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Envious Moon
Envious Moon is a harrowing tale of the sometimes dark obsession, and often sensual beauty, that accompanies young love. With a nod to Romeo and Juliet and reminiscent of Endless Love, Thomas Christopher Greene tells the story of two young lovers and their journey to find perfection in each other's arms.
When young Anthony Lopes and his best friend set out from the small fishing community of Galilee, Rhode Island, to commit what they believe will be a victimless crime, they never imagined that it would change their lives forever.
They expected the mansion on the island bluffs to be empty. But inside they find a man and his daughter, Hannah. Haunted by her fleeting image and convinced he can atone for what happens to her father, Anthony is determined to find her.
Filled with the dazzling narrative drive, lyric prose, and compelling characterizations that have earned Thomas Christopher Greene the admiration of Nelson DeMille, Bret Lott, and Susan Cheever, Envious Moon is a luminous, highly original, and riveting novel about what it means to love, and be loved.
When young Anthony Lopes and his best friend set out from the small fishing community of Galilee, Rhode Island, to commit what they believe will be a victimless crime, they never imagined that it would change their lives forever.
They expected the mansion on the island bluffs to be empty. But inside they find a man and his daughter, Hannah. Haunted by her fleeting image and convinced he can atone for what happens to her father, Anthony is determined to find her.
Filled with the dazzling narrative drive, lyric prose, and compelling characterizations that have earned Thomas Christopher Greene the admiration of Nelson DeMille, Bret Lott, and Susan Cheever, Envious Moon is a luminous, highly original, and riveting novel about what it means to love, and be loved.
280 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2007
3 people are currently reading
153 people want to read
About the author
Thomas Christopher Greene
8 books417 followersThomas Christopher Greene is the author of 7 books, six critically acclaimed novels including the international bestseller, The Headmaster's Wife, and the collection of tiny true stories, Notes From the Porch. He is the founder of the Vermont College of Fine Arts and served as president for 13 years. His fiction has been translated into thirteen languages. He makes his home in Montpelier, Vermont and can be found online on instagram and facebook @thomaschristophergreene
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 15, 2016
4 stars for the unreliable narrator. I love the twists and how by the end you realize you can't believe a single word Anthony has said. An unusual and obsessive love story. Highly recommended.
March 7, 2022
I have read all of Greene's books, as he is one of my favorite authors. Although comparing this book to other authors, it is very good, it isn't my favorite of his... because it is sad 😢 As usual, his characterizations are excellent and the story is full.
April 7, 2025
Is this the story of a man in love or of a criminally insane murder? Could it be both? A beautiful and sometimes creepy novel that will leave you longing for the sea and for a resolution to the madness!
November 6, 2011
I am a sucker for star-crossed lover stories. People who can’t or shouldn’t be together, but who have this tremendous connection – something that they can’t fight even if they wanted to.
Thomas Christopher Greene’s novel Envious Moon tells the story of Anthony Lopes, son of Portuguese immigrants, who lives in a coastal town, Galilee, Rhode Island, where he earns money by fishing. Anthony is smart, but poor. His father was killed on a fishing boat; his mother works hard to provide and while Anthony dreams of a better life, he doesn’t quite know how he’s going to have it.
One day Anthony’s best friend, Victor, tells him something that has the potential to change both boys’ lives forever. Victor sometimes worked for a funeral home and he’d been at a wake on Cross Island. He was alone in the room and he’d lifted the corner of the Persian rug. There – to his amazement – he’d found an envelope, stuffed full of money. Victor tells Anthony that the house is empty and that they should break in and steal the money. Who could it hurt?
Of course, the boys’ plan doesn’t play out in quite the way they expect. Inside the house, Anthony sees a girl:
…a girl surrounded by golden light and wearing a white nightgown. Through the gown I could see the outline of her legs. I could not see her eyes and I could not tell the colour of her hair. But the part of her face that I could see, was more beautiful than any face I had ever seen. her high cheekbones and her full lips and her strong nose. Part of me understood that I should not be considering any of this, that I should just run, but something kept me completely still.
It is a moment that changes Anthony’s life forever.
