A heartbreaking coming of age story full of trauma and abuse.
We follow little Sophie who is merely 5 years old when we first meet her, but she keeps on growing. The majority of the book is set in her tweens and early teens.
She is growing up in Texas in a highly Christian family, her grandpa is literally the pastor in their local church. However her life is not very pleasant. Her family is highly dysfunctional, a lot of those issues stemming from the fact that her own mother is dealing with unresolved trauma and mental illness.
Throughout the book Sophie deals with issues no child should deal with-from the dysfunctional family, sexual abuse and manipulation to dealing with grief and loss.
Towards the end of the book we are introduced to a memoir written by her mother, where she writes her part of the whole story.
Lillian’s memoir made me physically sick and so heartbroken. I loved the way the author described her story. It was so raw and graphic! Honestly great writing honestly this was the part that personally pushed it to 4 ⭐️ for me

I received the audiobook version of this through Netgalley. This is my honest review.

I have read several memoirs lately that focus on different religious groups and the way children tend to face abuse in them. This book felt like those memoirs. It starts when the main character is young and the language and speech patterns make it very clear that she's young. The speech patterns get progressively more refined as the main character ages, which really helped to show that time passage. The narration for this aspect of the story was superb.

This story mostly makes me mad because Stephanie should have been able to expect her parents to protect her from harm, but their religion made that excessively complicated. I believe aspects of their religion also led to the sexual abuse that was portrayed, although it was far less severe than in some of the memoirs I've read lately. If that is a trigger for you, be warned it exists in some detail in this book.

Overall I give From the Moon I Watched Her 3.8653 out of 5 stars.

From the Moon, I Watched Her is a reflective novel that explores themes of identity, isolation, and connection. The story follows a character as they navigate personal struggles and relationships, all while dealing with a sense of disconnection from the world around them. While the book offers some poignant moments, the pacing can feel slow, and certain plot points may leave readers wanting more depth. Overall, it’s an engaging read, but not without its flaws. I’d give it a 3 out of 5

We are introduced to Stephanie navigating life within a extremely Christian family through her childhood and teenage years. It all happens in the 1970s and comes with very triggering content almost "cult like" behavior. Stephanie's father is the preacher of their church, the mother seems to have mental illness. Her sister is too close to their father. There are inappropriate relationships between father/daughter. Sex between children at young age. It's a very heavy emotional read that is hard to get through.

I really wanted to like this story. It's a critique of evangelicism and set in the 70s/80s; however, there frequent graphic depictions of child sexual abuse were hard to get through. I think the point of the story could have been made without providing so many sexual scenes about children.

Thank you to NetGalley, Greenleaf Audiobooks, and Emily English Medley for an Advanced Listener's Copy of this title!

"The Walters are a good, churchgoing family who stand for holiness, purity, grace, and Christian love. Except when they don't." Texas, 1977 finds young Stephanie Walters sitting in the front pew of her granddaddy's Church of Christ, listening to him debate with a dirty rotten atheist about abortion. We follow Stephanie in her own voice throughout the important events of her life, from her mother's descent into someone unrecognizable, to her compilated and raging relationships with her sister and father, through shunning and camp revivals, to the dark recesses of space and the things that lurk in the darkness, ready to eat up the virtue of little girls who play in the oil-choked streets of Pasadena.

This was a complicated book to write a review for - reflexively, I don't want to say I "liked it", because it's not really a "happy" book and a lot of horrible things happen to and around the child protagonist of this story and it was uncomfortable to listen to. Though it is a work of fiction, anyone who has spent even a small amount of time in exvangelical spaces or reading the stories of those who have left religious fundamentalism or cults will also know that the events portrayed here happen and continue to happen - they don't exist in a vacuum, and that's hard to reconcile with. I think the author's portrayal of our protagonist, Stephanie, is done really well - we meet her as a child and she tells us her perspective in the voice of a child, gradually maturing as we move through the book and as her perceptions and experiences grow with her - and experiencing the harder events of the book from the eyes of a child, preteen, and teenager lend to the staying power this book has had with me. This is a book about fractured family, childhood trauma and the scars it leaves, betrayal, finding comfort in all the wrong places, the fallibility and selfishness of parents, mental illness, the harms of a rigid church system, and coming-of-age in a time characterized by "latchkey" kids and an ever-shifting cultural perspective. I think anyone who resonates with any of the above will find something to ponder here, and that to me makes this a "good" book and worth reading and discussing.

