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mllejoyeuxnoel's review against another edition
5.0
NOTE: I received an ARC from a friend who simply thought I might enjoy Zentner’s latest work.
You remember that moment when some Neanderthal journalist asked George R.R. Martin how he managed to write women so well, and Martin deadpan replied, “You know, I’ve always considered women to be people,” and we all collectively basked in the smug glory of that mic drop for a hot sec?
Yeah, I remember it, too. And as I started reading this book, I couldn’t stop thinking about Martin’s one-liner: women are people, and people are women. Zentner doesn’t overthink writing from the perspective from two teenage girls... and that’s why he nails it so perfectly. Josie and Delia are a couple of beautiful, fully-formed, three-dimensional characters; they are brave and yet terrified, snarky yet vulnerable, brilliant yet flawed. They are perfect on the page. And then... oh, wow. And then Zentner tops that Martin mic-drop by acknowledging the particular challenges women - specifically young women - face, and instead of constantly having these girls “fight the good fight,” he often has them react in the same ways most of us do when faced with sexism and harassment. They’re simultaneously both as courageous and exhausted as most of the women I know.
It’s so FUCKING refreshing when an author gets this right. Thank you, Jeff.
As one does, I found myself crying on public transportation as I finished this book. All things end, right? We all know this. Anything worth having will eventually be lost. It’s not an easy concept to stare in the face, unless someone like Zentner is holding your hand while you confront that truth.
I laughed a lot more than I cried while reading RDMM. Did you know that holding in your farts can damage your liver? Or that knights dabbled in honor? This was a totally uplifting read that will make you want to go out and create A Thing with your best friend just because you know that you’ll be laughing through ninety percent of the journey.
I loved this book. I’m so glad it was one of my first reads of 2019. Great way to kick off the year.
You remember that moment when some Neanderthal journalist asked George R.R. Martin how he managed to write women so well, and Martin deadpan replied, “You know, I’ve always considered women to be people,” and we all collectively basked in the smug glory of that mic drop for a hot sec?
Yeah, I remember it, too. And as I started reading this book, I couldn’t stop thinking about Martin’s one-liner: women are people, and people are women. Zentner doesn’t overthink writing from the perspective from two teenage girls... and that’s why he nails it so perfectly. Josie and Delia are a couple of beautiful, fully-formed, three-dimensional characters; they are brave and yet terrified, snarky yet vulnerable, brilliant yet flawed. They are perfect on the page. And then... oh, wow. And then Zentner tops that Martin mic-drop by acknowledging the particular challenges women - specifically young women - face, and instead of constantly having these girls “fight the good fight,” he often has them react in the same ways most of us do when faced with sexism and harassment. They’re simultaneously both as courageous and exhausted as most of the women I know.
It’s so FUCKING refreshing when an author gets this right. Thank you, Jeff.
As one does, I found myself crying on public transportation as I finished this book. All things end, right? We all know this. Anything worth having will eventually be lost. It’s not an easy concept to stare in the face, unless someone like Zentner is holding your hand while you confront that truth.
I laughed a lot more than I cried while reading RDMM. Did you know that holding in your farts can damage your liver? Or that knights dabbled in honor? This was a totally uplifting read that will make you want to go out and create A Thing with your best friend just because you know that you’ll be laughing through ninety percent of the journey.
I loved this book. I’m so glad it was one of my first reads of 2019. Great way to kick off the year.
thecurseofchris's review against another edition
2.0
1.5/5. The tl;dr of this review is that if you read this book, then you can just skip Josie's chapters and only focus on Delia's.
Wow, this book is like a manifestation of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. It's told from the perspective of two teenaged girls, Delia and Josie. Delia's story is honestly pretty good. Though she has her flaws, you can see that her heart is in the right place even if she makes some weird decisions, and in the end she has a worthy payoff for where her character arc goes. If you ripped out all of her chapters and combined it into a book by itself, you'd have an easy 4 out of 5 with the end result.
But Josie's story is written like it's by a completely different author, someone who has no idea how to write engaging, likable, or relatable characters. She's absolutely appalling and easily one of the worst characters I've ever had the misfortune of reading in a book. And the fact that she fawns over some one-dimensional dude after initially dismissing him is so gross, and gives a bad impression to young people who may read it and want to copy that behavior. To make matters worse, Josie's plot leads to an encounter with a "villain" who sounds like they came from that bad Frankie Muniz and Amanda Bynes movie, Big Fat Liar. It was such a departure from the rest of the book that I was cringing at how terrible it was.
Overall it's sad that half this book is pointless dribble. If you must read it, then just go with Delia's chapters and skim over Josie.
Wow, this book is like a manifestation of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. It's told from the perspective of two teenaged girls, Delia and Josie. Delia's story is honestly pretty good. Though she has her flaws, you can see that her heart is in the right place even if she makes some weird decisions, and in the end she has a worthy payoff for where her character arc goes. If you ripped out all of her chapters and combined it into a book by itself, you'd have an easy 4 out of 5 with the end result.
