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Serious Moonlight
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Young Adult Fiction (2019)Raised in isolation and home-schooled by her strict grandparents, the only experience Birdie has had of the outside world is through her favourite crime books.
But everything changes when she takes a summer job working the night shift at a historic Seattle hotel. There she meets Daniel Aoki, the hotel’s charismatic driver, and together they stumble upon a real-life mystery: a famous reclusive writer—never before seen in public—is secretly meeting someone at the hotel.
To uncover the writer’s puzzling identity, Birdie must come out of her shell, and in doing so, realize that the most confounding mystery of all may just be her growing feelings for Daniel.
But everything changes when she takes a summer job working the night shift at a historic Seattle hotel. There she meets Daniel Aoki, the hotel’s charismatic driver, and together they stumble upon a real-life mystery: a famous reclusive writer—never before seen in public—is secretly meeting someone at the hotel.
To uncover the writer’s puzzling identity, Birdie must come out of her shell, and in doing so, realize that the most confounding mystery of all may just be her growing feelings for Daniel.
432 pages, Paperback
First published April 16, 2019
300 people are currently reading
23821 people want to read
About the author
Jenn Bennett
26 books4,928 followersJenn Bennett is the author of over a dozen books for children and teens, including: ALEX, APPROXIMATELY; STARRY EYES; and GRUMBONES. She also writes romance and fantasy for adults. Her books have earned multiple starred reviews, been Goodreads Choice Award nominees, and have been included on annual Best Book lists for both Kirkus and Publishers Weekly. She lives in a haunted house near Birmingham with one husband and two dogs. Visit her at www.jennbennett.net.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,948 reviews
April 27, 2019
i have a couple of auto-read authors when it comes to contemporary fiction and jenn bennett is on that list. and although this isnt my favourite book of hers, this story still has many of things i love about the genre and how bennett writes it.
first, massive shout out for daniel being portrayed as a charming, geeky, goofball and not some popular football player, like so many other books. he was a breath of fresh air! and i love how natural and organic his relationship with birdie is. and the banter between the two is off the charts! i wish i was quick-witted enough to come up with some of things these two say!
second, good writing plays into may different things. the storytelling, the tone, the pacing. all of which are great in this and i couldnt ask for anything more. i just wasnt a fan of the plot itself. it just wasnt something i could get into, but that is just a personal preference and has nothing to do with how the the story is told.
overall, this is a sweet, fun, and swoon-worthy story. classic jenn bennett!
↠ 3.5 stars
first, massive shout out for daniel being portrayed as a charming, geeky, goofball and not some popular football player, like so many other books. he was a breath of fresh air! and i love how natural and organic his relationship with birdie is. and the banter between the two is off the charts! i wish i was quick-witted enough to come up with some of things these two say!
second, good writing plays into may different things. the storytelling, the tone, the pacing. all of which are great in this and i couldnt ask for anything more. i just wasnt a fan of the plot itself. it just wasnt something i could get into, but that is just a personal preference and has nothing to do with how the the story is told.
overall, this is a sweet, fun, and swoon-worthy story. classic jenn bennett!
↠ 3.5 stars
June 28, 2019
Finally got around to finishing this one and it was cute! Definitely not my favorite of Jenn Bennett's books, but the Seattle setting had my heart. Also Daniel. What a CUTIE.
August 23, 2023
”Medical conditions: bookworm disease (incurable).“
Jenn Bennett nailed it for me. I've loved and read her other contemporary books, but Serious Moonlight has to be my favourite out of the lot.
It was a GD dream and treat to read.
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Weekend read sorted!
I just received this through the mail and I couldn't be happier! I love YA contemporaries. Jenn Bennett is up there as one of the best!
Thank you to Simon and Schuster UK for gifting me with a review copy.
Jenn Bennett nailed it for me. I've loved and read her other contemporary books, but Serious Moonlight has to be my favourite out of the lot.
It was a GD dream and treat to read.
---------------------
Weekend read sorted!
I just received this through the mail and I couldn't be happier! I love YA contemporaries. Jenn Bennett is up there as one of the best!
Thank you to Simon and Schuster UK for gifting me with a review copy.
April 23, 2019
4 stars
I've loved each and every book I've read by Jenn Bennett. Serious Moonlight is probably my least favorite of her books, but I still enjoyed it lots.
Birdie meets Daniel at her favorite diner and they have a moment. She does something she never does and hooks up with him. After she pretty much runs away she never expects to see him again. Imagine her surprise when she realizes Daniel is her coworker on her first day at her new job. There isn't much Birdie loves more than a good mystery and Daniel has one he wants help getting solved.
I liked the mystery aspect of this book a lot. It kept me intrigued. I also liked watching Birdie and Daniel's relationship and friendship grow. We learned so much more about the both of them as they discovered one another.
I loved both Daniel and Birdie. Daniel was the sweetest and Birdie grew on me the more I got to know her. This story also had an array of secondary characters that were great. Mona, Daniel's family, and Birdie's grandfather. Another thing I really loved about this was the setting. Bennett really brought Seattle to life. I've always wanted to visit and in a way, I feel like I have. One thing I didn't love about this was the ending, or lack there of. I felt like the conclusion to the mystery was fine, but it never went anywhere and I wanted a little more out of it.
Overall, this story had endearing characters, an interesting story line, and a fabulous setting. A solid 4 star read, and I'm looking forward to whatever Jenn Bennett releases next!!
I've loved each and every book I've read by Jenn Bennett. Serious Moonlight is probably my least favorite of her books, but I still enjoyed it lots.
Birdie meets Daniel at her favorite diner and they have a moment. She does something she never does and hooks up with him. After she pretty much runs away she never expects to see him again. Imagine her surprise when she realizes Daniel is her coworker on her first day at her new job. There isn't much Birdie loves more than a good mystery and Daniel has one he wants help getting solved.
I liked the mystery aspect of this book a lot. It kept me intrigued. I also liked watching Birdie and Daniel's relationship and friendship grow. We learned so much more about the both of them as they discovered one another.
I loved both Daniel and Birdie. Daniel was the sweetest and Birdie grew on me the more I got to know her. This story also had an array of secondary characters that were great. Mona, Daniel's family, and Birdie's grandfather. Another thing I really loved about this was the setting. Bennett really brought Seattle to life. I've always wanted to visit and in a way, I feel like I have. One thing I didn't love about this was the ending, or lack there of. I felt like the conclusion to the mystery was fine, but it never went anywhere and I wanted a little more out of it.
Overall, this story had endearing characters, an interesting story line, and a fabulous setting. A solid 4 star read, and I'm looking forward to whatever Jenn Bennett releases next!!
