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The Shade Under the Mango Tree
Gold Medal, Contemporary Fiction, Global Book Awards (formerly New York City Book Awards)
Finalist, Multicultural Fiction, International Book Awards
Finalist, Self Publishing Review
After two heartbreaking losses, Luna wants adventure. Something and somewhere very different from the affluent, sheltered home in California and Hawaii where she grew up. An adventure in which she can also make some difference. She travels to a foreign place where she gets more than she bargained for.
Lucien, a worldly, well-traveled young architect, finds a stranger’s journal at a café. He has qualms and pangs of guilt about reading it. But they don’t stop him. His decision to go on reading changes his life.
Months later, Luna and Lucien meet at a bookstore where Luna works and which Lucien frequents. Still hurting from her losses, Luna finds solace in Lucien’s company and his tales of world travel.
Inspired by Lucien, she goes to Cambodia. What she goes through in one of its rice-growing villages defies anything she could have imagined.
An epistolary tale of courage, love and loss, and the bonds that bring diverse people together.
Finalist, Multicultural Fiction, International Book Awards
Finalist, Self Publishing Review
After two heartbreaking losses, Luna wants adventure. Something and somewhere very different from the affluent, sheltered home in California and Hawaii where she grew up. An adventure in which she can also make some difference. She travels to a foreign place where she gets more than she bargained for.
Lucien, a worldly, well-traveled young architect, finds a stranger’s journal at a café. He has qualms and pangs of guilt about reading it. But they don’t stop him. His decision to go on reading changes his life.
Months later, Luna and Lucien meet at a bookstore where Luna works and which Lucien frequents. Still hurting from her losses, Luna finds solace in Lucien’s company and his tales of world travel.
Inspired by Lucien, she goes to Cambodia. What she goes through in one of its rice-growing villages defies anything she could have imagined.
An epistolary tale of courage, love and loss, and the bonds that bring diverse people together.
- GenresFictionComing Of Age
244 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 21, 2020
33 people are currently reading
151 people want to read
About the author
Evy Journey
7 books266 followersEvy writes short stories, blogs, and cross-genre novels. She’s also a wannabe artist, a flâneuse, and a former social science researcher. Also listed as E.Journey elsewhere on this site, you'll find her other books at https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Having studied psychology (M.A., University of Hawaii; Ph.D. University of Illinois), her fiction spins tales about nuanced characters dealing with contemporary life issues and problems. She believes in love and its many faces.
Her one ungranted wish: To live in Paris where art is everywhere and people have honed aimless roaming to an art form. She has visited and stayed several months at a time.
Having studied psychology (M.A., University of Hawaii; Ph.D. University of Illinois), her fiction spins tales about nuanced characters dealing with contemporary life issues and problems. She believes in love and its many faces.
Her one ungranted wish: To live in Paris where art is everywhere and people have honed aimless roaming to an art form. She has visited and stayed several months at a time.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
February 10, 2021
"The Shade Under the Mango Tree" by Evy Journey was a story I wanted to keep reading!
Luna is raised by her Grandmother in Hawaii. They pick vegetables together, collect eggs together and sit together in the shade under the mango tree in her Grandmother's yard. A tree that provides shelter from the sun and rain but has never produced fruit!
When Luna turns 13 years old she travels to San Diego, CA to live with her parents and three brothers. The adjustment is hard for her. She feels more like her Grandmother's daughter than her Mother's daughter!
Every summer Luna returns to Hawaii to spend two months with her Grandmother. On the summer of her 15th birthday, the night before she returns to San Diego, her Grandmother gives her a black leather notebook. A journal to write her thoughts so new places and new things become familiar. She wrote in her journal of her Grandmother, "She said it would be like talking to her or an imaginary friend."
Lucien, a young architect stops at a Peet's cafe at 2:30PM every day for coffee at lunch. As he places his coffee on the table, he finds a thick black notebook sitting on the seat. He debates and hesitates but begins reading the journal and is intrigued by the writing. The entries begin in September 2005 and continue through November 2012.
Lucien has read enough to understand this is someone's lost but cherished possession. It's someone he would like to know. But the journal doesn't have any contact information so how will he find the owner? Will fate intervene and bring these two strangers together? What will happen if they meet?
This story is told in alternating chapters by protagonists Luna and Lucien. The authors writing is beautiful and descriptive. I love reading through Luna's journal entries pouring out her innermost thoughts and feelings. She's my favorite character, well developed and someone who I grew to care deeply about! I wanted to continue reading her story.
However, the character development was not as strong throughout the book. I wanted to know more about Luna's parents and brothers. The author barely dove into these relationships which seems to have a massive impact on Luna's move from Hawaii and her transition to a different home.
I also feel the synopsis of this book is somewhat misleading by stating, "....Luna wants adventure". Luna was not looking for adventure as much as she was looking for where she belongs and the ability to make her own decisions.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story. It spoke of struggling with change, coping with change and living with change! Ultimately, evolving through a life.
3.5 stars pushed to 4 stars because I loved the character Luna so much!
____________________________
Thank you to BookSirens, Sojourner Books and Evy Journey for a free ecopy of this book. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Luna is raised by her Grandmother in Hawaii. They pick vegetables together, collect eggs together and sit together in the shade under the mango tree in her Grandmother's yard. A tree that provides shelter from the sun and rain but has never produced fruit!
When Luna turns 13 years old she travels to San Diego, CA to live with her parents and three brothers. The adjustment is hard for her. She feels more like her Grandmother's daughter than her Mother's daughter!
Every summer Luna returns to Hawaii to spend two months with her Grandmother. On the summer of her 15th birthday, the night before she returns to San Diego, her Grandmother gives her a black leather notebook. A journal to write her thoughts so new places and new things become familiar. She wrote in her journal of her Grandmother, "She said it would be like talking to her or an imaginary friend."
Lucien, a young architect stops at a Peet's cafe at 2:30PM every day for coffee at lunch. As he places his coffee on the table, he finds a thick black notebook sitting on the seat. He debates and hesitates but begins reading the journal and is intrigued by the writing. The entries begin in September 2005 and continue through November 2012.
Lucien has read enough to understand this is someone's lost but cherished possession. It's someone he would like to know. But the journal doesn't have any contact information so how will he find the owner? Will fate intervene and bring these two strangers together? What will happen if they meet?
This story is told in alternating chapters by protagonists Luna and Lucien. The authors writing is beautiful and descriptive. I love reading through Luna's journal entries pouring out her innermost thoughts and feelings. She's my favorite character, well developed and someone who I grew to care deeply about! I wanted to continue reading her story.
However, the character development was not as strong throughout the book. I wanted to know more about Luna's parents and brothers. The author barely dove into these relationships which seems to have a massive impact on Luna's move from Hawaii and her transition to a different home.
