The Beautiful Between

by Alyssa Sheinmel

If high school were a fairy-tale kingdom, Connelly Sternin would be Rapunzel, locked not in a tower by a wicked witch but in a high-rise apartment building by the SATs and college applications—and by the secrets she keeps. Connelly's few friends think that her parents are divorced—but they're not. Connelly's father died when she was two, and she doesn't know how.

If Connelly is the Rapunzel of her school, Jeremy Cole is the crown prince, son of a great and rich New York City family. So when he sits down next to her at lunch one day, Connelly couldn't be more surprised. But Jeremy has a tragic secret of his own, and Connelly is the only one he can turn to for help. Together they form a council of two, helping each other with their homework and sharing secrets. As the pair's friendship grows, Connelly learns that it's the truth, not the secrets, that one must guard and protect. And that between friends, the truth, however harsh, is also beautiful.

This lovely and memorable debut by Alyssa B. Sheinmel contains many of the hallmark themes found in young adult literature—friendship, coming of age, finding a place to belong, and overcoming the death of a loved one. Emotionally moving from start to finish, The Beautiful Between introduces a strong new voice to the genre, a voice with a long future ahead of it.

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Fiction, Teen, Realistic Fiction, Chick Lit

192 pages, Hardcover

First published May 11, 2010

About the author

Alyssa Sheinmel is the New York Times bestselling author of several novels for young adults, including A Danger to Herself and Others and Faceless, as well as the adult novel Such Sheltered Lives. Alyssa grew up in Northern California and New York, and currently lives and writes in New York. Follow her on Instagram @alyssasheinmel or visit her online at www.alyssasheinmel.com.

Reviews

[Steph | bookedinsaigon · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have to give credit where credit is due: I’m absolutely flabbergasted with how whoever wrote the synopsis of this book managed to twist it in a way that has absolutely nothing to do with the real story whatsoever. Seriously, that sort of twisting is an incredible accomplishment, a fabulous marketing ploy. For THE BEAUTIFUL BETWEEN is nothing close to what it sounds like it would be about, and it’s left me disappointed and even frustrated.

Most unforgivably, the characters and their interactions with one another felt extremely artificial. I get the feeling that the author tried to present Connelly as the quiet and reserved teen bookworm who has more to her than her classmates realize, but the fact of the matter is that she never grows into the reader’s mind beyond a sullen and passive girl whose fairy tale extended metaphors get tiring and trite within the first 30 pages. She only waits, waits, waits throughout the whole book for Jeremy to show up when he needs her, and even then he never treats her as a good friend, but more like a sounding board for his cryptically “thought-provoking” musings. Jeremy, who’s supposedly this popular and nice guy but whose behavior towards Connelly only make him seem like a tool, using her to get the empathy he thinks she can give him.

Indeed, neither Connelly nor Jeremy (nor, actually, any of the other characters) feel like they’ve been fully realized: there’s something about their motivations, actions, and words that never quite line up. They are like cardboard figures acting the part of emotionally distraught, history-laden high school classmates in different social strata drawn together by mutual experiences and emotions. As a result, we can only read about them as if they’re 500 miles away on the other side of a bulletproof, shatterproof foot-thick glass wall.

It is furthermore unclear as to what this book’s main purpose or point is. The book jacket synopsis makes it sound like it will be about the healing powers of a blossoming relationship between Jeremy and Connelly. Instead, the plot waffles between Connelly’s long-suppressed desire to find out what happened to her father, and Jeremy’s “secret,” which, when finally revealed, is built up so insufficiently and artificially that I was more disappointed than sympathetic (a sad thing indeed, as the secret is actually quite sad). The ending wraps things up fairly neatly—which is a mixed blessing: it ties things up before we are ever connected with the story, but, at less than 200 pages, we are already ready for the blandness to be over.

I’m going to stop here before I get really pissed off, because this is pretty much like the realistic fiction version of the passive-heroine/wish-fulfillment-male’s-attention trope that too often pervades paranormal romance (only this one supposedly has a family emotion twist that makes it more “valid”). I’m pretty angry when I think about how undeveloped characters can masquerade as deep people if you just throw the right unconventional heartwrenching problems in. A book has to be more than the sum of its parts, and even though this one might have the right parts—an introverted bookworm protagonist (so, y’know, we can relate to her), a heartthrob nice guy (so, y’know, we can like him, and like him with her), and a deep familial problem (so, y’know, we can sympathize with the characters’ troubles)—it doesn’t ever come together.

