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Moonlight Becomes You
Esther Vernon has lost everything.
After her sister is killed in a tragic accident, Esther inherits her two small nieces. Her new title of single guardian puts her travel vlogging career on an indefinite hold. For someone who has never had a permanent address, it’s a nightmare. Instead of finding the best dinner spots and dating athletes wherever she goes, she’s stuck with bedtime routines and dirty diapers. Settling down was not in her plans.
After a painful divorce five years ago, Felix Hayes hasn’t been able to connect with people outside of his brothers. Being awkward and a little too particular about germs doesn’t help. Despite his successful career as a psychiatrist, his personal life needs desperate attention. As he watches people around him find love, he yearns for some of his own—maybe a family, too.
Felix’s brother is engaged to Esther's best friend, so their worlds collide. Esther finds a surprising friend in Felix, who vows to show her that her life isn’t over. And as feelings build between them, Esther must admit that Felix might be right. She can find excitement right where she is. Her past looms behind her, and her future is uncertain. But Felix might be the only one capable of holding her steady when a threat comes for her burgeoning family.
After her sister is killed in a tragic accident, Esther inherits her two small nieces. Her new title of single guardian puts her travel vlogging career on an indefinite hold. For someone who has never had a permanent address, it’s a nightmare. Instead of finding the best dinner spots and dating athletes wherever she goes, she’s stuck with bedtime routines and dirty diapers. Settling down was not in her plans.
After a painful divorce five years ago, Felix Hayes hasn’t been able to connect with people outside of his brothers. Being awkward and a little too particular about germs doesn’t help. Despite his successful career as a psychiatrist, his personal life needs desperate attention. As he watches people around him find love, he yearns for some of his own—maybe a family, too.
Felix’s brother is engaged to Esther's best friend, so their worlds collide. Esther finds a surprising friend in Felix, who vows to show her that her life isn’t over. And as feelings build between them, Esther must admit that Felix might be right. She can find excitement right where she is. Her past looms behind her, and her future is uncertain. But Felix might be the only one capable of holding her steady when a threat comes for her burgeoning family.
- GenresRomance
322 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 10, 2025
5 people are currently reading
8 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
October 10, 2025
I didn’t expect to feel this much, but here we are💜
It’s soft. It’s slow. It’s two people who’ve been through stuff, trying to remember what it feels like to be okay again—and maybe fall in love while they’re at it.
Their romance isn’t a flashy, whirlwind kind of love. It’s quiet, steady, real.
I loved the vulnerability of actual grown-up people with real emotions (who, honestly, I’m starting to relate to way more than the next college athlete and his tutor—no offense to sports romances, I ADORE them.) I liked the gentle pace, the softness of it all.
Highly recommend if you’re in the mood for something tender.
It’s soft. It’s slow. It’s two people who’ve been through stuff, trying to remember what it feels like to be okay again—and maybe fall in love while they’re at it.
Their romance isn’t a flashy, whirlwind kind of love. It’s quiet, steady, real.
I loved the vulnerability of actual grown-up people with real emotions (who, honestly, I’m starting to relate to way more than the next college athlete and his tutor—no offense to sports romances, I ADORE them.) I liked the gentle pace, the softness of it all.
Highly recommend if you’re in the mood for something tender.
October 1, 2025
Time for a big confession… I’ve literally never understood the “book boyfriend” concept. There. I said it. People swoon over MMCs and I didn’t get it. They were nice, sweet, maybe a little dangerous. They were strong, athletic, “hot” and I could see them as a great fit for a FMC but I never had a crush on them… that is until Felix Hayes.
This is my official declaration of dibs on Felix. The rest of you need to get in line. Sorry not sorry. (Do people still say that?)
This book made me laugh literally out loud. This book also made me cry… on page NINE. I wasn’t even in double digits yet.
The ex-wife? Horrific.
The childhood trauma? All too realistic (shout out to James Dobson 🫡)
The banter? Exquisite.
The happily ever after? Literally my favorite one ever. Truly.
I don’t want to give anything away. I was trying to pick a favorite quote for this post and I laughed and cried all over again. Here’s one for all the child caregivers out there:
“That’s the constant pendulum of caring for children. They’re cute, annoy the 💩 out of you or make some horrendous mess, and go right back to being adorable so you can’t even get mad. If there’s any respite, I haven’t found it yet.”
This book is a masterclass on grief and healing and chosen family. You should read it. You’ll probably fall in love with Felix too but it’s too bad because I’m not giving him up. And if you don’t love him go tell your mama because I don’t wanna hear it.
Ugh. Kelsey. I love you. Thank you for writing things that so speak to my heart and make me feel things. And thank you for a break from third act break ups. ♥️
This is my official declaration of dibs on Felix. The rest of you need to get in line. Sorry not sorry. (Do people still say that?)
