while the queers got together in the last minute. hets also got multiple on page (tho very short lived) sex scenes while queers got nothing. def did not feel even there.
which like… whatever i guess but this book was trying to court queer readers with its winters orbit comp (could not disagree more about that comp) and it’s “diverse LGBTQIA cast!” thing in the description. lmao okay you had two queer side characters and ur main couple played second fiddle to the hets, there are certainly more queer books.
overall i enjoyed but some of the actual content got me annoyed. for ppl with different political opinions than i!
writing wise, it’s pretty well done. super engaging and easy to read while being very unique with strong and interesting characters, plots, and science. very unique esp in the type of book it is: not sure i’ve ever read sci fi that feels so realistic! (or at least, very rarely, now that i’m remembering “everything for everyone”). as other reviewers said, cool muslim rep!
at times it felt a little rushed (it covered a lot of time/big inventions in a relatively short book) and some of the action sequences felt too fast. but my main two issues are the politics of this story and the queer characters.
on politics, i came in being like huh interesting idea not sure if i’m into it tho and left being like soooooo i don’t like the idea of “goodness” and “badness” in this book. like, the “terrorists” had legit concerns and i feel like they were just waved away? and while i do understand that many ppl can be super anti science, all of the “mutant food is dangerous!” stuff got old rlly fast bc a lot of ppl saying it were 1) scientists or 2) cared about the environment and the environment def benefited from this food. and i’d understand if it was completely proven in this world that it was safe. but idk vaccines ig? it just felt a little forced and i honestly could not hate/disagree with the terrorists. maybe that says smth about me but i rlly can’t politically agree with space colonization! specifically as a way to solve poverty and climate change bc it rlly rlly would not
anyways.
my other problem was with the queer couple. i actually looooved them and their dynamic but we got nowhere near the amount of them as the hets. for one, both hets got a pov while only one of the queers got a pov. for another, the hets got together pretty early on while the queers got together in the last minute. hets also got multiple on page (tho very short lived) sex scenes while queers got nothing. def did not feel even there.
which like… whatever i guess but this book was trying to court queer readers with its winters orbit comp (could not disagree more about that comp) and it’s “diverse LGBTQIA cast!” thing in the description. lmao okay you had two queer side characters and ur main couple played second fiddle to the hets, there are certainly more queer books.
overall i enjoyed but some of the actual content got me annoyed. for ppl with different political opinions than i!
Read
July 7, 2025MOONRISING is a fascinating sci-fi read that takes place in the somewhat-near future of 2073. Alex is an agronomist who is dedicated to mutagenetic food that will help solve the hunger crises. While her research is often opposed by those who fear the change, she finds an unlikely source of funding from Mansoor, a businessman who is building a hotel on the moon and needs a sustainable food source.
As they work together on this project, they also find themselves drawn together by feelings they don't want to admit. Things are complicated, and ecoterrorists who are out to destroy their work, and the people working on it, complicate things even more.
This was quite the sci-fi read, and those elements were really strong. The imagined future is not too different from our own, though obviously some things have changed (a new hotel on the moon!). However, the flavor of the story felt very modern and well synced with time and necessary progress. The resistance to her work and the utility of it for business/capitalism felt reminiscent of modern struggles. Other similar echoes from current culture and challenges are easy to spot throughout the story, delivering a speculative future that sparks discussion as readers consider the ways and whys of the changes (and what doesn't really change).
In terms of the romance, there are a couple pairings with the main being Alex and Mansoor, but also Victor and Rashid, which I found very easy to cheer for. These potential relationships face their own challenges and had a bit of slow-burn feel that kept the sci-fi as the primary plot. The pace was fast with some thriller elements/scenes particularly later in the book.
Overall, MOONRISING was a quick sci-fi read with some romance, a quick pace, and interesting ideas to keep readers entertained throughout. Please note that I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.
As they work together on this project, they also find themselves drawn together by feelings they don't want to admit. Things are complicated, and ecoterrorists who are out to destroy their work, and the people working on it, complicate things even more.
