Review: Hang the Moon by Alexandria Bellefleur

Brendon Lowell loves love. It’s why he created a dating app to help people find their one true pairing and why he’s convinced “the one” is out there, even if he hasn’t met her yet. Or… has he? When his sister’s best friend turns up in Seattle unexpectedly, Brendon jumps at the chance to hang out with her. He’s crushed on Annie since they were kids, and the stars have finally aligned, putting them in the same city at the same time.

Annie booked a spur-of-the-moment trip to Seattle to spend time with friends before moving across the globe. She’s not looking for love, especially with her best friend’s brother. Annie remembers Brendon as a sweet, dorky kid. Except, the 6-foot-4 man who shows up at her door is a certified Hot Nerd and Annie… wants him? Oh yes.

Getting involved would be a terrible idea—her stay is temporary and he wants forever—but when Brendon learns Annie has given up on dating, he’s determined to prove that romance is real. Taking cues from his favorite rom-coms, Brendon plans to woo her with elaborate dates straight out of Nora Ephron’s playbook. The clock is ticking on Annie’s time in Seattle, and Brendon’s starting to realize romance isn’t just flowers and chocolate. But maybe real love doesn’t need to be as perfect as the movies… as long as you think your partner hung the moon.

• Title: Hang the Moon
• Author: Alexandria Bellefleur
• Genre: Adult, Romance, Contemporary
• Targeted Age Range: Adult
• Representation: Bi protagonist, lesbian side characters
• Rating:  ★★★★☆

Hang the Moon by Alexandria Bellefleur is an absolute joy. I loved Bellefluer’s writing style – she has a way of writing that instantly transports the reader into the world created. I loved everything about this book; it honestly felt like the perfect romcom. One of my favourite things about this book was the inspiration drawn from previous romance stories. It draws from all of your favourite romantic movies, oftentimes directly referencing them, to bring you an entertaining read you won’t be able to put down. The addition to classic romance was a lovely touch, and one that I appreciated as it was sprinkled throughout.

Annie and Brendon had a wonderful dynamic. Honestly, the friends-to-lovers aspect of this book was beautiful: written in such a perfect way that it’s satisfying when they get together. Their relationship is believable, and you find yourself genuinely rooting for them. Brendon is just a wonderful romantic interest: he’s sweet, considerate and thoughtful. I really loved him; he was everything you’d want in a book boyfriend. He’s so patient with Annie as she’s figuring out what she wants, and it’s very lovely to have a main character who is so obsessed with love. Brendon was just wonderful, and I’d love to read more about him in the future.

Annie was a wonderful protagonist, too. She’s given up on love, and she’s in Seattle to say goodbye to her best friend Darcy before a move across the world to London. She doesn’t come to Seattle to find love, but that’s exactly what’s awaiting for her in the form of Darcy’s younger brother, Brendon. She’s truly a joy to read about – equal parts optimist and realist, but still refreshing and loveable as a protagonist. She has a wonderful dynamic with Darcy and Darcy’s girlfriend, Elle (the stars of book one, Written in the Stars), and their friendship is so realistic and joyous to read about. I just loved how she interacted with all the other characters, it was truly one of the highlights of the book. 

This book is set in Seattle, and while it’s a city I haven’t seen yet, it’s on the top of my list for when travel is safe again, so having this book set in Seattle was so lovely! The city truly comes to life in this book, and it felt like I was being transported to the rainy streets of Seattle alongside Brendon and Annie. Bellefleur has a lovely writing style that’s just so atmospheric and beautiful, it was one of the things I loved most about this book. Paired alongside a quick moving plot and interesting characters, Hang the Moon was a lovely romcom, perfect if you’re in a reading slump.

I think where this book truly excelled was the characters. Bellefleur writes characters who feel like real people, and feel like people you’ve met. Oftentimes I found myself relating to situations they were going through, or jokes told that reminded me of my own friend group. They truly were a wonderful element to this novel, and I loved that it featured throughout. Despite being a romance novel, the book focuses on other things, such as helplessness in your twenties and questioning whether or not you’re on the right path. It was a nice touch to add, and made it all the more enjoyable. As much as I love romance being the sole focus of a novel, these elements were a lovely addition to keep the story fresh and engaging. 

All in all, Hang the Moon is perfect for any romcom lover. It has all the elements of a classic romance that you love, such as the perfect dates and the growing tension between the two characters, but is written in a way that adds excitement and interest to an otherwise familiar concept. Alexandria Bellefleur has successfully written a beautiful love story, and I can’t wait to see what they write next. Hang the Moon is a triumph.

Links for Hang the Moon: Goodreads | StoryGraph | Bookshop | Indiebound