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A review by nickoliver
Hang the Moon by Alexandria Bellefleur
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I didn't like this quite as much as the first book, mostly because I found Brendon to be a tad bit too annoying (for the most part; there were also some things about him that I adored, like how safe he felt and the way he treated Annie).
The writing, just like in the first book, was a bit weird again, especially the idioms that were used sometimes. And the plot itself didn't always make sense to me? The start of it was a bit bumpy, and especially towards the end, I felt like Bellefleur made things way too easy. As someone who wants a similar job to Annie, I don't think it's quite that simple to actually get a job in that industry (and I say this as someone who's never actually had one before, precisely because there's not a lot to find). Maybe it's different in the US, but the way everyone downplayed the job situation made me a bit mad sometimes.
Regarding the plot, it was pretty annoying, too, how Bellefleur brushed over a lot of scenes that were talked about before? For example, Brendon had to give a speech at a wedding and was nervous beforehand, but you never actually hear the speech. Or he'd have a big important meeting but Bellefleur would just jump over that and have him recap it afterwards. Had this happened once, I could've overlooked it, but after the third time, I got frustrated.
However, I really liked Annie and Brendon together! I liked the way they paid attention to each other and laughed and bantered together - the dates they went on together were really cute and fun to read -, and I also loved the smut? It was very light compared to other books, but the fact that Annie and Brendon laughed together in bed and the way consent was explicitly asked for just made me feel safe.
Moreover, the side characters were great. I loved how determined they all were to get Annie to stay in Seattle and show her that they loved and treasured her. I'm always a sucker for companion novels precisely because old couples come up again, and obviously, with Brandon being Darcy's brother, both Darcy and Elle were very present in the story.
I'm really looking forward to the third book now! I can't read it right away because my library has it lent out currently, but I should be getting it soon-ish.
The writing, just like in the first book, was a bit weird again, especially the idioms that were used sometimes. And the plot itself didn't always make sense to me? The start of it was a bit bumpy, and especially towards the end, I felt like Bellefleur made things way too easy. As someone who wants a similar job to Annie, I don't think it's quite that simple to actually get a job in that industry (and I say this as someone who's never actually had one before, precisely because there's not a lot to find). Maybe it's different in the US, but the way everyone downplayed the job situation made me a bit mad sometimes.
Regarding the plot, it was pretty annoying, too, how Bellefleur brushed over a lot of scenes that were talked about before? For example, Brendon had to give a speech at a wedding and was nervous beforehand, but you never actually hear the speech. Or he'd have a big important meeting but Bellefleur would just jump over that and have him recap it afterwards. Had this happened once, I could've overlooked it, but after the third time, I got frustrated.
However, I really liked Annie and Brendon together! I liked the way they paid attention to each other and laughed and bantered together - the dates they went on together were really cute and fun to read -, and I also loved the smut? It was very light compared to other books, but the fact that Annie and Brendon laughed together in bed and the way consent was explicitly asked for just made me feel safe.
Moreover, the side characters were great. I loved how determined they all were to get Annie to stay in Seattle and show her that they loved and treasured her. I'm always a sucker for companion novels precisely because old couples come up again, and obviously, with Brandon being Darcy's brother, both Darcy and Elle were very present in the story.
I'm really looking forward to the third book now! I can't read it right away because my library has it lent out currently, but I should be getting it soon-ish.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing
Moderate: Sexual content