I didn’t realize this was the second book in a series. I went ahead and skipped to this one because based on the synopsis the first one didn’t interest me. This book was just ok. It wasn’t super funny or even that romantic to me. The writing wasn’t bad and it flowed well it just bored me. Nothing out of the ordinary. I wasn’t really a fan of Annie. She seemed a bit pitiful, dramatic any whiny. I ended up skipping through a lot and didn’t feel I missed out on anything. It’s also an open door romance which aren’t my favorite either. Overall it wasn’t a terrible book and I can see where others might really enjoy it. It just wasn’t for me.

Hang the Moon is a companion novel to Written in the Stars and follows Darcy’s brother as he reconnects with his sister’s best friend.
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I thought that this was a lovely companion novel! It was nice to see the characters from the first book, and I thought the romance was adorable! The premise was fun, and I spent a large portion of the book with a huge smile on my face.
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Although it was rather cheesy, I still enjoyed it. However, I still preferred the first book better. I though the characters and the storyline were more interesting, and I just liked that one more. I can’t wait to pick up Margot’s story next year though!
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I would recommend this for Hallmark movie lovers!
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CW- sexual content
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Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Hang the Moon is a romance but it didn’t feel overly mushy which I enjoyed. In the book, Annie tells Brendan that she believes romance is dead and Brendan, being the guy that loves love, wants to prove Annie wrong. I like that the female point of view was the skeptic, and the male view the romantic. A big thing that I enjoyed is that Brendan is pretty attractive, his character wasn’t a jock but he also wasn’t a geeky nerd that would never have a chance with the hot girl.

Annie was given the power to leave Seattle after her time was up. She got to go home to Philadelphia to figure out her feelings. It made the situation more realistic. It wasn’t the cliche “Oh I love you so I’m packing up and moving my entire life to be with you!” Quite the opposite, while Annie had strong feelings for Brendan she knew that moving to a new city on a whim for a boy was not something she wanted. She needed to find a job, a place to live, all realistic necessities someone needs when moving to a new city.

This book is everything I wanted in a sequel and much more! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and was even happy that there was an epilogue at the end to give the readers a glimpse into what the future held for the characters.

Something that would have been nice to have had in this book is a bit of Annie’s dating history. We get some of Brendan’s where we know that he goes on a lot of first dates. However, in Hang the Moon the readers are left wondering exactly what caused Annie to be such a love skeptic.

Awwww...why did it have to end. I wanted to savor this book, I am officially a fan of this author for everything. I loved written in the stars as well. This was so magically lovely. And it was right from the start. A lot of books I feel can waste 40 pages plus introducing things that the reader isn’t connecting with yet and really to be frank just want the two characters to meet already. This book started and hooked me from the very first chapter! I love the off limits trope, instant attraction, second chance romance so much, and this was done so well. Both characters were extremely likeable and I have kinship with our girl, I also travel and speak bunch of languages and lives in a lot of countries (including Provence which she lists as her favorite...hehe) and that speaks volumes to have a relatable character. Please write more books!!!!

Thank you thank you for the arc, I will be highly recommending this book to on my page.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a companion novel to Alexandria Bellefleur’s debut novel, Written in the Stars (a book I was waiting until next winter to read because of the holiday vibes but now need to pick up ASAP).

Brendon is about all things love and romance. He’s made a whole career of it, creating the dating app One True Pairing to help people find their happily ever after. He cries over proposal videos on YouTube and RSVPs to every wedding he can. Despite all this, he’s yet to feel that “spark” and find his soulmate. After a string of bad relationships and being made to feel dispensable, Annie has sworn off love for good. Due to her high ranking job in HR, she’s always travelling and living out of a suitcase. When Annie books a spontaneous trip to visit her best friend Darcy in Seattle she ends up coming face to face with Brendon, Darcy’s baby brother that Annie hasn’t seen in over 8 years. What follows is a delightful story about love, friendship, self-reflection, communication, and self-actualization.

THIS WAS SO FREAKING CUTE AND WHOLESOME, I literally smiled like a darn fool until the very last page. Brendon is the ultimate cinnamon roll hero, he’s so kind and patient with Annie and is such a caring brother/friend. The friendships were next level, I seriously wish I could get invited to their game nights. And can we talk about THE BANTER. The banter between Annie and Brendon felt so real and witty. I usually don’t love books with little to no plot, but something about this really worked for me. The characters just felt so well developed (even the side characters), that the lack of plot didn’t really bother me. I definitely recommend picking this one up!