I also feel the synopsis of this book is somewhat misleading by stating, "....Luna wants adventure". Luna was not looking for adventure as much as she was looking for where she belongs and the ability to make her own decisions.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story. It spoke of struggling with change, coping with change and living with change! Ultimately, evolving through a life.
3.5 stars pushed to 4 stars because I loved the character Luna so much!
____________________________
Thank you to BookSirens, Sojourner Books and Evy Journey for a free ecopy of this book. This is my honest and voluntary review.
September 18, 2021
⭐⭐ -- Not an awful story, just not a good fit for me.
This one was just okay for me. I've been putting off reviewing it because I don't really have much to say about it. From the blurb, I expected it to be something different. It is mainly a romance, and that is not really my jam at the moment.
This one was just okay for me. I've been putting off reviewing it because I don't really have much to say about it. From the blurb, I expected it to be something different. It is mainly a romance, and that is not really my jam at the moment.
December 24, 2020
I read this book via an ARC from the author, for Rosie Amber's Book Review Team. The fact that it was free has not affected this honest review.
This book was not as I expected from the blurb. I did enjoy much of it, even though I was expecting to read about human relationships in general, travel, adventures in and the cultures of countries far away; however, this aspect of it does not start until Part 5, at 72% in the Kindle version. For the most part, this book is a romance.
Luna and Lucien are two rather humourless, intense young people, both so introspective that I felt the powerful love between them was more about seeing a reflection of themselves in each other. They meet because Luna leaves her journal in a café they both frequent, and Lucien finds and reads it. I liked the beginning of the book, when Luna is young and spends her summers with her beloved grandmother in Hawaii; this came alive for me, making me feel nostalgic for a place I had never been to, which is always a good sign. The grandmother was lovely, and I enjoyed reading about the life there. As Luna grows older, falls in love for the first time and discovers secrets about her family, her naïveté is a little irritating, and I found Lucien's obsession with her and her journal a little creepy.
I could easily have skipped the drawn-out detail about their love affair to get to by far the most interesting part of the book: Luna's experiences in Cambodia. I had limited knowledge about this country, and what I read made me want to find out more, so this certainly ticked a box.
As for the writing itself, it flows very well, and the author writes nicely, though I found the dialogue rather unrealistic, particularly between Luna and Lucien. Much of the book is written in journal entry and letters between the two main characters, a structure I like, and alternates between their two points of view. I found the main characters too bland to care much what happened between or to them, but this is only personal taste; other readers may see this story as a beautiful romance. Had there been more about Hawaii and Cambodia and less about Lucien and Luna's self-absorption, I might have loved it.
This book was not as I expected from the blurb. I did enjoy much of it, even though I was expecting to read about human relationships in general, travel, adventures in and the cultures of countries far away; however, this aspect of it does not start until Part 5, at 72% in the Kindle version. For the most part, this book is a romance.
Luna and Lucien are two rather humourless, intense young people, both so introspective that I felt the powerful love between them was more about seeing a reflection of themselves in each other. They meet because Luna leaves her journal in a café they both frequent, and Lucien finds and reads it. I liked the beginning of the book, when Luna is young and spends her summers with her beloved grandmother in Hawaii; this came alive for me, making me feel nostalgic for a place I had never been to, which is always a good sign. The grandmother was lovely, and I enjoyed reading about the life there. As Luna grows older, falls in love for the first time and discovers secrets about her family, her naïveté is a little irritating, and I found Lucien's obsession with her and her journal a little creepy.
I could easily have skipped the drawn-out detail about their love affair to get to by far the most interesting part of the book: Luna's experiences in Cambodia. I had limited knowledge about this country, and what I read made me want to find out more, so this certainly ticked a box.
As for the writing itself, it flows very well, and the author writes nicely, though I found the dialogue rather unrealistic, particularly between Luna and Lucien. Much of the book is written in journal entry and letters between the two main characters, a structure I like, and alternates between their two points of view. I found the main characters too bland to care much what happened between or to them, but this is only personal taste; other readers may see this story as a beautiful romance. Had there been more about Hawaii and Cambodia and less about Lucien and Luna's self-absorption, I might have loved it.
January 7, 2021
Hmmm. I selected this book based on the blurb describing it as an #ownvoices/multi-cultural interest novel. At its core though it is really a romance between Luna and Lucien, two rather introspective and intense young people living in California. Luna was raised most of her life, by her grandmother in Hawaii. At her grandmother's house was a large mango tree that never bore fruit. The family liked to sit in the plentiful shade of this mango tree (hence the title!). Luna is given a journal at the a Moleskine journal while in high school and spills her soul into it. Luna later moves back to California to live with her parents and siblings. There she also goes to college to study Literature. One day she forgets her journal at a coffee shop where it is found by Lucien, a young architect. Lucien reads the journal and becomes fascinated by Luna. The two later meet and so the story goes...
I was a bit lukewarm on this one. I didn't particularly like either character and honestly it seemed like 2 different books: one about Luna and Lucien and their connection through the journal and the other about Luna's time in Cambodia as part of the Peace Corps. It just didn't quite click with me though the author did have some wonderful descriptions in the book. A good chunk of the book was written as journal entries or emails, this gave it more of an introspective quality and there was less of the characters actually interacting with each other.
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy!
This book counts towards the Popsugar 2021 Reading Challenge Task #36: Read a book with fewer than 1000 reviews of goodreads (only has 19 other reviews at the time of my reading)
I was a bit lukewarm on this one. I didn't particularly like either character and honestly it seemed like 2 different books: one about Luna and Lucien and their connection through the journal and the other about Luna's time in Cambodia as part of the Peace Corps. It just didn't quite click with me though the author did have some wonderful descriptions in the book. A good chunk of the book was written as journal entries or emails, this gave it more of an introspective quality and there was less of the characters actually interacting with each other.
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy!
This book counts towards the Popsugar 2021 Reading Challenge Task #36: Read a book with fewer than 1000 reviews of goodreads (only has 19 other reviews at the time of my reading)
November 15, 2020
This book was listed under multicultural interest and women’s fiction. It is actually mainly a romance - and I am not a fan of the romance genre, so my review must be read with that proviso. The book I expected to read started on page 337 and was done and dusted by page 429. What could have been the content of the best and most interesting part of Luna’s 2 years in Cambodia was dealt with in one sentence on page 356 - ‘a lot of little local problems crop up. Local problems no-one seems to anticipate. They ask her, and she gets involved. It’s in her nature to help.’ Details of everyday life in a small Cambodian village could have been fascinating and a real insight into the culture of the people. That was the book I’d expected from the description.. Prior to the Cambodia part of the story is boy meets girl, will they/won’t they? Then lots of gazing into eyes and melting into arms - all of which I (personally) find utterly boring. There are several sentences that I needed to read aloud to get the sense of, which breaks the flow of the reading. There are some which are clearly mistakes - e.g. page 304, the couple stroll home over the course of an hour, but he turns off the car engine as they reach her door. Both the description of the book and the cover attracted me, but the book itself was a real disappointment. I finished it out of respect for the fact that the author, publisher and NetGalley had given me a free copy in return for my honest review. I’m sorry I couldn’t be more positive about it. Maybe it will appeal more to fans of romance stories.
