Member Review

Ask Again, Yes was a surprising read for me - I loved the writing, the complexity of the characters, the entire story. So I jumped at the opportunity to read an advance copy of Keane's upcoming release, The Half Moon.
Unfortunately this novel left me restless. It's the quiet story of a marriage, a small town, the intimacy of both and while there were several opportunities for action to accelerate or at least enliven the plot, it remains too subtle for me.
Malcolm and Jess Gephardt rushed into marriage years ago but thankfully they were meant to be - at least Malcolm has always believed so. Now approaching middle age with no children (a sore spot, mostly for Jess, after years of trying); Malcolm has purchased The Half Moon under some questionable circumstances, where he's been the long-time bartender. Jess is a successful lawyer but still buried under student loan debt that never seems to decrease.
The pair are facing the loss of youth with little sense of direction and an uncertain future together.
Thanks to Scribner and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review. The Half Moon was published May 2, 2023.