HANG THE MOON is just as cute as its' counterpart WRITTEN IN THE STARS. It is cute, spicy, fluffy, and made me long for the days when romance was uncertain and butterflies would crowd my stomach. Definitely preordering this as soon as I get paid!

I had the first book in this series on hold with my library for so long that I devoured it. I was excited to get the ARC of the second book and again, devoured it. I think I liked this book before because Brendan was actively interested in a lasting relationship which is refreshing for male main characters.

Brendan is the founder of a dating app. His sister is happy settled with one of his business partners and he's trying to find his special person. He's always been interested in his sister's best friend Annie but knows he has to put effort into finding his true match.

Annie is unsettled in life. She's traveled all over for work and is about to start a new job in London. She comes to Seattle to hang with her best friend and ends up being romanced by Brendan. She knew he had a crush on her when they were younger and is amused by his plan to reenact a rom-com.

The cast of characters really made this book rich for me. You can read it without reading the first book but I'd recommend that you don't. You get so much more out of the friend group and sibling relationships if you know the other characters well. They made Annie really think about what she wanted in life and helped Brendan be secure in what he wants in a partner.

Overall, this was a delightful book and my heart felt warm and cuddly while reading it. I also laughed SO hard at the ferris wheel scene. One of my favorite moments in a book so far. I recommend you check this book and author out - I can't wait to read more!

Hang the Moon is the companion/follow up to Written in the Stars and follows two of the side characters from the first novel. This follows the trend of many companion novels, where you get a glimpse of the life your favorite characters are living but they become one of many side characters in this story. Overall it’s a funny romance with a solid queer cast of characters, but it didn’t quite click with me as well as Written in the Stars did.

Before I start this review, I just want to say that I haven't read Bellefleur's Written in the Stars (the first book in this series) but was completely aware of it and actually planning to read it this year too. I had so many expectations going into this because of the many rave reviews I've read.

In the beginning of the book, we see Annie about to board her flight to Seattle, to surprise her best friend Darcy who she hasn't seen in more than a year. Annie currently lives in Philadelphia and just got a promotion that'll require her to move to London. Hence the decision to visit Darcy one last time before she starts living in a different country that's several miles away. Problem is, Darcy isn't in Seattle at the moment so she asked her younger brother Brendon to tour Annie around until she gets back.

This was a quick read for me. I had fun reading about Annie and Brendon especially during their trips in Seattle. It was adorable how Brendon used to have a big crush on Annie since they were literally kids. Childhood friends to lovers is one of the tropes that I enjoy the most and this certainly had that unrequited love but also the 'the crush never truly went away' vibe. Brendon is a hopeless romantic who hopes to someday find 'the one', believes in grand gestures, and loves watching romantic comedies- which I think is very refreshing to read. I loved that he was patient with Annie who, by the way, made it clear from the start that she doesn't want to date or settle for a 2-week-romance. But of course that's exactly what happened.

Honestly, this could've been a solid 4 stars. It's just that...starting from the halfway mark, my rating kind of got lower and lower because of some stuff that was rushed in my opinion. I wasn't totally on board the whole 'moving' idea and felt uncomfotable for Annie when everyone was sort of pushing her to just decide already. I personally think you need at least a longer amount of time for those kinds of change, and for me Annie arrived there rather quickly (and easily, I might add). But overall, it was cute and the epilogue had me drowning with feels.

Thank you Netgalley and Avon/Harper Voyager for the earc!

An adorable rom com featuring astrology, dating apps, and Seattle! This book continues in the lives of the characters from the author’s previous book, Written in the Stars, focusing on Brendon and Annie. You do not need to read the other book to enjoy this one, but they’re equally as wonderful. Add this one to your list for when you need a quick paced, feel good book. I love banter, and this author does banter right. I’d recommend this to anyone that enjoys rom-com. Light steam.

I was so excited to get an early copy of Annie and Brendon's book. Brendon is pure Cinnamon Roll dream. Now I just want all male pov's to be him. The romance was cute and believable between the characters. Also, the charades game in this book was so hilarious.

Brendon and Annie have great chemistry. Their 'dates' were cute, but relatable. I like that Brendon is actually quite sensible, while still being a fun, whimsical, romantic guy. Annie is a great lead, with insecurities about where life has taken her. There isn't much conflict in this book, which isn't a complaint, but good to know for those patrons/readers that are annoyed by 'drama' and the often seen "act III breakup scene."
Bellefleur hits some of the great tropes - childhood crush, best friend's sibling, stranded/one bed, geographical separation - and weaves in some well-crafted steam, to give Brendon and Annie a fun, delightful love story.