May 6, 2019
"Let’s go eat some pie and solve a mystery.”
jenn bennett is one of my top contemporary writing queens. she writes characters with so much depth and still maintains this super cute narrative throughout the entire book
this whole book is sO precious. daniel, the love interest, is an absolute babe. he's so soft and sweet and funny and kind I just love him so much. the conversations and banter between the characters are so seamless and realistic.
also the conversations they had got really deep and i thought it was SUCH a great show of communication and honesty.
effing rude that boys like daniel dont exist in real life
(and just bc i loved it so much and was so sad that it ended, i made this little moodboard)
OKAY but it's not all cute and fluff, there's this really interesting mystery/detective aspect of the plot and i thought it was GENIUS, definitely took a turn that i wasn't expecting, though i had my suspicions
(and the dynamic that birdie & daniel have feel SO MUCH like thomas and audrey from Stalking Jack the Ripper fdjkafkahfdkdjaexcept the stakes are a lot less,,,,,,detrimental)
there were moments where the romantic plot took over and the mystery was REALLY put on hold and i probably would have enjoyedddddd it more if both were taking place at the same time (am i making sense)
the setting is the most adorable thing in the world. they WORK AT A HOTEL TOGETHER and they met and still hang out at this cute little café, basically, Precious
there's A LOT of talk about PIE and honestly, does a book that features PIE sound like it's going to disappoint you??? absolutely not
their respective families were amazing too. aunt mona is an eccentric queen and i love her sm (even if some of her choices are very questionable). and the aoki family is just everything from wild to proper but so so so caring :( so sweet :(
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
i almost want to put this off for a bit longer bc i KNOW i'm going to love it and im going to be so sad when it's finished (basically my feelings every time i read a jenn bennett book)
buddy read with my marm
jenn bennett is one of my top contemporary writing queens. she writes characters with so much depth and still maintains this super cute narrative throughout the entire book
this whole book is sO precious. daniel, the love interest, is an absolute babe. he's so soft and sweet and funny and kind I just love him so much. the conversations and banter between the characters are so seamless and realistic.
also the conversations they had got really deep and i thought it was SUCH a great show of communication and honesty.
effing rude that boys like daniel dont exist in real life
(and just bc i loved it so much and was so sad that it ended, i made this little moodboard)
OKAY but it's not all cute and fluff, there's this really interesting mystery/detective aspect of the plot and i thought it was GENIUS, definitely took a turn that i wasn't expecting, though i had my suspicions
(and the dynamic that birdie & daniel have feel SO MUCH like thomas and audrey from Stalking Jack the Ripper fdjkafkahfdkdja
there were moments where the romantic plot took over and the mystery was REALLY put on hold and i probably would have enjoyedddddd it more if both were taking place at the same time (am i making sense)
the setting is the most adorable thing in the world. they WORK AT A HOTEL TOGETHER and they met and still hang out at this cute little café, basically, Precious
there's A LOT of talk about PIE and honestly, does a book that features PIE sound like it's going to disappoint you??? absolutely not
their respective families were amazing too. aunt mona is an eccentric queen and i love her sm (even if some of her choices are very questionable). and the aoki family is just everything from wild to proper but so so so caring :( so sweet :(
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
i almost want to put this off for a bit longer bc i KNOW i'm going to love it and im going to be so sad when it's finished (basically my feelings every time i read a jenn bennett book)
buddy read with my marm
January 1, 2022
hey everyone meet my new boyfriend!!
his name is daniel aoki. he's 19, and he works the graveyard shift as a hotel van driver. he's gregarious, distractingly good looking, has an excellent smile, and knows lots of card tricks. oh did i mention he's really good at carpentry too? and the best part is he makes an awesome sleuthing partner!!
so how did i manage to find myself a perfect boyfriend like him? well, you are staring right back at the answer!!
i cannot tell you how much of a delight reading this book had been. i don't remember being this elated when i was reading jenn bennett's other books. everything about this book was just right how i wanted it to be.
i may not have experienced grief as profound as birdie, but i did feel connected to her on some other level. she's reserved and likes to stay in her comfort zone. and just like me, birdie also has the biggest impulse to take flight instead of fight when confronted with any sort of troubles. now this might make her sound boring, but she has other things that prove she's rather interesting. for one, she loves solving mysteries and is very inquisitive. i really loved this about her.
daniel on the other hand, is really refreshing. i mean, he's different from the typical ya hero we are so used to getting. i really liked all the other supporting characters as well.
i hadn't expected the plot to get all mushy, but oh wow i really appreciated all the heavy stuff this book was trying to address. i loved the mystery, birdie and daniel's relationship, the family drama, the friendship, the plot twists that i honestly didn't quite see coming. the writing was spotless. it really helped with me getting deeply immersed into the story.
if you fancy yourself some swoony contemporary reads that also have a lot of depth to them, i highly recommend you check this one out!! i'm really excited to see what's next from this author.
his name is daniel aoki. he's 19, and he works the graveyard shift as a hotel van driver. he's gregarious, distractingly good looking, has an excellent smile, and knows lots of card tricks. oh did i mention he's really good at carpentry too? and the best part is he makes an awesome sleuthing partner!!
so how did i manage to find myself a perfect boyfriend like him? well, you are staring right back at the answer!!
i cannot tell you how much of a delight reading this book had been. i don't remember being this elated when i was reading jenn bennett's other books. everything about this book was just right how i wanted it to be.
i may not have experienced grief as profound as birdie, but i did feel connected to her on some other level. she's reserved and likes to stay in her comfort zone. and just like me, birdie also has the biggest impulse to take flight instead of fight when confronted with any sort of troubles. now this might make her sound boring, but she has other things that prove she's rather interesting. for one, she loves solving mysteries and is very inquisitive. i really loved this about her.
daniel on the other hand, is really refreshing. i mean, he's different from the typical ya hero we are so used to getting. i really liked all the other supporting characters as well.
i hadn't expected the plot to get all mushy, but oh wow i really appreciated all the heavy stuff this book was trying to address. i loved the mystery, birdie and daniel's relationship, the family drama, the friendship, the plot twists that i honestly didn't quite see coming. the writing was spotless. it really helped with me getting deeply immersed into the story.
if you fancy yourself some swoony contemporary reads that also have a lot of depth to them, i highly recommend you check this one out!! i'm really excited to see what's next from this author.
February 19, 2021
This story was so cute! Birdie & Daniel’s relationship was funny and very sweet at times, and I loved how the story didn’t shy away from the mention of sex as YA books tend to. I’ve also never read a story with a MC who had narcolepsy, so I appreciated that inclusion. Overall, I had a great time reading and now want to pick up more Jenn Bennett books!
December 3, 2018
It breaks my heart to rate this so low (why I always feel more guilty over three stars vs two I don't know..) but I just didn't love this the way I've loved Bennett's books in the past.
There's a lot of brilliant diversity and representation in SERIOUS MOONLIGHT and this author is always including such fabulous dialogue surrounding safe & consensual sex-positivity content but.. I didn't really love the plot (mystery surrounding the identity of a crime writer) and I kind of saw a few things coming that the MC, a sorta Veronica Mars-esque character didn't, and additionally I'm not sure I liked any of the characters?
I loved the idea of our love interest, I felt for some of Birdie's struggles and adjustments and emotional hang-ups, but.. I never lost myself in this one. It wasn't as funny, not hardly as swoony, and unfortunately the ending felt kind of rushed. There were definitely sweet moments and I was never bored or annoyed or anything. It was just.. fine.
The best part of this read, however, is that it's made me want to reread ALEX, APPROXIMATELY and STARRY EYES. And kinda makes me want to award extra stars to the latter. And maybe I will!
