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The Moonstone Girls
In 1968, a seventeen-year-old queer girl traveled to Alaska disguised as a boy.
Tracy should have been a boy. Even her older brother Spencer says so, though he wouldn’t finish the thought with, “And I should have been a girl.”
Though both feel awkward in their own skin, they have to face who they are—queers in the late 60s.
When both are caught with gay partners, their lives and futures are endangered by their homophobic father as their mother struggles to defend them.
While the Vietnam War threatens to take Spencer away, Tracy and her father wage a war of their own, each trying to save the sweet, talented pianist.
At seventeen, Tracy dresses as a boy and leaves her parents in turmoil, with only the slimmest hope of finding peace within herself. She journeys to a girl with a guitar, calling to her from a photo, "Come to Alaska. We'd be great friends."
Maybe even The MoonStone Girls.
Tracy should have been a boy. Even her older brother Spencer says so, though he wouldn’t finish the thought with, “And I should have been a girl.”
Though both feel awkward in their own skin, they have to face who they are—queers in the late 60s.
When both are caught with gay partners, their lives and futures are endangered by their homophobic father as their mother struggles to defend them.
While the Vietnam War threatens to take Spencer away, Tracy and her father wage a war of their own, each trying to save the sweet, talented pianist.
At seventeen, Tracy dresses as a boy and leaves her parents in turmoil, with only the slimmest hope of finding peace within herself. She journeys to a girl with a guitar, calling to her from a photo, "Come to Alaska. We'd be great friends."
Maybe even The MoonStone Girls.
338 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 10, 2022
8 people are currently reading
396 people want to read
About the author
Brooke Skipstone
5 books74 followersBrooke Skipstone is a multi-award-winning author who lives in Alaska where she watches the mountains change colors with the seasons from her balcony. Where she feels the constant rush toward winter as the sunlight wanes for six months of the year, seven minutes each day, bringing crushing cold that lingers even as the sun climbs again. Where the burst of life during summer is urgent under twenty-four-hour daylight, lush and decadent. Where fish swim hundreds of miles up rivers past bear claws and nets and wheels and lines of rubber-clad combat fishers, arriving humped and ragged, dying as they spawn. Where danger from the land and its animals exhilarates the senses, forcing her to appreciate the difference between life and death. Where the edge between is sometimes too alluring.
The Queering is her fifth novel. Visit her website at https://www.brookeskipstone.com for information about her first four novels—The Moonstone Girls, Crystal's House of Queers, Some Laneys Died, and Someone To Kiss My Scars.
The Queering is her fifth novel. Visit her website at https://www.brookeskipstone.com for information about her first four novels—The Moonstone Girls, Crystal's House of Queers, Some Laneys Died, and Someone To Kiss My Scars.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
July 15, 2022
In a Nutshell: This could have been outstanding. It ends up a disaster. Wouldn’t recommend this to anyone. This isn’t a review but a rant.
Story Synopsis:
Where the book worked for me:
🌹 The audiobook narrator was great. She voiced the individual characters well and gave them a proper personality. (Though I didn’t understand her decision of voicing Tracy in a different accent from the rest of her family. That said, were it not for the 12-hour-long audiobook, this would have been a DNF without any doubt. )
🌹 The prologue was fabulous. (At least when I read it. Reading some other reviews told me that it had a factual error. Oh well!)
🌹 I love music, so the parts related to song-writing, the piano and the guitar were pleasing.
🌹 A small part of the content means well, and is written well. This is especially related to the lines about accepting yourself as you are.
🌹 The strong sibling connection between Tracy and Spencer is the best part of the story.
🌹 I love the cover and the title. (The fact that neither matches the story is another thing.)
Where the book could have worked better for me:
☠ The writing is atrocious. (This is the first review where I have needed to use such an extreme adjective.) If I had the digital copy, I would have used the Kindle search feature to locate the numerous body parts and their count. It doesn’t stop at the usual cheeks-eyes-heart. You have a whole assortment of anatomy: thigh, arm, neck, ear, nose, stomach (I think ‘stomach’ is the winner in quantity!), foot, toe, vulva, armpit,... Jeez! Hardly a couple of paras in every chapter go by without any mention of body parts.
☠ We all know that a first person narration in a YA book comes with a fair bit of rambling. But when 80% of the narrative comprises internal monologues, I can honestly say that it was overdone.
☠ As a historical book with an openly lesbian main character, there was so much potential to show life for the LGBTQ community in that era. The prologue is so powerful that I was looking forward to an exceptional story. Unfortunately, the plot soon regresses into a lust fest, full of details of physical attractions and sexual activities, as if the only thought a homosexual person has is that of sex. The entire first half is infuriating for this reason because there are no feelings explored except for the physical. The second half is just a little better. I wish there were more emotional depth to the content.
☠ The title, the cover, and the blurb gave me expectations of reading a story about a lesbian girl who travels to Alaska as a boy. This doesn’t happen until well into the second half. “The Moonstone Girls” of the title don’t come together until chapter 21 of a book with 24 chapters (not counting the prologue and epilogue.) The pre-Alaska and in-Alaska segments feel like two separate books.
☠ The GR blurb isn’t a synopsis but a summary of the entire book.
☠ Tracy should have won my heart. Instead, she ended up making me want to shake her senseless. I haven’t read such a self-obsessed, judgemental, conniving and rude character in ages. First person narration of Tracy, ergo, goodbye any enjoyment!
☠ Tracy’s brother Spencer and her mother are the closest to being likeable characters in this mess of a story, but they are not sketched consistently. Some parts are outstanding, the rest just clichéd. The rest of the characters are so hackneyed that I wonder if they even exist in real life.
☠ With the main protagonist being seventeen, this is officially YA fiction. Practically, I don’t understand how this was published for the YA audience. Underage drinking, underage driving, cussing, extensive sex scenes,… Not a single element suits most of the YA audience. Why don’t authors remember that the YA age range is from 12-18? This might have worked better as New Adult fiction. (That’s a genre I detest, but let’s not go there in this rant.)
☠ For the first time ever, I read about a character not just going to pee but talking about the actual process in detail. If this had happened once, I would have let it go. But no, it happens multiple times over the course of the book. Good writing leaves at least a little to the imagination. This one killed my senses. Some of the scenes felt like they were present only to titillate or scandalise; they weren’t at all important to the main narrative.
☠ There are so many absurd statements in the book. Sample this: “A gay man can't be around naked men without getting an erection.” Say what!?!? What a ridiculous generalisation! (Note that this statement isn’t made by a homophobic character but by Tracy, justifying why her brother shouldn’t join the army. *eye roll*)
☠ The book tries to cover many important themes – the futility of war, racial discrimination, gender discrimination, sexual discrimination, body shaming and self-acceptance, homophobia,… All good intentions. But some of these themes feel forced into the writing. The rest are so OTT that it is impossible to accept them. I also hate it when authors write feminism by indulging in male-bashing. True feminism strives for equality, not superiority. The book also looks down on Blacks and assumes that their lives were easier than that of the LGTBTQ community. No way is this comparison justified!
☠ The main story is written as a flashback from Feb 2020 under the lockdown when Tracy is in her seventies and wants to tell the story of her life to her family and later to the general public. This leads to some foreshadowing in a few chapters, most of which don’t stir interest. Also, pray help me understand: why would anyone want to include extensive information about their peeing in a memoir meant for the public eye?!?!?
The skew of my feedback ought to tell you my recommendation. My eyes rolled, my ears spewed steam, my teeth gritted themselves, my stomach felt queer (no pun intended!), my pancreas started sobbing, and my gallbladder went into an overdose of bile production while reading this audiobook.
1.5 stars - 0.5 for the writing intention, 1 star for the narration. Rounding down because it was not worth reading were it not for the audio version.
I received a free copy of the audiobook as a promotional offer. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the audiobook.
———————————————
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Facebook | Twitter
Story Synopsis:
Seventeen year old Tracy feels that she “should have been born a boy” and she knows she is a lesbian. Her brother Spencer is a closet homosexual. With a homophobic father and a judgemental society, life in 1960s Texas isn’t easy for the siblings. When they are both caught with their gay partners, troubles begin, leading to devastating consequences. All the while, the only hope Tracy has to strengthen herself is to run away to a camp in Alaska and she begins plotting her life choices towards this goal.
The story comes to us in the first person perspective of Tracy.
Where the book worked for me:
🌹 The audiobook narrator was great. She voiced the individual characters well and gave them a proper personality. (Though I didn’t understand her decision of voicing Tracy in a different accent from the rest of her family. That said, were it not for the 12-hour-long audiobook, this would have been a DNF without any doubt. )
🌹 The prologue was fabulous. (At least when I read it. Reading some other reviews told me that it had a factual error. Oh well!)
🌹 I love music, so the parts related to song-writing, the piano and the guitar were pleasing.
🌹 A small part of the content means well, and is written well. This is especially related to the lines about accepting yourself as you are.
🌹 The strong sibling connection between Tracy and Spencer is the best part of the story.
🌹 I love the cover and the title. (The fact that neither matches the story is another thing.)
Where the book could have worked better for me:
☠ The writing is atrocious. (This is the first review where I have needed to use such an extreme adjective.) If I had the digital copy, I would have used the Kindle search feature to locate the numerous body parts and their count. It doesn’t stop at the usual cheeks-eyes-heart. You have a whole assortment of anatomy: thigh, arm, neck, ear, nose, stomach (I think ‘stomach’ is the winner in quantity!), foot, toe, vulva, armpit,... Jeez! Hardly a couple of paras in every chapter go by without any mention of body parts.
☠ We all know that a first person narration in a YA book comes with a fair bit of rambling. But when 80% of the narrative comprises internal monologues, I can honestly say that it was overdone.
☠ As a historical book with an openly lesbian main character, there was so much potential to show life for the LGBTQ community in that era. The prologue is so powerful that I was looking forward to an exceptional story. Unfortunately, the plot soon regresses into a lust fest, full of details of physical attractions and sexual activities, as if the only thought a homosexual person has is that of sex. The entire first half is infuriating for this reason because there are no feelings explored except for the physical. The second half is just a little better. I wish there were more emotional depth to the content.
