Opening a book by Jenn Bennett immediately gives me a sense of joy. She has written some of my favorite books so it just feels like home when I get to read her words again. So to say I was beyond excited for Serious Moonlight is an understatement. I honestly remember Bennett announcing it and I immediately knew it was going to be another favorite. And let me tell you, she did not disappoint. It was EVERYTHING I love about a Jenn Bennett book and maybe a little bit more.

Serious Moonlight is the story of Birdie, an 18-year old that is trying to find her way. When Bridie’s mom died when she was 10 Birdie was sent to live with the overprotective grandparents she never knew. After her grandmother died 6 months ago, Birdie gains some independence and a job working the night shift at a hotel in downtown Seattle. When Birdie runs into someone she had a chance encounter with, her life ends up on a mystery filled path she never expected.

The thing that is a constant with a Jenn Bennett book is 1) the cute boy and 2) the chemistry the main character has with said cute boy. Jenn nailed this in Serious Moonlight. The first time Daniel was introduced I immediately swooned for him. He was everything Birdie needed in her life. He was the thing that brought out the best in her and vice versa. They played off of each other so well and I loved every minute of their relationship. Both of them had problems and fears and hang-ups which made them even more relatable

In the end, there wasn’t one thing I could complain about in Serious Moonlight. It was what Jenn Bennett does best and it shined. It is one of those rare 400+ page books that you may end up finishing in a sitting because it is that good. Make sure this one if on your radar!

A little bit of mystery, a healthy dose of romance and a lot of heart. This book was a really fun read with some great quirky characters who you can’t help but root for. There was a lot that I really loved about this book. It had a great positive, and realistic, message about sex, I loved that one of the main characters was Japanese American and his culture was shared a bit in the book, and I loved the relationship, and personal, development throughout the book. I also can’t help but adore the setting since I am from the same area. I thought the setting and atmosphere was really well done and perfect for Seattle. There was some talk about mental health issues and though I thought it was handled well I did think the book could have gone a little deeper into that aspect of the storyline. Overall though I really enjoyed it and I am already looking forward to Jenn Bennett’s next book!

The writing and plot were solid. The story was intriguing and kept my interest, but I found the characters distracted from the plot. They were intentionally weird. They dressed weird and acted weird. The aunt lived in a movie theater. I finished the book to see what happened, but I wish the characters had been written better.

Serious Moonlight by Jenn Bennett is my favorite YA novel of the year, so far. With characters that are richly layered, a seemingly whimsical mystery plot, and engaging writing, Bennett has created a novel that I savored as I read.

Birdie is mortified after her first encounter with Daniel, a boy who is, according to Birdie, sunshine personified, but a part of her looks for him everywhere (and avoids where she thinks he might be) so when she really does see him and has to work with him, it’s equal parts wonderful and terrible. But if there were two characters who were ever soulmates, it would be Birdie and Daniel because they share similar histories, are both awkwardly charming in their own ways, and have people in their corners fighting for their well-being every inch of the way.

That last point is something I really I loved in Serious Moonlight. This past week I saw a “how to” for writing a YA novel and the first thing was to create a character, usually a young girl, who feels like an outcast and is estranged. Seriously, it feels like almost all YA characters just have really bad parents, especially a toxic mother who is typically alcoholic. For Birdie, that’s not true. While her mother died a few years ago, she had her “Aunt Mona,” a stellar if eccentric human being, and two loving grandparents, although her grandmother tried too hard to make sure that Birdie didn’t make the mistakes that her mom made by homeschooling and not letting her date.

At the beginning of Serious Moonlight, Birdie is adapting to life after the death of her grandmother a few months before. Note, all of Birdie’s conflicting emotions regarding her grandmother feel so spot on. Her grandfather and Mona are equal parts her guardian. Birdie and her grandfather share a love of mysteries of all types, mostly because he was a Coast Guard investigator who had to retire because of his narcolepsy, which, unfortunately, Birdie has inherited.