[Cara · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Bobbi · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 supporting each other that makes this book shine. So many books ride on the premise that hormone-based attraction is magical and overrides personality compatibility, honor, and compassion. This book is so much more mature, and fills the need to be seen, heard, and known, without relying on the gimmicks of sexual pique. While I like a good romance as much as anyone else, there is a plethora of books out on the hot guy liking the girl for no known reason except that she finds her attractive. This book is about honoring a person for who she is and what she does. It's like eating a real meal after feasting on dessert for a week.

[Laura T · Rating 3 out of 5]

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 sixteen and needed to get to the bottom of her fathers death. Then the hottest boy in school, Jeremy Cole, notices her. He has never even spoken to her before so what was this all about. Could recent events affecting her reveal her fathers secret, or will life pass her by, along with the mystery of her fathers death?

I liked this book because of the way Sheinmel described Connies feelings. Connie seemed to have an opinion on almost anything, which I enjoyed reading. This is a beautiful book and shows how people cope after a death or a heartbreaking event. Connie seems to have changed rapidly after the events in The Beautiful Between.

Overall this book got a 3 star rating because I thought that there could have been more things happening. I prefer action books more than these type of steady conflict books. After all this I can say I mostly enjoyed it.

[Daniela · Rating 1 out of 5]

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 propio van a "pegarla" más en el ambito literario ? Yo les digo que no ! Hagan personajes con fortaleza y con sus propias falencias, no este tipo de personajes que te dan ganas de sarandearlo para ver si va a responder en algun momento !

[Keertana · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Martha Elena · Rating 1 out of 5]

"No sé donde estaría yo en la jerarquía del reino del cuento de hadas"

Connelly es una chica tranquila, la cual cuando esta aburrida imagina que está en un cuento de hadas, siendo la escuela el reino y los demás alumnos los ciudadanos, pero hay un chico en especial que llama su atención y el resto de las chicas también; Jeremy Cole el príncipe. Una buen día Jer se sienta con Connelly en el comedor para pedirle ayuda con el vocabulario y él a su vez la ayudara en la materia de física, siendo ese el inicio de una fuerte amistad. Connelly siempre ha mantenido en secreto la muerte de su padre, diciéndole a todo el mundo que sus papás están divorciados y que éste las ha abandonado a su madre y a ella para irse a vivir en Arizona, pero Jeremy descubre la verdad, además de que él sabe cómo murió, perturbando eso el idílico mundo de fantasía de Connelly que por primera vez en su vida necesita saber la verdad sobre su fallecido padre, pero no es la única que tiene un secreto que carga todos los días, Jeremy también oculta uno muy personal que tiene que ver con su hermana menor y con una terrible enfermedad.

La historia... me pareció aburrida, ésta gira alrededor del misterio de la muerte del papá de Connelly, pero si a ella no le interesaba saber que paso con él, mucho menos a nosotros. Sólo quiere saber para que la "picazón" que siente en la piel se le quite, no tanto de que realmente le interese. Y cuando realmente se anima a exigirle a su madre que le cuente lo que paso, es porque Jeremy le dijo que lo hiciera, no porque haya nacido de ella. Por otro lado la subtrama que hay detrás del personaje de Jeremy Cole y su hermana Kate es un poco solo un poco, más interesante, pero a mi parecer la autora no lo supo tratar y quiso darle un toque telenovelezco que no era necesario, porque el tema del cáncer ya es lo suficientemente sensible como para agregarle drama del malo.

El final... no pudo haber sido más decepcionante, la verdad tras la muerte del padre de Connelly fue tan simplona que me molesto, porque realmente esperaba que tan siquiera el final fuera aceptable, no bueno pero al menos que quitara un poco mal sabor de boca. Afortunadamente nunca me ha tocado vivir algo como lo que paso el padre de Connelly, pero creo que la autora no supo manejar bien el tema y fue algo que se sacó de la manga como ultimo recurso. Yo opino que si se va a tocar ese tema, hay que hacerlo con mucha seriedad y no tan a la ligera como lo hizo la autora, porque el suicidio es un tema bastante delicado y más con estos tiempos en los que, lamentablemente están en aumento.

Los personajes... Connelly a mi parecer es un personaje plano, sin personalidad y muy, pero muy aburrido. El resto de los personajes no se salvan, también son vacíos, quizá la única que se salva un poco es Kate Cole, porque tiene un poquito de simpatía por su alegre personalidad a pesar de que ha pasado por muchas cosas. Pero el resto de los personajes pasan de noche y no hay forma de simpatizar con ellos por más que se intente.

