Review--Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult & Samantha van Leer

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN HAPPILY EVER AFTER...ISN'T?

Delilah hates school as much as she loves books. In fact, there's one book in particular she can't get enough of. If anyone knew how many times she has read and reread the sweet little fairy tale she found in the library, especially the popular kids, she'd be sent to social Siberia...forever.

To Delilah, though, this fairy tale is more than just words on the page. Sure, there's a handsome (well, okay, hot) prince, and a castle, and an evil villain, but it feels as if there's something deeper going on. And one day Delilah finds out there is. Turns out, this Prince Charming is real, and a certain fifteen-year-old loner has caught his eye. But they're from two different world, and how can it ever possibly work?

Together with her daughter, Samantha van Leer, #1 New York Times Bestselling author Jodi Picoult has written a classic fairy tale with a uniquely modern twist. Readers will be swept away by this story of a girl who crosses the border between reality and fantasy in a perilous search for her own happy ending.

Well it took me three years, but I have finally read the unbelievable story that Jodi Picoult and her daughter, Samantha van Leer have written together. Between the Lines is a book that all readers must read at some point, because it's the perfect story for us! We're a special breed, I'd say, and this book has all the magic one could ever hope for from a fairy tale and a beloved book!

First, I must comment on the extraordinary setup of this book! There are two stories going on here, and one is told in two points of view. First we get the actual fairy tale that Delilah reads and Oliver plays a role in. Like legit fairy tale. Then we get Oliver's point of view, the real Oliver, the one who is tired of playing a prince and doing the same thing over and over again. Then finally there's Delilah's point of view as she deals with having a character from a children's storybook talk to her from the pages. It was always easy to know which story and perspective you were in because the font is unique to each of these points of view and the text is colored! Never once do you wonder who is who or if you were in the fairy tale versus present time.

Like all readers, (or so I suppose) I really connected with Delilah. She was the loner type and while her nose wasn't always stuck in a book, it had been lately. And it a children's fairy tale no less! Although funny thing, fairy tales were initially meant for adults! The Brothers Grimm weren't writing to entertain children, quite the opposite really. But I digress! She constantly checked out the fairy tale from her school library and then one day, she noticed the picture of Prince Oliver blinking at her and soon a conversation started!

I loved how real that felt! I mean Delilah thinks she's crazy at first, but then it becomes apparent to her, at least, that she's not. Though her best friend and mother still think otherwise! It felt very realistic! 

Oliver is tired of being Prince Oliver. Of playing the same role every time someone reads the book, but when Delilah continues to open to his solo page, he's able to let go and be himself. For when the book is closed, all the characters are free to do what they like! That villain, isn't really so villainous after all! I loved seeing this other side to the characters as well, such as Oliver's dog Frump, he talks. There's a story behind him, but I won't get into it. But even his horse talks and has a few problems with his body image! It was funny coming from a horse what lots of people deal with on a regular basis.

The best thing about waiting to read this one is now I don't have long to wait for the sequel! Or companion as I heard it called. I have left myself blind to that one, but now I will be backtracking to find out what this new one is about and who's involved! And reading the reviews too, of course!

The ending to this one was nice! I'll admit I was still left wondering about a few nonsense things. Little tiny details that really don't matter in the grand scheme of things, but little nuisances nonetheless! But otherwise, I really liked it, but still couldn't help but feel "emotional" about it either. Again, details I can't get into, but after reading it, you'll understand about the conflict of feelings about it.

As I said, this was a fantastic story! This is the story that all readers and dreamers need to read because it really captures what we readers sometimes think and feel! Granted, there's no hero talking to me from my books wanting out, but I'd definitely go to the ends of the earth to release one of them should he want it! LOL!

Between the Lines is pure magic and I highly recommend this to all my reader friends!



Overall Rating 5/5 stars