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Agla's Reviews > To the Moon and Back

To the Moon and Back by N.R. Walker
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No rating because I'm torn. On the one hand it was very very sweet, low-angst and reminded me of Finders Keepers which I really liked. On the other, the baby aspect was a bit much for me and I'm not sure I'm a fan of the gender dynamics here. I didn't like that the ex was shown as a villain for not wanting kids. That's his only sin: he left because Gideon decided to adopt a kid, without really accepting his input. The ex was brought up too much as a villain for me and this reason is just bad. Then I'm not sure I'm a fan of Toby being basically a 1950s very happy housewife. I mean he is hired as a nanny but does all the grocery shopping, cleans the house, cooks for Gideon and the baby, does laundry... I'm not sure that's in the job description of a nanny. It is a very gendered and traditional view of the family: Gideon brings in the bacon and Toby does everything else. Yes Gideon takes care of his son when he is home (you don't get anything for that in my book it's the minimum) but he never really does anything for Toby (not anything substantial at least). The fact that they are 2 men raising a kid leads to absolutely no push back, I mean at one point they go to a doctor's appointment (not a spoiler it's a routine thing) and the doc assumes they are the fathers, I'm not sure we are there yet. Finally, the transition from nanny to boyfriend didn't fully convince me. I don't want to get into spoilers but yeah it felt weird and the solution found was not the best to me. Not a total bust but I wasn't a fan.
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Reading Progress

February 1, 2023 – Shelved
February 1, 2023 – Shelved as: to-read
February 1, 2023 – Shelved as: ku
February 24, 2023 – Started Reading
February 25, 2023 – Finished Reading

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Comments Showing 1-17 of 17 (17 new)

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message 1: by ~Nicole~ (new) - rated it 4 stars
Feb 25, 2023 06:04PM

~Nicole~ I didn’t find all that bothersome to be honest because it’s the type of book I don’t take 100% seriously (it’s light and short-isn , the kind you won’t reread or remember ) but I did find a certain affirmation quite disturbing (I won’t put the quote exactly because I’m too lazy to look for it ): Gideon mentions how Toby works very hard while he’s at work and Toby dismisses it with a (I’m paraphrasing) “What hard work? I’m at home watching cartoons and finger paint and sit in the sun in the park” or something similar. Well, excuse me but that’s insulting. Being a stay at home mom/dad is not easy or a piece of cake. It’s not playing and relaxing all day. I mean , wtf?? That irked me a bit , I confess. 🤬🤣


message 2: by Agla (new) - added it
Feb 25, 2023 06:12PM

Agla ~Nicole~ wrote: "I didn’t find all that bothersome to be honest because it’s the type of book I don’t take 100% seriously (it’s light and short-isn , the kind you won’t reread or remember ) but I did find a certain..."

I can see how you could not be bothered by it and at first it was fine to me but after a while Toby wasn't getting a personality, does that makes sense? Oh yeah I remember that one! It irked me too. Toby makes it look too easy and he has 0 complaint about having to do EVERYTHING, that's why he reminded me of a 1950 housewife from TV. The bit about Toby's mom just loving "fussing" over people was also meh to me.


message 3: by Rin (indefinite hiatus) (new)
Feb 26, 2023 01:30AM

Rin (indefinite hiatus) I had this author shelved for some previous unforgivably bad writing but considered trying this one… but the main point you brought up has been brought up by several people and I think it’s valid. I think she’s staying shelved.


message 4: by Snjez (new)
Feb 26, 2023 08:48AM

Snjez Great review, Agla! I get why you feel torn about this. I'm torn whether I should read it or not. 😂 To be honest, the premise doesn't sound appealing to me at all and your review only confirms it, so the only reason I'd consider reading this is because of the author. Though her latest books didn't really work for me. 😬


message 5: by Miriah (new)
Feb 26, 2023 09:17AM

Miriah I would never read this regardless, but wow am I ever sure of my decision based off your review. Sounds like a lot of stuff I’d hate


message 6: by Agla (new) - added it
Feb 26, 2023 08:44PM

Agla Rin wrote: "I had this author shelved for some previous unforgivably bad writing but considered trying this one… but the main point you brought up has been brought up by several people and I think it’s valid. ..."

Thank you Rin! Which book made you shelve this author? I'm just curious and have had my fair share of disappointment with them as well so I hear you.


message 7: by Agla (new) - added it
Feb 26, 2023 08:48PM

Agla Snjez wrote: "Great review, Agla! I get why you feel torn about this. I'm torn whether I should read it or not. 😂 To be honest, the premise doesn't sound appealing to me at all and your review only confirms it, ..."