December 6, 2020
Author Evy Journey tells the story of Luna, a young woman who is seeking adventure after going through two tragic events. She decides to travel to help her forget her troubles, but doesn’t know where to start. However, she soon meets Lucien, an architect, at the bookstore where she now works. After chatting, Luna is inspired by his adventurous stories and decides to venture to an ancient rice-growing village. While here, she thinks she has found a tranquil spot where she can reflect on her life, but soon finds this isn’t the case. Luna must learn how to overcome even more adversities to protect her life.
If you’re looking for a book that’s hard to put down, definitely check this one out. It’s not only filled with captivating settings, but plenty of shocking plot twists. You’ll also find the author’s writing style very refreshing and filled with beautiful descriptions that will instantly capture your imagination.
If you’re looking for a book that’s hard to put down, definitely check this one out. It’s not only filled with captivating settings, but plenty of shocking plot twists. You’ll also find the author’s writing style very refreshing and filled with beautiful descriptions that will instantly capture your imagination.
August 13, 2021
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Firstly I enjoyed the author’s simple yet eloquent style of writing. The author toggled the book between Luna and Lucien’s perspectives. Secondly, it was interesting to see how the story progressed via diary entries. I love books with the epistolary format as it makes the reader easily connect with the characters. Thirdly, while the characters initially don’t meet, I enjoyed how the author joined Luna and Lucien via the Moleskine journal.
Speaking of which, I enjoyed both Luna and Lucien in the lead. Both of them have charming personalities, and I like some moments from each of them. I enjoyed Lucien at times because of how connected he becomes to Luna’s life just from reading her entries. Similarly, Luna goes through a lot in the tale, and it is easy to relate to her feelings. Also, my favorite moments are when she contemplates her relationship with Scott or the love she shares with her grandmother.
Moreover, as the story progresses, I was intrigued about how Lucien would find Luna to meet her. Even the supporting characters like Mae, Ov, and Jorani added nicely to the tale. The author also included some lovely passages about the mango tree and what it represents to the characters. Both the characters go through a lot emotionally, and it was interesting to see how their relationship progressed. From Hawaii to Cambodia, Luna goes on an exciting journey as she ponders her place in life.
Overall, “The Shade Under the Mango Tree” is a beautiful coming-of-age story that is worth picking up if you love complex characters with strong emotions. I enjoyed reading this book a lot!
March 4, 2021
Thanks to #BookTrib and Loves To Read (FB -- Tina Meyers).
I really loved this book. It was a most unusual story where Lucien goes to a coffee shop daily and finds a journal with no identification and guiltily starts reading it. He leaves it out every day on the table for the owner to claim. He gets so involved in reading that he doesn't want to stop and wants to meet Luna. Luna finally shows up and claims her journal, and they start spending time together. He tells her of his travels and she tells him of her life growing up in Hawaii with her grandmother (who was more like a mother to her than her mother), who "gave her" to live with her for the first 13 years of Luna's life. She eventually lived with her parents who she was very close with. The journal is about her life living there and it spans for years about her life and sorrows with her ex-boyfriend. Her time with Lucien and him telling her about his traveling makes her want to travel and do something good.
They start falling in love and then Luna decides to spend some time working for The Peace Corps because it interested her the way that Lucien traveled all across the country years ago. They send her to a small village (I guess you can call it) in Phom Penh where she lives and teaches. She grows close to the daughter who is in her school and wants to learn English and destined to go to University.
Something horrible happens and it really affects her immensely there. It was a very emotional chapter. The book starts out with this horrible scene unfortunately and I wasn't sure if I could go on but glad I did.
I love how the book closed with her spending time back in Hawaii since the house where her grandmother died years before was still there and owned by her family.
I really loved this book. It was a most unusual story where Lucien goes to a coffee shop daily and finds a journal with no identification and guiltily starts reading it. He leaves it out every day on the table for the owner to claim. He gets so involved in reading that he doesn't want to stop and wants to meet Luna. Luna finally shows up and claims her journal, and they start spending time together. He tells her of his travels and she tells him of her life growing up in Hawaii with her grandmother (who was more like a mother to her than her mother), who "gave her" to live with her for the first 13 years of Luna's life. She eventually lived with her parents who she was very close with. The journal is about her life living there and it spans for years about her life and sorrows with her ex-boyfriend. Her time with Lucien and him telling her about his traveling makes her want to travel and do something good.
They start falling in love and then Luna decides to spend some time working for The Peace Corps because it interested her the way that Lucien traveled all across the country years ago. They send her to a small village (I guess you can call it) in Phom Penh where she lives and teaches. She grows close to the daughter who is in her school and wants to learn English and destined to go to University.
Something horrible happens and it really affects her immensely there. It was a very emotional chapter. The book starts out with this horrible scene unfortunately and I wasn't sure if I could go on but glad I did.
I love how the book closed with her spending time back in Hawaii since the house where her grandmother died years before was still there and owned by her family.
October 4, 2022
The Shade Under The Mango Tree follows Luna’s life in the years she spent growing up with her grandmother in Hawaii, the year she faced the loss of her grandmother and the years she spent afterwards grieving and trying to find her way.
This was a bittersweet read full of the moments that shape us. This book battles grief and trauma and how those emotions greatly effect us. It had elements of self discovery as well as finding our place/meaning in this world. The extent of a family’s complexities is showcased throughout this book both in Luna’s own family, as well as culturally.
I enjoyed how the book came full circle with the mango tree. I feel in a way that tree was as much of a character as the actual people. I liked how letter writing was an important role in this story.
Thank you @netgalley for this ARC.
This was a bittersweet read full of the moments that shape us. This book battles grief and trauma and how those emotions greatly effect us. It had elements of self discovery as well as finding our place/meaning in this world. The extent of a family’s complexities is showcased throughout this book both in Luna’s own family, as well as culturally.
I enjoyed how the book came full circle with the mango tree. I feel in a way that tree was as much of a character as the actual people. I liked how letter writing was an important role in this story.
Thank you @netgalley for this ARC.
September 7, 2022
Beautifully written story about the relationship between Luna and Lucien, who meet because he found her journal. He inspires her to see more of the world. This book was very descriptive and at times, long-winded. It was way too flowery for me. What drew me to this book was the prospects of travel but it took way too long to get to that and lost me about a quarter of the way through.
November 4, 2022
This book by Evy Journey is a romance and a YA novel rolled into one, with a feel of a memoir. It begins as a tender story, but later develops into a slightly more complex account as layers are added on.
Written in a daily journal or diary style, the book is engaging. It tells you about two strangers who discover each other, interact, fall in love, and experience life together. It also portrays the deep family ties that the main protagonists have with their grandparents.
