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28220826

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Dunne for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: October 4th, 2016

288 Pages

Synopsis: To everyone who knows them, best friends Miel and Sam are as strange as they are inseparable. Roses grow out of Miel’s wrist, and rumors say that she spilled out of a water tower when she was five. Sam is known for the moons he paints and hangs in the trees, and for how little anyone knows about his life before he and his mother moved to town. 

But as odd as everyone considers Miel and Sam, even they stay away from the Bonner girls, four beautiful sisters rumored to be witches. Now they want the roses that grow from Miel’s skin, convinced that their scent can make anyone fall in love. And they’re willing to use every secret Miel has fought to protect to make sure she gives them up.

If you’ve been following me for any length of time you can probably guess why I requested this book on NetGalley. Yep. As soon as I saw the cover my finger hit that little request button! But honestly, can you blame me? It’s absolutely gorgeous, and it also happens to fit the enchanting story inside. When the Moon Was Ours is an unforgettable tale that encompasses magical realism, cultural diversity, gender identity, and romance. The beginning is a little slow, but don’t let that deter you. Everything about this, especially the characters will pull you in. What really got to me were Miel, the girl who grows roses out of her wrist, and Sam, a boy from Pakistan. Their love is so pure and innocent that it literally took my breath away. Reading Anna-Marie McLemore’s writing is like reading poetry. 

People here argued about what the moon smelled like. Some said it was a crisp scent, like pressed linen or new paper. Others said no, it was sweet and alive, like night blossoming jasmine on the first warm night of spring. Others swore it was new and silvery, like just washed spoons, still warm from a sink full of hot water and lemon soap. But to her, it was Sam. The metal and paper of his moons, the rosewater from his mothers kitchen, the sharp trace of paint and turpentine she only ever picked up when she was this close to him.

*Sniff.* Do you see what I mean? The entire book is written in this lyrical prose that draws you that much closer to its characters. While there are plenty of magical elements, the main theme is about accepting and being proud of who you are and not worrying about other people who may judge you for being different. This is the journey that Sam and Miel must take before they find their happiness, and it’s one that many teens and adults will relate to. When the Moon Was Ours is an exceptional novel that I highly recommend to well, all of you! It’s the perfect escape from this cynical world we live in and I guarantee it will reawaken that sense of wonder that seems to be lost all too soon as we grow older.