My feelings about this upcoming release aside, however, don't change the fact that I will a) be forever excited about whatever this author puts out and b) read all aforementioned things this author puts out. I love her quirky characters and her banter. This one just didn't quite stick the landing the way the others have.
** I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **
There's a lot of brilliant diversity and representation in SERIOUS MOONLIGHT and this author is always including such fabulous dialogue surrounding safe & consensual sex-positivity content but.. I didn't really love the plot (mystery surrounding the identity of a crime writer) and I kind of saw a few things coming that the MC, a sorta Veronica Mars-esque character didn't, and additionally I'm not sure I liked any of the characters?
I loved the idea of our love interest, I felt for some of Birdie's struggles and adjustments and emotional hang-ups, but.. I never lost myself in this one. It wasn't as funny, not hardly as swoony, and unfortunately the ending felt kind of rushed. There were definitely sweet moments and I was never bored or annoyed or anything. It was just.. fine.
The best part of this read, however, is that it's made me want to reread ALEX, APPROXIMATELY and STARRY EYES. And kinda makes me want to award extra stars to the latter. And maybe I will!
My feelings about this upcoming release aside, however, don't change the fact that I will a) be forever excited about whatever this author puts out and b) read all aforementioned things this author puts out. I love her quirky characters and her banter. This one just didn't quite stick the landing the way the others have.
** I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **
March 13, 2019
Is there anything better than a Jenn Bennett book with all her quirky characters, irresistible friendships, and swoon worthy romances?
There might be but you will be hard pressed to find them!
I adore Jenn's book, I mean, honestly, who doesn't that has tried them? They are so much fun. They are real, raw, and so very very addicting.
And as weird as it may sound, I love that in all of them, there is always a very strong adult presence. Whether a parent, guardian, loved one, someone. You don't find that very often in YA period and I love that her's are always there, cheering her characters on, supporting them and most of all, just being there, involved in their lives.
This was such a cute and fun read. Filled with mystery, a sweet romance, and some very real, very tough social, emotional, and even physical issues and I loved it for it.
Once again Jenn shows why she writes so well in this genre. Why her books stand out and why they are ones I will always be auto buying.
*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
There might be but you will be hard pressed to find them!
I adore Jenn's book, I mean, honestly, who doesn't that has tried them? They are so much fun. They are real, raw, and so very very addicting.
And as weird as it may sound, I love that in all of them, there is always a very strong adult presence. Whether a parent, guardian, loved one, someone. You don't find that very often in YA period and I love that her's are always there, cheering her characters on, supporting them and most of all, just being there, involved in their lives.
This was such a cute and fun read. Filled with mystery, a sweet romance, and some very real, very tough social, emotional, and even physical issues and I loved it for it.
Once again Jenn shows why she writes so well in this genre. Why her books stand out and why they are ones I will always be auto buying.
*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
October 30, 2020
Thank you Edelweiss for providing an e-Arc for me!
Once again, Jenn Bennett did not disappoint. This is my third book of hers and I loved it just as much as the other two.
There is just something about the way she writes the love interests that makes me so happy. They are charming, funny, but still realistic.
I loved this book so much and I know it’s not something I will be forgetting any time soon.
Once again, Jenn Bennett did not disappoint. This is my third book of hers and I loved it just as much as the other two.
There is just something about the way she writes the love interests that makes me so happy. They are charming, funny, but still realistic.
I loved this book so much and I know it’s not something I will be forgetting any time soon.
November 28, 2022
I always so look forward to Jenn Bennett’s books. She writes such quirky, fleshed out characters and immerses you so fully in whatever setting she chooses that it’s like taking a vacation to that city. In this case, it was Seattle, and I loved getting to see the sights alongside Birdie and Daniel. Birdie and Daniel meet by chance and have, ahem, a single night together, and then by pure coincidence discover they will be working together at a hotel on the night shift. Their relationship is soooo cute. Daniel is a sweetheart, Birdie is fun, and they both have complex backstories that were poignant to unwrap. And bonus points for Mona, Birdie’s awesome aunt!
Another thing that was awesome was that there were so many great messages. Very sex-positive. Birdie has narcolepsy and Daniel deals with and the book does a great job of integrating their conditions into the plot and showing how real teens deal with real medical issues in a positive way. Super good stuff. The plot revolves around Birdie and Daniel . But the Birdie and Daniel moments, plus family moments are there a plenty, and adorable.
Trigger Warnings:
Another thing that was awesome was that there were so many great messages. Very sex-positive. Birdie has narcolepsy and Daniel deals with and the book does a great job of integrating their conditions into the plot and showing how real teens deal with real medical issues in a positive way. Super good stuff. The plot revolves around Birdie and Daniel . But the Birdie and Daniel moments, plus family moments are there a plenty, and adorable.
Trigger Warnings:
July 5, 2019
My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.
I have always been a fan of author Jenn Bennett. She is quirky, down to earth and writes very well. In Bennett's latest story, eighteen year old Birdie is still recovering from the recent death of her strict and judgmental grandmother. Birdie also lost her mother when she was ten, and never knew her father. Everyone she loves dies, it seems to her. So, when she meets Daniel after a job interview, their instant chemistry has her running for cover!
The slow burn of this romance will have you pining for poor besotted Daniel: he is such a lovely Book Boyfriend!.
Daniel (who has Japanese ancestry) could never forget the pretty girl he met and made out with at the Moonlight Diner. He even posts a romantic, beseeching ad in a local paper, hoping to find Birdie and mend whatever set her into flight mode. Daniel is described as having long black hair that he ties back in a messy knot. Yum! We later discover that Daniel suffers from depression and there are some tense moments involving a secret from his past that may frighten Birdie away for good. He will need all of his amateur magic skills to keep misdirecting Birdie's attention while he slowly finds a way into her fearful heart.
Birdie, who is of Scandinavian ancestry, wears a lily in her hair (in memory of her mother) and is addicted to mysteries. When Fate brings the two lovers together again - they both end up working the night shift at a ritzy hotel a few blocks away from the diner where they had their fateful rendezvous! - Daniel makes sure to use every element of mystery at his disposal to lure Birdie away from her fear of "loving and always losing" and get her back into his arms. There are quite a few twists and turns in this often hilarious story. Is it fate or coincidence that these star-crossed young lovers shared so much pre-history - read the book and find out all the cute little "almost meets" that occur in this story.
I always recommend Jenn Bennett's books: Starry Eyes and Alex, Approximately being two of my favourites - and now Serious Moonlight! Enjoy! (I miss Daniel and Birdie already!)
I have always been a fan of author Jenn Bennett. She is quirky, down to earth and writes very well. In Bennett's latest story, eighteen year old Birdie is still recovering from the recent death of her strict and judgmental grandmother. Birdie also lost her mother when she was ten, and never knew her father. Everyone she loves dies, it seems to her. So, when she meets Daniel after a job interview, their instant chemistry has her running for cover!
The slow burn of this romance will have you pining for poor besotted Daniel: he is such a lovely Book Boyfriend!.