But Josie's story is written like it's by a completely different author, someone who has no idea how to write engaging, likable, or relatable characters. She's absolutely appalling and easily one of the worst characters I've ever had the misfortune of reading in a book. And the fact that she fawns over some one-dimensional dude after initially dismissing him is so gross, and gives a bad impression to young people who may read it and want to copy that behavior. To make matters worse, Josie's plot leads to an encounter with a "villain" who sounds like they came from that bad Frankie Muniz and Amanda Bynes movie, Big Fat Liar. It was such a departure from the rest of the book that I was cringing at how terrible it was.
Overall it's sad that half this book is pointless dribble. If you must read it, then just go with Delia's chapters and skim over Josie.
bethany6788's review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is my final book in Jeff Zentner’s backlist. I started backward, reading In the Wild Light based on a post on Instagram years ago. Here we are now, full circle. With re-reads on the horizon for that one and Colton Gentry… and he has one more book releasing this year Sunrise Nights.
Jeff’s books always speak to me. As a lonely, perpetually single, never feeling good enough, grieving person since childhood… I always connect with his words. They move me. This book was making me laugh a lot and I thought huh that’s weird I haven’t cried yet and then they went to Florida and suddenly it was a waterfall on my face, which, rude!
This book is about friendship. About first loves. About laughing so hard you cry. About depression and feeling alone. About going for your dreams. About how dreams can change. About trusting yourself and those around you. About how one person can work their way into your heart until suddenly you feel like you can’t live without them. It’s madness. It’s beauty. It’s … life.
For these books, life spills out of them. The mundane and ordinary. The extraordinary. Being let down by people you love and learning it’s better to love anyway. The magic of a first kiss. The beauty of growth and those scary years in high school and you graduate when you’re still trying to figure it out. I’m 35 and still trying to figure it out.
If you haven’t picked up a Jeff Zentner book, start with the Serpent King, then move on to Goodbye Days, Rayne and Delilah, In the Wild Light, Colton Gentry, and finally, Sunrise Nights. And enjoy. Because life is fleeting and before you know it, you’re almost done with summer and heading into fall.
Jeff’s books always speak to me. As a lonely, perpetually single, never feeling good enough, grieving person since childhood… I always connect with his words. They move me. This book was making me laugh a lot and I thought huh that’s weird I haven’t cried yet and then they went to Florida and suddenly it was a waterfall on my face, which, rude!
This book is about friendship. About first loves. About laughing so hard you cry. About depression and feeling alone. About going for your dreams. About how dreams can change. About trusting yourself and those around you. About how one person can work their way into your heart until suddenly you feel like you can’t live without them. It’s madness. It’s beauty. It’s … life.
For these books, life spills out of them. The mundane and ordinary. The extraordinary. Being let down by people you love and learning it’s better to love anyway. The magic of a first kiss. The beauty of growth and those scary years in high school and you graduate when you’re still trying to figure it out. I’m 35 and still trying to figure it out.
If you haven’t picked up a Jeff Zentner book, start with the Serpent King, then move on to Goodbye Days, Rayne and Delilah, In the Wild Light, Colton Gentry, and finally, Sunrise Nights. And enjoy. Because life is fleeting and before you know it, you’re almost done with summer and heading into fall.
jbennet's review against another edition
5.0
I’ll admit it, I started reading and thought that maybe Jeff Zentner had lost his mind. I teach junior high English and literally hug The Serpent King every time I recommend it to a student, so I’m not really sure why I began this book with distrust. Yeah, I’m not a horror fan but I am a Zentner fan. This book isn’t about horror. It’s about friendship. It’s about the beauty and reality of becoming an adult.
As always, the characters he creates are so witty, believable and likable that I’m deeply saddened they aren’t real. On another note, I didn’t realize how much YA needed to celebrate funny female characters, but, oh how we need more.
Like all of his books, it will reach kids. Also, like all of his books, it will have a waiting list a mile long in our little school library. My only regret? Not clearing my schedule to read it in one sitting. It’s an absolutely gorgeous book.
As always, the characters he creates are so witty, believable and likable that I’m deeply saddened they aren’t real. On another note, I didn’t realize how much YA needed to celebrate funny female characters, but, oh how we need more.
Like all of his books, it will reach kids. Also, like all of his books, it will have a waiting list a mile long in our little school library. My only regret? Not clearing my schedule to read it in one sitting. It’s an absolutely gorgeous book.
laura_cs's review against another edition
5.0
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Welcome to Rayne and Delilah's Midnite Matinee!
Meet Josie and Delia, Best Friends Forever from Jackson, Tennessee. Delia loves bad horror films. Josie wants to be a television star. They combine this to create the public access horror show Midnite Matinee, where they show and hilariously discuss horrible horror films. Delia struggles with depression, as well as her mother's depression, and longs to find her father while also cling to her best friend, terrified about what life after high school will bring. Josie, on the other hand, knows that she'll go to college no matter what, but is equally worried about the future and doesn't want to leave behind Delia; add in a cute MMA fighter who loves pancakes, and she's even more uncertain about where she wants to be.
