Genre: romance
Themes: first love, religious war, friendship

Colette is a French civil servant seeking adventure in foreign lands. After a glowing recommendation from a friend she ends up in war ridden Afghanistan where she teaches French to would be soldiers. There she finds a rigid society and arid landscape, but also the tender fragility of a first love. Crossing the divide of politics, religion and the classes this is certainly an interesting love story. After a chaotic turn of events that sees Abdul Hannan shot and dishonourably removed from his position, Colette returns back to England and the estate her late grandmother left her. When her mother convinces her to take on a boarder, a charming writer takes residence on her lands and sees fit to take what he chooses, including her story.

I’ll be honest, I selected this title based on the beautiful and intriguing cover design. A very Midnight in Paris with a middle eastern twist. Contemplative and enchanting. While I really liked the writing and descriptions of Kabul and historical landmarks in London I had trouble believing any of these relationships. First we have best friends who haven’t spoken in years and then one goes on to disbelieve the other after a series of traumatic events. Then we have the love story which seemingly came out of nowhere and accelerated at an unfounded pace. I liked the idea, I just didn’t believe it. And finally we have the writer - in what world would this type of theft and plagiarism actually be allowed to happen? This concept was a little dated for a book taking place in the late 90s.

It could have been going for satirical as a commentary on the perceived madness of women, but it didn’t read that way. It read as why are all of these infuriating characters doing silly things. If a boarder steals your journals and your stories, kick him out. If assassins assault you at your home, tell your staff and police.

I found myself wanting to yell at the main character who walked head first into ridiculous situations, from going to Kabul on a whim, to visiting a garden when she was told not to and being surprised there were dire repurcusions. Then there were the tandem stories of Davina starting a job as a florist, her boring and tedious boyfriend Simon and of course Giles who believes charms are a virtue that can get you anything. Much of this book made me mad. Actions lacked logic and the plot was directed on a whim, most of the relationships felt disingenuous, and some of the stereotyping was taken to an extreme thereby loosing the human element.

Still I found the style of writing rather enchanting and I did enjoy the landscape and idea behind the novel. The characters themselves were also rather well developed with little quirks and complicated feelings, but existed in their own spheres. It was rather short and ended with a bang and bittersweet happily ever after. I think it just needed more for me to be invested.

I want to thank NetGalley, Troubador Publishing, and Barbara Kastelin for my very first ARC.

Initially, the plot teeters between disjointedness and potential, ultimately leaving the reader with a tangled web of complex emotions and unresolved issues. The author explores a region and culture often misunderstood, diving into Mediterranean and Afghan settings with heavy layers of cultural tension, violence, and loss. While this is an ambitious and timely topic, the execution is a mix of intriguing moments and frustrating missteps.

The writing itself can be quite descriptive and at times light-hearted, but this balance seems to falter when paired with moments of dark humor and stark portrayals of grief and loss. It crossed the line between building tension in a war-torn environment and indulging in inappropriate humor. Kabul is depicted as both a stunning yet unwelcoming place, its beauty overshadowed by the dire circumstances, but the narrative tone around this often felt jarring.

However, the relationship between Colette and Abdul felt far too rushed, almost comically so. What could have been a slow-burning romance is reduced to a fast-paced, insta-love plot that leaves readers questioning the believability of their connection. The emotional whiplash here is palpable, especially given how quickly Colette moves from teaching Abdul to declaring her love for him.

The novel doesn’t shy away from depicting the severity of life under the Taliban, with racism and religious tensions hanging heavily over the characters. It tries to show how bitter cultural divides, compounded by the hardships of war, shape the characters' interactions. But even in its attempt to address complex issues, the book feels clunky and occasionally out of touch, especially in its dialogue and references to “old times” despite the setting being the 1990s. This disconnect often made the characters seem more like caricatures than fully realized people.

The multiple POVs employed throughout the novel only served to deepen the emotional distance between the reader and the story. The randomness in the narrative structure left me feeling detached from the characters, as if I were a passive observer rather than an engaged participant. This sense of disconnection was further amplified by the lack of a coherent plot and the sporadic religious and political themes that often felt forced rather than organic.

Ultimately, the book struggles to find its footing. The start is slow, the writing dense, and the plot unclear. By the time the climax arrives late in the story, it's too little, too late. The ending is a chaotic, rushed affair that leaves much to be desired, offering neither resolution nor redemption. This, combined with problematic elements like homophobic stereotypes and an attempt at abduction, culminates in a book that provokes controversial feelings, but not in a way that feels earned or meaningful.

This book, with its heavy themes and occasional flashes of brilliance, ultimately leaves you feeling more frustrated than fulfilled. The potential for a nuanced, emotional story set against the backdrop of war and cultural tension is overshadowed by disjointed pacing, an underdeveloped romance, and an unsatisfying conclusion. While it may resonate with some, others may find themselves too distant from the characters and too disconnected from the plot to fully engage with the story. Readers’ discretion is advised.

#FullMoonOverKabul #NetGalley

I'm grateful to Netgalley and Troubador for this eARC.

I requested this book because the title intrigued me a lot, and I love the book's cover. Itsya beautiful painting. This is the first book I've read by Barbara Kastelin, and now I'm going to read more of her works.

Full moon over Kabul follows the story of a woman, Colette, who takes up a job to teach French to Afghan men in Kabul, and how this decision has a domino effect on the course of her life- personal and professional.
There are themes of forbidden love amidst religious, political, and extremist tensions. The backdrop of Kabul and Europe support the intensity of the narrative.

The ghosts of love are hard to let go of, even more when they keep coming back to bite you.

Parallel to this unfolding drama in pursuit of love and its demons, and the total chaos of what it brings, there's another narrative where Colette has to fight a person hell bent on using her story for his own aggrandizement.

It's a quick, fast paced read, and has a gripping storyline.
I would like to specially mention that I loved the author's technique of describing cities (from different reference points) from the beginning of the book.

This was a strong romance novel and enjoyed that it was in a different setting than I was expecting. The overall story worked well together and enjoyed how good the characters worked in this story. Barbara Kastelin has a strong writing style and was glad it was written so well.

This is both a romance and an adventure story about Colette Fontaine, a young Anglo-French language teacher, and her best pupil, Abdul Hannan, the son of a Taliban Commander. It’s a dual timeline focusing on Kabul in 1998 and Bedfordshire in 1999.

This novel is centered around broken boundaries and the repercussions of stepping over the line. Both Gilbert and Colette's challenges were a product of their own doing.

Full Moon Over Kabul brings to light the challenges faced by female teachers in Afghanistan. Colette Fontaine faced an uphill battle. Not only was she working in a challenging environment as a woman, but she was working with mature students who struggled with gender equality and a societal outlook that didn’t hold the teaching profession in high regard.

Although I really struggled with this novel, I could see how the author hoped to provide critical insight into the experiences of Anglo-French teachers in Afghanistan and champion advocacy efforts for their rights and well-being. That being said, the protagonist and antagonist both crossed a line and I had little sympathy as they faced challenges. The teacher in me wanted to warn Colette of the dangerous game she was playing...I was equally frustrated, abhorred, and smug.