Greene’s novel begins as an older Anthony contemplates that failed heist and its aftermath. He says, “I confess that I sometimes forget what she looks like.” Whatever tale Anthony is about to tell, the reader knows that it is part of some sort of therapy because this forgetting is considered a good thing by Dr. Mitchell. Every once and a while, we revisit present-day Anthony as he works through the events of his 17th summer.
Anthony is a likeable character. It’s impossible not to care about him as he makes one bad decision after another – each becoming more desperate than the last. Hannah, the girl he loves, is slightly less transparent. Anthony’s motives seem clear, but it is impossible to know how much of their story is motivated by grief.
Envious Moon reminded me a little of Endless Love by Scott Spencer. Love is the one emotion that drives people, especially young people, to reckless behaviour. Greene’s novel captures that love-fueled momentum and propels Anthony, Hannah and the reader on a journey that is both heart-felt and heart-breaking.
Thomas Christopher Greene’s novel Envious Moon tells the story of Anthony Lopes, son of Portuguese immigrants, who lives in a coastal town, Galilee, Rhode Island, where he earns money by fishing. Anthony is smart, but poor. His father was killed on a fishing boat; his mother works hard to provide and while Anthony dreams of a better life, he doesn’t quite know how he’s going to have it.
One day Anthony’s best friend, Victor, tells him something that has the potential to change both boys’ lives forever. Victor sometimes worked for a funeral home and he’d been at a wake on Cross Island. He was alone in the room and he’d lifted the corner of the Persian rug. There – to his amazement – he’d found an envelope, stuffed full of money. Victor tells Anthony that the house is empty and that they should break in and steal the money. Who could it hurt?
Of course, the boys’ plan doesn’t play out in quite the way they expect. Inside the house, Anthony sees a girl:
…a girl surrounded by golden light and wearing a white nightgown. Through the gown I could see the outline of her legs. I could not see her eyes and I could not tell the colour of her hair. But the part of her face that I could see, was more beautiful than any face I had ever seen. her high cheekbones and her full lips and her strong nose. Part of me understood that I should not be considering any of this, that I should just run, but something kept me completely still.
It is a moment that changes Anthony’s life forever.
Greene’s novel begins as an older Anthony contemplates that failed heist and its aftermath. He says, “I confess that I sometimes forget what she looks like.” Whatever tale Anthony is about to tell, the reader knows that it is part of some sort of therapy because this forgetting is considered a good thing by Dr. Mitchell. Every once and a while, we revisit present-day Anthony as he works through the events of his 17th summer.
Anthony is a likeable character. It’s impossible not to care about him as he makes one bad decision after another – each becoming more desperate than the last. Hannah, the girl he loves, is slightly less transparent. Anthony’s motives seem clear, but it is impossible to know how much of their story is motivated by grief.
Envious Moon reminded me a little of Endless Love by Scott Spencer. Love is the one emotion that drives people, especially young people, to reckless behaviour. Greene’s novel captures that love-fueled momentum and propels Anthony, Hannah and the reader on a journey that is both heart-felt and heart-breaking.
September 30, 2009
Don't be deceived by the cover of this adult suspense novel. It's not a sexy book--not at all. Anthony is a Portuguese fisherman who lives in Galilee, Rhode Island. He's not a criminal, yet he tries to steal an envelope of money from a rich dead lady's house, and inadvertently kills a man in a struggle. While the struggle ensues, he sees a lovely young woman, Hannah, and falls in love. While hiding from the cops who keep asking questions, Anthony meets Hannah and they fall in love and spend some glorious weeks together. But then things start happening. And we start finding out some strange things about Anthony. And we learn that Anthony isn't the most reliable narrator.
February 16, 2012
I would give the book 2.5 stars if I was able, but perhaps it's closer to 3 than 2. The book is a sort of dark love story, but then the end is a sort of O-Henry trick, which is definitely not what I hope for when reading a novel about an obsessive love.
June 20, 2008
Not as good as his first book.
October 27, 2012
Sad. No warm fuzzies. Very "Endless Love." Quick read. Only took me a day. Really sucks you in. Well written. But I prefer happily ever afters to books like this.
May 30, 2015
It was little slow at the beginning, however, at the end, the unexpected event completely change the entire story line in the novel. Great ending.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews