I have never read a Jenn Bennett book before but I'd heard lots of people loved them. I was a bit nervous going into this one because I didn't know what to expect but I was pleasantly surprised. It took me a while to get into the story at first, but once I got into the characters and got invested in the romance it became difficult to put it down. The main character, Birdie, is sweet, shy, and obsessed with mysteries. I'm not usually into mysteries but this book made that major plotline so interesting and entertaining! Regardless of whether you like them or not this book has so much more than that mystery plotline.

Mona, Birdie's unofficial step-mother/godmother, was one of my favorite characters in the book. She was such a character (haha, get it... I'll leave) and every scene with her was enjoyable and exciting. Daniel was so sweet and I really loved him as a love interest. He had an interesting backstory to get into and I really like the way their romance progressed throughout the book. The writing worked really well with the story, it was fast-paced and easy to get into.

There were only a few aspects of this book that were not my favorite. Occasionally the story got pretty predictable and I guessed what would happen way before it happened. This wasn't the worst, but I kind of wish that upcoming plot twists would be a bit less hinted at and more surprising. I also sometimes felt a bit irritated by Birdie and her actions. I get that some of the things she did she regretted too however it took away from the experience sometimes because I couldn't stop thinking about how frustrating she was being. She'd immediately overreact about anything and would say things that would but a hurdle in the way of the romance which I can only assume was done for suspense but it felt painfully unnecessary. While this was frustrating I still feel like by the end she really grew and it all ended in a really sweet way. It was a very cute story and while there were parts I didn't like I think as a whole I'd still recommend it.

Is there anything better than a Jenn Bennett book with all her quirky characters, irresistible friendships, and swoon worthy romances?

There might be but you will be hard pressed to find them!

I adore Jenn's book, I mean, honestly, who doesn't that has tried them? They are so much fun. They are real, raw, and so very very addicting.

And as weird as it may sound, I love that in all of them, there is always a very strong adult presence. Whether a parent, guardian, loved one, someone. You don't find that very often in YA period and I love that her's are always there, cheering her characters on, supporting them and most of all, just being there, involved in their lives.

This was such a cute and fun read. Filled with mystery, a sweet romance, and some very real, very tough social, emotional, and even physical issues and I loved it for it.

Once again Jenn shows why she writes so well in this genre. Why her books stand out and why they are ones I will always be auto buying.

There is just something about reading a Jenn Bennett book that puts me in such a happy mood. I've yet to read a book from her that I haven't loved and I honestly don't think that will change any time soon.

I don't feel like writing a full, normal formatted review right now so I'm going to give you all the goods in bullet-point format:

↳This book has the softest hero ever and a heroine who is so relatable I had to check to make sure this wasn't being written about me a few times.

↳I love how sex positive this book is. Honestly more YA needs to be written like this because not only is it realistic but it's also gives the readers so much IMPORTANT information that I have feeling (just going off how closed off my family was and how naive I was as a teenager) not many teenagers would know about.

↳ I also really appreciated and loved that Daniel was Japanese-American and that we got to see so much of his family. It wasn't just some token thing where it's mentioned and that's it. We meet his family, and even learn a bit about his culture.

↳This book wasn't perfect and this wasn't a perfect story but in a way, it's the perfect sort of messy that once again makes it feel like such a relatable teenage story.

I hope Jenn Bennett never stops writing because her books are amazing and important and fun and sweet and just...awesome. I cannot wait to see what she writes next!

*Arc given in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

This book was so delightful, and I really enjoyed it. It's your basic Girl meets Boy, Girl has sex with Boy in his car, Girl freaks out and runs away story.

When Birdie starts her first job, the night shift at a hotel front desk, she’s horrified to find that she’s working with Daniel, the guy she had an awkward hookup with a few weeks earlier. They met in a diner and ended up having sex in his car. She freaked out afterward and ran away. Now that they’re working together, it’s very awkward, but Daniel, knowing Birdie’s love of mysteries, convinces her to help him solve a mystery: he thinks a famous, reclusive author may be visiting the hotel. As they grow closer during the investigation, Birdie has to figure out if she can actually manage a relationship.

This book is so cute, and I liked watching two people stumble into a relationship. Both Birdie and Daniel have baggage. Birdie’s mom died when she was 10, and after that, she was raised by the grandparents who kicked her mother out of the house when she got pregnant as a teen. The grandmother didn’t want Birdie to follow in her mother’s footsteps, so she was very overprotective and homeschooled her. The grandmother died a few months before the book starts. Birdie is still grieving, but she also has a lot of unresolved resentment toward her grandmother. She’s also ignoring a pretty big health issue.

