Girls in the Moon

Everyone in Phoebe Ferris’s life tells a different version of the truth.

Her mother, Meg, ex-rock star and professional question evader, shares only the end of the story—the post-fame calm that Phoebe’s always known. Her sister Luna, indie rock darling of Brooklyn, preaches a stormy truth of her own making, selectively ignoring the facts she doesn’t like. And her father, Kieran, the co-founder of Meg’s beloved band, hasn’t said anything at all since he stopped calling three years ago.

But Phoebe, a budding poet in search of an identity to call her own, is tired of half-truths and vague explanations. When she visits Luna in New York, she’s determined to find out how she fits in to this family of storytellers, and maybe even to continue her own tale—the one with the musician boy she’s been secretly writing for months.

This soul-searching, authentic debut weaves together Phoebe’s story with scenes from the romance between Meg and Kieran that started it all—leaving behind a heartfelt reflection on family, fame, and finding your own way.

What happens when the only way to find your future is to uncover your family’s complicated past?

• A Lyrical Sister Story: Phoebe is a poet, but her sister Luna is a rising star in Brooklyn’s music scene. Visiting her for the summer will test their bond and unearth secrets they never knew existed.
• A Coming of Age Quest: Tired of half-truths, Phoebe travels to New York City to piece together her family’s rock-and-roll history and finally find her own place in it.
• A Poetic First Love: Amid the family drama, Phoebe navigates her feelings for a musician boy she’s only ever written to, discovering a love story that could be her very own.
• Complex Mother-Daughter Dynamics: Explore the powerful, complicated relationship between a daughter searching for answers and her ex-rock star mother, Meg, who refuses to speak about the past.

Tell all the truth but tell it slant.

Everyone in Phoebe Ferris’s life tells a different version of the truth.

Her mother, Meg, ex-rock star and professional question-evader, shares only the end of the story—the post-fame calm that Phoebe’s always known.

Her sister, Luna, indie-rock darling of Brooklyn, preaches a stormy truth of her own making, selectively ignoring the facts she doesn’t like.

And her father, Kieran, the cofounder of Meg’s beloved band, hasn’t said anything at all since he stopped calling three years ago.

But Phoebe, a budding poet in search of an identity to call her own, is tired of half-truths and vague explanations. When she visits Luna in New York, she’s determined to find out how she fits in to this family of storytellers, and to maybe even continue her own tale—the one with the musician boy she's been secretly writing for months.

Like the tide being pulled to the shore, Phoebe is drawn back and forth between her magnetic family members and her own fresh start. Phoebe’s first adventure flows forward as Meg’s romance unspools in reverse, leaving behind only a time-worn, precious pearl of truth about her family’s past—and leaving Phoebe to take a leap into the unknown of her own future.

“With lush, lyrical prose and nuanced storytelling, Girls in the Moon is a gorgeous coming-of-age story that sings of sisterhood, secrets, and the ties that both bind and bond us.” - Jessi Kirby, author of Things We Know by Heart

“In her luminous prose, Janet McNally renders the moments—quiet and loud, in the spotlight and in the dark—that shape us and wound us and make us fully human.” - Nina LaCour, award-winning author of Everything Leads to You

“A powerful story of secrets, sisters, mothers and daughters-of a family fractured and pieced back together across time, with love, pain, passion, and music. GIRLS IN THE MOON will stay with you like a song you can’t get out of your mind.” - Amber Smith, New York Times bestselling author of The Way I Used to Be

“Laced through with drumbeats and heartbeats, GIRLS IN THE MOON is pure indie rock and even purer poetry. A luminous story of love, art, yearning, and connection.” - Jeff Zentner, author of The Serpent King

“Girls in the Moon is a beautiful, heartfelt novel about following your own path and finding your voice. Janet McNally’s stunning debut is a lush, lyrical paean to mothers, daughters, sisters, and the music that weaves them together.” - Kathleen Glasgow, author of Girl in Pieces

“Sophisticated, dreamy, and gorgeously written, Girls in the Moon is like spending a summer night reminiscing with old friends.” - Heidi Heilig, author of The Girl From Everywhere

“Set against the backdrop of a soulful, hipster New York summer, this coming-of-age novel features relatable heroes with good hearts… Perfect for fans of Gayle Forman’s If I Stay.“ - School Library Journal

“McNally’s first novel shows an appreciation of poetic phrasing, as well as plenty of musical references. Recommend this introspective novel to readers who enjoy stories about music and musicians.” - Booklist

“McNally is a polished storyteller, her prose alive with vivid descriptions, the excitement of romance, and an artist’s yearning to create.” - Publishers Weekly

“Narrator Phoebe excels at capturing a moment’s emotional nuances... her reflections on independence and acceptance of people’s flaws are genuine. Understated but astute narration makes this family snapshot a worthy read.” - Kirkus Reviews

“[McNally] employs lyrics and poetry to great effect, while her rich musical knowledge propels this realistic novel to its hopeful conclusion.” - Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)

“McNally crafts a compulsively readable family narrative that revolves around the kind of celebrities people wonder about… Phoebe’s story holds appeal for people who have no interest in music or fame, given that we all have families with secrets, choices, and mistakes that we have to confront in our search for a distinct sense of self.” - Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“McNally crafts a compulsively readable family narrative that revolves around the kind of celebrities people wonder about.” - Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books