Thank you Snjez 😘! If you are looking for sweetness overload with a baby then go for it otherwise I would skip. The baby is VERY present, as in on every page. Which book was only ok to you? I'm just curious.


message 8: by Agla (last edited Feb 26, 2023 08:51PM) (new) - added it
Feb 26, 2023 08:50PM

Agla Miriah wrote: "I would never read this regardless, but wow am I ever sure of my decision based off your review. Sounds like a lot of stuff I’d hate"

I'm glad I could confirm the wisdom of your decision 😉


message 9: by Rin (indefinite hiatus) (new)
Feb 26, 2023 09:08PM

Rin (indefinite hiatus) The second and third Hartbridge Christmas books were so bad it’s insane to me she wrote them. She’s written some of my favorite books (Red Dirt Heart series, Galaxies and Oceans, and Dearest Milton James) so the recent releases I’ve really disliked surprised me so much I’m convinced she’s using a ghost writer. I also did not enjoy Davo but I’m mostly a minority there.


message 10: by Agla (new) - added it
Feb 26, 2023 09:17PM

Agla @rin oh I didn't like davo either! As for the hartbrudge series I've only read book 2 and didn't like it so much that i never checked the others. I really lived galaxies and oceans as well as dearest miltin jones. I was more ambivalent on the red dirt series, i likes it but didn't love some of the installments. I agree with you that her most recent released have been disappointing for sure :/


message 11: by Snjez (last edited Feb 26, 2023 09:39PM) (new)
Feb 26, 2023 09:38PM

Snjez Agla wrote: "Thank you Snjez 😘! If you are looking for sweetness overload with a baby then go for it otherwise I would skip. The baby is VERY present, as in on every page. Which book was only ok to you? I'm just curious."

Let's see 😅: 2 stars for Learning Curve, Code Red and I dnf-ed Davo.
I gave 3 stars to Code Blue, Dearest Milton James and Tic-Tac Mistletoe. I haven't even attempted to read the sequels for DMJ and TTM. 😬
This sounds bad, but I really used to love this author's books and some of them are among my favourites. I still hope there will be a new favourite in the future, but the one with the baby doesn't seem likely. 😅


message 12: by Rin (indefinite hiatus) (new)
Feb 26, 2023 09:46PM

Rin (indefinite hiatus) To be fair, I only did the audios for Red Dirt Heart. Joel did such an amazing job but I am 100% positive reading them wouldn’t have kept my attention. But listening worked out perfect.

The first Hartbridge book was cute and fluffy but the other two… ugh.


message 13: by Agla (new) - added it
Feb 26, 2023 11:08PM

Agla Snjez wrote: "Agla wrote: "Thank you Snjez 😘! If you are looking for sweetness overload with a baby then go for it otherwise I would skip. The baby is VERY present, as in on every page. Which book was only ok to..."

Yeah I skipped learning curve and Code red and blue, didn't like Davo, skipped tic tac mistletoe. And yeah I doubt this one would become a favorite for you...


message 14: by Agla (new) - added it
Feb 26, 2023 11:09PM

Agla Rin wrote: "To be fair, I only did the audios for Red Dirt Heart. Joel did such an amazing job but I am 100% positive reading them wouldn’t have kept my attention. But listening worked out perfect.

The first ..."

I read Red Dirt and wasn't bored but had quite a few niggles unfortunately. I think my favorite was the last one which is kind of weird.


message 15: by Rin (indefinite hiatus) (new)
Feb 27, 2023 01:03AM

Rin (indefinite hiatus) Well the epilogue to the final RDH was probably one of the best and most satisfying epilogues ever so… that definitely helps. 😂


message 16: by Nelly S. (brain fog sucks) (new) - rated it 3 stars
Mar 01, 2023 11:10AM

Nelly S. (brain fog sucks) OMG Agla! Those are the exact reasons it drove me nuts except I wasn’t able to articulate it. Plus the baby being front and center, and the funny thing is that I usually like the trope but this was just too much!


message 17: by Agla (new) - added it
Mar 01, 2023 11:38AM

Agla Nelly S. wrote: "OMG Agla! Those are the exact reasons it drove me nuts except I wasn’t able to articulate it. Plus the baby being front and center, and the funny thing is that I usually like the trope but this was..."

Thank you Nelly 😘! I'm glad that I'm not alone in my feelings! Yeah Benson was too present for me too


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