☠ The title, the cover, and the blurb gave me expectations of reading a story about a lesbian girl who travels to Alaska as a boy. This doesn’t happen until well into the second half. “The Moonstone Girls” of the title don’t come together until chapter 21 of a book with 24 chapters (not counting the prologue and epilogue.) The pre-Alaska and in-Alaska segments feel like two separate books.
☠ The GR blurb isn’t a synopsis but a summary of the entire book.
☠ Tracy should have won my heart. Instead, she ended up making me want to shake her senseless. I haven’t read such a self-obsessed, judgemental, conniving and rude character in ages. First person narration of Tracy, ergo, goodbye any enjoyment!
☠ Tracy’s brother Spencer and her mother are the closest to being likeable characters in this mess of a story, but they are not sketched consistently. Some parts are outstanding, the rest just clichéd. The rest of the characters are so hackneyed that I wonder if they even exist in real life.
☠ With the main protagonist being seventeen, this is officially YA fiction. Practically, I don’t understand how this was published for the YA audience. Underage drinking, underage driving, cussing, extensive sex scenes,… Not a single element suits most of the YA audience. Why don’t authors remember that the YA age range is from 12-18? This might have worked better as New Adult fiction. (That’s a genre I detest, but let’s not go there in this rant.)
☠ For the first time ever, I read about a character not just going to pee but talking about the actual process in detail. If this had happened once, I would have let it go. But no, it happens multiple times over the course of the book. Good writing leaves at least a little to the imagination. This one killed my senses. Some of the scenes felt like they were present only to titillate or scandalise; they weren’t at all important to the main narrative.
☠ There are so many absurd statements in the book. Sample this: “A gay man can't be around naked men without getting an erection.” Say what!?!? What a ridiculous generalisation! (Note that this statement isn’t made by a homophobic character but by Tracy, justifying why her brother shouldn’t join the army. *eye roll*)
☠ The book tries to cover many important themes – the futility of war, racial discrimination, gender discrimination, sexual discrimination, body shaming and self-acceptance, homophobia,… All good intentions. But some of these themes feel forced into the writing. The rest are so OTT that it is impossible to accept them. I also hate it when authors write feminism by indulging in male-bashing. True feminism strives for equality, not superiority. The book also looks down on Blacks and assumes that their lives were easier than that of the LGTBTQ community. No way is this comparison justified!
☠ The main story is written as a flashback from Feb 2020 under the lockdown when Tracy is in her seventies and wants to tell the story of her life to her family and later to the general public. This leads to some foreshadowing in a few chapters, most of which don’t stir interest. Also, pray help me understand: why would anyone want to include extensive information about their peeing in a memoir meant for the public eye?!?!?
The skew of my feedback ought to tell you my recommendation. My eyes rolled, my ears spewed steam, my teeth gritted themselves, my stomach felt queer (no pun intended!), my pancreas started sobbing, and my gallbladder went into an overdose of bile production while reading this audiobook.
1.5 stars - 0.5 for the writing intention, 1 star for the narration. Rounding down because it was not worth reading were it not for the audio version.
I received a free copy of the audiobook as a promotional offer. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the audiobook.
———————————————
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Facebook | Twitter
January 3, 2022
WOW!!! WOW! WOW! What a fantastic book for my first book review of 2022.
My first thought after reading THE MOONSTONE GIRLS is that it must be somewhat autobiographical. Author Brooke Skipstone has written with such depth of emotion that it is difficult to believe the story is fictional.
Before I get too far into my review I wanted to be sure to mention just how gorgeous the cover of this book is. It is the perfect blend of colors to bring the 1960s to mind. And, the choice to just use silhouettes is 100% inspired. 5 Stars for the cover.
I love that this #book is set in the late #1960s - an era much different than today’s world. So much was different at that time for anyone who was gay, and as hard as it is to fathom, being gay was considered to be against the laws of both God and men. This just highlights how far LBGTQ rights have come (even though society still has a ways to go.)
I cannot fathom the fear and pain experienced by LGBTQ youth at that time in history, especially for men whose arousal is much harder to hide. In the book, both Tracy and her brother Spencer are queer. The good thing is that they have each other to lean on and they have a mother who loves them just the way they are. This is much more than most #queer #youth had in their lives during that period in #history
This book delves into not just LGBTQ history, but also into the #draft and the #VietnamWar #WomensRights #RockAndRoll and the #SexualRevolution
There are some extremely #emotional scenes in The Moonstone Girls and at one point during reading I was literally in tears. It takes a truly talented #writer to be able to evoke so much #empathy and #emotion in their readers. Kudos to Brooke Skipstone for writing such an important and believable book.
Ultimately, this is a tale about hope and about having the courage to fight back in the best way you can against those who would try to stop you from living life on your own terms. It will encourage readers to never settle for second best and to keep trying until they find a place where they belong and where they can live a life of hope and honesty. It also reminds us that there is a person out there for everyone and that everyone has the right to live a happy life on their own terms.
Tracy is a fiery, take-no-prisoners type of young woman. This is the face she shows to the world, but inside, she is suffering and full of shame. This reminds readers that the persona people present to the world is not always accurate and that everyone has an inner world that is invisible. Never judge a book by its cover is a great lesson and one that we often forget.
Although not specifically stated, I get the feeling that the author also wants readers to think about mental health and to realize the depths of despair that people can feel when forced to live a lie just to be "normal."
All in all I have to say that this book should be on everyone's Must Read list for 2022 and although it is labeled as Young Adult fiction, this book will appeal to readers of all ages.
I am rating THE MOONSTONE GIRLS by Brooke Skipstone as 5 out of 5 Stars 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 and I highly recommend this book ... just make sure you have a box of tissues nearby when you read it.
This book is destined to be One of the Best Books of 2022.
*** Thank you to #NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this book. ***
To find out more about this book, the Publisher and/or the author visit my blog post at:
https://bit.ly/MoonstoneGirls
Be sure to follow me on Instagram at:
http://www.instagram.com/Amiesbookrev...
And on Twitter at:
http://www.twitter.com/Amiesbookreview
WATCH MY BLOG AND SOCIAL MEDIA FOR CHANCES TO WIN COPIES OF MANY AMAZING BOOKS THROUGHOUT 2022.
#NetGalley #AmiesBookReviews #BookReview #tbr #BookReviewer #ReadAndReview #bibliophile #bookstagram #bookstagrammers #AuthorsOfInstagram #author #NewBook #MustRead #BookNerd #book #books #reading #yalit #ya #instagramhub #YoungAdultFiction
#TheMoonstoneGirls #BrookeSkipstone #LGBTQ #DiverseBooks #1968 #Vietnam #DraftCards #Equity #Equality #LoveIsLove #LGBT #LGBTQIA2S
#discrimination #humanrights
My first thought after reading THE MOONSTONE GIRLS is that it must be somewhat autobiographical. Author Brooke Skipstone has written with such depth of emotion that it is difficult to believe the story is fictional.
Before I get too far into my review I wanted to be sure to mention just how gorgeous the cover of this book is. It is the perfect blend of colors to bring the 1960s to mind. And, the choice to just use silhouettes is 100% inspired. 5 Stars for the cover.
I love that this #book is set in the late #1960s - an era much different than today’s world. So much was different at that time for anyone who was gay, and as hard as it is to fathom, being gay was considered to be against the laws of both God and men. This just highlights how far LBGTQ rights have come (even though society still has a ways to go.)
I cannot fathom the fear and pain experienced by LGBTQ youth at that time in history, especially for men whose arousal is much harder to hide. In the book, both Tracy and her brother Spencer are queer. The good thing is that they have each other to lean on and they have a mother who loves them just the way they are. This is much more than most #queer #youth had in their lives during that period in #history
This book delves into not just LGBTQ history, but also into the #draft and the #VietnamWar #WomensRights #RockAndRoll and the #SexualRevolution
There are some extremely #emotional scenes in The Moonstone Girls and at one point during reading I was literally in tears. It takes a truly talented #writer to be able to evoke so much #empathy and #emotion in their readers. Kudos to Brooke Skipstone for writing such an important and believable book.
Ultimately, this is a tale about hope and about having the courage to fight back in the best way you can against those who would try to stop you from living life on your own terms. It will encourage readers to never settle for second best and to keep trying until they find a place where they belong and where they can live a life of hope and honesty. It also reminds us that there is a person out there for everyone and that everyone has the right to live a happy life on their own terms.
Tracy is a fiery, take-no-prisoners type of young woman. This is the face she shows to the world, but inside, she is suffering and full of shame. This reminds readers that the persona people present to the world is not always accurate and that everyone has an inner world that is invisible. Never judge a book by its cover is a great lesson and one that we often forget.
Although not specifically stated, I get the feeling that the author also wants readers to think about mental health and to realize the depths of despair that people can feel when forced to live a lie just to be "normal."
All in all I have to say that this book should be on everyone's Must Read list for 2022 and although it is labeled as Young Adult fiction, this book will appeal to readers of all ages.
I am rating THE MOONSTONE GIRLS by Brooke Skipstone as 5 out of 5 Stars 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 and I highly recommend this book ... just make sure you have a box of tissues nearby when you read it.
This book is destined to be One of the Best Books of 2022.
*** Thank you to #NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this book. ***
To find out more about this book, the Publisher and/or the author visit my blog post at:
https://bit.ly/MoonstoneGirls
Be sure to follow me on Instagram at:
http://www.instagram.com/Amiesbookrev...
And on Twitter at:
http://www.twitter.com/Amiesbookreview
WATCH MY BLOG AND SOCIAL MEDIA FOR CHANCES TO WIN COPIES OF MANY AMAZING BOOKS THROUGHOUT 2022.
