A Nook for Books: January 2017

About LUNA RISING

Luna Rising by Selene Castrovilla

Publisher: Last Syllable Books

Expected Publication: April 25, 2017

Life begins at thirty-eight for Long Island mom and writer Luna Lampanelli, when she kicks her secretly gay husband to the curb. She's got her freedom, but what she wants is love.

Luna knows she doesn’t need a man to exist, but try telling that to her heart. Against the advice of Sunny, her snarky best friend, and Jiminy, the cautioning voice in Luna’s head that just won’t shut up, Luna sets course to find a mate.

Luna speed and on-line dates her way into several short-lived, surreal relationships. There’s Ari, the humorless Israeli who refuses to assimilate – to America, and to humanity. There’s Alex, the young and handsome ex-crackhead who informs Luna he doesn’t want to be monogamous while they’re in bed. There’s Memphis, the wild-eyed sadomasochist. There’s Red, angry and crippled, who becomes the catalyst for Luna to join Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous.

But before Luna can proceed to recovery, she meets the elusive but oh so appealing Trip. He’s emotionally unavailable and has the Madonna-Whore Complex, but how can Luna (aka “whore”) let him go when she enjoys his dry wit so much, and his naked body even more?

Humorously haunting and packed with unspeakable truths, Luna Rising follows a woman's funny and heart-breaking struggle to relate with un-relatable men and an un-relatable world, and to figure out something even more un-relatable: herself.

Luna Rising: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

My Review:

I was really excited to get a copy of this book! I loved Selene Castrovilla other stories, Melt and Saved By the Music so I went into this book with high hopes! I am happy to say that I was not disappointed. I loved the writing and the characters and I definitely recommend this story!

Right off the bat I felt connected to Luna. Luna grew up in an Italian family on Long Island and I am also from an Italian family who grew up on Long Island. I don't get to read many stories that take place on Long Island, so I was very excited to find out that this story did! Luna is in her late 30's and has two little boys. She was very realistic. She loves her children and her family, but she also loves to have fun. I loved reading her being a mom, and I also loved how she could have a life away from her sons.

The most interesting and original part of this book was the STATS on each character. I loved it! It was a really cool way to introduce the characters and tell the reader a bit of information about them. I don't think I have seen that in a book before.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. A single mother trying to find herself and fall in love is something that many people can relate too. Luna Rising is a well written, original, funny story and I definitely think that you should read it!

About the Author:

Selene Castrovilla is the award-winning author of multiple narrative nonfiction picture books and young adult novels. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing from The New School and a BA in English from New York University. She lives on Long Island with her two sons and too many cats. Visit her website: www.SeleneCastrovilla.com.