The first-person point of view of the central characters makes it an interesting read. Journey describes the thoughts, scenes, and settings, especially of Hawaii and Cambodia, rather well.
Coincidentally, I was watching a TV series based in Hawaii when I was reading this book, which made it quite easy for me to visualize the sights and smells in the descriptions.
Overall, it was as relaxing as sitting quietly on a bench under the shade of a mango tree!
Note: I received an advanced reader copy of the book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Written in a daily journal or diary style, the book is engaging. It tells you about two strangers who discover each other, interact, fall in love, and experience life together. It also portrays the deep family ties that the main protagonists have with their grandparents.
The first-person point of view of the central characters makes it an interesting read. Journey describes the thoughts, scenes, and settings, especially of Hawaii and Cambodia, rather well.
Coincidentally, I was watching a TV series based in Hawaii when I was reading this book, which made it quite easy for me to visualize the sights and smells in the descriptions.
Overall, it was as relaxing as sitting quietly on a bench under the shade of a mango tree!
Note: I received an advanced reader copy of the book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
December 19, 2020
I really wanted to like this book but could not get on with the storyline or the writing style. The actual story was rushed or skimmed over and the characters felt too one dimensional.
August 3, 2021
This is the 5th book I've read by this author. It's actually been a few years since my last one, so I was excited to see how it compared to the others. It is similar in that love is a focus, as is the exposure to other cultures. It looks at life through the eyes of a 2 people struggling with life's challenges and to find their way. How it differs is the much more complex way the writer has chosen to frame it.
The Shade Under the Mango Tree is a bit confusing for the first several chapters. The story is told mostly from 2 perspectives - that of Luna and Lucien. It opens with a death that occurs later in the timeline, then returns to an earlier time when Luna is a tween visiting Hawaii and the grandmother she lived with when young. Journey was able to bring the feel of the beautiful Hawaiian culture and food. Then Luna moves to California to live with her parents - a difficult adjustment. As she leaves, her grandmother gives her a journal to write in that becomes the launching point for what is to come.
Lucien comes into the story when he discovers Luna's journal left at a table in a coffee shop. Luna disappears for a bit. The viewpoint switches to Lucien's thoughts as he reads the journal and begins to question some of his choices. Then by accident they meet. From here we move back and forth between the two viewpoints.
This book shares the story of 2 people who hold themselves separate from the world who after meeting, struggle to bring the walls down and allow love in. It is a story of separation as Luna going to Cambodia with the Peace Corps for 2 years where readers are drawn into this country's culture and history, and a violent tragedy occurs. And the story touches on how tragedy can have long term effects, and explores the question of how to heal. While a bit complicated for a few chapters, it is beautifully written and contains all the elements I loved in her previous books.
The Shade Under the Mango Tree is a bit confusing for the first several chapters. The story is told mostly from 2 perspectives - that of Luna and Lucien. It opens with a death that occurs later in the timeline, then returns to an earlier time when Luna is a tween visiting Hawaii and the grandmother she lived with when young. Journey was able to bring the feel of the beautiful Hawaiian culture and food. Then Luna moves to California to live with her parents - a difficult adjustment. As she leaves, her grandmother gives her a journal to write in that becomes the launching point for what is to come.
Lucien comes into the story when he discovers Luna's journal left at a table in a coffee shop. Luna disappears for a bit. The viewpoint switches to Lucien's thoughts as he reads the journal and begins to question some of his choices. Then by accident they meet. From here we move back and forth between the two viewpoints.
This book shares the story of 2 people who hold themselves separate from the world who after meeting, struggle to bring the walls down and allow love in. It is a story of separation as Luna going to Cambodia with the Peace Corps for 2 years where readers are drawn into this country's culture and history, and a violent tragedy occurs. And the story touches on how tragedy can have long term effects, and explores the question of how to heal. While a bit complicated for a few chapters, it is beautifully written and contains all the elements I loved in her previous books.
March 15, 2021
Delightful
The Shade Under the Mango Tree by Evy Journey is an engaging, compelling and wonderfully written narrative that will grip the imagination of the reader. The style of the writing goes back and forth from the perspective of the two main characters and is in a daily journal or diary style.
One of the individuals is a young lady, Luna, who lives in Los Angeles, but has deep family ties to a grandmother who lives on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. As we meet her, the beginning focus is on a home owned by her doting grandmother. A home of lush beauty, a doting grandmother, family love and a landmark for those in the neighborhood; that landmark is a huge and fruitless, mango tree that is as beautiful as it is majestic.
The other personality in this enjoyable book is a young man by the name of Lucien. His occupation is an architect and his life is unfulfilling. He has become discontented with life.
Binding and developing the story together is a journal. Not just any journal, but Luna's gift from her grandmother and one in which the entries are beautifully written and captures her experiences and love for her grandmother.
Luna loses the journal and it is found by Lucien. He intends to return it immediately, but his curiosity wins out and he begins to read the entries.
And so the journey begins for these two strangers who will one day find their paths crossing. With the opening scene in the book depicting a suicide the reader begins on an exciting reading journey.
The Shade Under the Mango Tree by Evy Journey is a wonderful read about heartache and the serendipitous nature of life. The book will most certainly delight the reader as two strangers find themselves bound together through the binding of the shared journal and embark on an adventure focused on living and serving.
The Shade Under the Mango Tree by Evy Journey is an engaging, compelling and wonderfully written narrative that will grip the imagination of the reader. The style of the writing goes back and forth from the perspective of the two main characters and is in a daily journal or diary style.
One of the individuals is a young lady, Luna, who lives in Los Angeles, but has deep family ties to a grandmother who lives on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. As we meet her, the beginning focus is on a home owned by her doting grandmother. A home of lush beauty, a doting grandmother, family love and a landmark for those in the neighborhood; that landmark is a huge and fruitless, mango tree that is as beautiful as it is majestic.
The other personality in this enjoyable book is a young man by the name of Lucien. His occupation is an architect and his life is unfulfilling. He has become discontented with life.
Binding and developing the story together is a journal. Not just any journal, but Luna's gift from her grandmother and one in which the entries are beautifully written and captures her experiences and love for her grandmother.
Luna loses the journal and it is found by Lucien. He intends to return it immediately, but his curiosity wins out and he begins to read the entries.
And so the journey begins for these two strangers who will one day find their paths crossing. With the opening scene in the book depicting a suicide the reader begins on an exciting reading journey.
The Shade Under the Mango Tree by Evy Journey is a wonderful read about heartache and the serendipitous nature of life. The book will most certainly delight the reader as two strangers find themselves bound together through the binding of the shared journal and embark on an adventure focused on living and serving.
August 5, 2021
The Shade Under the Mango Tree Combines a Variety of Elements for Readers. I am the first to say that I am not a huge fan of romance novels. Much of the context of The Shade Under the Mango Tree works to build, grow and express the romantic relationship between its main characters. Beyond that, there are more profound life stories, coming of age growth of the characters, learning and exploring cultures, history, and pains of the past touching the present. With its journal entries and memoir-like feel, the novel presents the story in a very realistic, emotional way for readers. I even enjoyed the novel's romance aspects as the characters' connections were developed thoughtfully throughout the book.
Details Bring this Novel to Life. The author's writing style gives so much description, detail, and development to virtually every page. Readers feel included in the settings, scenes, thoughts, and emotions shared by the characters. There were some times when the story moved about in time--or when I didn't stop reading at a good stopping point--that I would need to refresh myself a bit or reread a section to make sure that I was in the right "place." Mostly, the story was difficult to put down and well worth the required focus and attention to some of the details.
Would I Recommend The Shade Under the Mango Tree? Memoirs and coming of age novels are some of my favorites--and this combines the two very well into a more contemporary, fictionalized story. If you enjoy romance novels with deeper stories and connections to history and the world--this is a beautiful novel for your reading list. It isn't a light read--but well worth devoting your time and attention. I look forward to reading more from this author.
I received a copy of the novel from the author or publisher. All opinions are my own
Details Bring this Novel to Life. The author's writing style gives so much description, detail, and development to virtually every page. Readers feel included in the settings, scenes, thoughts, and emotions shared by the characters. There were some times when the story moved about in time--or when I didn't stop reading at a good stopping point--that I would need to refresh myself a bit or reread a section to make sure that I was in the right "place." Mostly, the story was difficult to put down and well worth the required focus and attention to some of the details.
Would I Recommend The Shade Under the Mango Tree? Memoirs and coming of age novels are some of my favorites--and this combines the two very well into a more contemporary, fictionalized story. If you enjoy romance novels with deeper stories and connections to history and the world--this is a beautiful novel for your reading list. It isn't a light read--but well worth devoting your time and attention. I look forward to reading more from this author.
I received a copy of the novel from the author or publisher. All opinions are my own
May 29, 2023
I'm not sure what genre to place this book in. Part of it is a romance, part family, and part is a young woman's journey to find herself.
The book starts with a flash of the future, and from this prologue, it seems like it will be more like a suspense novel. That is not the case since Luna's character doesn't end up in Cambodia until very close to the end. However, it does set up an intriguing scenario that is fully revealed later.
Luna has struggled for most of her life. She grew up with her grandmother for many years, which forged a close relationship between the two. I loved how they were like two peas in a pod and seemed to understand each other better than the grandmother's daughters. I loved the mango tree in the backyard and how it was the grandmother's refuge. There is a lot of symbolism that could be derived from those thoughts.
Lucien had his issues as a younger man, but when he stumbles across Luna's journal in the coffee shop, it opens up a new world for him. It isn't that she had exotic travels or adventures, but the heartfelt words she shared touched him. He felt like he knew her before he ever met her. I enjoyed watching their friendship unfold. It takes courage to create a journal that details your life and share it with someone you have just met.
This novel is about finding yourself in this crazy world. Many struggle with discovering their place in this world, but sometimes it is easier with someone by your side walking the same path with you. I felt immersed in their lives as I read the journal entries and had a better grasp of who Luna and Lucien were as people. Everyone has their own journey and story to tell. It is all about finding the right person to share it with.
We give this book 3 1/2 paws up.
The book starts with a flash of the future, and from this prologue, it seems like it will be more like a suspense novel. That is not the case since Luna's character doesn't end up in Cambodia until very close to the end. However, it does set up an intriguing scenario that is fully revealed later.
Luna has struggled for most of her life. She grew up with her grandmother for many years, which forged a close relationship between the two. I loved how they were like two peas in a pod and seemed to understand each other better than the grandmother's daughters. I loved the mango tree in the backyard and how it was the grandmother's refuge. There is a lot of symbolism that could be derived from those thoughts.
Lucien had his issues as a younger man, but when he stumbles across Luna's journal in the coffee shop, it opens up a new world for him. It isn't that she had exotic travels or adventures, but the heartfelt words she shared touched him. He felt like he knew her before he ever met her. I enjoyed watching their friendship unfold. It takes courage to create a journal that details your life and share it with someone you have just met.
This novel is about finding yourself in this crazy world. Many struggle with discovering their place in this world, but sometimes it is easier with someone by your side walking the same path with you. I felt immersed in their lives as I read the journal entries and had a better grasp of who Luna and Lucien were as people. Everyone has their own journey and story to tell. It is all about finding the right person to share it with.
We give this book 3 1/2 paws up.
August 18, 2021
I really wanted to fall in love with this book. Honestly. (Spoilers ahead) I found myself tuned into Luna's story, her deep connection with her Grandmother, her struggle to find her own identity amidst a family with very clear, prescribed ambitions for what her life should look like. There were a few things that truly distracted me from this story, however. First, Lucien as a character in a whole. A man who is 10 years older and clearly wanting to groom Luna to be the person he has read about in her journals. He also just so happens to be a ridiculously successful architect who has traveled the world, and is incapable of having lasting, enduring feelings to literally any physical being after being threatened with a knife once? Egotistical, entitled, his character speaks to so much of what is wrong with white male American culture. His character was misogynistic and reprehensible. Cringe-worthy. The Cambodia story would have told better if Luna had set off to discover herself, finding strength in her identity, defining who she was along the way through these traumatic events. Instead, she again comes across as fragile and delicate. While I did enjoy this book, there were so many moments when I disagreed with the direction it went in and truly wanted Luna to become the hero of her own story. (Also- it's never fully explained why she goes to Hawaii in the first place? So her family is willing to raise their sons, but not her? They're respectable, high-earning adults but can't get their child back?)
August 24, 2021
MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK
First of all, I love the cover of this book. It’s bright vibrant colors would make me pick this book before other. The Shade Under the Mango Tree is a different read than other books I have read, but it was intriguing and interesting. The story was about Luna and Lucien and we get to know them and their life and feelings through the Moleskine journal. I enjoyed getting to know these two characters and the others we meet throughout the story. The author does a fantastic job describing the details in such a way they seem so real. I love the vivid descriptions of the different cultures.
My favorite was Hawaii and Luna visiting her grandmother in the house she grew up in. I love grandma and her sweet personality and wise wisdom. There is so much going on in this book. A lots of twists and turns keeling the story entertaining. I was intrigued to see how the author would weave everything in this story together and come up with an ending that wasn’t really expected. I highly recommend this book if you enjoy multi cultural stories, stories featuring journal entries, this is one you will enjoy. This one is four stars for me.
A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
First of all, I love the cover of this book. It’s bright vibrant colors would make me pick this book before other. The Shade Under the Mango Tree is a different read than other books I have read, but it was intriguing and interesting. The story was about Luna and Lucien and we get to know them and their life and feelings through the Moleskine journal. I enjoyed getting to know these two characters and the others we meet throughout the story. The author does a fantastic job describing the details in such a way they seem so real. I love the vivid descriptions of the different cultures.
My favorite was Hawaii and Luna visiting her grandmother in the house she grew up in. I love grandma and her sweet personality and wise wisdom. There is so much going on in this book. A lots of twists and turns keeling the story entertaining. I was intrigued to see how the author would weave everything in this story together and come up with an ending that wasn’t really expected. I highly recommend this book if you enjoy multi cultural stories, stories featuring journal entries, this is one you will enjoy. This one is four stars for me.
A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
May 15, 2023
Luna gives us a glimpse into her life as we see what she has put down on paper. You can feel the love she has for her grandmother, and it reminds me of the relationship I had with my own. We also had similar experiences with romance books. As I got to know her at the beginning, I knew this would be a great beach read. I could see myself sitting in my chair, facing the ocean, and sticking my feet in the sand.
Then along comes Lucien. He has me with my other love, coffee. That has me thinking that if it’s a rainy day, I would need to go to a coffee shop and find a comfortable chair with a table, right at hand, where I can have my cup of coffee and some type of sweet treat. And if there’s some chill in the air, a fireplace to keep me warm.
I want to say it’s something of a romance but it’s more about love and its different forms. For me, Lucien became our tour guide through Luna and her thoughts. The author writes as if the reader is a voyeur watching everything taking place but not having a voice to comment. I loved the memories this story brought back for me. It had me wishing that I lived in a place where I could have the chance to sit under a mango tree. So that is something to put on my bucket list. Can’t wait to take this on vacation with me in order to experience those feelings again.
I was not compensated nor was I required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
Then along comes Lucien. He has me with my other love, coffee. That has me thinking that if it’s a rainy day, I would need to go to a coffee shop and find a comfortable chair with a table, right at hand, where I can have my cup of coffee and some type of sweet treat. And if there’s some chill in the air, a fireplace to keep me warm.
I want to say it’s something of a romance but it’s more about love and its different forms. For me, Lucien became our tour guide through Luna and her thoughts. The author writes as if the reader is a voyeur watching everything taking place but not having a voice to comment. I loved the memories this story brought back for me. It had me wishing that I lived in a place where I could have the chance to sit under a mango tree. So that is something to put on my bucket list. Can’t wait to take this on vacation with me in order to experience those feelings again.
I was not compensated nor was I required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
August 3, 2021
I fell in love with this powerful story of finding yourself, your history, forgiveness, hope and so much more.
Our two main characters, Luna and Lucien, are brought together over the loss and found of a special journal. A journal that describes a young woman’s journey dealing with family, love, loss and change. We watch as Luna’s grows from a youth to a bright young woman with fears and emotions that we can all relate to. We are witness to her vulnerability, her hopes and her dreams. How she grows with each change in her life and her courage to put herself out there and to want more. We are also witness to Lucien’s past, his fears and how he has arrived to where he is today. It is this journal that will change his life together – especially after he meets the author of the powerful words.
I fell in love with this story – I could not put it down. I loved Luna, she felt like a close friend as I read each page. Your heart hurts for her at times and at other times you are praying for her to fly and chase the dreams and the future that she deserves. I loved how the two came together at such an important time and turning point in each others lives. They give each other the hope to dream again, to reach for the stars and to have faith in love and soul mates. This is a definite must read novel!
Our two main characters, Luna and Lucien, are brought together over the loss and found of a special journal. A journal that describes a young woman’s journey dealing with family, love, loss and change. We watch as Luna’s grows from a youth to a bright young woman with fears and emotions that we can all relate to. We are witness to her vulnerability, her hopes and her dreams. How she grows with each change in her life and her courage to put herself out there and to want more. We are also witness to Lucien’s past, his fears and how he has arrived to where he is today. It is this journal that will change his life together – especially after he meets the author of the powerful words.
I fell in love with this story – I could not put it down. I loved Luna, she felt like a close friend as I read each page. Your heart hurts for her at times and at other times you are praying for her to fly and chase the dreams and the future that she deserves. I loved how the two came together at such an important time and turning point in each others lives. They give each other the hope to dream again, to reach for the stars and to have faith in love and soul mates. This is a definite must read novel!
October 4, 2023
Luna hasn’t always lived in San Diego. She moved there to live with her parents when she turned thirteen. Before that, she lived in Hawaii, raised by her grandmother. She had special memories of her life there and one of those memories was time spent in the shade of a Mango tree. One that never bore fruit. She looked forward to adding new memories when she returned to Hawaii every summer. The summer she turned fifteen was one of those. Her grandmother gave her a black leather journal to jot down her thoughts. It became very dear to her. She wrote in it for years. Then…… she lost it. Lucien, the man who chanced upon her journal, recognized it was special. With no idea who it belonged to, he had to return it.
Told from both perspectives, I liked Luna and Lucien. They were both looking for something. For direction. The story is often told through journal entries and some might find this disruptive, taking them out of the story. I liked it. It helped me understand both of them better. As their friendship became attraction I was rooting for them. Perhaps what they were both seeking was right in front of them.
This was more of a romance and finding oneself than an adventure. I enjoyed the characters and the story. The writing was descriptive. And I got the ending I was hoping for.
I received a complimentary copy. My review is voluntarily given.
Told from both perspectives, I liked Luna and Lucien. They were both looking for something. For direction. The story is often told through journal entries and some might find this disruptive, taking them out of the story. I liked it. It helped me understand both of them better. As their friendship became attraction I was rooting for them. Perhaps what they were both seeking was right in front of them.
This was more of a romance and finding oneself than an adventure. I enjoyed the characters and the story. The writing was descriptive. And I got the ending I was hoping for.
I received a complimentary copy. My review is voluntarily given.
April 5, 2021
I was gifted a digital copy of this book on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I really wanted to like this book. I picked it based on the description. It sounded great, however it fell completely flat for me.
The story is based around 2 main characters, Luna and Lucien. Luna loses her journal in a coffee shop and is picked up by Lucien who decides to read it. He then hopes he will find the person who wrote it. The book is set in multiple locations with differing timelines.
If the book was just based on the brief description I’ve mentioned above, then I think I may have enjoyed it more as for me, I was hoping the journal and the meeting of the characters was going to be the main story. However, I felt that I was reading 3 separate books. There were sections about Hawaii and Cambodia which just didn’t seem to fit or flow with the story. They could have been books in their own right.
The descriptive writing about Hawaii and Cambodia was lovely but I couldn’t get on with the style of writing otherwise. I needed more from this book. I didn’t particularly warm to the characters and in the end it took me a long time to finish the book as it just couldn’t grasp my attention for long enough.
I really wanted to like this book. I picked it based on the description. It sounded great, however it fell completely flat for me.
The story is based around 2 main characters, Luna and Lucien. Luna loses her journal in a coffee shop and is picked up by Lucien who decides to read it. He then hopes he will find the person who wrote it. The book is set in multiple locations with differing timelines.
If the book was just based on the brief description I’ve mentioned above, then I think I may have enjoyed it more as for me, I was hoping the journal and the meeting of the characters was going to be the main story. However, I felt that I was reading 3 separate books. There were sections about Hawaii and Cambodia which just didn’t seem to fit or flow with the story. They could have been books in their own right.
The descriptive writing about Hawaii and Cambodia was lovely but I couldn’t get on with the style of writing otherwise. I needed more from this book. I didn’t particularly warm to the characters and in the end it took me a long time to finish the book as it just couldn’t grasp my attention for long enough.
November 19, 2020
A well-structured bildungsroman of a young woman’s quest for identity, adventure, and belonging, centered on a charming meet-cute.
The Shade Under the Mango Tree by author Evy Journey is a tender and captivating story that delves into the many existential questions we ask ourselves frequently.
The pivot of the tale is a charming meet-cute; by way of a lost notebook. Lucien, an architect whose life revolves around his creative practice and his routines, comes upon a journal of a stranger, and his interest is piqued. He comes to know the girl, Luna, through her journal entries, where she writes of her family, her quest for identity, her dilemmas about love, and her search for home in people and in places.
When they meet unexpectedly, they connect through how different they are. Her life is in upheaval and his stories and mantra of life help her recognize the call of adventure. The fifth section of the book reads almost like a separate novella of Luna's coming-of-age through her experiences with a family in a rural village in a country with a bloody history.
The plot meanders from seeming first like a story about family ties, then a romance centered around the journal to become a well-structured bildungsroman with a bit of everything. There are a few unnecessary diversions but they don’t take much away from the central arc or the reading experience. The first person point of view of both central characters makes for an unusual and interesting narrative reading. The prose itself reads like a painting adding depth and complexity in layers making for some beautiful imagery.
The author spins this tale of wholesome characters, with a nuanced understanding of different cultures backed by a worldly sensibility of travel, poetry, and design. This book is a convincing manifesto for leading life with moments of stillness alongside big adventures, of the value of connections, and will also leave you with a hankering for mangoes.
(I received a copy of this book to review on Discovery by Reedsy)
The Shade Under the Mango Tree by author Evy Journey is a tender and captivating story that delves into the many existential questions we ask ourselves frequently.
The pivot of the tale is a charming meet-cute; by way of a lost notebook. Lucien, an architect whose life revolves around his creative practice and his routines, comes upon a journal of a stranger, and his interest is piqued. He comes to know the girl, Luna, through her journal entries, where she writes of her family, her quest for identity, her dilemmas about love, and her search for home in people and in places.
When they meet unexpectedly, they connect through how different they are. Her life is in upheaval and his stories and mantra of life help her recognize the call of adventure. The fifth section of the book reads almost like a separate novella of Luna's coming-of-age through her experiences with a family in a rural village in a country with a bloody history.
The plot meanders from seeming first like a story about family ties, then a romance centered around the journal to become a well-structured bildungsroman with a bit of everything. There are a few unnecessary diversions but they don’t take much away from the central arc or the reading experience. The first person point of view of both central characters makes for an unusual and interesting narrative reading. The prose itself reads like a painting adding depth and complexity in layers making for some beautiful imagery.
The author spins this tale of wholesome characters, with a nuanced understanding of different cultures backed by a worldly sensibility of travel, poetry, and design. This book is a convincing manifesto for leading life with moments of stillness alongside big adventures, of the value of connections, and will also leave you with a hankering for mangoes.
(I received a copy of this book to review on Discovery by Reedsy)
March 19, 2021
A beautifully written and captivating story...
The Shade Under The Mango Tree by Evy Journey is a wonderfully written and richly descriptive novel with brilliantly drawn characters and settings. The author weaves an expressive narrative about two people discovering their emotions and learning to trust each other. It’s a distinctive work that will captivate the reader from the opening chapter. Skillfully constructed, this beautifully written and captivating story will have you turning the pages from beginning to end. There’s plenty of imagery in the writing style that makes you feel you are right there in the story, and that’s something I look for in a good book.
There’s no doubt that The Shade Under The Mango Tree is an exceptionally well written book. The contrast between tone and content is a characteristic talent of only a few authors. The author pays as much attention to her sentences as she does to her plots, shifting or consolidating meaning with the use of a single word. Her writing is impeccably honed, full of juxtapositions and qualifications that help to create an almost poetic atmosphere throughout. Highly recommended.
The Shade Under The Mango Tree by Evy Journey is a wonderfully written and richly descriptive novel with brilliantly drawn characters and settings. The author weaves an expressive narrative about two people discovering their emotions and learning to trust each other. It’s a distinctive work that will captivate the reader from the opening chapter. Skillfully constructed, this beautifully written and captivating story will have you turning the pages from beginning to end. There’s plenty of imagery in the writing style that makes you feel you are right there in the story, and that’s something I look for in a good book.
There’s no doubt that The Shade Under The Mango Tree is an exceptionally well written book. The contrast between tone and content is a characteristic talent of only a few authors. The author pays as much attention to her sentences as she does to her plots, shifting or consolidating meaning with the use of a single word. Her writing is impeccably honed, full of juxtapositions and qualifications that help to create an almost poetic atmosphere throughout. Highly recommended.
June 24, 2021
A very Captivating Story
Shades Under The Mango Tree is a beautifully written story about romance. The novel tells an interesting story about two lovers Luna and Lucien. The fine thing about this story is the unique way in which the two lovers met. They both had difficulties at first trying to understand their feelings.
Let me tell you a little about the central character Luna. She is a passionate young woman with the desire to make a difference and leave an impact on the world. She goes back and forth between California and Hawaii having a good time. Luna lived with her grandmother, who is also a loveable character. Lucien on-the-other-hand was a young architect and also an amazing personality.
Luna forgets her journal at the coffee shop and Lucien comes across it. A new love story begins between the two. Months later, both meet in a bookstore, where their love for each other grows even stronger. From this moment onward, their story was a beautiful love story of adventure and self-discovery.
Shades Under The Mango Tree by Evy Journey is one book I enjoyed reading. It is also highly recommended.
Shades Under The Mango Tree is a beautifully written story about romance. The novel tells an interesting story about two lovers Luna and Lucien. The fine thing about this story is the unique way in which the two lovers met. They both had difficulties at first trying to understand their feelings.
Let me tell you a little about the central character Luna. She is a passionate young woman with the desire to make a difference and leave an impact on the world. She goes back and forth between California and Hawaii having a good time. Luna lived with her grandmother, who is also a loveable character. Lucien on-the-other-hand was a young architect and also an amazing personality.
Luna forgets her journal at the coffee shop and Lucien comes across it. A new love story begins between the two. Months later, both meet in a bookstore, where their love for each other grows even stronger. From this moment onward, their story was a beautiful love story of adventure and self-discovery.