#NetGalley #AmiesBookReviews #BookReview #tbr #BookReviewer #ReadAndReview #bibliophile #bookstagram #bookstagrammers #AuthorsOfInstagram #author #NewBook #MustRead #BookNerd #book #books #reading #yalit #ya #instagramhub #YoungAdultFiction
#TheMoonstoneGirls #BrookeSkipstone #LGBTQ #DiverseBooks #1968 #Vietnam #DraftCards #Equity #Equality #LoveIsLove #LGBT #LGBTQIA2S
#discrimination #humanrights
January 1, 2022
Above all, The Moonstone GIrls, is a love story—actually three love stories. Both Tracy and her brother Spencer fall desperetly in love with fellow queers Ava and Pablo, respectively. Both must keep their liasons hidden, but inevitably they are discovered. Spencer has a chance to continue his relationship with Pablo but can't summon enough courage to break with his family and be with his fellow pianist. Tracy has the courage, but Ava doesn't. What follows for Tracy is several months of pursuing a girl in a photograph whom she hears in her mind—"Come to Alaska. We'd be great friends."
Set in the late '60s, this story is full of heartbreak and joy, anger and longing, and especially determination in the face of prejudice and sexist attitudes. Tracy will not be denied, and along the way she comes to a better understanding and acceptance of herself.
You will smile and laugh and cry. Read this book.
January 10, 2022
The Moonstone Girls reads like an autobiography of an honest, raw depiction of a family struggling with LGBTQ issues in the late '60s. Both Tracy and her brother Spencer realize their gay tendencies when they discover partners during the Thanksgiving holidays in 1967. Their father is a commercial pilot who is away from the family at least half of every month, but he was home when Spencer hugged and kissed a boy on the front lawn and when Tracy kissed Ava during a lifesaver relay game at a party. The relationship between the siblings and their father had always been tense due to Spencer's effeminate (according to the norms of the time) mannerisms and preferences and Tracy's liberal political views, but it spirals into a full-blown war. Tracy fights back, but Spencer can't deal with his shame and desire for his father's acceptance.
Tracy finds an ally in her mother who tries to protect and love her children. Their bond grows exponentially during the story. Eventually, Tracy realizes she must leave home to remain sane and discover her true self. Lured by a photo of a girl wearing overalls and carrying an axe in the Alaskan wilderness, Tracy sets her sights on traveling to Alaska in June disguised as a boy.
This is a story of many ups and downs, excrutiating sorrow and laugh-out-loud joy. Above all, it is a story of great love and forgiveness, a coming of age tale of a queer girl at a time when homosexuality was mainly rejected and misunderstood.
Tracy finds an ally in her mother who tries to protect and love her children. Their bond grows exponentially during the story. Eventually, Tracy realizes she must leave home to remain sane and discover her true self. Lured by a photo of a girl wearing overalls and carrying an axe in the Alaskan wilderness, Tracy sets her sights on traveling to Alaska in June disguised as a boy.
This is a story of many ups and downs, excrutiating sorrow and laugh-out-loud joy. Above all, it is a story of great love and forgiveness, a coming of age tale of a queer girl at a time when homosexuality was mainly rejected and misunderstood.
December 20, 2021
This is a story told in retrospect by Tracy who was seventeen in 1968. Now she is a grandmother whose grandchildren are suffering through some of the same issues that complicated her life over fifty years ago. After the summer of '68, she never wanted to look back at her life, but now she feels compelled to share her story "as a gift of love and often brutal honesty to myself and to others."
Her story is heartbreaking, wonderous, full of tragedy and hope, and sometimes sheer joy. Tracy and her brother Spencer were queers at a time when the word was a slur, when it was common for fathers to be ashamed of their effeminate sons and demand a change. Tracy battles through stereotypes, disguising herself as a boy to get what she wants and needs. She beats boys at their own game and then discovers she can define her own world in her own terms.
This book is amazingly readable and relatable whether you are a member of the LGTBQ+ community or not.
Her story is heartbreaking, wonderous, full of tragedy and hope, and sometimes sheer joy. Tracy and her brother Spencer were queers at a time when the word was a slur, when it was common for fathers to be ashamed of their effeminate sons and demand a change. Tracy battles through stereotypes, disguising herself as a boy to get what she wants and needs. She beats boys at their own game and then discovers she can define her own world in her own terms.
This book is amazingly readable and relatable whether you are a member of the LGTBQ+ community or not.
January 6, 2022
Such a wonderful book! The main story occurs from November 1967 through June 1968 in both San Antonio and Denali National Park (then called Mt. Mckinley Park). We follow Tracy and her brother Spencer as they struggle with being queer at a time and place when gender norms were very rigid. The book provides a roller coaster of emotions. I was engaged throughout. The characters are very well developed, even the minor ones.
Besides being a romance, this book is a family drama with intense arguments and rejection, as well as deep love and forgiveness. It is also a story of the power of music—how it can be a means of intense bonding and bridging differences.
Besides being a romance, this book is a family drama with intense arguments and rejection, as well as deep love and forgiveness. It is also a story of the power of music—how it can be a means of intense bonding and bridging differences.
January 10, 2022
Brooke Skipstone’s The MoonStone Girls is the story of Tracy, a seventeen-year-old who leaves her home to discover herself and pursue her dreams. She and her brother are gay, and when this fact is revealed to their family, her father violently opposes it. The turmoil of the Vietnam war, the pain of losing her beloved brother, and the calling of an unknown girl from Alaska push Tracy to undertake a soul-searching journey.
We see how Tracy cross-dresses as a boy and starts dating Ava because society wouldn’t accept two girls who are in love. Tracy continues to defy gender stereotypes and attempts to find her own place in the world. She finds her ideal partner in Jackie, and what follows is a beautiful love story.
The author’s handling of the lesbian relationship is different from standard romance tropes. Their relationship is shown to be deeply embedded in friendship, understanding of the mutual struggles, and revolting against a homophobic society. This powerful emotional turmoil is delivered through potent and impassioned language that will steal the heart of readers. I really enjoyed how the physical proximity between the women has been described with such clarity that the reader can fully grasp the nuances of their relationship.
The stigma surrounding the queer community in the 1960’s has been portrayed articulately through the stories of Tracy, Spencer, Jackie, and Jeff. Sadly enough, the stigma still continues to pose a threat to the community, and that’s why the novel is a relevant read today.
Tracy’s emotionally-resonant journey of self-discovery, dealing with grief, bearing the rage of a homophobic father, and ultimately finding her way through life and putting her heart and soul into the music band MoonStone Girls is captured in vivid emotional detail that feels authentic and is relayed in a story that is absolutley enthralling.
Author Brooke Skipstone is an exceptional storyteller and one that is able to capture the uniqueness of their characters in a way that makes those pieces really stand out in ways that are captivating. The LGBTQ+ commentary throughout the novel is sincere and sheds a much needed light on the variety of issues that the community faces even today. While this novel is high in social commentary it never forgets to entertain the reader with intriguing characters and a compelling plot that will make this book hard to put down.
We see how Tracy cross-dresses as a boy and starts dating Ava because society wouldn’t accept two girls who are in love. Tracy continues to defy gender stereotypes and attempts to find her own place in the world. She finds her ideal partner in Jackie, and what follows is a beautiful love story.
The author’s handling of the lesbian relationship is different from standard romance tropes. Their relationship is shown to be deeply embedded in friendship, understanding of the mutual struggles, and revolting against a homophobic society. This powerful emotional turmoil is delivered through potent and impassioned language that will steal the heart of readers. I really enjoyed how the physical proximity between the women has been described with such clarity that the reader can fully grasp the nuances of their relationship.
The stigma surrounding the queer community in the 1960’s has been portrayed articulately through the stories of Tracy, Spencer, Jackie, and Jeff. Sadly enough, the stigma still continues to pose a threat to the community, and that’s why the novel is a relevant read today.
Tracy’s emotionally-resonant journey of self-discovery, dealing with grief, bearing the rage of a homophobic father, and ultimately finding her way through life and putting her heart and soul into the music band MoonStone Girls is captured in vivid emotional detail that feels authentic and is relayed in a story that is absolutley enthralling.
Author Brooke Skipstone is an exceptional storyteller and one that is able to capture the uniqueness of their characters in a way that makes those pieces really stand out in ways that are captivating. The LGBTQ+ commentary throughout the novel is sincere and sheds a much needed light on the variety of issues that the community faces even today. While this novel is high in social commentary it never forgets to entertain the reader with intriguing characters and a compelling plot that will make this book hard to put down.
February 5, 2022
Edit: Changing my review to one star because the more time I spend away from this book, the angrier I get. Coming from a very queer college, I've seen lots of "white queerness" in which white, queer people will opposition themselves against Blackness and Black oppression. Kinda disgusted by the display of it in this book. I wanted to love this one for the queerness, but along with this and just the plain bad writing... well.
I really, REALLY wanted to love this book. Queer girls, 60s/70s culture, and a road trip to Alaska? Sign. me. up. It had everything going for it in the summary.
Unfortunately, I had to DNF this book at about 65%.
What I liked:
-Obviously, I love the queer girl representation. This book actually made me reflect a lot about my own queerness and my gender presentation. I think there is a lot of value to a story that discusses issues of identity.
-There were parts where I really did like Tracy’s character and her story, especially at the beginning where she is exploring her newly discovered identity.
What I really didn’t like:
-There was a lot of very uncomfortable comparison between the oppression faced by queer people in the United States and the oppression faced by Black Americans. Tracy would casually say things that suggested she thought life was much easier for Black Americans at the time than for queer people. I’m not sure if this was supposed to be a commentary on white feminism where Tracy is able to confront and correct her past remarks, but I highly doubt this happens in the short amount of pages left from where I DNF’d. I just did not see why this comparison was necessary.
-The dialogue felt incredibly stilted and awkward. Every time Tracy had a conversation with someone else, especially with people in her family, it felt so incredibly forced. I can’t picture anyone saying most of the things Tracy and her family say to each other.
-The pacing also just seemed… off. It felt like things were happening so fast with no pause to really get the full impact of the events. I get that it’s supposed to seem like Tracy is telling the story from the present and is going through the events of her life, but it just really did not work for me.
