The Beautiful Between

Jun 02, 2011 Cara rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011, e-book, realistic-fiction

I'm having a hard time remembering why exactly I decided to read this book. It wasn't the cover, title, or premise. I actually didn't know what the book was exactly about to be honest. This hasn't happened to me in a long time. Anyways no matter, just have to come to terms with my senile self. Onto the real review...

Connelly keeps to herself mostly. She isn't anti-social just not very social. She also isn't a dork but she isn't popular. No, Connelly prefers to sit in the middle of the cafeteria...more I'm having a hard time remembering why exactly I decided to read this book. It wasn't the cover, title, or premise. I actually didn't know what the book was exactly about to be honest. This hasn't happened to me in a long time. Anyways no matter, just have to come to terms with my senile self. Onto the real review...

Connelly keeps to herself mostly. She isn't anti-social just not very social. She also isn't a dork but she isn't popular. No, Connelly prefers to sit in the middle of the cafeteria and observe the high school royalty in all their glory. If there was going to be a prince for this school, it would be Jeremy Cole. Girls practically hang on his every word and guys idolize him, but then he does something that makes no sense. He sits next to Connelly. That one decision changes both their lives, but not in the way you would assume. Through helping one another with schoolwork they find out some hard facts about growing up, and learning how to deal with the truth.

The book is set in New York, and Connelly goes to a private school where the socialites of the city go to. Can't say I'm a fan of this kind of setting but it did fit the characters. The author managed to tell the story well. Connelly is an odd narrator, not bad just odd. She makes a lot of good correlations between fairy tales and her everyday life. The problem I had is that I felt she was a little too detached for me. That is probably the effect the author wanted though. This girl is carrying around a huge emotional weight. She doesn't know how her father died, and her mother and she have come to a silent agreement that they won't talk about it. Jeremy also has a secret his hiding, and all is not so easy in the prince's world. Throughout the book you are privy to the information, and see the relationship between Connelly and Jeremy grow. Their relationship is weird, not in a bad way, but definitely not conventional. The weirdest thing though is that it felt realistic, which surprised me.

I can't compare this book with anything else I have ever read. This is good but I'm having a hard time finding out how I feel about it. The book isn't funny, modern, or cliché. It has a serious undertone to it because it deals a lot with loss. It's getting a 3.5 from me because I'm confused about how exactly feel about it, but that may be a good sign? I'd like to see what other people think about it.

Here's what I took: Having at least one good friend is important, and knowing the truth may change things but it's better than living in fear of it.(less)

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Nov 10, 2011 Gemma rated it 4 of 5 stars

Aw, this one was so sweet. Yeah, it was short, but it’s pages were utilized; making it any longer would have just been drawing it out, which might not have been so bad, not here, but it would have been unnecessary. This book stands at 182 big-print pages, and it does so beautifully.

It’s about an average girl, Connelly, and a perfect guy, Jeremy, who become unlikely friends. However, this book is not so cliché as some others out there, and, at the end of the books, they are still friends, no rom...more Aw, this one was so sweet. Yeah, it was short, but it’s pages were utilized; making it any longer would have just been drawing it out, which might not have been so bad, not here, but it would have been unnecessary. This book stands at 182 big-print pages, and it does so beautifully.

It’s about an average girl, Connelly, and a perfect guy, Jeremy, who become unlikely friends. However, this book is not so cliché as some others out there, and, at the end of the books, they are still friends, no romance involved.

Personally, I found that quite refreshing. If I’d just read a summary of it, I’d naturally assume ‘oh, yeah, they’re gonna be dating by the end of the book’. I mean, this is YA fiction.

But the author here doesn’t seem to be influenced by that fact. According to her, this doesn’t need to be a romance. Therefore, it isn’t.

That doesn’t mean it’s not a love story. There’s a lot of love here. And the thing is, it’s much better portrayed than a lot of love in these types of books.

Connelly and Jeremy don’t meet and then find themselves in some whirlwind romance. They don’t waste time and pages with meaningless banter. They don’t spend 90% of their time together making out.

Rather, they get to know each other. They get to like each other. They become comfortable with the other’s presence, they are eventually able to confide secrets with the other, they can lean on and support each other in a healthy way. It’s not forced and stilted, like romance in YA fiction so often is.

This lets the reader get to know them a lot better. Connelly is very much an average girl and Jeremy is very much the perfect guy, but they’re likable and original in a way that other characters like them so often are not. I can see them as people, not just plot devices.

And if this all eventually turns into romance… well, that will be absolutely perfect. Because the author never marked that possibility out; she just never said it explicitly. I can draw my own conclusions about it, and I hope that someday, they get together.

And when they do, they will know and accept each other well enough to be genuinely ‘in love’.
(less)

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Oct 18, 2011 Jodi Papazian rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-reads

I really enjoyed The Beautiful Between. It was one of those books that I just sat down and read the whole way through. The story was sweet and sad with an ending that resolved any lingering questions that I had throughout the story.
Connelly is surprised when Jeremy, the most popular boy in school, suddenly befriends her. The two begin a relationship built on helping each other with schoolwork but soon Jeremy confides that he and Connelly have more in common. Their similarities involve Connelly...more

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Sep 21, 2011 Laura T rated it 3 of 5 stars

I read this book in about 5 hours because I was so addicted. As soon as I had read the first page I found myself racing onto others. I love how the character compares her life to a fairytale. It makes you realize that life is a fairytale and you have to live it the way you want to. Anyway, back to the review, Alyssa Sheinmel's novel caught me after about 2 chapters. Connie had lost her Dad when she was about two, ever since then she had only spoken about him once with her mother. Now she was six...more

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May 28, 2011 Rachael rated it 5 of 5 stars

Connelly Sternin is mostly content with where she is. She gets decent grades, studies for her SATs, and plays nice with her mom. She’s mostly fine with keeping her secrets, like the fact that her father died when she two though she doesn’t know how, in order to stay under the radar. So Connelly couldn’t be more surprised when Jeremy Cole, the most popular guy in school, decides one day to sit with her at lunch. It turns out that Jeremy has some tragic secrets of his own that link him to Connelly...more Connelly Sternin is mostly content with where she is. She gets decent grades, studies for her SATs, and plays nice with her mom. She’s mostly fine with keeping her secrets, like the fact that her father died when she two though she doesn’t know how, in order to stay under the radar. So Connelly couldn’t be more surprised when Jeremy Cole, the most popular guy in school, decides one day to sit with her at lunch. It turns out that Jeremy has some tragic secrets of his own that link him to Connelly in unexpected ways. Their friendship is tentative but grows as each opens up, but though she’s come to cherish her time with Jeremy, Connelly isn’t quite sure if she’s ready to completely delve into her past to find the truth. But the truth may be just what she needs to finally be free.

The Beautiful Between is a wonderful story that is just so gorgeously crafted and written that it is difficult to believe it was Sheinmel’s debut novel. Connelly’s voice grabs the reader from the very first page; she’s the type of narrator that stays with you even when you’ve taken a break from reading her story. Even though Connelly’s situation of not knowing part of her own history is rather unusual and some of the major turning points in the plot are so sudden, everything is so perfectly integrated that the story flows smoothly. I love how Sheinmel presents a different look at the lives of high school students that is perhaps a little less glamorous or gritty than those presented in other YA novels; it certainly makes The Beautiful Between stand out and in some ways makes it feel much more realistic. Sheinmel strips away the unnecessary excess of high school and shows readers exactly what they need to see, which is two teens struggling to deal with belonging and loss. I loved being immersed in this story, because, simply said, it is beautifully written and truly stands out from the rest.

The Beautiful Between should be read by fans of Wish by Alexandra Bullen, Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver, and For Keeps by Natasha Friend.

reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com (less)

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Feb 26, 2011 Bobbi Taniguchi rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: i-would-be-satisfied-to-have-writte

Putting aside that I don't like the world view that all high schoolers are drunk partiers and that if you're not you're really far out, or that smoking is worth doing (having an aunt and uncle who died of lung cancer), I really liked how this book created a meaningful relationship between a boy and a girl, where the point of the relationship was not hormones. Yes, she finds him attractive, but it is the real human intimacy of getting one another through hard times and understanding and supportin...more

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Jan 18, 2011 Karin rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: teenagers, high-school, young-adult-fiction, mystery, families, cancer, leukemia, death-of-parent-or-parents, death, suicide, friendship, realistic, mother-daughter-relationships, borrowed-from-the-library

