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Lunaside
Moira Connell just wants to drink tea, draw pictures, and hang out with Andrea, her girlfriend. But that's before her mother accuses her of wanting to spend her time making out with girls, rather than planning which universities to court in senior year.
A job as an art counselor at Lunaside, the summer camp down the road from Moira's house, is supposed to help Moira prove she isn't procrastinating, and that she isn't 'girl-crazy' either. Then the eccentric owner of Lunaside ropes her into starring in the camp's new web series before she can say 'on-screen panic attack.' But it's exactly the kind of huge responsibility Moira's mother thinks Moira is allergic to, so she jumps in anyway.
Of course, the fact that Andrea is directing the web series, combined with Moira's sudden, mutual attraction to new counselor Millie, might not help her case. And the way her best friend keeps trying to set her up with Millie certainly isn't helping, well, anything.
And amidst all of this, she's still got an art camp to run. On her own. But how hard could that be?
One summer can change everything. Moira's hoping hers doesn't end in a worst-case-scenario disaster.
A job as an art counselor at Lunaside, the summer camp down the road from Moira's house, is supposed to help Moira prove she isn't procrastinating, and that she isn't 'girl-crazy' either. Then the eccentric owner of Lunaside ropes her into starring in the camp's new web series before she can say 'on-screen panic attack.' But it's exactly the kind of huge responsibility Moira's mother thinks Moira is allergic to, so she jumps in anyway.
Of course, the fact that Andrea is directing the web series, combined with Moira's sudden, mutual attraction to new counselor Millie, might not help her case. And the way her best friend keeps trying to set her up with Millie certainly isn't helping, well, anything.
And amidst all of this, she's still got an art camp to run. On her own. But how hard could that be?
One summer can change everything. Moira's hoping hers doesn't end in a worst-case-scenario disaster.
226 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 6, 2015
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420 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
May 5, 2016
So first of all, I read this for the Ace Book Club, thanks for the review copy! This has been the first time I've seen an explicitly asexual character in literature, and it was really nice to see.
However, as an asexual reader reading a supposedly ace book, it was a tad disappointing that the only ace character was relatively minor and that the main relationship still ended with sex as the end goal of a romance. Also, the ace character as portrayed as childish. Admittedly, I'm childish and ace, but I was expecting more than just stereotypes from this book.
I liked Moira's voice, it was very real and endearing and all the characters were very well-written. I liked Andrea - tiny cute workaholic. Love triangle, which, eh, but it wasn't quite as annoying as most love triangles were. The kids in Art Camp were adorable. And oh god, the main plot had me cringing and worried right along with Moira. I think she deals with the conflict pretty realistically, which is to say, Avoiding.
However, as an asexual reader reading a supposedly ace book, it was a tad disappointing that the only ace character was relatively minor and that the main relationship still ended with sex as the end goal of a romance. Also, the ace character as portrayed as childish. Admittedly, I'm childish and ace, but I was expecting more than just stereotypes from this book.
I liked Moira's voice, it was very real and endearing and all the characters were very well-written. I liked Andrea - tiny cute workaholic. Love triangle, which, eh, but it wasn't quite as annoying as most love triangles were. The kids in Art Camp were adorable. And oh god, the main plot had me cringing and worried right along with Moira. I think she deals with the conflict pretty realistically, which is to say, Avoiding.
June 28, 2018
I received a review copy of this book through a book club.
I’m not a big fan of this book. It's an easy read and it flows in terms of writing style, but the plot is pretty eh.
The characters, until somewhere around chapter 10, are pretty flat and pigeonholed to their set trope. Moira for the longest time drove me nuts because it felt as if she only cared about her girlfriend when she wanted to kiss her or if Andrea served a helpful purpose for her. Andrea was never as fleshed out as I wanted her to be, even though for the course of the book I felt sorry for her for the reason that she felt like a prop. Millie had more presence and was interesting, but that also only lasted for the very small bits of character depth we seen. And Moira’s friends also felt like props and for a while I would wonder just how they stayed friends with Moira. Even Moira’s twin brother was a phantom and was never around even though they lived in the same home??
The character I liked best was Moira’s mother when we finally got to see the soul underneath.
But, that being said, I did feel like Moira did go through a small character journey in that she… stopped being so stuck inside her own head? And even then, that was the result of kissing another girl.
So overall this was a pleasant read when it came to Moira and being a counselor at her Art Camp. Those were the bits I kept craving for, and wish the plot centered more on that.
Instead, the plot centers around a sort of love triangle that was not crafted well, mostly due in part to characterizations. I do give you a one star kudos for making it an all-girl triangle, because this is the first of its kind I’ve seen.
Ultimately, this book left me unsatisfied and disappointed and kinda happy it's over. I feel like the last bits with Andrea and Moira painted Andrea in a submissive, too-forgiving light that ended up with her putting the blame on herself that Moira kissed Millie… and I hate, hate, hate this trope. Oh, and Moira being selfish and not realizing that Andrea has a right to be mad about all this and thinking that “oh I love her now” it's all fine, even if she admits that it shouldn't in her mind, her actions speak otherwise.
But, I will say, the last scene with Millie was great and I wish her luck and I do hope Moira and her can stay friends. (They should’ve stayed that way in general… but I guess, once I get past my hate of this terrible trope, they did help each other and that's kinda nice?) And the last scene with Moira and Andrea was a nice way to wrap up the story, if I wasn’t so irritated by how Andrea was handled...
So all and all I give a star for effort, a star for all girl triangle and when Andrea and Moira were acting like a couple they were cute, and a star for the cute Art Camp scenes.
I’m not a big fan of this book. It's an easy read and it flows in terms of writing style, but the plot is pretty eh.
