The Oceanography of the Moon is another beautifully conceived and written novel by Glendy Vanderah. In this we meet Riley Mays, who is living with her cousins Alec, Sachi and Kiran after the deaths of her beloved Aunt Julia and her mother Nikki, who was an addict. The famous novelist Vaughn Orr, who has published four acclaimed novels before the age of 30 has run out of gas by their farmhouse. To me, Riley seemed almost ethereal, spending time lost in the oceans of the moon, which brought her solace after the death of her aunt.

Vaughn spends time at the farm, learning about the family and their close connections to the earth, their spirituality and their magic. He and Riley become close, and although at this point the book seemed a little slow, it was so beautifully written that I felt I was there, on the dock, looking at the stars, immersed in the sounds and the darkness of the night. The story picks up as connections between the author and the family are discovered and the tension mounts until the end of the novel, when Ms. Vanderah brings things together as only she can.

Thank you to the author, Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This novel will be one that stays with me for a long time.

3.5/5 stars. I am a fan of Glendy's other books so was really excited to read this one! The title and cover drew me in immediately and I did enjoy the themes throughout. This story definitely has a different vibe from her other books, it was almost like a thriller. There were times where I wasn't sure I liked this book if I'm being honest but at the same time I wanted to keep reading it and find out what happens. The ending seemed unrealistic to me and while some have described it as a "story of healing" it kind of bugged me. If you like her other books I think you'll still appreciate this one. My favourite of hers is still Where the Forest Meets the Stars.

The Oceanography of the Moon

The story of an unusual family that lives in the country of Wisconsin. They live a quiet life, finding peace in the land, and magic in the moon. The book starts off a little odd to be honest.

The POV rotates between Vaughn Orr a famous and wealthy author of 4 books and Riley, a girl who has moved to live with her cousins out on their farm.

I really struggled with this book at the beginning, not catching the direction of the book and felt that there wasn’t much of a story….but then at 70% it REALLY picked up and brought all the past pages together and really made an impression.

I loved the imagery of the seas of the moon. The magic of Riley’s younger cousin and his creation and exploration of clocks and parts. Alec’s love for moths and nature. It was a peaceful book to read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the advance e-copy in return for my review.

I will post to IG closer to pub date.

The Oceanography of the Moon is another stunning book by Glendy Vanderah!
I adored her first two books and they are among my favorites. While I enjoyed this one it wasn’t quite as captivating as I was hoping. I struggled with the characters in this one and felt the story was a little slow in places. With that being said, the writing is so beautiful and lyrical and just simply stunning. It’s incredibly descriptive and everything you would expect from this author.
I still liked this book so much and I would highly recommend it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read this book for an honest review.

My first book by this author and it was so good!
Vaughn has writer’s block and decides to leave the city. He heads to Wisconsin hoping to find some property. Instead he runs into Riley and her family.
At times this book was magical! It was a love story but also about family. It has a bit of a twist to it, one I didn’t see coming.
I really enjoyed this book. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

Glendy Vanderah is a very talented and imaginative writer. I found Oceanography of the Moon to be well written, but it did not measure up to the greatness of her first two books. While I was interested in how the story would tie together at the end, I found parts of the story difficult to read and felt that some of the character’s relationships were inappropriate. In all three of Vanderah’s books, I’ve noticed her characters do not always match their actual ages, they seem older or younger. I found that Riley seemed very young, and Vaughn seemed much older than his 29 years.
I felt the first half of the book moved slowly and the latter half lasted too long. The story climaxes in a hurray after the halfway point but then the story takes another 100 pages to resolve. There are many elements of nature woven into the story which is standard for Vanderah and that part was creative and interesting.
Thank you NetGalley for this advanced copy.

Rating 4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

As a fan of Glendy’s other two books I was excited to get an advanced readers copy from NetGalley. The writing is beautiful and I was thankful it was on my kindle for the dictionary which I used often. This book uses nature as part of the healing process, with a bit of fantasy/magic. There are parts that are educational heavy and can be a bit drawn out. Overall, I really enjoyed it and would recommend for outdoor, nature-loving readers.

Thank you netgalley for an advanced copy of this novel. It moved a little too slow for me. I didn’t particularly care for either Riley or Vaughn. The shifting of their POVs did nothing for me. Kiran and Sachi were fun characters but overall this one was a little too boring for me.

I am SUCH a huge fan of Glendy Vanderah's books. All of her books are filled with beautiful descriptions of nature, interspersed with a little bit of magic. This book was no exception. I don't want to give much away, but "The Oceanography of the Moon" tells the story of a girl named Riley who lives out in the country and how her life intersects with Vaughn Orr, a famous writer from the city. It was such a beautiful story - I couldn't put it down. I can't wait to read another one of Vanderah's books.

Glendy has written another magical and moving story. It's like I've been transported to another world when I get lost in her books. As always, Glendy does a beautiful job of balancing darkness and light. The challenges and trauma characters face can feel overwhelming at times, but then she swoops in and blends forgiveness into the story. I loved her weaving of nature and natural forces into the story.

This was an enjoyable read with the complex parent-child relationships, mystical natural elements, found family, and quirky, wise child character I've come to expect from Glendy Vanderah. I'll definitely recommend it to those who loved her first two books.

Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read an e-ARC before its release date!

Glendy Vanderah has done it again and written another stellar book about damaged characters who connect and heal through the power of nature. The Oceanography of the Moon (publication date 22 March 2022) is the story of Vaughan and Riley. He’s a famous author with a severe case of writer’s block. She’s a young woman living a fairly secluded life, still trying to find her way in the world and recover from a traumatic event in her childhood. After a chance meeting they find themselves inexorably drawn to one another. They both had unhappy childhoods and both have secrets they’d rather not reveal.

It’s a story about the power of nature for solace and healing, about the importance of acceptance and human connection, about forgiveness and redemption. As always Glendy Vanderah’s knowledge of and love for the natural world shines through. This time it’s Luna moths, fossils and the moon that take centre stage. As a nature lover I always appreciate the portrayal of nature in her books.

Another aspect that I enjoyed was the kindess and warmth, the unconditional acceptance the characters, especially Sachi exhibited. I had a real soft spot for Kiran, a boy who preferred to wear dresses and loved arranging fossils and clock innards. I loved that his gender expression and interests were accepted and nurtured without need for comment or label. I also noted the importance of the arts and creative expression in this story - music, writing and painting are all important to different characters.

There was an element of spiritualism, or connection with the universe, or plain coincidence that appeared at several times throughout the story. However, it remained very much situated in our world which suited my reader my tastes perfectly.

Two brooding and broken people come together by happenstance and explore what a relationship could be despite their pasts. Riley lost her beloved aunt and abusive mother within a few months. But ten years later, she lives with relatives in an idyllic rural piece of property where she can try to heal. Vaughn is a talented and successful author who just sold the movie rights to his latest bestseller. But he has a difficult past of his own.

I have to say, after reading the author’s previous books, I was surprised to find this book veers heavily into a romance. She is a supremely talented writer, but this one was a little out of my genre.

I love her ability to describe nature and teach me interesting facts about moths and hares, while building a story that kept will keep most readers engaged. I also think she is very good at developing genuine and unique characters. No spoilers, but there is a fantastic twist that I didn’t see coming. I applaud her for that.

In the end, even though it isn’t for me, I recognize the author’s talent and a very good story. Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an ARC.

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for providing me with an e-arc of this adult fiction novel :) This novel will be released on 22 Mar 2022! (and you have to read it or your soul will forever be missing an essential story)

"As the worst moments of their lives threaten to surface, Riley and Vaughn must find the courage to confront them if they’re to have any hope of a happy future. With the help of Riley’s supportive family, a dash of everyday magic, and the healing power of nature, can the pair let go of the troubled pasts they’ve clung to so tightly for so long?" - Glendy Vanderah

"The Oceanography of the Moon" - Glendy Vanderah - 5/5 stars 🌟

This is one of my favorite books I read in 2021 and officially one of my favorite books of all time! Vanderah tells ordinary stories about family, love, and healing infused with such magic. Reading this novel was a healing experience and I have not stopped thinking about it since.

Vanderah writes raw and real characters. I hated them at times, but in the end, loved them so much that my heart ached. At times I wanted to throw the book away out of frustration, and other times I wanted to press the words into my chest. The characters and their choices are messy and infused with magic that becomes real to everyone they touch.

Every time you think the mystery has developed or the story has come to a final resting point, there is another bend in the road. I love the unexpected destinations Vanderah brings the readers to and I love the humanity she exposes. Her stories are seeped in nature, the characters live alongside and are connected to their natural environments. It creates a haunting and whimsical atmosphere to the stories - and it reveals there is more to small-town living than the stereotypical representations. Nature is a place of healing + connection and small towns are a place of refuge + connection.

The relationships that the characters develop serve their character development - they are containers for growth and healing. I'm such a sucker for a well-written character-driven novel. The mystery weaved within is also *chefs kiss*!

I think everyone should read this novel because I have fallen so deeply in love with The Oceanography of the Moon and its magical powers.

Thank you again to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for providing me with an e-arc of this adult fiction novel :) This novel will be released on 22 Mar 2022!

This author never disappoints. A perfect blend of nature both human natural. I’m a believer the two join us together .
Pleasure to read

A beautifully written story in Vanderah’s poetic prose, this is an unusual book that celebrates people and nature. Riley goes to live with her aunt, uncle and Kieran at age 11 after the death of her aunt and mother. At 21 she lives a simple life enjoying her family and her unique “brother” Kieran, until the day a stranger comes walking up the driveway and turns their lives upside down.
Vanderah’s writing style makes this book beautiful and special.

I have read and loved both Where the forest meets the stars & The light through the leaves.
A lyrical magical book about facing your past demons, forgiving yourself and others.

3.5 stars

I liked the poetic writing in this book especially the descriptions involving the moon and luna moth. It is filled with emotions in a way that you could feel the pain of the main characters.

This was an interesting story with an interesting premise, however I just couldn’t feel connected to any of the main characters except maybe Sachi. I really love this authors books, but this one was really hard for me to get into or finish.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I feel like I've been using the word "overwrought" a lot lately, but if any novel deserves that description, it's this one. Vanderah is a very good writer, but I just couldn't buy into this soap opera of a story with a huge helping of childhood trauma, harmful secrets, and quirky characters. The book alternates between its two main characters: Vaughn is a bestselling author suffering from writer's block, and Riley is a sheltered young woman who lives with her cousins on their Wisconsin farm. If you read other reviews, you will see that I'm clearly in the minority, so if you enjoy poignant melancholy reads filled with plot points designed to tug your emotions, give this a try. Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for this digital review copy.