I’m definitely in the minority with my feelings on this book. Maybe it just wasn’t for me, but I gave it two stars for the queer representation.
Thank you to NetGalley and Skipstone Publishing for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I really, REALLY wanted to love this book. Queer girls, 60s/70s culture, and a road trip to Alaska? Sign. me. up. It had everything going for it in the summary.
Unfortunately, I had to DNF this book at about 65%.
What I liked:
-Obviously, I love the queer girl representation. This book actually made me reflect a lot about my own queerness and my gender presentation. I think there is a lot of value to a story that discusses issues of identity.
-There were parts where I really did like Tracy’s character and her story, especially at the beginning where she is exploring her newly discovered identity.
What I really didn’t like:
-There was a lot of very uncomfortable comparison between the oppression faced by queer people in the United States and the oppression faced by Black Americans. Tracy would casually say things that suggested she thought life was much easier for Black Americans at the time than for queer people. I’m not sure if this was supposed to be a commentary on white feminism where Tracy is able to confront and correct her past remarks, but I highly doubt this happens in the short amount of pages left from where I DNF’d. I just did not see why this comparison was necessary.
-The dialogue felt incredibly stilted and awkward. Every time Tracy had a conversation with someone else, especially with people in her family, it felt so incredibly forced. I can’t picture anyone saying most of the things Tracy and her family say to each other.
-The pacing also just seemed… off. It felt like things were happening so fast with no pause to really get the full impact of the events. I get that it’s supposed to seem like Tracy is telling the story from the present and is going through the events of her life, but it just really did not work for me.
I’m definitely in the minority with my feelings on this book. Maybe it just wasn’t for me, but I gave it two stars for the queer representation.
Thank you to NetGalley and Skipstone Publishing for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 5, 2022
Though I finished The Moonstone Girls, I can't stop thinking about the story. All the characters are unique and foster deep feelings. They linger in my mind, and I want to know more about each of them. And I am haunted by "what ifs." Like what if Tracy and Spencer's father had shown just a little tolerance and found something in his son to be proud of? Or what if Tracy never received the brochure for Camp Wonder with the photo of Jackie wearing overalls and carrying an axe? Or what if high schools in south Texas had allowed girls to wear pants? Something which sounds so ridiculous today but was just one of the rigid rules governing girls in the '60s.
Reading this book made me realize how seemingly small events can have so much impact on our lives. And how much love and acceptance beyond society's labels can lift us all up.
I can't shake the events of this story from my mind. I cried buckets of tears and laughed out loud. My heart was squeezed and shattered and enlivened.
And there's a playlist that you must listen to: The Beatles, Dylan, Aretha, Sam the Sham, even Chopin and Tchaikovsky. And beautiful lyrics written by the main character.
Reading this book made me realize how seemingly small events can have so much impact on our lives. And how much love and acceptance beyond society's labels can lift us all up.
I can't shake the events of this story from my mind. I cried buckets of tears and laughed out loud. My heart was squeezed and shattered and enlivened.
And there's a playlist that you must listen to: The Beatles, Dylan, Aretha, Sam the Sham, even Chopin and Tchaikovsky. And beautiful lyrics written by the main character.
December 11, 2021
The Moonstone Girls is an amazing novel about gay siblings in 1967. When Tracy kisses her friend Ava during a relay game at a party, her life becomes complicated. She pretends to date her brother's boyfriend, while he pretends to date Ava. This deceit enables some relationship between Tracy and Ava, but only in secret. Tracy wants more and decides to disguise herself as a boy. Though this manguise is a success, Ava is caught and removed from Tracy's life. However, Tracy discovers more confidence and purpose after refusing to abide by gender stereotypes. As her father continues to demean her sweet brother, Spencer, Tracy makes plans to travel to Alaska where she hopes to meet a girl in overalls who plays guitar and carries an axe.
The story is full of drama, heartache, humor, and hope, set against the backdrop of the late '60s—the Vietnam War and the draft, racial prejudice, homophobia, and a revolution in music. Highly recommended!
The story is full of drama, heartache, humor, and hope, set against the backdrop of the late '60s—the Vietnam War and the draft, racial prejudice, homophobia, and a revolution in music. Highly recommended!
January 17, 2022
I was given a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was going to be a comprehensive review but honestly I'm in awe. I don't have words to describe how much I loved this book, how much I needed it. I could say that the story flowed seamlessly, that the characters were very human and that it had the perfect ending, but that wouldn't be saying anything, really. Because what got to me was the way in which the main character's family danced around each other, her dad's screaming and her mom's silence, her brother's need to deescalate conflict and her need to do the opposite. The familiar feeling of always looking for somewhere to belong, for someone to belong with. The need to escape. The need to reach out for people who are doing worse than you and pull them out of their spirals. The hope put in some far away place, the one-way promise that everything will be okay. That you will find love, and you will find community, and you will find peace.
As a queer woman, I am so honored to have read this. I can't wait for more queer women to read this, too.
This was going to be a comprehensive review but honestly I'm in awe. I don't have words to describe how much I loved this book, how much I needed it. I could say that the story flowed seamlessly, that the characters were very human and that it had the perfect ending, but that wouldn't be saying anything, really. Because what got to me was the way in which the main character's family danced around each other, her dad's screaming and her mom's silence, her brother's need to deescalate conflict and her need to do the opposite. The familiar feeling of always looking for somewhere to belong, for someone to belong with. The need to escape. The need to reach out for people who are doing worse than you and pull them out of their spirals. The hope put in some far away place, the one-way promise that everything will be okay. That you will find love, and you will find community, and you will find peace.
As a queer woman, I am so honored to have read this. I can't wait for more queer women to read this, too.
January 1, 2022
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for a fair review.
This book moved me more than any book has in a long time; it's a real emotional rollercoaster. It deals with the difficulties of growing up gay and non-gender conforming in 60's Texas. While this book briefly tackles many other issues such as racism and profiling by police, it never comes off as the author trying too hard, or being too preachy, which many books do. The sibling bond between Tracy and Spencer was possibly the best brother/sister relationship I've ever read. Despite all the drama, angst, tragedy and heartache, there's always an overarching sense of hopefulness throughout.
This book moved me more than any book has in a long time; it's a real emotional rollercoaster. It deals with the difficulties of growing up gay and non-gender conforming in 60's Texas. While this book briefly tackles many other issues such as racism and profiling by police, it never comes off as the author trying too hard, or being too preachy, which many books do. The sibling bond between Tracy and Spencer was possibly the best brother/sister relationship I've ever read. Despite all the drama, angst, tragedy and heartache, there's always an overarching sense of hopefulness throughout.
March 2, 2022
In this coming-of-age novel set in the late 1960s, a young lesbian challenges her bigoted father and rigid society to claim her identity with pride and hope. . . . Skipstone has delved into a vibrant era of rapidly changing values with empathy and authenticity. Tracy is a fiercely sympathetic protagonist as she resists the numerous forces trying to drive her toward self-hate and conformity. . . . [The] book adeptly captures the zeitgeist of social repression and change that energized the 20th-century counterculture movement. A moving and romantic coming-out story and a triumphant celebration of lesbian liberation. —Kirkus Starred Review
"This story’s impassioned cry against repression will encourage readers to face their own challenges with strength and determination. The inspiring and emotional story of a young lesbian’s journey toward wholeness in Texas in the 1960s." — BookLife Review
"Skipstone’s novel is full of passion, love, self-doubt, fears, and hope. How Tracy and Spencer handle tragedy is masterfully conveyed." —Authors Reading
"There is more to this tale than is immediately apparent: the book grapples with relevant questions about the meaning of a life well-lived, love, regret, and redemption while exploring teenage and young adult drama, sibling bond, family, friendship, and the hot-button issues of the era such as LGBTQ and gender and racial inequalities." —The Prairies Book Review
"This story’s impassioned cry against repression will encourage readers to face their own challenges with strength and determination. The inspiring and emotional story of a young lesbian’s journey toward wholeness in Texas in the 1960s." — BookLife Review
"Skipstone’s novel is full of passion, love, self-doubt, fears, and hope. How Tracy and Spencer handle tragedy is masterfully conveyed." —Authors Reading
"There is more to this tale than is immediately apparent: the book grapples with relevant questions about the meaning of a life well-lived, love, regret, and redemption while exploring teenage and young adult drama, sibling bond, family, friendship, and the hot-button issues of the era such as LGBTQ and gender and racial inequalities." —The Prairies Book Review
February 4, 2022
I immediately loved the premise of The Moonstone Girls, and I'm obsessed with the cover, however, I think those two elements together mislead readers as to the tone of this book. It was a lot darker than I expected, not to say that is a bad thing. I quite enjoyed the dark, yet grounded tone and author's writing style. This novels discusses queer identity, queer rights and family relationships in great detail. I was really impressed by the nuanced writing. At the end of the day I'm absolutely going to recommend this book to people, I'll just be warning them of the content before hand.
Thank you to NetGalley and Skipstone Publishing for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and Skipstone Publishing for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 18, 2022
*ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!*
⭐ 1 (DNF at 40%)
Edit: Changed it to one star lmao
📖 Tracy has always known she was different. She has never been truly attracted to boys the same way she is to girls, and she has also always thought she should have been born a boy. Tracy and her brother, Spencer, are both hiding their queerness from their parents, which is hard when they both end up with partners of the same sex. The siblings are caught and with the Vietnam War looming, their homophobic father and confused mother try to send Spencer away to defend their country. Tracy isn’t having any of it and does the most to defend her brother, standing up against their father like Spencer has always been unable to. At just seventeen years old, Tracy leaves her family behind and travels to Alaska disguised as a boy. She hopes to be able to find peace there, away from the turbulent life she led back home. There she meets a girl with a guitar, and they become The Moonstone Girls.
❗ Trigger warnings include spoilers! suicide, car accident, homophobia, slurs, abuse
✍🏼 I’m going to be honest, what drew me to this book was the cover. It’s absolutely stunning! I saw it, read the description, and knew I wanted to read this! It sounds like a book I would devour in one-sitting and enjoy every second of. However… I didn’t.
I’ll start off with some positives to cushion the blow hah. I love lesbian representation in any form, and especially when these lesbians are also trying to figure out their sexuality. It makes me reflect on not only my own sexuality, but it also allows for insight into parts of someone else’s identity that you might never have been able to access, which is very nice! I also really enjoyed the relationship between the two siblings! It was maybe the only relationship in the book that didn’t seem forced, so it was a nice breather through it all.
Now for the many things I didn’t like, though I’ll try not to go off into too much detail about it (however, when I rant I way of doing exactly that regardless). The writing style wasn’t for me. Like, at all. I tried to find good qualities to hang onto so I could make it through the book, but if the writing is boring me, then the plot isn’t enough to pull me through unfortunately. The plot was promising, but it didn’t captivate me enough to look past everything else that I couldn’t stand. Descriptions between and after dialogue were used so often that I forgot what the conversation the characters were having was initially about. One of the things I learned from studying Creative Writing for three years at university was that it’s sometimes okay - frankly, encouraged - not to describe something after or between dialogue, or to not used dialogue tags. It’s okay to let dialogue just be dialogue and sometimes add a simple dialogue tag to underline who is speaking when. It lets the character interactions flow more easily and it’s so much easier to follow along as well. In The Moonstone Girls, there was never dialogue delivered without descriptions being added behind or between it. It’s exhausting to read. There’s too much happening at once, it makes it confusing to follow. However, despite these descriptions being used All The Time, there’s not a lot of actual dialogue tags to indicate who is speaking. And also, these descriptions aren’t helpful to the plot, they’re just confusing. The writing style isn’t very descriptive, we never get a description of what Tracy is actually feeling, just how she moves and dresses and what she does. Though no one else reviewing this book seems to have caught onto this, I guess it’s just the editor in me being very nitpicky.
When I say ‘description’ I don’t mean useful description, but rather just about character movements and the world around them. Nothing about the tone of that character’s voice, how it made Tracy feel, etc.
Speaking of dialogue, it’s so stilted! It feels terrible to say, but Tracy in particular didn’t feel real. She didn’t read like a person. The way she talked and acted felt artificial, I could never picture her as an actual person. She was just so dry and boring to read, I didn’t find anything interesting about her. The way she confronted her family and simply talked to others felt forced, more for the sake of acting up, saying something controversial at the time, or simply because she could, so why not? It didn’t feel meaningful, it felt performative.
The relationships aren’t established at all either. Ava and Tracy’s whole relationship was a huge whiplash to me. It would have been helpful to add a scene or two about how Ava and Tracy were before they got together, so we could all get a sense of them before we jump in. The writing that gave away Nothing about the characters, did not really help. There was A Lot of telling, and barely any showing. I’ll assume that the portion of the book I managed to read before I decided to put it down, there was a good 90% telling and 10% showing. The imbalance there makes the writing boring because we are never given any indication of how the character is actually feeling - mind you, this was also written in first person POV, so there not being page upon page of inner monologue was weird in itself. You would thing that if you’re stuck in a character’s head throughout the entire book, you would get some emotion from them in quite traumatic and massive events they go through, but we barely got anything.
The pacing was just off. So much was happening at once we barely got to breathe between any of the hits or changes to the plot and characters. It all just moved so fast, and part of that I would have to say has everything to do with the magnitude of the story that Skipstone wanted to cover, and also the lack of showing instead of telling. We were told everything and it was never actually described to us.
Also! So many racist comments and this is published in 2022. I don’t care that it’s supposed to be a reflection of how life was in the 1960s USA, it’s unnecessary to bring it into the book for the sake of making it “relevant” in the context of 1960s United States. White feminism in itself is unnecessary and not it, and it just made this book 500 times worse lmao.
Anyway <3 I’m done <3 I might come back and give this one star, but for now, because it’s the first book I reviewed for NetGalley, I’m gonna give it two stars.
⭐ 1 (DNF at 40%)
Edit: Changed it to one star lmao
📖 Tracy has always known she was different. She has never been truly attracted to boys the same way she is to girls, and she has also always thought she should have been born a boy. Tracy and her brother, Spencer, are both hiding their queerness from their parents, which is hard when they both end up with partners of the same sex. The siblings are caught and with the Vietnam War looming, their homophobic father and confused mother try to send Spencer away to defend their country. Tracy isn’t having any of it and does the most to defend her brother, standing up against their father like Spencer has always been unable to. At just seventeen years old, Tracy leaves her family behind and travels to Alaska disguised as a boy. She hopes to be able to find peace there, away from the turbulent life she led back home. There she meets a girl with a guitar, and they become The Moonstone Girls.
❗ Trigger warnings include spoilers! suicide, car accident, homophobia, slurs, abuse
✍🏼 I’m going to be honest, what drew me to this book was the cover. It’s absolutely stunning! I saw it, read the description, and knew I wanted to read this! It sounds like a book I would devour in one-sitting and enjoy every second of. However… I didn’t.
I’ll start off with some positives to cushion the blow hah. I love lesbian representation in any form, and especially when these lesbians are also trying to figure out their sexuality. It makes me reflect on not only my own sexuality, but it also allows for insight into parts of someone else’s identity that you might never have been able to access, which is very nice! I also really enjoyed the relationship between the two siblings! It was maybe the only relationship in the book that didn’t seem forced, so it was a nice breather through it all.
Now for the many things I didn’t like, though I’ll try not to go off into too much detail about it (however, when I rant I way of doing exactly that regardless). The writing style wasn’t for me. Like, at all. I tried to find good qualities to hang onto so I could make it through the book, but if the writing is boring me, then the plot isn’t enough to pull me through unfortunately. The plot was promising, but it didn’t captivate me enough to look past everything else that I couldn’t stand. Descriptions between and after dialogue were used so often that I forgot what the conversation the characters were having was initially about. One of the things I learned from studying Creative Writing for three years at university was that it’s sometimes okay - frankly, encouraged - not to describe something after or between dialogue, or to not used dialogue tags. It’s okay to let dialogue just be dialogue and sometimes add a simple dialogue tag to underline who is speaking when. It lets the character interactions flow more easily and it’s so much easier to follow along as well. In The Moonstone Girls, there was never dialogue delivered without descriptions being added behind or between it. It’s exhausting to read. There’s too much happening at once, it makes it confusing to follow. However, despite these descriptions being used All The Time, there’s not a lot of actual dialogue tags to indicate who is speaking. And also, these descriptions aren’t helpful to the plot, they’re just confusing. The writing style isn’t very descriptive, we never get a description of what Tracy is actually feeling, just how she moves and dresses and what she does. Though no one else reviewing this book seems to have caught onto this, I guess it’s just the editor in me being very nitpicky.
When I say ‘description’ I don’t mean useful description, but rather just about character movements and the world around them. Nothing about the tone of that character’s voice, how it made Tracy feel, etc.
Speaking of dialogue, it’s so stilted! It feels terrible to say, but Tracy in particular didn’t feel real. She didn’t read like a person. The way she talked and acted felt artificial, I could never picture her as an actual person. She was just so dry and boring to read, I didn’t find anything interesting about her. The way she confronted her family and simply talked to others felt forced, more for the sake of acting up, saying something controversial at the time, or simply because she could, so why not? It didn’t feel meaningful, it felt performative.
The relationships aren’t established at all either. Ava and Tracy’s whole relationship was a huge whiplash to me. It would have been helpful to add a scene or two about how Ava and Tracy were before they got together, so we could all get a sense of them before we jump in. The writing that gave away Nothing about the characters, did not really help. There was A Lot of telling, and barely any showing. I’ll assume that the portion of the book I managed to read before I decided to put it down, there was a good 90% telling and 10% showing. The imbalance there makes the writing boring because we are never given any indication of how the character is actually feeling - mind you, this was also written in first person POV, so there not being page upon page of inner monologue was weird in itself. You would thing that if you’re stuck in a character’s head throughout the entire book, you would get some emotion from them in quite traumatic and massive events they go through, but we barely got anything.
The pacing was just off. So much was happening at once we barely got to breathe between any of the hits or changes to the plot and characters. It all just moved so fast, and part of that I would have to say has everything to do with the magnitude of the story that Skipstone wanted to cover, and also the lack of showing instead of telling. We were told everything and it was never actually described to us.
Also! So many racist comments and this is published in 2022. I don’t care that it’s supposed to be a reflection of how life was in the 1960s USA, it’s unnecessary to bring it into the book for the sake of making it “relevant” in the context of 1960s United States. White feminism in itself is unnecessary and not it, and it just made this book 500 times worse lmao.
Anyway <3 I’m done <3 I might come back and give this one star, but for now, because it’s the first book I reviewed for NetGalley, I’m gonna give it two stars.
February 18, 2022
Literally 2 pages into this book I started to feel that white feminism vibe. Then I saw one glorious 1 star review saying that happens throughout most of the book. Unnecessary comparisons of Black ppl & Queer ppl. As if being Black was the easier option, as if Black Queer folks don't exist. Then I searched my ebook for "Black" found another one of those examples and decided i've read enough
Quotes in question
" I saw riots and marches for racial justice in my teens and now in my seventies, what i didn't see back then, however, were Pride Marches"
Bayard Rustin who orchestrated the march on Washington would beg to differ
"The only way society would accept such a premise (interracial couple white & Black) would be if the brilliant doctor was played by Sidney Poitier. Mom & Dad & maybe even Spencer would walk away feeling good about themselves. they'd have been tolerant too in those circumstances. who wouldn't? but no casting or directors tricks would sell the story of the girl bringing home her girlfriend"
these are odd and uncomfortable
Quotes in question
" I saw riots and marches for racial justice in my teens and now in my seventies, what i didn't see back then, however, were Pride Marches"
Bayard Rustin who orchestrated the march on Washington would beg to differ
"The only way society would accept such a premise (interracial couple white & Black) would be if the brilliant doctor was played by Sidney Poitier. Mom & Dad & maybe even Spencer would walk away feeling good about themselves. they'd have been tolerant too in those circumstances. who wouldn't? but no casting or directors tricks would sell the story of the girl bringing home her girlfriend"
these are odd and uncomfortable
March 7, 2022
I received an advanced readers' copy of this title from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This exchange does not impact the nature of my reviews.
