Jenn Bennett Archives

Book Review: Serious Moonlight by Jenn Bennett

Apr 8, 2019

Serious Moonlight by Jenn Bennett

Pages: 432
Publish date: April 16, 2019
Publisher: Simon Pulse
ISBN: 9781534425149
Purchase: Book Depository – Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU – QBD

After an awkward first encounter, Birdie and Daniel are forced to work together in a Seattle hotel where a famous author leads a mysterious and secluded life in this romantic contemporary novel from the author of Alex, Approximately.

Mystery-book aficionado Birdie Lindberg has an overactive imagination. Raised in isolation and homeschooled by strict grandparents, she’s cultivated a whimsical fantasy life in which she plays the heroic detective and every stranger is a suspect. But her solitary world expands when she takes a job the summer before college, working the graveyard shift at a historic Seattle hotel.

In her new job, Birdie hopes to blossom from introverted dreamer to brave pioneer, and gregarious Daniel Aoki volunteers to be her guide. The hotel’s charismatic young van driver shares the same nocturnal shift and patronizes the waterfront Moonlight Diner where she waits for the early morning ferry after work. Daniel also shares her appetite for intrigue, and he’s stumbled upon a real-life mystery: a famous reclusive writer—never before seen in public—might be secretly meeting someone at the hotel.

To uncover the writer’s puzzling identity, Birdie must come out of her shell…discovering that most confounding mystery of all may be her growing feelings for the elusive riddle that is Daniel.

Serious Moonlight:

I received an e-arc of Serious Moonlight by Jenn Bennett from Simon and Schuster in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way influenced my thoughts and feelings about this book.

I’ve read two of Jenn Bennett’s books previously – and adored them. Starry Eyes was a great second chance romance, while Alex, Approximately just got to me. And Serious Moonlight was just so good, a mix of romance with a little mystery, it just worked here.

Serious Moonlight follows Birdie as she begins her summer job at a historic Seattle hotel. Closed off from the world, Birdie took comfort in a life where she could be a heroic detective. After an awkward encounter with Daniel Aoki, they now have to work the night shift together. But when they stumble on a real-life mystery, they have to work together if they want to discover who the famous reclusive writer is meeting at the hotel.

João Silas

Birdie was a really interesting protagonist in Serious Moonlight and I am not sure how I feel about her. Birdie has had a hard life and that has really influenced her. While she does have an outgoing nature at times, I felt that she is also very withdrawn. Not only does she like to keep to herself, but doesn’t know how to handle certain situations. However, this made for an interesting read. Because Birdie’s character development and character arc were fantastic. The reader is able to see Birdie really grow throughout Serious Moonlight and not only become comfortable with others but also herself.

I felt the same about Daniel. There were times where I really enjoyed getting to know him, but then he did some things throughout the novel that just didn’t sit well with me. Daniel like Birdie has gone through a lot. Things are revealed as the novel goes on and Birdie and Daniel get to know one another. I really liked that Daniel had a positive outlook on everything that he did. Well, he had his own demons her really tried to help those around him.

One thing that I think that Jenn Bennett does so well, is create characters that are, honest, real and have flaws. And she did it again in Serious Moonlight. It makes reading her books, feel more real. Meaning, I don’t have to imagine these characters, these worlds. They just fit.

The romance in Serious Moonlight was really interesting and different from what I’ve read from Jenn Bennett. Birdie and Daniel had met before the start of the novel, and it wasn’t the most graceful goodbye. So when they have to work together, everything gets a little awkward. But it was kind of cute. I loved how innocent Birdie was and how Daniel loved playing upon that. But not in a bad way, he just pushed her out of her comfort zone a little – and that made both of them grow. There were parts throughout their relationship that I didn’t love. But it was out weight by how adorable they were together.

Michał Parzuchowski

The theme of family was a big part of this novel. Both Birdie and Daniel have different family lifestyles and it was great seeing these two come together. Birdie mostly grew up with a very strict and protective grandmother. While Daniel’s family is more outgoing, after some events his mother becomes very protective of him.

I don’t think that Jenn Bennett gets enough love, this is the third novel of hers that I have read and I’ve loved. Like I said before Jenn Bennett knows how to write real and honest characters. They have their faults, but they are also so compelling and I want to cheer for them. Both Daniel and Birdie have been through a lot before the novel start, and the reader gets to see them go on a journey and grow.