Alright, all you Nora Ephron fans, this one is for you-- full of references to classic romcoms, chemistry, tropes upon tropes, and some ridiculously embarrassing moments. Both main characters work corporate jobs and live in big cities.
Annie decides to surprise her best friend Darcy in Seattle, but since Darcy is out of town, her younger brother Brendon shows Annie around. Brendon has had a crush on Annie since high school. That's really most of the plot! There's a little more external conflict with Annie's job and relocation.
I found this book super embarrassing to read, just like I find romcoms embarrassing to watch. I was blushing! ACK. There were a couple of moments that were over the top *spoiler warning* one being when they get stuck on the Ferris wheel (featured on the cover!!!) which one would think, in a romance novel, would be conducive to a first kiss or intimate confessions. Instead, Annie has to PEE IN BRENDON'S COFFEE CUP because she forgot to pee before the ride. I had so much anxiety reading this scene and it has refused to leave my brain. WHY, why why?? Also, it's pandemic times and I suggest we nuke the "gum wall" in Seattle and never speak of it again. I can't think of it without gagging.

I have to say, despite my embarrassment, Alexandria Bellefleur can write the heck out of some longing, chemistry, and kissing. Really sweet *heart eyes*. Also, "bi-five" for Annie being bi. The friendship between Annie and Darcy is so precious, the honest moments that Annie shares about her loneliness and the work that friendship requires felt very real. I can never get enough of that in romance novels. Annie's internal conflict is very centered on her identity as an independent woman versus finding support in friendship, love, and community.

CW for gum wall, honestly it seems necessary. *GAG*

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an e-ARC. My opinions are my own.

Liked, but didn't love, this one. The fault is entirely on me - Brendon and Annie's story is a neat twist on the grumpy/sunshine trope, but like Annie, I'm just not into the grand gestures of romantic comedy movies so the initial wooing in the beginning didn't lure me in. I much preferred the second half, where Annie's reluctance towards romance was better explored (and not given a tragic backstory, which I also really liked) and Darcy's growth as a character (which I held against her in the first book) was shown so well. Bring on Margot!

This book was just... *chef's kiss.* I read it immediately after listening to Written on the Stars on audio (which I highly recommend--the narrator is amazing) and just couldn't bear to leave that fictional world. It's super challenging to following up a spectacular first book with a spectacular second book, but Bellefleur achieved the impossible. Now I'm waiting for a spectacular third book on Margot!!!!

This time, we see the paths cross of Annie, Darcy's best friend who is visiting town, and Brendon, Darcy's brother. Brendon's childhood crush on Annie hasn't gone away and Annie is certainly interested in the tall drink of water the once scrawny teenager has now become. One big problem: Annie is supposed to move to London for work. But can Brendon and Darcy and Elle and Margot convince her to move to Seattle?

One of the things I loved about this book is actually seemed super realistic. I can totally imagine Darcy's younger brother crushing on her best friend and them having a connection later on in life. And Darcy was totally supportive of the relationship--as she should be. I never quite understand those "off-limits" brother's best friend tropes. If you like your friend wouldn't you want him to date your sister? Idk--I appreciated seeing Darcy's support. I also think geography is a totally real impedance to a relationship. It wasn't something contrived, or what I like to call The Big HurdleTM in romance novels. This is a real issue many couples face. I also thought the pacing of this book made logical sense. Look, I loved Written in the Stars in all it's fake-dating-self-sabotaging glory, but I just felt like I really bought into the plot of this book more.

And don't even get me started on how HILARIOUS this one is. There's a moment on a ferris wheel that had me DYING. This book is sweet and sexy and funny and just all around fantastic. I'm also not normally a romance epilogue person (I don't NEED a proposal/wedding/baby/whatever-you're-stuffing-down-my-throat), but I really loved the epilogue on this one. No spoilers! Read it for yourself.