The humor in this book is incredible and makes you laugh in ways you didn't think you would. You know what it reminded me of? Zany Nickelodeon shows, specifically iCarly, which is fitting given the premise of the show and the book. (Going ahead and petitioning that, if this were to be made into a movie, it be done by the producers and directors and in the style of iCarly.) But there is also a lot of emotions about growing up, finding your path, following your heart, and facing long-distance friendship.
Welcome to Rayne and Delilah's Midnite Matinee!
Meet Josie and Delia, Best Friends Forever from Jackson, Tennessee. Delia loves bad horror films. Josie wants to be a television star. They combine this to create the public access horror show Midnite Matinee, where they show and hilariously discuss horrible horror films. Delia struggles with depression, as well as her mother's depression, and longs to find her father while also cling to her best friend, terrified about what life after high school will bring. Josie, on the other hand, knows that she'll go to college no matter what, but is equally worried about the future and doesn't want to leave behind Delia; add in a cute MMA fighter who loves pancakes, and she's even more uncertain about where she wants to be.
The humor in this book is incredible and makes you laugh in ways you didn't think you would. You know what it reminded me of? Zany Nickelodeon shows, specifically iCarly, which is fitting given the premise of the show and the book. (Going ahead and petitioning that, if this were to be made into a movie, it be done by the producers and directors and in the style of iCarly.) But there is also a lot of emotions about growing up, finding your path, following your heart, and facing long-distance friendship.
bookishlibrarian's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
3.25
Rayne (Josie) and Delilah (Delia) host a late night public access show as horror hosts. For Delia, this stems from her love of watching campy horror movies with her dad, who left the family, and she hopes that he might one day see her show. Josie doesn't really share Delia's love for horror, but she loves Delia and wants to be on TV. We get both of their stories in alternating chapters, leading up to a visit to ShiverCon and, inevitably, the end of their high school years and facing an uncertain future.
Delia's story is by far the more interesting of the two: dealing with her feelings about her father, her mother's depression, worrying about being left behind. Josie's storyline centers around her budding relationship with MMA fighter Lawson and conflicting expectations from her parents and Delia about her future.
I really liked the portrayal of Delia and Josie's friendship. Their banter, inside jokes, and love for each other come through, even as they also encounter conflict and change. The scenes of them producing their show were a highlight. Where this one lost me a little was the zaniness of the ShiverCon/Jack Divine section. But it won me right back with the ending, which managed to be completely unexpected but realistic and hopeful and had me tearing up in a couple of places.
Delia's story is by far the more interesting of the two: dealing with her feelings about her father, her mother's depression, worrying about being left behind. Josie's storyline centers around her budding relationship with MMA fighter Lawson and conflicting expectations from her parents and Delia about her future.
I really liked the portrayal of Delia and Josie's friendship. Their banter, inside jokes, and love for each other come through, even as they also encounter conflict and change. The scenes of them producing their show were a highlight. Where this one lost me a little was the zaniness of the ShiverCon/Jack Divine section. But it won me right back with the ending, which managed to be completely unexpected but realistic and hopeful and had me tearing up in a couple of places.
msdeeburgos's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
4saradouglas's review against another edition
4.0
I really ended up liking this book. I connected well with the characters, even when I sometimes didn't like them or didn't agree with their decisions. I liked the plot, and I ended up getting pretty teary-eyed at the end. Really the only thing I didn't like were the stupid jokes that kept popping up over and over like holding in farts. I realize this is a book for teenagers, but ugh... we deserve better jokes than this.
kathrynmullen's review against another edition
4.0
A funny and sweet story about friendship. There are so few books that actually make you laugh out loud — this is one of those books. If you enjoy laughter, I recommend it.
The novel also really captures a lovely but painful sense of nostalgia in a couple of ways. It emanates that sort of premature nostalgia you have when something, like high school, is about to end. It also made me nostalgic for horror host television shows — something I’m pretty sure I’ve never even seen.
The really special part of this book is the relationship between the main characters. It grabs your heart and makes you love them and their friendship. A memorable and moving novel (I cried).
The novel also really captures a lovely but painful sense of nostalgia in a couple of ways. It emanates that sort of premature nostalgia you have when something, like high school, is about to end. It also made me nostalgic for horror host television shows — something I’m pretty sure I’ve never even seen.
The really special part of this book is the relationship between the main characters. It grabs your heart and makes you love them and their friendship. A memorable and moving novel (I cried).
hayleybeale's review against another edition
4.0
Rayne Ravenscroft and Delilah Darkwood are the onscreen names of high school seniors Josie and Delia for their public access TV show where they present schlocky horror movies from the 1970s. This is a sweet and melancholy story about endings and beginnings, about a pivotal time of life (or at least, what feels like a pivotal time of life at the time) and two close friends going in different directions. See my full review here.
Reviewed from an ARC.
Reviewed from an ARC.