Connelly Sternin lives with her mom in an apartment in the city and attends a ritzy private school, even though she’s not really part of the rich and famous set. She’s not unpopular, but she is kind of invisible until Jeremy Cole (who’s practically high school royalty) offers to tutor her in physics. Jeremy is interested in Connelly for his own reasons, though, it’s not what you’d think. His younger sister, Kate, has been diagnosed with leukemia and their whole family is going through a really d...more Connelly Sternin lives with her mom in an apartment in the city and attends a ritzy private school, even though she’s not really part of the rich and famous set. She’s not unpopular, but she is kind of invisible until Jeremy Cole (who’s practically high school royalty) offers to tutor her in physics. Jeremy is interested in Connelly for his own reasons, though, it’s not what you’d think. His younger sister, Kate, has been diagnosed with leukemia and their whole family is going through a really difficult time. Jeremy learns that Connelly’s father also had leukemia – something not even Connelly knew – and he thinks she might have some insight or experience to share with him. When Jeremy brings up her father, though, it’s like he wakes up this part of Connelly that’s been dormant – now she can’t stop thinking about him (she’s been lying to everyone her whole life about her dad – saying that he and her mom are divorced and he’s living in Arizona – because asking her mom about him upsets her so much), and she’s compelled to find out what really happened. Jeremy and Connelly eventually come clean about their reasons for becoming friends, and are able to support one another through what comes next – Kate’s inevitable decline and death, and the confrontation Connelly has with her mother.

Secrets, poor communication, sadness, anger and grief all push a wedge between Connelly and her mom – Connelly understands this even at a young age when she first asks her mom about how her dad died. Her mother’s discomfort, silence, and distress are obvious, and rather than drive her mother farther away, Connelly resolves never to ask about it again. Until she has to. Because it’s literally driving her crazy. Knowing the secret – that her dad committed suicide (even though he probably would have beaten his cancer) because he was, and had been for most of his life, profoundly depressed – does actually make Connelly a little angry and a little sad, too (as her mother feared), but it also allows her to move on and stop expending her energy on the mystery of what happened to him. This is ultimately more freeing and more empowering for her.

This short book is surprisingly rich and filling. Alyssa Sheinmel creates characters in Connelly and Jeremy that you really come to care about, and the mystery and suspense surrounding Connelly’s father’s death make this a page-turner.(less)

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Apr 12, 2010 Steven rated it 4 of 5 stars

Firstly I want to thank Alyssa for sending me a copy courtesy of Roshan Nozari from Random House publishing. I seen this book listed on a website and knew I had to read it. Shortly after I had joined the 2010 Debute Author Challenge I noticed it was on the Debute List. I accomplished two tasks in one! I began reading this story on Friday, the first real day of Spring where I live. We were blessed with 81* weather, sun and no rain!

The story is a fantasy comparison to reality and is wonderfully p...more

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Jul 20, 2010 Bethany Miller rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ms-miller-s-book-list, summer-reads-for-teens, new-in-the-lmic

Connelly has always imagined her upscale New York City high school to be a lot like a fairy tale kingdom complete with royalty and peasants. She compares herself to Rapunzel, locked away in the apartment that she and her mother share studying for the SATs and trying to understand physics. Jeremy Cole is the prince of the school, and Connelly is shocked when he sits down next to her at lunch and offers to tutor her in Physics. The two grow to be close friends through the tutoring sessions and beg...more Connelly has always imagined her upscale New York City high school to be a lot like a fairy tale kingdom complete with royalty and peasants. She compares herself to Rapunzel, locked away in the apartment that she and her mother share studying for the SATs and trying to understand physics. Jeremy Cole is the prince of the school, and Connelly is shocked when he sits down next to her at lunch and offers to tutor her in Physics. The two grow to be close friends through the tutoring sessions and begin spending a lot of time together. Jeremy starts coming to her apartment building each night so that they can share a bedtime cigarette. One night Jeremy admits to Connelly that his younger sister Kate is very sick, and he asks her what it was like for her when her father passed away. Connelly is surprised and confused by this question because for years she has been lying about her father’s death, telling people that her parents were divorced. The conversation awakens Connelly’s curiosity about her father, who died when she was only two years old. Her mother never talks about him, and Connelly has no idea how he died. Though she really wants to find out, she is afraid to ask her mother about it, not wanting to bring up bad memories. When Connelly experiences another loss, she finally finds the courage to confront her mother and find out the truth about her father’s death.

