I really enjoyed Ask Again Yes by Keane and looked forward to getting into this one. However, this one seemed much more depressing to me.

Malcolm & Jess almost seem like star crossed lovers. Jess is a successful lawyer and Malcolm is a bartender wanting to own his own in the town they grew up in. People would often comment that they didn't seem to fit together, but they didn't care because they loved each other.

For years, they try to have a child while Malcolm also buys a The Half Moon and make it a great success. He sadly cannot seem to turn a profit and they also have troubles conceiving both which put a strain on the relationship.

It's not that the story was told badly, but it was very down trodden. I know that that can be real life for sure, but I just had a hard time finding anything redeemable about not only the story, but the characters themselves.

Quietly told and atmospheric, The Half Moon is the heart wrenching story of a struggling business, infertility, and a failing marriage. Malcolm has always dreamed of owning a bar and stretches himself financially to take ownership of the Half Moon bar. Optimistically, he sees potential and risks everything to hold onto his dream. His wife, Jess, enjoys a successful law career but her loneliness in the marriage and her infertility cause personal distress. As Malcolm and Jess approach midlife, their individual unhappiness causes their marriage to fracture.

This is a reflective, character-driven story about what happens when two people who are very much in love don’t get when they want out of life. I appreciate complex, well drawn, multilayered, and realistic characters. As the pressures build, we hear from both perspectives and we gain insight into each of their actions. When we truly understand someone, our judgements fade quickly.

The Half Moon is a sad and reflective story. It’s also realistic in its portrayal of a broken marriage. All dreams don’t come true, and couples do grow apart and their marriages can fracture under stress. Is this brokenness always the end of the story?

Poignant themes include broken marriage, infertility, disappointments, betrayal, infidelity, chasing your dreams, making mistakes, friendship, forgiveness, fresh beginnings, and hope.

The Half Moon is the second book I’ve read by Mary Beth Keane (Ask Again, Yes is the other). As difficult as her content can be, Keane’s endings are satisfactory and infused with hope and hard earned reconciliation (not to be confused with HEA).

If you’re comfortable with the content, I can recommend The Half Moon for fans of Mary Beth Keane and for readers who appreciate character-driven, reflective literary fiction. Book clubs might find a great deal to discuss here.

Content consideration: infertility, infidelity, broken marriage

Thanks #NetGalley @ScribnerBooks for a complimentary e ARC of #TheHalfMoon upon my request. All opinions are my own.

This book was a little too slow for my liking but I can Definitely see how others will love it. Touches upon infertility and how a couple has to navigate it. Overall, an okay read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance reader's copy of this book.

I'm generally a fan of this kind of novel, which I call "gentle" literary fiction. Stories of people's lives, their choices, how they love each other and how they fail to love each other, etc. (My current favorite writer of these sorts of books is Ethan Joella). There was nothing particularly wrong with this book, and there was a lot right with it. I liked reading the story of Malcolm and Jess, their hopes and dreams, their bad choices and their difficult marriage, and how it all turned out in the end. I just wasn't all that excited about getting back to it each time, and had a hard time making myself finish. Keane is a great writer, but ultimately this felt like it could have been a short story.

I have enjoyed previous books by this author in the past, but this one was a miss for me. It was a slow burn, not just in the beginning, but for the entire book. There were a few parts here and there that caught my interest, but not enough to make me call the book enjoyable, overall. I didn't like either of the main characters. They had no chemistry, so I could see why their marriage was failing. He was just an inconsiderate jerk altogether, and she just wasn't likeable. There wasn't enough of a plot to keep my attention and make the book interesting. I can not in good conscience recommend this one.

It's a big pub day today and I know The Half Moon is going to be on a lot of people's radar after the bookstagram smash that was Ask Again, Yes by the author, Mary Beth Keane (which yes, is sitting unread on my shelves). Readers should be very aware that infertility is a main topic of the book.
That said, I was completely engrossed in this book from start to finish, and it was absolutely the kind of book that you look up from realizing more time has passed than seems possible. I was very much inhabiting Malcolm and Jess's world and relationship, immersed in these imperfect and complex characters. It is very much character driven, but felt very vivid and real. Maybe now it's time I get to the author's previous book?