This was quite the sci-fi read, and those elements were really strong. The imagined future is not too different from our own, though obviously some things have changed (a new hotel on the moon!). However, the flavor of the story felt very modern and well synced with time and necessary progress. The resistance to her work and the utility of it for business/capitalism felt reminiscent of modern struggles. Other similar echoes from current culture and challenges are easy to spot throughout the story, delivering a speculative future that sparks discussion as readers consider the ways and whys of the changes (and what doesn't really change).
In terms of the romance, there are a couple pairings with the main being Alex and Mansoor, but also Victor and Rashid, which I found very easy to cheer for. These potential relationships face their own challenges and had a bit of slow-burn feel that kept the sci-fi as the primary plot. The pace was fast with some thriller elements/scenes particularly later in the book.
Overall, MOONRISING was a quick sci-fi read with some romance, a quick pace, and interesting ideas to keep readers entertained throughout. Please note that I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.
June 20, 2025
Thank you, Diversion Books and Claire Barner, for giving me the opportunity to read and review this free e-ARC. My opinions about the book are my own.
I love science fiction, but I don't often read near future sci-fi novels. This one was about climate change, genetically modified food, climate change and eco activism/terrorism. It also focuses on 2 romances--one on the Moon and one on Earth. The blurb compares it to Sea of Tranquility and Winter's Orbit. I never read the former, nor anything by its author. It didn't remind me of Winter's Orbit other than similar cover art and the fact that both books contained a gay male romance.
I would have liked more attention to the science, particularly the design and development of the colony and the ships. Instead, it focused more on the politics, but not in a way that satisfied me, We were told about politicians being swayed and told about the legislation, but weren't shown much about crafting the legislation and the actual debates and conversations. In addition, the relatively short page count, less than smooth time jumps and 4-way split of POVs only allowed for superficial development of the main characters. The secondary characters were very 2-dimensional.
I had some issues with the PDF format and had to read it on a PC monitor, but, thankfully, it was easy to read and relatively short. The writing was clean with few spelling or grammar problems.
The more I think about it, the more I believe that the story might have benefitted from being a duology with the first book focused on the politics and getting the colony started and the Earth-based romance while the 2nd book would focus on the colony itself and the Moon-based romance and allowing each book only 2 POVs.
I love science fiction, but I don't often read near future sci-fi novels. This one was about climate change, genetically modified food, climate change and eco activism/terrorism. It also focuses on 2 romances--one on the Moon and one on Earth. The blurb compares it to Sea of Tranquility and Winter's Orbit. I never read the former, nor anything by its author. It didn't remind me of Winter's Orbit other than similar cover art and the fact that both books contained a gay male romance.
I would have liked more attention to the science, particularly the design and development of the colony and the ships. Instead, it focused more on the politics, but not in a way that satisfied me, We were told about politicians being swayed and told about the legislation, but weren't shown much about crafting the legislation and the actual debates and conversations. In addition, the relatively short page count, less than smooth time jumps and 4-way split of POVs only allowed for superficial development of the main characters. The secondary characters were very 2-dimensional.
I had some issues with the PDF format and had to read it on a PC monitor, but, thankfully, it was easy to read and relatively short. The writing was clean with few spelling or grammar problems.
The more I think about it, the more I believe that the story might have benefitted from being a duology with the first book focused on the politics and getting the colony started and the Earth-based romance while the 2nd book would focus on the colony itself and the Moon-based romance and allowing each book only 2 POVs.
January 31, 2025
Moonrising really surprised me, in the best way. I am generally not a sci fi reader, and I found myself completely engrossed in this book and invested in the characters. Set in the near future (Billie Eilish’s retirement tour is mentioned in passing) and starting off in Chicago--not space--I could immediately relate to the story in a way I often don’t feel with sci fi or fantasy. The precision of the descriptions sucked me in; there’s a passage set in the airport of Dubai that made me feel like I was standing there myself. The same can be said of the moon, when the plot arrives there.
This book brings to life a near and possible future of moon exploration and food source alternatives in a fascinating and totally digestible way. Every time a clever idea about thriving in a lunar environment was woven in, like a new way to grow vegetables or use mini robots to build a space skyscraper, I found myself so impressed with the knowledge and creativity of the ideas, and hungry to learn more.
None of this would have worked without the depth of the characters; I was particularly invested in the prickly, somewhat-hard-to-love scientist protagonist Alex and her taut, crackling relationship with Monsoor, the wealthy and dashing Emirati businessman with a vision.