Daniel also has some issues, having survived a rough patch in high school, and he’s got unresolved issues with the father he’s never met (who dumped his mother when she got pregnant). He wants to be a magician, but he’s also being pressured by his mother to go to school for something more practical.

This book has a lot of things I really enjoyed. It's very sex-positive. There's no shame attached to sex, as long as you're being careful (which the characters are). It's a really nice exploration of grief as Birdie realizes that she can grieve for her grandmother even while she still has some conflicted feelings toward her. I like that the books features young people who aren't going to college. Daniel just isn't interested in college, and Birdie technically hasn't graduated high school since her grandmother passed away unexpectedly before giving her a diploma for her homeschooling. A lot of YA books focus on college-bound kids, and it's refreshing to see other options explored. There's some diversity--Daniel is half-Japanese. And as a mystery buff myself, I loved Birdie's interest in mysteries. I really loved the character of Birdie's "Aunt" Mona, a quirky artist who was Birdie's mother best friend and who helped raise Birdie. She's super wacky, but she's also a great friend to Birdie and is always there for her. I firmly believe We all need a wacky aunt in our lives.

Serious Moonlight is a really fun read, and I definitely recommend it.

This was a great YA book. The characters were relateable and interesting. The mystery and romance kept the story going. I look forward to more books by this author.

I wasn't able to download this - I only have a kindle for reading, and that wasn't an option. The publicist at ALA-MW in Seattle had said she would send me the galley, but it hadn't arrived yet and I was hoping to use this to make it easier all around. I will look for this book when published. Just making assumptions with the star rating, as it is required :)

This book took me up and down on a roller coaster of emotion & I loved every single minute of it. The main character is such a deeply diverse individual and you truly do feel
Like you are taking this journey with her.
If you’re looking for a book that contains a little bit of mystery, a hint of magic, a budding romance, life lessons and a whole lot of fun, this is the book for you.
10/10 recommend to anyone and everyone!

Will be published closer to release date . . .

I really enjoyed this one. Birdie is a young woman trying to figure out what she wants to do with her life, and with some health issues that put restrictions on what she can do (can't drive, for example), she's not sure what to pursue. She's got a love for mysteries, especially mystery/crime fiction, but that's not enough for a career. Although she has her grandmother and close family friend (Aunt Mona), she's recently lost her grandmother, and her mother several years prior, so she feels a bit unmoored. In addition, she recently had a hookup with a charming stranger that ended in a disaster. When she finds a job at a hotel near her home near Seattle, she thinks she's finally ready to figure some things out. Until she learns that her charming stranger also works at this hotel, and hasn't stopped thinking about her. What's a girl to do?
This novel has what many YA contemporary fans love -- witty banter, a cute but sensitive love interest, a relatable MC -- and some heavier issues it tackles with grace.
Recommended for fans of teen detective stories, rom-coms, and YA contemporaries. Also, props for featuring an interracial relationship not often seen, especially in YA fiction: a white girl and an Asian (Japanese-American) boy. Kasie West's "Lucky in Love' also features a similar pairing if one is looking for it.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster publishing and Netgalley for an E-Arc in exchange for an honest review.

Serious Moonlight was such a cute contemporary. A touch of romance, mystery and heartache. Calls for a great read I couldn't have enough of.
Birdie is a mystery loving introvert that has been sheltered most of her life. But when she starts a job at the Cascadia Hotel she comes across her first actual mystery. Along side Daniel a coworker and someone she's crossed paths with. Will Birdie be able to come out of her shell?
A well written story with a blossoming romance, a mysterie, secrets, heartache and character development. I found myself laughing and crying. I think Bennett wrote a wonderful book involving the value of ones health, self-care, family and grief. With a topic of depression, suicide and how someone that isn't diagnosed with narcolepsy goes throughout their day. Something I wasn't really aware of but opened my eyes to it. If you enjoy contemporaries that can pull at your heart strings I recommend you read Serious Moonlight by Jenn Bennett.

I adore Jenn Bennett's writing, and she does it again with Serious Moonlight. Her writing has depth, and her character development is always on point. Birdie Lindberg loves a good mystery, and she may have just met her partner-in-crime in Daniel Aoki. The big question is if Birdie will allow herself to become emotionally available to Daniel. There are enough twists and turns to keep readers guessing, but the emotional core of the book is what will keep readers thinking about this charming book.

This book will be released on April 16, 2019. Mark your calendars! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

I had high expectations for this book because I loved Alex, Approximately so much, and luckily, I was not disappointed! The characters in this book are so unique, and I loved their personalities. I also really enjoyed the element of mystery. It gave an extra little push to the story without taking away from the main characters and their budding relationship. I also adored Birdie's Aunt. We all need someone in our lives to love us and listen to us that way. Overall, such an enjoyable read. Romantic, mysterious, and all around touching.

I was unable to open this file. I'm sure it will be a great book though because Jenn Bennett is a wonderful writer!

I'm 1000000% here for anything Jenn writes and I don't really read the synopsis any longer.

I loved Birdie and Daniel. They're both such good people who are maybe struggling a bit more than they want to let on. I enjoyed their connection and their (mostly) open conversation. The family aspect was interesting: I especially enjoyed the mama bear scene with Cherry and Mona was a delight.

Plot wise, it was a whole lot of cute (hello, live action Clue game). The mystery part was interesting, but really I was invested it in because I wanted Birdie and Daniel together all the time. There were a few things I didn't see coming and I loved that I was able to be surprised. Have I been clear that I loved it?

Overall, it was another fun read from Jenn that was mostly filled with fluff. Whatever she writes next, I'm here for it.

FYI: talk of suicide and depression

**Huge thanks to Simon Pulse for providing the arc free of charge**

This was the rare case of me not wanting a contemporary story to end. It had bits of everything: romance, mystery, grief, family, comedy. I love Jenn Bennett’s writing style and this book further solidified said love.

I loved both Daniel and Birdie. Both were complex characters with their own flaws. That was never a secret, for the most part. Delving deeper into their lives was a real treat. They were able to grow together.

The addition of a mystery in the plot was just a bonus. This was cute on its own, but the first surprise Daniel came up with was adorable and fun in its own right. And I can’t lie, I wanted to find one of my own to play. It was also a cute subplot in order to advance their romance. Which, I’m not gonna lie, I had no idea WHAT the big mystery to unravel was. Like, why bother to find out what the author was doing? It didn’t seem all that interesting. And yeah, felt like a way for them to spend more time together. (I see you, Daniel.) But once that aspect of the story became clearer, everything made sense and the entire story got even more intense.

I have to say that Mona is by far the best character in this book. I loved her personality, style, influence. I love that she felt enough love for her best friend that she helped raise her child, became a mother figure for her. She was a realistic, authentic glimpse of a liberal adult and mother. Someone who allowed a girl to grow up while also remaining careful, independent, and adventurous. She wanted Birdie to let go and take risks. To grow. I loved her for that and so much more.

There are tons of cute moments in the book. And plenty of laugh out loud ones too. While there are serious tones in the book, it’s also lighthearted and fun at times. It’s a perfect blend. Plus, all those pies! I would love those recipes. Or at the very least for this diner to actually exist. Because the setting of this book only made me want to visit Seattle more.

I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a great contemporary that will leave you smiling for days after finishing.

I have yet to read a poorly written book from Jenn Bennett. I was pretty confident going into Serious Moonlight that it would be another hit from one of my favorite authors, and once again, Jenn did not prove me wrong. Serious Moonlight was a sweet, charming and thoughtful story that had me sighing in happiness by the end.

I love how Jenn Bennett writes teenage girls who are messy, flawed, yet so beautiful in their complications. Birdie was one of her more unique heroines. She was a young girl, hurting from the recent loss of one of her guardians, her grandmother, and reeling from her grandfather's diagnosis of narcolepsy. Birdie had grown up without her parents so she led a rather sheltered life, which led to her not always making the best decisions for herself. In Serious Moonlight, with the help with some awesome people, we see her go through somewhat of a journey of emotional growth. Besides doing a fantastic job at capturing the intricacies of a teenage girl, Jenn Bennett also managed to make Birdie a unique personality through her love of all things mysteries. Growing up, I was obsessed with sleuthing stories, so I loved seeing that side of Birdie and I loved the little nods to famous detectives in popular media throughout the book. She was so passionate about it, it was just too adorable! Birdie wasn't the only great character in Serious Moonlight. If you've read anything from Jenn Bennett, then you know she pairs up her characters with some of the swooniest boys ever. Daniel, Birdie's love interest here, was just a sweetheart. He was charming, thoughtful and so kind. I loved how he pushed Birdie outside of her comfort zone without being a creeper in her personal space. Daniel was a gentleman through and through. We find that there's more to him than just the sweet-tongued fellow he came across as. I was very proud of how far he had come from the circumstances in his past.

