Alexandria Bellefleur returns to the world of WRITTEN IN THE STARS with HANG THE MOON, another Zodiac-influenced romance perfect for fans of rom-coms, iconic love stories and the kind of love that can’t be captured in either.

Readers of WRITTEN IN THE STARS will no doubt remember Darcy’s brother, Brendon Lowell, the lovelorn creator of the hottest new dating app, One True Pairing (OTP). Whether he was obsessing over helping his app users find the perfect person for them or desperately trying to set up his sister, Brendon had “lovesick” written all over his face. So when his childhood crush --- Darcy’s best friend, Annie --- shows up for a surprise visit, he’s stunned, to say the least.

But Brendon isn’t the only one about to be surprised. Annie and Darcy haven’t seen each other since Darcy fled Philadelphia following a traumatic breakup, and though they’ve stayed close, it’s no secret that Annie is no longer Darcy’s “person,” a spot claimed by her true love, Elle. The decline of their friendship is never more obvious than when Annie surprises Darcy with a call from the Seattle airport and learns that Darcy is on a vacation with Elle, leaving Annie alone in a new city and very much locked out of Darcy’s apartment. Luckily, Brendon has a key.

"Whether or not you have met Darcy and Elle yet, don’t miss this pitch-perfect rom-com for fans of endearing grumps and the sunshine characters who show them what they’re missing."

When Annie sees her friend’s not-so-little-anymore brother for the first time in eight years, she’s gobsmacked. She has heard about Brendon’s success from his proud sister, but Darcy somehow never mentioned that he has shot up to six feet, grown muscles and gotten a tan. Brendon, never having forgotten his first real crush, is quick to return to his previous smitten state, but there’s one major roadblock to any meet-cute, flirty conversation or whirlwind love affair: Annie has come to town to tell Darcy that she has accepted a major promotion that will relocate her to London, over 4,000 miles from her best friend --- and now the possible love of her life.

Because they have known each other since they were children, Brendon and Annie strike up conversation easily, sharing memories, excitement for Darcy and an appreciation for all that Seattle has to offer. But when an intimacy-and-dating survey is published and Brendon learns that 30% of dating app users feel that apps have ruined their love lives --- and immediately after finds out that gorgeous, charming Annie has also given up on dating and love --- he feels obligated to show her what’s really out there. Maybe, he thinks, if he can crack the code to convincing Annie to believe in love, he can also find out how to keep his app relevant and his users happily in love. What better way to prove to Annie that romance is real than to use Seattle --- the setting and filming location of countless famous love stories --- to recreate the perfect love story? Taking cues from some of his favorite movies, Brendon sets out to woo Annie, forgetting that all romantic cons eventually fall apart, and that his very real infatuation with her means that someone is destined to get hurt.

Once again, Bellefleur has paired up the most unlikely of lovers. Brendon believes in love so much that he has forgotten how much work it can take, and how much the small details matter; Annie has been disappointed so many times that she can see nothing but air in the grandest of romantic gestures. Much like Darcy and Elle, Brendon and Annie seem like the perfect rom-com disaster, but Bellefleur doesn’t take her “odd couple” paring lightly, taking great care to build her characters --- and their traumas, blind spots and desires --- individually so that the parts that fit together are even stronger and more swoonworthy. They are always emotionally complex but never overly sentimental or overwrought. Every conflict is believable, every flaw is mired in weight and potential for growth, and every step closer to love is given the full respect and attention it deserves.

Still, Bellefleur somehow keeps her banter witty, her love scenes steamy and her rom-com homages perfectly on point. She represents a new wave of romance novels that are as love-filled and sexy as they are full of feminism, consent and the kind of true character growth that can only come from a writer who cares about not only the love story, but the characters’ individual plotlines as well.

When I read WRITTEN IN THE STARS last year, I knew that Bellefleur was a new instant-buy author for me. Although it takes place in the same world (with some delightful updates on Darcy and Elle), HANG THE MOON feels like an entirely new entity. Bellefleur has created such a full, well-rounded ensemble cast that even when the past and present intertwine, there is plenty of new ground to cover, new characters to meet and new OTPs to root for. Whether or not you have met Darcy and Elle yet, don’t miss this pitch-perfect rom-com for fans of endearing grumps and the sunshine characters who show them what they’re missing.