Daniel (who has Japanese ancestry) could never forget the pretty girl he met and made out with at the Moonlight Diner. He even posts a romantic, beseeching ad in a local paper, hoping to find Birdie and mend whatever set her into flight mode. Daniel is described as having long black hair that he ties back in a messy knot. Yum! We later discover that Daniel suffers from depression and there are some tense moments involving a secret from his past that may frighten Birdie away for good. He will need all of his amateur magic skills to keep misdirecting Birdie's attention while he slowly finds a way into her fearful heart.
Birdie, who is of Scandinavian ancestry, wears a lily in her hair (in memory of her mother) and is addicted to mysteries. When Fate brings the two lovers together again - they both end up working the night shift at a ritzy hotel a few blocks away from the diner where they had their fateful rendezvous! - Daniel makes sure to use every element of mystery at his disposal to lure Birdie away from her fear of "loving and always losing" and get her back into his arms. There are quite a few twists and turns in this often hilarious story. Is it fate or coincidence that these star-crossed young lovers shared so much pre-history - read the book and find out all the cute little "almost meets" that occur in this story.
I always recommend Jenn Bennett's books: Starry Eyes and Alex, Approximately being two of my favourites - and now Serious Moonlight! Enjoy! (I miss Daniel and Birdie already!)
May 1, 2021
“You have a chance to make different choices.”
Serious Moonlight is a contemporary book following Birdie, an 18 years old girl who loves mysteries (both fictional and real life). Her mother got pregnant at 17 and died when Birdie was 10, so she was raise by her dazzling aunt Mona and grandparents - especially her strict grandmother. We first meet Birdie after her granmother has passed away months ago, Birdie has gotten a new night job at a hotel and everything gets much more complicated when a guy she's hooked up with (and then ran away from) is working the same night shifts there as a driver.
“Most of us are just living our lives, trying the best we can. Accepting people for who they are is hard, but in the long run, it’s easier than sitting around, wishing they were something they’re not.”
Serious Moonlight is about Birdies's life (and her possible narcolepsy), family, slowly building romance and one real life mystery about a secretive rich mystery writer that Birdie and Daniel are trying to solve.
“Living in a lonely house of grief for the last few months had begun to feel like a prison I’d never escape. Latitude affects your attitude.”
The 'mystery' part was fun to follow, but in the end this is a contemporary and the mystery side of the plot, while entertaining, wasn't the biggest focus or the most developed aspect of the book. The revelation of the identity of the writer towards the end was not surprising in the lest and was actually very easy to predict from early on. Serious Moonlight is first and foremonst a contemporary and has a lot to offern in that department, the mystery is just a fun side plot which goes well with the heroine's interest in the genre. I liked following Birdie and Daniel around doing their 'detective thing', but I'd recommend this only as a contemporary.
“As much as I loved my mom, sometimes I felt I’d never be free of her mistakes . . .”
For the most part, the biggest focus of the book is the contemporary aspect of it. Biride has been shelterd her whole life. She is 18 years old, had one good friend who later on moved away and no real boyfriend. Throughout the novel we see her learn and grow and go through things she needs to work out.
“But between your mom and your grandma’s deaths, and everything else that’s happened, I sometimes look at you and see the same coping mechanism I saw in Lily—a girl who protects herself by keeping people at a distance.”
There's also a lot of important talk abot sex (I've read 4 books by Bennett and sex positivity and openess is a big thing for the author's books), first times, second chances and most of all communication. Communication is a big thing in this one, be it about personal problems and history of both Birdie and Daniel, or when it comes to sex. The author doesn't shy away from the subject just because it's a YA novel and especially in this one she shows many aspects of sex and the importance of communication, safety and actual connection.
“He led me across the grassy quad to a one-story home painted a strange, vivid shade of green. Then he unlocked the side door and off came the shoes again.
“Is this a Japanese thing or an Aoki thing?” I asked.
“Both. Shoes are filthy, Birdie. Why would you track dirt inside your own home—and dog shit and bacteria and everything else you’ve been carting around on the soles of your shoes? Plus, when you take off your shoes, you tell your mind that you’re entering a safe space. Leave all the stressful, negative shit you’ve accumulated outside.”
Daniel is an intersting character as well. When we first meet him he's very gregarious and open to people, unlike Birdie. But we also get to know more about his story and everything. I liked Birdie and Daniel's interactions and the romance. My favourite is still Starry Eyes, but this one was great as well.
Serious Moonlight was quite focused on second chances, trust, learning, past mistakes of parents and how they may affect their children, and just plain talking about things.
From the other characters I also liked Aunt Mona, who in a lot of ways raised Birdie. I wanted to get to know Daniel's family more as well.
“I overreacted. When it comes down to it, I guess I’m just as emotional as Danny. We’re both beautiful cinnamon rolls, too good for this world,” she (Daniel's mother) said wistfully.”
... lol who actually says this about themselves though....?
Overall, a great contemporary read with a dash of (easy to predict but still fun to follow) mystery, family, romance focused on fate, second chances, communication and trust and Birdie's personal journey as well.
“For one déja vu moment, I was ten years old, back living above the diner, waiting on my mother to come home. Missing people is hard. Letting new people inside is harder. But the reward for making that effort was greater than I could have imagined. Family isn’t always blood, and it isn’t contained in a single tree. It’s a forest.”
Serious Moonlight is a contemporary book following Birdie, an 18 years old girl who loves mysteries (both fictional and real life). Her mother got pregnant at 17 and died when Birdie was 10, so she was raise by her dazzling aunt Mona and grandparents - especially her strict grandmother. We first meet Birdie after her granmother has passed away months ago, Birdie has gotten a new night job at a hotel and everything gets much more complicated when a guy she's hooked up with (and then ran away from) is working the same night shifts there as a driver.
“Most of us are just living our lives, trying the best we can. Accepting people for who they are is hard, but in the long run, it’s easier than sitting around, wishing they were something they’re not.”
Serious Moonlight is about Birdies's life (and her possible narcolepsy), family, slowly building romance and one real life mystery about a secretive rich mystery writer that Birdie and Daniel are trying to solve.
“Living in a lonely house of grief for the last few months had begun to feel like a prison I’d never escape. Latitude affects your attitude.”
The 'mystery' part was fun to follow, but in the end this is a contemporary and the mystery side of the plot, while entertaining, wasn't the biggest focus or the most developed aspect of the book. The revelation of the identity of the writer towards the end was not surprising in the lest and was actually very easy to predict from early on. Serious Moonlight is first and foremonst a contemporary and has a lot to offern in that department, the mystery is just a fun side plot which goes well with the heroine's interest in the genre. I liked following Birdie and Daniel around doing their 'detective thing', but I'd recommend this only as a contemporary.
“As much as I loved my mom, sometimes I felt I’d never be free of her mistakes . . .”
For the most part, the biggest focus of the book is the contemporary aspect of it. Biride has been shelterd her whole life. She is 18 years old, had one good friend who later on moved away and no real boyfriend. Throughout the novel we see her learn and grow and go through things she needs to work out.
“But between your mom and your grandma’s deaths, and everything else that’s happened, I sometimes look at you and see the same coping mechanism I saw in Lily—a girl who protects herself by keeping people at a distance.”