So we have Birdie, a teenager who loves all things mystery, wears a fresh flower in her hair every day (thanks to Billie Holiday), and who is confused and awkward in many social settings. And then we have Daniel, a half-Japanese/half-white boy, with long hair who seems to thrive on life, but he isn’t all that he seems to be. Unlike a lot of YA books in which some boys no longer seem to be boys but are men, Daniel is in that he doesn’t have it all figured out. He’s still trying to establish his own territory with his mother. He’s had a lot to deal with and is still trying to define himself.

Yes, I’ve completely devoted most of this review to the characters. This is a character-driven novel, but that doesn’t mean that the plot isn’t important. The mystery that Daniel intrigues Birdie with is about a famous novelist who no one knows the identity of and who may be visiting the hotel
on Tuesday evenings where they both work but only stays for a short time. Why? Well, that’s just part of the plot but it turns out to be pretty important in the long run. No spoilers here.

Well written, quirky, adorable characters who I would love to visit with far more often, the backdrop of Seattle, pop culture devoted to mysteries, pie, an eccentric Aunt who dresses as a new character every day, a Japanese family living in a Danish-style commune, a Maine Coon cat walking on a leash, a poor octopus that you want to liberate, and a general feel-good ending–what is not to love? I will be reading Jenn Bennett’s back titles for sure.

ps What initially drew me to this book was the ever-so-sweet cover. Covers matter. 🙂

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I always love Jenn Bennett's books and Serious Moonlight might just be my new favorite from her!

"That was the thing that had attracted me in the diner, his easygoing, open manner. I'd never met anyone so comfortable with both himself and other people, so honestly cheerful." - Daniel Aoki is swwwwwoooooooon *heart eyes*

After reading this book I felt like going out into the world and trying to solve my own mysteries! It was a lot of fun to read Birdie and Daniel's story. Jenn Bennett does a great job developing both of these damaged souls who happen to fall in love. There are some heavy topics covered, though, so check out the TW before reading (most prominent: self-harm and grief).

One of my favorite aspects of Jenn Bennett's stories are how well she writes about sex. It's always positive and she doesn't shy away from the truth. It's something teenagers should be able to read so I love that she includes it in her stories.

I just really loved this book. It's fun and thought provoking, and a MUST-READ for any fan of contemporaries. <3

Actual rating: 4.5 stars

Jenn Bennett knocks it out of the park again with her latest release, Serious Moonlight.

Jenn is an auto-buy author for me. Her writing is just so effortless and her story-telling is phenomenal!

This standalone YA Contemporary is told in the first-person POV of our heroine, Birdie. You get a teenage romance intertwined with a fun mystery for a ridiculously cute story. It is quirky and unique, as are all of Jenn’s books.

These characters are everything. Birdie is 100% relatable and Daniel is the sweetest! They are flawed and real but completely charming. Their relationship is awkward and adorable; I just couldn’t get enough of these two!

Overall, I absolutely recommend Serious Moonlight to fans of Jenn Bennett’s previous works or light YA Contemporary in general. I will always be happy to pick up Jenn’s books, and now I’ll eagerly await her next release!

I love Jenn Bennett's stories. They are always so good and rich and have the best characters. All her characters have such personalities and back stories. None of them are perfect and they are all so unique. Serious Moonlight is just another great addition to her young adult contemporary romance books. I absolutely adored Birdie and Daniel. Birdie loves mysteries and when Daniel presents her one at her new job she can't resist. The only problem? Daniel and her already met and she left things pretty awkward between them. But, like Daniel says, "fate finds a way." They take a leap of faith and pursue the mystery while they find themselves becoming friends and then falling in love. Their romance is sweet and awkward and adorable. But what I love about both of them most are their pasts and who they are. Neither are perfect. They have their secrets and fears and we get to see them lower their defenses and open up to one another as they try to move forward. Really loved this book. If you loved her other books, then this one will not disappoint. Jenn Bennett's writing is fantastic and I always find myself picking the book up and not putting it back down until I'm finished.