Thank you to Avon for my ecopy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

5 stars - 10/10

4 stars. Hang the moon follows Annie, Darcy’s long time best friend. Darcy is out of town with Elle so Annie spends the week with Darcy’s brother, Brendan. In just two weeks, Brendon will try to show her that there’s more to love. This book lacked a plot at times but it was extremely wholesome and cute and enjoyable. Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and Netgalley for sending me this arc.

This is an utterly charming contemporary romance with lovable leads. Annie is a bit jaded about love, but her frustrations with modern dating are relatable and her casual queerness refreshing. While Brendon is the romantic and relentless optimist of the pair, his character is well rounded, so that sentimentality never becomes cloying. The concept of recreating classic rom-com moments, which is part of Brendon’s plan to prove to Annie that love isn’t dead, had the potential to be heavy-handed, but was handled with finesse by Bellefleur and creates sweet, memorable moments, as well as opportunities for honest conversation between the characters about their perception and preferred expressions of love. Readers who were fans of Written in the Stars will appreciate seeing how Darcy and Elle’s relationship has progressed in the months since that story’s conclusion and will enjoy regular appearances by Margot, Elle’s, and now Brendon’s, tried-and-true sounding board and best friend. Overall, this is a fun story filled with vibrant characters, laughter, and a whole lot of chemistry!

Hang the Moon is a standalone novel but it features characters we meet in Alexandria Bellefleur's debut, Written in the Stars.

I was so excited for Hang the Moon after meeting Brendon in Written in the Stars. I loved Brendon and I thought it was cute that he had a crush on Annie as a kid. I loved how open and sweet he was. When Annie first saw Brendon after years I loved how she didn't recognize him at first because he grew up and into a man. I loved how he loved romantic comedies and believed strongly in romance.

Annie, sweet, sweet, Annie is Brendon's older sister's best friend. I related to her being stuck in a job she didn't enjoy, moving constantly and making it hard to make connections. I loved watching her come to terms with her feelings and how she learned to trust herself. It's okay to be afraid of the future but like Annie learns, you have to put your heart on the line sometimes.

I loved the inclusion of horoscopes in this book. The romantic gestures were swoon-worthy. I also loved being able to see more of Darcy and Elle from Written in the Stars and what their ever after looked like. I cannot wait for Margot to get her story next!

If you love romantic comedies, grand gestures, and romance you will love Hang the Moon.

I loved everything about this book. It’s the perfect fluffy romance with the exact right amount of very well written steamy parts.
I just reviewed Hang the Moon by Alexandria Bellefleur. #HangtheMoon #NetGalley

This book is, like Brendon, a precious cinnamon roll. I deeply enjoyed Written in the Stars and think I might actually like this book even better! The Seattle setting gave me warm fuzzies and made me want to visit ASAP. While reading the first book in the series isn't necessary to understand the story, I would strongly recommended it because a) the book is adorable, b) there's significant character overlap, and c) you get to peripherally see Darcy and Elle's relationship continue to grow. I adored Brendon and Annie together - there was chemistry and the tensions between the two felt organic, not contrived. Annie's problems and tough career decisions fit with her character and the kind of person she was supposed to represent, The discussions around love languages and how people need affirmation within relationships made sense in the book and are so important to have in real life. I basically read this book in a day because I didn't want to put it down. It's a sweet, heartwarming romance that left me feeling happy.

**Thank you HarperCollins publishers for providing this ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All quotes are taken from the ARC and are subject to change.**

“You’re telling me you’ve never stumbled across something great? Maybe you weren’t looking for it, but it turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to you?”

What happens when you combine a hopeless romantic who helps people find love for a living, a girl who believes that romance is dead and a meddling older sister determined to set-up her best-friend and her younger brother?
Well you get an absolutely charming story about two people falling in love and trusting each other, great friendships and a sense of found family.

Hang the moon is the sequel to written in the stars and it is a delightful read. Ideal for curling up under the covers and loose yourself within its pages.

I enjoyed Annie and Darcy’s friendship the most, because it is relatable. Having your best friend miles away from you can prove to be difficult especially when you need them the most.
Although this story was pleasant, it wasn’t entirely captivating. At times I found myself skimming the pages, I was not connecting with Brendon’s character as much as I wanted to. I know he is supposed to be this feminist guy in touch with his emotions but at times he felt too childish.

