The Half Moon: A Novel
“An insightful, riveting study of marriage.” —People
From the bestselling author of Ask Again, Yes, a masterful and “absorbing” (The New York Times) novel about a couple in a small town navigating the complexities of marriage, family, and longing.
Malcolm Gephardt, handsome and gregarious longtime bartender at the Half Moon, has always dreamed of owning a bar. When his boss finally retires, Malcolm stretches to buy the place. He sees unquantifiable magic and potential in the Half Moon and hopes to transform it into a bigger success, but struggles to stay afloat.
His smart and confident wife, Jess, has devoted herself to her law career. After years of trying for a baby, she is facing the idea that motherhood may not be in the cards for her. Like Malcolm, she feels her youth beginning to slip away and wonders how to reshape her future.
“A quick and impactful read that will stay with you long after you finish it” (theSkimm), The Half Moon takes place over the course of one week when Malcolm learns shocking news about Jess, a patron of the bar goes missing, and a blizzard hits the town of Gillam, trapping everyone in place. With a deft eye and generous spirit, Mary Beth Keane explores the disappointments and unexpected consolations of midlife, the many forms forgiveness can take, the complicated intimacy of small-town living, and what it means to be a family.
From the bestselling author of Ask Again, Yes, a masterful and “absorbing” (The New York Times) novel about a couple in a small town navigating the complexities of marriage, family, and longing.
Malcolm Gephardt, handsome and gregarious longtime bartender at the Half Moon, has always dreamed of owning a bar. When his boss finally retires, Malcolm stretches to buy the place. He sees unquantifiable magic and potential in the Half Moon and hopes to transform it into a bigger success, but struggles to stay afloat.
His smart and confident wife, Jess, has devoted herself to her law career. After years of trying for a baby, she is facing the idea that motherhood may not be in the cards for her. Like Malcolm, she feels her youth beginning to slip away and wonders how to reshape her future.
“A quick and impactful read that will stay with you long after you finish it” (theSkimm), The Half Moon takes place over the course of one week when Malcolm learns shocking news about Jess, a patron of the bar goes missing, and a blizzard hits the town of Gillam, trapping everyone in place. With a deft eye and generous spirit, Mary Beth Keane explores the disappointments and unexpected consolations of midlife, the many forms forgiveness can take, the complicated intimacy of small-town living, and what it means to be a family.
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Community Reviews
4.5 stars!
The Half Moon by Mary Beth Keane is a quiet, but memorable novel about the convergence of a struggling couple, a failing local bar, and an epic snowstorm over the course of one week. Tense, passionate, and atmospheric, I didn’t want to put this one down.
Having read the author’s previous novel, Ask, Again Yes, I knew The Half Moon would be well-written and engaging. And while I enjoyed Ask Again, Yes, The Half Moon surpassed it.
The Half Moon, the town’s local pub, is run by Malcolm who has tended bar there for twenty years, purchasing the bar from the previous owner. Keane does a wonderful job of placing the reader in this setting. I felt like a patron of the bar. I could hear the clinking of the glasses and feel the sticky floors.
We meet Malcolm at a low point in his life. His wife Jess left four months ago, the couple’s relationship having broken under the stress of infertility and finances. The dual point of view alternates between the past and present, letting the reader get to know these characters and what brought them together and tore them apart.
Malcolm and Jess are humanized, flawed, and I appreciated their character arcs. And while they both make some decisions that are questionable, it reflects how we can all make terrible decisions when we’re under the stressors of life that would buckle most people.
I especially appreciated the author’s honest handling of infertility. Portrayed realistically, it’s a devastating ordeal for people longing to be parents that so often gets overlooked and ignored. Friends, family, and even strangers can be cruel without even knowing it, and the author represented that with care.
There’s also a mysterious side story about a missing bar patron which added to the unease and the many demands weighing on Malcolm’s shoulders. It only enhanced the story for me, spotlighting side characters who were also well-rounded and human.
Set during a fierce snowstorm with loss of electricity and connection with the outside world, this would be a perfect novel to read curled up by the fire. It’s odd how I can usually tell a new book has been written during the pandemic even if it’s not set during the time. They always have that feeling of stark uncertainty, hollowed out loneliness, but also weirdly nostalgic. A reminder of how most of us shuttered ourselves in and gathered close with our loved ones, and this novel is a perfect example.
Despite focusing on some heavier subjects, I thought The Half Moon wrapped up satisfactorily, hopeful but realistic. It would be perfect for book clubs to dive into, as well. I hope this one gets all the attention it deserves.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to Scribner and Netgalley for providing me with an advance copy.
Check out my reviews and playlists at A Book Wanderer
#popsugarreadingchallenge2023 (prompt #12 - A book published in spring 2023)
The Half Moon by Mary Beth Keane is a quiet, but memorable novel about the convergence of a struggling couple, a failing local bar, and an epic snowstorm over the course of one week. Tense, passionate, and atmospheric, I didn’t want to put this one down.
Having read the author’s previous novel, Ask, Again Yes, I knew The Half Moon would be well-written and engaging. And while I enjoyed Ask Again, Yes, The Half Moon surpassed it.
The Half Moon, the town’s local pub, is run by Malcolm who has tended bar there for twenty years, purchasing the bar from the previous owner. Keane does a wonderful job of placing the reader in this setting. I felt like a patron of the bar. I could hear the clinking of the glasses and feel the sticky floors.
We meet Malcolm at a low point in his life. His wife Jess left four months ago, the couple’s relationship having broken under the stress of infertility and finances. The dual point of view alternates between the past and present, letting the reader get to know these characters and what brought them together and tore them apart.
Malcolm and Jess are humanized, flawed, and I appreciated their character arcs. And while they both make some decisions that are questionable, it reflects how we can all make terrible decisions when we’re under the stressors of life that would buckle most people.
I especially appreciated the author’s honest handling of infertility. Portrayed realistically, it’s a devastating ordeal for people longing to be parents that so often gets overlooked and ignored. Friends, family, and even strangers can be cruel without even knowing it, and the author represented that with care.
There’s also a mysterious side story about a missing bar patron which added to the unease and the many demands weighing on Malcolm’s shoulders. It only enhanced the story for me, spotlighting side characters who were also well-rounded and human.
Set during a fierce snowstorm with loss of electricity and connection with the outside world, this would be a perfect novel to read curled up by the fire. It’s odd how I can usually tell a new book has been written during the pandemic even if it’s not set during the time. They always have that feeling of stark uncertainty, hollowed out loneliness, but also weirdly nostalgic. A reminder of how most of us shuttered ourselves in and gathered close with our loved ones, and this novel is a perfect example.
Despite focusing on some heavier subjects, I thought The Half Moon wrapped up satisfactorily, hopeful but realistic. It would be perfect for book clubs to dive into, as well. I hope this one gets all the attention it deserves.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to Scribner and Netgalley for providing me with an advance copy.
Check out my reviews and playlists at A Book Wanderer
#popsugarreadingchallenge2023 (prompt #12 - A book published in spring 2023)
Slowest book in the history of literature but it did get interesting in the last hundred pages. Disliked every single character.
Really absorbing story about a middle aged couple dealing with all the middle aged problems that most of us face in some form or other.
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