Oh man, was I excited about this book when I first read the synopsis, and I was not disappointed. Everything about this story from start to finish was entirely heart-wrenching, unfortunately how it was for LGBTQ folks back in the 1960s.
There isn't particularly a lot that happens for the first 40% of the novel, yet I found myself completely encapsulated with the story no matter where I was at within it. From how this story is written, there's hardly any way to know that this story is entirely fictionalized. The raw emotion and struggles the author brings through the pages are very real, she really sells the autobiography-type feel.
This story only has a few key male characters and you will love every single one you're supposed to love and absolutely hate every one you're supposed to hate. These characters are so well-written, I felt secondhand anxiety as well as giddiness reading the characters' actions. Everything about this book feels completely authentic.
This is a truly heartwarming, inspirational historical fictional look at the daily life of an openly queer person in the 1960s, completely heart-wrenching for those like myself, openly queer people today, And in my opinion, one of 2022's must reads. It also really encourages you to have a second look at what's truly important in life, nothing is guaranteed.
(Spoiler-review. If you do not want to be spoiled, please click away, this is my spoiler-filled review section).
I was SOOOO satisfied that she got to talk to her dad one last time before he died and he had figured out his bullshit, him talking to Jackie almost had me in tears.
I'm so glad her mom came to Alaska and acted as everyone's mom when their families had abandoned them, it made it even more heart-warming that she'd lost a son and was determined to love the children she could now.
Spencer dying was not okay. I felt so ripped apart, you as a reader could just scream at him to give college a chance, probably one of the saddest moments in this book, just brutal.
I just wish this story were true for the wonderful lesbian couple living so long into the future together, meeting together basically like a dream right out of Tracy's head, god it was so wonderful to see them live long and happy.
Also, this was wonderful butch/crossdressing rep. Many lesbians/queer women enjoyed men's' clothing around this time, it was nice to see this apart of Tracy's identity while she still learned to love and embrace her true female form, the development was interesting to read.
Last note, this book has a playlist!! I think that's so neat, I got to listen to it while I read and I think that's just incredibly baller. All sorts of credit to the author for this.
ETA that this book also has a playlist on spotify to listen to along while you read! SUPER cute.
Oh man, was I excited about this book when I first read the synopsis, and I was not disappointed. Everything about this story from start to finish was entirely heart-wrenching, unfortunately how it was for LGBTQ folks back in the 1960s.
There isn't particularly a lot that happens for the first 40% of the novel, yet I found myself completely encapsulated with the story no matter where I was at within it. From how this story is written, there's hardly any way to know that this story is entirely fictionalized. The raw emotion and struggles the author brings through the pages are very real, she really sells the autobiography-type feel.
This story only has a few key male characters and you will love every single one you're supposed to love and absolutely hate every one you're supposed to hate. These characters are so well-written, I felt secondhand anxiety as well as giddiness reading the characters' actions. Everything about this book feels completely authentic.
This is a truly heartwarming, inspirational historical fictional look at the daily life of an openly queer person in the 1960s, completely heart-wrenching for those like myself, openly queer people today, And in my opinion, one of 2022's must reads. It also really encourages you to have a second look at what's truly important in life, nothing is guaranteed.
(Spoiler-review. If you do not want to be spoiled, please click away, this is my spoiler-filled review section).
I was SOOOO satisfied that she got to talk to her dad one last time before he died and he had figured out his bullshit, him talking to Jackie almost had me in tears.
I'm so glad her mom came to Alaska and acted as everyone's mom when their families had abandoned them, it made it even more heart-warming that she'd lost a son and was determined to love the children she could now.
Spencer dying was not okay. I felt so ripped apart, you as a reader could just scream at him to give college a chance, probably one of the saddest moments in this book, just brutal.
I just wish this story were true for the wonderful lesbian couple living so long into the future together, meeting together basically like a dream right out of Tracy's head, god it was so wonderful to see them live long and happy.
Also, this was wonderful butch/crossdressing rep. Many lesbians/queer women enjoyed men's' clothing around this time, it was nice to see this apart of Tracy's identity while she still learned to love and embrace her true female form, the development was interesting to read.
Last note, this book has a playlist!! I think that's so neat, I got to listen to it while I read and I think that's just incredibly baller. All sorts of credit to the author for this.
ETA that this book also has a playlist on spotify to listen to along while you read! SUPER cute.
February 6, 2022
I want to say a huge thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this beautiful book, and to Brooke Skipstone for writing it.
I cried through so much of this book, both happy and sad tears. It moved me in so many ways, and that’s such a precious thing when reading.
This book is beautiful and painful in equal measures. It’s a story of love and acceptance and finding yourself. It’s about loving and accepting yourself even when the world and everyone in it tries to tell you you’re wrong. It’s about found-family and romance and growing up gay in the 60s.
Apparently, the more I feel about a book, the less I know what to say.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book, not just to queer people, but to everyone.
This book is set for release on February 14 and is currently available for preorder on Kindle for under $5 in Australia so go snag a deal!
I cried through so much of this book, both happy and sad tears. It moved me in so many ways, and that’s such a precious thing when reading.
This book is beautiful and painful in equal measures. It’s a story of love and acceptance and finding yourself. It’s about loving and accepting yourself even when the world and everyone in it tries to tell you you’re wrong. It’s about found-family and romance and growing up gay in the 60s.
Apparently, the more I feel about a book, the less I know what to say.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book, not just to queer people, but to everyone.
This book is set for release on February 14 and is currently available for preorder on Kindle for under $5 in Australia so go snag a deal!
January 21, 2022
[ARC provided by NetGalley.]
Wow, I feel really bad writing this. Despite my hopes, when I hit 50% and was not enjoying myself, I decided it was time to DNF and take the loss. I seem to be in the vast minority here, though, so don't take my word as gospel!
Starting with the things I liked! I enjoyed the overall atmosphere of this book. I also really enjoyed the dynamic between the two siblings. That felt really genuine. I also really liked that it felt like an autobiography, especially since it's written in the style of one! I also liked that a playlist was included, haha. I wish more authors included an official playlist in their works!
Unfortunately, that's about it for me. The truth is I'm not super shocked I didn't vibe with this much since I'm not the biggest fan of contemporary fiction, but the cover was SO gorgeous I just had to give it a try. (Oh yeah, props to whoever designed the cover! Fantastic job!) I was really, really hopeful seeing the other reviews were insanely high.
Sadly, I kind of feel like a spoilsport knowing I'm going to be one of the first and only negative reviews for this book. I didn't HATE it. I want that clear. I think this book has a lot going for it, just... not for me.
Specific things I didn't like that lead to me DNFing: like I said, contemporaries usually aren't my thing. They just tend to bore me a lot of the time, and unfortunately that happened here.
The writing of the pov character was especially... grating. I feel bad saying that, but it's the only way I can think to put it. As a very queer sapphic person, I love female characters that are outspoken and true to themselves! The problem here is that the way Tracy talks and acts is often very artificial sometimes. Like she's not a real person. And I know she's a character but it really takes me out of it. Like, she talks back and that's fine, but she does it in a way that makes it painfully clear that she is being written in the 2020s. And it just got to a point where I couldn't take it. She also sometimes did or said things that were uncomfortable in a way that I don't think was intended, although it's hard to put into words?
The choice to write first person didn't help, as first person amplifies your pov character for better or for worse. And I did not enjoy being stuck in the head of a character I didn't like. She's just a tough character, and I imagine she'll be more someone else's cup of tea.
Despite DNFing, I'm still going to give it two stars. I recognize why other people like it! This is just a situation where the book isn't for me.
Wow, I feel really bad writing this. Despite my hopes, when I hit 50% and was not enjoying myself, I decided it was time to DNF and take the loss. I seem to be in the vast minority here, though, so don't take my word as gospel!
Starting with the things I liked! I enjoyed the overall atmosphere of this book. I also really enjoyed the dynamic between the two siblings. That felt really genuine. I also really liked that it felt like an autobiography, especially since it's written in the style of one! I also liked that a playlist was included, haha. I wish more authors included an official playlist in their works!
Unfortunately, that's about it for me. The truth is I'm not super shocked I didn't vibe with this much since I'm not the biggest fan of contemporary fiction, but the cover was SO gorgeous I just had to give it a try. (Oh yeah, props to whoever designed the cover! Fantastic job!) I was really, really hopeful seeing the other reviews were insanely high.
Sadly, I kind of feel like a spoilsport knowing I'm going to be one of the first and only negative reviews for this book. I didn't HATE it. I want that clear. I think this book has a lot going for it, just... not for me.
Specific things I didn't like that lead to me DNFing: like I said, contemporaries usually aren't my thing. They just tend to bore me a lot of the time, and unfortunately that happened here.
The writing of the pov character was especially... grating. I feel bad saying that, but it's the only way I can think to put it. As a very queer sapphic person, I love female characters that are outspoken and true to themselves! The problem here is that the way Tracy talks and acts is often very artificial sometimes. Like she's not a real person. And I know she's a character but it really takes me out of it. Like, she talks back and that's fine, but she does it in a way that makes it painfully clear that she is being written in the 2020s. And it just got to a point where I couldn't take it. She also sometimes did or said things that were uncomfortable in a way that I don't think was intended, although it's hard to put into words?
The choice to write first person didn't help, as first person amplifies your pov character for better or for worse. And I did not enjoy being stuck in the head of a character I didn't like. She's just a tough character, and I imagine she'll be more someone else's cup of tea.
Despite DNFing, I'm still going to give it two stars. I recognize why other people like it! This is just a situation where the book isn't for me.
January 15, 2022
In 1968, a seventeen-year-old queer girl travelled to Alaska disguised as a boy. But she also did so much more than that. She faced critics, broke boundaries, loved, lost, and ultimately allowed herself to live life on her own terms.
