YA Buddy Readers' Corner ♥ discussion

Delilah, a loner hates school as much as she loves books— one book in particular. In fact if anyone knew how many times she has read and reread the sweet little fairy tale she found in the library, especially her cooler than cool classmates, 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, incredibly handsome) 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 not just a one-dimensional character in a book. He’s real, and a certain fifteen-year-old loner has caught his eye. But they’re from two different worlds, and how can it ever possibly work?
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Maddy and I will be reading this on the 18th of the September. Feel free to join :)

Hey Maddy, I might be a little behind.
I just graduated from school and I have my formal tonight so I probably won't be able to start this until the end of the weekend! Sorry! But I promise I will get there!

I just started! I love the illustrations, really adds to the story

I'm struggling with this one. I just can't get into it.
I'm determined to see it through though!

Rachel and I will be starting this September 1st if anyone wants to join us!

Pages 1-105:

(view spoiler)[
--I really, really, REALLY love how many times the 4th wall is broken in this book. I mean honestly...I've never even considered that characters might do something OTHER than what's written on the page, and I adore that that's the idea being played with here--them being more than just their characters.
--Oliver's snark is entertaining. I feel like he's the type of Prince I'd prefer--realistic, questioning everything, being unhappy with or wanting to change his lot in life. The fact that he has not one ounce of bravery also makes for an interesting and complex character arc, I think.
--Also, the formatting for this book is absolutely GORGEOUS. I love that the font color changes depending which character or section we're reading. I LOVE the small images we get that coincide with whatever's happening on the page at that moment--the "interactions" Oliver has with Delilah. It adds another layer to this story I wasn't expecting; it helps bring it to life.
--And while I've read Picoult before and therefore was expecting it, the prose is brilliant and beautiful as always. This is a bit of a different subject matter for her, though; I appreciate that she took the leap and tried something different here, it's AWESOME so far.
(hide spoiler)]

Pages 106-197:

(view spoiler)[
--Gaaaah, the suspense is killing me! I can't even believe she's slipped so many times and let others hear her talking to the book. I mean, I get that he's real and all, but...Jeeeeeeez. I don't blame her mom for taking her to a shrink, honestly. I'd probably do the same thing.
--It's interesting that water can break through...but only on Delilah's side of the world into Oliver's. How does that happen? Why? Also, the fire thing! Oh my goodness...and the fish?! That scene cracked me up.
--And just HOW much bad luck does Delilah even have?! She broke Allie's knee last year...and her NOSE this year! I can't even imagine... Allie must think Delilah has a vendetta against her or something. XD
(hide spoiler)]

Pages 198-305:

(view spoiler)[
--Holy crow a lot's happened in this book! Delilah gets sucked INTO the story, sets loose Pandemonium, turns Frump back into a real boy (sorry, Pinocchio, this is not your story), gets tossed back OUT of the story, runs away from home, travels to another state, hunts down the author of the book....and meets a boy who looks JUST like Oliver, who can HEAR Oliver, and who is real but definitely NOT Oliver.
--And now she's going to attempt to change the fairy tale?! If I were the author, I'd be SO FREAKING PISSED! Let's hope Jessamyn doesn't realize what happens. But...what about Seraphima? Frump? Is Delilah going to change THEIR fates, too, or just Oliver's? Because...I'd feel really, really badly if Seraphima is stuck forever pining for a boy who can't love her back. And if Frump is left as a dog, forever pining for a girl stuck forever pining for a boy who can't love her back... Wow that's like fairy tale-ception or something. I better quit before I confuse myself.
--Happily ever after, here I come???????!?!??! Maybe?!
(hide spoiler)]

Pages 305-353:

(view spoiler)[
--OH. Oh my goodness, this book. These characters went through a HELL of a lot to find their happy endings; I am just so... Gah. I can't even believe that ending; I hadn't even CONSIDERED that as a potential ending. I am so, so happy with this read--and now I definitely need to pick up the second one, to see what happens next (I know, I know, they're companion novels and don't necessarily have to be read together, but I NEED to know. I need more.)
--This was just such a fun, awesome read; I'm so happy I finally decided to pick it up!
(hide spoiler)]

Review soon to come.

Review can be read here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I'm going to start this one tonight

Elizabeth wrote: "Pages 1-105:
"

I love the quirky things such as (view spoiler)[Oliver swinging on the letter g, characters noticing tears on pages and going to have a look during their downtime (when someone isn't reading the book) and Oliver asking Delilah "How do you know that you're not part of a book? That someone's not reading your story right now?" (hide spoiler)]

Elizabeth wrote: "Pages 106-197
(view spoiler)[I'm a bit surprised she didn't try to hide it and just told the psychologist Oliver speaks to her. Naturally I would think something was wrong with her
I also want to know why she's the only one who can hear Oliver but I get the sense this won't be answered, oh well (hide spoiler)]

Are you guys starting this now? Could I join?

Yes, join in! The thread title hadn't been updated (that's for last year's BR).

