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biblioemily's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this one. I have a weird sense of humor, much like Josie & Delia, so I found this book hilarious. It was so fun to read something that was both totally bizarre and totally emotional & heartfelt at the same time. It was so fun & I pretty much devoured it. Rec. for 7th & up, though there are a lot of tough topics in here that might not be right for some middle school readers. No drugs, alcohol, or sex.
amarylissw's review against another edition
3.0
I am just so thankful there were no deaths in this book.
Like other reviewers, I wasn’t too much a fan of Josie’s storyline. It felt less serious and emotional than Delia’s. Zentner does great dialogue that’s full of comedy, though. I found the switching POVs to be confusing at first, because the chapters are very short, but I got used to it more. Also, I love it when parental figures have possibilities of romance. And I love it how his books all take place in relatively the same area, so he can do cameos of other characters! I will never get tired of authors doing that.
Looking forward to his next book.
Like other reviewers, I wasn’t too much a fan of Josie’s storyline. It felt less serious and emotional than Delia’s. Zentner does great dialogue that’s full of comedy, though. I found the switching POVs to be confusing at first, because the chapters are very short, but I got used to it more. Also, I love it when parental figures have possibilities of romance. And I love it how his books all take place in relatively the same area, so he can do cameos of other characters! I will never get tired of authors doing that.
Looking forward to his next book.
sc104906's review against another edition
3.0
I received this eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Delia and Josie are seniors in high school, who have become best friends through their work on their public access horror host tv show. Their personas, Rayne and Delilah, have won many hearts and their show has been syndicated in several cities. Josie has always wanted to work in tv, and while horror isn’t her thing, she loves working with Delia and the opportunity to be part of a semi-successful show. However, with graduation looming, Josie’s parents have gotten her an internship at Food Network in another town. This means Josie would have to move and attend a different college than the one Delia and her had planned their future around. Delia is desperate to keep the show going because she hopes that the father who abandoned her will one day stumble upon their show and reach out to her. Much of their relationship stemmed from watching these cheesy horror hosts together. When she learns of Josie’s potential change in plans, Delia becomes desperate to stop another person from abandoning her. Delia finds out about a famous horror producer visiting a horror con in Florida and convinces Josie that this could be their chance to expand their show. Florida also happens to be where the PI Delia hired traced her father’s location. This trip is important to both of their futures because, Josie was given the ultimatum that she could go to Florida, but if it didn’t work out there, she would have to go intern with the Food Network. There is a lot on the line.
I enjoyed this Zetner novel more than any of his others. I thought Delia and Josie were hilarious. I think readers will appreciate the nods to Zetner’s characters from other books.
Delia and Josie are seniors in high school, who have become best friends through their work on their public access horror host tv show. Their personas, Rayne and Delilah, have won many hearts and their show has been syndicated in several cities. Josie has always wanted to work in tv, and while horror isn’t her thing, she loves working with Delia and the opportunity to be part of a semi-successful show. However, with graduation looming, Josie’s parents have gotten her an internship at Food Network in another town. This means Josie would have to move and attend a different college than the one Delia and her had planned their future around. Delia is desperate to keep the show going because she hopes that the father who abandoned her will one day stumble upon their show and reach out to her. Much of their relationship stemmed from watching these cheesy horror hosts together. When she learns of Josie’s potential change in plans, Delia becomes desperate to stop another person from abandoning her. Delia finds out about a famous horror producer visiting a horror con in Florida and convinces Josie that this could be their chance to expand their show. Florida also happens to be where the PI Delia hired traced her father’s location. This trip is important to both of their futures because, Josie was given the ultimatum that she could go to Florida, but if it didn’t work out there, she would have to go intern with the Food Network. There is a lot on the line.
I enjoyed this Zetner novel more than any of his others. I thought Delia and Josie were hilarious. I think readers will appreciate the nods to Zetner’s characters from other books.
notlikethebeer's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this, a lot more than I was expecting to I think. I really liked getting to know both Delia and Josie, and seeing their friendship develop and evolve in response to everything going on around them, with their stories both separate and entirely intertwined. It was gorgeously written and incredibly empathetic/relatable; the section near the end with the 'it's not like the movies' narrative was particularly striking. I think there were elements that felt rushed, and at times it was a little difficult to distinguish between the two voices. However, overall a really great, impactful read.
misschai's review against another edition
4.0
My Mom has told me in the past that I am too emotional about things. This is an insult from her. At this point in my life it is not something I’m ashamed of. My emotions are an asset to me. I say this now because I have finished this book in less than 48 hours and it has touched all my emotions. I’ve laughed genuinely, I’ve empathized, I’ve cried. I’ve cried a lot. It’s not a sad book! Actually it’s really warm and fuzzy and I enjoyed all of it. Now if you’re wondering if you should read this. The answer is yes! I’m going to go rehydrate.
mattgroot1980's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
missprint_'s review against another edition
5.0
“Sometimes small and unspectacular things can be a universe.”
