Review: Between

September 14, 2011

Summary: Elizabeth Valchar – pretty, popular, and perfect – wakes up the morning after her eighteenth birthday party on her family’s yacht, where she’d been celebrating with her six closest friends. A persistent thumping noise has roused her. When she goes to investigate, what she finds will change everything she thought she knew about her life, her friends, and what lies in between. As Liz begins to unravel the circumstances surrounding her birthday night, she will find that no one around her, least of all Liz herself, was perfect – or innocent.

My Thoughts: The above description is what is on the back cover of the ARC I just finished. And I like it so much better than any other descriptions I’ve found – because it allowed me to fully get into the story. (Others say way too much.) And that’s all I’m going to say here in plain view. The rest of this review is going to be in my spoiler boxes, because I feel this book is impossible to say much of anything about without sharing things I’m glad I didn’t know going into it. (Long story short: Yes, it was very good. Yes, I could see myself reading it again. Yes, I would recommend it. Finally, I liked it enough to add it to my Favorites shelf on Goodreads.)

Big Spoilers

For me, the biggest shock was right at the end of the first chapter. And, unfortunately, I can’t really talk about the rest of the book without mentioning it. But, let’s just say, that’s what immediately had me hooked on the story. I am not going to outright say what it is, but in my discussion, you’ll quickly figure it out. As I stated above, the description from the back of the ARC I had gave me very few details. I am EXTREMELY grateful for that. Because of the shock at the beginning of the book, I think my enjoyment was MUCH greater than it would have been.

Why do I think that? Because as things begin to come together, the predictability is almost annoying. I figured out some of the biggest pieces of this “puzzle” rather easily. No super-surprising, didn’t-see-it-coming twists – except the very beginning. I am so, SO glad I hadn’t read the description on Goodreads until after I read the book!

Despite this, I actually really enjoyed Between by Jessica Warman! It was very well-written and a pleasure to read. And, as I said above, it had me hooked from the very beginning. Add to the mix very likable characters (for the most part), and, well, it’s a great book. I can almost overlook the predictability.

I liked Liz a lot. Yes, she was a spoiled, snotty rich girl during her life, but she was quickly humbled by the memories that surface. She realizes that she’s not as great as she thinks she was, and that she had some major mean-girl quality to her. But, as the story progresses, she matures. She sees where she was wrong, apologizes when appropriate, and regrets her mistakes. I like that. In many ways, this book really reminded me of Here Lies Bridget, except that Liz is a great character who LEARNS FROM HER MISTAKES. Unlike Bridget, she’s not upset out of selfishness as she discovers the ways she’s wronged others. Liz is genuinely appalled by her own behavior, and she’s genuinely sorry for having done as she did. She’s embarrassed by her actions, and doesn’t try to lay the blame on the others. Doesn’t try to offer excuses for herself. She had a HUGE tragedy as a child, but she doesn’t use that as justification – just explanation. And it’s plausible. She’s very believable and very likeable. I found myself sad that she’s dead, and wishing that she could have a second chance. Because, also unlike Bridget, she deserved a second chance. But, alas, that is not the case. Still, I was happy with how it played out. In short, Between by Jessica Warman is what Here Lies Bridget could have been; it was very good.

I felt bad for Richie and Liz’s dad. And I despised Nicole and Josie. I was quite happy with how everything played out. I felt the ending was satisfactory – and it is so NICE to have a stand-alone book! Loose ends are tied, and in such a way that I was happy.

Favorite Quotes: I almost hid these, but then realized they really don’t spoil much. Two really resonated with me and one made me chuckle. Can you guess which one that was?

A person’s character, I realize, is never black-and-white. There is so much gray. ~ pages 412-413 (ARC)

Cops, I’ve learned, are like vampires; they can’t come in unless you invite them. ~ page 413 (ARC)

Every moment is precious; every day a blessing. To see life for what it truly is: a series of endless possibilities, not just for great pain, but for great joy. ~ page 453 (ARC)

Source: Received through Around The World Tours for review.

Read It: Get your own copy HERE. (This is a Book Depository link, and purchase through this link will result in my receiving a small commission at no cost to you. Your support is appreciated!)

Challenges: Counts for 100 Books in a Year Reading Challenge 2011 and the Mystery & Suspense Challenge 2011. (I actually finished the Mystery & Suspense Challenge, but still want to share my reviews.)

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FTC Disclosure: All items reviewed were either obtained by me for my own enjoyment or sent (from the author, publisher, publicist, via tour sites, etc.) in exchange for an honest review. I receive no monetary compensation for my posts. All opinions expressed are my own.

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