Anna-Marie McLemore

Anna-Marie McLemore’s debut novel The Weight of Feathers was greeted with rave reviews, a YALSA Morris Award nomination, and spots on multiple “Best YA Novels” lists. Now, McLemore delivers a second stunning and utterly romantic novel, again tinged with magic. To everyone who knows them, best friends Miel and Sam are as strange as they are inseparable. Roses grow out of Miel’s wrist, and rumors say that she spilled out of a water tower when she was five. Sam is known for the moons he paints and hangs in the trees and for how little anyone knows about his life before he and his mother moved to town. But as odd as everyone considers Miel and Sam, even they stay away from the Bonner girls, four beautiful sisters rumored to be witches. Now they want the roses that grow from Miel’s skin, convinced that their scent can make anyone fall in love. And they’re willing to use every secret Miel has fought to protect to make sure she gives them up. Atmospheric, dynamic, and packed with gorgeous prose, When the Moon was Ours is another winner from this talented author.

A Novel

When the Moon was Ours

From the author of The Weight of Feathers comes a young adult novel about a girl hiding the truth, a boy with secrets from his past, and four sisters who could ruin them both. Recipient of a Stonewall Honor and longlisted for the National Book Award, McLemore delivers a second stunning and utterly romantic novel, again tinged with magic. To everyone who knows them, best friends Miel and Sam are as strange as they are inseparable. Roses grow out of Miel’s wrist, and rumors say that she spilled out of a water tower when she was five. Sam is known for the moons he paints and hangs in the trees and for how little anyone knows about his life before he and his mother moved to town. But as odd as everyone considers Miel and Sam, even they stay away from the Bonner girls, four beautiful sisters rumored to be witches. Now they want the roses that grow from Miel’s skin, convinced that their scent can make anyone fall in love. And they’re willing to use every secret Miel has fought to protect to make sure she gives them up. Atmospheric, dynamic, and packed with gorgeous prose, When the Moon Was Ours is another winner from this talented author.

When the Moon Was Ours

A perfect quote for encapsulating the queer, especially the trans experience.

deniz

"We don't get to become who we are for nothing. It costs something. You're fighting for every little piece of yourself. And maybe I got all of me all at once but I lost everything else. Don't you dare think there's any water in the world that makes this easy."

They had spent nights pretending the stars were things that could be lured to earth. That the fairy rings thick with white-capped mushrooms were the light of the moon seared into the ground.

Now that he knew Aracely was like him, he understood, and she knew that both he and she were creek beds, quiet when they were full and quiet when they were dry. But when they were half-full, wearing a coat of shallow water, the current bumped over the rocks and valleys in the creek beds, wearing down the earth. 

Giving someone else a little of who they were hurt more than giving up none or all of it. 

That was the truth of holding so much back, and then giving up a little of it. The rest came.

"They want you for what you can do for them when no one's looking, and then in church they curse you. That's your culture. I pick mine any day."

I love the star similes Sam makes about Miel; how the boy named Moon finds constellations in his loved one.

He thought he knew her body. He was so sure that he could have drawn it, mapped it as easily as the lunar seas he could paint without looking at a map of the moon. But under his hands, against his own body, she was both safe and unfamiliar. She was a world unknown. She was a place whose darkness held not fear, but the promise of stars.

Miel was a handful of foil stars, but they were the fire that made constellations.

But this was why Sam painted shadows and lunar seas on paper and metal and glass, copying the shadows of mare imbrium and iceanus procellarum— to give her back the moon.

They feared that if they were not kind to the beautiful things that grew wild, their own farms would wither and die.

Made me smile so big I too will dream of moon bears and lamps from now. 

It didn't matter how many stories he and Miel had told each other when they could not sleep, him passing on his mother's fables of moon bears that aided lost travelers, Miel making up tales about his moon lamps falling in love with stars.

But there were some things only a boy named Samir could teach her(...): that they would both become what they could not yet imagine, and that they would still be what they once were. The girl from the water tower, a rose growing from her wrist, and the boy on the wooden ladder, hanging the moon close enough for them to find.

Aracely had taught Miel that so many things worth fearing-the water, the dark -brought wanting. The river kept this town's fields growing and alive. The dark gave them the stars and the sudden warmth of certain fall nights.

A magical journey into the town of moons and pumpkins; the story of the girl named Honey and the boy named Moon is one that will remain in my heart for a long time. The brilliant and captivating writing pulled me into the cosmos of this book and I could see every little detail come to life before my eyes. It is an ageless book, a tale of finding one's identity and place in the world. A must-read for anyone seeking childlike wonder, anyone who is a little bit magic, and anyone whose best friend is the moon on lonely nights.

Hannah Yang

I'm not really sure what I was expecting when I picked up When the Moon Was Ours. The blurb was gorgeous and fascinating (and reminded me of The Night Circus, which I loved, though the two books are very different), so I had to give it a try.