I received an ARC for an honest review.

Review will be posted on 4/16/19

Birdie has lived a very sheltered life on Bainbridge Island, outside of Seattle. Not only was she homeschooled, but she was raised by her grandparents after her mother's untimely death. Recently, her grandmother has passed away, so that leaves just her and her grandfather and the occasional visit from Aunt Mona, her mother's best friend. Also, Birdie loves to visit the Moonlight Diner and while there she meets and has a romantic encounter with a guy named Daniel. She flees after their hookup thinking she never will see him again. Until she does. Birdie, who took a summer job at a historic hotel in Seattle, is working with her one-time hookup, Daniel. Cue the awkward music, especially since Birdie literally ran off after their romantic night. Birdie is also a mystery book aficionado and Daniel knows this, so he suggest they try to crack the case of famous (yet elusive) Raymond Drake, a bestselling author who is known to stay at their hotel, but keeps his identity a secret. Will Birdie and Daniel crack this case and in turn, will Daniel break down the walls surrounding Birdie's heart? Jenn Bennett writes quirky, yet adorable, characters better than most YA author out there and in Serious Moonlight she doesn't disappoint.

Birdie is the sort of character that you root for, but you know she is painfully awkward. Her obsession with mysteries is so endearing though. She often "investigates" people in her own life and loves solving puzzling situations in Serious Moonlight. Her emotional issues, such as with abandonment, the death of her mother, etc, are all handled realistically and very well. There's no stigma to any of it and Bennett really keeps the romance in Serious Moonlight very sex-positive, which I appreciate. We need more of that in YA literature. Birdie also has a health issue that is handled very well and I think young adults can appreciate this as well as relate to such a nuanced and complex character.

Her relationship with Daniel is oh-so-adorable in Serious Moonlight. Daniel isn't the too cool jock plays football; he is your regular next door neighbor type of guy with a strong nerdy streak. I just adored him and his interest in magic. I thought his family life and what his Japanese-American parents also went through was handled very well and I appreciated Bennett addressing such serious issues as internment camps. It all added to Daniel's complexity, which makes him a much more well-rounded and appealing character.

And that's what Bennett does so very well. Her characters are deep, fleshed out, and multi-faceted. They shine like diamonds and jump off the page; they aren't caricatures in the very least. I think Bennett, along with John Green, does this the best when it comes to writing complex, quirky and smart young adults. Also, it should be noted that Bennett wrote a fantastic adult character--Aunt Mona! I adored her and seriously want to hangout with her now.

Even though Serious Moonlight has a mystery in it regarding the famous author at the hotel, it also deals with emotional issues, romance, and even health issues. I liked that it was so much more than your run of the mill YA romance.

While I didn't like it as much as Starry Eyes, it still was an entertaining read and one that kept me flipping the pages. I was sad to say goodbye to Birdie at the end of Serious Moonlight.

This book was an interesting read for me, because while I liked it, I spent a fair amount of time feeling impatient with the story until all the pieces fell into place at the end.

As the book opens, the reader learns that the main character, Birdie, has had an awkward intimate experience with a guy named Daniel. Luckily, she’ll never see him again, right? Well . . . as fate would have it, they wind up working the night shift at the same hotel. So embarrassing! Birdie and Daniel are able to get past it, though, by becoming partners in figuring out the identity of a pseudonymous writer who regularly visits the hotel. The two become friends, and Daniel clearly hopes for more, but Birdie has trust issues that make it difficult for her to fully commit to the deepening feelings between them.

Daniel is described as a cinnamon roll in the book, and he totally is. Sweet and extremely understanding of Birdie’s hang-ups, he’s just adorable. There’s also some suffering in his background, so he’s vulnerable, too. As far as fictional boyfriends go, a lot of readers would consider him to be just about perfect, I think.