There's also a lot of important talk abot sex (I've read 4 books by Bennett and sex positivity and openess is a big thing for the author's books), first times, second chances and most of all communication. Communication is a big thing in this one, be it about personal problems and history of both Birdie and Daniel, or when it comes to sex. The author doesn't shy away from the subject just because it's a YA novel and especially in this one she shows many aspects of sex and the importance of communication, safety and actual connection.
“He led me across the grassy quad to a one-story home painted a strange, vivid shade of green. Then he unlocked the side door and off came the shoes again.
“Is this a Japanese thing or an Aoki thing?” I asked.
“Both. Shoes are filthy, Birdie. Why would you track dirt inside your own home—and dog shit and bacteria and everything else you’ve been carting around on the soles of your shoes? Plus, when you take off your shoes, you tell your mind that you’re entering a safe space. Leave all the stressful, negative shit you’ve accumulated outside.”
Daniel is an intersting character as well. When we first meet him he's very gregarious and open to people, unlike Birdie. But we also get to know more about his story and everything. I liked Birdie and Daniel's interactions and the romance. My favourite is still Starry Eyes, but this one was great as well.
Serious Moonlight was quite focused on second chances, trust, learning, past mistakes of parents and how they may affect their children, and just plain talking about things.
From the other characters I also liked Aunt Mona, who in a lot of ways raised Birdie. I wanted to get to know Daniel's family more as well.
“I overreacted. When it comes down to it, I guess I’m just as emotional as Danny. We’re both beautiful cinnamon rolls, too good for this world,” she (Daniel's mother) said wistfully.”
... lol who actually says this about themselves though....?
Overall, a great contemporary read with a dash of (easy to predict but still fun to follow) mystery, family, romance focused on fate, second chances, communication and trust and Birdie's personal journey as well.
“For one déja vu moment, I was ten years old, back living above the diner, waiting on my mother to come home. Missing people is hard. Letting new people inside is harder. But the reward for making that effort was greater than I could have imagined. Family isn’t always blood, and it isn’t contained in a single tree. It’s a forest.”
April 16, 2019
4.25/5 stars
The ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Full review here
This review contains spoilers.
This was my second book by Jenn Bennett and I really loved it. It had a lot of great elements that I enjoyed very much.
First of all, there was a cute romance between the two main characters, Birdie and Daniel. After an unusual beginning the two of them reconnected and started dating. I liked their relationship and how it developed. The fact that they solved mysteries together just made my heart melt. It was so cute. And don’t get me started on their first official date at that live-action Clue game, it was such a thoughtful idea.
The main mystery was all about the inscrutable persona that is the famous author Raymond Drake. I was very interested in the mystery even though it was not the main aspect of the novel and I must say that I did not see that plot twist coming at all, it didn’t even cross my mind until they were there talking about it.
I appreciated the author including some representation and diversity. Daniel, one of the main characters, is Japanese and he’s unable to hear from one of his ears because of an accident he had. He also suffers from depression and has attempted suicide when he was in high school. Birdie, the other main character, has a narcolepsy disorder just like her grandpa. I think that all of these aspects were dealt with a lot of care and I really appreciated the characters talking freely about mental health and about going to the doctor and taking care of themselves.
Another remarkable thing these characters did was talk about safe sex which is something that often gets glossed over in most YAs. There was talk about teen pregnancy and Birdie and Daniel talked about protection. So overall this book was very sex positive.
Also props to Jenn Bennett for creating such multilayered characters with interests, background stories and hopes for their future. Birdie had a lot of grief from her past to deal with it and I was happy to see that she had her grandpa and aunt Mona to lean on to. Family was also an important aspect of Daniel’s life and I very much liked the little moments we got to see of his mom and grandparents.
This book might just seem a cute romance filled with mystery but it’s so much more! The characters are amazing and they drive the story forward. I highly recommend this novel.
The ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Full review here
This review contains spoilers.
This was my second book by Jenn Bennett and I really loved it. It had a lot of great elements that I enjoyed very much.
First of all, there was a cute romance between the two main characters, Birdie and Daniel. After an unusual beginning the two of them reconnected and started dating. I liked their relationship and how it developed. The fact that they solved mysteries together just made my heart melt. It was so cute. And don’t get me started on their first official date at that live-action Clue game, it was such a thoughtful idea.
The main mystery was all about the inscrutable persona that is the famous author Raymond Drake. I was very interested in the mystery even though it was not the main aspect of the novel and I must say that I did not see that plot twist coming at all, it didn’t even cross my mind until they were there talking about it.
I appreciated the author including some representation and diversity. Daniel, one of the main characters, is Japanese and he’s unable to hear from one of his ears because of an accident he had. He also suffers from depression and has attempted suicide when he was in high school. Birdie, the other main character, has a narcolepsy disorder just like her grandpa. I think that all of these aspects were dealt with a lot of care and I really appreciated the characters talking freely about mental health and about going to the doctor and taking care of themselves.
Another remarkable thing these characters did was talk about safe sex which is something that often gets glossed over in most YAs. There was talk about teen pregnancy and Birdie and Daniel talked about protection. So overall this book was very sex positive.
Also props to Jenn Bennett for creating such multilayered characters with interests, background stories and hopes for their future. Birdie had a lot of grief from her past to deal with it and I was happy to see that she had her grandpa and aunt Mona to lean on to. Family was also an important aspect of Daniel’s life and I very much liked the little moments we got to see of his mom and grandparents.
This book might just seem a cute romance filled with mystery but it’s so much more! The characters are amazing and they drive the story forward. I highly recommend this novel.
March 4, 2019
I'm 1000000% here for anything Jenn writes and I don't really read the synopsis any longer.
I loved Birdie and Daniel. They're both such good people who are maybe struggling a bit more than they want to let on. I enjoyed their connection and their (mostly) open conversation. The family aspect was interesting: I especially enjoyed the mama bear scene with Cherry and Mona was a delight.
Plot wise, it was a whole lot of cute (hello, live action Clue game). The mystery part was interesting, but really I was invested it in because I wanted Birdie and Daniel together all the time. There were a few things I didn't see coming and I loved that I was able to be surprised. Have I been clear that I absolutely loved it?
Overall, it was another fun read from Jenn that was mostly filled with fluff. Whatever she writes next, I'm here for it.
FYI: talk of suicide and depression
**Huge thanks to Simon Pulse for providing the arc free of charge**
I loved Birdie and Daniel. They're both such good people who are maybe struggling a bit more than they want to let on. I enjoyed their connection and their (mostly) open conversation. The family aspect was interesting: I especially enjoyed the mama bear scene with Cherry and Mona was a delight.
Plot wise, it was a whole lot of cute (hello, live action Clue game). The mystery part was interesting, but really I was invested it in because I wanted Birdie and Daniel together all the time. There were a few things I didn't see coming and I loved that I was able to be surprised. Have I been clear that I absolutely loved it?
Overall, it was another fun read from Jenn that was mostly filled with fluff. Whatever she writes next, I'm here for it.
