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nicklelove's review
4.0
Originally published in Night Owl Reads.
I am not familiar with the story of Cupid and Persephone, I may have read it before but I do not/did not remember it while reading this book. But after reading a summary of Cupid's story, I could say that Moonlight and Oranges is indeed a modern day retelling of that story.
This is probably the biggest insta-love of them all and I loved it! They meet, fall in love, and get married. It's a big risk both parties were willing to take but how long will the magic last? They barely know each other and Kestrin has a reputation which Lorona can't get passed with.
I was more curious as to how this kind of story would play out, how they would resolve their problem, and of course, how Kestrin's dream ended, what the answer he was looking for was. The phrase "fools rush in" came to mind and I almost thought it would end up badly. But I was desperate for it to be a happy ending and I wasn't disappointed.
The names are a little weird for me. Each time I see "Kestrin", my brain would read is as "Kerstin". Lorona sounds like Lorena so I'm okay with that. And I recently learned about the story of La Llorona from an episode of Grimm. The moon or moonlight, stars, and oranges are mentioned a lot. The couples craving for oranges is one of my favorites. I smile every time the craving is mentioned.
Loved this novel! The story is easy to grasp, definitely recommend to hopeless romantics like me.
I am not familiar with the story of Cupid and Persephone, I may have read it before but I do not/did not remember it while reading this book. But after reading a summary of Cupid's story, I could say that Moonlight and Oranges is indeed a modern day retelling of that story.
This is probably the biggest insta-love of them all and I loved it! They meet, fall in love, and get married. It's a big risk both parties were willing to take but how long will the magic last? They barely know each other and Kestrin has a reputation which Lorona can't get passed with.
I was more curious as to how this kind of story would play out, how they would resolve their problem, and of course, how Kestrin's dream ended, what the answer he was looking for was. The phrase "fools rush in" came to mind and I almost thought it would end up badly. But I was desperate for it to be a happy ending and I wasn't disappointed.
The names are a little weird for me. Each time I see "Kestrin", my brain would read is as "Kerstin". Lorona sounds like Lorena so I'm okay with that. And I recently learned about the story of La Llorona from an episode of Grimm. The moon or moonlight, stars, and oranges are mentioned a lot. The couples craving for oranges is one of my favorites. I smile every time the craving is mentioned.
Loved this novel! The story is easy to grasp, definitely recommend to hopeless romantics like me.
sweetcreature89's review against another edition
3.0
I won this book in a giveaway a while back and I've been curious about it ever since.
this book is a modern retelling of Cupid and Psyche, a greek myth, though in the book itself, you're kind of led to believe that it's a retelling of La Llorona, a mexican legend.
I actually thought this book was pretty good. I was thrown off a little in the beginning by how fast everything went (and it went fast!) but the further I got into it, the better it seemed to get.
The writing was done well and the characters were easy to get into. There were a few mistakes in the book, however, which wouldn't be shocking if it were an ARC, but I was reading a finished copy.
this book is a modern retelling of Cupid and Psyche, a greek myth, though in the book itself, you're kind of led to believe that it's a retelling of La Llorona, a mexican legend.
I actually thought this book was pretty good. I was thrown off a little in the beginning by how fast everything went (and it went fast!) but the further I got into it, the better it seemed to get.
The writing was done well and the characters were easy to get into. There were a few mistakes in the book, however, which wouldn't be shocking if it were an ARC, but I was reading a finished copy.
lifeandliterature's review against another edition
4.0
Lorona Connelly is a rather shy and timid young woman. She is dragged to a Halloween party by her friend Yuki and it's there that she meets Kestrin Feather. It's no secret that Kestrin is a player and has been with many woman before. But Lorona and Kestrin are about to embark on the quickest of whirlwind romances. At first I was completely taken back by the speed of it, but then we learn of Kestrin's dreams which he has recorded in a journal. His dreams tell of the woman who he will marry and he believes that woman to be Lorona. For her part, Lorona is looking for something more from life and is enamoured with Kestrin and the fact that she is the one that he wants. Kestrin plans to show his journal to Lorona but it's when she goes behind his back and reads it without his knowledge that things begin to go awry and Kestrin is not impressed when he finds out.
Kestrin's mother is a nasty piece of work and has a rather unhealthy interest in her sons romantic life. And she will go to enormous lengths to break him and Lorona apart. I found both Kestrin and Lorona to be rather dramatic at times and found myself wishing that they would both chill for a minute and just sit and talk. But all that drama leads us to the big climactic scene which for me was the best part of the book. It was suspenseful and gripping!!