The characters, until somewhere around chapter 10, are pretty flat and pigeonholed to their set trope. Moira for the longest time drove me nuts because it felt as if she only cared about her girlfriend when she wanted to kiss her or if Andrea served a helpful purpose for her. Andrea was never as fleshed out as I wanted her to be, even though for the course of the book I felt sorry for her for the reason that she felt like a prop. Millie had more presence and was interesting, but that also only lasted for the very small bits of character depth we seen. And Moira’s friends also felt like props and for a while I would wonder just how they stayed friends with Moira. Even Moira’s twin brother was a phantom and was never around even though they lived in the same home??
The character I liked best was Moira’s mother when we finally got to see the soul underneath.
But, that being said, I did feel like Moira did go through a small character journey in that she… stopped being so stuck inside her own head? And even then, that was the result of kissing another girl.
So overall this was a pleasant read when it came to Moira and being a counselor at her Art Camp. Those were the bits I kept craving for, and wish the plot centered more on that.
Instead, the plot centers around a sort of love triangle that was not crafted well, mostly due in part to characterizations. I do give you a one star kudos for making it an all-girl triangle, because this is the first of its kind I’ve seen.
Ultimately, this book left me unsatisfied and disappointed and kinda happy it's over. I feel like the last bits with Andrea and Moira painted Andrea in a submissive, too-forgiving light that ended up with her putting the blame on herself that Moira kissed Millie… and I hate, hate, hate this trope. Oh, and Moira being selfish and not realizing that Andrea has a right to be mad about all this and thinking that “oh I love her now” it's all fine, even if she admits that it shouldn't in her mind, her actions speak otherwise.
But, I will say, the last scene with Millie was great and I wish her luck and I do hope Moira and her can stay friends. (They should’ve stayed that way in general… but I guess, once I get past my hate of this terrible trope, they did help each other and that's kinda nice?) And the last scene with Moira and Andrea was a nice way to wrap up the story, if I wasn’t so irritated by how Andrea was handled...
So all and all I give a star for effort, a star for all girl triangle and when Andrea and Moira were acting like a couple they were cute, and a star for the cute Art Camp scenes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 1, 2016
Note: I received a review copy of this book, and read it as part of the Ace Book Club.
Lunaside focuses on our main character Moira's struggle to balance her job at a summer camp (named Lunaside, naturally) with her relationship with her girlfriend, Andrea, and her attraction to another counselor, Millie. The result is a light, super cute read, with some charming characters. What is better than girls who like girls working at a summer camp? Not much.
The book is heavily character-driven and there isn't much in the way of plot, but it moves along naturally and at a good pace, in part thanks to the demands of the setting. Summer camp must go on, after all, no matter what emotional tizzy Moira finds herself in. The prose is casual but there are some nice turns of phrase sprinkled in. I only wish we had seen a bit more from the side characters. Moira receives the lion's share of the character development and the some of the others do seem to exist solely to populate her world. Layla, representing Team Ace, is great (I'm biased) but she had very little screen-time (page-time?). One of the campers, Shapiro, is hilarious and adorably defiant, and although she was more present than some other characters, I still would have liked to see more of her.
One stand-out point for me was Moira's relationship with her mother. Initially their relationship is a little rocky, due to tensions over Moira's relationship with Andrea. Seeing Moira go to her mother for advice and having her mother respond so lovingly was a wonderful moment.
Despite a lot of the plot focusing on a love triangle, there was surprisingly little drama. We were presented with Moira's inner turmoil over the situation, but thankfully Lunaside avoids many of the common, annoying tropes that surround love triangles. I did think for the longest time that Moira would turn out to be asexual (hence the book being chosen for the Ace Book Club),
There were a few minor errors and issues with the e-book formatting, but nothing so bad as to prevent legibility.
3/5. Would recommend for a quick summer read with likable characters and surprisingly little drama.
Lunaside focuses on our main character Moira's struggle to balance her job at a summer camp (named Lunaside, naturally) with her relationship with her girlfriend, Andrea, and her attraction to another counselor, Millie. The result is a light, super cute read, with some charming characters. What is better than girls who like girls working at a summer camp? Not much.
The book is heavily character-driven and there isn't much in the way of plot, but it moves along naturally and at a good pace, in part thanks to the demands of the setting. Summer camp must go on, after all, no matter what emotional tizzy Moira finds herself in. The prose is casual but there are some nice turns of phrase sprinkled in. I only wish we had seen a bit more from the side characters. Moira receives the lion's share of the character development and the some of the others do seem to exist solely to populate her world. Layla, representing Team Ace, is great (I'm biased) but she had very little screen-time (page-time?). One of the campers, Shapiro, is hilarious and adorably defiant, and although she was more present than some other characters, I still would have liked to see more of her.
One stand-out point for me was Moira's relationship with her mother. Initially their relationship is a little rocky, due to tensions over Moira's relationship with Andrea. Seeing Moira go to her mother for advice and having her mother respond so lovingly was a wonderful moment.
Despite a lot of the plot focusing on a love triangle, there was surprisingly little drama. We were presented with Moira's inner turmoil over the situation, but thankfully Lunaside avoids many of the common, annoying tropes that surround love triangles. I did think for the longest time that Moira would turn out to be asexual (hence the book being chosen for the Ace Book Club),
There were a few minor errors and issues with the e-book formatting, but nothing so bad as to prevent legibility.
3/5. Would recommend for a quick summer read with likable characters and surprisingly little drama.
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August 15, 2021Minor ace character, might come off as tokenization. Main plotline is arguably not the most ace-friendly.
July 30, 2018
I adored this story.
It has a very casual feel but at the same time it has a nice depth with the characters. If I could, I would love to spend a summer on the island and visit Lunaside. Kudos to J.L. on this great little work.
It has a very casual feel but at the same time it has a nice depth with the characters. If I could, I would love to spend a summer on the island and visit Lunaside. Kudos to J.L. on this great little work.
