Buy Between Here And Forever
Special: $9.49(Regular price: $16.99)
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Format: Hardcover
Reviewer: Melissa on June 7, 2011
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Abby has always known what she is when it comes to her and her sister, Tess. She’s second best and invisible. At least she was before the accident. Now Tess is in a coma, and Abby realizes that the life she once led is on hold – at least for the foreseeable future. Abby does have a plan to bring her sister back though, and it involves the hot guy, named Eli, who works in the hospital gift shop. However, when Abby stumbles upon a truth that was always there, but had been invisible to her, she’ll learn that the real truth can surprise you and that life can hold more than she ever imagined possible.
Some books immediately delight readers and either continue in this vein or disappoint you later. Others start off in a way that seems just okay and make you think you know all that is about to happen, but surprise you (possibly more than once). Elizabeth Scott‘s June 7, 2011 release, Between Here And Forever was definitely the latter. Since the chapters are short, you always feel as though you’ve read more than you actually have, so I remember thinking that this novel would just be about one sister, Abby, who is devoted to her comatose sister, Tess. Oh, and I thought that maybe there would be a little romance as well. I remember thinking this until around page 60 when my understanding of how deep Abby’s feelings of inferiority toward Tess really were, and also, that there would be a darker side to this novel, which goes beyond the setting. Once the author and Abby began revealing these elements, it became a very enjoyable read for the contemporary YA novel reader in me.
Many realistic novels are big on well-defined characters, and Scott certainly doesn’t let readers down here. Abby is a character with very poor self-esteem. While many readers might not feel as low about themselves, I think she’s someone many teen will identify with because they struggle with their own self image and sense of self worth. In addition, characters like Eli, Clement, and Claire help not only round out the story with strong male and female companions for Abby, but also represent other teen issues, such as classism and racism with which readers might also identify.
While character development is always important in contemporary novels, there are also a number of themes and plot points worth noting. As I mentioned above, this book might seem to be headed one way early on, but there are several twists and turns along the way for Abby and the reader. These plot twists don’t make BetweenHereAndForever into a mystery or suspense novel, but they do alter Abby’s perspective of her world and her sister in drastic ways. It forces readers to ask whether people are ever really knowable and realize that our perspectives and beliefs about another person’s experience of the world can only ever be speculation and stereotypical.
For those who enjoy a well-defined main character, who might just happen to have some self-esteem issues, some intriguing plot twists, and a little bit of romance, then you have to check out Elizabeth Scott’s Between Here And Forever.
Buy Between Here And Forever today and benefit from free shipping & a 44% discount on the regular price!
Melissa has always been a voracious reader of fiction and has an M.A. in English Literature to prove it. Like many other adults, she got caught up in the young adult crossover fiction phenomenon. Now, one of her great joys comes from sharing her love of YA lit on this popular review site. Come with expectations of intellect, magic, and honest reviews, and you won’t be disappointed.