The audiobook is also read by the author, and I thought she did a fantastic job moving through the different phases of Stephanie's life through her reading.

I also want to point out that the author has a trigger map on her website if you prefer to read the trigger warnings before picking up a book with more mature themes. I will also include a few here that I think really need to be brought up for sensitive readers, but these may be considered SPOILERS so read at your own risk: descriptions of incest, inappropriate relationships between a child and adult, death, multiple descriptions of sexual assault, descriptions of physical and psychological abuse, descriptions of homelessness, body shaming/fatphobia, description of abortion, death, and grief.

From the Moon I Watched Her is an emotionally raw, beautifully written, and deeply unsettling exploration of family dysfunction, religious extremism, and childhood resilience. Emily English Medley masterfully captures the dark underbelly of faith and secrecy through the innocent yet powerful voice of young Stephanie, whose perspective makes the story all the more heartbreaking. The narration, also by Medley, brings an added layer of authenticity and emotional weight, making Stephanie’s journey feel even more visceral. This novel is both a coming-of-age story and a harrowing expose of generational trauma, handled with nuance and grace. A must-read for those who appreciate dark, thought-provoking fiction that lingers long after the final page.

From the Moon I Watched Her had me from the description. It was a difficult read due to the content, but has stayed with me since finishing it.

Lives of those raised in extreme religious communities have always been interesting to me, and this is no different.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this audiobook.

This was a beautiful, dark, tough read. I’m very conflicted in how to rate this book. It’s well written, the quality of the audiobook is good, but the content physically makes me uncomfortable. I wish we got to see Stephanie grow and reconnect with her sister more in the end.

The narration also adds to the uncomfortable. When we first meet Stephanie, she is 5 years old and the narrator uses a baby voice which made me cringe when I first started. Had this not been a NetGalley read, I probably would have stopped in the first couple chapters.

Emily English Medley’s From the Moon I Watched Her is a haunting and evocative coming-of-age novel set in 1977 Texas. Narrated through the eyes of Stephanie Walters, the story unravels the dark secrets of a seemingly devout religious family. The Walters, led by patriarch “Daddy” Black, project an image of holiness while harboring disturbing truths beneath their façade. Themes of child grooming, sexual abuse, incest, and religious manipulation are explored with unflinching honesty, making this a challenging but necessary read for those drawn to stories of survival and resilience.

The novel’s strength lies in its atmospheric writing and character-driven narrative. Stephanie’s perspective provides a raw and fragmented view of her traumatic childhood, reflecting the confusion and pain of growing up in a toxic environment. While the plot occasionally jumps around, this mirrors the chaotic nature of trauma and lends authenticity to Stephanie’s voice. The book resonates with fans of To Kill a Mockingbird, Flowers in the Attic, and The Glass Castle, as it delves into moral complexities and the impact of systemic abuse within families.

For readers interested in cult dynamics and survival stories, Medley’s work offers an unvarnished look at the psychological scars left by such environments. While deeply unsettling, From the Moon I Watched Her is a powerful testament to endurance and self-discovery.

From the Moon I Watched Her by Emily English Medley will make most readers uncomfortable. The story viewed through the eyes of a young girl as a member of the Church of Christ. Themes include inappropriate child behavior that will make you as uncomfortable as the The Push by Ashley Audrain, child sexual abuse and grooming like you see in books like Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov & Thornbirds by Colleen McCullough, or cult behavior and mental illness like in books like Hollywood Park by Mikel Jollett or Educated by Tara Westover.

While this book had several uncomfortable themes, it was very well written. The audio book was fabulous, and the narrator, the author, did a very good job reflecting the age (6-17) of the main character in her narration.

Thank you Greenleaf Audiobooks and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook. All opinions are my own.

Wow. This book was a different genre than I'm used to reading but it was one I'm glad I read. So many emotions came up for me listening to this novel which, I think, says a lot about a book when it can bring out various emotions. I think, unfortunately, a lot of people could relate to this novel in at least some aspect. I would recommend looking up any trigger warnings ahead of time. This novel did have a good pace though, didn't leave much unanswered, and I even listened to it within three timeframes for this almost 10 hour listen. It does have some very heavy aspects to it, but I would recommend it if you're interested in literary fiction, living with/working out trauma (sexual, religious, parental neglect, mental health) but come in cautiously.

