A smooth and lovely story about grieving, friendship and moon magic. YA as it should be written with complex characters, gorgeous prose and delicate handling of tricky and poignant themes. I loved the setting as well.

Suzy Button is grieving for her mother who died a year ago, she is struggling at school where the class mean girls seem to target her and there is no support from her father who is stuck in his own bubble of grief. Despite her fear of the dark, she goes outside at night and makes a wish to the moon. The next day things start to change for the better. A new girl called Rhiannon joins her class and becomes her friend, changing Suzy’s life and allowing her to move on. But who is Rhiannon? Why does she never mention her home life and how does she seem to make things happen?
This is a lovely YA read. Set in Ireland, the descriptive writing is so evocative of Suzy’s seaside home, I felt like I had been through the tunnel to one of the beach parties myself! The friendships which develop between Suzy and Pod, Jazzy, Derry and Paul feel so authentic and heartwarming and the mystical element of the story weaves into the background without ever becoming unrealistic. We really get to know Suzy as she re-engages with life, starts to take risks and find herself again.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

3,75 stars.
Despite the poignant and profound themes of Sisters of the Moon manages to be a smooth read.
The characterisation is very well-done. Suzy is a relatable, complex and lovely character.
The chapters are not lengthy and the story shape is ideal.
My favourite part was the prose. 5/5 for that.
The plot is suitable and enjoyable for YA readers.
I am eager to read more by this author for her mastery of characters and prose.

This is a story that although it covers grief and friendship also has a magical element. Suzy Button's mum died a year previously and neither her nor her father have ever really moved forward. On a full moon, as she used to do with her mother, she goes into the garden and makes three wishes to the moon. The next day, everything seems to change - coincidence? One of her wishes was to have a friend. In her new school, she is the butt of the jokes from the mean girls in the class, the class leaders. That day, Rhiannon arrives and a friendship develops. Rhiannon is a mystery, from her way of talking to the fact that Suzy is never allowed to visit her. But through Rhiannon, Suzy gains friends, and develops a reckless streak. Written in first person, Suzy's personality shines - even when she is arguing with her inner self. This is a charming story of friendship entwined with moon magic. A lovely YA read.

4-5 stars rounded up

“She asked me, “Be my sister
Sister, sister of the moon” ….
Some call her sister of the moon,
Some say, illusions are her game
They like to wrap her in velvet
Does anyone, ooh, anyone know her name”
Fleetwood Mac, words by Stevie Nicks, Album Tusk, 1979

26th August is NOT just another day for nearly 16 year old Suzy Button. It’s the first anniversary of the day her mum dies and life is rubbish without her despite her father’s decision for a change of scene, relocating them from the city to Sallycove. Her dad is not in a good way either, zombie like, struggling with overwhelming grief. Suzy even makes wishes to the moon, after all, her mum was into things like that. Star of the Sea school is difficult for her too, very difficult, no thanks to Casey and Clodagh, the alpha mean girls. That is, until new girl Rhiannon Albedo arrives and then things start to look up. However, who exactly is Rhiannon and where does she live???

This is a captivating, charming, heartwarming, life affirming tale which is magical, amazing and full of atmosphere as the outstanding cover suggests. It’s wonderfully written with some fantastic descriptions that leap from the pages. Suzy’s personality and character come across beautifully in this first person narrative. It’s like she’s not only in a dialogue with herself but with the reader and inevitably, her mother. She’s funny, smart, insecure, talented and understandably conflicted. As for Rhiannon - pure magic and through her she gains lovely friends in Pod, Jazzy, Derry and Paul. You can well imagine Casey and Clodagh as those girls exist everywhere but they do make for some lively scenes both in school and on the beach!

The novel has multiple layers to it. I love the mystical element especially that of the moon which is indeed magical. The inclusion of actual places in Ireland adds to the mystique. Another layer is obviously grief but also coming back to life and there’s friendship too among other things. It’s comforting yet also suspenseful and tense, funny yet also sad, magical yet also real, sensible and safe but also foolish, exciting and reckless (they are teens!) it’s contained and thoughtful yet also wild and free, there’s being solitary and then not so, there’s kindness and its polar opposite and there’s illusion versus reality. The moral if there is one - be braver and laugh. A lot.

Overall, I had no idea what to expect with this but I loved it from start to finish. It’s classed as YA but as I’m way beyond that I’d say anyone could read this and get something from it. I sure have.

Finally, sisters of the moon spiritually means connecting in truth, sharing stories, connecting with and to divine wisdom and forging an unbreakable bond of sisterhood. Suzy Button definitely does that.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Faber and Faber.