Which is why I got impatient with Birdie’s waffling about how she felt about Daniel. He’s so obviously interested in her, and he is very good to her. Yet she keeps questioning whether or not Daniel really wants to be more than friends and whether she wants to try to be with him. And I’m just thinking, “Girl, I know you have problems trusting people, but come on! Grab that cinnamon roll!”

The mystery side of the plot also annoyed me at times. I was much more interested in Daniel and Birdie’s developing romance than in figuring out the identity of the author. They didn’t spend that much time investigating, and what they did really wasn’t very effective. So, I questioned why it was even included in the book.

Near the end, though, the mystery does become very important. The amount of time spent on that part of the story becomes more understandable, because it creates a pivotal moment in Birdie and Daniel’s relationship.

I still feel like the book was a little too long and Birdie dithers a bit too much, but overall, I enjoyed it. Fans of Jenn Bennett’s other YA novels will probably love it.

A copy of this book was provided through NetGalley for review; all opinions expressed are my own.

I received this e-book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

I really enjoyed reading this book. I've read Alex Appropriately and absolutely loved it and was so excited to get approved for this arc. Jenn's other book is on my TBR, Starry Eyes, and I really need to get on that book asap. This book gave me so many feels that in a few scenes I could hardly handle it. I got to say, this was a pretty intense book with a lot going on. But I really loved all the characters so much. They were so easy to connect with and so dang easy to fall in love with.

Our POV is Birdie. She lives with her grandparents who homeschooled her and are super strict. Because of some events that recently happened in her life and because she is 18, she is able to get a job in the city, off the island. She works the night shift at an iconic hotel. She is pretty excited about it because one of Birdie's favorite things are mystery books. And she loves to solve mysteries. The hotel is known for the murder of a celebrity that has never been solved. Of course, Birdie would love to be the person to solve that. What she doesn't know is that she ends up solving a totally different mystery. And who better to help her than Daniel Aoki. A fellow employee at the hotel.

Daniel is her opposite in many ways but they fit together perfectly. Birdie originally wants nothing to do with Daniel, mostly because of their history, but she can't help but want to solve a mystery. Also, I'm sure the fact that he is gorgeous helps as well. I immediately fell in love with Daniel and Bridie. They were great characters to follow, with so much depth in their personality. I really appreciated all the different layers that we got to see for each character. Each character had struggles that they were also dealing with. I thought I was going to be reading another light contemporary, but I was happily surprised that it was so much more than that.

I definitely recommend Jenn Bennett's Serious Moonlight. It's a great contemporary that is not too light and fluffy, I laughed a lot, but I also cried a good amount as well. I can't gush enough about these characters! Go, read the book and see for yourselves.

Serious Moonlight makes my heart sing. Romance, mystery, characters you can root for, and sparkling dialogue – what’s not to love? I found this book to be utterly irresistible and I absolutely hated whenever I had to put it down.

Birdie and Daniel grabbed my heart from the first and didn’t let go. Birdie spent the first ten years of her life being raised by her mother and eccentric aunt, but after her mother died she was raised by grandparents who sheltered her from everything. Now she is venturing out into the world, a smart, kind eighteen-year-old who may be slightly naïve, but is still an interesting, endearing heroine whose passion for mysteries is simply infectious. She’s cautious in the beginning of the story for reasons that make sense and I loved watching her spread her wings and grow as a character of the course of the book. As for Daniel…well, I absolutely loved him and thinking about him makes me smile even now that I’ve finished the book. On the surface, he’s sunshine. He charmed my socks off immediately and he’s a sweet, funny, slightly quirky hero. But there is more to Daniel than meets the eye and I loved watching Birdie pull back the layers and learn the whole of him. Neither of them is perfect, but they’re perfectly adorable together. When they team up to solve a mystery of a reclusive author meeting someone at the hotel where they both work the nightshift, they perfectly channel a younger (and far more sober) Nick and Nora Charles. The mystery storyline is fun and it allows Birdie and Daniel to grow closer so their romance develops organically. The two of them are magic together and made the pages of Serious Moonlight fly by.