This book is raw, intense, and at times difficult to read. Raised in a hypocritical cult-like church, the main character navigates a fractured family, a mother battling mental illness, and a world that leaves her to fend for herself. Seeking approval in all the wrong places, she turns to unhealthy outlets, making her journey both painful and compelling.
The character’s pain is deeply felt. Set against a backdrop of judgment yet free of it, the story unfolds with stark realism. Heavy but well written, this one will stay with me. Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley.

From the Moon I Watched Her by Emily English Medley, is a complicated, character-driven tale. Told from the perspective of Stephanie Walters, a child growing up within a devout and deeply conservative community, within the shadows of her rather dysfunctional family. This story begins in Texas in 1977, when Stephanie is a young child, right through to her later teenage years. This story details her experiences and trauma, alongside the deterioration of her family.

I honestly found this quite a difficult audiobook to listen to, regardless of the narrator’s skill. I was expecting the elements of extreme ideologies, family secrets and religious trauma, amidst a coming-of-age story. However, I was not prepared for the level of detail about such difficult themes of abuse, incest, control, rape, and abortion. There are also depictions of poorly managed mental illness, as well as lack of parental oversight that seemed unrealistic or abusive.

I personally do not feel that this book delivered what was suggested in the description - content warnings should certainly be added, as well as an updated description for readers who would enjoy this style of book.

I persisted with this audiobook hoping for some resolution, however found the ending underwhelming and left me with many questions.

With thanks to Greenleaf Audiobooks, Emily English Medley and NetGalley, for the ALC for review consideration with an honest review.

Listen time: 9 hours, 49 minutes

I didn't not like this. It is not a bad book. It is actually quite good, but I felt incredibly uncomfortable throughout the book. Likely this is based on my childhood trauma and my job working with kids. I felt just yucky.
I was not able to stop listening so clearly I didn't dislike it.
I did like the narration. It fit the story perfectly, as expected.

This book was chilling and deeply unsettling. The narrator did a phenomenal job of growing up with the main character and bringing you right into each chapter. This book will stick me longer than I hope, as I found much of it very triggering. Yet helped me process a lot. Thank you for writing this, Emily and thank you for the talking topics for my therapist.

I pushed myself to get through this book- after the first chapter I was not a fan. The description does not indicate how dark and disturbing this book becomes. I made it half way and just could not read another word. This book is dark - full of abuse of every kind and it is relentless, by the halfway mark I was hoping there would be a turn for the characters, it was a steady flow of the same thing over and over: emotional abuse, sexual abuse, religious abuse, pedophile...... it was a repeated theme and no redemption just a dark long journey I was not willing to finish.

I think this book needs a little more detail for the potential reader - it has triggers of every kind.

From the Moon I Watched Her is a haunting and thought-provoking coming-of-age novel that delves deep into family secrets, religious extremism, and the resilience of a young girl navigating a world filled with hypocrisy and hidden darkness. Emily English Medley crafts an atmospheric and emotionally charged story that pulls readers into the rigid, fire-and-brimstone world of the Walters family.
Stephanie’s perspective is both heartbreaking and captivating, as she tries to make sense of the contradictions within her deeply religious family. Medley’s writing is immersive, painting a vivid picture of 1970s Texas, church revivals, and a community where appearances matter more than truth. While the pacing slows at times, the novel’s themes of faith, control, and hidden trauma make for a compelling read.

It is with great sadness that I note how much I disliked this book. I’ve had it on my wishlist since it first came out in physical form, so I was surprised and elated to discover an audiobook copy available on NetGalley!

While cult vibes and religious trauma are themes that greatly interest me, From the Moon I Watched Her is all tell, no show. This isn’t a story as much as it is an agenda. I don’t disagree with its overall message, but illustrate it. Don’t spoon feed your readers.

Furthermore, having an adult try to do a childlike voice in the audiobook did not work for me. I know there are audiobook narrators with young sounding voices. Why not hire one of them for the production? This just sounded absolutely ridiculous to me, and it increased the annoyance I was already feeling regarding the aforementioned complaint.

Full disclosure: I did not finish the book. I want to provide useful feedback, and I think that I have, but life is too short to force myself through novels like this.

I tried multiple times to finish this book. I had to download, delete, re-download and I still couldn’t get past 22%. Of the 22% I read, I really did not enjoy it. The narrator‘s voice is aggravating. It’s supposed to be a young child, but it just made it so hard to listen to. The content has tons of triggers Which didn’t bother me, but made it really hard to listen to. I felt like the book jumped around a lot, and I had to rewind a couple of times to make sure you understood what was happening. I don’t know if it would have gotten better if I had finished the book but of the 22% I read I did not enjoy this book.