What a beautiful, heartfelt coming-of-age romance! I absolutely loved Tommy from the Moon. Daisy Garrison has written a story that captures the intensity and sweetness of young love while exploring some surprisingly difficult themes.
Grace Franklin arrives at an audition for a Broadway production of Romeo and Juliet, hoping to land a role as a dancer. When she’s unexpectedly asked to read for Juliet, she ends up being cast as the understudy. Her Romeo? Miles Drake, a former child star who just happens to have been her ultimate celebrity crush growing up. When Grace finds herself stepping into the leading role, the chemistry between the two is undeniable.
One of my favorite aspects of this novel is the parallel between Shakespeare’s star-crossed lovers and Grace and Miles. Their connection is almost instantaneous, and the chemistry is palpable from their very first reading together. But unlike Shakespeare’s tragedy, this story is filled with hope, joy, and genuinely heartwarming moments.
There’s also more happening beneath the surface. Miles carries the emotional baggage of growing up in Hollywood, including complicated relationships with his parents, struggles with fame, and alcoholism. His experiences add depth to what might otherwise have been a fairly straightforward young-love story.
Although this book is being marketed as adult contemporary fiction, I would personally place it closer to young adult or new adult romance. These characters are very young, and their emotional experiences reflect that. I suspect some readers looking for a more mature contemporary romance might find the relationship a little simplistic, but I think that misses what makes this story special. It has the earnestness and emotional intensity of a really wonderful YA romance.
It reminded me of The Most Important Part by Sherry Mann and Hollywood Ending by John Green. Heartfelt, emotionally rich romances where young love meets complicated struggles. I love stories that let young characters face hard things without losing tenderness.
I just found myself rooting so hard for these two kids! Their story is incredibly sweet, and I loved watching their relationship unfold.
🎧 A note about the audiobook: Helen Laser narrates, and she’s one of those consistently excellent performers who makes listening an absolute pleasure. Her portrayal of both Grace and Miles is wonderful, capturing their personalities and emotional vulnerability beautifully. The story is exceptionally easy to follow in audio, and Laser’s performance adds another layer of warmth to an already lovely book.
Ultimately, Tommy from the Moon is a joyful, tender romance about first love, finding your footing, and learning that your story doesn’t have to end the way everyone expects. It tackles serious subjects without losing its sweetness, and I finished feeling genuinely happy for these characters.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for providing the advance listening copy in exchange for my honest review.
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