On a technical level this is another good installment by Bellefleur, with solid pacing and many enjoyable moments. She breaks away from the Pride and Prejudice parallels and offers a love story that stands on its own.

However, I was personally uncomfortable with Brendon’s plan to convince Annie that love isn’t dead. She firmly states her disinterest in dating at the beginning of the story, and he basically says “Nah, I’m going to show you how wrong you are.” Yes, he already has a crush on her so he’s not trying to manipulate some random girl in a bar, but that almost makes it worse since they have a level of trust established. As a reader on the ace spectrum, this oozes manipulation and refusal to respect boundaries. Since it’s a rom com, everyone ends up happy, but I am not a fan of the message it sends.

I find myself struggling to connect with characters when the story is written in third person. I feel that stories like this are best told from the hero or heroine's perspective, or maybe even dual POV between the two. The book blurb was promising, but it ended up in my DNF pile because of this.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this ARC!

Hang the Moon by Alexandria Bellefleur is just what you want in a romantic comedy, including nods to the biggest and best rom-com movies we’ve all seen and loved. Although it can be read as a stand-alone, the first book, Written in the Stars, was just too adorable to miss out on.

3.5/5 ⭐️
🎡 Cute/quick read.
🎡 Well written story & diverse characters.
🎡 Hopeless romantic male character.
🎡 A decent amount of 🔥.

If you’re in the mood for a feel good romance minus the drama, you will enjoy this one! Am I the only one who wants to plan a trip to Seattle after reading this?

I am intrigued to see where Bellefleur goes next with Margot’s story!

Thank you @netgalley and @avonbooks for my #gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

Pub Date: 5/25/2021

#HangTheMoon #ambellefleur #avonbooks #NetGalley #arc #ownvoices #romcom #goodreads #booknerd #booklover #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookish #romancereads #AlisReads #flippin_and_sippin_mn

I liked Written in the Stars a lot but this one was even better. I love how much of a role Seattle plays in the story and I was happy to see all these wonderful characters again. I can’t believe I have to wait so long for Margot’s story!!!

Review also posted on blog: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend.com/

A Sweet Rom-Com!
Brendon Lowell has always been a romantic, ever since he was a little kid. It’s why, as an adult, he created a dating app to help people find love. A few months ago, he even helped bring his sister Darcy and her girlfriend, Elle together. Unfortunately for Brendon however, he’s always been kind of unlucky in the love department himself.

The moment Darcy’s best friend Annie arrives from out of town, however, the sparks fly.

Though Annie is a few years older, Brendon has always had a crush on her. Annie however, has always seen him as a little kid, until now.

Annie is a successful young woman who has traveled to Seattle on the spur of the moment to surprise Darcy. She has big news to share.

The surprise however is on Annie, the moment she sets her eyes on Brendon again.

Tall, Dark, Handsome, and Sexy... she simply cannot resist Brendon’s charm, kindness, or sarcastic wit.

Annie doesn’t have time for a man in her life and frankly doesn’t want one and yet, Brendon is irresistible.

The friendship between Annie and Brendon has always been there and the chemistry that is developing can’t be ignored.

A seriously sweet, warmhearted, sexy romance that warmed this girl’s heart. Though it was a tad too steamy for me, it was a fabulous romance and a great follow-up to Alexandria Bellefleur’s “Written in the Stars.” Although this is a sequel, “Hang the Moon” works well as a standalone for those who didn’t read Darcy and Elle’s story (which I also loved and recommend).

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

Published on Goodreads, Twitter, and Instagram.

I demand the universe gives me my own Brendon

This book is the equivalent of laying on the couch with your S/O while binging a marathon of classic romcoms. So basically heaven.

You know you’ve found a new favorite book when you finish it and then immediately start to reread it! The romance, the story, the characters, eek just wait until you meet Brendon and Annie! They’re the absolute cutest!! Brendon is a sweet little cinnamon roll, and Annie was so relatable and amazing! a.m is now a favorite author, and this is most definitely a new favorite book. Don’t be surprised when you see this on my Top 5 Books of the Year ✨

If you’re interested in preordering a signed/personalized copy of this book (which you should!!) head to my stories for the link!!

Thank you Avon for the gifted eARC

Bellefleur’s follow-up to Written In the Stars can work perfectly well as a standalone—woman flies out to Seattle to visit her best friend as a surprise, misses friend but ends up hanging out with the younger brother who had a crush on her. Instant spark, instant problem… She’s meant to start a job in London in a month. At a crossroads and afraid to trust, she has decisions to make. But add in the backstory of Darcy and Elle and Brendan’s role in their courtship, and you get a fun romantic comedy that plays expertly with favorite tropes. I’m looking forward to whatever she does next.

Such a cute book! I hadn't read the first book prior to this but I loved it all the same! And the only-one-bed-trope? Come on sign me up! The characters are adorable the romance is so so sweet. I'll definitely be checking out more of Alexandria Bellefleur's work!

I absolutely loved this book. It’s fun and steamy and romantic without being cliché. Even when it does venture into cliché, it does so with care and a critical eye. Hang the Moon explores the questions “what is romantic?” and “why do different people see romance and romantic gestures so differently?”. The discussion of love languages that flows organically through the book is one that I have yet to encounter in the genre - we are usually left to accept that this is what romance is, it is the grand gesture and the over the top confessions. Hang the Moon affirms that that isn’t always the case, that people and different and respond differently and that is beautiful.

My expectations for this book were too high after reading Written in the Stars. I adore Brendon and his love of all things romantic, but I couldn’t connect with Annie at all. The set up of Annie coming to spend time with her best friend before she moves to London, but then ends up spending all her time with her best friend’s brother just didn’t feel right. I do love that we got to see what was happening with Darcy and Elle. I absolutely loved the epilogue because they really are a cute couple and I love how they play off of each other. This author has a fun writing style and I am looking forward to her next book about Margot!

OMG THIS BOOK! I absolutely adored this book. This is an all time favorite. I can identify with Annie so much.

Alexandria is a dream guest to have on the show.

This book was featured on this really popular episode.

I loved Written in the Stars, and I dearly hoped for a story about Annie and Brendon, and this is it!

Brendon and Annie have known each other since they were children, and he used to have a big crush on her. But it's been eight years since they last saw each other. Annie flies to Seattle as a last chance to spend time with her best friend (Brendon's sister Elle) before moving to London.

As the founder of a dating app, Brendon believes in romance and loves rom-coms and weddings. Annie is convinced romance is dead, and people don't care enough to try anymore. He sets out to prove her wrong. I laughed so hard. This book has hilarious comedic scenes and great banter.

I loved that it was in Seattle. It makes me want to visit again so badly. Seattle becomes another character in the book. Most of all, I loved both characters and their relationship. The incorporation of love languages and what romance means to each of us was an excellent addition.

This would work as a standalone, but my own enjoyment was higher since I had already read Darcy and Elle's story.

Thank you to Avon and Harper Collins and NetGalley for this ARC.

4.5/5

A special thanks to HarperCollins and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Annie is tired. She spends 30 weeks out of the year traveling for her HR job without feeling fulfilled. She spends more time in conference rooms and hotels than exploring the amazing locations she visits. So when a steady promotion in London becomes available, Annie jumps at the chance to settle down for a change. To celebrate, she visits her best friend Darcy in Seattle and becomes reacquainted with Darcy's baby brother, Brendon, that she hasn't seen in eight years. Brendon's changed dramatically. He's now the CEO of a successful dating app and is incredibly hot. A hopeless romantic at heart, Brendon is still carrying the crush he had on Annie all those years ago. When Annie proclaims that she's done with love and dating, Brendon makes it his mission to woo Annie by recreating all his favorite grand gestures and romantic moments from his favorite movies. Can Annie resist his charm? Throughout it all, Annie must decide the difference between what she thinks she wants and what she truly wants out of life.

When I picked up this book, I didn't realize that it was the second in a series. The book can be read as a standalone, but now I want to go back and read the first book, Written in the Stars. I LOVED this book. It pulled me in from the first page and I read it in one sitting. The Seattle setting, the characters, the themes, everything was so well-written.

I loved the easy, familiar, flirty vibe that flowed from the pages between Annie and Brendon. You can tell they have history, but eight years later, both have grown and they now just seem to fit. Brendon is seriously the cutest thing ever. He wants to set everyone up, he believes in true love and he is vocal with Annie about his feelings for her. All the dates were incredibly swoony. He's the optimist to her pessimist, the sunshine to her rain and I loved his character so much!

Annie's struggle with work and friendships was incredibly relatable. She's having a hard time going along with the status quo of her job, because she thinks it's what she supposed to do. She's so in the weeds of it all that she doesn't realize that she doesn't really have roots anywhere and no real true friendships other than Darcy. On the flip side, Annie is struggling with no longer being Darcy's person now that Darcy has a girlfriend. Annie grew tremendously throughout the book and I enjoyed her journey.

This book was so good and is a must read for the summer. I loved it and cannot wait to go back and read the first book in the series.