The first few chapters of The Beautiful Between seem to set the course for a predictable high school romance – the popular, rich boy takes a liking to the shy, smart girl and after overcoming obstacles of friends and family, they live happily ever after. However, the plot moves in an unexpected direction with the complications of Kate’s illness and the mystery involving the death of Connelly’s father. The novel ends up being much more a story of friendship than one of romance, which is refreshing. The two main characters, Connelly and Jeremy, are likable if somewhat stereotypical, but their relationship is unique (at least in YA fiction) because they form a true friendship instead of a cheesy romance. The comparisons drawn between high school and a fairy tale kingdom feel somewhat forced, and the dialogue doesn’t always ring true, but this quick read will find an audience with girls who like high school fiction.(less)

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Jun 10, 2010 Proud Book Nerd rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: blog-tours, do-not-have, ya

What a great book! It's not one of the best I've read recently, but it's high on the list. My absolute FAVORITE thing about this book was the ongoing metaphor of the fairy-tale kingdom. LOVE how that was used. And, best of all, it's maintained throughout the story! I thought that was pretty cool, as many times those metaphors are not so well incorporated into an entire book. Plus, I suspect that I'm somewhat like Connelly in that I was a big daydreamer when I was her age. And, really, she's so r...more

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Apr 26, 2010 Reaganstar rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book was beautiful... truly named very well... as it just was so eloquently written. Alyssa did a wonderful job with the character growth and the story line, each chapter smoothly moving into the next one as if watching scenes from a loved ones life.

Connelly is a wonderful character who befriends Jeremy as they both start dealing with a loss of there own. Its amazing how wonderfully and unforced this friendship comes. The other main character in this book Kate.. is just a elegant character....more

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May 07, 2010 Andrea rated it 3 of 5 stars

3.5 out of 5 rating

While I was hoping that I would love this book, it was only just okay to me. I thought that the idea of the story was engaging. And heartbreaking. And there was no romance in this story which is odd for me, but it wasn't a bad thing.

But I just couldn't connect with the main character, Connelly. For some reason, she just seemed distand to me and I couldn't get her. I mean, there were so many ways that I identified with her, when I was in high school--the girl who wasn't in the...more

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Sep 25, 2011 Melissa rated it 1 of 5 stars

This was a new addition to our high school library, so I decided to read it in the hopes of having another book to recommend to students. What I found instead was a giant disappointment. I am not oblivious to the activities that many high school students are involved in, but does literature need to represent it as a totally normal reality? Aside from the incessant high school smoking (with total parents condoning the behavior), keg parties, a 12 year old cancer stricken child distributing beer t...more

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Jan 10, 2011 Chrissy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2011

Connelly is astonished when Jeremy Cole, the most popular, most stunning boy in her high school, offers to tutor her in physics in exchange for her help with SAT vocabulary. After all, everyone knows the prestigious Cole family could afford the very best tutors in town. So, what is Jeremy's real motive?

Turns out Jeremy knows a secret about Connelly that could affect a secret tragedy that is occurring in his own life. In fact, Jeremy knows more about Connelly's secret than she does!

Anyways, the t...more

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Nov 05, 2011 Lisa rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: teen

This book caught me off guard. I had a hard time putting it down, it is well written, and the main character was easy to connect with. I was not expecting the storyline of grief and grieving to be so prevalent throughout the book, tho. I'll admit that I sobbed when a character died. The main character is just now beginning to cope with the death of her father (15 years later) and to finally connect with her mother, but even that doesn't begin until about halfway through the book. Aside from teen...more

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May 12, 2010 Kristen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: youngadult, realistic-fiction

Why I read this: The reference to Rapunzel stuck out to me and it's a debut novel.

Plot: The usual fairy tale of a popular young man starting to pay attention to a girl who thinks herself not unusual - not worth the attention. Connelly knows there's a reason he has been driven to approach her about helping her with her homework. It's quite an interesting plot because of the way Connelly grew up - knowing nothing about her father's death. Her mother completely shuts off whenever it is brought up a...more Why I read this: The reference to Rapunzel stuck out to me and it's a debut novel.

Plot: The usual fairy tale of a popular young man starting to pay attention to a girl who thinks herself not unusual - not worth the attention. Connelly knows there's a reason he has been driven to approach her about helping her with her homework. It's quite an interesting plot because of the way Connelly grew up - knowing nothing about her father's death. Her mother completely shuts off whenever it is brought up and Connelly would like to keep her mother happy. The connection between Connelly and Jeremy is wrought with pain and sorrow, but they make the best of it.

I think it followed the normal arc of two people finding themselves on common ground, neither of them sure if their intentions are completely innocent in the way of their friendship, but enjoying each other's company nonetheless. Definitely a great story.

