A truly wonderful story that covers a gamut of emotions within a family throughout a lifetime. An extraordinary couple lose a daughter but never give up hope she will one day return. After 20 years of separation and loss the parents come together again for one last attempt to find their daughter.

I loved how Kathleen and Yannick made their way thru Canada and listing off many places I have also been too and just knowing what they look like from personal experience made this book even better.

I cannot imagine the heart break and longing of a missing child. How do you go on when you have no real answers.

I stayed up way too late a few nights needing to know how Unas story ends.

Moon Road is a heartbreaking journey by a very realistic broken mother to find the answers to what happened to her missing daughter. Though she is nowhere near perfect and at times bitter and unlikable, your heart can't help but go out to her. The situations and encounters of making such a trip with her ex-husband is achingly real. I very much enjoyed the ride and recommend it to anyone who likes an emotional read.

Moon Road by Sarah Leipciger

* Thank you to @netgalley and @penguinrandom for providing an ebook in exchange of a honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

The thing that I like tjhe best in books is when the autor takes the time to describe the settings and this book did that exactly. The description were so well done that you could almost feel like you knew the places.

Moon road is the story about an estranged couple who embark on a road trip from Ontario to British Colombia to hopefully lay to rest the mystery of their daughter who have been missing for 20 years.

I just had a little bit more expectation surrounding the quest but it is not a thriller.

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Moon Road is a moving exploration of grief, unresolved loss, and the elusive nature of closure. Following Katherine and Yannick—a once-married couple with a fractured past—as they embark on a cross-country journey to confront news of newly discovered human remains, the story brings their shared trauma to life. The remains, potentially belonging to their long-missing daughter Una, stir a delicate balance of hope and despair, forcing the characters to navigate both their intertwined past and the strained ties of a blended family.

The emotional landscape of Moon Road is beautifully rendered, with a nostalgic quality that rings true in the realistic portrayal of complex relationships and lingering parental guilt. Katherine and Yannick’s character are thoughtfully crafted and I enjoyed the Canadian references as they drove across the country.

While the writing is beautiful, the pacing sometimes slows, especially midway through the book, and there were moments where I found myself eager to skip ahead to stay engaged with the mystery. This novel is recommended for readers who enjoy literary fiction and are interested in a deep, reflective story about family, memory, and loss.

Thank you to the Penguin Random House Canada and NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book.

Moon Road was a wonderful book to read. So many emotions were playing with my mind while I was engrossed in this book. Kathleen and Yannick (separated since their daughter disappeared) don't have much in common anymore. Other than the heartache of loosing their child, they have not spoken to each other in years. That is until they have some unexpected news from the West Coast where their daughter was last seen.

They decide to see what this news is all about and drive from small town Ontario to BC to find out what exactly has happened and seeing if they can finally put to rest their search for a daughter that never came home and was never found.

This is an interesting book and takes you through the many aspects of grief and loss. Dealing with a question that never gets answered could have most of us pulling out our own hair.

The ending really surprised me and while Kathleen and Yannick are emerging from this, we find out the truth.

A great story for sure.

Kathleen and Yannick have not spoken since their daughter Una went missing. After 19 years news comes from across the country that Una may have been found the two of them travel together to find the truth.

Although at times the story seemed to drag - it also was able to captivate the heart. I loved how it showed us the story from the perspective of Una and her parents, I also loved how her parents went on a healing journey both together but also on their own.

It was a treat read a novel that took place in one of my favorite places. It was as though I could envision the story and see the beautiful scenery.

Rated 4.5/5

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for the ARC of this novel. All opinions are my own.

Kathleen and Yannick have not spoken for nineteen years, not since their daughter Una went missing. When news comes from across the country that Una may have been found the two of them travel together to find the truth.
The chapters about “our girl” who lived in the trees gives the reader insight to Una’s life on her own, however the real depth to this book was the grief and healing of Kathleen and Yannick. I found the book slow moving and a bit boring.
If you looking for a satisfying mystery of Una’s disappearance you may not get this. However, if you want to read about long time loss and grief and healing you will enjoy this read.
Nice to read a novel by a Canadian author and identify with the country. I liked the quirkiness of Kathleen. Beautiful story about the name of the book. I liked that we found out what happened to Una in the end.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for the ARC of this novel.

I feel like this story will stay with me for a while. It was beautifully written, the characters were well thought out and it was nice to see my home country (and province) featured so captivatingly. While this book had a slower pace, I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is in the mood for a journey.

Kathleen and Yannick’s daughter has been missing for 22 years and they haven’t spoken in 19 years. When the RCMP contact them about Una’s possible remains in Tofino, Yannick convinces Kathleen to drive from Ontario to British Columbia to meet with the police and have Kathleen’s DNA tested against the remains. The novel seems slow initially but the story is well told. Initially bickering, they eventually reconcile. The descriptions of the scenery are beautiful.

Unfortunately, this one didn’t resonate with me. The pacing felt slow, and I kept pushing through hoping it would pick up, but it never quite grabbed my interest. There was a moment where I thought the story might turn around, but it didn’t deliver the payoff I was looking for. I could picture the characters in the real world, particularly Kathleen, but I didn’t find them likable or relatable, which made it hard to stay invested. Kathleen’s decisions frustrated me, and I struggled to connect with the story. I kept reading because I had seen some glowing reviews, but this book just wasn’t it. I’m grateful to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for the chance to read it, even though it wasn’t a match for me.