Shades Under The Mango Tree by Evy Journey is one book I enjoyed reading. It is also highly recommended.
August 26, 2021
This is a wonderful saga of self-discovery. Luna appears to us as the woman who should love the life she lives and where she lives it. Yes, we all experience losses in life but when you are delt lives blows, living in California and Hawaii makes it a little better, right? Wrong. Luna needs a purpose.
Lucian is driven by curiosity and adventure. He finds a diary and reads it not knowing how it will affect him and his future relationships.
Granted, the way Luna and Lucian end up meeting one another in a bookstore is one in a billion chance, but that is what makes for good storytelling. The probable mixed with the improbable.
You will love the side characters as much, if not more than, the main characters. The Love story is there but it is more than the love story is used for the characters to explore new worlds and be possibilities while not going at it alone.
You are never too old to come of age. And you never too old to read about a great self-discovery story.
Travel around the world as Luna finds her purpose and learn history and lore of far-off places.
Praise to this author for her descriptive and informative epic tale.
Lucian is driven by curiosity and adventure. He finds a diary and reads it not knowing how it will affect him and his future relationships.
Granted, the way Luna and Lucian end up meeting one another in a bookstore is one in a billion chance, but that is what makes for good storytelling. The probable mixed with the improbable.
You will love the side characters as much, if not more than, the main characters. The Love story is there but it is more than the love story is used for the characters to explore new worlds and be possibilities while not going at it alone.
You are never too old to come of age. And you never too old to read about a great self-discovery story.
Travel around the world as Luna finds her purpose and learn history and lore of far-off places.
Praise to this author for her descriptive and informative epic tale.
October 23, 2022
I wanted to like this book more than I did, but it was honestly just okay for me. I really enjoyed Luna's relationship with her grandmother, and Luna and Lucien's journey. I enjoyed how Luna and Lucien met, and how they worked through their issues and baggage. But Luna's trip to Cambodia felt completely disjointed from the rest of the book and I struggled to make it fit in with the rest of the story. It was a bit like the author realized half-way through that she was writing a romance novel, and that really wasn't what she wanted, so she decided to throw a new genre section into the mix to give it a different twist. The other piece of this that didn't quite jive with me was Luna's childhood with her grandmother - I never quite understood the details of that part of her story, and since I loved the parts of the book with their relationship, I would have liked to see that developed more. Had this focused more on Luna and her grandmother, and Luna and Lucien, I would have rated this higher.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 20, 2023
"The Shade Under the Mango Tree" by Evy Journey is a heart-warming tale - we soon begin to realize the mango tree in her grandma's yard is more than just a literal tree for Luna, the protagonist. The tree and its share symbolize everything Luna holds dear - the memories, the feeling of emotional safety, the longing, the sheltering from the outside world's evil - everything.
Luna's moving away from her grandma's place to California at 13 is a change that is not easy to cope up with, for her. The notebook that her grandma gifts her proves to be precious beyond words for Luna, which is why losing it totally crushes her. When Lucien gets hold of this lost notebook, it takes him just a short while to realize that this is a treasured possession of someone who would be desperately looking for it. I loved reading the story in their parallel narratives, and I was eagerly anticipating their encounter. Journey's writing is beautiful and poetic, and she articulates Luna's thoughts brilliantly in the journal entries. I had a great time reading this book. My thanks to Journey, the publishers Sojourner Books, and Dorothy of PUYB for gifting me with a copy of this book.
Luna's moving away from her grandma's place to California at 13 is a change that is not easy to cope up with, for her. The notebook that her grandma gifts her proves to be precious beyond words for Luna, which is why losing it totally crushes her. When Lucien gets hold of this lost notebook, it takes him just a short while to realize that this is a treasured possession of someone who would be desperately looking for it. I loved reading the story in their parallel narratives, and I was eagerly anticipating their encounter. Journey's writing is beautiful and poetic, and she articulates Luna's thoughts brilliantly in the journal entries. I had a great time reading this book. My thanks to Journey, the publishers Sojourner Books, and Dorothy of PUYB for gifting me with a copy of this book.
November 30, 2020
A rollercoaster of emotions! Highly recommended!
Life gives people a second or third chance; in this case, it gives adventure. “The Shade Under The Mango Tree” is a riveting and absorbing novel written by Evy Journey. I really liked it!
Luna undergoes some losses and she decides to enjoy life in a different way. After meeting Lucien, a well-travelled young architect, their adventure begins. Stories, anecdotes and feelings are the reasons why this duet has a special connection. Destiny gets them together.
From the very beginning I was glued to the pages since the story is very compelling and entertaining. Also, the author´s writing style helps a lot to empathize with the protagonist´s feelings. While I was reading, I felt inside Lucien´s anecdotes and enjoyed this couple. Both characters are dynamic and well-developed. In a nutshell, I liked this story because I learned that sometimes “changes” are good and fruitful for life; and that people can always learn from mistakes. I highly recommend it to avid readers!
Life gives people a second or third chance; in this case, it gives adventure. “The Shade Under The Mango Tree” is a riveting and absorbing novel written by Evy Journey. I really liked it!
Luna undergoes some losses and she decides to enjoy life in a different way. After meeting Lucien, a well-travelled young architect, their adventure begins. Stories, anecdotes and feelings are the reasons why this duet has a special connection. Destiny gets them together.
From the very beginning I was glued to the pages since the story is very compelling and entertaining. Also, the author´s writing style helps a lot to empathize with the protagonist´s feelings. While I was reading, I felt inside Lucien´s anecdotes and enjoyed this couple. Both characters are dynamic and well-developed. In a nutshell, I liked this story because I learned that sometimes “changes” are good and fruitful for life; and that people can always learn from mistakes. I highly recommend it to avid readers!
March 21, 2021
The Shade Under The Mango Tree by Evy Journey takes you all over the world, while Luna and Lucien discover a friendship and love by accident. Lucien finds an expensive journal at his favorite coffee shops and when no one claims it he decides to read it in hopes of finding the author. Though he does not find the author, his heart connects with the girl who has poured her heart out on paper. Luna feels shy and invaded when a stranger returns her journal. Can she ever feel comfortable around someone who already knows her inner thoughts?
I found Evy Journey a talented and mesmerizing author. The Shade Under The Mango Tree is a masterpiece of emotions. Luna and Lucien have a chemical reaction, sometimes its compelling other times they repel each other. The diary entries throughout the novel are an enthralling touch, letting the readers see the deeper thoughts of the characters. I read this book in one day, afraid I would miss an important part of their lives. I was hanging on to every word.
I found Evy Journey a talented and mesmerizing author. The Shade Under The Mango Tree is a masterpiece of emotions. Luna and Lucien have a chemical reaction, sometimes its compelling other times they repel each other. The diary entries throughout the novel are an enthralling touch, letting the readers see the deeper thoughts of the characters. I read this book in one day, afraid I would miss an important part of their lives. I was hanging on to every word.
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