FYI: talk of suicide and depression
**Huge thanks to Simon Pulse for providing the arc free of charge**
April 25, 2019
It breaks my heart because I adored Starry Eyes and Alex Approximately but this didn’t work for me at all. I expected to swoon and giggle and have little hearts coming out of my eyes while reading this but alas, nothing of the sort happened. I’m not sure why. I just didn’t click with the characters. Well, and the guy had long hair, which is a total pet peeve of mine, but I was convinced Jenn Bennett could make me love him regardless so I gave it a try. Yeah...that didn’t work out so well.
April 23, 2019
3.5 Stars
When we meet Birdie and Daniel they’ve already met and had an intimate encounter that didn’t end well when Birdie freaks out and runs off. Birdie thinks *hopes* she’ll never run into Daniel again, but she’s mortified to find out he works at the hotel where she’s just been hired.
I struggled with Birdie at first, not really knowing her history, trying to avoid Daniel and what happened with them when he seemed like a nice guy. I got it more as the story went on, but I think I warmed to Daniel more than Birdie even though the story is told in her POV. Daniel handled her skittishness like a pro, coaxing her out of her shell and lowering her shields by enticing her with a mystery to solve, knowing she’s a hardcore mystery junkie, which I totally loved. Slowly they draw close, sharing secrets, and overcome the awkwardness of their first “date”.
Jenn Bennett makes the city of Seattle come to life, making me want to visit all over again! How did I miss the Elliot Bay Book Company?!! I enjoyed the secondary characters, although I thought Mona’s costuming was a little over the top, I just couldn’t picture someone dressing up like that on a daily basis, but what do I know? I did love Mona as a character, though: loyal, understanding and loving! I really enjoyed her side story.
Jenn Bennett’s been hitting it out of the park with her young adult romances, and though this wasn’t my favorite among the bunch, it was still pretty lovely.
A copy was kindly provided by Simon Pulse via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
When we meet Birdie and Daniel they’ve already met and had an intimate encounter that didn’t end well when Birdie freaks out and runs off. Birdie thinks *hopes* she’ll never run into Daniel again, but she’s mortified to find out he works at the hotel where she’s just been hired.
I struggled with Birdie at first, not really knowing her history, trying to avoid Daniel and what happened with them when he seemed like a nice guy. I got it more as the story went on, but I think I warmed to Daniel more than Birdie even though the story is told in her POV. Daniel handled her skittishness like a pro, coaxing her out of her shell and lowering her shields by enticing her with a mystery to solve, knowing she’s a hardcore mystery junkie, which I totally loved. Slowly they draw close, sharing secrets, and overcome the awkwardness of their first “date”.
Jenn Bennett makes the city of Seattle come to life, making me want to visit all over again! How did I miss the Elliot Bay Book Company?!! I enjoyed the secondary characters, although I thought Mona’s costuming was a little over the top, I just couldn’t picture someone dressing up like that on a daily basis, but what do I know? I did love Mona as a character, though: loyal, understanding and loving! I really enjoyed her side story.
Jenn Bennett’s been hitting it out of the park with her young adult romances, and though this wasn’t my favorite among the bunch, it was still pretty lovely.
A copy was kindly provided by Simon Pulse via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
September 5, 2019
Set an a sleepy town of Seattle, full of vivid descriptions and a cast of quirky, Gilmore-Girlsy characters, Serious Moonlight follows Birdie who is always suspicious of others and is on the hunt for a mystery to solve, which I wholeheartedly relate to. At her new graveyard shift in a bustling hotel, Birdie must work alongside Daniel, the boy she recently hooked up with and quickly deserted. Trying to set the awkwardness aside, Birdie and Daniel team up to solve a mystery at the hotel that they work at.
This was such a cute novel because Birdie is so obsessed with mysteries, just like me, so we not only got to get a cute contemporary romance but we also got a mystery, as well, and a scene when the MCs go to a Clue Murder Mystery dinner which made my entire life and I wish was a thing where I live. I also really enjoyed Birdie’s quirky and smile-inducing internal monologue as she profiles people she knows, like a detective would. She had such a conversational way of speaking to herself that made the book fly by easily because she was relatable and delivered some lines that had me cackling.
While the mystery got lost halfway through the story, and I did end up guessing the plot twist, it was still an enjoyable novel that had adorable characters, unique and cozy settings like a mystery bookstore, a magic shop, and a diner that had new, yummy pies featured every time the characters visited the shop (kinda like Waitress). I knew this would be a soft mystery that relied mostly on the romance, so I wasn’t that upset that I was able to guess the twist.
Even though Birdie and Daniel’s romance and friendship was wishy-washy, constantly going up and down, and only settled down towards the end of the novel, it was an enjoyable read that put a smile on my face and made me feel as though I was in Seattle alongside them. It wasn’t my favorite contemporary in the world, but it did leave me smiling.
AT A GLANCE
- Mystery-novel-obsessed MC
- Hard-of-Hearing, Japanese magic loving LI
- Romance mixed with a bit of mystery
- They attend a Murder Mystery Dinner !!!!
TW: suicide attempt, overdose, depression
This was such a cute novel because Birdie is so obsessed with mysteries, just like me, so we not only got to get a cute contemporary romance but we also got a mystery, as well, and a scene when the MCs go to a Clue Murder Mystery dinner which made my entire life and I wish was a thing where I live. I also really enjoyed Birdie’s quirky and smile-inducing internal monologue as she profiles people she knows, like a detective would. She had such a conversational way of speaking to herself that made the book fly by easily because she was relatable and delivered some lines that had me cackling.
While the mystery got lost halfway through the story, and I did end up guessing the plot twist, it was still an enjoyable novel that had adorable characters, unique and cozy settings like a mystery bookstore, a magic shop, and a diner that had new, yummy pies featured every time the characters visited the shop (kinda like Waitress). I knew this would be a soft mystery that relied mostly on the romance, so I wasn’t that upset that I was able to guess the twist.
Even though Birdie and Daniel’s romance and friendship was wishy-washy, constantly going up and down, and only settled down towards the end of the novel, it was an enjoyable read that put a smile on my face and made me feel as though I was in Seattle alongside them. It wasn’t my favorite contemporary in the world, but it did leave me smiling.
AT A GLANCE
- Mystery-novel-obsessed MC
- Hard-of-Hearing, Japanese magic loving LI
- Romance mixed with a bit of mystery
- They attend a Murder Mystery Dinner !!!!
TW: suicide attempt, overdose, depression
April 14, 2019
View this review and others on my blog!
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon Pulse/Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing for sending me a free advanced reader copy of this book for an honest review. Serious Moonlight debuts April 16th.
You know when you see a perfect cover, and you think to yourself, well, the book can’t possibly live up to THAT, could it? They’re compensating for something, right? Well, banish those fears—Serious Moonlight is a cozy contemporary that pairs an adorable romance with memorable characters and a Pacific Northwest setting. In my opinion, this book is exactly what new adult should be: kids post-high school taking their first steps into “adulting,” with sex present, but not in an erotic way. It has a YA contemporary voice, but the MCs are just a tad bit older. I also truly appreciated how Bennett placed her characters in a non-school setting. I’ve heard so many calls from people in publishing asking for manuscripts featuring MCs navigating college, and I’m just… not really interested in that?