This is the story of the marriage between Malcolm and Jess. As the book opens Malcolm informs us that Jess moved out of their home 17 weeks previous.

He is the owner and bartender of The Half Moon, a bar that is currently struggling to make ends meet, but this has always been his dream since he started there as a bar back when he was a teenager. When Hugh, the owner, offers to sell to Malcolm he thinks he's finally hit the bigtime. He accepts a less than above board offer that Jess is wary of and that's not even considering the fact she doesn't know the real deal he made with Hugh. One that will be nearly impossible to ever pay back.

Jess, a successful lawyer by day, has always wanted to be a mother. After many attempts and many miscarriages they turn to IVF with unsuccessful results. Year after year of crushing disappointment. Jess would like to consider a sperm donor or perhaps adoption but Malcolm is spent. He doesn't want to continue this journey of heartbreak anymore.

The mounting debt looming over them and their unsuccessful attempts at parenthood has caused a long standing resentment between the two. Why should one of them have to give up their dream for the other?

Over the course of the story we watch their relationship bud, blossom, and grow. We also watch as this same relationship withers and decays. Will their love prove strong enough or is it time for these two lost souls to find their own way without one another? You'll have to read this to find out.

This may be the most accurate portrayal of marriage I have ever read. Marriage can be messy. It can be all consuming and lonely at the same time. With marriage comes compromise but sometimes a person can only compromise so much. I loved both Malcolm and Jess. Neither one was perfect and both made mistakes but through it all they are still good people at their core. People you want to see happy and successful in their endeavors. My heart broke for their predicament. Keane took such care in crafting not only this story but the characters. Slow burn, quiet stories like these don't always work for me but I was completely invested in this couple and their outcome. For me, the ending was absolutely perfect. 4 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and Scribner for my complimentary copy.

I love a happy ending! This book was not at all what I expected… And it held so much feeling. It was the story of living ones dreams, picking your self up when you fall, having the strength to go on despite disappointments. It was the story of true friendship and true love- love of parents, love of children and your one true love. I liked the descriptions of the half moon bar- it almost felt like I was there having a night out with friends. The struggles Jess and Mal went through were handled with sensitivity and honesty portrayed. The sheer emotion this book creates is amazing. I found myself rooting for the characters. It was definitely a slow burn for me, but by the end, I couldn’t stop turning pages to see where everything led. 4 solid stars! Thank you NetGalley for a digital copy!

This book was a total page turner for me. I got through the entire book in a weekend. I loved the rawness of Malcolm and Jess’ relationship. I could feel both of their pain in terms of their infertility, financial struggles, and seeing eye to eye with your partner. I felt as if Malcolm and Jess could be friends of mine going through some very real marriage struggles. Additionally, I loved that this story took place in the Hudson Valley area. I felt as if I could picture the streets and houses. I could even picture the Half Moon and where it would fit in close to home.

Mary Beth Keane's newest novel is another slow burn character-driven story. Malcolm Gepherdt has always dreamed of having his own bar. Malcolm's dreams appear to come true when the previous owner sells the Half Moon bar to him after he had spent over 20 years working there. Malcolm's wife Jess has a dream to be a mother. But after several years of failed fertility treatments, Jess is broken. When Malcolm makes an irresponsible decision about the bar, Jess finally questions what she needs from life. And then the snowstorm hits, Jess is gone and one of Malcolm's customers goes missing. The investigation begins, Jess flounders all while Malcolm tries to figure his way out of his mess.

I enjoyed this novel where the characters are the stars of the novel. Mary Beth Keane knows how to create complex and flawed characters that you can't help but root for, despite their poor decisions. Midway through the story dragged a bit but then picked up again as I couldn't turn the pages fast enough to find out how everything all panned out.

Thank you to Scribner Books for this advance readers copy.

3.5 - 4 ⭐️
I had a hard time getting into this but it clicked about 1/4 of the way in and then I didn’t want to put it down.

The Half Moon is a bar owned by Malcolm, whose wife, Jess, left 17 weeks ago. Their marriage suffers from the very common pitfalls of money and trying to conceive a child. The story is a melancholy one that ultimately offers a feeling of hope.