Characters: Both Jeremy and Connelly are flawed and different. You could tell they were real people as you read the story. They both had their own intricate workings of how the world worked for them and the realizations that you go through during life of having those worlds change - for better or worse. It's nice to see inside of a head that is so different from your normal whiney teenage female character. She's philosophical and wondrous and the author does a fantastic job of reflecting how Connelly grew up on her psyche.

Relatability: There's this great feeling of disconnection from parents in the novel and I know you say "why is it great to be disconnected...". It's not, but it's what happens. Teenagers drift, find their own world, and start to sever that child to parent link that has so strongly held them in childhood. Connelly's has been cut fairly early, she notices the change when she broaches the subject of her father as a child and that's when the drifting starts. I love how real everything felt in the book.

Cover commentary: It's okay - not love at first sight, but not hard on the eyes.(less)

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Mar 23, 2010 Lena ♫ ♪ rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: arcs

Rating: 2.5 stars

Everyone knows the tale of Rapunzel. When I read the synopsis, I automatically thought this was going to be a modern retelling of the story. I was anxious to see how The Beautiful Between would play out. Only thing is, this has nothing to do with Rapunzel. This story is more about secrets and lies, truth and knowing, grief and friendship.

Connelly is in her junior year at one of the most prestigious high schools in New York. Her dream is to attend Columbia. Unfortunately, physics...more Rating: 2.5 stars

Everyone knows the tale of Rapunzel. When I read the synopsis, I automatically thought this was going to be a modern retelling of the story. I was anxious to see how The Beautiful Between would play out. Only thing is, this has nothing to do with Rapunzel. This story is more about secrets and lies, truth and knowing, grief and friendship.

Connelly is in her junior year at one of the most prestigious high schools in New York. Her dream is to attend Columbia. Unfortunately, physics is not her forte. With her grade plummeting, she doesn't know what to do. Out of the blue, Jeremy Cole offers to help her with physics if she, in exchange, helps him study for the verbial portion of the SATs. Jeremy Cole is the prince charming of New York City. He comes from the richest, most well known family. Why would he ask Connelly when he could ask anyone? He may be playing a prank on her, but Connelly agrees.

After a couple study sessions, Jeremy seems to be paying more attention to Connelly. He frequently visits her at lunch and comes over almost every day after school. One day, after school, Jeremy lets it slip that he knows the truth about her father's death. This takes Connelly by surprise. Why is Jeremy telling her this? It turns out, Jeremy has a secret of his own and Connelly is the only one he can confide in.

Throughout the story, Connelly and Jeremy turn to each other for help. While Connelly is the protagonist, I felt as though you don't really learn anything about her. Same with Jeremy. I'm not saying they're unrelatable, but at the same time, I felt as though this book was lacking in character developement. You watch Connelly and Jeremy grow closer, but neither ever really learn anything about the other. They don't really know each other and in turn, the reader never really learns anything about them.

My favorite character is Jeremy's younger sister, Kate. Even then, I feel like you don't really get to know her either. You go through step by step events and tidbits of emotion, but never anything raw and real.

Also, if you're looking for a romantic read, turn the other way. This has NO romance in it. The author replaces romance with friendship and family ties. I feel as though the synopsis is misleading. While the tale of Rapuzel involves some family relations, there is still a classic romance tied in. You see the words "Rapunzel" and "Prince Charming" but neither of those are relavant.

On several occasions, Connelly uses metaphors comparing her high school to fairy tales. I found this to be a bit childish for someone of her age. When these appear, I felt like the author was reaching, trying to force the reader into believing Connelly really does live in Rapunzel's world. It felt incredible out of place and ridiculous.

All in all, I found the story to be mediocre at best. While some of the writing is beautiful, I could never really get into it. The most interesting thing about the book is the cover. Luckily, it's a short read you can finish in one sitting.

If you're looking for a good modern fairy tale, I suggest checking out Ash by Malinda Lo or even Beastly by Alex Flinn. (less)

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Mar 31, 2013 Bena Chen rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: advisory-bookshelf-2012-2013

Connelly Jane Sternin was two year old when her father passed away. Fourteen years later, she faces normal teenage challenges like SAT's and the intimidating college application. When she befriends Jeremy -- who's going through some tough times of his own, Connelly starts to question about his father's death.

"The truth, however harsh, is also beautiful" ~ Alyssa B Sheinmel. This quote basically sums up the theme that appears in this book. Lying always seems like the easier escape route, but in t...more

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Aug 12, 2012 Shannyn rated it 3 of 5 stars

So basically Connelly Sternin escapes into her fantasy world of a fairy tale high school where she is Rapunzel, stuck in her New York high-rise and Jeremy Cole, Mr. Popularity, is the prince. Surprisingly, the two become inseparable and share a similar darker family secret. If you are reading this because you want a fantasy and a story about overthrowing the social ladder, this is not the book for you. Read Ruined if you want that. But this book is a little similar to The Fault in Our Stars. The...more

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Apr 24, 2011 Mitchii rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, chick-lit, stand-alone, 2011-reads, drama, realistic-fiction

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Oct 13, 2012 Emily rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

What the back of the book says:
"Maybe the witch thought she was protecting Rapunzel, not punishing her. Maybe she thought that if Rapunzel was locked away, no one could ever hurt her. Maybe the witch kept Rapunzel because she loved her, because she was scared that if other people could get to Rapunzel, they would hurt her. And maybe Rapunzel didn't understand the witch; maybe she was angry at her- but maybe she loved her, too."

What the book is actually about:
A high school girl becomes friends (...more

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Aug 11, 2011 James-Elizabeth rated it 4 of 5 stars

I was quite surprised by this book. I was expecting some fluffy YA romance. Now, I highly dislike fluffy YA romances, but running out of ideas and having poor choices on my e-reader store, I chose this one. Yes there was a little fluff, mostly the times Connelly and Jeremy are studying, but everything is balanced out by Jeremy's little sister's disease. Nothing out of the ordinary here, but Connelly not knowing how her father died? That's a little strange. I'm not convinced it can actually happe...more

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Jul 27, 2010 A&E rated it 3 of 5 stars

The Beautiful Between follows the relationship between bookworm, introvert high-school-nobody Connelly and the handsome, big man on campus Jeremy. One day he suggests they tutor each other since one’s academic weakness is the other’s strength. Connelly is ga-ga and they begin spending time together.

It's soon clear Jeremy has ulterior motives – nothing nefarious. He’s looking for help with a family crisis for which he believes Connelly has insight – how she coped with her father’s illness and dea...more The Beautiful Between follows the relationship between bookworm, introvert high-school-nobody Connelly and the handsome, big man on campus Jeremy. One day he suggests they tutor each other since one’s academic weakness is the other’s strength. Connelly is ga-ga and they begin spending time together.

It's soon clear Jeremy has ulterior motives – nothing nefarious. He’s looking for help with a family crisis for which he believes Connelly has insight – how she coped with her father’s illness and death. Turns out she doesn’t have a clue since she was only two at the time and her mother has never been willing to talk about it. Connelly’s more emotionally lost than Jeremy but they continue to meet and their friendship grows. They share deep emotions, learn to trust each other, and discover healing and strength through mutual support. But while romance may be in their future, it doesn’t happen in this book.

Sheinmel’s lovely writing develops the characters well – slow yet powerful. They had their flaws but struggled to make it through with intelligence and dignity. I liked the contrast between Connelly’s family who doesn’t talk about anything, and Jeremy’s who talk about everything. I enjoyed watching Connelly grow over the course of the novel, and thought Jeremy was a great guy – sweet and sensitive but always masculine with a great sense of humor.

But be prepared, this isn’t an uplifting read - it explores illness, loss, death, dying and suicide. Frankly, it’s often sad and depressing but it’s handles the topic with truth and depth worthy of the difficult subject.

Bottom Line: The Beautiful Between is a quiet book - a moving story about family, friendship, love, loyalty and loss, coming of age, finding strength when you’re weak, hope in the midst of tragedy and ultimately facing and dealing with the truth of all life has to offer, good and bad. Well written, often sad but real and filled with sympathetic, genuine characters. Recommended for older teens because of some language, underage drinking and smoking, and mostly because the subject matter is depressing and intense.(less)

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Aug 03, 2012 Jessica Figueroa rated it 3 of 5 stars

My local library made this months themes on modernize fairy tales. I was surprised when I was reading it it was nothing about any fairy tale, not even like Rapunzel. Even if it wasn't about fairy tales I enjoyed the book all the same.

Connie has always seen herself as Rapunzel not trapped in a castle but in a high apartment building. She wasn't trapped by an evil queen she was stuck being tutored and tutoring a kind and smart popular guy at school. She had always seen the popular guy as a prince...more

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Dec 19, 2012 Daniela rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

No se que me pasa ultimamente, pero me estoy encontrando con muchos libros con los que no logro engancharme, y este fue uno de esos. Leí 20 páginas y fue suficiente para darme cuenta que no era para mi. Estoy un poco cansada de las protagonistas que repiten lo siguiente cada dos vocablos "soy fea, no entiendo como se pudo fijar en mi, nunca se va a fijar en mi " . Entiendo los problemas de autoestima ( yo los tengo) pero algunos escritores creen que haciendo a la protagonista con tan poco amor p...more

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Apr 13, 2012 Keertana rated it 3 of 5 stars

The only thing I could think when I finished The Beautiful Between was that its synopsis was completely misleading. Reading the synopsis of The Beautiful Between, you think that the novel is about a high school romance with fairytale elements in it. You could not have been farther from the truth.

The Beautiful Between is, simply put, a cancer novel, but of a different kind. When Jeremy Cole, the school’s most popular boy, talks to Connelly Sternin, a girl who has managed to blend in and never be...more The only thing I could think when I finished The Beautiful Between was that its synopsis was completely misleading. Reading the synopsis of The Beautiful Between, you think that the novel is about a high school romance with fairytale elements in it. You could not have been farther from the truth.

The Beautiful Between is, simply put, a cancer novel, but of a different kind. When Jeremy Cole, the school’s most popular boy, talks to Connelly Sternin, a girl who has managed to blend in and never be noticed all her life, Connelly doesn’t know what to make of it. Jeremy offers to tutor her in physics if she will help him with SAT Vocabulary and Connelly agrees, even though she knows Jeremy can afford a SAT tutor. Nevertheless, their study sessions soon grow into a blossoming friendship until the real reason Jeremy befriended her is out: Jeremy’s younger sister Kate is suffering from leukemia. What Connelly doesn’t know is that this is the same disease her father suffered from before he died. Connelly, who has lived with her mother since her father died when she was two, has never known how her father passed away and never bothered to pursue it after a fateful day in third grade. Now, Connelly is overcome with curiosity – curiosity to know how her father died, why she was never told about it, and why this mysterious boy seems to know more than her.

First and foremost, The Beautiful Between is not a love story. The relationship between Jeremy and Connelly can be regarded as intimate in many ways simply because he kisses her cheek and she blushes at the thought of him, however, it is purely friendship. I know that many readers were disappointed by the lack of romance in this novel, but I found it refreshing. It has been a really long time since I read a novel about two people who didn’t think they had anything in common and slowly became best friends. Furthermore, although no romance was explicitly hinted at, if Sheinmel wanted to write a sequel about coping with loss, Jeremy and Connelly would definitely be together in a few years. Their friendship grew through conversation – another scarcity in YA literature. There were no heavy make-out scenes and no pages wasted on whether or not Jeremy thought Connelly was cute and vice versa. It was a simple friendship that had a deep understanding of one another at its roots and I loved that.

Kate, despite appearing mostly during the second half of the book, was a realistic and likeable character. I found her reactions, her disappointments and her fear to be believable and the portrayal of cancer that Sheinmel provided through her eyes was palpable. In addition to Kate, I also loved the interactions between the Cole family and the distinctions Connelly found between their family and hers.

Connelly, despite being a quiet and shy girl, is far from perfect. She is often jealous of Jeremy for having loving parents, a full family to return home to, or a large circle of friends to rely on. She refuses to confront her mother about her father’s death and makes up imaginary fairy tale situations to get through tough situations in life. Needless to say, I found her to be an odd protagonist. Although she is 16, Connelly still uses fairy tale references as a large part of her life. Furthermore, her relationship with her mother or any other friends besides Jeremy is non-existent and often times I found her narration to be disappointing because we had to wait to find out information until she found it out. Sheinmel didn’t leave any hints leading up to the climax at the end of the novel. She simply told us what happened. I would have liked it if she had employed the “show not tell” method simply because it would have made for a far more engaging read. Having said that, Connelly is a likeable character and realistic protagonist for much of the novel, but her personality did have some flaws that I wasn’t comfortable with. Also, her character experienced nearly no growth or development and any types of changes she went through occurred in the last chapter. Yeah, the last 10 pages…talk about rushed!

Still, The Beautiful Between was surprisingly a good read. It was short, quick, kept my attention, and made me grieve along with Jeremy and Connelly. The synopsis truly has nothing to do with the novel at all. The first half of the story focuses on Jeremy and Connelly becoming good friends with hints of cancer thrown in to lead up to Kate’s eventual diagnosis and treatment in the second half. The Beautiful Between was a unique novel in the sense that it showed cancer not from the point of view of the victim or a close family member, but from a recent friend of the family. I almost wish that there was more to the story…that Connelly and Jeremy’s grief and how they dealt with it was shown in greater detail. Perhaps Sheinmel will write a sequel…who knows?

That being said, The Beautiful Between was definitely a good book. Connelly was a refreshing new protagonist (although she could be slightly odd at times), her friendship with Jeremy was unique and the storyline of cancer was a definite surprise. Would I recommend The Beautiful Between? I guess I would, simply because I think it will affect other people differently than it affected me and the friendship between Connelly and Jeremy truly is beautiful. If I had to pick one word to describe The Beautiful Between, it wouldn’t be amazing, spectacular, or great. It would simply be this: heartwarming. (less)

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Apr 07, 2011 fooloveratook rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

I was thoroughly disappointed with this book, as it happens. I was expecting this book to be more. Filled with emotion and depth. It isn't. THE BEAUTIFUL BETWEEN has a nice synopsis, and a potentially good story, were it not for the many, many, many things that bothered me about it. While it's still saddening, and holds a touch of sad emotion, there's nothing about it that screams authenticity or amazement.

First, the heroine fell flat to the ideal heroine. This story is supposed to be more of a...more I was thoroughly disappointed with this book, as it happens. I was expecting this book to be more. Filled with emotion and depth. It isn't. THE BEAUTIFUL BETWEEN has a nice synopsis, and a potentially good story, were it not for the many, many, many things that bothered me about it. While it's still saddening, and holds a touch of sad emotion, there's nothing about it that screams authenticity or amazement.

First, the heroine fell flat to the ideal heroine. This story is supposed to be more of a character-driven tale, in which the heroine develops, but that isn't what entirely happened. Sure, Connelly learned a little about herself and others, but she doesn't strike me as this amazing heroine because she's... well... boring. I couldn't get into her - her habits, her flaws, her insecurities. The only thing that made me feel a twinge of sympathy is the loneliness and isolation she feels because of her caring, yet distant mother. The mystery of her father's pronounced death didn't make me all that curious to know what was going on. And I felt bored along the way, trying to hang on until things started to pick up.

Things did not pick up.

Even worse, there was no burning desire to get to know the other characters. Jeremy is weird, in my opinion. I don't find him attractive, more I find him to be odd. Not exactly the ideal popular prince of the school, though granted he is going through some major familial issues. Then there's Kate, Jeremy's younger sister, whose character was about the only one I adored. She's sweet, kind, and intuitive, even for one so young. And about the only time I got emotional in the novel pertained to my liking her. Other than that, the characters did nothing for me.

It was clear, after I reached the climax, that I wasn't going to be entirely fond of this book. While I had good expectations, perhaps even high ones, THE BEAUTIFUL BETWEEN isn't at all what I had expected or had intended to read.

Original post can be found on my blog, Paranormal Indulgence.(less)

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Apr 09, 2011 Agateophobia rated it 2 of 5 stars

I give this book a 2.5.

This book was better than I expected it would be. I felt like it could have been longer, a little more detailed, and more interaction with others. I get that Connelly wasn't a very social person, but I feel like it was a little too much...stuff I didn't want to read. And it was a bit repetitive.

I gave it a 2.5 because I didn't like it, so it doesn't get the 3 stars. It was better than okay though, since it was better than expected.

[spoiler]I feel that Jeremy and the res...more

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Jan 10, 2011 Alicia rated it 5 of 5 stars

Connelly Sternin is not the most popular girl at school. In fact she probably would not consider herself to be in the top 50% of the most popular. She's just a teenager who studies more than she socialized. So why, exactly, is THE most popular boy in school interested in her? Turns out they have something in common, only he knows a lot more about it than she does.

This, by far, is one of the best books I have read in the last year. Sweet, endearing, heart-wrenching, powerful. This is a must read....more

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Oct 24, 2010 Laila rated it 4 of 5 stars

At this point in my life, I hate sad books. More than traffic, the B52s, and soggy sandwiches. And this book was sad. It had a sad middle and a sad ending, when all I wanted was a classic happily ever after.
Other than the parts I hated, I enjoyed the book. Great characterization.
It ends with a quote from A Farewell to Arms: "But we were never lonely and never afraid when we were together." I think the author included the quote so the end wouldn't feel so depressing, but (maybe because I now fee...more

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