The pitch is that the MC, Birdie, hooked up with a cute guy in his car, then totally freaked out and literally ran away from him. She’s doing her best to forget all this… but then said cute guy, Daniel, happens to work at her new job. Gotta be fate, right? But both Birdie and Daniel are going to have to work through a lot of things before they can get their happily ever after. Oh, and there’s a “mystery” in the book as well… I use quotes here because the mystery aspect really isn’t that big of a focus; we’re all just here for the developing romance between Birdie and Daniel. It’s cute, they’re cute, the setting’s cute, everything’s cute, cute, cute! Love it.
All this isn’t to say that the book is perfect. Daniel is a bit too much of a “nice guy” for my taste; he treats Birdie like gold at every opportunity, giving her all possible outs from their relationship. That didn’t come across as caring to me so much as unsexy; I was hoping he’d grow a spine. But Daniel did grow on me in time, especially as he plans one awesome date after the next. The one with a Clue focus? (Trying not to give anything away.) I was Googling if anything like that existed in my area. (Unfortunately looks like I’d have to travel to Boston, so… meh.) There was also some cringey, wooden dialogue—I could have done without the “skedaddling” scene. But these are just small quibbles; the setting, the characters, the “found family” aspect, the pitch-perfect new adult feel all added up to a thoroughly enjoyable read, so I will definitely be checking out Bennett’s other books.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon Pulse/Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing for sending me a free advanced reader copy of this book for an honest review. Serious Moonlight debuts April 16th.
You know when you see a perfect cover, and you think to yourself, well, the book can’t possibly live up to THAT, could it? They’re compensating for something, right? Well, banish those fears—Serious Moonlight is a cozy contemporary that pairs an adorable romance with memorable characters and a Pacific Northwest setting. In my opinion, this book is exactly what new adult should be: kids post-high school taking their first steps into “adulting,” with sex present, but not in an erotic way. It has a YA contemporary voice, but the MCs are just a tad bit older. I also truly appreciated how Bennett placed her characters in a non-school setting. I’ve heard so many calls from people in publishing asking for manuscripts featuring MCs navigating college, and I’m just… not really interested in that?
The pitch is that the MC, Birdie, hooked up with a cute guy in his car, then totally freaked out and literally ran away from him. She’s doing her best to forget all this… but then said cute guy, Daniel, happens to work at her new job. Gotta be fate, right? But both Birdie and Daniel are going to have to work through a lot of things before they can get their happily ever after. Oh, and there’s a “mystery” in the book as well… I use quotes here because the mystery aspect really isn’t that big of a focus; we’re all just here for the developing romance between Birdie and Daniel. It’s cute, they’re cute, the setting’s cute, everything’s cute, cute, cute! Love it.
All this isn’t to say that the book is perfect. Daniel is a bit too much of a “nice guy” for my taste; he treats Birdie like gold at every opportunity, giving her all possible outs from their relationship. That didn’t come across as caring to me so much as unsexy; I was hoping he’d grow a spine. But Daniel did grow on me in time, especially as he plans one awesome date after the next. The one with a Clue focus? (Trying not to give anything away.) I was Googling if anything like that existed in my area. (Unfortunately looks like I’d have to travel to Boston, so… meh.) There was also some cringey, wooden dialogue—I could have done without the “skedaddling” scene. But these are just small quibbles; the setting, the characters, the “found family” aspect, the pitch-perfect new adult feel all added up to a thoroughly enjoyable read, so I will definitely be checking out Bennett’s other books.
February 24, 2019
I swear Jenn Bennett can do no wrong.
May 18, 2019
I seem to be reading a lot of romance lately, and Serious Moonlight is pretty much on par with how I tend to read romance books; I liked it, but it didn't blow me away. I definitely think that Jenn Bennett is one of the authors I like when it comes to romance, though, because of how fun and positive they tend to be, and Serious Moonlight was no different.
Jenn Bennett is really excellent at creating these quirky, fun worlds and characters that are on the brink of being overbearing. I found this book toed the line of how much quirkiness I'm willing to read about while suspending my disbelief. Both Birdie and Daniel are very larger-than-life characters, despite being fairly introverted, and while I found them really cute I just didn't really see them as real people. It's not a bad thing, per se, but especially in contemporary I tend to like characters that seem like people. Aunt Mona I really struggled with, honestly. I just struggled to see her as a realistic character.
But otherwise, this book was so cozy and atmospheric. I was expecting the mystery aspect of the book to be more in the forefront, but I'm not even mad that it wasn't because it still gives off those kinds of vibes. That is to say: slightly spooky, old, quiet... (or maybe it's just the haunted hotel I'm writing this review in). Seattle was a perfect setting for this book, and Jenn Bennett's love for classic film really shines through even if all the references soared right over my head.
Another thing I really appreciated was the diversity of the characters and how it discusses grief and mental illness. Seeing an Asian boy with depression as a cute love interest was actually really great. And seeing Birdie struggle with grief over a long period of time and how that affected her will definitely help teens feel less alone if they've lost people. This book is really light-hearted while dealing with some serious topics, but it's not a serious book—it's still a sweet rom-com in the end. I love that this manages to be a love story that doesn't give off the problematic "love cures everything" trope.
I feel like romance fans will definitely enjoy Serious Moonlight, especially if you're a fan of Jenn Bennett. And if you're not, definitely give her books a try.
content warnings: parental death, grief, mental illness, mentions of suicide
Thank you to Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy!
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Jenn Bennett is really excellent at creating these quirky, fun worlds and characters that are on the brink of being overbearing. I found this book toed the line of how much quirkiness I'm willing to read about while suspending my disbelief. Both Birdie and Daniel are very larger-than-life characters, despite being fairly introverted, and while I found them really cute I just didn't really see them as real people. It's not a bad thing, per se, but especially in contemporary I tend to like characters that seem like people. Aunt Mona I really struggled with, honestly. I just struggled to see her as a realistic character.
But otherwise, this book was so cozy and atmospheric. I was expecting the mystery aspect of the book to be more in the forefront, but I'm not even mad that it wasn't because it still gives off those kinds of vibes. That is to say: slightly spooky, old, quiet... (or maybe it's just the haunted hotel I'm writing this review in). Seattle was a perfect setting for this book, and Jenn Bennett's love for classic film really shines through even if all the references soared right over my head.
Another thing I really appreciated was the diversity of the characters and how it discusses grief and mental illness. Seeing an Asian boy with depression as a cute love interest was actually really great. And seeing Birdie struggle with grief over a long period of time and how that affected her will definitely help teens feel less alone if they've lost people. This book is really light-hearted while dealing with some serious topics, but it's not a serious book—it's still a sweet rom-com in the end. I love that this manages to be a love story that doesn't give off the problematic "love cures everything" trope.
I feel like romance fans will definitely enjoy Serious Moonlight, especially if you're a fan of Jenn Bennett. And if you're not, definitely give her books a try.
content warnings: parental death, grief, mental illness, mentions of suicide
Thank you to Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy!