Though set in the late 60s, a time where homosexuality and 'otherness' was feared and ridiculed, Tracy's voice is still relevant to, and reflective of, the modern queer experience in many senses, particularly the importance of community, shared understanding, and a chosen family. I believe 'The Moonstone Girls' is intended as a young adult novel, but it does not read as such - the almost naive maturity of the main character is reflected in the writing, which I think makes it appealing to a broader audience than teens.
This is a tale of love, grief, freedom and music, and one which will stay with me long after my tears have dried (you're going to need some tissues for this one). I couldn't possibly rate it lower than 5/5 - on this basis, I will be sure to seek out Brooke Skipstone's previous work.
Many thanks to Brooke Skipstone, Skipstone Publishing, and NetGalley for the opportunity to enjoy this ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.
Though set in the late 60s, a time where homosexuality and 'otherness' was feared and ridiculed, Tracy's voice is still relevant to, and reflective of, the modern queer experience in many senses, particularly the importance of community, shared understanding, and a chosen family. I believe 'The Moonstone Girls' is intended as a young adult novel, but it does not read as such - the almost naive maturity of the main character is reflected in the writing, which I think makes it appealing to a broader audience than teens.
This is a tale of love, grief, freedom and music, and one which will stay with me long after my tears have dried (you're going to need some tissues for this one). I couldn't possibly rate it lower than 5/5 - on this basis, I will be sure to seek out Brooke Skipstone's previous work.
Many thanks to Brooke Skipstone, Skipstone Publishing, and NetGalley for the opportunity to enjoy this ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.
January 9, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley, Brooke Skipstone and the publisher for sending me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I cannot describe how much I love this book. I thought this book was an autobiography until I'd finished it and realised it was fiction. I felt the emotions of the characters so strongly, it was like I was transported into their world. It highlighted the struggles of being a member of the LGBTQ+ community in the 1960s, in society in general, and within their home and family life, it was a complete emotional rollercoaster and highlights the importance of how healing it is to be somewhere you feel accepted and free. This is a book that will stick with me for the rest of my life. I highly recommend this to anyone!
I cannot describe how much I love this book. I thought this book was an autobiography until I'd finished it and realised it was fiction. I felt the emotions of the characters so strongly, it was like I was transported into their world. It highlighted the struggles of being a member of the LGBTQ+ community in the 1960s, in society in general, and within their home and family life, it was a complete emotional rollercoaster and highlights the importance of how healing it is to be somewhere you feel accepted and free. This is a book that will stick with me for the rest of my life. I highly recommend this to anyone!
December 27, 2021
The Moonstone Girls captures the experience of queerness in a simultanously nuanced and expansive way. The story was both so specific and so universal. Moonstone Girls started off with tacking the challenge of being gay in a situation where that is scorned and taboo, which was relatable and important. But as the story went on, I went from just feeling my experiences as a queer young adult mirrored back at me to having my experiences interrogated and unpacked. By this I mean I could relate to the characters so deeply but the narrative also challenged some internalized stereotypes I hadn’t even realized I was carrying. The way Skipstone paints lesbian relationships is different than the way straight relationships are most often seen in literature. The closeness between the lesbian characters feels a lot like deep friendship, just with added physicality. This challenged me because I think that in order to make things seem equal, we often see queer relationships framed in the same stereotypes as straight ones. I was not used to seeing love like the love in this story, and I think it’s truly authentic to the wlw experience which is so unique and beautiful compared to they typical heterosexual love stories.
Without divulging spoilers, I can still say that in reading this book you will experience tragedy, heartbreak, joy, hope, and adventure, all of which are amazingly executed. You will cry and you will beam huge smiles. Regardless of if you are in the LGBTQ+ community or not, I believe you will find experiences you relate to AND things that will challenge you and enhance your understanding of what it means to be an authentic human being.
Without divulging spoilers, I can still say that in reading this book you will experience tragedy, heartbreak, joy, hope, and adventure, all of which are amazingly executed. You will cry and you will beam huge smiles. Regardless of if you are in the LGBTQ+ community or not, I believe you will find experiences you relate to AND things that will challenge you and enhance your understanding of what it means to be an authentic human being.
January 12, 2022
I received a copy of "The Moonstone Girls" from Netgalley for review.
“In 1968, a seventeen-year-old queer girl traveled to Alaska disguised as a boy.”
“The Moonstone Girls” book cover might say this quote, but damn if this book isn’t so, so much more than just that.
The majority of “The Moonstone Girls” is the story of Tracy and her brother Spencer both growing up queer in the 60’s. The first three quarters of this book had me in a constant battle between hopeful joy and heartache. Tracy and Spencer go through so much, both inside their home and out, facing homophobia, discrimination, and verbal abuse from their father and other people in their lives that judge them for being queer. It was painful to read Tracy’s feelings about herself, her sexuality, her relationship with Ava, and her relationship with her brother. I can’t even imagine how painful this book would have been, had it been told from Spencer’s point of view. Tracy is strong-willed and determined not to let people tell her how she should live her life and who she should be able to love, but Spencer struggles to do the same. The heartache and overwhelming sense of longing for acceptance is so tangible in this story, it made me cry more than once. After a horrible loss and the weight of intense grief and sadness, Tracy finally makes her way to Alaska, alone.
Traveling alone allows Tracy to stand in her power as a queer woman and to overcome any last hesitancies she may have had about being who she is and standing up for herself and other LGBTQ people. The relationships that Tracy forms with Jackie and Jeff at Camp Wonder completely transform her life. They are genuine and accepting and loving, and the bond the three of them share follows them for the rest of their lives.
This book made me so emotional, both in sadness and hope. I absolutely loved it. “The Moonstone Girls” is full of grief, heartache, hatred, and pain; it is raw and rough-edged and real—but every last bit of it glows with hope and determination for the characters to live in their truth. It will make your heart hurt, and it might make you cry, but “The Moonstone Girls” is a poignant, powerful book that deserves all the reads.
“In 1968, a seventeen-year-old queer girl traveled to Alaska disguised as a boy.”
“The Moonstone Girls” book cover might say this quote, but damn if this book isn’t so, so much more than just that.
The majority of “The Moonstone Girls” is the story of Tracy and her brother Spencer both growing up queer in the 60’s. The first three quarters of this book had me in a constant battle between hopeful joy and heartache. Tracy and Spencer go through so much, both inside their home and out, facing homophobia, discrimination, and verbal abuse from their father and other people in their lives that judge them for being queer. It was painful to read Tracy’s feelings about herself, her sexuality, her relationship with Ava, and her relationship with her brother. I can’t even imagine how painful this book would have been, had it been told from Spencer’s point of view. Tracy is strong-willed and determined not to let people tell her how she should live her life and who she should be able to love, but Spencer struggles to do the same. The heartache and overwhelming sense of longing for acceptance is so tangible in this story, it made me cry more than once. After a horrible loss and the weight of intense grief and sadness, Tracy finally makes her way to Alaska, alone.
Traveling alone allows Tracy to stand in her power as a queer woman and to overcome any last hesitancies she may have had about being who she is and standing up for herself and other LGBTQ people. The relationships that Tracy forms with Jackie and Jeff at Camp Wonder completely transform her life. They are genuine and accepting and loving, and the bond the three of them share follows them for the rest of their lives.
This book made me so emotional, both in sadness and hope. I absolutely loved it. “The Moonstone Girls” is full of grief, heartache, hatred, and pain; it is raw and rough-edged and real—but every last bit of it glows with hope and determination for the characters to live in their truth. It will make your heart hurt, and it might make you cry, but “The Moonstone Girls” is a poignant, powerful book that deserves all the reads.
January 21, 2022
The cover really drew me in! It's gorgeous and evokes joy, which this book has in plenty. But there is also so much angst and high drama. The main character—Tracy—is a pistol. So protective of her gay brother and so unafraid to confront misogyny. I wish I had been more like her as a teenager.
At first she is hesitant to respond to Ava's advances, but once she experiences her first kiss, she is determined to experience more. Which she does but only in secret. She decides to disguise herself as a boy so she and her girlfriend can be together in public. She had always considered herself to be more boy than girl.
Tracy cannot feel comfortable in the rigid expectations of a girl in the late 60s. Dressed as a boy, she finds her confidence which eventually leads her to pursue a dream in Alaska where she doesn't need a "disguise." She can be who she is without apology.
I cried many times during this story, and cheered at others. I loved the role music played in her life and the story. Tracy and her family go through the depths of despair and the intense anger that only family members can feel for each other. How the family ultimately resolves will take your breath away.
This is a very well-written story.
At first she is hesitant to respond to Ava's advances, but once she experiences her first kiss, she is determined to experience more. Which she does but only in secret. She decides to disguise herself as a boy so she and her girlfriend can be together in public. She had always considered herself to be more boy than girl.
Tracy cannot feel comfortable in the rigid expectations of a girl in the late 60s. Dressed as a boy, she finds her confidence which eventually leads her to pursue a dream in Alaska where she doesn't need a "disguise." She can be who she is without apology.
I cried many times during this story, and cheered at others. I loved the role music played in her life and the story. Tracy and her family go through the depths of despair and the intense anger that only family members can feel for each other. How the family ultimately resolves will take your breath away.
This is a very well-written story.
December 15, 2021
This book is making the perfect appearance at the right time in history. As more members of the LGBTQ+ community come out of their shell, it is good to remember how much acceptance has grown. While the fight still continues today, The Moonstone Girls puts into perspective how much we have already evolved on the issue since the 60s. This shows that things can, and will, continue to change. The book reveals how difficult it was to be a part of the LGBTQ+ community in the past when the community did not yet even have a name. Back then, you were simply a good for nothing queer, and that was that. This story is beautiful because it is educational, and also teaches that no matter what part of the cloth you are cut from, the power of acceptance is within you. But it is up to you to let it into you heart. I highly suggest this book to everyone, even those outside of the LGBTQ+ community.
