This book was just... *chef's kiss.* I read it immediately after listening to Written on the Stars on audio (which I highly recommend--the narrator is amazing) and just couldn't bear to leave that fictional world. It's super challenging to following up a spectacular first book with a spectacular second book, but Bellefleur achieved the impossible. Now I'm waiting for a spectacular third book on Margot!!!!

This time, we see the paths cross of Annie, Darcy's best friend who is visiting town, and Brendon, Darcy's brother. Brendon's childhood crush on Annie hasn't gone away and Annie is certainly interested in the tall drink of water the once scrawny teenager has now become. One big problem: Annie is supposed to move to London for work. But can Brendon and Darcy and Elle and Margot convince her to move to Seattle?

One of the things I loved about this book is actually seemed super realistic. I can totally imagine Darcy's younger brother crushing on her best friend and them having a connection later on in life. And Darcy was totally supportive of the relationship--as she should be. I never quite understand those "off-limits" brother's best friend tropes. If you like your friend wouldn't you want him to date your sister? Idk--I appreciated seeing Darcy's support. I also think geography is a totally real impedance to a relationship. It wasn't something contrived, or what I like to call The Big HurdleTM in romance novels. This is a real issue many couples face. I also thought the pacing of this book made logical sense. Look, I loved Written in the Stars in all it's fake-dating-self-sabotaging glory, but I just felt like I really bought into the plot of this book more.

And don't even get me started on how HILARIOUS this one is. There's a moment on a ferris wheel that had me DYING. This book is sweet and sexy and funny and just all around fantastic. I'm also not normally a romance epilogue person (I don't NEED a proposal/wedding/baby/whatever-you're-stuffing-down-my-throat), but I really loved the epilogue on this one. No spoilers! Read it for yourself.

Thank you to Avon for my ecopy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

5 stars - 10/10

4 stars. Hang the moon follows Annie, Darcy’s long time best friend. Darcy is out of town with Elle so Annie spends the week with Darcy’s brother, Brendan. In just two weeks, Brendon will try to show her that there’s more to love. This book lacked a plot at times but it was extremely wholesome and cute and enjoyable. Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and Netgalley for sending me this arc.

This is an utterly charming contemporary romance with lovable leads. Annie is a bit jaded about love, but her frustrations with modern dating are relatable and her casual queerness refreshing. While Brendon is the romantic and relentless optimist of the pair, his character is well rounded, so that sentimentality never becomes cloying. The concept of recreating classic rom-com moments, which is part of Brendon’s plan to prove to Annie that love isn’t dead, had the potential to be heavy-handed, but was handled with finesse by Bellefleur and creates sweet, memorable moments, as well as opportunities for honest conversation between the characters about their perception and preferred expressions of love. Readers who were fans of Written in the Stars will appreciate seeing how Darcy and Elle’s relationship has progressed in the months since that story’s conclusion and will enjoy regular appearances by Margot, Elle’s, and now Brendon’s, tried-and-true sounding board and best friend. Overall, this is a fun story filled with vibrant characters, laughter, and a whole lot of chemistry!

Hang the Moon is a standalone novel but it features characters we meet in Alexandria Bellefleur's debut, Written in the Stars.

I was so excited for Hang the Moon after meeting Brendon in Written in the Stars. I loved Brendon and I thought it was cute that he had a crush on Annie as a kid. I loved how open and sweet he was. When Annie first saw Brendon after years I loved how she didn't recognize him at first because he grew up and into a man. I loved how he loved romantic comedies and believed strongly in romance.

Annie, sweet, sweet, Annie is Brendon's older sister's best friend. I related to her being stuck in a job she didn't enjoy, moving constantly and making it hard to make connections. I loved watching her come to terms with her feelings and how she learned to trust herself. It's okay to be afraid of the future but like Annie learns, you have to put your heart on the line sometimes.

I loved the inclusion of horoscopes in this book. The romantic gestures were swoon-worthy. I also loved being able to see more of Darcy and Elle from Written in the Stars and what their ever after looked like. I cannot wait for Margot to get her story next!

If you love romantic comedies, grand gestures, and romance you will love Hang the Moon.

