The book started off way too slow and was hard to get into, I was expecting something more than I got, and despite it being witty in some parts and vaguely interesting in others this book fell short of what I expected from the author based on previous works.

Without giving too much away the plot was good but the storyline was inconsistent and a little out of tune with what I had expected.
I hope to come back and try again with this book later in life.

This is probably my favourite Jenn Bennett book yet. The characters were unique without feeling unrealistic, and they had such diverse backgrounds and experiences that are touched on throughout the story. I loved the mystery aspect that manages to weave through the story without turning it into a full-blown mystery novel but still provides some suspense. I really like that Jenn Bennett doesn't shy away from some of the bigger issues that teens face, but she manages to balance that with some of the lighter aspects of being a teen. Every character in this story was written so vividly that I could picture passing them on the street, and no characters felt like they were just thrown in to move the plot along and then forgotten. Each character had a purpose and a personality. I was also really surprised by the twist in Birdie and Daniel's mystery, which made me love this book even more. There were some very intense and emotional moments throughout the story, and Birdie and Daniel were such genuinely good people that it was easy to empathize with them.

My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

I have always been a fan of author, Jenn Bennett. She is quirky, down to earth and writes very well. In Bennett's latest story, eighteen year old Birdie is still recovering from the recent death her strict and judgmental grandmother. Birdie also lost her mother when she was ten, and never knew her father. Everyone she loves dies, it seems to her. So, when she meets Daniel after a job interview, their instant chemistry has her running for cover!
The slow burn of this romance will have you pining for poor besotted Daniel: he is such a lovely Book Boyfriend!.

Daniel (who has Japanese ancestry) could never forget the pretty girl he met and made out with at the Moonlight Diner. He even posts a romantic, beseeching ad in a local paper, hoping to find Birdie and mend whatever set her into flight mode. Daniel is described as having long black hair that he ties back in a messy knot. Yum! We later discover that Daniel suffers from depression and there are some tense moments involving a secret from his past that may frighten Birdie away for good. He will need all of his amateur magic skills to keep misdirecting Birdie's attention while he slowly finds a way into her fearful heart.

Birdie, who is of Scandinavian ancestry, wears a lily in her hair (in memory of her mother) and is addicted to mysteries. When Fate brings the two lovers together again - they both end up working the night shift at a ritzy hotel a few blocks away from the diner where they had their fateful rendezvous! - Daniel makes sure to use every element of mystery at his disposal to lure Birdie away from her fear of "loving and always losing" and get her back into his arms. There are quite a few twists and turns in this often hilarious story. Is it fate or coincidence that these star-crossed young lovers shared so much pre-history - read the book and find out all the cute little "almost meets" that occur in this story.

I always recommend Jenn Bennett's books: Starry Eyes and Alex, Approximately being two of my favourites - and now Serious Moonlight! Enjoy! (I miss Daniel and Birdie already!)

I wished for Serious Moonlight and was thrilled when it was granted! What a gem of a book. Jenn Bennett fans will be delighted with this mystery lovers' romance.

Birdie Lindberg is an 18 year hold with her first job, the night shift at the front desk of the Cascadia Hotel. She's been homeschooled throughout high school but didn't graduate because her grandmother, her teacher, died before submitting her final grades. She is working in Seattle and commuting from Bainbridge Island. Birdie's been sheltered because her mother got pregnant and left the island at 17 with her best friend Mona; she didn't speak to her parents again and they missed Birdie's first few years, until her mother died unexpectedly.

Birdie is a HUGE mystery buff and, not going to lie, it completely warmed this mystery nerd's heart to see her love for Nancy Drew, Midsomer Murders, and Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries.

On her first day, Birdie is surprised to meet her coworker Daniel Aoki, who she had a brief backseat encounter with a few weeks earlier. She met him in her favorite diner, the Moonlight Diner (this book will make you crave pie, you've been warned); they flirted, they got into his car to go somewhere and then things heated up pretty quickly. And then she left and threw his number off the of the ferry. Awkward is understating it.

Daniel remembers her love for mysteries and presents her with one to solve from the hotel; he thinks one of the regular guests is actually Raymond Drake, mystery author. They start to work on the mystery together to figure out if it is him and also why is he renting a room so briefly at the same time every week?