Thanks you to NetGalley for my review copy.

Malcolm Gephardt, longtime bartender at the Half Moon, has always dreamed of owning a bar as his father once did. So when his boss finally retires, Malcolm makes owning the bar a priority. He wants to renovate and remake the Half Moon into something amazing, but struggles to stay afloat financially. Especially, with the raw deal his former boss gave him.
His smart and confident wife, Jess, has devoted herself to her law career. After years of trying for a baby and going through every fertility treatment possible; she is struggling to accept that she may not ever be a mother. Mistakes and miscommunication follow.
This novel takes place over the course of one week when Malcolm learns shocking news about Jess, a patron of the bar goes missing, and a blizzard hits the town of Gillam, trapping everyone in place. The resolution is bittersweet and one you see coming. But that does not take away from the story in any way.

Thanks to NetGalley and Scribner for this e-arc.*

The Half Moon takes place over one week of a bad snow storm in upstate New York and centers on Malcolm, an unlikely bar owner, and his wife Jess. It is clear their relationship is strained, likely from years of infertility woes and business stress after buying The Half Moon under terms that are certainly shady. The result is a deep look into how love and lives change over time and evolve especially, when life takes turns that you do not expect.

I truly enjoyed this book. The author did a fantastic job of fully developing the characters of Malcolm and Jess. The story is told through many flashbacks to happier times and some not so happy. I felt the struggle that Jess had to feel in dealing with such a trusting individual like Malcolm. As a reader I wanted Malcolm to just find some success because it seemed that he took so many hits during the book, so I was truly satisfied by the ending. The reader could feel the suffering when Jess was having difficulties with infertility, and it just hit home that desire to want to have kids so much that it becomes all consuming. I do feel like perhaps there should be a miscarriage and infertility trigger warning, as it could potentially upset some readers. Overall, I felt like Malcolm and Jess were friends in my small town neighborhood that I grew up with that I just wanted to see succeed, and love the ending of the book. I picture them both now with a drink in their hand on the beach, and that makes me smile.

Thanks to the author, the publishers, and NetGalley for an advanced copy book of this family drama. All opinions within this review are my own.

For me, this book was about a 3. This book falls into a drama/romance genre. The timelines that were weaved into story were sometimes confusing. I didn’t get attached to either character but their story was interesting. Sometimes it seemed like the author went off track. Too many unnecessary details I guess. It was an interesting story just not really my thing I guess. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher!
Trigger warning #miscarriage

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Named the most anticipated book of the year from several sources. I was fortunate to receive an ARC copy. This book had the ins and outs of dreams coming true with more struggles than peace/control. Mid-life crisis in reality. Cleverly written. A true authentic insight of struggles and triumphs, blame and forgiveness, love and marriage.
Malcolm is the guy everyone loves. He is witty, clever, fun, and incredibly handsome. Perfect personality for bar tender that becomes bar owner. It has been his dream to own and operate his own bar. After working at the The Half Moon, he is finely able to purchase it and have his dream come true. However, the Half Moon bar did not come grandfathered into all the vendors and suppliers. Soon he finds himself struggling to keep up with the debts.
His wife Jess, is struggling to make partner in the law firm. She has monthly student loans. They have tried for years and cashing in all their funds to have a baby. Feeling defeated adds strain to their marriage. Feeling defeated leads to making mindless choices/decisions.
Some marriages stay and fight the struggles together. Like Malcolm and Jess, some marriages need a break to reflect.
Thank you NetGalley and Scribner for ARC read in exchange for my review.

The Half Moon is an intimate portrait of a marriage in trouble. The story is told mostly over a week when a snowstorm shuts down the small commuter town of Gilliam, New York. Malcolm is a bartender who recently purchased a bar called The Half Moon. He didn't consult with his lawyer wife, Jess when he decided to do an under-the-counter deal with the former owner. Jess had separated from Malcolm seven months earlier because of the stress of her infertility. She wanted to keep trying and Malcolm did not. The financial and emotional strain of the bar purchase and the infertility treatments had put them over the edge.

