karmen12's review
5.0
This book was absolutely amazing. It was written like no other book. The words that she chose were great. The middle of the book was boring but with the words she used it made me want to read about attached earlobes! This story followed a girl who just died. She is between the Earth and wherever she is going next. The only person that she can talk to that sees her is Alex. When he was alive he wasn't the most popular kid like Liz was. This was an amazing book!
michellesantiago's review
4.0
The book opens up Liz discovering her own drowned body in the water with no memory of what happened to her the night she died and only random bits of memory of the life she lived. I thought this a very interesting premise, so I dived into this book eagerly. The story was pretty much told in flashbacks as Liz and Alex, a classmate of hers who was killed by a hit-and-run driver about a year ago, go back to significant points of her life to figure out how she ended up dead. Each memory was a like a piece to the puzzle and some were sweet but others were emotional and shocking--especially those involving Liz's mom who died from an eating disorder when she was younger.
About a third of the book in I started to get a little antsy. There was a lot of great build-up as we learn about Liz's past but it got a little too much, drawn out too long. I wasn't bored or anything but I wanted the story to get on already, for something else to happen. In any event, I was reading an advanced reader's copy so maybe the final book may be different. I did like how the author treated the romance aspect of this book. I thought how things ended with Liz and Alex was perfect; with everything that we learned about them, there couldn't have been another way. It could have easily been a big melodramatic love triangle but it wasn't and I was delightfully surprised--I really liked that this novel focused on other themes besides romantic love.
The cover gives an impression that this is a sleep-with-the-lights-on kind of book but it's not. Early on I had my suspicions of who killed Liz and Alex as well as how Alex was connected to Liz and I was right on track but this may be just me (I like to piece out the puzzle in my head whenever I'm reading a mystery of some sort). I did enjoy Liz as the narrator, she wasn't always likable but you will come to learn why she was how she was. The other characters were great as well, there was more to them than meets the eye. The ending was both lovely and bittersweet but right from the beginning, I knew it would be because Liz was dead.
Overall, Between was an entertaining and compelling and at times surprising. The blend of mystery, paranormal and some contemporary issues (i.e., eating disorder, bullying, underage drinking) was excellently done.
**Reviewed by Michelle for Michelle & Leslie's Book Picks book blog.** Please visit our blog at http://booksandmakeup.blogspot.com
About a third of the book in I started to get a little antsy. There was a lot of great build-up as we learn about Liz's past but it got a little too much, drawn out too long. I wasn't bored or anything but I wanted the story to get on already, for something else to happen. In any event, I was reading an advanced reader's copy so maybe the final book may be different. I did like how the author treated the romance aspect of this book. I thought how things ended with Liz and Alex was perfect; with everything that we learned about them, there couldn't have been another way. It could have easily been a big melodramatic love triangle but it wasn't and I was delightfully surprised--I really liked that this novel focused on other themes besides romantic love.
The cover gives an impression that this is a sleep-with-the-lights-on kind of book but it's not. Early on I had my suspicions of who killed Liz and Alex as well as how Alex was connected to Liz and I was right on track but this may be just me (I like to piece out the puzzle in my head whenever I'm reading a mystery of some sort). I did enjoy Liz as the narrator, she wasn't always likable but you will come to learn why she was how she was. The other characters were great as well, there was more to them than meets the eye. The ending was both lovely and bittersweet but right from the beginning, I knew it would be because Liz was dead.
Overall, Between was an entertaining and compelling and at times surprising. The blend of mystery, paranormal and some contemporary issues (i.e., eating disorder, bullying, underage drinking) was excellently done.
**Reviewed by Michelle for Michelle & Leslie's Book Picks book blog.** Please visit our blog at http://booksandmakeup.blogspot.com
magnoliabear's review
5.0
I certainly did not see the ending coming!! What is the saying? Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer? ;)
fearoflung's review
5.0
I have to be honest, when I first started this book, I did not think I was going to finish it. The main characters aggravated me, and the story seemed so typical. Popular girl and unpopular boy are thrown together and both of them find out that the other one is not so bad or different after all. Everyone has struggles and no one has a perfect life. I was very wrong. Even though Liz is a popular girl and Alex is unpopular, and even though they do find out things about each other that they do not expect, this book is anything but your typical popular girl meets unpopular boy story. This is a ghost story, a mystery, a kind of love story, and a story of secrets. It speaks to the fact that there are consequences to your actions, the smallest decision you make can change the course of the rest of your life and afterlife as the case is in this book. The story was very real and kept me guessing the entire way. Normally, I figure things out pretty quickly with mystery stories because I have read so much and seen so many movies and shows that I can usually pick out who the person responsible is before the end. This time, I had no idea what was going to happen. I was completely shocked at the outcome of the story. I was blown away. I loved the book!
bubbleelle's review
5.0
Between is one of the most amazing stories I have ever read. The story is easily relatable and is very well written. The characters have stayed with me months after I've finished reading it. Honestly one of my favorite books to date.
missprint_'s review
2.0
Elizabeth Valchar has the perfect life. Pretty, popular and privileged--the world is hers for the taking. Even her eighteenth birthday party is ideal: a night on her father's boat spent with her friends, her boyfriend, alcohol and maybe just a little pot.