This book made me laugh literally out loud. This book also made me cry… on page NINE. I wasn’t even in double digits yet.
The ex-wife? Horrific.
The childhood trauma? All too realistic (shout out to James Dobson 🫡)
The banter? Exquisite.
The happily ever after? Literally my favorite one ever. Truly.
I don’t want to give anything away. I was trying to pick a favorite quote for this post and I laughed and cried all over again. Here’s one for all the child caregivers out there:
“That’s the constant pendulum of caring for children. They’re cute, annoy the 💩 out of you or make some horrendous mess, and go right back to being adorable so you can’t even get mad. If there’s any respite, I haven’t found it yet.”
This book is a masterclass on grief and healing and chosen family. You should read it. You’ll probably fall in love with Felix too but it’s too bad because I’m not giving him up. And if you don’t love him go tell your mama because I don’t wanna hear it.
Ugh. Kelsey. I love you. Thank you for writing things that so speak to my heart and make me feel things. And thank you for a break from third act break ups. ♥️
October 16, 2025
Moonlight Becomes You
By Kelsey Painter
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️
ARC Review: Published October 10, 2025
𝑰 𝒑𝒊𝒄𝒌 𝑫𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒍𝒂𝒉 𝒖𝒑 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒏 𝒎𝒚 𝒉𝒊𝒑. 𝑾𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒂 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒅, 𝑰 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝑳𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒉’𝒔. 𝑰 𝒅𝒊𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒃𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝒂 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒍𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕, 𝒊𝒕’𝒔 𝒖𝒑 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒊𝒕.
I swear every book Kelsey writes gets better. I have been waiting for this book since the moment Felix saw Esther for the first time in While You're Dancing, and it was everything I wanted it to be.
Esther is an absolutely phenomenal character. Her backstory is heartbreaking and empowering. The way she jumps in wholeheartedly to care for her nieces is beautiful. Start to finish, I loved her story.
Felix Hayes is EVERYTHING. This man YEARNS but he doesn't push Esther at all. He shows how he feels with acts of service from the moment he comes back into her life. He supports her patiently and without expectations. He raises the bar for all men with his kindness, attentiveness, and devotion. He is the standard.
These two together are incredible. Their communication is fantastic and the teamwork they create is enviable. They both have baggage coming into their relationship, and they don't just accept those things about each other; they help each other heal.
And the spice? 🤭 This is a SLOOOOOW burn but let me tell you; it is worth it. I'm absolutely obsessed with these two. The softness of their relationship had me swooning.
I cannot wait for the final Hayes brother. Leo is going to be a delicious fun time, I just know it. Join me in my obsession. Read this book. Read this series. Read everything that Kelsey writes.
"𝑪𝒂𝒏 𝑰 𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒅, 𝑭𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒙?"
"𝑪𝒂𝒏 𝑰 𝒌𝒊𝒔𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖, 𝑭𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒙?"
"𝑪𝒂𝒏 𝑰 𝒓𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖, 𝑭𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒙?
Read October 6-7, 2025
By Kelsey Painter
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️
ARC Review: Published October 10, 2025
𝑰 𝒑𝒊𝒄𝒌 𝑫𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒍𝒂𝒉 𝒖𝒑 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒏 𝒎𝒚 𝒉𝒊𝒑. 𝑾𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒂 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒅, 𝑰 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝑳𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒉’𝒔. 𝑰 𝒅𝒊𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒃𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝒂 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒍𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕, 𝒊𝒕’𝒔 𝒖𝒑 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒊𝒕.
I swear every book Kelsey writes gets better. I have been waiting for this book since the moment Felix saw Esther for the first time in While You're Dancing, and it was everything I wanted it to be.
Esther is an absolutely phenomenal character. Her backstory is heartbreaking and empowering. The way she jumps in wholeheartedly to care for her nieces is beautiful. Start to finish, I loved her story.
Felix Hayes is EVERYTHING. This man YEARNS but he doesn't push Esther at all. He shows how he feels with acts of service from the moment he comes back into her life. He supports her patiently and without expectations. He raises the bar for all men with his kindness, attentiveness, and devotion. He is the standard.
These two together are incredible. Their communication is fantastic and the teamwork they create is enviable. They both have baggage coming into their relationship, and they don't just accept those things about each other; they help each other heal.
And the spice? 🤭 This is a SLOOOOOW burn but let me tell you; it is worth it. I'm absolutely obsessed with these two. The softness of their relationship had me swooning.
I cannot wait for the final Hayes brother. Leo is going to be a delicious fun time, I just know it. Join me in my obsession. Read this book. Read this series. Read everything that Kelsey writes.
"𝑪𝒂𝒏 𝑰 𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒅, 𝑭𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒙?"
