Serious Moonlight by Jenn Bennett

Abstract

Reviewed by: Serious Moonlight by Jenn Bennett Kate Quealy-Gainer, Assistant Editor Bennett, Jenn Serious Moonlight. Simon Pulse, 2019 [432p] Trade ed. ISBN 978-1-5344-2514-9 $18.99 E-book ed. ISBN 978-1-5344-2516-3 $10.99 Reviewed from galleys R Gr. 9-12 Eighteen-year-old Birdie would like to forget about her uncharacteristic decision to hook up with some random guy in the backseat of his car last month, but that becomes difficult when said guy turns out to be a coworker at her new job in a downtown Seattle hotel. Daniel’s actually sweet and respectful, but Birdie’s not looking for a relationship; when Daniel invites her to investigate the mysterious comings and goings of a strange guest, however, aspiring sleuth Birdie can’t resist. The mystery initially seems like a mere plot contrivance, but it soon begins to take on emotional weight as Daniel’s interest becomes more urgent; Bennett manages a variety of plot threads—Birdie’s complicated relationships with her grandfather and her (now deceased) mother’s history, Daniel’s depression, Birdie’s narcolepsy—without tipping into soapiness or melodrama. Sheltered by her strict grandparents for most of her life, Birdie is believably insecure and excited as she ventures out on her own, and Daniel’s reticence about revealing his mental health challenges also rings true. Their dialogue has an authentic awkwardness that translates to the sex scenes, including their initial romp in his car, but they shed those anxieties pretty quickly once they get the hang of it. As much as this is a romance, it’s also an affectionate portrait of Seattle, with Birdie reveling in Seattle’s downtown, waxing poetic about the Puget Sound and Mt. Rainier, and, of course, referencing Sleepless in Seattle a few times. Romance fans won’t be disappointed. Copyright © 2019 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois