Serious Moonlight

Serious Moonlight
Written by Jenn Bennett
Contemporary, Mystery, Romance
Published June 2019
432 Pages
Thank you to Simon and Schuster Australia
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★★★★☆
Raised in isolation and home schooled by her strict grandparents, the only experience Birdie has had of the outside world is through her favourite crime books. But everything changes when she takes a summer job working the night shift at a historic Seattle hotel.

There she meets Daniel Aoki, the hotel’s charismatic driver, and together they stumble upon a real life mystery. A famous reclusive writer, never before seen in public, is secretly meeting someone at the hotel.

To uncover the writer’s puzzling identity, Birdie must come out of her shell, and in doing so, realise that the most confounding mystery of all may just be her growing feelings for Daniel.
When Birdie Lindberg lost her young mother to congenital heart disease, she wasn't prepared for the isolation of her grandparents home on Bainbridge Island, educated by her retired grandmother, a former teacher before her recent passing. With her grandfather's encouragement and support from her nonbiological Aunt and mother's best friend Mona Rivera, Birdie spreads her wings and begins work on the mainland at the historical Cascadia Hotel in downtown Seattle Washington.

Birdie Lindberg is a charismatic and inquisitive young woman, immersing herself in her late grandmother's garden and mystery novels. Birdie lives with her grandfather, sharing a wonderful relationship with the recently widowed man after the passing of her grandmother to heart disease, a heredity condition. Although undiagnosed, Birdie experiences narcolepsy and cataplexy, a condition identifiable by muscle weakness triggered by emotional responses accompanied by full conscious awareness. With her newfound independence and position at the Cascadia Hotel, dashing coworker and hotel chauffeur Daniel Aoki approaches Birdie with an intriguing mystery. Recluse crime author Raymond Darke allegedly frequents the hotel each week, Daniel proposes a tentative partnership and the two amateur detectives embark on an adventure to uncover Raymond Darke's identity.

Daniel Aoki is a wonderful young man and amateur magician. Daniel is also hearing impaired and has been diagnosed with depression. The tentative friendship is incredibly awkward and mortifying, especially for Birdie. Birdie and Daniel have met before, at the Moonlight Diner where Birdie is a frequent customer, her mother a former waitress at the establishment before her passing. Sharing a conversation and attraction, Birdie and Daniel have spontaneous and consensual sex before Birdie flees into the night. What ensues is an attempt at a totally awkward conversation between coworkers about casual sex while trying to solve one of the mysteries plaguing modern popular culture.

Sexually positive young adult books are so incredibly important. During adolescence is often when we explore our sexuality and it was wonderful to an open and honest dialogue between Birdie and Mona about using protection and sex being a positive and feel great experience and placing the emphasis on consent. Whether you choose to have sex, uninterested in a physical relationship or identify as asexual, it's important to encourage discussion and acceptance.

Japanese American biracial, Daniel lives with his extended family in a cohousing community. His grandparents are a wonderful support for both Daniel and Cherry, his mother and former performer. Many families now share their homes with multigenerational family members and it was lovely to see extended families represented. Daniel is incredibly charming and charismatic and allows Birdie to guide their relationship ensuring she's comfortable and consenting.

Jenn Bennett is a remarkable author creating charismatic and introspective characters that resonate with audiences. Atmospheric, adventurous and beautifully captivating.

20 comments

  1. I so want to meet Daniel! I love how sex-positive her books really are, especially for the YA audience. Lovely review!
    Genesis @ Whispering Chapters

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    1. Daniel was so lovely, as are all her characters. She creates such wonderfully diverse and vibrant characters doesn't she. I can't wait to see what you think of it!

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  2. Both characters sound really fascinating, and I like that it's a sex positive YA novel. We do need more of those. And a little mystery attached is always nice. :) I still need to read something by this author!

    -Lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

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    1. She's absolutely amazing Lauren and one of the few authors that creates realistic and incredibly authentic characters.

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  3. I can't wait to read this book!
    I absolutely love your reviews, Kelly!

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    1. Thanks Star, that's so incredibly lovely of you!

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  4. I love Bennett but I have to admit this one wasn't a favorite.

    Karen @ For What It's Worth

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    1. It wasn't as engaging as her previous novels, Alex Approximately being my favourite so far but I still really enjoyed this one. I love how wonderfully sex positive they are how relatable her characters are, they're authentic and beautifully diverse.

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  5. You can always depend on Bennett to be sex positive. I appreciate that she is out there to be realistic and not shame young people, who choose to make that choice. She also emphasizes communication between partners, which is super healthy. But, I always love Bennett's characters and the awesome adults she includes in the story. Daniel won my heart. I loved that kid, and Mona, Grandpa, and Daniel's family were fabulous too.

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    1. Wasn't Mona spectacular! I loved how open she was with Birdie and encouraged her to explore her sexuality but placed the emphasis on having safe sex. We don't often see guardians talking openly about sex to teens in young adult and it's one my favourite aspects of Jenn Bennett books.

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  6. I want to read a lot more of Bennett's books and I've only heard good things about this one in particular!

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    1. You can't go wrong with any of her young adult titles Noel, they're all such wonderful, positive reads, full of adventure and brilliant banter.

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  7. Fantastic review kelly <3
    I picked up a copy of this one a few weeks ago and am looking forward to reading it even more now <3 :-)
    Long live Jenn Bennett my YA romance queen!

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    1. Isn't she just! I absolutely love her novels and while this wasn't my favourite, she's such a brilliant author who'll have a remarkable career.

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  8. Jenn Bennett has yet to write a disappointing read for me. Every book has something which I love and this one was no different. You've captured everything that was good about this book far better than me. And I always applaud how every YA book Bennett writes is so sex positive, she writes it as it should be. Consent is important and talking about things is so necessary so it's always good to see that in YA.

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    1. Me either! She's consistently brilliant and even though all her reads are contemporary romances, they all offer a new perspective for a wide rage of diverse audiences. They're my go to reads for when I'm needing a pick me up.

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  9. I'm a huge fan of Bennett's books for all of the reasons you mentioned. I enjoyed this one so much when I read it and I still crave a slice of pie every time I think about it, lol.

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    1. That's another aspect I love about her books, I could imagine myself sitting in a booth at the Moonlight Diner, eating a slice of pie and eavesdropping on conversations. They're incredibly atmospheric.

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  10. This has been in my wish list to read. Reading your review really make me want to pick this book up as soon as I can! :D

    Fatina Mudz || Amazing Distance

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  11. EEEP. I used to live with most of my extended family, and it was always a beautiful riot here at home. Everyone has moved out since, and now it's just me, my parents, and my little brother. I can see this book's going to give me some nostalgia. And I'm all in for the sex positivity as well! Fantastic review as always, Kelly Bear. I've missed you!

    ❤ Aimee @ Aimee, Always

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