Kayt’s Book Bites: “The Last of the Moon Girls”

Review by Kayt Ebora, owner of Kayt’s Kitchen

The Last of the Moon Girls by Barbara Davis 

Lake Union Publishing (August 1, 2020)
Available at Chapters Books and Coffee
Kayt’s Kitchen Pairing: Rosemary (for rememberance) Bagel

4 Out of 5 Stars

Length: 382 pages
“This is an easy read with a steady pace. You could easily read over the weekend.”

“Rosemary for remembrance. Basil for courage. Thyme for warding off nightmares. It was the catechism of her childhood—the catechism of all the moon girls.”

I started this book as a work soundtrack audiobook, but by the middle, I had transitioned to fully reading. I couldn’t stop thinking about the story of Lizzie, the Gilman sisters, and the town of Salem Creek. This novel had one of my favorite literary elements: a scattering of letters and journal entries that add a different perspective to the storyline. The author, Barbara Davis, also includes recipes for some of the apothecary magic mentioned throughout the book.

The story follows Lilly Moon’s return to her hometown after the death of her grandmother, Althea Moon. Lilly is faced with returning to the home she has spent the last eight years trying to separate herself from. Her journey is wrought with grief, self-revelation, and familial reconciling as she grapples with the lasting dark mark on her family’s name.

The Last of the Moon Girls felt like a mix of Practical Magic and The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart. The theme of botanical magic is cozy and comforting. I don’t think looking at this novel through the lens of a mystery does it justice. This is a novel that guides you through forgiveness, judgment, vulnerability, matriarchal relationships, the passing of familial wisdom, and the growth of trust—both in oneself and in others.

The Last of the Moon Girls could easily be a weekend read. I truly enjoyed this book and how it tied up.