Overall, I really enjoyed Serious Moonlight. It’s a great combination of mystery and contemporary that captures real characters. With writing that is easy to read, the characters float off the page. Jenn Bennett is able to create a story that is easy to follow and to fall in love with. Daniel and Birdie were fantastic characters that really stood out for me. If you haven’t had the chance of reading a Jenn Bennett, then I think you should get on it.

Book Review: Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett | Blog Tour

Jun 8, 2018

Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett

Pages: 421
Publish date: June 1, 2018
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 9781471161063
Purchase: Book Depository – Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU – QBD

Ever since last year’s homecoming dance, best-friends-turned-worst-enemies Zorie and Lennon have made an art of avoiding each other. It doesn’t hurt that their families are the modern-day version of the Montagues and Capulets. But when a group camping trip goes south, Zorie and Lennon find themselves stranded in the wilderness. Alone. Together.

Zorie and Lennon have no choice but to try to make their way to safety. But as the two travel deeper into the rugged Californian countryside, secrets, and hidden feelings surface. Soon it’s not simply a matter of enduring each other’s company, but taming their growing feelings for each other.

Starry Eyes:

I received a copy of Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett from Simon and Schuster for free in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way influenced my thoughts and feelings about the book.

Last year when I read Alex, Approximately, I fell in love with the characters, humour and the writing. So when I heard that Jenn Bennet was bringing out another novel, I knew I needed it and I was not disappointed. Starry Eyes is a beautiful novel that explores friendship, love and defying the odds.

Starry Eyes follows teens Zorie and Lennon as they try and navigate their last years of school, but best friends that have now turned enemies didn’t expect to be spending their break together on a camping trip. When things go south and they have to stick together, everything is brought out into the open. But it doesn’t help that Zorie’s father hating everything to do with Lennon is just the start of it. And Lennon didn’t turn up to homecoming.

Zorie was a really interesting character, from the start of Starry Eyes the reader is able to see that she is still quite hurt from what happened between her and Lennon. But as the novel goes on we get to see her really open to both her feelings and the past. What Jenn Bennet does best is create honest and likable characters protagonist and that is what Zorie is. She is not perfect, but that is what makes her so interesting. Zorie didn’t just find out the truth in Starry Eyes, but also found herself. She found the strength to stand up for herself and those that she loves even if it broke her heart to do so.

Lennon was a very interesting character as well. At first, it was hard to love him, simply because of how Zorie saw him, but as the novel went on and everything came out into the open, gosh he was great. Lennon has been through a lot. And the way that he dealt with it was too pull away. I loved Lennon’s presence that he gave the book, it just gave this whole lift to the book, I can’t even explain.

Miscommunication and secrets were what torn Zorie and Lennon apart. But as the novel went on and those all came out, both of them were able to see the best in one another again and that was fantastic to see. Jenn Bennet is a genius at adorable, slow burn romances and even though the romance in Starry Eyes was over a short period of time, Zorie and Lennon had been friends for years. This wasn’t just hate-to-lovers, but friends to loves and gosh it was just the best thing in the world. Zorie and Lennon were adorable together, you could tell that they both still very much liked each other. Zorie and Lennon hadn’t really talked since homecoming. But this camping trip and eventually them being stuck together really got them both really letting everything go. And that was great to see.

Family and friendship is a big theme in Starry Eyes and what Jenn Bennett does, is explore the good and bad of both. Zorie’s family isn’t that crash hot. At the start of the novel, she finds out something. And this is tearing her apart and it was really hard on her. There were so many things going on in her life, she really didn’t need it at all. It broke my heart when Zories was trying to figure what to do with all the information and finding out others knew before her. Zorie also had some pretty horrible friends, I understand that everyone has something going on in their lives, but gosh did it escalate in Starry Eyes. Lennon’s family is just great, I adored both his mums and they just seemed like great parents that really understood their son.