The reader is drawn into both the mystery and the sort of fumbling 'will they or won't they get together' between Birdie and Daniel. Birdie is weary of being left by anyone ever again and has never been in a relationship before, she has been so sheltered her only friend is her Aunt Mona, her mom's best friend. She's also hiding a sleep disorder that the night shift isn't helping. Daniel alludes to something in his past and has no hearing in one ear after an accident.

Perfect for mystery nerds, this is a sweet and slow-building romance between two people who have been through a lot in their pasts and aren't sure about what's in their futures. Birdie and Daniel are at an age where a lot of their peers are focused on college and setting plans for the rest of their lives and while they both have some direction they've got to go through more bumps along the way to get there.

Note: This story deals with depression and an attempted suicide (prior to the events of the book).

**Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.**

This was the first book I've read by Jenn Bennett, and it's very clear why she's a staple in YA Contemporary. Her writing is flawless and her story was perfectly crafted. This was full of mystery, romance, family and diversity. It dealt with serious subjects and also balanced it with really cute heart-warming moments. Birdie wasn't my favourite of characters but I did appreciate her quirks and loved her passion for mystery and suspense. Daniel was a very lovable character and he was such a delight! I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and now I'm desperate to read more from the author.

A few other random things I loved about this one: the subtle David Bowie references here and there (the title is a big one) and also the inclusion of realistic sex positivity! A genuine and cute story!

After having an isolated childhood filled with mystery books, Birdie Lindberg fancies herself an amateur sleuth. But after she takes on a job at a historic Seattle hotel (the graveyard shift, of course), she may have a real mystery on her hands.

Daniel Aoki, the young van driver at the hotel (with whom Birdie shared an awkward encounter one night before she knew they worked together), is the one to put Birdie on the case: a famous reclusive writer—one that never, ever makes public appearances—might be secretly meeting someone at the hotel for something shady.

To uncover this mystery, Birdie and Daniel will have to spend many mornings at the Moonlight Diner pouring over evidence with a slice of pie… but they might discover more than they bargained for about themselves and each other.

My musings
Jenn Bennett created herself some really strong characters in Serious Moonlight, and it is because of these characters that the story is so successful. Birdie is a little frustrating at the beginning: She doesn’t come to terms with her medical issues, she seems to overreact when it comes both her emotions and Daniels and she’s very naive for a young woman of 18. But as the book progresses, she comes out of her shell and really comes into her own—and not only because of Daniel, which I appreciated. Because we don’t have Daniel’s POV in the first person, it’s a little hard to show his journey, but I really like that he pursues Birdie hard, but without being aggressive or cocky. He acts like a typical teenager, and I felt like they were learning a lot about love together.

These characters also both suffer from medical issues that really affect them, but those pieces aren’t the sole focus of the book. They are mentioned many times, sure, because it is a big part of their lives, but it didn’t bog down or hinder the plot in any way. And for a YA novel with a cute premise, this book tackles a lot of really tough topics including teen pregnancy, suicide, depression, narcolepsy, and death.

Now, about the mystery. It was really boring. I wasn’t invested in all in what Raymond Darke was doing, and even when the big reveal came at the end, I was neither surprised (even though I surprisingly didn’t figure it out until Birdie did) nor did I care. And after that big reveal, I feel like the story didn’t really go anywhere with it. There could have definitely been a more exciting mystery for this pair to solve.

That being said, the mystery-inspired dates that Daniel planned for Birdie were swoon-worthy. They were just on theme enough to prove that these two were really amateur sleuths, but they weren’t overly complicated or unbelievable. You can tell Daniel put a lot of thought into them and you understand why Birdie fell for him so quickly. These dates—and the amazing character development—is why I gave this novel the rating that I did.

3.5 STARS

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for the advanced copy.

This review will be posted on April 8 at 7:30 am at https://modestreader.com/2019/04/08/serious-moonlight.

Bennett has given us another strong love story between two well developed characters, exactly what I was hoping she would do! Birdie struggles to figure out how to be in a relationship and all the quirks that come with it.. Birdie and Daniel are coming from different backgrounds, and it will ultimately be up to Birdie to figure out if she's willing to risk being in a relationship or if she'll keep pushing people away out of fear.