When I first started reading Moonlight and Oranges I wasn't aware that it was a modern retelling of the Greek myth of Cupid and Psyche, so it was great to get that bit of background information at the end of the book.
Elise Stephens has taken a tale of Greek mythology and given it a modern day twist. Woven with her wonderful storytelling, Moonlight and Oranges was an immensely enjoyable read!!
Review first posted at YA Book Addict... http://youngadultbookaddict.blogspot.com.au/
Kestrin's mother is a nasty piece of work and has a rather unhealthy interest in her sons romantic life. And she will go to enormous lengths to break him and Lorona apart. I found both Kestrin and Lorona to be rather dramatic at times and found myself wishing that they would both chill for a minute and just sit and talk. But all that drama leads us to the big climactic scene which for me was the best part of the book. It was suspenseful and gripping!!
When I first started reading Moonlight and Oranges I wasn't aware that it was a modern retelling of the Greek myth of Cupid and Psyche, so it was great to get that bit of background information at the end of the book.
Elise Stephens has taken a tale of Greek mythology and given it a modern day twist. Woven with her wonderful storytelling, Moonlight and Oranges was an immensely enjoyable read!!
Review first posted at YA Book Addict... http://youngadultbookaddict.blogspot.com.au/
ctorretta's review against another edition
4.0
What a fabulous idea for a romance! Reading the author’s note helped me to understand this fully! I loved it even without the note but it just helped put everything into a perspective of understanding. Sadly letting you in on this would be a complete spoiler so I’ll just say that the note was worth reading.
The plot was really intense. I was left feeling like everything was settled in the end but boy to get to that point!! You have two people that are very different and I know they say opposites attract but these two are like fire. They up and marry within two days of getting to know each other only to have their friends ask questions about their decisions. Many, many, many questions. I just wanted to tell their friends and Kestrin’s mother to stfu already! But it really was that dynamic that keeps you reading, wondering what in the sam hell is going to happen with these two!?
“I promise to listen to you even if I think you’re being unreasonable,” he said.
“I promise to treat harmony as more important than being right,” she replied.
Wait. Can I add those to my vows please? I love them! They are so personal and yet so very man and womanish. But that is exactly what this relationship is about. They don’t adhere to their vows just three days into their marriage! Ack!! But it is the times like these that make me want to cheer for them even when they are being absolute idiots…
“Sometimes,” he whispered to Lorona, “I open the doors and stick my pillow out here so that I can look up and see the stars while I’m sleeping.”
“You can’t see the stars while you’re sleeping. Your eyes are closed, goofball.” Lorona sighed. “Or do you mean that when you sleep under the stars, they fall into your dreams?”
He pulled her close so that her hands and elbows rested on his chest. “I want more than starts to fall into my dreams.”
This is my wife, he thought to himself, and peace settled around his shoulders like a fluffy fleece jacket.
Lorona stretched her arms wide. The silver ring on her finger twinkled in the moonlight. “Then catch me.”
Oh my god! Right? How cute and sweet and tender and romantic is this!? But no… they let stupid crap get in the way. And I do mean stupid. But we all know how we are, how our thoughts can deceive even ourselves and that is exactly what happens. The fabulous part of this story is the trials they both have to go through to see IF they do or do not really want to be together. Is it destiny for them or has it all been a sham?
The characters are simply beautiful. Full of angst for sure but they are fabulous, definitely. Lorona is a thinker first and foremost and that is what does her in, Kestrin is a fly by the seat of his pants while believing in destiny and that is what kills him! It’s amazing and tragic. Yuki however is most definitely my favorite character. She reminds me of Tinkerbell, so happy one moment that she could cry but then crying the next because she is so suddenly upset by this whole situation. And then enters Amanda. Oh Amanda… you are a snake. Actually, I like snakes, you are a roach to everything and everyone around you… ohhh I would have loved to squash her and her meanness right out of this book!
So! With that said, this was a tremendous roller coaster of a romance but definitely fun! Fast read with lots of twists and it all comes together in the end. Everything but the oranges, but I love oranges so who cares!?
The plot was really intense. I was left feeling like everything was settled in the end but boy to get to that point!! You have two people that are very different and I know they say opposites attract but these two are like fire. They up and marry within two days of getting to know each other only to have their friends ask questions about their decisions. Many, many, many questions. I just wanted to tell their friends and Kestrin’s mother to stfu already! But it really was that dynamic that keeps you reading, wondering what in the sam hell is going to happen with these two!?
“I promise to listen to you even if I think you’re being unreasonable,” he said.
“I promise to treat harmony as more important than being right,” she replied.
