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hangngt_'s review against another edition
3.0
honestly speaking i didn’t quite enjoy this book, it’s probably more of a 2.5 stars than a 3.
but what I did enjoy was the characters and their dynamics with each other.
though there are things that made me really bored, some scenes are so good but others just made me want to finish this book already.
my main complaints was this book was quite boring at times. I think it was because I wasn’t invested in the investigation as much and I don’t really vibe with the writing style.
but what I did enjoy was the characters and their dynamics with each other.
though there are things that made me really bored, some scenes are so good but others just made me want to finish this book already.
my main complaints was this book was quite boring at times. I think it was because I wasn’t invested in the investigation as much and I don’t really vibe with the writing style.
kosmond's review against another edition
2.0
**Review originally posted here.
I couldn't stop staring at this book cover! Seriously, isn't it beautiful!? Unfortunately, I spent more time looking at the book than actually reading it. I had such a hard time getting into this one, and I have no idea why. The reviews have been great, as of today (release day!!) on Goodreads, its a 4.14 star book but I struggled! I think it was Birdie - I had a hard time connecting, in fact, I just didn't like her! Daniel, on the other hand was likable. I found that I was reading for him. About halfway through I was a little more invested and was able to fly through the second half. The story was interesting, and fun! But I felt like there could have been a better focus on one or 2 story lines - I still have a few unanswered questions.
In the end, I finished Serious Moonlight and a few people were intrigued while I was reading my ARC so I know that at least one person was eager to get their hands on this one thanks to me! By the quick look on Goodreads, if you've loved Jenn Bennetts other books, then chances are you'll love this one too, it just wasn't for me. Instead, I'll showcase the cover and take a quick look at it when I need all the feels that it gives me.
I couldn't stop staring at this book cover! Seriously, isn't it beautiful!? Unfortunately, I spent more time looking at the book than actually reading it. I had such a hard time getting into this one, and I have no idea why. The reviews have been great, as of today (release day!!) on Goodreads, its a 4.14 star book but I struggled! I think it was Birdie - I had a hard time connecting, in fact, I just didn't like her! Daniel, on the other hand was likable. I found that I was reading for him. About halfway through I was a little more invested and was able to fly through the second half. The story was interesting, and fun! But I felt like there could have been a better focus on one or 2 story lines - I still have a few unanswered questions.
In the end, I finished Serious Moonlight and a few people were intrigued while I was reading my ARC so I know that at least one person was eager to get their hands on this one thanks to me! By the quick look on Goodreads, if you've loved Jenn Bennetts other books, then chances are you'll love this one too, it just wasn't for me. Instead, I'll showcase the cover and take a quick look at it when I need all the feels that it gives me.
raegeorge's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
kmkasiner's review against another edition
4.0
This was a cute romance with believable characters. I enjoyed all of the mystery references. It tackles some important subjects but overall it's a fun, quick read.
the_alexeli's review against another edition
3.0
I'm so sad! I had expected to love this book at much as Alex, Approximately, which I rated 5 stars, and Starry Eyes, which I rated 4.5. But this story just didn't capture me like the other two did. Some things that went down just turned me of the book so much and I did not care for the main character at all. So upsetting.
yesrachishere's review against another edition
5.0
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in return for an honest review. This in no way influences my opinion.
Birdie Lindberg loves all things mystery. Mystery novels, mystery movies, mystery TV shows. Everything mystery! She was raised by her grandparents after the death of her mother, being home schooled and not having much of a social life or friends. So when she gets a job working at a hotel in Seattle, she's going to have to work on coming out of her shell. But when she meets Daniel Aoki, who is the hotel's van driver, she tries to avoid him despite her strong feelings for him. And when Daniel shares a secret with her about an anonymous mystery author checking in to the hotel every Tuesday, Birdie, being the mystery aficionado that she is, can not resist. As the two work together to crack this case, Birdie learns to come out of her shell and let Daniel see who she really is.
My favorite Jenn Bennett book! I devoured this and that's really saying something since I've been in a terrible reading slump since August 2018. I did not want to put this down, even when my eyes were half closed and in need of desperate sleep. I have really enjoyed Jenn Bennett's books in the past but none of them compare to this one. I think I really just enjoyed the characters and the story line better in Serious Moonlight. Not only is it a cute contemporary romance but we also get a side mystery story that I honestly didn't see coming.
I did get frustrated with Birdie at times because it is so hard for her to open up and tell people what exactly she's thinking and feeling. And I can actually relate to that. But as a reader, we can see what the character is thinking and some of her thoughts, that she was too anxious to reveal, were not something that seemed to be too big of a deal. But I guess that's the point of the story. Birdie really comes out of her shell as the story progresses and it was really satisfying to see her true self by the end of the book.
Daniel Aoki is such a gentleman. He goes out of his way to get Birdie to notice him and talk to him and it's just the cutest. The dates he sets up for them are amazing because everything he does is to please Birdie. He truly just wants to make her smile and it's making me smile just thinking about it.
I was a little skeptical about a mystery intertwined with a contemporary. When I read Turtles All the Way Down by John Green, which I loved, I didn't actually like the side mystery of that story. But in Serious Moonlight, it really thrives. Birdie and Daniel really grow their relationship with this quest of tracking down an anonymous mystery author. It's fun and unpredictable and it worked really well for this story.
The story takes place in Seattle, Washington, which I have never been and I don't know that much about but after reading this, I totally want to visit. I've never been on a ferry and the Moonlight Diner sounds like the cutest little place to get a coffee. Seattle, Washington, you are now on my bucket list.
I can't wait to read Jenn Bennett's future books. I love her writing and her characters and I think her books get better and better. Serious Moonlight is out today so go get yourself a copy and enjoy!
Birdie Lindberg loves all things mystery. Mystery novels, mystery movies, mystery TV shows. Everything mystery! She was raised by her grandparents after the death of her mother, being home schooled and not having much of a social life or friends. So when she gets a job working at a hotel in Seattle, she's going to have to work on coming out of her shell. But when she meets Daniel Aoki, who is the hotel's van driver, she tries to avoid him despite her strong feelings for him. And when Daniel shares a secret with her about an anonymous mystery author checking in to the hotel every Tuesday, Birdie, being the mystery aficionado that she is, can not resist. As the two work together to crack this case, Birdie learns to come out of her shell and let Daniel see who she really is.
My favorite Jenn Bennett book! I devoured this and that's really saying something since I've been in a terrible reading slump since August 2018. I did not want to put this down, even when my eyes were half closed and in need of desperate sleep. I have really enjoyed Jenn Bennett's books in the past but none of them compare to this one. I think I really just enjoyed the characters and the story line better in Serious Moonlight. Not only is it a cute contemporary romance but we also get a side mystery story that I honestly didn't see coming.
I did get frustrated with Birdie at times because it is so hard for her to open up and tell people what exactly she's thinking and feeling. And I can actually relate to that. But as a reader, we can see what the character is thinking and some of her thoughts, that she was too anxious to reveal, were not something that seemed to be too big of a deal. But I guess that's the point of the story. Birdie really comes out of her shell as the story progresses and it was really satisfying to see her true self by the end of the book.
Daniel Aoki is such a gentleman. He goes out of his way to get Birdie to notice him and talk to him and it's just the cutest. The dates he sets up for them are amazing because everything he does is to please Birdie. He truly just wants to make her smile and it's making me smile just thinking about it.
I was a little skeptical about a mystery intertwined with a contemporary. When I read Turtles All the Way Down by John Green, which I loved, I didn't actually like the side mystery of that story. But in Serious Moonlight, it really thrives. Birdie and Daniel really grow their relationship with this quest of tracking down an anonymous mystery author. It's fun and unpredictable and it worked really well for this story.
The story takes place in Seattle, Washington, which I have never been and I don't know that much about but after reading this, I totally want to visit. I've never been on a ferry and the Moonlight Diner sounds like the cutest little place to get a coffee. Seattle, Washington, you are now on my bucket list.
I can't wait to read Jenn Bennett's future books. I love her writing and her characters and I think her books get better and better. Serious Moonlight is out today so go get yourself a copy and enjoy!
befsk's review against another edition
3.0
The love interest, Daniel, was a bit cliche manic pixie dream boy with a secret. I did, however, like the introverted but trying to live a little protagonist Birdie. I don't think I've ever read a book with a character with possible narcolepsy so that was educational.
Good writing. I own other books by this author and have definitely mentally bumped them up my to-read pile because the writing style was so good.
An interesting mystery with the thriller writer that we unfortunately kept getting massively distracted from in order to have feelings and miscommunication with Daniel. The author does write feelings very well and detailed though.
There was a lot of description of Seattle, which was nice. It was almost a character in the book, even though I'm sure I missed a lot of the references by not knowing the first thing about Seattle.
Aunt Mona was definitely the best character in this. I was always fully on board with everything Mona did.
The ending was a little too neat and tidy especially with how the mystery was handled. The mystery hunt was kinda basic and childish and so incredibly easy to solve.
Another small niggle for me was that there was very little mention of Birdie's grandmother other than her being overwhelmingly controlling and yet towards the end of the book Birdie says she's been grieving and has gained some closure - there is no evidence of this on the pages that I remember. I was surprised that there was disappearing (grand)parent syndrome in this case, especially after her grandmother used to be so protective that she homeschooled Birdie to have more control over who she did and didn't come into contact with.
I received this ARC through Netgalley.
Good writing. I own other books by this author and have definitely mentally bumped them up my to-read pile because the writing style was so good.
An interesting mystery with the thriller writer that we unfortunately kept getting massively distracted from in order to have feelings and miscommunication with Daniel. The author does write feelings very well and detailed though.
There was a lot of description of Seattle, which was nice. It was almost a character in the book, even though I'm sure I missed a lot of the references by not knowing the first thing about Seattle.
Aunt Mona was definitely the best character in this. I was always fully on board with everything Mona did.
The ending was a little too neat and tidy especially with how the mystery was handled. The mystery hunt was kinda basic and childish and so incredibly easy to solve.
Another small niggle for me was that there was very little mention of Birdie's grandmother other than her being overwhelmingly controlling and yet towards the end of the book Birdie says she's been grieving and has gained some closure - there is no evidence of this on the pages that I remember. I was surprised that there was disappearing (grand)parent syndrome in this case, especially after her grandmother used to be so protective that she homeschooled Birdie to have more control over who she did and didn't come into contact with.
I received this ARC through Netgalley.
bnryan95's review against another edition
3.0
And with that, I have completed by 2020 reading challenge! Book 75!
This book was okay. Overall, I enjoyed the plot and characters. The mystery was just sort of "eh" for me in the end. I thought Birdie's non-swear words were funny.
This book was okay. Overall, I enjoyed the plot and characters. The mystery was just sort of "eh" for me in the end. I thought Birdie's non-swear words were funny.
court_caitlin's review against another edition
3.0
I would echo some others that it wasn’t my favorite. I can’t quite put my finger on why. However I still love Jenn Bennett and will be reading anything else she puts out!! I just like her other three books better.