Unfortunately when Liz wakes up the day after her party it's obvious that her perfect life is over in every sense of the word.
Liz is dead. Left staring over the side of the boat at her own dead body and watching the horrible fallout as news of her death spreads to her family and friends, Liz has no clear memory of how she died. She doesn't even remember much of her own life.
As Liz struggles to make sense of the person she used to be and what led to her drowning on her birthday, Liz realizes there are some things that are best left forgotten in Between (2011) by Jessica Warman.
Between is an uneasy blend of mystery and paranormal with the smallest dose of suspense thrown in. While the bones of the story are promising as Liz tries to decipher the events leading to her own murder, the execution was inelegant at best.
First and foremost, Liz is not a likable heroine. While she is at pains to tell readers she is a "good kid" Liz's actions often speak louder. Even her transformation over the course of the book does little to make her an approachable narrator. Her sidekick throughout the story remains similarly one dimensional.
While Between has some interesting aspects the writing felt repetitive as Liz explains things repeatedly at different intervals of the story in the exact same way. Other aspects of the story (particularly "Famous Richie" and why he is so famous) felt like gimmicks that added very little to the story. Combined with Liz's often prickly narration these elements made it very hard to get into this book.
The mystery aspect was well handled but too drawn out. Warman also paints a painfully authentic picture of the havoc eating disorders can wreak but again this thread takes so long to develop that much of its potency is lost. The book was also littered with shockingly inadequate adults, adding another layer of frustration.
Fans of books about life after death, particularly The Lovely Bones, will likely find a new favorite read in Between. On the other hand, readers hoping for an eerie mystery would be better served with a different title.
Possible Pairings: Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson, 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher, Where I Belong by Gwendolyn Heasley, Fury by Elizabeth Miles, The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold, Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac by Gabrielle Zevin
Unfortunately when Liz wakes up the day after her party it's obvious that her perfect life is over in every sense of the word.
Liz is dead. Left staring over the side of the boat at her own dead body and watching the horrible fallout as news of her death spreads to her family and friends, Liz has no clear memory of how she died. She doesn't even remember much of her own life.
As Liz struggles to make sense of the person she used to be and what led to her drowning on her birthday, Liz realizes there are some things that are best left forgotten in Between (2011) by Jessica Warman.
Between is an uneasy blend of mystery and paranormal with the smallest dose of suspense thrown in. While the bones of the story are promising as Liz tries to decipher the events leading to her own murder, the execution was inelegant at best.
First and foremost, Liz is not a likable heroine. While she is at pains to tell readers she is a "good kid" Liz's actions often speak louder. Even her transformation over the course of the book does little to make her an approachable narrator. Her sidekick throughout the story remains similarly one dimensional.
While Between has some interesting aspects the writing felt repetitive as Liz explains things repeatedly at different intervals of the story in the exact same way. Other aspects of the story (particularly "Famous Richie" and why he is so famous) felt like gimmicks that added very little to the story. Combined with Liz's often prickly narration these elements made it very hard to get into this book.
The mystery aspect was well handled but too drawn out. Warman also paints a painfully authentic picture of the havoc eating disorders can wreak but again this thread takes so long to develop that much of its potency is lost. The book was also littered with shockingly inadequate adults, adding another layer of frustration.
Fans of books about life after death, particularly The Lovely Bones, will likely find a new favorite read in Between. On the other hand, readers hoping for an eerie mystery would be better served with a different title.
Possible Pairings: Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson, 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher, Where I Belong by Gwendolyn Heasley, Fury by Elizabeth Miles, The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold, Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac by Gabrielle Zevin
brennispersona's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I have a lot of things to say about this one. First off, I really love this book. I always have. I read this book in high school and have claimed it as one of my favorites ever since. I decided to reread it this year with some friends, and it’s still a favorite after all these years.
The issue a lot of people have with this book is the main character Liz, which I understand, but at the same time, that’s the whole point of the book. You aren’t supposed to like her, there would be no character development if you loved her from the start. Plus despite being popular and “perfect” everything is not as it seems. People are the way they are for a reason, and everyone has a story. Now that’s not an excuse, but it is something to think about.
Also, sometimes peoples thoughts are engrained in their mind from their parents, for example appearances, that’s why Liz is so obsessed with hers, she was trained to be that way. It is all she knew how to do.
Also, the ending is kind of predictable, but it also doesn’t ruin the story and is still very enjoyable to see how it plays out.
The issue a lot of people have with this book is the main character Liz, which I understand, but at the same time, that’s the whole point of the book. You aren’t supposed to like her, there would be no character development if you loved her from the start. Plus despite being popular and “perfect” everything is not as it seems. People are the way they are for a reason, and everyone has a story. Now that’s not an excuse, but it is something to think about.
Also, sometimes peoples thoughts are engrained in their mind from their parents, for example appearances, that’s why Liz is so obsessed with hers, she was trained to be that way. It is all she knew how to do.
Also, the ending is kind of predictable, but it also doesn’t ruin the story and is still very enjoyable to see how it plays out.
katyana16's review
4.0
Enjoyable, fast read. A bit predictable, but the first half (before obvious twist hints are dropped) was pretty good!