“...you can’t rush something you want to last forever…”

But if you love astrology, great friendships, sweet and sexy love stories about finding a place in the world where you feel safe, loved and wanted then this book is for you.

I am rating Hang the moon 3.5/5 and I can’t wait for Margot’s story!!

Don't you just love it when, in m/f pairings, it's the man who pines and yearns? Because I do.

This book is enchanting from start to finish. I admit, this didn't make me feel as amazing as Written in the Stars, but that doesn't mean it's not good! It's actually one of the fluffiest romance books I've ever read. There's just something about the way Alexandria Bellefleur writes that grabs me and doesn't let go until next thing I know the sun's up and I'm done.

The way Annie is just so casually queer, the way Brendon is just so huggable...all of these are all so natural and endearing. How their relationship progressed was a delight, too! You'd think these two laidback people don't have baggage, but they do and it's satisfying seeing them work through these problems as they discover each other. Anyway, loved this book.

Last night I finished an ARC of Hang the Moon by Alexandria Bellefleur that I was gifted through Netgalley and it ABSOLUTELY hit the spot. It was sweet, steamy and even made me tear up a bit!

If you’ve read Written in the Stars, you’ll remember Darcy’s sweet and goofy brother Brendon. Hang the Moon is the story of him and Annie, Darcy’s best friend and Brendon’s childhood crush. I loved watching Annie and Brendon’s story unfold, and I LOVE LOVE LOVE that Annie studied linguistics and watches french tv shows (like me!).

Be sure to pick up a copy of Hang the Moon when it comes out in May, it’s adorable!!

The follow up to Written in the Stars did not disappoint. We had a glimpse of the potential chemistry between Brendan and Annie in the first book, and it was palpable from the first time they meet again in Hang the Moon. Loved Brendan was a sweet cinnamon roll, but Annie really stole my heart. I and loved the continued Bi rep into the second book, and could really relate to Annie's feelings of isolation, which was magnified by the ongoing pandemic. Readers also get a update on Darcy and Elle. If you loved Written in the Stars, Hang the moon is a can't miss. I am excited to see what Bellefleur does next!

Thank you to @avonbooks and Alexandria Bellefleur for my gifted copy of Hang the Moon! This fun romance is out on May 25th.

Written as the follow-up to Written in the Stars, we meet Brendon Lowell, a man who “loves love”, and even created an app to help people find love. He’s always had a crush on his sister’s best friend, Annie, who has just shown up in Seattle for a two week vacation to see her friends. She’s not looking for love right now, but he decides to try to woo her with elaborate, romantic dates to convince her that romance does exist, and ends up learning so much more in the process.

Wow, what a follow-up to Written in the Stars! Brendon was one of my favorite characters in that book, and I was so thrilled when I found out he was getting his own book. I loved reading about their adorable dates all over Seattle and the surrounding area (somewhere I desperately want to visit again), and I adored that the perspective shifted back and forth between Brendon and Annie, bringing both viewpoints to the table. Plus, we get to see Darcy and Elle again, and they’re such a sweet couple!

I enjoyed as well that this book didn’t solely focus on the romance aspect. Annie and Darcy’s friendship is definitely a main plot line as well. The reason Annie comes to Seattle is to see friends before she moves for a big job opportunity, and Darcy has a lot of feelings about that. I appreciate that Bellefleur took the time to flesh that part out, and even wove it slightly into the romantic part of the book.

I’d definitely recommend checking this one out when it’s released in May!

In my opinion, Alexandria Bellefleur can do no wrong. I loved Hang the Moon as much as I loved Written in the Stars. And, I loved reuniting from characters from the first book in the series.

In this book, we follow the will they/won’t they relationship of Annie and Brendon. It’s a book about people learning to trust and moving beyond fantasy to reality.

I am hoping there’s a third book in our future.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

A charming romance between a skeptic and a true believer in love. Brendon owns a dating app company that focuses on helping people find their one true pairing. Annie is his older sister's best friend, who spontaneously comes to town only to find that said friend is out of town. So Brendon offers to show her around, and convince her that true love exists in the process.

This was a fun story of opposites attracting, and finding your own path in life. The Seattle setting was used well as a backdrop without taking over the book. I enjoyed Bellefleur's first novel, Written in the Stars, and it was nice to revisit the characters.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC to review. All opinions are my own.