I loved everything about this book. It’s the perfect fluffy romance with the exact right amount of very well written steamy parts.
I just reviewed Hang the Moon by Alexandria Bellefleur. #HangtheMoon #NetGalley

This book is, like Brendon, a precious cinnamon roll. I deeply enjoyed Written in the Stars and think I might actually like this book even better! The Seattle setting gave me warm fuzzies and made me want to visit ASAP. While reading the first book in the series isn't necessary to understand the story, I would strongly recommended it because a) the book is adorable, b) there's significant character overlap, and c) you get to peripherally see Darcy and Elle's relationship continue to grow. I adored Brendon and Annie together - there was chemistry and the tensions between the two felt organic, not contrived. Annie's problems and tough career decisions fit with her character and the kind of person she was supposed to represent, The discussions around love languages and how people need affirmation within relationships made sense in the book and are so important to have in real life. I basically read this book in a day because I didn't want to put it down. It's a sweet, heartwarming romance that left me feeling happy.

**Thank you HarperCollins publishers for providing this ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All quotes are taken from the ARC and are subject to change.**

“You’re telling me you’ve never stumbled across something great? Maybe you weren’t looking for it, but it turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to you?”

What happens when you combine a hopeless romantic who helps people find love for a living, a girl who believes that romance is dead and a meddling older sister determined to set-up her best-friend and her younger brother?
Well you get an absolutely charming story about two people falling in love and trusting each other, great friendships and a sense of found family.

Hang the moon is the sequel to written in the stars and it is a delightful read. Ideal for curling up under the covers and loose yourself within its pages.

I enjoyed Annie and Darcy’s friendship the most, because it is relatable. Having your best friend miles away from you can prove to be difficult especially when you need them the most.
Although this story was pleasant, it wasn’t entirely captivating. At times I found myself skimming the pages, I was not connecting with Brendon’s character as much as I wanted to. I know he is supposed to be this feminist guy in touch with his emotions but at times he felt too childish.

“...you can’t rush something you want to last forever…”

But if you love astrology, great friendships, sweet and sexy love stories about finding a place in the world where you feel safe, loved and wanted then this book is for you.

I am rating Hang the moon 3.5/5 and I can’t wait for Margot’s story!!

Don't you just love it when, in m/f pairings, it's the man who pines and yearns? Because I do.

This book is enchanting from start to finish. I admit, this didn't make me feel as amazing as Written in the Stars, but that doesn't mean it's not good! It's actually one of the fluffiest romance books I've ever read. There's just something about the way Alexandria Bellefleur writes that grabs me and doesn't let go until next thing I know the sun's up and I'm done.

The way Annie is just so casually queer, the way Brendon is just so huggable...all of these are all so natural and endearing. How their relationship progressed was a delight, too! You'd think these two laidback people don't have baggage, but they do and it's satisfying seeing them work through these problems as they discover each other. Anyway, loved this book.

Last night I finished an ARC of Hang the Moon by Alexandria Bellefleur that I was gifted through Netgalley and it ABSOLUTELY hit the spot. It was sweet, steamy and even made me tear up a bit!

If you’ve read Written in the Stars, you’ll remember Darcy’s sweet and goofy brother Brendon. Hang the Moon is the story of him and Annie, Darcy’s best friend and Brendon’s childhood crush. I loved watching Annie and Brendon’s story unfold, and I LOVE LOVE LOVE that Annie studied linguistics and watches french tv shows (like me!).

Be sure to pick up a copy of Hang the Moon when it comes out in May, it’s adorable!!

The follow up to Written in the Stars did not disappoint. We had a glimpse of the potential chemistry between Brendan and Annie in the first book, and it was palpable from the first time they meet again in Hang the Moon. Loved Brendan was a sweet cinnamon roll, but Annie really stole my heart. I and loved the continued Bi rep into the second book, and could really relate to Annie's feelings of isolation, which was magnified by the ongoing pandemic. Readers also get a update on Darcy and Elle. If you loved Written in the Stars, Hang the moon is a can't miss. I am excited to see what Bellefleur does next!

Thank you to @avonbooks and Alexandria Bellefleur for my gifted copy of Hang the Moon! This fun romance is out on May 25th.