February 24, 2017
Moira date Andrea and don't search for an university to study in next year. Two things which quite bothered her mum. She's gonna spend the summer in Lunaside to show her mum she's responsible. There, she'll be trying to be a great art camp counselor for her few campers while helping with filming some webseries about the camp and figuring out what is going on with her feelings for another girl.
---
I did enjoy this book. Even if I only give it an "it was ok", I did. I mean, eh, I wanted to keep my reading slow and here I am, already finished it. To be honest, I could even have finished it way more sooner but I had work to do (plus, I was really trying to keep it slow).
This is a first thing: Lunaside took my hand as I peacefully entered in its world, on this sweet island where people drink tea each chapter (don't get me wrong, I loved that.) But I still was able to get out of it, to work on my projects without having the story playing with my mind until I can't hold it anymore, open the book and end it. Not really addictive, but still enough for me to talk about it to my sis. Even if, well, it was mainly because there was this gay love-triangle and this is really cool to read about gays.
Love-triangle, though, isn't what I crave. I knew what was coming when I read the plot but somehow I wish it would have been more about the camp and the art (all fields), than about how this girl was confused with her feelings. She kind of pissed me off for a while. I enjoyed reading the few times when it only is about Moira being an art camp counselor to cute campers, I wish there were more of that. Sill, the "dilemma" of Moira somehow reminds me of an old confusion of mine, in a way. So I guess, good point in the relatable, but still a bit too annoying for some parts.
i loved how many arts were present in the story : drawing, film, fashion, theatre, books. I related a lot to this shy English Lit student asking people about books because that's one of th eonly subject she's comfortable with, one of the only that makes her forget she's having a social interaction -I suppose. But I also related to this tiny really passionate nerd loving her girlfriend and wanted to tell everyone about her. It was good, but not enough to make me really care about the characters. Because honestly, I thought characters were what they were and didn't evolved (except Moira.) I like when background character, while helping the main one learned stuff and go through changes too. Except, like, two others, they stayed flat.
It was pretty easy to read. I'm sure in my mother tongue the use of present would have play with my nerves, so hopefully I'm not that fluent in english.
I'm sure this book is mainly for people quite younger than me, and I'm sure I would have enjoy it more last year. Thing is, it spoke more to my old self than to what I am now, and I'm not that self anymore. I love some quotes though. Let's end on that :
---
I did enjoy this book. Even if I only give it an "it was ok", I did. I mean, eh, I wanted to keep my reading slow and here I am, already finished it. To be honest, I could even have finished it way more sooner but I had work to do (plus, I was really trying to keep it slow).
This is a first thing: Lunaside took my hand as I peacefully entered in its world, on this sweet island where people drink tea each chapter (don't get me wrong, I loved that.) But I still was able to get out of it, to work on my projects without having the story playing with my mind until I can't hold it anymore, open the book and end it. Not really addictive, but still enough for me to talk about it to my sis. Even if, well, it was mainly because there was this gay love-triangle and this is really cool to read about gays.
Love-triangle, though, isn't what I crave. I knew what was coming when I read the plot but somehow I wish it would have been more about the camp and the art (all fields), than about how this girl was confused with her feelings. She kind of pissed me off for a while. I enjoyed reading the few times when it only is about Moira being an art camp counselor to cute campers, I wish there were more of that. Sill, the "dilemma" of Moira somehow reminds me of an old confusion of mine, in a way. So I guess, good point in the relatable, but still a bit too annoying for some parts.
i loved how many arts were present in the story : drawing, film, fashion, theatre, books. I related a lot to this shy English Lit student asking people about books because that's one of th eonly subject she's comfortable with, one of the only that makes her forget she's having a social interaction -I suppose. But I also related to this tiny really passionate nerd loving her girlfriend and wanted to tell everyone about her. It was good, but not enough to make me really care about the characters. Because honestly, I thought characters were what they were and didn't evolved (except Moira.) I like when background character, while helping the main one learned stuff and go through changes too. Except, like, two others, they stayed flat.
It was pretty easy to read. I'm sure in my mother tongue the use of present would have play with my nerves, so hopefully I'm not that fluent in english.
I'm sure this book is mainly for people quite younger than me, and I'm sure I would have enjoy it more last year. Thing is, it spoke more to my old self than to what I am now, and I'm not that self anymore. I love some quotes though. Let's end on that :
April 3, 2016
Moira Connell just wants to drink tea, draw pictures, and hang out with Andrea, her girlfriend. But that's before her mother accuses her of wanting to spend her time making out with girls, rather than planning which universities to court in senior year.
A job as an art counselor at Lunaside, the summer camp down the road from Moira's house, is supposed to help Moira prove she isn't procrastinating, and that she isn't 'girl-crazy' either. Then the eccentric owner of Lunaside ropes her into starring in the camp's new web series before she can say 'on-screen panic attack.' But it's exactly the kind of huge responsibility Moira's mother thinks Moira is allergic to, so she jumps in anyway.
Of course, the fact that Andrea is directing the web series, combined with Moira's sudden, mutual attraction to new counselor Millie, might not help her case. And the way her best friend keeps trying to set her up with Millie certainly isn't helping, well, anything.
And amidst all of this, she's still got an art camp to run. On her own. But how hard could that be?
One summer can change everything. Moira's hoping hers doesn't end in a worst-case-scenario disaster.
(The Amazon synopsis was pretty spot-on, so I decided to use it instead of writing my own)
Lunaside didn't blow me away as a reader-- far from it. While I appreciate the GSM topics discussed in the novel, and the diversity of the the cast, that's about all I can say for the book.
The writing was mediocre, although it wasn't difficult to read. The plot was cliche, although it wasn't boring (well...most of the time). But those two things bought the book three stars-- this is not what brought it down to two.
What brought it down to two were the characters. Not only were the characters flat, but they were also cliche. The main character repeatedly says that she hates conflict, but since that's kind of the point of a novel, it comes off as whiny and indecisive. She could've taken further steps (like, I don't know, talking to her girlfriend about her feelings), but she didn't, so all conflict was a direct reaction to the decisions she made.