I strongly recommend this book for anyone who loves a tight, original plot and complex character development, sci fi fan or not.
This book brings to life a near and possible future of moon exploration and food source alternatives in a fascinating and totally digestible way. Every time a clever idea about thriving in a lunar environment was woven in, like a new way to grow vegetables or use mini robots to build a space skyscraper, I found myself so impressed with the knowledge and creativity of the ideas, and hungry to learn more.
None of this would have worked without the depth of the characters; I was particularly invested in the prickly, somewhat-hard-to-love scientist protagonist Alex and her taut, crackling relationship with Monsoor, the wealthy and dashing Emirati businessman with a vision.
I strongly recommend this book for anyone who loves a tight, original plot and complex character development, sci fi fan or not.
July 9, 2025
Moonrising is for anyone who loves a sci-fi romance and is passionate about slowing climate change.
Thank you to Diversion Books for the complimentary digital ARC.
The story is set 48 years in the future and Earth's climate change has progressed significantly. Cities have been lost to rising sea levels, weather has become more severe, and crops are failing. With the threat of impending doom....a food scientist, an oil tycoon, a physics genius, and a poet with the gift of persuasion dedicate themselves to building a moon colony to save humanity.
Because the Earth in this book is a not so distant version of our Earth, the climate and food scarcity issues felt incredibly impactful. The characters faced significant opposition to their scientific breakthroughs, much like we're seeing In our current political landscape with a suspicion towards proven science. This lent an element of grounding to the space adventure and made the story a realistic version of our future. I was completely absorbed in the plot and couldn't put the book down.
I think what endeared me the most was the wonder of space exploration and the sense of hope shining through the darkest moments. Despite vitriol and ignorance, the characters persevered to preserve our planet. It rekindled my optimism that humanity's downward spiral can be curbed before it's too late.
If you're doom scrolling through the news and want to feel hopeful again, let this lovely tale be your escape!
Oh, and there are two romantic sub-plots to spice up the rocket travel and REAL moon walking. How can you say no??
Thank you to Diversion Books for the complimentary digital ARC.
The story is set 48 years in the future and Earth's climate change has progressed significantly. Cities have been lost to rising sea levels, weather has become more severe, and crops are failing. With the threat of impending doom....a food scientist, an oil tycoon, a physics genius, and a poet with the gift of persuasion dedicate themselves to building a moon colony to save humanity.
Because the Earth in this book is a not so distant version of our Earth, the climate and food scarcity issues felt incredibly impactful. The characters faced significant opposition to their scientific breakthroughs, much like we're seeing In our current political landscape with a suspicion towards proven science. This lent an element of grounding to the space adventure and made the story a realistic version of our future. I was completely absorbed in the plot and couldn't put the book down.
I think what endeared me the most was the wonder of space exploration and the sense of hope shining through the darkest moments. Despite vitriol and ignorance, the characters persevered to preserve our planet. It rekindled my optimism that humanity's downward spiral can be curbed before it's too late.
If you're doom scrolling through the news and want to feel hopeful again, let this lovely tale be your escape!
Oh, and there are two romantic sub-plots to spice up the rocket travel and REAL moon walking. How can you say no??
June 2, 2025
3.5 stars rounded up
There is a lot to love about Moonrising. It’s a compulsive, easy read I found myself eager to pick it up. The science aspects are well thought out, but we don’t dive too deep into any one concept, which makes this an approachable sci-fi.
Comparing Moonrising to other space colony books I’ve read, I’d say it’s more along the lines of Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson instead of The Martian by Andy Weir, mostly due the fact that the plot more heavily focuses on the political aspects of colonization.
As much as I enjoyed reading this, there were a few aspects that lowered my rating. The pacing was a little wonky. There were parts of the story where months happened in a few paragraphs. I understand that time jumps need to happen to move the story along, but there was no lead up to them, which made them feel jarring. Translation between times and places could have used a little more finesse. The relationships didn’t feel earned to me. Personally, I needed more depth and explorations of the character for their relationships to feel satisfied in how they progressed.