Serious Moonlight isn’t all sprightly banter between teenage sleuths. There are very real mental and physical health issues present in this book. Jenn Bennett handles these realistic issues with honesty and sensitivity. She also showcases various types of family units and Birdie and Daniel’s families endeared themselves to me every bit as much as the main pair (especially Birdie’s vivacious Aunt Mona). This is also a sex-positive story, which is wonderful to see. All of these elements come together to ground the story in reality and Ms. Bennett seamlessly weaves them in with the lighter, quirkier parts of the book.

I absolutely loved Serious Moonlight. I happened to read it after a particularly trying week at work and it lifted my mood when nothing else could. Jenn Bennett’s writing is flawless, her characters vibrant and endearing, and the story is funny, heartwarming, and completely unforgettable.

I know going in that I'm going to get something great when I read a Jenn Bennett book. The woman does not disappoint!

It's impossible not to completely fall for these characters. They are flawed and have issues, but they are also real and wonderful. Although there are heavier issues and it gets emotional, it doesn't feel too heavy. It's all dealt with exceptionally well, but at the same time it's a whole lot of fun with humor and sweetness. And I especially love how Jenn always writes unconventional family dynamics and shows that more than blood can make a family.

I connect with every one of Jenn's books in some way, but they each always have that extra special something that takes it to another level for me. There were a few things in Serious Moonlight, but none more than all of The Thin Man references. If you haven't watched it and the sequels, do it! Trust me, they're GD entertaining!

Bennett just keeps getting better and better. I loved this book.

Birdie is 18 and starting her first job. Problem is, she slept with and ran away from one of her now coworkers. Daniel is a magician who works at the same hotel as Birdie. He knows that she loves to solve mysteries, so when she refuses to talk to him about what happened, he tells her he knows of a mystery happening at the hotel and asks if she would like to solve it with him.

I enjoyed this book so much that I don’t even know where to start. Birdie is such a unique character and I loved her. She has a lot of flaws, but they’re all endearing and not irritating. Sometimes I can get easily annoyed with characters that are either too perfect or too flawed, but Birdie hits that perfect balance. She is struggling to find out who she is while also dealing with typical teenage love awkwardness.

And Daniel. Oh man did I love him. He’s a great book crush. He has this cool air about him but the magician side makes him more approachable. I love the way he talks to Birdie and that he doesn’t let her get away with much.

I think what I liked best about this book was that while it is a contemporary novel (which is my jam) this one added a mystery twist and it was awesome. Daniel has discovered that recluse author Raymond Darke is coming to the hotel every Tuesday for an hour and then leaving. Daniel and Birdie investigating Darke was a delight.

I also appreciated that Bennett doesn’t shy away from adult issues. The story touches on issues like death, suicide, depression, sex, drugs, and more and it is done so well and realistically. I think often YA books gloss over the gory details because they want to please the readers’ parents. But when a book talks to the teenagers like adults and throws in real life issues, I think it’s more important.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon Pulse/Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing for sending me a free advanced reader copy of this book for an honest review. Serious Moonlight debuts April 16th.

You know when you see a perfect cover, and you think to yourself, well, the book can’t possibly live up to THAT, could it? They’re compensating for something, right? Well, banish those fears—Serious Moonlight is a cozy contemporary that pairs an adorable romance with memorable characters and a Pacific Northwest setting. In my opinion, this book is exactly what new adult should be: kids post-high school taking their first steps into “adulting,” with sex present, but not in an erotic way. It has a YA contemporary voice, but the MCs are just a tad bit older. I also truly appreciated how Bennett placed her characters in a non-school setting. I’ve heard so many calls from people in publishing asking for manuscripts featuring MCs navigating college, and I’m just… not really interested in that?

The pitch is that the MC, Birdie, hooked up with a cute guy in his car, then totally freaked out and literally ran away from him. She’s doing her best to forget all this… but then said cute guy, Daniel, happens to work at her new job. Gotta be fate, right? But both Birdie and Daniel are going to have to work through a lot of things before they can get their happily ever after. Oh, and there’s a “mystery” in the book as well… I use quotes here because the mystery aspect really isn’t that big of a focus; we’re all just here for the developing romance between Birdie and Daniel. It’s cute, they’re cute, the setting’s cute, everything’s cute, cute, cute! Love it.

All this isn’t to say that the book is perfect. Daniel is a bit too much of a “nice guy” for my taste; he treats Birdie like gold at every opportunity, giving her all possible outs from their relationship. That didn’t come across as caring to me so much as unsexy; I was hoping he’d grow a spine. But Daniel did grow on me in time, especially as he plans one awesome date after the next. The one with a Clue focus? (Trying not to give anything away.) I was Googling if anything like that existed in my area. (Unfortunately looks like I’d have to travel to Boston, so… meh.) There was also some cringey, wooden dialogue—I could have done without the “skedaddling” scene. But these are just small quibbles; the setting, the characters, the “found family” aspect, the pitch-perfect new adult feel all added up to a thoroughly enjoyable read, so I will definitely be checking out Bennett’s other books.

I read Alex, Approximately last year and have been a Jenn Bennett fan since.  While Alex, Approximately is still my favorite this one is a close second.  This book references Columbo, Murder She Wrote and Veronica Mars, that alone makes it pretty amazing.  As with all Jenn Bennett books, the characters are a little quirky and very likable.  I love Birdie and her wanting to be a detective.   I adore Daniel and his banter.  And Aunt Mona, well she is the best!  I like that these characters,  like all the characters in Jenn Bennett's books, are not meant to be perfect but rather realistic. 

The mystery was entertaining, though the resolution was a bit of a let down if I'm honest, not just because I figured it out before the reveal, I just didn't like it.  However, the mystery was a very important element and I did enjoy Daniel using that to lure Birdie into spending time with him.  

There were two things for me that kept this from being a 5 star read.  The first was that Birdie was just a little too wishy-washy.  She didn't have any confidence, and while yes I understand why, I think with a maternal figure like Aunt Mona she would have had a little more.  I also would have liked to see more of a relationship with Birdie and her grandfather.  There were some hints, but I wanted them to have a heart to heart scene about Birdie's mother and grandmother.  

Another wonderful read by Jenn Bennett!

I was provided an ARC of Serious Moonlight through the always wonderful NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Like the other books that Jenn Bennett has written, I totally enjoyed this book. It had me smiling and laughing all over the place. I wouldn’t call it a new favorite, but I definitely enjoyed it and would recommend it to my friends without hesitation. The story was fun and held my interest the entire time. I enjoyed the whole overall story, the romance and all the other pieces. I could totally picture the Seattle setting and thought it was so fun.
I think my favorite part of the story was the diversity of the characters. Our main character Birdie might have narcolepsy and I thought this was so freaking interesting. It was fascinating to learn about this condition and what it’s like to live with it. There’s also another character with depression. There was a conversation about suicide and teen pregnancy. I thought this book had all the right conversations and did it in the best way possible.
I loved the characters. They were all quirky in their own ways. They made me laugh and smile and feel all of the emotions.
Overall, I enjoyed this story. Once I started reading it, I couldn’t put it down. It was such a fun and quick read. I just didn’t want it to end. I think this is a book most people will enjoy, so go pick it up today!

Jenn Bennett has always been one of my favorite contemporary writers—each of her books instantly capture my heart. Her writing flows easily off the page, and her characters are always crafted with so much depth. However, although I appreciated the midnight atmosphere and hints of mystery in Serious Moonlight, the story itself just wasn’t as captivating to me as Bennett’s other books, Alex, Approximately and Starry Eyes. I have to applaud the wonderful sex positivity and diversity in her characters, but something about this book was missing to light a spark and make me completely fall in love.

Serious Moonlight follows 18-year-old Birdie Lindberg who lives in Seattle with her narcoleptic grandfather. She’s in love with Nancy Drew, solving mysteries, and has been home-schooled all her life by her grandparents. After losing her mother at the age of 10, she’s now coming to terms with the recent death of her grandmother. One day, she decides to throw caution to the wind and has a one-night stand with a mysterious and charming boy she meets at the moonlight diner. There’s not much to think of it until he suddenly shows up at the historic hotel as her new coworker! Daniel Aoki comes with several mysteries of his own—he’s a thoughtful and charming amateur magician, and meeting Birdie both inspires and intrigues him.

This book is less playful and more inquisitive than her prior books. It was paced very slowly which I think fits the midnight setting of the story very well. However, at times, I personally found it moving too slow. Starry Eyes and Serious Moonlight are around the same length of 425ish pages, but it was harder for me to become invested in what was happening in this book. I felt like I was waiting for things to happen between pages of filler whereas with Starry Eyes I was zooming through the pages and deeply invested in the plot and characters.

At the same time, although the story felt like it moved very slowly, the setting and writing still very immersive. I’ve never been to Seattle, but it was easy to picture the walks on the street under the moonlight and sitting on the ferry waiting to travel home. There was one distinct scene where Birdie and Daniel go to a kaiten-sushi restaurant (conveyor belt sushi), and the illustrations were nostalgically vivid for me that I became soooo hungry.

I really loved the presence of family and family figures within the story, making it feel all the more real and genuine. Aunt Mona serves as a mother figure to Birdie, giving very Lorelai Gilmore vibes, and Daniel’s family were wholesome, cute, yet also protective. One thing that I noted in my Starry Eyes review was that I hoped for more representation and diversity in Jenn Bennett’s books, and she did just that by incorporating a Japanese-American male lead and showing the complexities of disabilities in everyday life.

The plot of this book revolves around the mystery of a famous reclusive writer, yet that aspect felt pretty underwhelming because it was rarely mentioned and wasn’t a focal point of the story until the very end. I expected it to be explored a lot more and unfolded at a steady pace, but its final reveal wasn’t anything I could have anticipated. I guess that could be seen as a good thing for some readers, but personally, it didn’t work for me because I wish there was more of a build up towards it.

Overall, I’m excited to what Jenn Bennett writes next. Serious Moonlight was a thoughtful read, and although I didn’t fall completely in love with the story like I did with her prior books, I still found it fun and enjoyable.

"Missing people is hard. Letting new people inside is harder. But the reward for making that effort was greater than I could have imagined."

It was my first time to read a Jenn Bennett novel, and I must say that it defied most of my expectations. I admit that I wasn't that optimistic, particularly about the romance. After all, YA contemporary is infamous for love at first sight and other tropes that are often annoying. Fortunately, this book deviated from the status quo.

Serious Moonlight brings something new to the genre: a narcoleptic protagonist. In simpler terms, it follows a girl who can't control her sleeping patterns. Birdie has another remarkable quality: She loves solving real-life mysteries. When Daniel, a former acquaintance, asks her to help him figure out the identity of an anonymous author, she can't help but grant his request. As Birdie and Daniel discover various clues, they gradually get over their awkward past. However, Daniel has secrets that threaten to break their budding relationship.

After reading the first few chapters, I knew what Daniel was hiding. Or so I thought. Frankly, all of my guesses were wrong. I want to disclose them here, but doing so might spoil the entire story for you. All I can say is that you better not underestimate the author. If you pay attention even to the minutest details, you'll be rewarded with a great eureka moment. To be fair, I probably just overanalyzed things and made far-fetched assumptions about the plot. Hahaha.

Birdie and Daniel were generally enjoyable to read about. The former rekindled my desire to write a contemporary retelling of Sleeping Beauty, while the latter's Japanese heritage encouraged me to get back into the world of anime. Their initial conversations were quite funny because of their history. Come to think of it, Birdie and Daniel's romance was far from traditional. I didn't necessarily support it, but less conservative readers might feel otherwise.

My primary concern was the depiction of mental illness. One of the protagonists suffered from depression, and although its ramifications were addressed, I felt that the condition was glossed over. I recently read Bad Romance, so in this regard, I inevitably made comparisons. Contrary to what happened in Serious Moonlight, therapy isn't always enough and being romantically involved with a depressed person must not be so easy.

Overall, I liked Serious Moonlight because of its unpredictable plot, as well as its diverse (narcoleptic/Japanese/partially deaf) characters. I was bothered by the rushed resolution, but the author probably had a maximum word count. For a contemporary book, 432 pages are already a lot.

Birdie Lindberg is a quirky eighteen year old, by day aspiring private detective and by night front desk clerk at an old historic hotel. Home schooled and raised by her grandparents on an island off the coast of Seattle she has led a pretty sheltered life. One night after a job interview she meets Daniel Aoki, aspiring magician and overall nice guy at her favorite diner. Their instant connection turns into a flirtation that ends as a tryst in the back seat of his car. Horribly embarassed, Birdie runs off hoping to never see him again. Little does she know that she would soon be working the night shift alongside Daniel, and that they’d investigate a mystery that would bring them close once again.

I loved the quirkiness of this novel! Our heroine, Birdie is sweet, but also socially awkward yet her innocence and naiveté are so charming the reader can’t help but be drawn to her. She is the first character I can recall reading who has narcolepsy and it’s fascinating to read how she deals with that secret. Daniel is also adorably quirky with his magic tricks and wry smile giving us clues that all may not be as they appear on his surface. They have an old world feeling that fits right in with the Sam Spade type mystery they are trying to solve. As a side note the other characters in this book were just as charming and added to the overall feel of the story.

Hidden beneath their colorful exterior are some serious subjects. Birdie’s secret narcolepsy is one, but Daniel also has his own dark background. The reveal is quite a pivotal scene in the book and I don’t want to spoil the story but just as in the land of OZ there is a lot hidden behind that magic curtain and not all of it is fun and games. I love how this author led up to the conflict really making the reader care for this characters yet didn’t lose any of the curiosity’s that make the book so special.

I loved Starry Eyes, also by Jenn Bennett, and somehow missed reading Alex, Approximately when it came out. After reading Serious Moonlight I’ve reminded myself why I love Jenn Bennett’s books and will be fixing that error asap!

I received a free copy of the ARC through NetGalley for my honest review and it was honest!

My Rating: 4.5 Stars

Oh, Jenn Bennett, will you ever write a book I don’t love? I highly doubt it. You know what I love the most about Jenn’s books? Her characters are all so unique and quirky. None of them are cookie cutter. They all feel like real people with real issues and insecurities. As an adult, I love them, but as a teenager I would’ve connected with them. They would’ve made me feel better about being different. And I think that is incredible.

Serious Moonlight was somehow fun and emotional. I laughed and cried, and swooned. Do I feel like an old hag for laughing at things an eighteen year old male character said? A little. Do I care? Hell no.

Birdie and Daniel were just too cute for words. They were also both deep, flawed characters and I loved their growth both apart and together. A lot of the time, when I finish a YA Contemporary, I think “Well that was adorable, but we all know high school sweethearts don’t last.” I never feel that way at the end of a Jenn Bennet book. Not only did Birdie and Daniel have an epilogue that showed the lasting power of their relationship, they just feel like characters that can go the distance together.

Filled with witty banter, a fun mystery, and all of the feels, Serious Moonlight was everything I’ve come to expect from a Jenn Bennett book, and more. When you’re in the mood for a book that will just make your heart happy, pick up this one. You won’t regret it.