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samsbookreview's review
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
southernbibliomom's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
This is a sweet and quick read. Story centers on the town of Moonlight Bay, specifically Yas and Raf. It is told in their dual points of view. The town is reeling from a tragedy that took them from a vibrant, thriving community to the brink of being a ghost town. Here prejudice blooms as the local townsfolk begin to turn against the Golub - a community of people who are escaping the end of their homeland into Moonlight Bay through the Golub tree. Both Raf and Yas must struggle through what they believe and what they want their lives to be as the community must decide how they want the soul of the town to be. It’s cute. But this is clearly somewhat of a fantasy story with the Golub people arriving from their dying icy tundra home to this town via a tree. The town itself was once known for its pink and purple waters. The Golub each have a leaf “tattoo” that glows and vibrates. However, there is so little world building and each of these is used more as a plot device than really building this town. The waters losing their color is why the town begins to die. The leaf tatoo is a plot device to create conflict for Raf to sort through. But why? Characters would say that’s not how water works and I found myself thinking why doesn’t it work that way? We were clearly not in a realistic time and place. It just seemed to not be a fully flushed out story.
anich716's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
shorereader's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
dea080020's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
jkrahtjen's review
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
kristireads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
shelvedthoughts's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
4.0
Reader’s Notes:
– this is told from Raf & Yas’s points of view
– it is mentioned that a year prior, a young child drowned (this event affects the whole town in more than one way)
– there are a few side characters mentioned to be they/them &/or married to someone of the same gender
Review:
I removed a star because though the story was interesting, it was difficult to fully enjoy. It was hard to focus on the different plot lines as they seemed to not have a clear ‘this is the main storyline’ feel for me & instead it felt more like a few of them kept fighting for dominance without any of them truly winning.
However, despite these fighting storylines, there were still quite a few elements to the story that I really enjoyed! I loved the best friends becoming more part, though it took them awhile to figure it out/pursue it due to Golubs having humans off-limits to fall for. I loved the theme of grief being resolved by the end of the story and that it was something that the characters had to realize they needed to do instead of just pushing aside their grief in an attempt to move forward. I also really liked that there were other hurdles the community needed to stand up for and work together on instead of passing blame or telling lies.
Summary:
Raf loves his best friend Yas and is ready to tell her, but when multiple things get in his way and point to it never being a possibility, he tries to move on. But Yas has a much firmer grip on his heart than he’d like and he’d do just about anything to keep her in his life. Even if it means thinking about what life would be like if he defied the Golub elders and struck out on his own. Which would mean no longer being allowed in the Golub community or even speaking with his family…
Yas feels grief pressing down on her all around the Moonlight Bay community. Between the people who constantly weep for the return of their colorful waters and the unwarranted prejudice against their Golub neighbors, it is getting to be too much. When Yas notices that someone she knows is looking for a roommate at college, Yas begins to makes plans to escape the dreariness around her. And with her best friend thinking about going to a college that would be nearby, Yas is almost certain that she wants this despite never having wanted to leave Moonlight Bay before now.
But both of their plans get thrown for a loop when a new wealthy family moves into town and gets everyone into a tizzy. Could they be the town’s saving grace and bring them back from the brink of becoming desolate? Or will they leave them in the dust?
jailyn09's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
whitgmiller's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5