Daniel Pursues Birdie Without Being Aggressive (WIN!)
I honestly think it was great that we get to see a romance where a man woos a woman without making the reader feel like he basically forcing the woman to spend time with him. Daniel is an excellent example of what all men should strive to do; give women options and allow them to decide what they want to do. He understands Birdie and creates adventures and dates that he knows she specifically would like, not just generic dinner and movie dates that can be applied to anyone. I also love that when they talk about sex, she claims that she doesn't need romance, but he's the one that says that he's the one who would like it. He's confident in who he is and I loved seeing how he encourages Birdie to trust him without coming off as arrogant or pushy.

Good Character Development
This is definitely a character driven story, so I appreciated that we were give some really great characters to read about! Birdie definitely has a lot to work and it's great that we see her starting to understand herself better. It honestly makes me so sad that she constantly makes herself feel bad for "being like her mom" just because she decides to have sex. There's a lot happening in her life that she needs to come to terms with, and it's great that she has people like her Aunt Mona and Daniel to help her. Likewise, Daniel has gone through a lot over the last year and I loved seeing how he and his family relationships have changed because of it. There's a lot of honesty and discussion about how to make sure people are taking care of themselves and I thought Bennett did a really good job exploring that theme.

The Mystery Is Boring, But the Dates are Awesome
I understand that Daniel gets Birdie to spend time with him by enticing her with a mystery, so the storyline makes sense, but the actually mystery is fairly boring to me. I just didn't care if they solved it or not. It makes a great excuse for their relationship to develop, but I could have done without the parts where they are actually trying to solve it. It felt flat to me and I wasn't necessarily surprised when they solve it. That said, I LOVE the romantic mystery scavenger hunts that Daniel creates for Birdie. Their first date is awesome and I love how much time Daniel spends creating these romantic moments for Birdie. I thought that those "mysteries" were adorable and I always wanted to see where they ended up (unlike the actual mystery they have to solve).

Overall, this was a really cute love story and I think anyone who has liked Jenn Bennett's other books will love this book too! It's a fun and easy read, with a strong character driven story, and a great spring romance.

Serious Moonlight is a Young Adult contemporary romance. It is my first book by this author.

The narrator is 18 year old Birdie (1st person POV). Her mom and grandmother have died. And she lives with her grandfather. She has a sleeping disorder, which I found intriguing.

It took me a while to get into this story. She is very close with her mom's best friend Mona. And I enjoyed this part of the story. Also there is a bit of a mystery surrounding a man at the hotel where she works. I did like this part of the story as well.

There is a boy named Daniel (19). I liked their friendship. And I found his family very interesting.

Overall, this was a cute YA story. But I just wasn't overly invested in the characters.

Jenn Bennett has done it again! The author of Alex, Approximately and Starry Eyes has once again written a novel that I simply could not put down.

While I Serious Moonlight starts off on a much different note than what I had first anticipated, I quickly became completely enthralled with the story. The plot involves a mystery that our main characters are trying to solve, and while I thought the outcome was a bit predictable, I still enjoyed how it was done and how it brought our two main protagonists together.

I also love how inclusive and diverse this book is. Our characters are both unique in their own way, and Jenn Bennett managed to write in characters with quirks without it becoming the sole purpose of the stor.y. It was part of who they are, but the story wasn't about their heritage or their disability. This mystery helped both Birdie and Daniel grow, and this story showed that they bring out the best in the other. They were definitely meant to be together. The romance was, as usual, very swoon-worthy, and I couldn't help but root for our main characters from the start.

This was a very enjoyable read and I hope everyone else will love it as much as I did!

“Judging people unfairly doesn’t define them; it defines you. And in the end everyone will be disappointed”

Birdie Lindberg is always looking for a new detective case. After her mother passed away when she was ten and her grandmother just a few months ago, it seems people are always leaving Birdie behind and she finds her solace in the pursuit of a good mystery. So when she starts working at an old hotel on the night shift and a handsome and charming boy places a real life mystery in her hands, Birdie can’t help but go toward it, even if that boy is someone she maybe perhaps didn’t think (and kind of hoped) she would ever see again. Bennett weaves another heartfelt and dynamic novel about growing up and learning that sometimes the people you need most may be right in front of you.