Sé que hay muchas personas que les gusto el libro y respeto su opinión, así que espero que respeten la mía cuando digo que a mí no me gusto en lo absoluto. Quizá sea porque el género de Young Adult no es de mis favoritos (para mi todas las historias son básicamente lo mismo), pero este título no logro atraparme en ningún momento y estoy segura que será de esos libros que se me olvidara muy pronto su nombre.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

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 popular group, but who wasn't unpopular; the girl who was extremely studious. But I just didn't like her. I can't pinpoint why. Jeremy was okay for me. There were times when I liked him, but there were times that I didn't like how he treated Connelly. But I loved Kate. She seemed so cute and the kind of kid sister that everyone wants to have.

I would reccommend readers try reading this book. The idea of the story is great and maybe other readers will like the main character more.

[Reaganstar · Rating 5 out of 5]

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... bright, cheery, and bubbly is just some of the words that I can come up with for her personality and train of thought. I would recommend this book to anyone as it truly is a breathtaking piece of work. But be sure that you have a box of tissues with you.

This will be a book I buy for myself and keep on my shelf to share with other loved ones for many years to come.

I got the opportunity to read this book early thanks to Princess Bookies Tours AKA Around The World Tours.

[Melissa · Rating 1 out of 5]

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 to her 16 year old brother and his friend, and a horrifying line as the two main characters watch a classmate eat a few leafs of lettuce and claim "anorexia is so 90s" because everyone now has "blow".

The book's blurb made this sound like a fairytale analogy, which caught my attention, but it is really loosely conveyed, aside from the main male character repeatedly being called Prince Charming. It is a short read, but nevertheless, it is not worth the time.

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

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. Have tissues ready. touching on some powerful emotions and watching her character shine, fail and shine again. Highly recommended!

[Lena ♫ ♪ · Rating 2 out of 5]

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.

[Kristen Harvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Rachael · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

[Jodi P · Rating 3 out of 5]

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's father, who died when she was very young, and Jeremy's sister. However, Connelly is upset to learn that Jeremy knows the details surrounding her father's death when she doesn't even know herself.
The characters are all likeable in this story - especially Kate. While I cringed as a reader about the fallout that Jeremy and Connelly had at one point that resulted in lasting regrets, I appreciated its addition to the story because it is something that is very realistic and Sheinmel delicately dealt with the emotions surrounding it.
An easy one to recommend. The content and story line are probably better suited for older YA readers.
I look forward to future efforts by Sheinmel.

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

The beautiful between by Alyssa B. Sheinmel is a well written book. Her book is written and can be interpretted in so many ways. She has the main character Connelly, who sees life as these fairy tales and she goes to school in a kingdom with the prince, Jeremy Cole. The Coles are royalty. It was a shocker when Jeremy took an interest in Connelly one day to study with her. Connelly's dad died at the age of 2. she has no clue how and why he died because her mom never told her. She never felt the pain and sorrow of losing him, until she and Jeremy hangs out. Jeremy and Connelly create a strong bond in the story. And her prince gives her the truth of how her father died. But will she ask her mom? Even though her mom knows the whole truth? The story is so unique. I wouldn't even know if you should take the fairy tale comparison literal or not. I don't even know if its a love story or not. But It just goes in depth on how lost you can feel without having a father and the truth. And the author brings you into the book and understand Connellys feelings. I would recommend this book to anybody that feels like there missing something in life because they are different from everybody.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 right about how things work in high school compared to how they work in a fairy-tale kingdom. At least, it meshes with my experiences.

So, why not five stars? It didn't shock my socks off. It was good – good enough that I was able to read it in less than 24 hours (with brakes for things like sleeping, eating, caring for my children, etc.). Plus, the "big secret" was somewhat predictable.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and was glad to get to read it. I would recommend this to someone wanting a light, easy, quick read. And I would probably read this again, if given the chance.

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

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 (and ONLY friends) with the most popular guy in school, who is struggling to deal with having a very ill little sister.

This has NOTHING to do with Rapunzel. I rated the book so low because it is not what I was expecting- no fairy tale elements, no romance. It's a decent read but I was so disappointed- false advertising!!

[Laila · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 feel so melancholy) all I can wonder is what happens to you when you're not together? You're lonely and afraid? That bites.

