Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley
Published by Ember on December 26th 2012Purchased copy from Fully Booked
272 pages
Purchase on Amazon・Fully Booked
Synopsis
Senior year is over, and Lucy has the perfect way to celebrate: tonight, she's going to find Shadow, the mysterious graffiti artist whose work appears all over the city. He's out there somewhere—spraying color, spraying birds and blue sky on the night—and Lucy knows a guy who paints like Shadow is someone she could fall for. Really fall for. Instead, Lucy's stuck at a party with Ed, the guy she's managed to avoid since the most awkward date of her life. But when Ed tells her he knows where to find Shadow, they're suddenly on an all-night search around the city. And what Lucy can't see is the one thing that's right before her eyes.
We never really know how endless the possibilities are until we take chances on a whim. This is how it felt like to read Graffiti Moon. It was an impulse move, I just saw it and picked it up and decided to read. It was my first time to encounter Cath Crowley’s writing but I was strapped down and unable to stop reading! I did not expect to be so taken by this amazing, one-night-only, adventurous novel!
“In the dark she could be a different girl and I could be a different guy. We could be two people swimming through painted music.”
Lucy is looking for a graffiti artist, someone whose art speaks to her. If she could only find Shadow, she knows knows he could be the kind of guy she could fall for. While her friends are out to party and boy-hunt on the night of graduation, Lucy is determined to find Shadow more than ever. Thing is- the only person who could point her to the mysterious artist is the same guy whose nose she almost broke before. Their disastrous date led Lucy to believe that Ed wasn’t her type at all. But as the night stretches before them, their little escapade becomes more than just about finding Shadow.
There’s something about books like Graffiti Moon that I can’t seem to get enough of. I loved how the author pulled off the dual POV perfectly. Getting to read both Lucy and Ed’s thoughts was awesome and I really loved how their voices were so distinct and well-defined. The narration style was engrossing and easy-flowing. The writing, oh the writing! I. LOVED. IT. The way the author weaved art imagery and poetry into a slice-of-life kind of story was just glorious for me.
“If my like for you was a football crowd, you’d be deaf cos of the roar. And if my like for you were a boxer, there’d be a dead guy lying on the floor. And if my like for you were sugar, you’d lose your teeth before you were twenty. And if my like for you was money, let’s just say you’d be spending plenty.”
Despite how whimsical a single night adventure seems to be, I loved how real everything felt like. Ed and Lucy could come to life and jump out of the book anytime and I wouldn’t even be surprised. In fact, I’d love that because I really loved those two. I really was fond of their friends as well- Leo, Jazz, Dylan, Daisy. Heck, I even appreciated the antagonist, Malcolm Dove, not that I would want him to jump out of the book or anything though. I loved how witty the characters were, how they had their own little subplots. I loved their ramblings, especially Ed’s and Lucy’s thoughts. The whole story felt unplanned, almost as if the author just went with whatever flow, but I loved how everything fell in the right place.
I know I said ‘loved’ infinite times already but I cannot stress enough how good this book was! Graffiti Moon was wonderful, artistic and marvelous- I recommend it to everyone!
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18 Responses
I’ve heard of this book before and added it to my to-read shelf without much thought, so I actually had no idea that this is YA contemp ._. Anyway, I can tell from the quotes that the writing is beautiful and the premise is just – I need this book.
I read this book a few months back and liked it. It was OK and had a some great parts in the book, including a few laughs. Great review.
I’ve read this book twice now, and I think the first time I wasn’t feeling it for some reason. I was clearly not reading it properly because the second time I read it, it was pretty damn good. Ed and Lucy had such a cute relationship! I did quite like the secondary characters too- Leo was great haha.
Awesome review there! When I read the synopsis I was so so so intrigued! And when you gave it 5 stars I was like “WHERE CAN I GET THIS LIKE RIGHT NOW” :D
I’m so happy you enjoyed this one! I read it a few months back and felt a lot of the same things you did. I agree that it felt incredibly realistic even if the events that happened aren’t something one experiences in everyday life. I especially love what you have to say about Crowley’s writing. I think you describe it much more eloquently than I :)
Graffiti Moon is my favorite book I read in 2013 and my new all-time favorite. I get so excited when other people love it too!
I’ve seen a couple of reviews for this book and I have to say the plot is unusual, definitely completely original. I’ll have to pick this up one day.
I wanted to read this book since I’ve seen it on Goodreads, and now you’ve posted a review about it. I love the quotes you included in your review! This book seems really good.
Graffiti Moon is the kind of teenage love story that probably will claw its way out of your consciousness and send your heart a little flutter here and there and will make you exhale the stress out of your system. That’s how good it was. I picked this book up when I needed to get away from stress, from all the workload I had been put through, and I was glad and unfazed that this book made me realize that I need to take a breather once in a while.
Ah yes, this is one of those books where you can say “love” and infinite amount of times because It. Is. Flawless! I’m so glad you fell in love with it too! I definitely need to reread it soon.
This book has long been on my tbr pile. I have wanted to read it since I saw it on GR because there were too many positive reviews. And the fact that you gave it 5 stars makes me want to read it straightaway. I really loved your review! I should definitely buy me a copy.
This book has been one of my best reads of 2012. I really loved the poems. And I love the relationship between Lucy and Ed. They’re so cute!
Ive heard such fantastic things about this book! will surely try it out later :3
I haven’t heard of this book before. I like the cover and your review. I will have to read it.
i have recently read this last month i think. i like the characters and when i realized that Ed was the nosebleed guy of Lucy’s past i knew this night was going to get more interesting. i love the poem woven into the story and about learning to reach out for your dreams when you have the talent to be more. thank you for the lovely review :)
So glad you liked this book, I have had it on my TBR list for ages but haven’t got around to it. Now I know I have to get to it soon. I love books that the author hasn’t over planned but rather let the characters tell the story their way.