Page 246
(view spoiler)[When Delilah told Oliver that he "always knows what to do and he always figures a way out" and he said "That's the way I was written" I realised how she probably fell in love with the fairytale Oliver and her like is based on the Oliver in the fairytale! I suppose it's lucky he's not that different behind the scenes. His like for her is based on how different she is (being in another world and all). They haven't had much interaction (mostly just planning how he could get out of the book) and now they're in love... I'm not convinced! (hide spoiler)]

Ending thoughts
(view spoiler)[Wow a lot of things happened toward the end. I never thought that the author of the Between the Lines would get a visit from Delilah. Interesting twist. Hmmm but I don't really like the ending where Edgar switches places with Oliver. Like he'd rather be in the story than in the real world and he feels like he doesn't belong and no one, not even his mom would miss him. This just doesn't sit right with me! (hide spoiler)]

only reading up to the chapter named page 11 tonight as I'm extremely tired (view spoiler)[ so far I am preferring the chapters written in Oliver's POV but that's because I prefer reading from the boys pov. loving the pictures too. Don't think this book will take me too long to read because it seems like an easy read (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

Up to but not including the chapter named 'Page 40'- 54% of the way through (view spoiler)[ I can't say I'm enjoying this book as much as I thought I would, it just seems long and tedious and I'm not a great fan of either of the characters because I just think they're annoying. I'm not really loving this book but i will see it through to the end (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

Ok I've finished (view spoiler)[ and can i just say I found this book dull and predictable. Also I think I am too old for it as i thought it was juvenile (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

MY REVIEW- https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

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Reading from the 5th of October 2015.

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On page 77.

Awesome, you liking it so far? Mind posting your thoughts?

I'm not too sure when I'll get to this one, as I have a few books I need to get through first, but I'll definitely read it, as I've been meaning to read the sequel for ages.

Just checking in. I'm going to start this one tonight while waiting on my kids at practice. Hope to read at least 100 pages/day.

Awesome :D It's a really cute quick read

I'm really liking this book. I've never read anything else like this before. I appreciate the idea of fictional and non-fictional characters being able to communicate.
Imagine if you could talk to your favorite character on a TV show. Learn that they have a life inside the show when no one watches, and it's nothing like the book.

So far, I've really liked this book, and I can and will agree with Maddison, above, and say that it is a quick read.

Pg. 73: I keep trying to think of what to write about this book and all I can come up with is "it's cute". It reminds me of a story my 10 year old would come up with, but with all the loose ends and holes shored up.

Pg 175: (view spoiler)[ Ok, can't say I didn't see this train of thought coming -- it is a book, why don't they write their way out of the problem. Ah, but we still have 175 pages left to go, so we will see how it goes. (hide spoiler)]

Yeah it's such a cool unique idea XD I can't wait to get back into it.

And the illustrations as well!

Pg 252: (view spoiler)[ OK, so I might have been wrong about my 10 year old coming up with this plot. What first appeared as an overly simplistic story, now has some twists and turns that I wasn't expecting.

I am surprised that Lila doesn't want to stay in the book longer. I know she loves her mom, but it isn't like she is being very supportive at the moment, and the rest of Lila's life is not that fun for her. (hide spoiler)]

Finished: (view spoiler)[ OK, as previously mentioned, it turned out to be a more complex book than I thought, and I liked.

I'm still not 100% sure how Edgar managed to switch places with Oliver, but I needed it to end and it did.

I would still describe this book as "cute". (hide spoiler)]

Don't forget we start next week.

I didn't know the timings XD I just plan on reading this when I can, haven't really set a date for myself. Might read it as my next physical, but we'll see.

Page 72: (view spoiler)[Okay, I'm loving this book and how different it is! Pretty sure I'm 100% like Delilah because I love books just as much, if not more than her. I also secretly wished this was happening to me right now because how cool is it to communicate with someone who is in a book?!?! I wonder what else is going to happen between her and Oliver. (hide spoiler)]
Page 133: (view spoiler)[I kind of feel bad for both Oliver and Delilah. I wish there was something I could do to ease their pain. I'm also slightly shipping them which is really weird for me since one is in a book. I wonder if they will find a way for Oliver to safely get out of the book..or maybe if Delilah could go in.. (hide spoiler)]
Page 195: (view spoiler)[I am in love with Delilah! I feel bad that she has to see a psychologist because of her mom but I'm glad that she still has Oliver. I really want to know if he can get out of the book now. I mean when he took the book into the fire, her book was in flames. So now I'm really intrigued to see if he can get out of the book... (hide spoiler)]
Page 303: (view spoiler)[Okay a ton of things have happened but the one thing that stood out was Delilah going into the book. Even though it was brief visit I still think that's so freaking cool! It kind of reminded me of Harry Potter when he was Tom Riddle's Diary and saw his version of the past and everything. I was happy even though she wasn't because she was in Oliver's world! HOW COOL IS THAT?!? I'm freaking out! I wonder how this book is going to end. (hide spoiler)]
Finished: (view spoiler)[Okay so much has happened still and I'm kind of sad about Edgar. I mean he switched places with Oliver because he thought his life in the book would be better than his real life. And the whole point of his mom not missing him is complete bullshit. I don't even want to know what his mom is thinking right now. And happy it had a cute ending and that Oliver and Delilah are together. (hide spoiler)]

XD Who knows if I'll get around to reading this. I do want to though.

Maddison wrote: "XD Who knows if I'll get around to reading this. I do want to though."

It was really cute :D I'm picking up the second book today - I'm just trying to get through as many library books as I can

Yeah I've read it before XD Just haven't read #2, so am doing a re-read. Or thought I was. This is why I'm not signing up for any more BRs haha. Because I keep making myself sad when I can't keep up and it's too stressful.

Maddison wrote: "Yeah I've read it before XD Just haven't read #2, so am doing a re-read. Or thought I was. This is why I'm not signing up for any more BRs haha. Because I keep making myself sad when I can't keep u..."

haha that's me right now. I'm definitely playing catch up - but I have a feeling I'll get a bunch done before the end of the month. Plus it helps that a lot of my BR's were planned for the end of this month. So I'm just really catching up on the series that were from the beginning.