I also have to hype up Birdie's Aunt Mona, who was a great role model for her, and who was someone who was always there for her. She was such a cool lady! I could read a whole book about her. Birdie and Daniel's romance was the sweetest and definitely the kind that had my shipper heart hollering. I loved all their open conversations and how they cared about each other's comfort levels around each other. As with all of Jenn's books, Serious Moonlight also depicted teenagers having sex in a tactful, positive and honest way - the author portrays the beautiful and the ugly, which I will never not appreciate. The Seattle setting, especially the wacky but charming hotel at which Birdie and Daniel worked at, also brought an extra something special to this book!

Jenn Bennett's books burst with so much life. She's an author that I will never stop reading. If you're a fan of her books, Serious Moonlight will not disappoint. If you have yet to read her books, then I urge you to give them a try. There is something here for just about everyone! I promise. :)

This story follows Birdie who lives on sleepy Bainbridge island outside Seattle. Homeschooled by her grandparents after her mother’s death when she was young, Birdie longs for more than her quiet island life. She takes a job in a downtown Seattle hotel the summer she’s 18, and gets drawn into a mystery by one of her coworkers.

I wanted to read this because after growing up in Washington I can’t resist anything set in the Pacifoc Northwest. Having lived both in a Seattle and Bainbridge Island, I was pleased that this author wrote a pretty good representation. It’s funny how even saying what street a character is on can make or break a book set in a Seattle. I enjoyed the diverse set of characters, and enjoyed the novel, even though the mystery itself wasn’t that interesting. Although it did feel like the sort of mundane real life sort of thing that could happen. Overall I was very pleased with the depiction of Bainbridge and a Seattle, and that’s what was most important to me.

I am a serious Jenn Bennett fan. I totally love contemporary YA, and romance, and Bennett has that in spades. Her newest book, Serious Moonlight, is a winner.

Eighteen year old Birdie has led a sheltered life since losing her mother at ten years old. Her mother's best friend, her Aunt Mona, fills some of the hole, and her overprotective grandparents kept her homeschooled and sheltered from life in their home on Bainbridge Island. After her grandmother passes, Birdie convinces her grandfather that she needs to take responsibility and be a grown-up, so she looks for a job in Seattle. It is at her favorite haunt, the Moonlight Diner, after a promising interview, that Birdie has a one-night fling with a stranger, a stunt that embarrasses her to no end.

When Birdie starts her job on the graveyard shift at a charming Seattle hotel, the Cascadia, she is shocked to discover her one night stand, Daniel Aoki, is also employed there, and did not want to just be a one-night stand.
The story has swoops and turns and mysteries - Birdie loves mysteries, and sleuthing - that reveal both Birdie's and Daniel's secrets to each other. The building of their relationship blossoms over the book, and Bennett brings rich details into the plot to swing the reader along with Birdie. It's a wonderful read and hard to put down. Highly recommend!

[To be published March 20th on The Nerd Daily]

Buckle up your seatbelts, ladies and gentlemen, because Serious Moonlight is here to steal your hearts (and make you want to binge-watch Sherlock all over again).

Serious Moonlight, Jenn Bennett’s latest YA contemporary, follows a young woman about to embark on a mystery with the one person she never thought she’d see again after a very short and awkward encounter months ago. Romance and detective shenanigans ensue and might end in a huge revelation that will cause some serious problems. Are you hooked yet?

Unlike Bennett’s previous works that set up the premise fairly quickly, this plot takes a good while to unfold. The pacing changed dramatically though as the book hit its halfway mark. As Birdie and Daniel go on stakeouts, illegally investigate hotel rooms, and even trail their target all over the illustrious Seattle setting, they fall in love with each other. So, essentially, Serious Moonlight is about two characters solving a mystery about a famous and elusive novelist’s secret comings and goings at a hotel they both work at. But it’s so much more than that.

I’ve said this before in my author spotlight of Jenn Bennett earlier this year but Bennett excels at creating memorable, out-of-the-box characters. Birdie Lindberg was no exception. Birdie, a teen who has lost her mother at a young age and was raised in parts by her grandparents and her late mother’s best friend Mona, is a closeted narcoleptic who is obsessed with detective stories and always on the lookout for a new mystery to solve. Despite Birdie being a unique character, her struggles are very universal – how to navigate your life when grief smothers you, how to be friends and even fall in love with a boy when you’ve never had a relationship before and were somewhat sheltered during your upbringing, never making lasting connections to anyone outside your family.

Admittedly, it took me a while to warm up to Birdie. The novel starts out a bit convoluted; Birdie’s actions don’t entirely line up with how she is portrayed in her stream of thoughts but as the novel progresses, her behaviour makes more sense and you get to know her through her internal struggles. At times, Birdie felt like an onlooker of her life rather than an actual participant and I think that’s what makes her so relatable.

Now, the romance. Birdie and Daniel Aoki meet in a very unconventional way for a young adult novel and without spoiling too much, it definitely causes some miscommunication. Nevertheless, I feel the need to point out one major detail that in part earned this book its stellar rating.

So often in YA, sex is romanticised in a very beautiful, but sometimes harmful manner. Not every first sexual experience is pleasant or has tremendous meaning and it has been a fear of mine that young teens may be led to put even more pressure on themselves in that area after reading about picture-perfect moments in novels. Safe to say, I loved how Bennett approached this societal issue – her voice never rang didactic as she portrayed sex in a very healthy and open way in Serious Moonlight. It’s never shooed under the rug; instead, Birdie talks openly about it not just with Daniel but also with Mona. Being the result of her mother’s accidental pregnancy, Birdie is very aware of safe sex lectures – but this novel also focuses on the emotional implications of an intimate relationship and it was handled so positively. More of that in YA, please.

Of course, the romance itself was amazing as well. Daniel is such a lovable character – he’s half-Japanese, lost his hearing in one ear due to a magic trick gone wrong in his youth, and has his own demons to contend with throughout the novel. But he’s also funny and charming, wooing Birdie with clever references to famous detectives and making her open up about her own insecurities.

Besides the main attraction (the investigation into the reclusive writer’s secret dealings in the hotel Birdie and Daniel work at), the secondary characters fleshed out this story and even offered their own little mysteries one wanted to get to the bottom of. There are clues strewn throughout the narrative and yet I was almost blindsided by some of the revealed secrets that left me rolling my eyes at how I hadn’t picked up on the very obvious clues before. This will have Nancy Drew lovers in a frenzy when they pick up the novel, I can already tell.

All in all, the mystery plotline develops slowly but packs a punch as it unfolds and some hidden truths from the characters are revealed that derail not only their investigation but also their romantic entanglement. I don’t know what it is about YA moving in on the mystery genre lately, but I am so here for it. If you’re a fan of good old-fashioned detective stories, watched Veronica Mars religiously or read every Agatha Christie novel, you’ll be delighted to read Serious Moonlight. There are so many references to famous detectives and stories and it made me smile when I picked up on them. Bennett’s writing is superb as always; her descriptions of Seattle made the setting of the story feel so real and authentic. This novel, in its entirety, really had me feel like I was watching an old-timey detective movie and it contributed a lot to make this such an enjoyable read.

So, whether you’re new to Bennett’s stories or a long-time fan, I encourage you to pick up Serious Moonlight if you’re a lover of mysteries, swoon-worthy romances and quirky characters that you can relate to on a spiritual level!

I always love the sex positivity Jenn Bennett writes into her books, and Serious Moonlight was no exception. It follows mystery aficionado Birdie Lindberg, who meets gifted magician and fan of misdirection Daniel Aoki at a diner before spending a whirlwind evening together. Although the day ends with Birdie running away from him, they soon meet again at Birdie's new job. The book was hard to fall into at first, but the more I read, the less I could resist turning another page. Would absolutely reread and recommend!

I was provided with an eARC of this book in exchange for a fair review.

A really great book, which is no surprise from author Jenn Bennett. Birdie and Daniel were such an intriguing pair and the story was full of quirky, fun, and sometimes heartache-filled moments. As someone who’s husband proposed via magic trick (boy loves his upclose magic!) Daniel’s love of “misdirection” was awesome! I also loved the punny pie names at the diner, and the cast of secondary characters to spice things up. All in all, a great read that will go firmly onto my reread shelf.