December 20, 2021
This was a truly enjoyable read for me. The mix of 60s culture, music and the exploration of sexuality during a difficult time for the characters just makes for a wonderful mix. It's one of those books that has stayed with me and I still find myself thinking about it even after reading it, perhaps due to how real the characters seem - even minor characters seem overwhelmingly human and individual, and following their stories to the end made this an excellent and almost addictive book to read.
February 11, 2022
A copy of the book was provided to Sapphic Book Club in exchange for an honest review.
This book absolutely broke my heart, put it back together and then broke it again. It follows Tracy, a 17 year old lesbian growing up in 60's Texas as she discovers her identity, faces immense homophobia, and reinvents her life in Alaska.
First things first, MAJOR content warning. This book is set in a religious area in the 60's and being any form of queer is very much frowned upon, so there is a lot of homophobia. Additionally, a heavy warning about suicide, and minor warnings for racism, war-related PTSD and general character death.
**** The rest of this review contains spoilers of the general plot (major spoilers are marked individually) ****
The first 60% of this book was so heartbreakingly well written, as Tracy and her brother, Spencer, both are forced to come to terms with their homosexuality, and try to find a way to live with that in their homophobic community. At first they hide their relationships with Pablo, a Mexican pianist, and Ava, a basketballer at school, but when Ava and Tracy are outed, Tracy is chooses to embrace her masculinity, joining the boys basketball team and regularly cross-dressing to earn money to travel to Alaska. During this time, she is also fighting against her father, who wants Spencer to be less feminine, and go fight in the Vietnam War. Just before Tracy leaves for Alaska, Spencer is drafted . Tracy leaves, begging her mother to follow her to Alaska after the summer camp is finished.
I absolutely adored this part of the book. It was beautifully written, showing us all the pain these two teens experienced in their family home. The love Tracy has for Spencer, and eventually for her mother, is portrayed through her actions and the internal conflict she experiences. The pain Spencer experiences is also stunningly written, .
The last 40% of the book follows Tracy as she travels to Alaska, meets Jackie, and summaries the rest of her life. This section of the book showed all the wonderful writing of the first section, but it felt rushed I wish this book had been longer, so that we had more time to watch Tracy and Jackie fall in love, and establish their new life together in Alaska. Their love felt especially rushed, they were written like long-term lovers a day after they met, and while I understand that they had this connection that Tracy followed to Alaska, it felt a bit unreal. Secondly, in adulthood their friend Jeff (a gay man) fathers their children, which is really wonderful, but the conception scene is,,,,somewhat questionable.
Despite these issues I had with the last half, I still loved the book. It had me sobbing ugly tears over these characters and the things they experienced, and I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in it.
This book absolutely broke my heart, put it back together and then broke it again. It follows Tracy, a 17 year old lesbian growing up in 60's Texas as she discovers her identity, faces immense homophobia, and reinvents her life in Alaska.
First things first, MAJOR content warning. This book is set in a religious area in the 60's and being any form of queer is very much frowned upon, so there is a lot of homophobia. Additionally, a heavy warning about suicide, and minor warnings for racism, war-related PTSD and general character death.
**** The rest of this review contains spoilers of the general plot (major spoilers are marked individually) ****
The first 60% of this book was so heartbreakingly well written, as Tracy and her brother, Spencer, both are forced to come to terms with their homosexuality, and try to find a way to live with that in their homophobic community. At first they hide their relationships with Pablo, a Mexican pianist, and Ava, a basketballer at school, but when Ava and Tracy are outed, Tracy is chooses to embrace her masculinity, joining the boys basketball team and regularly cross-dressing to earn money to travel to Alaska. During this time, she is also fighting against her father, who wants Spencer to be less feminine, and go fight in the Vietnam War. Just before Tracy leaves for Alaska, Spencer is drafted . Tracy leaves, begging her mother to follow her to Alaska after the summer camp is finished.
I absolutely adored this part of the book. It was beautifully written, showing us all the pain these two teens experienced in their family home. The love Tracy has for Spencer, and eventually for her mother, is portrayed through her actions and the internal conflict she experiences. The pain Spencer experiences is also stunningly written, .
The last 40% of the book follows Tracy as she travels to Alaska, meets Jackie, and summaries the rest of her life. This section of the book showed all the wonderful writing of the first section, but it felt rushed I wish this book had been longer, so that we had more time to watch Tracy and Jackie fall in love, and establish their new life together in Alaska. Their love felt especially rushed, they were written like long-term lovers a day after they met, and while I understand that they had this connection that Tracy followed to Alaska, it felt a bit unreal. Secondly, in adulthood their friend Jeff (a gay man) fathers their children, which is really wonderful, but the conception scene is,,,,somewhat questionable.
Despite these issues I had with the last half, I still loved the book. It had me sobbing ugly tears over these characters and the things they experienced, and I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in it.
January 25, 2022
I received a copy via NetGalley for an honest review.
(3.5) I'm done this book and before I get into the review can we talk about how STUNNING that cover is!!!
ok anyways - this book is about a teenager in the 60s navigating their sexuality (this is such a basic synopsis it is much deeper than that). This book was actually pretty good!! I loved how character driven it was and the amount of shocks that came with reading it. Like I was tearing up in class while reading this book TRYING to pull myself together. Alongside sexuality and homophobia, this book covers racism and the gender construct. Despite the main character being female, they would constantly step out of binaries . There were so many lines that insinuated that the main character was gender non-conforming and I absolutely loved that.
But, there were some parts that I just though were filler and then other parts that I thought were too drawn out. Like I wish "Moonstone girls" was more early introduced in the story rather than having this whole build up for it to be one thing at like 80% into the novel (perhaps the author did that on purpose since it was sort of written in an autobiographical style). Another criticism I have is probably more personal but I did not feel the chemistry between the two girls at the end, maybe this is more subjective.
All in all this book was pretty decent, took me a while to get through because school SUCKS. Anyway, have a nice day loves <3
(3.5) I'm done this book and before I get into the review can we talk about how STUNNING that cover is!!!
ok anyways - this book is about a teenager in the 60s navigating their sexuality (this is such a basic synopsis it is much deeper than that). This book was actually pretty good!! I loved how character driven it was and the amount of shocks that came with reading it. Like I was tearing up in class while reading this book TRYING to pull myself together. Alongside sexuality and homophobia, this book covers racism and the gender construct. Despite the main character being female, they would constantly step out of binaries . There were so many lines that insinuated that the main character was gender non-conforming and I absolutely loved that.
But, there were some parts that I just though were filler and then other parts that I thought were too drawn out. Like I wish "Moonstone girls" was more early introduced in the story rather than having this whole build up for it to be one thing at like 80% into the novel (perhaps the author did that on purpose since it was sort of written in an autobiographical style). Another criticism I have is probably more personal but I did not feel the chemistry between the two girls at the end, maybe this is more subjective.
All in all this book was pretty decent, took me a while to get through because school SUCKS. Anyway, have a nice day loves <3
April 3, 2022
many thanks to netgalley and brooke skipstone for providing me with this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
this book started out fun, with an interesting drama surrounding our main character that i honestly couldn't stop turning pages to check out what was next. during the first half of the book, i was constantly playing a game of "is this a love letter to boyhood because our main character is actually trans or is looking like a man the only way she found to be free in such a misogynistic society?" . it was an interesting journey to figure out the answer.
by the time the second half rolled around, i finally figured i'd gotten a good hold of the story they were trying to tell, but then i didn't. the book seemed entirely different, our main character's motivations were so flimsy and rushed that it was a drag to read. and don't get me started on the couple. i didn't know it was possible to have something quicker than insta-love, but i'll be darned. i personally am a non-enjoyer of insta-love, but this is a whole other level.
anyway, this book was equal parts a fun historical drama and a weird little rushed thing. maybe you'll like it, maybe not, but giving it a chance wouldn't hurt. thanks for reading!
February 13, 2022
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for a fair review.
Oh wow - this book moved me a lot more than I ever expected it to. The premise interested me; a story of growing up gay and gender non-conforming in the 60s, whilst navigating unaccepting parents alongside finding yourself. Though I found the first 30% of the book to be quite slow-paced, once I really got into it, I was hooked.
The story is equal measures heartbreaking and beautiful - Tracy and Spencer's siblingship had me crying from both tears of joy and heartbreak at various points throughout. The characters within the book are so extremely well written - you adore the good ones, and want to break the noses of the bad ones.
The book itself is extremely well-wrtten; the characters are really well developed, with each of the MC's getting their own time to truly come into themselves throughout the story. I was rooting for Tracy throughout, and was so happy with how her ending turned out. For Spencer, my heart broke for him. He's written as the type of character you simply want to reach into the book and hug for a while.
Overall, I believe this book is a must read for everyone's 2022 - it's thought provoking, endearing and the story feels authentic throughout. Moreover, it urges you to gain perspective of the shortness of life, and how we must evaluate what really does matter to us. Brooke Skipstone wrote an absolutely incredible narrative in The Moonstone Girls, and I will absolutely be recommending it to everyone I know.
Oh wow - this book moved me a lot more than I ever expected it to. The premise interested me; a story of growing up gay and gender non-conforming in the 60s, whilst navigating unaccepting parents alongside finding yourself. Though I found the first 30% of the book to be quite slow-paced, once I really got into it, I was hooked.
The story is equal measures heartbreaking and beautiful - Tracy and Spencer's siblingship had me crying from both tears of joy and heartbreak at various points throughout. The characters within the book are so extremely well written - you adore the good ones, and want to break the noses of the bad ones.
The book itself is extremely well-wrtten; the characters are really well developed, with each of the MC's getting their own time to truly come into themselves throughout the story. I was rooting for Tracy throughout, and was so happy with how her ending turned out. For Spencer, my heart broke for him. He's written as the type of character you simply want to reach into the book and hug for a while.
Overall, I believe this book is a must read for everyone's 2022 - it's thought provoking, endearing and the story feels authentic throughout. Moreover, it urges you to gain perspective of the shortness of life, and how we must evaluate what really does matter to us. Brooke Skipstone wrote an absolutely incredible narrative in The Moonstone Girls, and I will absolutely be recommending it to everyone I know.
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