lazygal's review
3.0
A relatively good entry in the "outsider boy has crush on unattainable girl" genre. The different here is that the unattainable girl is half-Catalan, so there's a slightly exotic cast to things (calling her parents Mare and Pare, for example). Cesca (nee Francesca) is part of an artistic clan, and her oldest brother, Aurelio ("Lio") becomes one of Wylie's friends and painting mentors as well as providing access to Cesca (or at least news of her). There's a lot of wealth here, a lot of Upper Class New York Connectiveness with a Catalan accent.
The problem is that it's overwritten and completely predictable - there's very little that wasn't telegraphed. It also felt as though the scenes where Wylie is trying to get on with his life without Cesca or interacting with her family were thrown in. Had the author committed to the obsession, or Wylie's struggle with that obsession, it would have been stronger.
ARC provided by publisher.
The problem is that it's overwritten and completely predictable - there's very little that wasn't telegraphed. It also felt as though the scenes where Wylie is trying to get on with his life without Cesca or interacting with her family were thrown in. Had the author committed to the obsession, or Wylie's struggle with that obsession, it would have been stronger.
ARC provided by publisher.
sheilabookworm3369's review against another edition
3.0
I'm not usually into stories about the lovelorn, but do occasionally enjoy a tale of the tortured soul. This book has both and more, vividly told.
robinsbooks's review
4.0
3.5 stars - OK, so I have never repeated a review for a different book, but when I read my review for Dubow's earlier book, INDISCRETION, I realized I felt about the same way about GIRL IN THE MOONLIGHT. So with no apologies I offer you these comments, fully realizing it is close to word for the word the same review of INDISCRETION. And I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not.
"This was compelling and it read quickly but I found I had little sympathy for the two main characters, plus it seemed a little melodramatic at times. However, it did keep my me from getting my much needed beauty rest as I had to find out the fate of the two lovers."
I will add that I felt the plot of a man's obsession with a beautiful, willful, and sometime unattainable woman has been done many times, this was fairly well done although it seemed that everyone was pretty spoiled and a little on the judgmental side. There were a few times when Wylie would comment about a woman saying she was "plain" or "puffy" or "plump" and every time the woman was annoying, had no personality, or was on the mean-spirited side. Of course, all of the women he was associated with were beautiful, slim, tall, engaging, etc. Sometimes I wanted to remind Wylie that in the first part of the story he was no prize.
"This was compelling and it read quickly but I found I had little sympathy for the two main characters, plus it seemed a little melodramatic at times. However, it did keep my me from getting my much needed beauty rest as I had to find out the fate of the two lovers."
I will add that I felt the plot of a man's obsession with a beautiful, willful, and sometime unattainable woman has been done many times, this was fairly well done although it seemed that everyone was pretty spoiled and a little on the judgmental side. There were a few times when Wylie would comment about a woman saying she was "plain" or "puffy" or "plump" and every time the woman was annoying, had no personality, or was on the mean-spirited side. Of course, all of the women he was associated with were beautiful, slim, tall, engaging, etc. Sometimes I wanted to remind Wylie that in the first part of the story he was no prize.
brittd03's review against another edition
4.0
So, I’m on the side of positive reviews of this book. I found the characters to be complex - at times I liked, pitied, and rooted for them to get their lives together. Other times I wanted to strangle them. Cesca is certainly manipulative and mostly unlikeable but she’s also very pitiable - and most likely has some type of psychological diagnosis (Bipolar?). Wiley infuriated me with his decisions and unwavering obsession but I rooted for him to make the right decisions and celebrated when he did.
The writing was descriptive and engaging. The characters well developed and able to evoke a number of emotions from the reader. Overall I felt the book was well-written and I enjoyed reading it.
The writing was descriptive and engaging. The characters well developed and able to evoke a number of emotions from the reader. Overall I felt the book was well-written and I enjoyed reading it.
kate_elizabeth's review against another edition
3.0
I spent a lot of this book silently yelling at the characters. WYLIE. I understand that we can't help who we love, but stop it. CESCA. It takes a lot of gall to act the way you did for most of your life, then tell Wylie it was his fault because it was always about him. Never mind the treatment of Kate, how Wylie seems to be "settling" for a perfectly lovely life.
AND THAT ENDING. REALLY.
Overall, it's a frustrating book, but I like the writing; how it reads like a short story rather than a novel, descriptions of weeks in Venice and months in Paris. 2.5 stars.
AND THAT ENDING. REALLY.
Overall, it's a frustrating book, but I like the writing; how it reads like a short story rather than a novel, descriptions of weeks in Venice and months in Paris. 2.5 stars.
shannonrose's review against another edition
5.0
Really wonderful. Sharp & beautiful. A bitter sweet story of friendship, family & love.
hrhacissej's review against another edition
3.0
While I am tired of stories set mostly in the Hamptons with characters who can screw up continuously because they have trust funds and an outsider who tends to exist at their whim, this story redeems itself somewhat with insightful passages about art and relationships. Other reviews have compared it to Gatsby...it's not even close.
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