Well that was a wild ride. This is a story filled with magic and family and lies and love.
Overall I liked this story. The magical elements were a nice touch and this has some deep feelings.
I thought maybe I knew what the 'big reveal' might be but I was totally wrong. I thought it all worked out well in the end, everything was tied up in a neat bow, although I am left with questions about certain characters & aspects, but maybe it is meant to be that way.

Thank you to Netgalley & the publisher for a copy to read and review.

I love Glendy Vanderah this isn’t my favorite of her books but it was still good it felt like it was missing some of the atmosphere and nature that the other books have. But would still recommend. Looking forward to another book.

I received a reviewer copy of The Oceanography of the Moon by Glendy Vanderah from the publisher Lake Union Publishing from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

What It’s About: Riley Mays lost her beloved aunt and her less beloved mother in a short period of time. She moved in with her cousin and his wife and their son. Riley has found her way back to herself and has found happiness in her new family surrounded by nature. Still, she holds on to some trauma that she has yet to work through. When famous author, Vaughn Orr shows up at their home in Wisconsin, there is a deep connection that is both scary and polarizing.

What I Loved: I loved the little weird family. They were simultaneously so open, liberal, supportive and yet so wholesome. This family was charming and caring and I really loved getting to know them. This is one of the things Glendy does so well, she shows how being connected to nature can center a family. It’s always so sweet. I largely liked how the story wound down and what was actually going on.

What I didn’t like so much: I didn’t find this book as propulsive as her other books. I really did not buy the central romance and connection between Vaughn and Riley. I found Vaughn to be a really flawed and unlikable character and didn’t feel like he got redemption in the end. I feel like there were a lot of questions that were left unanswered in the end.

Who Should Read It: People who love nature books. People who love a story about lives overlapping in surprising.

Summary: A woman and a famous author find a surprising connection in the woods of Wisconsin.

“I’ve always thought the barred structure of DNA looks like a cage. Because that’s exactly what it is. All of us are trapped inside the good or bad DNA we got from our parents, and I’m sure the helical prison I inherited from Nikki and my neglectful father must be especially bad and inescapable.”

✮ ✮ ✮ ✮

Okay, this book is definitely something special. It sports a theme of magical realism, in that the characters believe there is some kind of magic or force affecting their lives. From just seeing ‘magic’ in everyday objects such as a rainbow in a puddle of gasoline, to believing that taking apart everyday objects and using their parts can form magic of some kind. And I don’t think the magical realism here is the standout thing, it’s definitely living for the moment and trying to see the beauty in everything, looking for positives in negatives.

The characters were brilliant. Right from the start Riley and Vaughn are backwards and forwards with suspicions of each other, and both trapped in their own thoughts. The backgrounds of both characters were cleverly crafted surrounding death and abuse, and they both feel guilty of so much in their lives that just wasn’t their fault. I found them both relatable and they felt very real.

The peak point of the book was probably about 75% of the way through though, that’s when everything came pouring out and disaster struck. I was really struggling to focus on the book at this point, because it just felt like there was never going to be much going on, but OH EM GEE did Glendy Vanderah bring the juice!

I recommend this book to everyone. I hope you enjoy ☺️

Glendy’s books are always a treat! Her masterful weaving of storytelling and emotion and nature is unparalleled.

After reading The Forest Meets the Stars I couldn't wait to read another book from this amazing author. This story is told from two points of view: Riley Mays, a twenty one year-old living with family in Wisconsin and Vaughn Orr, a celebrity author who decides to take a trip to Wisconsin.

The writing and characters are written with such amazing and beautiful description, it took my breath away. Beautiful descriptions of nature that make you feel like you can see it and almost feel it. Another magical and beautiful read!

4.75 Stars. I had some reservations about Glendy Vanderah’s debut novel Where The Forest Meets the Stars but have just found her third novel The Oceanography of the Moon utterly captivating.

Firstly, for those expecting magical realism, that’s not what’s on offer here. One of the many things that had me spellbound, was the special lens that Vanderah’s narrative applies to people, objects, and nature. It’s as though she, and several of her characters, view the world through a high contrast and high saturation filter, and thus are witness to the magic and serendipity to be found in the everyday. Her artistically vivid descriptions of natural flora, fauna and even the changing weather conditions, cultivated an enchanting sense of tension between the characters and their surroundings.

Strikingly refreshing also is the uncommon level of open-mindedness and selfless goodwill displayed by Vanderah’s beautifully developed secondary character set, who are amongst the most authentically endearing I have read. Continue reading: https://www.bookloverbookreviews.com/2022/06/the-oceanography-of-the-moon-glendy-vanderah.html

I’m sending some love and appreciation Glendy Vanderah’s way today. I fell in love with the author’s debut, Where the Forest Meets the Stars, and have been a major fan ever since. I’m a big nature lover, so I especially love how Vanderah incorporates the great outdoors in her novels. Her writing is consistently gorgeous, lyrical, and enchanting. I’m always blown away by her storytelling. I recently listened to the author’s latest, The Oceanography of the Moon and really enjoyed it. This one was a bit different compared to her first two novels. It was mysterious, twisty, and even a little suspenseful! Especially near the end! Wow! I wasn’t expecting that conclusion at all! Her novels always have a hint of mystery and intrigue to them, but this one had some major intensity to it. Overall, this was an enjoyable story about love, family, grief, and healing.