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was definitely my favorite of 2010! Connelly Sternin is a high schooler at a private school in NYC, and she's a little bit of an outsider among her cool and fabulous classmates ... that is until she strikes up a friendship with Jeremy Cole, the "crowned prince" of the school. But it's not a typical YA romance, which is what makes this book so special. Sheinmel's prose is absolutely breathtaking, and despite the heartbreak Connelly and Jeremy have to face, there is such hope in the story. I can't wait for THE LUCKY KIND to come out in May -- that's Alyssa B. Sheinmel's next book!

[Kapri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is all around beautiful. It's deffinatly one of the better books that I've read in a while.

I was sucked in from the first page. The writing was well-formed and wonderful. It was a real emotional read, for sure.

All the characters in this book were very lovable and relatable. I'd have to say my favorite character was Kate. She was so sweet and genial. She's what brings Connelly and Jeremy together, as well as the story.

The Beautiful Between was a truly inspiration story.

[Christie]

This book was not at all what I expected when I picked it up. Not at all a fluffy, Upper East Side fairy tale as the flap suggested, but a gorgeousley written, honest book about friendship and grief.

[Ana Banda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dios que hermoso!
Las amistades empiezan de la forma mas inesperada..pero terminan siendo lo mejor que te puede ocurrir en la vida.
Ame la amistad de Conelly & Jeremy, es tan simple, tan verdadera!
Lloré, definitivamente lo hice..pero de verdad que es precioso! :')

[Mathilde · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet but sad. My goodness, I almost cried.

[Brandy Tirado · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not really sure where to begin.
I remember coming across this book and reading it years and years ago, but for some reason from it just sprung itself back to life and wouldn't leave me alone until much, much, MUCH, Google searching finally placed it back into my lap.
I skimmed through some of the reviews on here beforehand and felt a twinge of disappointment over the slightly underwhelming reviews, I feared it wasn't going to be as good as my memory said it as.
And it turns out, rereading this was different than what I thought it was going to be like.
In the absolute best possible way.
I can't say how much I cried over the course of this book, how absolutely and completely creeped out I was at how similar my own experience with loss was to Connelly's. I think that perhaps that's why I was so desperate to read this book again. Life can be so funny like that.
I loved everything about this, how true it stayed to the reality of high school, to how people cope with loss, to how sometimes, when all else fails a girl will simply resort to playing out fantasies in her head to keep herself from being devoured by loneliness. I loved the authors writing style, not just for styles sake but because how real it is, in a way I couldn't be able to articulate clearly enough even if I tried. I can see how this isn't a novel for anyone, but for those with the proper lenses, it's nothing short of a beautiful masterpiece.
To end on a lighter note, man o man what I wouldn't do to find out what happens with Jeremy and Connelly.

[Jacqueline · Rating 4 out of 5]

All too often when I pick up books, I feel like I can easily predict coming conflicts and/or resolutions. It's refreshing to pick up a novel and have it truly surprise you with how its events play out. Alyssa Sheinmel's debut novel managed to do just that.

The Beautiful Between doesn't have a traditional plot. The story is more about the characters and their growth than about what happens to them. Connelly was a pretty lonely character at the outset of the novel. Her loneliness sets the tone for the story and gives us, and her, more insight into the loneliness of those around her. Connelly and the characters the fill her world are all well-developed. Each of them carries their own burdens and, I have to say, they are a depressing bunch. However, death and lies will do that to a person and all of them must cope.

The events of the novel revolve around the relationship that Connelly forms with Jeremy. They find solace, openness and honesty with one another in a world populated my tight-lipped adults. Not only is their friendship touching, but it's also novel in that it doesn't evolve into a trite romance...

To continue reading this review visit my blog, The Eclectic Book Lover.

[Amelia Butler · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was pointless. I just never saw the story going anywhere. I mean the whole finding something to cope death with was enlightening. But really there weren't any reasons for anything. And Connely just seemed like such a weak character. Nothing about her stuck out and made you latch on. And the author was misleading when it came to Connely & Jeremy's relationship. You kept thinking/hoping that maybe they would realize that they loved each other. They're relationship just didn't seem platonic. If you really, really don't have anything to do, reading this might be okay.

[Alanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first, I was disappointed that this was not leading into a romance. Then, I understood that this was human intimacy, a friendship that transcended beyond attraction or hormones. It was two friends trusting each other, supporting each other and loving each other. This book was about friendship,love and the inevitable loss of the people we love, and how to learn that you are not alone in all of it.

[Lydia · Rating 1 out of 5]

To put it simply; I kept waiting for it to get better and it never did.

[Lils · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars