Terrie Robinson's Reviews > The Half Moon

The Half Moon by Mary Beth Keane is a Story About Perception and Perspective!

It's hard to hold onto a dream. It's even harder when you and your spouse have different dreams.

Malcolm's dream is to own his own bar. It has to be the "Half Moon" where he's tended bar for years. When this bar is offered for sale, he'll be the buyer, at all costs.

Jess's dream is to have a baby. For years she'll go from doctor to doctor for the newest procedures to become pregnant, no matter the cost.

As both dreams begin to falter and fade, it creates tension, sadness and blame between Malcolm, Jess, and their marriage. Living in the small community where they grew up, even the most well-meaning family members and friends cause unnecessary interference and complications.

How can this relationship between Malcolm and Jess, and their marriage, possibly end well?

The Half Moon is the first book I've read by this author and I'm completely convinced she knows how to write character driven stories that dive deeply into a relationship. The atmosphere is thick, dark, and tense and both Malcolm and Jess are broken and damaged just like their marriage. It's heart-wrenching to read and to witness their pain. It's palpable.

It feels like the reader hears mostly from Malcolm, however Jess voices her memories and perspective of their relationship, giving a balance to the backstory and current standing of their marriage. I love the depth of detail the author shows this relationship in her storytelling.

There are several surprises as the storyline wanders and begins to feel like a story within a story, but it always travels back to Malcolm and Jess's marriage. IMHO the addition of this second storyline is a genius move by the author and creates another layer to the story and a different perspective overall. Pretty clever, Ms. Keane!

I love character driven stories, especially one that's as well-written as The Half Moon. I have a hardcopy of Ask Again, Yes sitting on my desk that I'll definitely be reading soon.

I love and highly recommend The Half Moon! 4.5 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley, Scribner, and Mary Beth Keane for an ARC of this book. It has been an honor to give my honest and voluntary review.