Furthermore, she was the only character developed well. All of the other characters seemed heavily one-dimensional; one character was practically boiled down to just a sexuality (Layla, the asexual character). Again, I do appreciate that the novel includes other sexualities, but they should not be the defining part of any character's identity. We don't just need to show that there is diversity; we need to show that non-cis non-straight people are more than their sexualities, too.
*sigh*
So, it was a decent book overall, but it certainly wasn't my cup of tea. Perhaps others will like it more than I did. I hope so.
A job as an art counselor at Lunaside, the summer camp down the road from Moira's house, is supposed to help Moira prove she isn't procrastinating, and that she isn't 'girl-crazy' either. Then the eccentric owner of Lunaside ropes her into starring in the camp's new web series before she can say 'on-screen panic attack.' But it's exactly the kind of huge responsibility Moira's mother thinks Moira is allergic to, so she jumps in anyway.
Of course, the fact that Andrea is directing the web series, combined with Moira's sudden, mutual attraction to new counselor Millie, might not help her case. And the way her best friend keeps trying to set her up with Millie certainly isn't helping, well, anything.
And amidst all of this, she's still got an art camp to run. On her own. But how hard could that be?
One summer can change everything. Moira's hoping hers doesn't end in a worst-case-scenario disaster.
(The Amazon synopsis was pretty spot-on, so I decided to use it instead of writing my own)
Lunaside didn't blow me away as a reader-- far from it. While I appreciate the GSM topics discussed in the novel, and the diversity of the the cast, that's about all I can say for the book.
The writing was mediocre, although it wasn't difficult to read. The plot was cliche, although it wasn't boring (well...most of the time). But those two things bought the book three stars-- this is not what brought it down to two.
What brought it down to two were the characters. Not only were the characters flat, but they were also cliche. The main character repeatedly says that she hates conflict, but since that's kind of the point of a novel, it comes off as whiny and indecisive. She could've taken further steps (like, I don't know, talking to her girlfriend about her feelings), but she didn't, so all conflict was a direct reaction to the decisions she made.
Furthermore, she was the only character developed well. All of the other characters seemed heavily one-dimensional; one character was practically boiled down to just a sexuality (Layla, the asexual character). Again, I do appreciate that the novel includes other sexualities, but they should not be the defining part of any character's identity. We don't just need to show that there is diversity; we need to show that non-cis non-straight people are more than their sexualities, too.
*sigh*
So, it was a decent book overall, but it certainly wasn't my cup of tea. Perhaps others will like it more than I did. I hope so.
April 15, 2016
Disclaimer: I received a review copy of the book.
Lunaside is the story of a girl called Moira as she tries to balance her summer job as the art counselor for Lunaside Summer camp with her girlfriend and her growing attraction to another camp counselor named Millie.
The book is decent, reminding me of the sort of novels I would read in middle school. It's definitely something I'd suggest as a gift for the teenage lesbian in your life. Unless you are the teenage lesbian, in which case, you can probably just buy it yourself. There is an implied sex scene but there's nothing graphic.
I wasn't entirely fond of the story though. Instead of changing over the course of the story, Moira spent the entire store in her "Moira Bubble" only leaving it once thoroughly prompted by friends and family, which incidentally felt like their only purpose for existing, save for the mother who did have an arc involving lesbophobia and expectations for her child. Everyone was relegated to a cardboard status, including Millie, whose importance was described overall as "not real". Which is, frankly, an awful way to treat someone that loved you for a few months. Not to mention the "I'll start questioning why I can never call her Judith, only Jude" threat. That was nice.
[Spoilers Warning] The end was unreasonable, as though a couple could solve that sort of shake in the span of a few hours. For all the excellent pacing the book had, the ending could've benefited greatly from allowing a few weeks or at least a few days for the resolution. I'm pleased that Moira stood with her girlfriend, but I'm not pleased that there were no real consequences for her actions.
However, this book is meant for teenage lesbians, and I am not a teenage lesbian. I would give this book to one though. They need it. I have no doubts there's some young girl out there who will get hope and validation from Moira, knowledge that she could be the cool, pretty, infinitely talented art counselor. And that she could be the girl all the girls want, and have the happy ending with the girl of her dreams. This book is for her, and even if I didn't have the best time reading it, it has my support.
Lunaside is the story of a girl called Moira as she tries to balance her summer job as the art counselor for Lunaside Summer camp with her girlfriend and her growing attraction to another camp counselor named Millie.
The book is decent, reminding me of the sort of novels I would read in middle school. It's definitely something I'd suggest as a gift for the teenage lesbian in your life. Unless you are the teenage lesbian, in which case, you can probably just buy it yourself. There is an implied sex scene but there's nothing graphic.
I wasn't entirely fond of the story though. Instead of changing over the course of the story, Moira spent the entire store in her "Moira Bubble" only leaving it once thoroughly prompted by friends and family, which incidentally felt like their only purpose for existing, save for the mother who did have an arc involving lesbophobia and expectations for her child. Everyone was relegated to a cardboard status, including Millie, whose importance was described overall as "not real". Which is, frankly, an awful way to treat someone that loved you for a few months. Not to mention the "I'll start questioning why I can never call her Judith, only Jude" threat. That was nice.
[Spoilers Warning] The end was unreasonable, as though a couple could solve that sort of shake in the span of a few hours. For all the excellent pacing the book had, the ending could've benefited greatly from allowing a few weeks or at least a few days for the resolution. I'm pleased that Moira stood with her girlfriend, but I'm not pleased that there were no real consequences for her actions.
However, this book is meant for teenage lesbians, and I am not a teenage lesbian. I would give this book to one though. They need it. I have no doubts there's some young girl out there who will get hope and validation from Moira, knowledge that she could be the cool, pretty, infinitely talented art counselor. And that she could be the girl all the girls want, and have the happy ending with the girl of her dreams. This book is for her, and even if I didn't have the best time reading it, it has my support.