There is no better surprise than reading a story from an author you loved, only to find out it wasn't just a fluke. The second read is just as good, if not better, than the first. I'm not sure what it is about Glendy Vanderah's writing, but is mystical and magical and it just pulls out all the feels. I was sucked in immediately and was very sad when I was done and no longer in amongst the pages. There were unexpected twists and so many heartfelt moments. My reviews don't often talk about plot, but rather how I felt and what I experienced, and this one just was consuming and felt like a warm, magical heart hug.

Full review to come on Goodreads and Amazon. Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for a review copy.

My third book by this offer and I was hoping I would love it as much as Where the Forest Meets the Stars and The Light Through the Leaves, and I did love it. Vanderah writes nature so beautifully and with a touch of magic that the pages fly by, even when I want to savor them slowly. Riley and her family are wonderful characters and these relationships felt stronger to me than the romance in the book--not that I minded the romance. I love also how she writes damaged characters with empathy and the emphasis on second chances. I will be thinking about this one for a while.

Thank you Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for the e-book of The Oceanography of the Moon by Glendy Vanderah.

I was super excited to read The Oceanography of the Moon and it did not disappoint! What a beautiful story! It breaks your heart, makes you smile and believe in magic. You can go read the synopsis but I highly recommend just reading the book! 5 stars for me! I am looking forward to reading Glendy's other novels as well.

Tough, tender, and achingly real. I liked all of the characters and the touch of everyday magic.
Many thanks to Lake Union Publishing and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was a very slow read and I was distracted through much of the writing that I should have appreciated. The subject matter was heavy and while the writing is beautiful, I wasn't invested enough in the characters to willingly want to pick up this novel. Riley and Vaughn are flawed characters and while the premise of their story line is unique, this book wasn't a favorite.

The Oceanography of the Moon is a beautiful novel centered around loneliness, family and the ties that bind us all together. Riley has spent the last several years living in remote Wisconsin with her distant cousins, healing from a painful and harrowing past. Her family here is eccentric, creative and kind; creating a cocoon for Riley to exist in. Until Vaughn Orr shows up unannounced. Vaughn is a handsome and famous author, suddenly unable to produce his next deeply anticipated novel. Instantly, Riley and Vaugh share a connection. But, they are both filled with dark secrets in their past and walls that stretch nearly to the moon. Author Glendy Vanderah has done an excellent job creating characters that are filled with hope, despite secrets that hold them back from experiencing all life has to offer. Together, both Riley and Vaughn learn to trust that even the darkest of experiences can be healed by speaking them outloud.

A sincere thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The writing, as ever with this author, was exceptional and almost lyrical in it's presentation. The plot however, falls flat. I was not engaged with the characters or invested in their story. It was peculiar and I found myself detached from it. Ultimately, my experience with this book left me feeling pretty 'blah'. I am disappointed with my experience and really wishing I enjoyed this book more than I did, as I love the author.

Many thanks to Netgalley and publishers for providing my review copy.

I cannot get enough of Glendy Vanderah. She just knows the perfect way to blend nature and magical realism and always gets you to just believe. This was my third read by her and once again she did not disappoint.

I didn't fall in love with the characters as much as I just loved the writing. Glendy Vanderah does a great job of painting the picture with her words (as usual) and it had a nice twist to it that kept it interesting. Definitely loved the magical, yet natural vibes.

“Everything connects in ways we can’t comprehend.”

Magic, tragedy, pain, love and one magically sweet little boy who loves vintage dresses, fossils and clock parts.

The Oceanography of the Moon is a haunting story of grief, guilt and trauma. The story is told from Riley & Vaughn's viewpoints, whose lives were connected by an elusive moment in the past. Vaughn is plagued with guilt and reveals to Riley that he is struggling with something he did, that he deeply regrets and has debilitating guilt over.

Riley and Vaughn have traumatic family histories. Riley's coping mechanism is to disassociate with the world and became obsessed with the moon. Through her we get beautifully detailed descriptions of the moon's surface and fantastical creations of what the moon looks like alive to her. The author has a talent for creating rich natural spaces. I found myself highlighting many lines that resonated with me.

This is an addictive read with every emotion in it. I will certainly look at the moon differently from now on.

At this point in time, this book did not keep my attention. I hope that there is a time in the future where I could purchase it for myself and enjoy its content (not for lack of great writing and a solid plot) but because right now I was just not captured by its contents.