Overall, I loved Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett. It explores what it means to love, have family and friends. It’s a coming of age novel that really grabs you from the start with its honesty and reliability. Zorie and Lennon were such great protagonists that made the story that much better. Plus they were stuck in the middle of the wildness with only each other for company, things are bound to get heated. Starry Eyes is for everyone that wants to be taken away with honest and flawed characters and romance that will warm your heart.

Jenn Bennett is an award-winning author of young adult contemporary romance books, including Alex, Approximately; Night Owls; and Starry Eyes. She also writes romance and urban fantasy for adults. Her books have garnered multiple starred reviews, won the Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA® Award, and been included on Publishers Weekly Best Books annual list. She lives near Atlanta with one husband and two dogs.

Twitter | Instagram | Website | Goodreads

Have you read Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett? What did you think of it? Are you planning on reading it soon? Have you read any of her other books? Let’s Chat! Also, don’t forget to check out the rest of the blog tour.

Book Review: Alex, Approximately by Jenn Bennett

Apr 13, 2017

Alex, Approximately by Jenn Bennett

Pages: 368
Publish date: April 1st, 2017
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 1471161536
Purchase: Book Depository – Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU – Dymocks

Bailey “Mink” Rydell has met the boy of her dreams. They share a love of films and talk all day – Alex is perfect. Well, apart from the fact that they’ve never actually met . . . and neither of them knows the other’s real name.

When Bailey moves to sunny California to live with her dad, who happens to live in the same town as Alex, she decides to track him down. But finding someone based on online conversations alone proves harder than Bailey thought, and with her irritating but charismatic (and potentially attractive?) colleague Porter Roth distracting her at every turn, will she ever get to meet the mysterious Alex?

Alex, Approximately:

I received a review copy of Alex, Approximately by Jenn Bennet from Simon and Schuster in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way influcued my thoughts and feelings about the book.

Over the last couple of months, I’ve been hearing a lot of things about Alex, Approximately. And gosh did it live up to its hype. Alex, Approximately is fun, heartfelt and put a smile on my face. With friendship, romance, family and hidden identities, you are in for a ride.

Alex, Approximately follows protagonist Bailey as she moves to California to live with her father. But she isn’t just about to move across the country, she is moving to the same place as the ‘Alex’ the guy she has been talking to online for quite some time. However, she hasn’t told him. Then she gets a job at the local museum, but she had a major dislike for Porter – or does she?

I cannot explain how much I loved this book. From the first page, I was enthralled and taken on a journey with Bailey as she begins her new journey.

I totally clicked with Bailey as a protagonist and I immediately wanted to take this journey with her and wanted to know what was going to happen next. I loved that she was hesitant, that she wasn’t sure of herself or even where she wanted to go. When Bailey questioned who she was and her passion for movies and what they explore was so fun to see.

Can Porter please be mine…please? From the get go, I was intrigued by Porter. His working in a museum, but from the outside he doesn’t seem the type. But as the novel goes on and Bailey gets to know him. Everything unfolds. Porter is so sweet! At times he is shy but then acts as the ‘popular guy.’ I loved the interaction not just between Porter and Bailey, but everyone else. He is so full of love and compassion and he is fun.

The romance was adorable. Porter and Bailey have to be on my otp list. I loved the innocents between the two. From the start, you could tell they cared for one another but didn’t realise it. I loved seeing their relationship unfold and see their feelings come to the surface.

I loved the concept of this book. I’ve meet a lot of my friends via social media so it was nice to see it shown in a positive light. Yes, it can be horrible talking to people online and it not being them. But, the relationship that Alex and Minx have is adorable. I love that they share a love for movies and their conversations are so cute.

Alex, Approximately also has a good sense of family and friendship throughout. I loved Bailey’s relationship with her father, even though at the start they are getting used to each other again. I loved the banter between the two. However, what was up with her mother? Where was she?

Overall, Alex, Approximately was a fantastic read. From the first chapter, I was invested with the characters and I wanted to know their stories. I wanted them to fall in love, and make friendships. Alex, Approximately explores the notions of love, family and finding yourself. With intriguing characters, a plot that had you on the edge of your seat and writing that kept you right there. It’s a must-read for those who love a little romance and friendship that has been built for a while.

I could write so much more about this book, but please do pick it up and read it. Have you read Alex, Approximately yet? What did you think of it? Are you planning on reading it? Let’s Chat!