I’m not sure if the author plans on making this a series, but I can absolutely see the potential to expand the story and characters. I would be interested in reading future books!
Thank you to Net Galley and the author for providing me a copy for review.
There is a lot to love about Moonrising. It’s a compulsive, easy read I found myself eager to pick it up. The science aspects are well thought out, but we don’t dive too deep into any one concept, which makes this an approachable sci-fi.
Comparing Moonrising to other space colony books I’ve read, I’d say it’s more along the lines of Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson instead of The Martian by Andy Weir, mostly due the fact that the plot more heavily focuses on the political aspects of colonization.
As much as I enjoyed reading this, there were a few aspects that lowered my rating. The pacing was a little wonky. There were parts of the story where months happened in a few paragraphs. I understand that time jumps need to happen to move the story along, but there was no lead up to them, which made them feel jarring. Translation between times and places could have used a little more finesse. The relationships didn’t feel earned to me. Personally, I needed more depth and explorations of the character for their relationships to feel satisfied in how they progressed.
I’m not sure if the author plans on making this a series, but I can absolutely see the potential to expand the story and characters. I would be interested in reading future books!
Thank you to Net Galley and the author for providing me a copy for review.
July 7, 2025
Thank you Diversion Books for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Agronomist Dr. Alex Cole has dedicated her life to the development of mutagenetic food as a solution for feeding an Earth that has been ravaged by climate change. However, her research and the adoption of mutagenetic food has become highly controversial, loudly opposed by radical environmentalists. With the funding for her lab withdrawn, Alex can't say no when an administrator from NASA approaches her with an opportunity to develop fresh food growth on the Moon colony, while also guaranteeing funding for her lab for the next 10 years. It's there that she meets Mansoor Al Kaabi, an Emirati businessman with a stake in her work on the colony in order to create a food supply for future lunar tourism. Meanwhile, back on Earth, Rashid Al Kaabi, Mansoor's younger brother, and Victor Beard, Alex's mentor, are working to get the Homestead Act passed to allow for more rapid expansion of the lunar colony.
This book was such an interesting take on the concept of colonizing the moon after Earth has been nearly destroyed by climate change. It's a good mix of science fiction, political scheming and drama, with a little bit of romance mixed in. I loved that there was enough science in this to give it a solid sci-fi vibe without making it feel inaccessible or overly futuristic.
With four MCs and two romantic relationships, I was a little worried the book might get convoluted or some characters might feel very surface level, but Barner did a wonderful job giving each character and their associated relationship enough of a spotlight to feel developed and complete.
I did feel like some of the dialogue was a bit stilted at times, but otherwise the characters were well fleshed-out and their interactions and decisions felt appropriate to their own morals and motives.
Read if you like:
Space colony
Political drama
Climate fiction
Eco-terrorism
Forbidden romance
Forced proximity
Multi-POV
Agronomist Dr. Alex Cole has dedicated her life to the development of mutagenetic food as a solution for feeding an Earth that has been ravaged by climate change. However, her research and the adoption of mutagenetic food has become highly controversial, loudly opposed by radical environmentalists. With the funding for her lab withdrawn, Alex can't say no when an administrator from NASA approaches her with an opportunity to develop fresh food growth on the Moon colony, while also guaranteeing funding for her lab for the next 10 years. It's there that she meets Mansoor Al Kaabi, an Emirati businessman with a stake in her work on the colony in order to create a food supply for future lunar tourism. Meanwhile, back on Earth, Rashid Al Kaabi, Mansoor's younger brother, and Victor Beard, Alex's mentor, are working to get the Homestead Act passed to allow for more rapid expansion of the lunar colony.
This book was such an interesting take on the concept of colonizing the moon after Earth has been nearly destroyed by climate change. It's a good mix of science fiction, political scheming and drama, with a little bit of romance mixed in. I loved that there was enough science in this to give it a solid sci-fi vibe without making it feel inaccessible or overly futuristic.
With four MCs and two romantic relationships, I was a little worried the book might get convoluted or some characters might feel very surface level, but Barner did a wonderful job giving each character and their associated relationship enough of a spotlight to feel developed and complete.
I did feel like some of the dialogue was a bit stilted at times, but otherwise the characters were well fleshed-out and their interactions and decisions felt appropriate to their own morals and motives.