April 27, 2016
I read this book after having received a review copy from the publisher. I would like to note that I read it in 8 days while I usually read a book this size in about 20 days.
From the beginning I really liked the style of writing in this book. It is really fast paced and casually written.
In the beginning I could really relate to Moira, she is a nervous but very happy. Okay, this book isn’t a literary masterpiece but it is a very airy and well written book. If you are looking for a quick happy and cute read this is definitely a book I would recommend.
From the beginning I had the feeling that Moira, the main character was asexual, especially since she is very nervous about intimacy with Andrea and it doesn’t seem like she is sexually attracted to her at all. She loves her very much, that much is clear, but there seems to be no sexual tension at all. The author is asexual after all, it would have been good representation and it would’ve fitted well in the story line. Later I found out that Moira was originally written as an asexual and that the author changed it because test readers said it needed a little sexual tension. I think she should’ve never changed this. It’s her book, she can do whatever she wants. But of course I understand.
I enjoyed the main setting with the camp, I think this is very creative since, usually, these kind of books are set in a high school or something. It makes for a very interesting dynamic between the main character and the minor characters, being other councilors and camp kids.
I think the relationship between Andrea is very cute, but something like this was bound to happen for Moira to realize how much she actually loves her and think the relationship is stronger for it. Moira made the right decision, okay she shouldn’t have kissed Millie in the first place, but it was necessary. I believe that maybe it could’ve been worked out a little better.
In the end I really enjoyed the book and would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a cute, fluffy, happy read.
From the beginning I really liked the style of writing in this book. It is really fast paced and casually written.
In the beginning I could really relate to Moira, she is a nervous but very happy. Okay, this book isn’t a literary masterpiece but it is a very airy and well written book. If you are looking for a quick happy and cute read this is definitely a book I would recommend.
From the beginning I had the feeling that Moira, the main character was asexual, especially since she is very nervous about intimacy with Andrea and it doesn’t seem like she is sexually attracted to her at all. She loves her very much, that much is clear, but there seems to be no sexual tension at all. The author is asexual after all, it would have been good representation and it would’ve fitted well in the story line. Later I found out that Moira was originally written as an asexual and that the author changed it because test readers said it needed a little sexual tension. I think she should’ve never changed this. It’s her book, she can do whatever she wants. But of course I understand.
I enjoyed the main setting with the camp, I think this is very creative since, usually, these kind of books are set in a high school or something. It makes for a very interesting dynamic between the main character and the minor characters, being other councilors and camp kids.
I think the relationship between Andrea is very cute, but something like this was bound to happen for Moira to realize how much she actually loves her and think the relationship is stronger for it. Moira made the right decision, okay she shouldn’t have kissed Millie in the first place, but it was necessary. I believe that maybe it could’ve been worked out a little better.
In the end I really enjoyed the book and would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a cute, fluffy, happy read.
April 15, 2016
Here is a hint look up Sharon Belle, she is exactly the perfect look for Moria.
I read this book in one sitting. It grabbed the moment Moira pushed her girlfriend Andrea off of her when she thought she was going to "get caught fooling around with her girlfriend" in the sand dunes. When all they are really were doing was cuddling. Moira awkwardness and self-adjusting to a life of being an out lesbian with girlfriend is just the tip of the issues she faces in the book.
Moira deals with her mother accepting that she with gay and having no future plans after graduating from High School. Moria spends the summer before her senior year being a camp counselor at Lunsaside (of which the book is named after) Camp. What seems like going to be a great summer of teaching art with her girlfriend (Andrea) being a camp counselor as well is upturned with a new camp counselor Millie (a recently out lesbian who connects with Moira in the most awkward way.) When her friends Jude and Bailey prefer her to date Millie rather than TYPE A-Personality girlfriend Andrea. They're reasoning seems less than logical as to why they seem to pressuring their friend to consider being with someone else when she is already with someone else.
No doubt about it. I enjoyed the book and its characters. From the camp where Moira gets roped into being the face of for a series of web episodes about the camp to all the tea drinking she does (count them, there are a lot) to the inner conflict Moira suffers unneedlessly over Millie while she questions whether Andrea really loves her.
Wow it really sounds like I don't like the door but I do. I do like and I will recommend it for anyone who wants to read a cute little lesbian YA novel. I'm just not a fan of love triangles. I love the students that Moira teaches over the summer. I love the counselors, the owners, the family, Moria, Andrea.
I read this book in one sitting. It grabbed the moment Moira pushed her girlfriend Andrea off of her when she thought she was going to "get caught fooling around with her girlfriend" in the sand dunes. When all they are really were doing was cuddling. Moira awkwardness and self-adjusting to a life of being an out lesbian with girlfriend is just the tip of the issues she faces in the book.
Moira deals with her mother accepting that she with gay and having no future plans after graduating from High School. Moria spends the summer before her senior year being a camp counselor at Lunsaside (of which the book is named after) Camp. What seems like going to be a great summer of teaching art with her girlfriend (Andrea) being a camp counselor as well is upturned with a new camp counselor Millie (a recently out lesbian who connects with Moira in the most awkward way.) When her friends Jude and Bailey prefer her to date Millie rather than TYPE A-Personality girlfriend Andrea. They're reasoning seems less than logical as to why they seem to pressuring their friend to consider being with someone else when she is already with someone else.
No doubt about it. I enjoyed the book and its characters. From the camp where Moira gets roped into being the face of for a series of web episodes about the camp to all the tea drinking she does (count them, there are a lot) to the inner conflict Moira suffers unneedlessly over Millie while she questions whether Andrea really loves her.
Wow it really sounds like I don't like the door but I do. I do like and I will recommend it for anyone who wants to read a cute little lesbian YA novel. I'm just not a fan of love triangles. I love the students that Moira teaches over the summer. I love the counselors, the owners, the family, Moria, Andrea.