Written as the follow-up to Written in the Stars, we meet Brendon Lowell, a man who “loves love”, and even created an app to help people find love. He’s always had a crush on his sister’s best friend, Annie, who has just shown up in Seattle for a two week vacation to see her friends. She’s not looking for love right now, but he decides to try to woo her with elaborate, romantic dates to convince her that romance does exist, and ends up learning so much more in the process.

Wow, what a follow-up to Written in the Stars! Brendon was one of my favorite characters in that book, and I was so thrilled when I found out he was getting his own book. I loved reading about their adorable dates all over Seattle and the surrounding area (somewhere I desperately want to visit again), and I adored that the perspective shifted back and forth between Brendon and Annie, bringing both viewpoints to the table. Plus, we get to see Darcy and Elle again, and they’re such a sweet couple!

I enjoyed as well that this book didn’t solely focus on the romance aspect. Annie and Darcy’s friendship is definitely a main plot line as well. The reason Annie comes to Seattle is to see friends before she moves for a big job opportunity, and Darcy has a lot of feelings about that. I appreciate that Bellefleur took the time to flesh that part out, and even wove it slightly into the romantic part of the book.

I’d definitely recommend checking this one out when it’s released in May!

In my opinion, Alexandria Bellefleur can do no wrong. I loved Hang the Moon as much as I loved Written in the Stars. And, I loved reuniting from characters from the first book in the series.

In this book, we follow the will they/won’t they relationship of Annie and Brendon. It’s a book about people learning to trust and moving beyond fantasy to reality.

I am hoping there’s a third book in our future.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

A charming romance between a skeptic and a true believer in love. Brendon owns a dating app company that focuses on helping people find their one true pairing. Annie is his older sister's best friend, who spontaneously comes to town only to find that said friend is out of town. So Brendon offers to show her around, and convince her that true love exists in the process.

This was a fun story of opposites attracting, and finding your own path in life. The Seattle setting was used well as a backdrop without taking over the book. I enjoyed Bellefleur's first novel, Written in the Stars, and it was nice to revisit the characters.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC to review. All opinions are my own.

This book was FANTASTIC. I love the way Bellefluere writes. Her characters are just weird enough to feel normal, like someone you’d already be friends with. The steamy scenes?! Incredibly written; they are literally everything to me. My only complaint with this one was that I felt it was a bit slow at times, and I found myself screaming at Annie to get off the plane, Friends-style 🤣 But otherwise, an amazing book and I will highly recommend to my friends!

I was so excited to read the sequel to Written in the Stars that when I saw this available on NetGalley I literally gasped! Thank you so much to Avon/HarperCollins for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

We come back to the Written in the Stars universe to see Darcy and Elle doing fantastically well and so in love. Brendon on the other hand still hasn’t found “the one”, he’s always looking for that spark that none of his dates seem to give him.

Darcy’s best friend, Annie, decides to surprise her with a long overdue visit and to also deliver some life altering news...a move to another country. The only bad thing is that Darcy and Elle are away on vacation, so Darcy sends Brendon to open up her apartment for Annie and they end up having dinner. Things develop from there with Brendon trying to prove to Annie that romance is in fact NOT dead.

I don’t want to reveal too much but I have to say that this was one of the sweetest romances I’ve read in a long time. Also it was so funny! Margot and her eff it cheeky attitude had me dying and a certain Ferris wheel scene gave me literal tears I laughed so hard!

If you loved Written in the Stars or you are looking for a nice bit of fluff to brighten your day I would definitely give Hang the Moon a go. And now I can not wait for Margot’s story next year!

Are you looking for a RomCom with charming and witty writing, well rounded story with a great ensemble cast that showcases diversity within their little clique? Well, do I have the book for you!

I adore any book that takes place in Seattle because I get to feel like a tourist in my own backyard. Having frequented the many tourist spots in the city I loved getting to relive them as if it’s the first time alongside the characters and seeing the city through their eyes. There’s something magical about the Emerald City, and with the author’s vivid description, I felt as if I was in Pike’s Place and could smell the aromas of fish and florals or know exactly what it's like to walk down the gum alley and both be disgusted and amazed. She wrote the perfect backdrop for Annie and Brendon’s live story.