There is something magical about Jenn Bennett’s stories. In Serious Moonlight, Birdie’s life is a unique one and yet through her is the universal experience of the trials that come with growing up, with grief, and with falling in love. The picturesque landscape of the novel, taking place in Seattle and yet feeling like a secluded and magical town of possibilities, gives readers a sense of feeling they have been there and yet as if they are exploring the town for the first time. The idea of fate is laced through the novel, the two main characters meeting by chance not once but twice in a large city and the connections between many of the characters we encounter, gives a touch of magic to the book.

Birdie was a confusing character to get a hold of at first because her actions (specifically involving her first encounter with Daniel) didn’t align with the characteristics she was displaying or thinking about. After she encountered Daniel again and had more interactions with characters I realized that her actions made sense because she perceived herself to be a different person that she actually was, she was a bolder character than she gave herself credit for. Over the course of the novel I felt I came to know Birdie and that she came to know herself better, this dynamic kind of character something refreshing to see in a YA contemporary. Moving on to Daniel, I don’t even know how to say how much I adored him. Not only was he witty and charming, but these characteristics were masking a very real person underneath, someone who uses bravado to get through hard times and this was something I could identify with and many others can I am sure. Daniel was my favourite of Bennett’s characters that I’ve read so far, feeling the most real and dynamic.

Any book that I find myself laughing at and smiling at that also makes me think is what that has captured my attention and Serious Moonlight contained a myriad of reasons for me to love it; dynamic characters, witty dialogue, an engaging plot, and a picturesque setting.

3.5/5

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book has teen detectives, romance, a love interest that's half Japanese, a bit of magic, mentions of the opera, art, descriptions of Seattle, a cozy diner, pie, references to iconic mystery stories and writers, and nods to David Bowie. I really enjoyed it. There are a lot of elements but everything works so well to make this a good story. If you're a fan of Jenn Bennett or YA contemporary romance novels that have more than just romance you'll enjoy as well.

Trigger warnings: loss of a loved one, narcolepsy, mentions of suicide, depression, teen pregnancy.

I really enjoyed this book and thought it had a very fun plot line. There were a few slow parts, but it was really good throughout the rest of it. Jenn Bennett wrote a well-balanced book, along with really good character arcs. I thought each character was well rounded, both main characters and side characters, and they each had their own personalities that worked very well in the novel. There were even some twists that I was not expecting, and I really enjoyed them. I absolutely loved Birdie and Daniel and felt for them through the story - the heartbreak, the humour, the sadness, the love. I give this story 4/5 stars.

This was SO CUTE. I loved everything about this-- the characters, the dabble of mystery, the diversity, the setting. EVERYTHING.
Lets break it down shall we.
We follow Birdie, she is a mystery loving, Nancy Drew wannabe who is dealing with the loss of her Mother and Grandmother. She now relies solely on her Grandfather and her mothers best friend Mona. Birdies Grandfather has been diagnosed with narcolepsy and Birdie herself has been showing signs of it as well, but she has been keeping it to herself. A chance meeting at her favorite diner introduces us to Daniel. Daniel is Japanese and a wannabe magician, who happens to be deaf in one ear. The relationship grows over time and they both have to work on themselves in order to fully let each other in.

What I loved:
SEX POSITIVE. This book deals with sex in such a positive light, its not frowned upon or shied away from, and when sex is on the table it is SAFE and consensual and THANK YOU JENN BENNETT.
The setting of this book is everything! The hotel Birdie works at is in downtown Seattle, we get the beautiful northwest pacific atmosphere. The hotel setting, the fact that Birdie works the graveyard shift. It just sets up a perfect "contemporary mystery." I want to go to Seattle SO BAD now.
Birdie and Daniels relationship feels so authentic and real. I loved getting to unwrap all the layers of these characters and understand why they acted the way they did in certain situations.
One last thing is the family dynamics. Birdie and Daniel don't have traditional families. Birdie is raised by her Grandfather and her mothers best friend Mona, who is like a mother to her, and Daniel is raised by a single mom, and lives in a communal village with his grandparents.