This novel is unlike any other I've ever read, with a refreshingly diverse cast of complex, entrancing characters whose struggles, insecurities, memories, and reflections drive the story. Rather than having things happen to them, the book explores the questions these characters ask and how they eventually find—or come to terms with—themselves; it is a cascade of interrelated events and observations rather than a predictable plot. Despite the tinge of magic that paints every page, the plot's natural unfolding made this book realistic and believable for me. 

When the Moon Was Ours is, at its core, about a girl named Miel and a boy named Sam. Miel has been "cursed" with roses growing out of her wrist, something that she believes has driven her family away; a part of her she hates but also cannot bear to let anyone else claim. She is haunted by half-memories that she doesn't understand, and throughout the novel she learns more about her past so that she will be able to forgive herself. Sam tries to convince himself that he's only being a boy temporarily, to be the son he thought his mother needed, even though he has grown into and cherishes this identity. His journey through the novel is driven by his struggle with who he wants to be and who he believes that he is.

Though Miel and Sam are strong enough characters to make this book noteworthy, I loved that complexity that was given to all of the people we encountered, especially the Bonner sisters. It would have been easy to paint them off as cruel, pretty girls and to give them a clean redemption arc, but they too are each given a secret that they must let go of by the end of the story. 

This book deals with people's struggles with their identities and who they want to become versus who they are in a way that is sometimes subtle, sometimes painfully clear. I think it helped me to better understand the struggle that LGBT+ people, and underrepresented minorities, go through (view spoiler)[(moments like Ivy threatening to out Sam despite defending Peyton, or when Sam notes that Miel could understand his identity even as a little girl so no adults should struggle, were particularly striking) (hide spoiler)] and I think it can be a valuable read for anyone. 

Also, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that the prose is beautiful. It's definitely my literary aesthetic. However, I can understand that the sometimes-wavering sense of plot and flowery prose may be a turn-off for some readers. Interestingly, as enchanting as this story was for me, I didn't feel the soul-shattering this! is! my! favorite! thing! ever! that I feel with some books (like The Night Circus, I'll Give You The Sun, etc.) but I also feel like I will remember this book, its characters, and their stories forever. For that reason it is solidly on my personal favorites shelf. I'd encourage any reader to give it a read! You have nothing to lose and an absolutely luminous, beautiful story to gain.

Beatrice

I received an e-arc of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book in any way.

Anna-Marie McLemore got on my radar last year, when I was lucky enough to receive an e-arc of her debut novel, The Weight of Feathers, which I absolutely adored and was definitely one of my favourite reads last year. So, when I heard she had another book out, I knew I had to read it! 

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Of course, as soon as I received the review copy, I started having doubts: "What if this one's not as good as her debut? What if I hate it after savouring it so much?". You know the kind. But let me tell you right now, no such risk! Not liking it? Pffffttt! I LOVED it!

When the Moon Was Ours is a sweet, original read that somehow manages to fuse relevant themes with a simple, everyday story about two fairly unusual teenagers falling in love. And to top it all off, the deal is sealed by McLemore's gorgeous prose, which makes even the simplest of actions sound like pure poetry. And just like that, I was sold!

What I loved most about this book (as is the case with most books I love, if you think about it) were the characters. Not just the main characters, but the whole cast. Everyone has their own space in the story, be it bigger or smaller, and the role that they play in the book does not limit their existence as an individual character: even the minor ones have their own peculiarities, their background and their position in a way that made me really feel like they were their own person at the sidelines. They were just not the ones we were focusing on in telling this story.

As for the main characters, I loved Miel and Sam to bits. Both of them are really complex people, not just because of their past, but at the same time because they start to realise that they have to start thinking about their future as well. Having to deal with a traumatic past is a challenge in itself, but I really liked the fact that this was not the sole focus of either one of the main characters: your teens are the years when you start figuring out not just who you are, but also what kind of person you want to be for the rest of your life. And because it's so difficult to keep up with everything that goes on around us, resisting pressures from society, family, friends and your own set of expectations, it's also that period of time when you realise it's ok to make mistakes, and that you don't have to be stuck with them forever. The trick is surrounding yourself with people you love and trust, and who respect you and accept you no matter what. And that, I believe, is one of the key lessons anyone can take from this book.

But of course, because it is a tiny gem in the great treasure of YA literature this year, the greatest thing about this book is that any one person reading it can have a different take on it. The author does a fantastic job of incorporating so many different themes and points of view, that there is just something for everyone to keep thinking about for days after having finished the book. You can start with diversity and the acceptance of those people who feel "different", be it because they grow roses from their wrist or because their skin is darker or they speak another language; then you can move on to thinking about what makes us who we are, re-thinking the relationship we have with our bodies; you can start considering just how much pressure are we willing to take from society in determining who we have to be, just for the sake of appearances, letting those expectations of ourselves crush the realities of the wonderful being each one of us can be at the full potential of his or her individuality. And if that's still not enough for you, there are loads of prompts to reflect on family, friends, love and so, so much more...

Definitely a book I will re-read in a while, just to see if there is anything else I can pick up on and one I will absolutely force on gently recommend to everyone I know, When the Moon Was Ours is a complete must-read for this year, and Anna-Marie McLemore is an author to really watch out for!

For this and more reviews, visit Book for Thought.