Annie is a wanderer trying to find her place in the world. She’s kind, witty, and her antics made for some hilarious scenes. Her flaws made her the perfect heroine you root for because they were things I could see within myself. Brendon is attentive and sweet, but also has an alpha side to him. He’s the perfect mixture of spicy and sexy while being thoughtful and caring. Brendon is completely charming in his quest to swoon the pants off of Annie. There is a childlike optimism where he constantly wants to see the good in the world and a playfulness to him that sweeps you off your feet.

This book is for the romantics out there. The ones who never give up on the happily ever after or finding the magic under a starry sky. It’s for the ones who believe in one true love and refuse to believe or settle in anything less. The author's writing makes you realize the joy in feeling butterflies and how whimsical falling in love can be, while weaving in realistic obstacles without the exaggerated melodrama.

This book is truly a quintessential RomCom filled with swoon worthy moments and diverse characters that represent all forms of love. Between the classic grand gestures to the small moments this book had everything one would want from a wholesome and fun RomCom. Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was cute and heartwarming!

Brendon is a hopeless romantic (he even created an app for love). Annie is convinced that romance is dead and goes to Seattle to tell her best friend that she's moving to London. She ends up running into her best friend's not-so-little brother. Soon after seeing each other for the first time in 8 years, sparks fly, and Brendon starts a rom-com inspired mission to show Annie that Seattle might be the place for her to call home.

I loved the rom-com references and the dynamic between Annie and Brendon. The whole novel was cute (and on the steamy side at times). But there's so many good things about this novel. I really enjoyed the variations of "hang the moon" that were present (I'm the type of person who loves it when the title is used in the book), and in Written in the Starts, Brendon himself says a variation of "hang the moon," which was cool. (I might have just read that book because I was super hyped about this one and had to start the story from the beginning!)

All in all, this story was amazing and it was the first time in awhile that I've gotten teary eyed reading a book. Many thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager / Avon for this eArc. I really appreciated the opportunity to read this gem!

4.25/5 stars!

The heroine wanted to surprise her best friend by stopping by at her place before she moves to another country for her job. Instead of her best friend giving her a tour of Seattle, it falls on the hero, the brother of the heroine's best friend. Their relationship changed as the heroine starts to hero as a attractive man whereas the hero, who had a crush on the heroine when he was younger, began to woo her to change her mind of the idea of love.

This is my first Alexandria Bellefleur book and it won't be the last. I enjoyed the story, the characters, the friendship dynamics, and the siblings' relationship. My favorite character is definitely the hero, who is my favorite hero type and swoon-worthy. I liked the heroine but there was an instant near the end where she got annoying; otherwise she wasn't bad at all. I liked the author's writing style and vibe so I look forward to reading more books in the future.

**Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy.**

I was lucky to score an ARC for @ambellefleur's Hang the Moon & it's AMAZING! Loved the Seattle setting, the sensitive hero (who is a True Romantic), & the gentle wooing of the skeptical heroine. A+ chemistry! A great addition to the world of Written in the Stars.

#HangTheMoon



https://twitter.com/_JennyHartwell/status/1354543972790616064

Alexandria Bellefleur is now on my auto-buy author list

While I may not have loved this book as much as “Written in the Stars”, I still absolutely adored it. I flew through this and it was impossible to put down.

I loved seeing more of Darcy and Elle, but I also loved seeing Brendon’s story unfold. We didn’t know much about him from book 1, just the fact that he was Darcy’s brother and Elle’s friend, but his character still felt rather cookie-cutter. He didn’t have much personality outside of his optimistic outlook on romance, but I didn’t mind.

I was surprised at how much I adored Annie and I wish we got more of her. Her character felt like a copy of Darcy’s from book 1, but with a few tweaks. I wish we got more of her backstory but that didn’t stop me from loving her.

The fact that this book had very little conflict and little angst was a selling point for me. In romance, I despise miscommunication conflicts and third-act breakups. This book didn’t have any of that. Just Brendon and Annie being adorable ❤

I really really loved Bellefleur’s second book and I can’t wait to see what Margot’s story has in store.