BLOG | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM
May 5, 2019
This was a very cute and a very brainless/easy read. Exactly what I needed while finishing up the term, and a relief after not being a fan of Starry Eyes.
I thought Birdie and Daniel were fun characters, quirky but not in an annoying way, and it was possible to see both sides of their story and why they felt that way and were upset by various situations. And even a lot of the characters who are too quirky (Birdie's godmother Mona who basically wears quirky themed costumes all the time) are so fun that even as I was rolling my eyes at her character I couldn't help but like her. The Seattle/Seattle area setting was really fun, too. What I really liked about this book was how character driven it was, and how much it was focused on the value of talking things out.
I liked the mystery angle at first (and I enjoyed how Birdie's obsession came up, and how
If you want something cute and charming to read this summer, I think this is a good contender!
I thought Birdie and Daniel were fun characters, quirky but not in an annoying way, and it was possible to see both sides of their story and why they felt that way and were upset by various situations. And even a lot of the characters who are too quirky (Birdie's godmother Mona who basically wears quirky themed costumes all the time) are so fun that even as I was rolling my eyes at her character I couldn't help but like her. The Seattle/Seattle area setting was really fun, too. What I really liked about this book was how character driven it was, and how much it was focused on the value of talking things out.
I liked the mystery angle at first (and I enjoyed how Birdie's obsession came up, and how
If you want something cute and charming to read this summer, I think this is a good contender!
Read
May 9, 2020Quirky (in a great way) and unique as Bennett's books always are, but I felt like I was really missing that click and chemistry with the characters this time, unfortunately.
June 7, 2020
*4.5*
Si pudiera vivir solo un romance de todos los que he leído en mi vida, sería el de Daniel y Birdie.
Soy un romántico empedernido y se que los libros de Jenn Bennett siempre son la dosis perfecta de romance realista que necesita mi cuerpo, y este no ha sido la excepción. Hasta me atrevo a decir que es mi favorito de ella. Es mi cuarto libro de la autora, a este punto ya la considero una de mis favoritas, y quedé absolutamente enamorado de esta historia.
Jenn Bennett es de esas personas que siempre entrega una historia completa, es decir, buenos personajes, buena escritura, buena trama. No hay un solo aspecto de este libro que haya sentido mal desarrollado; la autora sabe como cautivarte y mantenerte interesado con todos sus elementos juntos y también separados.
La ambientación de la historia en Seattle me pareció un triunfo total. Y no solamente la ciudad, si no también los escenarios se sientes super característicos a esta historia que se que no los voy a olvidar. El hotel, Moonlight e incluso el mercado donde está la librería y la tienda de magia. La caracterización que les da la autora a estos lugares hace que se sientan como un personaje más, importante y necesarios para la trama.
La trama del escritor y el misterio en el que se meten los protagonistas me pareció una gran adición a la historia. El libro no gira alrededor de esto pero si es un extra, y además de ser buen drama y plot, lo mejor es poder ver a nuestros personajes desenvolverse en esta misión y ver como interactuan con cada pista que encuentran.
Podría hacer un ensayo de 15 cuartillas explicando mis razones por las cuales Daniel y Birdie se han ganado mi corazón. Este par es perfecto, point blank PERIOD. Desde como inició su relación y el evento que los llevo a conocerse a los intercambios que tienen el uno con el otro cuando hablan y cuando se encuentran al hotel. Jen Bennett me hizo desear poder vivir su historia, tan genuina y tan romantica. Espero Jenn siga escribiendo sus romances asi, no se muy bien que hizo pero le funcionó demasiado bien.
Creo que es obvio que soy un simp por esta autora y estaré leyendo todo lo que publique, al menos dentro del género contemporaneo.
Si pudiera vivir solo un romance de todos los que he leído en mi vida, sería el de Daniel y Birdie.
Soy un romántico empedernido y se que los libros de Jenn Bennett siempre son la dosis perfecta de romance realista que necesita mi cuerpo, y este no ha sido la excepción. Hasta me atrevo a decir que es mi favorito de ella. Es mi cuarto libro de la autora, a este punto ya la considero una de mis favoritas, y quedé absolutamente enamorado de esta historia.
Jenn Bennett es de esas personas que siempre entrega una historia completa, es decir, buenos personajes, buena escritura, buena trama. No hay un solo aspecto de este libro que haya sentido mal desarrollado; la autora sabe como cautivarte y mantenerte interesado con todos sus elementos juntos y también separados.
La ambientación de la historia en Seattle me pareció un triunfo total. Y no solamente la ciudad, si no también los escenarios se sientes super característicos a esta historia que se que no los voy a olvidar. El hotel, Moonlight e incluso el mercado donde está la librería y la tienda de magia. La caracterización que les da la autora a estos lugares hace que se sientan como un personaje más, importante y necesarios para la trama.
La trama del escritor y el misterio en el que se meten los protagonistas me pareció una gran adición a la historia. El libro no gira alrededor de esto pero si es un extra, y además de ser buen drama y plot, lo mejor es poder ver a nuestros personajes desenvolverse en esta misión y ver como interactuan con cada pista que encuentran.
Podría hacer un ensayo de 15 cuartillas explicando mis razones por las cuales Daniel y Birdie se han ganado mi corazón. Este par es perfecto, point blank PERIOD. Desde como inició su relación y el evento que los llevo a conocerse a los intercambios que tienen el uno con el otro cuando hablan y cuando se encuentran al hotel. Jen Bennett me hizo desear poder vivir su historia, tan genuina y tan romantica. Espero Jenn siga escribiendo sus romances asi, no se muy bien que hizo pero le funcionó demasiado bien.
Creo que es obvio que soy un simp por esta autora y estaré leyendo todo lo que publique, al menos dentro del género contemporaneo.
September 1, 2021
***3 stars***
Cute teenage love story, but awkward and insecure main character - hence only 3 stars. I usually like that type of young adult, but Birdie was a teeny tiny bit too weird sometimes and some of her choices were questionable at most. But I loved Daniel - he is quirky, funny and plain adorable.
If you're familiar with Jenn Bennett's contemporary romances, chances are high you'll enjoy this one as well.
Cute teenage love story, but awkward and insecure main character - hence only 3 stars. I usually like that type of young adult, but Birdie was a teeny tiny bit too weird sometimes and some of her choices were questionable at most. But I loved Daniel - he is quirky, funny and plain adorable.
If you're familiar with Jenn Bennett's contemporary romances, chances are high you'll enjoy this one as well.
June 15, 2022
this is my third Jenn Bennett book in 3 days … i’m addicted
May 20, 2019
Too bad about that mystery element and case files detracting from the central romance. It was hard to get to know the characters or fully develop secondary characters with the case files style and the mystery interrupting. Just wasn't successful...
Still worth a read for those that enjoy Jenn Bennett or YA, but I wouldn't be pushing it up any lists.
Still worth a read for those that enjoy Jenn Bennett or YA, but I wouldn't be pushing it up any lists.
January 13, 2019
4.5 stars
THIS is what I wanted from Starry Eyes.
THIS is what I needed from Jenn Bennett.
THIS is what I wanted from Starry Eyes.
THIS is what I needed from Jenn Bennett.
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