"𝑪𝒂𝒏 𝑰 𝒌𝒊𝒔𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖, 𝑭𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒙?"
"𝑪𝒂𝒏 𝑰 𝒓𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖, 𝑭𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒙?
Read October 6-7, 2025
October 11, 2025
🌙 Moonlight Becomes You 🧸
✍🏼 Kelsey Painter
📚 Grief & Growth #2
⭐️ 5/5
Thank you so much to Kelsey for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book. Book 1 of this series is still one of my favourite books of the year!
I was so excited to read the story of Esther and Felix. They’re introduced to each other in the first book and there were already hints that Felix would be down bad! And let me tell you, I LOVE a man who YEARNNNSSSS.
I know we all have our list of book boyfriends, but Felix is book husband material to me. He can live in my brain penthouse forever. When Esther’s life is turned upside down after the loss of her sister & BIL and she becomes the guardian and caregiver for two toddlers she needed someone in her corner. Felix shows up for all of them in there time of need and shows so much love through acts of service and words of affirmation. It made my heart melt for this man!
This book was a beautiful journey of grief, healing, new self discovery, and chosen family. It was a hug to my soul and made my heart feel so full. The banter, the interactions with children, all the relationship green flags - I can’t say enough good things about this book.
Kelsey Painter has become a must read author. Her books have so much heart in them and I feel like in the world we’re experiencing today, everyone needs a bit more love in their heart.
𝑴𝒚 𝒆𝒚𝒆𝒔 𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒄𝒉 𝑬𝒔𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑰 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒚𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇 𝒋𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒐𝒖𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒈𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒔 𝒕𝒐𝒖𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒍𝒊𝒑𝒔. 𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒊𝒕, 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒈𝒂𝒛𝒆 𝒔𝒏𝒂𝒈𝒔 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒆, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒎𝒆 𝒂 𝒔𝒎𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒔𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒆. 𝑰’𝒍𝒍 𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒔𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒆 𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓.
✍🏼 Kelsey Painter
📚 Grief & Growth #2
⭐️ 5/5
Thank you so much to Kelsey for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book. Book 1 of this series is still one of my favourite books of the year!
I was so excited to read the story of Esther and Felix. They’re introduced to each other in the first book and there were already hints that Felix would be down bad! And let me tell you, I LOVE a man who YEARNNNSSSS.
I know we all have our list of book boyfriends, but Felix is book husband material to me. He can live in my brain penthouse forever. When Esther’s life is turned upside down after the loss of her sister & BIL and she becomes the guardian and caregiver for two toddlers she needed someone in her corner. Felix shows up for all of them in there time of need and shows so much love through acts of service and words of affirmation. It made my heart melt for this man!
This book was a beautiful journey of grief, healing, new self discovery, and chosen family. It was a hug to my soul and made my heart feel so full. The banter, the interactions with children, all the relationship green flags - I can’t say enough good things about this book.
Kelsey Painter has become a must read author. Her books have so much heart in them and I feel like in the world we’re experiencing today, everyone needs a bit more love in their heart.
𝑴𝒚 𝒆𝒚𝒆𝒔 𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒄𝒉 𝑬𝒔𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑰 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒚𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇 𝒋𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒐𝒖𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒈𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒔 𝒕𝒐𝒖𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒍𝒊𝒑𝒔. 𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒊𝒕, 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒈𝒂𝒛𝒆 𝒔𝒏𝒂𝒈𝒔 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒆, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒎𝒆 𝒂 𝒔𝒎𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒔𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒆. 𝑰’𝒍𝒍 𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒔𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒆 𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓.
November 16, 2025
5⭐ 3 🌶️
Wow! Another emotional roller coaster from Kelsey. Make sure you have plenty of tissues because this one is going to make you cry. Cry because you are sad and cry because you are happy. I've been waiting for this book since I met the two characters in the first book in the series.
Both main characters were perfect for each other. Extreme opposites attract and it worked so well. But what was amazing was how the author injected some realism. There is no way a person grieving and caring for their dead sisters children's would be able to fall into the arms of another man and that did not happen here. Felix really had to wait and he was okay with that 😍 I can't wait for the next book in the series!
Big thanks to @authorkelseypainter for a copy of this book. This is my honest opinion.
Wow! Another emotional roller coaster from Kelsey. Make sure you have plenty of tissues because this one is going to make you cry. Cry because you are sad and cry because you are happy. I've been waiting for this book since I met the two characters in the first book in the series.
Both main characters were perfect for each other. Extreme opposites attract and it worked so well. But what was amazing was how the author injected some realism. There is no way a person grieving and caring for their dead sisters children's would be able to fall into the arms of another man and that did not happen here. Felix really had to wait and he was okay with that 😍 I can't wait for the next book in the series!
Big thanks to @authorkelseypainter for a copy of this book. This is my honest opinion.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews