Rayne & Delilah’s Midnite Matinee

by Jeff Zentner

Format:

ARC

Published by Andersen Press and expected February 26, 2019

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary

Pages: 400

A contemporary novel about two best friends who must make tough decisions about their futures–and the TV show they host–in their senior year of high school.

Every Friday night, best friends Delia and Josie become Rayne Ravenscroft and Delilah Darkwood, hosts of the campy creature feature show Midnite Matinee on the local cable station TV Six.

But with the end of senior year quickly approaching, the girls face tough decisions about their futures. Josie has been dreading graduation, as she tries to decide whether to leave for a big university and chase her dream career in mainstream TV. And Lawson, one of the show’s guest performers, a talented MMA fighter with weaknesses for pancakes, fantasy novels, and Josie, is making her tough decision even harder.

Scary movies are the last connection Delia has to her dad, who abandoned the family years ago. If Midnite Matinee becomes a hit, maybe he’ll see it and want to be a part of her life again. And maybe Josie will stay with the show instead of leaving her behind, too.

As the tug-of-war between growing up and growing apart tests the bonds of their friendship, Josie and Delia start to realize that an uncertain future can be both monstrous…and momentous

My Review

*I received a free ARC for this review which in no way influences my thoughts below*

This was my first Jeff Zentner book, and I was definitely not prepared for the feels! I am now a fan and need to read more from him. There were tears in this one, but also a lot of laughs!

Jeff takes us on a journey with Josie and Delia, the two main characters. They’re two best friends who have their own show on a public access station in Tennessee. The real heart of the story though is the friendship between Josie and Delia. They’re at that point in their lives where things are starting to change. They are having those thoughts you start thinking when you’re graduating soon from high school and you’re wondering what happens next, dealing with the feelings that come from having an absent parent, wanting your dreams to become reality, being somewhat afraid of the future and excited at the same time, young love, and so much more. I think that’s one of the reasons why I loved this book so much. It was a book about friendship, first and foremost. It was just raw and real and emotional.

Thank you Jeff for writing this beautiful book! Please add this one to your TBR and go preorder or pick up a copy when it hits shelves on February 26, 2019.