Book: Beneath a Midnight Moon by Catherine Cowles
Reviewed by Anonymous
Rating: God Tier
There is just something about this series that gets me on a much deeper level!! It's honestly utter perfection, and Catherine somehow manages to raise the bar with every single book. How am I supposed to choose a favourite when every story has been so special in its own way?! But this one was STUNNING! It was such an incredibly emotional read, and while the previous books have tugged at my heartstrings, this one hit a little differently because of the trauma, history and emotions tied between these two characters.
Maverick?! The greenest of green flags!! The way this man continued to show up for Aster, support her and protect her, even when she pushed him away, was everything. You felt to your core just how deeply he cared for her in the way he consistently put her needs first. The absolute definition of a book boyfriend. Aster was also a character I had been intrigued by in the previous books, so getting to understand her more in this one was something I really appreciated. Seeing the extent of her pain and trauma, and how much it had shaped the way she viewed herself and the world around her, was heartbreaking. Life had thrown so much shit her way, yet she continued to push forward and put so much of herself into helping and healing those around her. I found her strength so admirable!
My heart broke for Aster and Maverick so many times as their story unfolded and the reasons behind all their tension and animosity slowly came to light. There was so much hurt and history between them, but underneath it all was this deep understanding of one another that I absolutely loved. The tension and banter were SO good, and I really enjoyed watching them find their way back to each other, learning to trust and heal along the way. It was such a beautiful journey to read!
I also loved the way they both showed up for Eli. The care, patience and love they had for him added another layer to their relationship, and seeing the three of them together was so lovely. They are genuinely such beautiful humans at their core, and I loved watching them build a family and life together.
The slow burn was delicious, but also painful at times. It hurt seeing how long it took them to have an honest conversation about their past and why things ended the way they did, but I also understood why it was so difficult. Given everything they had experienced and the trauma they were carrying, the miscommunication actually worked for me here. It felt connected to their individual struggles and the healing they needed to do, rather than simply being used for the sake of it. And seeing them finally work through that together made their relationship all the more meaningful. They were so good together, and the marriage of convenience was such a perfect setup.
As always, the suspense was SO well done. I loved the atmosphere Catherine created, the twists and the way everything slowly came together. It just hits so well and even when I managed to guess one of the twists, I was still left shocked and suprised by the final one. In true Catherine style, she pulled a double whammy on me that had me second guessing everything i knew. I am so familiar with her writing style now that you would think I would pick up on all her clues, but I still never do 🙈
Catherine's writing honestly feels like coming home! The warmth and love she imbues in her writing is honestly impossible not to feel. She always manages to make me smile and cry all in the same book, and to have that affect on readers is incredible. And I just adore how she never shies away from the hard, traumatic topics and gives them the space to be heard and understood. The focus on healing and understanding one another is also another favourite part!! I think I just feel so seen and heard by her perfectly imperfect characters and her writing that I will never not adore anything she puts out.
The found family aspect and the way the brothers consistently show up for one another will never get old. How they literally drop anything to ensure the safety of those they love?? Perfection! They are just so welcoming and supportive that you feel apart of it all too. It also made me so happy to know Aster had them all behind her, supporting her and creating a family environment where she truly belonged.
Overall, this book was utter perfection and the most heartbreaking, yet healing addition to this wonderful series! I could seriously go on forever about how much this series has meant to me, particularly the characters and their real life struggles. These characters deserve the absolute best and witnessing their healing and happiness makes my heart so happy! Keen as, but scared for Wylder and Livie 🥹🫶🏻💜