Jamieson

“When they both realized they were heartbroken enough to want the love torn from their rib cages, they touched each other with their hands and their mouths, and they forgot they wanted to be cured.”



  FULL REVIEW NOW POSTED


If I had to describe this book in one word I'd say exquisite, and then if I could choose a second word lush 

Exquisite because, writing wise, this book is a masterpiece. The writing is so breathtakingly beautiful it really feels like every single word was perfectly placed. The way the writing is used to create the creepy atmosphere, and the interesting characters and even more interesting setting was amazing. McLemore describes pumpkins turning to glass, roses growing from a wrist, women pulling lovesickness straight out of a persons chest and it all so beautifully, perfectly written it's hard not to fall in love or at least ADMIRE what she's done here. 

And I say lush because of the setting and the world. It is magical realism, but there was so many elements to this story I adored. The setting is so rich and I loved the elements added to it, the roses, the water, the moons, the stars, the pumpkins, the glass coffin. I love magical realism and I really loved how it was used in this book. 


  
  

  


At first it did take me a little to get into the rhythm of this book, the writing is definitely metaphor and symbolism heavy and that took me a bit to get into. But once I passed page 100 I was really into it and reaching for it all the time. This is a book thats way better if you read it slowly, because it feels like the tendrils of this book slowly wrap around you. I don't usually like slow books but I think it worked with this book, and with it's tone and elements. 

I think the representation was also beautifully done. There are two main characters and the book is told from their dual perspective. Miel is Latina, Sam is trans and he is also from Pakistan. There is also another side trans character, and a side lesbian character. This review  talks a lot about this book + being a qpoc woman. One thing I really liked how how nuanced the representation was and the exploration of how queer identities intersect with race and ethnicity. The trans representation comes from a personal place for the author (her husband is trans) and I really recommend reading the authors note about it!

Finally, the characters in general were so fun to read about. I adored Miel and Sam and their relationship together, they were such beautiful rich characters. I also liked how their sex was on page and how good they were to eachother. There romance was so soft and tender, and I love how it slowly grew and bloomed. 


  “Someday, he and Miel would be nothing but a fairy tale. When they were gone from this town, no one would remember the exact brown of Miel’s eyes, or the way she spiced recado rojo with cloves, or even that Sam and his mother were Pakistani. At best, they would remember a dark-eyed girl, and a boy whose family had come from somewhere else. They would remember only that Miel and Sam had been called Honey and Moon, a girl and a boy woven into the folklore of this place.”


I know this is a backlisted title, especially since the author has just brought out Wild Beauty but I really think everyone needs to read this! Truly such a stunning book, exploring friendship and family and culture and belonging and personal growth. 

The only thing I didn't like about this and why I gave it 4 stars not 5 is that some of the writing was maybe a little too symbolism heavy - for example, I don't really know what was going on with the Bonner girls. That whole storyline felt a bit messy to me. 

But beside that I truly adored this book and I think it's such a beautiful, unique book. It you want some YA that is doing something a bit different I definitely recommend this 


  The pale, rose-colored light had made her expect to look out her window and find all the trees blooming. A million blushing petals against a midnight sky. Spring descended over fall in countless pink blooms.

Avery Baumel

While this was pretty good and explored some really interesting areas - the fantasy was spot on - it just lacked the groundedness needed to pull me in

Mijs Franssen

Wow. This defenitly deserves more then five stars.
It’s fragile, beautiful, and special. This story feels almost breakable, if you dare to touch it. The way it is written, feels often poetic, and lovesome. I have way too many tabs in this book, wanting to memorize every last piece and bit of it. It has earned the stonewall badge of honour which it so deserves. I was going into this book thinking it would just be a ya book. I was so wrong. This compares to that in no way, shape or form. The magical realism makes it even better. Just wow.

I have no points, no remarks on how to make this better. It is simply gorgeous.

I want to close this review with a quote;

‘I am not your garden, she said, the words no louder then the thread of her mother’s voice the wind carried. I am not one of your father’s pumpkin vines. You do not own what I grow.’

Logan Dittbrenner

I picked this book up not knowing what it was about and I fell in love with the two main characters. I love the diversity and the fact that one of the main characters is transgender. I feel like this was magical realism and I really enjoyed this book. It was a little slow at times for me and at other points I was just full of emotions. It was just beautiful!

Jennifer

A colourful and poignant story of finding one's identity and being brave enough to open up about it. It's written in a fairytale like prose which illustrates the author's writing style. I really enjoy the recurring images and the figurative writing style throughout the novel. While this compromises the clarity & closure within the first few chapters, that's mostly made up in the concluding chapters of the novel so when I read the latter half in a single sitting, the meaning behind feels quite potent. Overall, this is a very creative and unique story of coming in terms of your true colours!

Yanelle Ruby

Ruth Parker 

I thought this story had beautiful writing, undeniable stunning prose. But the plot was dull and almost nonexistent. I almost gave up multiple times and in the end started skim reading, even though the writing was gorgeous. I’m in the minority here. It was just ok.

When the Moon was Ours A Novel

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