During the week, both Malcolm and Jess reflect on their marriage. Will they move on from each other or try to start anew? In addition, one of the bar patrons mysteriously disappears after getting into a fight there the night of the big snowstorm. That patron had often talked about starting anew in a different country. The weather and lack of power add a distinct iciness to the story.

“Such a strange set of days, all the rules were different until the power came back on.”

I love a family drama as much as any reader and Ms. Keane’s Ask Again, Yes is a favorite novel of mine. Her latest work met my expectations but fell a bit flat in comparison.

Readers spend a few weeks in and around The Half Moon bar in a small town outside of New York City, during 2 snow storms. Time stands still as the power goes out, distilling day to day activities into acute concerns, hopes and fears. The sensory depictions of the low key pub and the storm itself are spot on and will relate to anyone who has ventured into a hometown bar and all who have experienced cabin fever.
Malcom and Jess Gephardt are a married couple hitting a rough patch - both had dreams that went sideways and their relationship to each other is in the crosshairs. They married young, thinking that a family was pre-destined, but drift apart as their communication breaks down.

This book was simply too slow for me, although my confidence in the author’s writing encouraged me to wait for things to pick up steam. The last third was a welcomed relief as the pace picked up and I finally wanted to “finish and find out.”

Thanks to NetGalley and Scribner Publishing for the early copy in exchange for my honest review.

This book had the potential to be tremendously powerful, focusing in on topics like infertility and the ups/downs of small business, but the writing was SO flat and dry and devoid of emotion. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy,

This is the story of Malcolm and Jess, a couple whose marriage is in crisis. Jess desperately wanted a baby and went through several unsuccessful IVF treatments. And Mal's baby was the bar that he bought after many years of working there. The story begins when they are at the brink of financial crisis after both of these investments and Jess has left to start a life with another man. and his family Much of the story is told in flashbacks .Heavy stuff to say the least!

I had a really hard time finishing this book. It was well written and I can usually muster through depressing topics, but I think I had a hard time with this one because I didn't really connect with either of the main characters. Jess was just selfish. She wasn't likeable at all. Mal was much nicer, but so naive. You would think that a bar owner would have a little more street smarts. And, while the ending was probably satisfying to some, I didn't feel like it was realistic.

I previously read Ask Again, Yes by this author and enjoyed that book a lot. I'll definitely give Mary Beth Keane another chance but this one just didn't hit the mark for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for this ebook in exchange for my honest review. The publication date is May 2, 2023.

This book takes place over a week’s time but the back story woven in spans about 15 years. At its heart, it is a story of a relationship, a marriage, that is troubled and falls apart as a result of the pressures both of the main characters feel. First, both of them, Jess and Malcolm, are very likable. There are no bad actors here. The author did an excellent job demonstrating the humanity behind both Jess and Malcolm. You can feel that both of these two are good, caring people who truly love each other.

Jess and Malcolm met and felt an immediate attachment. After a marriage prompted by an unplanned pregnancy, Jess suffers a miscarriage and has been unable to get pregnant again even after a series of unsuccessful and expensive IVF treatments. Having a child is uppermost in how Jess sees her future and while it’s important to Malcolm, he is able to accept the lack of an extended family and move on. Jess is not.
Conversely Malcolm is fixated on his ownership of The Half Moon, a local bar that has been the center of his life for many years, and he sinks what little money they have into keeping it afloat. It is no wonder that the relation begins to fray under the emotional and financial pressure.
With a ringside seat, the reader watches from the sidelines as Jess and Malcolm try to negotiate the relationship’s pitfalls. When another player, a friend of friends of Jess and Malcolm, appears to distract Jess, Malcolm is left to try and figure out if the relationship can be saved. In the midst of a major snowstorm, with loan enforcers on Malcolm’s tail, things teeter on a precipice.
I found the writing here to be excellent. Because both of the characters are so likable, I found the book easy to read and compelling. I think if one of them had been portrayed as the bad guy, I would’ve had a problem but that wasn’t the case. I truly enjoyed reading this book.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy. I plan to seek out the author’s previous book Ask Again, Yes.