Review: When the Moon Was Ours by Anna-Marie McLemore

“Her feeling that the moon had slipped from her grasp seemed locked in a place so far inside her that to reach it would be to break her open.”

Release Date: October 4th, 2016

Genre(s): Young adult fiction, Magical realism, LGBT

Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books

Pages: 273

Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️.75

Content Warnings:

Body horror, bullying, death of a parent, homophobia, self-harm, suicidal ideation, transphobia(deadnaming and misgendering)

Synopsis

When the Moon Was Ours follows Sam and Miel, considered to be strange by everyone who knows them, knowing little about their lives before they came to town. Sam is known for the moon he paints and hangs in trees, and Miel is known for the roses that grow out of her wrists. But even Sam and Miel stay away from the Bonner girls, who are thought to be witches. The girls want Miel’s roses because they believe their scent can make anyone fall in love with them, and they’re ready to expose all of Sam and Miel’s secrets to have them.

Review

When this book was announced as the February pick for one of the book clubs I was in, I was excited to read it. A couple of years back, I read Wild Beauty by the same author and was so entranced by their writing that it’s stuck with me for such a long time. And while Wild Beauty remains my favorite of McLemore’s works so far, When the Moon Was Ours was a beautifully written story as well.

The character backstories of this book make for a very unique read. Many of the characters, while they have hidden origins, have in-depth backstories and personal struggles that are explored so deeply. When the Moon Was Ours is also an own-voices story; much of the novel centers on sexuality and gender identity. I loved the exploration of these elements throughout the novel and the progression of the characters as they explore their identity and relationships.

The writing, as I’ve mentioned previously, is absolutely beautiful. I can see how it’s not everyone’s tastes, but if you love lyrical, flowery prose, I think you’ll really enjoy this book.

The only thing I really wanted more from were the Bronner sisters’ backstories. I feel like their rationale for getting the roses from Miel and their aspirations were very surface-level. And while that basically is the point, I do wish their characters were fleshed out just a little more.

Regardless, I really enjoyed When the Moon Was Ours, and am glad to have finally read it. I’d definitely like to continue reading the rest of McLemore’s other works in the near future.

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