Read if you like:
Space colony
Political drama
Climate fiction
Eco-terrorism
Forbidden romance
Forced proximity
Multi-POV
July 9, 2025
I lost all sense of time diving into Moon Rising. Dr. Alex Cole, a scientist working in the controversial field of mutagenetic food, is a target of an ecoterrorist organization in this near-future sci-fi novel. In this world, set roughly 50 years in the future, society vehemently opposes mutagenetic food, despite its potential to benefit humanity, and space tourism, even though it funds critical planetary research. When Dr. Cole’s funding is abruptly cut, charismatic Emirati businessman Mansoor Al Kaabi offers her a lifeline to continue her work. The catch? She must relocate to the moon’s first lunar colony, backed by his resources and support.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The cast of older, career-established characters brings a refreshing dynamic, with each member contributing unique perspectives and diversity to the story. The science and technology feel plausible and well-suited for the futuristic setting. The two romantic subplots add a sweet touch with just a hint of spice, enhancing the narrative without overpowering it. While I occasionally craved deeper character development, the characters were sufficiently fleshed out to feel authentic. Some scenes could have been more descriptive, and certain timelines felt rushed, making a few accomplishments hard to fully buy into. However, these minor issues didn’t detract from the overall enjoyment of the story.
If you love sci-fi with a lunar setting, I highly recommend Moon Rising. Claire Barner is an author I’ll definitely be reading again. Thank you Books Forward for the ARC of this book.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The cast of older, career-established characters brings a refreshing dynamic, with each member contributing unique perspectives and diversity to the story. The science and technology feel plausible and well-suited for the futuristic setting. The two romantic subplots add a sweet touch with just a hint of spice, enhancing the narrative without overpowering it. While I occasionally craved deeper character development, the characters were sufficiently fleshed out to feel authentic. Some scenes could have been more descriptive, and certain timelines felt rushed, making a few accomplishments hard to fully buy into. However, these minor issues didn’t detract from the overall enjoyment of the story.
If you love sci-fi with a lunar setting, I highly recommend Moon Rising. Claire Barner is an author I’ll definitely be reading again. Thank you Books Forward for the ARC of this book.
July 26, 2025
I am completely in love with this book, and have a serious book hangover now that I've finished it. The near-future sci-fi was intriguing and spoke to my childhood astronaut dreams. I enjoyed the perspectives of all the characters and never felt disappointed when a new chapter switched to a different character's point of view. Alex is a compelling character, but cach of the main characters has their own arc, and those arcs are well-plotted and rewarding. Each character also has their own moment of heroism, and they all hit the perfect emotional notes. The food and plant sensory details are fantastic. I can't stop thinking about making a Caprese salad. The plot builds from a slow burn to intrigue to intense action, with just the right balance of romance. Both romances are lovely, and I was rooting for the characters to get together. There were emotional moments that hit really hard for me. I teared up a few times. I've lived in the Arabian Gulf, although I'm not from that region, and the aspects of the culture (and the dating) felt realistic to me and hit home on a personal level. I've been looking for a cross-cultural romance that spoke to me like this one did. (Mansoor and Rashid are both dreamy, by the way). I know this is a book I'll read again someday and highly recommend to others.
July 11, 2025
5/5 stars: This is Barner's Sci-Fi Steamy Romance stand-alone set primarily on the Moon's colony in 2073 and follows a controversial agronomist, an Emirati businessman, his younger brother and an eccentric genius join forces to make the Moon's colony a thriving community only to come up against eco-terrorists. Told in multiple POVs, Barner's smart and witty writing and character work are stellar; the characters are well-rounded and complex while remaining incredibly likable. Alex, Mansoor, Rashid and Victor are great characters who each have to deal with their personal issues even as they find themselves working together to advance the Moon's colony. Each character's uniquely voiced and I appreciate Barner's multicultural and 2SLGBTQIA+ cast. This isn't a romance first book, it's slow burn with OPS scenes that pay off in the end. Barner's world building's excellent and absorbing. The science and technology elements of the book are fascinating and were exciting to read. Additionally, I really loved the action-packed ending. I very much enjoyed this, highly recommend!
I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Diversion Books in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.