April 27, 2016
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book as part of the Ace Book Club.
Honestly, if I hadn't been reading this as part of a book club, I probably would never have picked it up (I'm not a big fan of romance novels), and if I had, I would've put it right back down after a couple pages-- which would have been a DNF/1*. (Yeah, I'm a bit of a judgmental reader.)
The main draw of this book is its diversity . Gay (male) protagonists/love stories are a dime a dozen in contemporary YA, but lesbian romances not so much, let alone lesbian love triangles. And if some characters or moments seemed to be included solely for diversity's sake, perhaps that could be forgiven, seeing as diversity for its own sake is better than no diversity at all.
That being said, I could never really get past the book's faults in its style (weirdly simplistic, and not in a good way) and characterizations (almost universally flat and static) enough to really enjoy it. Moira was the only character with any development throughout the book, but with a whole cast of characters and a summer of events seemingly contrived solely for her personal growth I should hope she could manage to get somewhere with that. It was quick enough and interesting enough, I suppose, but the characters/situations never quite felt real.
2.5 stars - It was okay I guess, some perks but also faults aplenty.
Honestly, if I hadn't been reading this as part of a book club, I probably would never have picked it up (I'm not a big fan of romance novels), and if I had, I would've put it right back down after a couple pages-- which would have been a DNF/1*. (Yeah, I'm a bit of a judgmental reader.)
The main draw of this book is its diversity . Gay (male) protagonists/love stories are a dime a dozen in contemporary YA, but lesbian romances not so much, let alone lesbian love triangles. And if some characters or moments seemed to be included solely for diversity's sake, perhaps that could be forgiven, seeing as diversity for its own sake is better than no diversity at all.
That being said, I could never really get past the book's faults in its style (weirdly simplistic, and not in a good way) and characterizations (almost universally flat and static) enough to really enjoy it. Moira was the only character with any development throughout the book, but with a whole cast of characters and a summer of events seemingly contrived solely for her personal growth I should hope she could manage to get somewhere with that. It was quick enough and interesting enough, I suppose, but the characters/situations never quite felt real.
2.5 stars - It was okay I guess, some perks but also faults aplenty.
July 13, 2016
Three words: lesbian love triangle. One so expertly crafted that I genuinely changed my mind about who to ship at least once a chapter.
Moira lives on a small island, where everyone knows everyone. She's out, but she's not comfortable admitting she's in a relationship, because to her that's what would cause the small-town gossip. She is working at a summer camp for kids, helping run the art group, and her girlfriend runs the film camp.
There's also a new girl, who immediately tells Moira she's gay and thinks Moira is amazing. She's pretty hot.
Cue: internal conflict. Cute kids sketching bugs. Beach bonfires. Kissing (with multiple people).
The main problem Moira has between choosing between her beaus is that Andrea is very different to her, and Millie is very similar. She can't decide who would be better for her to date- and adding to the confusion, everyone in her life seems to have an opinion. It was a bit like Ask the Passengers, in that everyone wants to tell Moira what to do and how to live her life.
The story is beautifully written, with great characters and chemistry in different ways. I loved the island/summer camp setting, especially because Camps aren't really a thing in the UK, so it was a new experience for me to read about.
I'll definitely be reading more by J. L. Douglas!
Moira lives on a small island, where everyone knows everyone. She's out, but she's not comfortable admitting she's in a relationship, because to her that's what would cause the small-town gossip. She is working at a summer camp for kids, helping run the art group, and her girlfriend runs the film camp.
There's also a new girl, who immediately tells Moira she's gay and thinks Moira is amazing. She's pretty hot.
Cue: internal conflict. Cute kids sketching bugs. Beach bonfires. Kissing (with multiple people).
The main problem Moira has between choosing between her beaus is that Andrea is very different to her, and Millie is very similar. She can't decide who would be better for her to date- and adding to the confusion, everyone in her life seems to have an opinion. It was a bit like Ask the Passengers, in that everyone wants to tell Moira what to do and how to live her life.
The story is beautifully written, with great characters and chemistry in different ways. I loved the island/summer camp setting, especially because Camps aren't really a thing in the UK, so it was a new experience for me to read about.
I'll definitely be reading more by J. L. Douglas!
April 10, 2016
This book is not the genre I would usually pick from the shelf today, and reading it I was definitely reminded why. I just don't really like love triangle storylines anymore.
Anymore being a key word, all through the book I was reminded how much I used to love this kind of book when I was in my very early teens. I read so many love stories, but never anything like this. My 23 year old self might not have been so impressed by this, but I kept wishing that my 12 year old self would have had the chance to read this. If only just for the representation.
Both the story and the characters fall a bit flat, and there is more to ask from the representation as well. If you chose to so obviously put different sexualities in your story, you really need to build those characters, give them more defining traits. This sadly isn't done here, for example the asexual character in this novel is just that, asexual, and everything about her is boiled down to her sexuality. Still, seeing the word in text, learning anything about it is more than I'm used to and exactly what I would have loved for my 12 year old self to find.
No matter what I think about the story, the characters and the writing, I definitely hope that this book will help some young (or old) readers out there find themselves! And that's what gives this book the third star.
Anymore being a key word, all through the book I was reminded how much I used to love this kind of book when I was in my very early teens. I read so many love stories, but never anything like this. My 23 year old self might not have been so impressed by this, but I kept wishing that my 12 year old self would have had the chance to read this. If only just for the representation.
Both the story and the characters fall a bit flat, and there is more to ask from the representation as well. If you chose to so obviously put different sexualities in your story, you really need to build those characters, give them more defining traits. This sadly isn't done here, for example the asexual character in this novel is just that, asexual, and everything about her is boiled down to her sexuality. Still, seeing the word in text, learning anything about it is more than I'm used to and exactly what I would have loved for my 12 year old self to find.
