Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April Genevieve Tucholke -> Restarting May 10th, 2019

[Alaina]

You stop fearing the devil when you’re holding his hand…

Nothing much exciting rolls through Violet White’s sleepy, seaside town… until River West comes along. River rents the guest house behind Violet’s crumbling estate, and as eerie, grim things start to happen, Violet begins to wonder about the boy living in her backyard.

Is River just a crooked-smiling liar with pretty eyes and a mysterious past? Or could he be something more?

Violet’s grandmother always warned her about the Devil, but she never said he could be a dark-haired boy who takes naps in the sun, who likes coffee, who kisses you in a cemetery... who makes you want to kiss back.

Violet’s already so knee-deep in love, she can’t see straight. And that’s just how River likes it.

Blending faded decadence and the thrilling dread of gothic horror, April Genevieve Tucholke weaves a dreamy, twisting contemporary romance, as gorgeously told as it is terrifying—a debut to watch.

[Saige]

7%- ok, so this isn't a big deal at all, but it kinda annoys me that the first time Luke greets Violet all he says is "Hey sister". Do siblings actually greet each other like that? Also, is every character in this going to be rich and white? Because I'm already tired of Violet's "I'm old money so I can't just get a job" worldview.

[Aly]

Hmm, hopefully not, that would be frustrating.
I'm getting the audio then I'll start it.

[Saige]

Cool! I'll probably be finished with it tomorrow night. It has picked up a bit actually, I'm reading a lot faster than I thought I would.

[Saige]

47%- (view spoiler)[Violet is getting really whiny and kinda stereotypical. I was hoping to see a little more bravery out of her, but she's just being dragged along by River and all the other crazy stuff in town. I like the explanation of the glow though. The way it's twisting River's morals/getting him addicted is an interesting take. (hide spoiler)]

[Saige]

100%- spoiler: (view spoiler)[Idk what other people thought of this book, but I found it really average. Violet didn't do much up until the end, and even then River has to leave to hunt Brodie down. Neely was cool, although it seemed like he and Violet were flirting for a while, and that went nowhere. Despite the sort of cliffhanger, I doubt I'm going to read the second book. (hide spoiler)]

[Jennifer]

Ch 9 (26%) - (view spoiler)[ Those kids are creepy AF. What I don't understand yet is why the devil would want Isobel anyway? (hide spoiler)]
Ch 17 (54%) - (view spoiler)[ Ok this book is taking a turn that I didn't expect. I just can't reconcile the River that is so nice to Violet, and was nice to all those kids too with someone that would make a guy slit his own throat right in front of a bunch of kids playing in the park. I don't think River is the Devil, but maybe his son?? Maybe he is flexing his punishment muscles but has just enough humanity to have feelings for Violet and occasionally for innocent kids? IDK. (hide spoiler)]
Ch 24 (82%) - (view spoiler)[ Wow, Freddy really got around, first Daniel Leap's father and now River's dad too. I do find Violet's finding of the letters a little too convenient. She and River were just talking about it and then poof, she finds a bunch. Could he have used his glow to make the illusion of them and make her feel like there is an extra layer to their connection? (hide spoiler)]
Finished - Uh.....(view spoiler)[ How could Brodie have survived that? I'm a little confused. I also think that maybe while River is tracking him down, Neely could, I don't know, be researching his dad's other offspring??? They know they have at least 3 half-siblings and if their dad has been encouraging all of them to use their powers for bad purposes, then they will have more problems besides Brodie to deal with soon. Is that what book 2 will be about? (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Chapter 9 (view spoiler)[ Luke and Sunshine are kind of mean to Violet, but Freddie told her that maybe she's looking for Luke to be mean, so it's hard to say if she just takes everything he says as rude? Idk. And River leaving the movie and the kids seeing the devil is very coincidental... (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 17 (view spoiler)[ River is definitely a bad guy. He has this ability and he uses it to scare or hurt people. Killing Daniel was not okay. (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 24 (view spoiler)[ If River wasn't behind what happened with Gianni and Jack, then who was? Or has he lost control that much that his power does what it wants now? I worry for Violet and Luke (hide spoiler)]
Finished (view spoiler)[ I liked this overall. It was pretty strange and not what I thought it was going to be. It's strange that both River and Brodie have powers, but not Neely. Maybe he does have something? And are there other siblings out there that can do things? I need to read book 2 (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Do either of you want to read the second book?

[Aly]

Jennifer wrote: "Ch 9 (26%) - [spoilers removed]
Ch 17 (54%) - [spoilers removed]
Ch 24 (82%) - [spoilers removed]
Finished - Uh.....[spoilers removed]"

Definitely agree with you about the ending.

[Felicia]

*************** RESTARTING MAY 10TH 2019 ***************

[Aly]

Thank you!