For most of high school best friends Delia and and Josie have spent every Friday night transforming themselves into Delilah Darkwood and Rayne Ravenscroft, hosts of Midnite Matinee their public access show on TV Six where they show a campy B (or C) horror movie with their own shorts in between.
The movies are never good and Delia and Josie's segments aren't much better, but it's their show that they built up from scratch which counts for a lot. Even if it isn't enough to ensure the show will continue now that high school is ending.
Josie is eager to pursue her lifelong dream of being on television when she goes to college but isn’t sure what to do when her dreams might be leading her away from her hometown and her best friend.
Delia, meanwhile, is desperate to find a way to help Midnite Matinee grow beyond its current syndication so that Josie can pursue her dream without leaving Delia behind the way her father did.
With one last summer to make it big or call it quits, Delia and Josie's friendship and their show will be tested as they confront old hurts, embrace new dreams, and take one epic road trip to a horror convention with the potential to change everything in Rayne and Delilah's Midnite Matinee (2019) by Jeff Zentner.
Zentner's latest standalone contemporary is a funny, strange story that explores all of the things that brought Josie and Delia together and all of the things that are starting to pull them in different directions.
Josie and Delia alternate first person narration in this story and by the end of the novel both girls completely won me over. Although Delia and Josie are facing some big decisions, they do it all with levity and obvious affection for each other as well as the other important people in their lives.
Zentner has filled this book with Easter eggs from his earlier novels as well as some amazing jokes--I can’t reveal too much but let’s just say I’m still cracking up about the baby Basset Hounds.
Rayne and Delilah's Midnite Matinee is a story about big dreams, big chances, and the mediocre results we sometimes end up with as a result. Josie and Delia are hilarious, endearing, and some of my favorite characters to date. Highly recommended.
Possible Pairings: Love and Other Perishable Items by Laura Buzo, The Way You Make Me Feel by Maurene Goo, The Piper's Son by Melina Marchetta, Nice Try, Jane Sinner by Lianne Oelke, How to Say Goodbye in Robot by Natalie Standiford, Six Impossible Things by Fiona Wood
For most of high school best friends Delia and and Josie have spent every Friday night transforming themselves into Delilah Darkwood and Rayne Ravenscroft, hosts of Midnite Matinee their public access show on TV Six where they show a campy B (or C) horror movie with their own shorts in between.
The movies are never good and Delia and Josie's segments aren't much better, but it's their show that they built up from scratch which counts for a lot. Even if it isn't enough to ensure the show will continue now that high school is ending.
Josie is eager to pursue her lifelong dream of being on television when she goes to college but isn’t sure what to do when her dreams might be leading her away from her hometown and her best friend.
Delia, meanwhile, is desperate to find a way to help Midnite Matinee grow beyond its current syndication so that Josie can pursue her dream without leaving Delia behind the way her father did.
With one last summer to make it big or call it quits, Delia and Josie's friendship and their show will be tested as they confront old hurts, embrace new dreams, and take one epic road trip to a horror convention with the potential to change everything in Rayne and Delilah's Midnite Matinee (2019) by Jeff Zentner.
Zentner's latest standalone contemporary is a funny, strange story that explores all of the things that brought Josie and Delia together and all of the things that are starting to pull them in different directions.
Josie and Delia alternate first person narration in this story and by the end of the novel both girls completely won me over. Although Delia and Josie are facing some big decisions, they do it all with levity and obvious affection for each other as well as the other important people in their lives.
Zentner has filled this book with Easter eggs from his earlier novels as well as some amazing jokes--I can’t reveal too much but let’s just say I’m still cracking up about the baby Basset Hounds.
Rayne and Delilah's Midnite Matinee is a story about big dreams, big chances, and the mediocre results we sometimes end up with as a result. Josie and Delia are hilarious, endearing, and some of my favorite characters to date. Highly recommended.
Possible Pairings: Love and Other Perishable Items by Laura Buzo, The Way You Make Me Feel by Maurene Goo, The Piper's Son by Melina Marchetta, Nice Try, Jane Sinner by Lianne Oelke, How to Say Goodbye in Robot by Natalie Standiford, Six Impossible Things by Fiona Wood
bookaddictpnw's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
epilieaspiechick's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
slow-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
2.0
I planned to write a full review, but considering how much I hated reading this, it's better I don't. Delia emotionally holds her "best friend" Josie hostage through most of the book and it makes her so loathsome I couldn't stand her chapters. Yes, life can be unbearably hard. It doesn't mean you force others around you to be stuck too.
joyfullyjacquie's review against another edition
5.0
Thought that I finally got to a Jeff Zetner book that wouldn’t make me cry but I got to the end and the tears kept flowing. Such an amazing and heartwarming book. I LOVE these characters so much!!