No matter what I think about the story, the characters and the writing, I definitely hope that this book will help some young (or old) readers out there find themselves! And that's what gives this book the third star.
April 8, 2016
3.5 stars
Oh, Lunaside.
This was the first time reading a book from the Ace Book Club. I liked the idea of Lunaside and after a week of debating, I bought it.
I'm just going to say it: the beginning was very disappointing. I just didn't like it. I wasn't fan of the characters, the writing style felt mediocre, the story was a bit annoying.
But around chapter 10-11, aka halfway, it all went up. Yes, it still was frustrating to read sometimes, but aren't love triangles supposed to be frustrating?
Besides, I could relate to the awkwardness and the introversion of Moira and Millie.
AND LET'S TALK ABOUT ART CAMP. Following the kids' progress was the best part of the book. Moira's campers all have their own style and goals, and I love that. I loved that all these kids had their own style.
I also liked the character development. Moira really matured during this summer.
There is only one question left: why was this for the asexual book club? Yes, when Layla said she was asexual, I might've shed a tear because this was the first time I read a book with an ace character, and whereas her comments about acephobia were on point, she was just a background character. Layla was asexual and loved tea. That's it. That's Layla.
Besides that, lovely story. Despite not being my favourite book, I'm glad I can call this my first f/f book and my first book with an ace character.
Oh, Lunaside.
This was the first time reading a book from the Ace Book Club. I liked the idea of Lunaside and after a week of debating, I bought it.
I'm just going to say it: the beginning was very disappointing. I just didn't like it. I wasn't fan of the characters, the writing style felt mediocre, the story was a bit annoying.
But around chapter 10-11, aka halfway, it all went up. Yes, it still was frustrating to read sometimes, but aren't love triangles supposed to be frustrating?
Besides, I could relate to the awkwardness and the introversion of Moira and Millie.
AND LET'S TALK ABOUT ART CAMP. Following the kids' progress was the best part of the book. Moira's campers all have their own style and goals, and I love that. I loved that all these kids had their own style.
I also liked the character development. Moira really matured during this summer.
There is only one question left: why was this for the asexual book club? Yes, when Layla said she was asexual, I might've shed a tear because this was the first time I read a book with an ace character, and whereas her comments about acephobia were on point, she was just a background character. Layla was asexual and loved tea. That's it. That's Layla.
Besides that, lovely story. Despite not being my favourite book, I'm glad I can call this my first f/f book and my first book with an ace character.
April 27, 2016
I received a copy of this book through the Ace Book Club, which is an exciting thing to be a part of!
The start felt a bit slow and a drag to get through, let's be honest, but things did start to pick up towards the later chapters - so you just have to stick to it and work through it. One thing that I liked a lot was the character development, and the fact that the setting takes place mainly at a summer camp - I'm a bit of a sucker for summer camp books since my childhood was spent at summer camps.
However as an ace aro, this book did not really exactly gel with me since it was more of a lesbian romance, meant for teenager lesbian. I have nothing against it, I found it a cute read but it did not click with me and if you identify as an asexual aromantic, this book wouldn't be really right up your alley.
It's also a nice quick read if you're into that kind of thing, the plot moves along nicely and the world building is nice and easy to understand compared to some of the other books that I have read, the characters do have some development (I loved some of Moria's development in the book) and the love triangle (polyamory) seemed to be nicely defined for a younger person reading this book.
The ending was a tad bit disappointing - however it seems like a great 'first love' read for a teenager lesbian. :)
The start felt a bit slow and a drag to get through, let's be honest, but things did start to pick up towards the later chapters - so you just have to stick to it and work through it. One thing that I liked a lot was the character development, and the fact that the setting takes place mainly at a summer camp - I'm a bit of a sucker for summer camp books since my childhood was spent at summer camps.
However as an ace aro, this book did not really exactly gel with me since it was more of a lesbian romance, meant for teenager lesbian. I have nothing against it, I found it a cute read but it did not click with me and if you identify as an asexual aromantic, this book wouldn't be really right up your alley.
It's also a nice quick read if you're into that kind of thing, the plot moves along nicely and the world building is nice and easy to understand compared to some of the other books that I have read, the characters do have some development (I loved some of Moria's development in the book) and the love triangle (polyamory) seemed to be nicely defined for a younger person reading this book.
The ending was a tad bit disappointing - however it seems like a great 'first love' read for a teenager lesbian. :)
June 24, 2016
Lunaside was a light, quick read that I breezed through in one (admittedly long) plane ride. It fits very solidly into the YA genre. The writing style and plot is simple and straight-forward.
Although I'm generally not a fan of love-triangle stories, I liked how this one went in a very different direction from most--in this case, with the main character choosing to remain with her first love interest, instead of abandoning the first to go for the second. That was very refreshing.
I also enjoyed the model of attraction shown here, with Moira eventually realizing that her attraction to Millie was more based on a fantasy (and her own discontentment and indecision about her life choices) than the reality of Millie as a person. Admittedly I got more than a little annoyed at Moira's lack of direction and internally wringing her hands about the situation she put herself in--but then again, I don't like reading stories about perfect characters anyway. :)
I was very sad for Millie though, and felt she was really shafted in the end, so I'm glad she has her own sequel coming up!
Disclaimer: I am friends with the author.
Although I'm generally not a fan of love-triangle stories, I liked how this one went in a very different direction from most--in this case, with the main character choosing to remain with her first love interest, instead of abandoning the first to go for the second. That was very refreshing.
I also enjoyed the model of attraction shown here, with Moira eventually realizing that her attraction to Millie was more based on a fantasy (and her own discontentment and indecision about her life choices) than the reality of Millie as a person. Admittedly I got more than a little annoyed at Moira's lack of direction and internally wringing her hands about the situation she put herself in--but then again, I don't like reading stories about perfect characters anyway. :)
I was very sad for Millie though, and felt she was really shafted in the end, so I'm glad she has her own sequel coming up!
