When the Moon Was Ours

Sam and Miel are outsiders in their small town. Sam paints and hangs moons throughout the community, while Miel grows roses from her wrist - a trait that appeared after she emerged from a fallen water tower as a child. The Bonner sisters, four local girls known for their beauty and rumored witchcraft, take an interest in Miel's roses. Their pursuit of Miel forces both her and Sam to confront secrets about their pasts and identities. The story explores the relationship between Sam and Miel as they navigate family expectations, cultural traditions, and the threat posed by the Bonner sisters. Their connection deepens as they protect each other and uncover truths about themselves. This magical realism novel examines themes of identity, gender, culture and belonging through a lens that blends folklore with contemporary issues. The story challenges binaries and celebrates the complexity of human nature and love.

Readers describe this book as a dreamy, magical realism romance with lyrical prose that focuses on gender identity, culture, and self-discovery. Readers appreciated: - The representation of transgender and Pakistani characters - The authentic handling of cultural elements - The poetic writing style - The incorporation of folklore and magic - The slow-building romance between main characters Common criticisms: - Pacing feels too slow for some readers - Writing style can be overly flowery and abstract - Plot sometimes gets lost in metaphors - Some found it difficult to follow the magical elements Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (16,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (280+ ratings) Barnes & Noble: 4.3/5 (30+ ratings) One reader noted: "The prose is beautiful but sometimes gets in the way of the story." Another wrote: "This book handles identity and transition with such care and understanding."

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🌙 This book won the 2016 James Tiptree Jr. Award (now called the Otherwise Award) for works of science fiction or fantasy that expand our understanding of gender. 🌹 The author drew inspiration from a Pakistani folk tale about a girl who sprouted roses from her wrist, blending it with Latinx culture and magical realism. 🎨 Anna-Marie McLemore wrote this story as a love letter to their transgender husband, weaving in elements of their own experiences as a queer, non-binary Latinx author. 🌟 The novel tackles complex themes of cultural identity through magical elements like moon-water, painted moons, and roses that grow from skin—all while exploring gender identity and transition. 🪜 The "Bonner Girls" in the story are based on the real historical phenomenon of "ladder families," where girls in some cultures were raised as boys until puberty to maintain family inheritance or status.