Wait. Can I add those to my vows please? I love them! They are so personal and yet so very man and womanish. But that is exactly what this relationship is about. They don’t adhere to their vows just three days into their marriage! Ack!! But it is the times like these that make me want to cheer for them even when they are being absolute idiots…
“Sometimes,” he whispered to Lorona, “I open the doors and stick my pillow out here so that I can look up and see the stars while I’m sleeping.”
“You can’t see the stars while you’re sleeping. Your eyes are closed, goofball.” Lorona sighed. “Or do you mean that when you sleep under the stars, they fall into your dreams?”
He pulled her close so that her hands and elbows rested on his chest. “I want more than starts to fall into my dreams.”
This is my wife, he thought to himself, and peace settled around his shoulders like a fluffy fleece jacket.
Lorona stretched her arms wide. The silver ring on her finger twinkled in the moonlight. “Then catch me.”
Oh my god! Right? How cute and sweet and tender and romantic is this!? But no… they let stupid crap get in the way. And I do mean stupid. But we all know how we are, how our thoughts can deceive even ourselves and that is exactly what happens. The fabulous part of this story is the trials they both have to go through to see IF they do or do not really want to be together. Is it destiny for them or has it all been a sham?
The characters are simply beautiful. Full of angst for sure but they are fabulous, definitely. Lorona is a thinker first and foremost and that is what does her in, Kestrin is a fly by the seat of his pants while believing in destiny and that is what kills him! It’s amazing and tragic. Yuki however is most definitely my favorite character. She reminds me of Tinkerbell, so happy one moment that she could cry but then crying the next because she is so suddenly upset by this whole situation. And then enters Amanda. Oh Amanda… you are a snake. Actually, I like snakes, you are a roach to everything and everyone around you… ohhh I would have loved to squash her and her meanness right out of this book!
So! With that said, this was a tremendous roller coaster of a romance but definitely fun! Fast read with lots of twists and it all comes together in the end. Everything but the oranges, but I love oranges so who cares!?
bookbriefs's review
3.0
Moonlight and Oranges is full of intrigue and mystery. The mystery kept me interested in the book. All of the elements just seem so cool. There is a guy that dreams about his future and the girl he will end up with. Then there is this strange orange craving, a bizarre mom, and a quest like journey.
Moonlight and Oranges started out awesome. I loved the party and how Kestrin "saved" Lorona, even if she didn't really get it. Then I loved their obsession with oranges. I was dying to know the connection and how they worked their way into the story. It was never really revealed other than a way to link the two of them together.
Kestrin was a bit of a mystery to me as well. He seemed so hung up on finding the "one". The one that he dreamt about, and as a result he kind of turned into some kind of womanizing player. I found out after I read the book that it was a modern re-telling of a classic story. Once I knew that the story was really well thought out and planned. I liked that Elise Stephens took the storyline and molded it to fit two new characters but I wouldn't have known what story the retelling was about, had I not read the note after the book. It was too subtle to find out on my own. In hindsight I totally get it, but I would have liked it to have been a bit more obvious, especially since I love that particular story so much!
Moonlight and Oranges ended up being an interesting story. The writing is great and I felt like I really got to know the characters. There was one thing in the plot that happened that really grated on my nerves and it had to do with a very impulsive act that happened within days of Kestrin and Lorona meeting each other. Talk about instant, but I plowed through it and I was really happy that I did because the book just kept building and getting better as you kept on reading. This was such a pleasant surpirse. Moonlight and Oranges is a different kind of romance that will intrigue you until the end.
Moonlight and Oranges started out awesome. I loved the party and how Kestrin "saved" Lorona, even if she didn't really get it. Then I loved their obsession with oranges. I was dying to know the connection and how they worked their way into the story. It was never really revealed other than a way to link the two of them together.
Kestrin was a bit of a mystery to me as well. He seemed so hung up on finding the "one". The one that he dreamt about, and as a result he kind of turned into some kind of womanizing player. I found out after I read the book that it was a modern re-telling of a classic story. Once I knew that the story was really well thought out and planned. I liked that Elise Stephens took the storyline and molded it to fit two new characters but I wouldn't have known what story the retelling was about, had I not read the note after the book. It was too subtle to find out on my own. In hindsight I totally get it, but I would have liked it to have been a bit more obvious, especially since I love that particular story so much!
Moonlight and Oranges ended up being an interesting story. The writing is great and I felt like I really got to know the characters. There was one thing in the plot that happened that really grated on my nerves and it had to do with a very impulsive act that happened within days of Kestrin and Lorona meeting each other. Talk about instant, but I plowed through it and I was really happy that I did because the book just kept building and getting better as you kept on reading. This was such a pleasant surpirse. Moonlight and Oranges is a different kind of romance that will intrigue you until the end.
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