I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Diversion Books in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.
October 23, 2025
Moonrising by Claire Barner is a lush, near-future romance that orbits between science, survival, and the stubborn hope of the human heart. Set against the breathtaking vastness of the Moon’s first colony, Barner’s debut captures both the fragility and resilience of love in an age where the Earth itself is running out of time.
Dr. Alex Cole, a fiercely principled agronomist determined to feed a dying planet, finds herself swept into an unexpected alliance and slow-burning affection with Mansoor Al Kaabi, a visionary Emirati entrepreneur who dreams of a new beginning beyond Earth. What unfolds is not just a love story, but an exploration of ethics, ambition, and belonging: what it means to create life in a place designed for survival.
Barner balances the intimate with the cosmic, pairing scientific imagination with profound emotional depth. Her prose is vivid and cinematic, evoking the wonder of lunar landscapes and the quiet gravity of two people daring to love amidst the machinery of progress.
In the tradition of Sea of Tranquility and Winter’s Orbit, Moonrising invites readers to imagine a future where empathy is the rarest and most revolutionary human resource. It’s a radiant debut that reminds us: even on the Moon, it’s love that keeps us alive.
Dr. Alex Cole, a fiercely principled agronomist determined to feed a dying planet, finds herself swept into an unexpected alliance and slow-burning affection with Mansoor Al Kaabi, a visionary Emirati entrepreneur who dreams of a new beginning beyond Earth. What unfolds is not just a love story, but an exploration of ethics, ambition, and belonging: what it means to create life in a place designed for survival.
Barner balances the intimate with the cosmic, pairing scientific imagination with profound emotional depth. Her prose is vivid and cinematic, evoking the wonder of lunar landscapes and the quiet gravity of two people daring to love amidst the machinery of progress.
In the tradition of Sea of Tranquility and Winter’s Orbit, Moonrising invites readers to imagine a future where empathy is the rarest and most revolutionary human resource. It’s a radiant debut that reminds us: even on the Moon, it’s love that keeps us alive.
June 14, 2025
This is near-future SF with a strong romantic arc - I think it will appeal more to SF readers than to sci-fi romance readers (e.g. no blue alien peen for you!). The world building is strong, and the underlying political plot is intricate and well-constructed. Barner does a great job of making me care about three billionaire characters I'd normally be rooting against (!!).
In fact, I found Barner's narrative choices really fascinating. We have 4 MCs, including 3 men who are influencing American politics with their money, and 1 woman whose life's work is creating and perfecting genetically mutated food. Barner's greatest feat is making the reader believe that these four truly have the best intentions for the future of all humanity.
I especially liked the moon colony setting! So much SF is set on already-established colony worlds that this felt both refreshing and like a return to classic SF focused on the creation of intra-solar system colonies. I think this is perfect for an SF reader who'd like to dip their toe into romance!
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.
In fact, I found Barner's narrative choices really fascinating. We have 4 MCs, including 3 men who are influencing American politics with their money, and 1 woman whose life's work is creating and perfecting genetically mutated food. Barner's greatest feat is making the reader believe that these four truly have the best intentions for the future of all humanity.
I especially liked the moon colony setting! So much SF is set on already-established colony worlds that this felt both refreshing and like a return to classic SF focused on the creation of intra-solar system colonies. I think this is perfect for an SF reader who'd like to dip their toe into romance!
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.
October 15, 2025
Chickens in space, mutant potato fungus, a Boeing starship with a pristine safety record -- and this isn't even satire! This is a straight-ahead adventure story with romance, political intrigue, and a better-than-Bond, satisfying action sequence. On the surface this is a very good character and plot driven narrative about a near-future moon colony, but what I especially loved was all of the geeking out on the science , e.g., how would we engineer buildings, feed a population, and manage safety risks on the moon colony? The author's love for gardening and cooking also really shines through. While it does come down to a goodie vs. baddie showdown, there is meaningful ambivalence. The eco-liberation crew does have legitimate concerns, and we ultimately don't know if the moon colony will become a refuge for climate change victims or just a playhouse for the rich. Our heroes have good intentions, but are they too elite to judge the impact of their work? This was a great comp to Venomous Lumpsucker, another good one worth reading.
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