The book is a story about the parents of a young woman, Una, that goes missing in British Columbia in her early twenties. The parents have been estranged for almost twenty years, and then agree to drive together out west to give a DNA sample to hopefully identify some bones found in some wooded area near some natural hot springs. The story is the story of grief and healing, even when you don’t expect it. This is a very lovingly written book and a joy to read! 4.5 out of 5 stars!

tschtum: to not say anything about something

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of Moon Road by Sarah Leipciger
I cannot say enough about how much I loved this novel, it was outstanding. I think it's one of my most favorite reads and will stick with me a very long time. It's the first novel I've read by this author but won't be the last. I need to read her other two books now.
The writing is so real, almost basic but not at all. The words flow with so much reality. There is so much emotion but not too many words.
I feel these characters, It's like real life, these characters were so realistic for me and going through an unfortunate life event.

I love this author's writing style, the realness with how she writes. I liked how the events unfold, some past, some present, and yet we didn't need to be told what was past and present
This is a book you won't want to put down!

This is a book I happened across by chance, as the opportunity to read and review it was offered to me one day in my email inbox. This is not a book that would have normally caught my eye or even my interest, necessarily, but sometimes, the most unknown, unlikely books are the best ones.

This book delves into grief and loss, especially when not accompanied by closure, and the ebbs and flows of hope at finding your missing loved one. Katherine and Yannick, once married, decades ago, embark on a cross-country road trip after receiving a call that human remains - bones, specifically - have been found and may, or may not, belong to their adult daughter.

This story looks at complicated family relationships, especially among blended families and ex-partners. Emotions are described realistically, with an almost nostalgia. This is a very touching story, which I recommend to those seeking a deep, impactful read.

🙏Thank you Penguin Random House Canada and NetGalley for a gifted advanced electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

⚠️ Potential Trigger Warnings (may not be an exhaustive list): missing person, loss of a family member.

This was a captivating character driven story. Yannick and Kathleen have not spoken in years until he suddenly shows up in town. The disappearance of their daughter many years ago tore their friendship and lives apart. Kathleen lives a very static and isolated life in her small town and every year still plans a get together to rally the town to remember her daughter and the hope that she will return. Yannick has other children and ex wives to deal with but still mourns the daughter he is missing. There are some human bones found on the other side of Canada and they join together to make the road trip to see if the mystery can finally be solved. The trip is filled with a lot of reminiscing and soul searching by both of them and maybe there is a chance they can come together and close their divide. It was gut wrenching to think of their pain and sorrow for so many years with no answer about their daughter’s whereabouts. This book was beautifully written and the relationships and characters were engaging. If you like a family drama character driven novel with a lot of depth be sure to check this one out.

I feel that I'm usually quite generous when rating a book. If something is a 3.5 star read for me, I almost always convince myself to round up because this is someone's labor of love. Moon Road is a 5 star read for me, it earned every single one and if I could give one more star I would. This novel has been out for 4 months now and how this book is not being more widely read is beyond me.

A mix between general and literary fiction, this novel does the near impossible of taking an extremely difficult subject matter and making it palatable and bearable to read about. The story is not a tear jerker, you don't need any tissues, but it still packs a punch. It's full of heartfelt emotions, the good, the bad, and the petty. I loved Kathleen, stubborn and blunt, Yannick, lovable and sensitive, and Una the lost daughter. These characters are all flawed but real and the imagery and writing is beautiful.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this novel. I am grateful to have read this and can definitely recommend.

Kathleen and Yannick haven’t spoken in 19 years, not since she threw an ashtray at his head. However, when a call comes from across the country regarding their daughter, they take on the road trip together. As they drive out west the history of this once shattered family is revealed along the way, and so too is a path for them to move forward.

I think Leipciger wrote these characters extremely well! They are not loveable by any means but still relatable enough that you can sympathize with them throughout their journey. Overall, it’s a story that really makes you think about what really happens to families after the unthinkable happens.

Thank you NetGalley, Penguin Random House Canada & Viking for a copy of this book to review!

Moon Road by Sarah Leipciger is a touching exploration of connection and loss set against a stunning natural backdrop. The characters feel real and relatable as they navigate their personal struggles.

Leipciger's writing is beautiful but straightforward, making it easy to get lost in the story. The themes of grief and healing hit home, and while the pacing can feel a bit uneven at times, the emotional journey is worth it. If you're looking for a thoughtful read that stays with you, Moon Road is definitely worth your time!

*I received and advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada | Viking in exchange for my honest review.

I couldn't get into this book. The characters didn't grab me, and the story moved very slow and didn't interest me. Originally I was excited about this book based on the blurb out the execution of the story made me really not care about it. About 15% in I stopped reading. I intended to go back and read more but could never get the interest to do it so I now consider it a DNF.

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Moon Road is an beautifully written book about family and the exploration of grief. The story centers on a divorced couple who have lost their adult daughter many years ago, the mystery behind her death, and the couple's reconnection. The characters felt very real, each with their own issues and frustrations. I liked that we got to learn who Una was and she was not relegated to being a plot point.

I found the beginning to be quite slow, as there was a lot of lead up to the actual trip across Canada. I enjoyed the trek across Canada, and wish more of the novel had been devoted to it. I had to push myself through the beginning chapters, but once the Yannick and Kathleen started their journey, I breezed through the rest of the book.

Overall, I enjoyed Moon Road and would recommend it.

Thank you for the chance to review this book.