Disclaimer: I am friends with the author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 3, 2016
Watch out! There will be Spoilers!
I would like to mention that I did receive a reviewer's copy and will keep my review as wholly and completely honest as possible.
This book is a decent read. It's a cute contemporary book with a twist of a lesbian love triangle. The idea was well thought of and well executed, though I had a few issues with how the characters handled the final reveal that Moira cheated on Andrea with Millie. I honestly don't think anyone would forgive a person within minutes after being told they were cheated on by someone they love. I also don't think that anyone would help resolve the relationship's problems if they were the 'home-wrecker' in this relationship (I in no way think that Millie is a home-wrecker, that was the only thing that would come to mind). I don't know, the ending seemed very unrealistic to me. Characters that enjoyed were Shapiro, Bailey and Jude (or their chemistry), Phil, and Millie.
Basically, I like the book, I just thought the ending was unrealistic. 3.5/5
I would like to mention that I did receive a reviewer's copy and will keep my review as wholly and completely honest as possible.
This book is a decent read. It's a cute contemporary book with a twist of a lesbian love triangle. The idea was well thought of and well executed, though I had a few issues with how the characters handled the final reveal that Moira cheated on Andrea with Millie. I honestly don't think anyone would forgive a person within minutes after being told they were cheated on by someone they love. I also don't think that anyone would help resolve the relationship's problems if they were the 'home-wrecker' in this relationship (I in no way think that Millie is a home-wrecker, that was the only thing that would come to mind). I don't know, the ending seemed very unrealistic to me. Characters that enjoyed were Shapiro, Bailey and Jude (or their chemistry), Phil, and Millie.
Basically, I like the book, I just thought the ending was unrealistic. 3.5/5
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 3, 2016
I started this book with a book club. The goal was to read around nineteen pages a day, but I read the whole thing in a day. Every chapter had me wanting Moira to end up with a different girl--it was one of the best love triangles I've ever read. In the end, I approved of the fact that she picked Andrea over Millie. Andrea would help Moira grow in the long run, while Millie would just be comforting. I loved being able to see the growth of all the characters-from Moira's campers to her mom, from Millie to Andrea. And Moira. Sweet little Moira. I loved her. She was so awkward, I related a lot to her. I also liked the explanation of asexuality in the book as being compared to a tiny kitten. It's a perfect way to describe being asexual but also on the romantic spectrum. I rated it a 4/5 only because it was a little below my reading level and things were often spelled out directly instead of letting the reader make their own opinions and inferences about motives. Very good read and I would highly recommend it to any young LGBT+ teen looking for characters like them.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 19, 2016
I have mixed feelings about this book.
First of all I don't like love triangles. This made the whole story a bit frustrating for me, Moira spent too much time thinking about who to choose, and that took time from more interesting issues I would've loved to read more about. The other part of the story was good. Basically it's a summer time teen romance, it has a calm feel to it.
What I really loved were the well-built characters. Any writer can buy me with that. Everyone has their personalities, their reasons and motivations, and they keep it throughout the whole book which is always nice. I have to mention the relationship between Moira and her mom. I loved the way they got closer and how they slowly accepted each other.
To be honest this was the first LGBTQ+ book I've read, but for that it was a good start.
First of all I don't like love triangles. This made the whole story a bit frustrating for me, Moira spent too much time thinking about who to choose, and that took time from more interesting issues I would've loved to read more about. The other part of the story was good. Basically it's a summer time teen romance, it has a calm feel to it.
What I really loved were the well-built characters. Any writer can buy me with that. Everyone has their personalities, their reasons and motivations, and they keep it throughout the whole book which is always nice. I have to mention the relationship between Moira and her mom. I loved the way they got closer and how they slowly accepted each other.
To be honest this was the first LGBTQ+ book I've read, but for that it was a good start.
April 18, 2016
This isn't the kind of book I'd typically pick up, but I got a review copy with ace book club so I decided to read it. I honestly think preteen me would have loved the love triangle story line, but as a young adult I wasn't enamored with it. I struggled to get to the end, largely because I was uninvested in the characters and story line, which as an aromantic I found pretty slow going at times and kinda boring at others.
In conclusion, Preteen me may not have devoured this book, but I would have happily read it! Just a shame I read it a few years too late because it really didn't float my boat as much as I hoped it would.
In conclusion, Preteen me may not have devoured this book, but I would have happily read it! Just a shame I read it a few years too late because it really didn't float my boat as much as I hoped it would.
April 18, 2016
I should disclaim my rating by saying that romance is not a genre I usually enjoy, especially not teen romance, especially not summer camp teen romance. I picked up this book for Ace Book Club, and went into it with an open mind, because even though it hit a trifecta of stuff that makes me go "meh" it has lesbians, which makes everything better.
Alas, this book was only "okay" for me. I didn't particularly gel with any of the characters, who felt a little flat to me, and I didn't find the conflicts compelling.
Still, I read to the end. I'm sure others will find this a cute first-love story.
Alas, this book was only "okay" for me. I didn't particularly gel with any of the characters, who felt a little flat to me, and I didn't find the conflicts compelling.
Still, I read to the end. I'm sure others will find this a cute first-love story.
June 22, 2015
Lunaside was such a fun, surprising read, I'm glad I got around to pick it up. I don't usually read YA or contemporary, yet I got involved really fast with Moira's troubles. Probably because I absolutely adore Andrea and couldn't get enough of her overactive, geeky self. ^^ Overall this as satisfying, fun, and entrancing all at once. And honestly ... you can't go wrong with Summercamp Lesbian Triangle at this time of the year. (end of June)
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February 24, 2015Because of my work on the Stonewall Awards committee, I cannot publicly comment on this work. I will post a review of this and other children's/young adult LGBT novels once the 2016 Stonewall Awards have been announced.
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