This book was SO DAMN GOOD. Read it, you won't be disappointed!

Thank you Simon and Schuster Canada for providing a copy for review.

If you’re a fan of Jenn Bennett’s previous novels, you’ll know to expect quirky main characters, shenanigans, & a lil cute as pie romance in her newest novel, Serious Moonlight. If you’ve never read Bennett’s work before here’s what you need to know they’ll make you wanna pick up a copy of this adorable YA book:
+MCs obsessed with old-timey mysteries, families living in Scandinavian inspired communes, & one-room theatres flipped to modern houses makes for quite the quirky bunch of characters.
+Always to do with family, though the MCs in Bennett’s books are often lone-wolf/introvert types, they’re always surrounded by family characters that are fleshed out enough that their stories & personalities play a key role in her stories.
+West coast, best coast. The picturesque description of Seattle’s cityscape, ferry rides, & eclectic shopping centers sound so exciting & make you wish you too could be there.
+The MC, Birdie’s love interest is the ever-adorable Daniel, a half-Asian, magic obsessed nerd to the core who provides humour & charm as an alternative love interest to the ever typical brooding boy we’re used to finding in YA.
+A mystery subplot mixed with the beautifully described setting, added to the cute little bee that is Daniel Aoki then also compounded with the CUTEST date nights ever, this was a delightful read, like all of Bennett’s books before <3

Birdie adores mystery books and is always on the lookout for real-life mysteries to solve. Her childhood was unconventional and restrictive, and she is trying to find her place in the world. She was a great first-person narrator with so much going on: she worries about losing everyone she loves, has sleep problems, always wears a flower in her hair, was homeschooled, has a great eye for detail, is an adorably introverted bookworm, generally avoids swearing, and has big dreams.

Daniel was amazing: he is really into magic, struggles with his mental health, adores pie, thinks of amazing date ideas, is deeply supportive, hides some super important details about his past and present, is very friendly and seems to know a ton of people, and is uncertain about his future. He was so considerate and respectful of what Birdie wanted and was comfortable with. (And that card trick?! Swoon.)

Birdie + Daniel = adorable chemistry. Right from the beginning, I knew this book was going to be so good because of how great they were together. While they are trying to solve their mystery, they often refer to each other as Nick and Nora from "The Thin Man" after Birdie mentions how much she likes them. It was so cool that they were intrigued by each other's interests, especially with Daniel starting the whole "let's be Nick and Nora" thing. Their banter was cute, but I also loved that they didn't always have the right words to talk to each other and often made a bit of a mess of things. They felt so real and were simply amazing.

Birdie's confusion about relationships, in general and romantic, due to being very sheltered by her Grandma was such an honestly perfect thing to have in this book. Teens are too often portrayed as finding these amazing romances and knowing exactly how to act and never being/feeling awkward, so this was so refreshing and relatable for someone like me who doesn't do ~the relationship thing~ and doesn't see myself reflected in YA very often. My reasons are very different from Birdie's, but my thoughts are similar enough that I was super happy about the way Birdie expressed her feelings on all of this. So thanks for that, Jenn!

The supporting characters were also lovely. Both of these families had unconventional dynamics and struggled with some things. Daniel's family was very protective of him, and his Jiji was the best for sure. Birdie's grandpa shared her love for mysteries and was all for her becoming more independent and getting out into the world. Mona was her mom's best friend and helped a lot with raising Birdie. Their relationship was so pure and open and heartwarming. Mona's crazy outfits were balanced by her affection and support for Birdie, so I ended up really liking her after a tiny adjustment period to her big presence.

I felt like I knew so much about all of these characters and the setting and everything - the background details were flawlessly written into conversations and Birdie's thoughts. There weren't ever huge info dumps or endless internal monologues. The plot kept moving along, but the romance was also so important and always lingering over whatever was happening, no matter how hard Birdie was trying to forget about this lovely boy.

I loved how much "real life" stuff was included: awkward chats about sex, imperfect sex, periods, guilt after a loved one dies, confusion about dating, people not knowing how to talk about death and mental health, and so much more. It was also great that the littlest details carried on throughout the book (like Bowie, Birdie's flowers, Daniel's nervous ear pulling, and pie). The part about live-action Clue was so good and I want to play so badly!

I'm not a mystery addict like Birdie, but I always appreciate books with mysterious elements and clues and such (and I absolutely adore "Sherlock"), so maybe I'll have to explore this genre more! The quotes at the beginnings of the chapters and all of the mentions by Birdie throughout the book will make a great starting list for some movies and books to check out! This book was awesome.

Jenn Bennett is one of my favourite contemporary authors. I’ve read and loved her three previous YA contemporary books.

She seriously never disappoints. Her characters are always unique and quirky, and beautiful and realistically flawed.

And as always, her main characters have a passion that wouldn’t be considered “the norm”. That has always been my absolute favourite thing about Bennett’s books. Teaching teens that they can and should love what makes them passionate.
In Birdie’s case, it’s mysteries and sleuthing. In Daniel’s case, it’s magic and carpentry.

The other thing that Bennett always pulls off in a flawless way, is having sex-positive and consent conversations. She also doesn’t shy away from the hard conversations either.

I really loved Birdie and Daniel’s relationship in this one. It’s amazing how Bennett makes each of her books so vastly different. The way they meet and get together never feels repetitive or tired.

Being a mystery lover myself since childhood, I related to Birdie in a way that is often rare for me. So I really enjoyed that.

And man alive. Daniel. Can Daniel please be real so I can marry him?
Seriously I think I’m in love haha.

If you’re a fan of YA contemporary novels,
I’ll never stop recommending Bennett’s books. Read all four of them. They’re wonderful.

I fucking love Jenn Bennett. She is by far my favourite contemp author.

Her ladies are always relatable with some awesome quirky hobbies.
Families are present. Might be some dysfunction but hey that's all of us.
I believe she does a great job being inclusive and having a diverse cast of characters. Always including the leads.
And let me tell you, she will always provide you with your next book boyfriend.
I loved Birdie. I loved Daniel. I loved them together in all their nerdy mystery solving magic wielding adorable relationship. There are some communication issues but like teenagers. Otherwise, they talk. And as always sex-positive and consent is a bright light.

Get on this one in April guys. It's so fucking good.

More like 3.5 stars. I liked this book. Both main characters were good. I actually think I liked this more than any other of Jenn Bennett's books.

I just wish it was a bit shorter. I felt some things dragged out and lose momentum. The mystery was a bit of a disappointment but ok. It wasn't really about that.

What I really liked is sex positivity and the role of honesty in a relationship. I guess that aspect deserves five stars. This is a nice YA contemporary book. Nothing groundbreaking but solid. Points for sex positivity and an Asian love interest. Minus for a bit shady plot, but it is not so much of a problem.

Thank you Netgalley and Simon and Schuster Canada for my ARC of this book!! I had previously read Alex, Approximately by Jen Bennett and loved it. While reading this book, however, I didn’t feel that same connection with the story or characters. I didn’t hate the story, but I just didnt feel moved by it either. When I sat down to write this, I actually had to go back and read the synopsis to remind myself what the book was about.

Although I did like Bennett’s incorporation of cultural aspects and that the story took place in the Pacific Northwest, there should be a caution/trigger content warning due to the mental health discussions, more specifically, talk surrounding a youth suicide attempt.

I would definitely read something by Jenn Bennett again, but for me, this story just wasn’t very memorable.

ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.



I'm a huge fan of this author so when I was accepted to receive an arc, I died. When this book comes out I'm lining up to buy it and give it a proper reread in its final form. I read it on my kindle and there were definitely a few grammar mistakes and it started off slightly confusing in the introduction to the mystery thing.



I loved the characters in this book they were nothing like I expected and I loved that they both had their own issues that they were working on. The main guy character was of mixed background and I loved that, his family was so perfect and I loved them! I also loved the character growth for the main girl, she just really blossomed over the novel from a very insecure young girl to a more sure of herself version.



This is a great read if you love romance, contemporary and mysteries!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2692266294

https://booksontuesday.blogspot.com/2019/01/serious-moonlight-by-jenn-bennet-45-arc.html