Rayne & Delilah's Midnite Matinee recenzja

     Hello dear Reader. I am a broken soul by another novel. Why? I will tell you why. Because of "Rayne & Delilah's Midnite Matinee" by Jeff Zentner.
     It's official: this man (Jeff Zentner) can't write a bad novel, a simple novel, just a novel. He always writes something that will break your heart. And yes, his new work is just stunning. As always.

    By day, they’re just high school seniors from a small town. On every Fryday night, they become Rayne Ravenscroft and Delilah Darkwood from TV show Midnite Matinee…

     "Rayne & Delilah's Midnite Matinee" is a bitter-sweet story of two good friends: Josie and Delia. They host a horror/sci-fi show "Midnite Matinee" every Friday night on a local cable-access network. Especially for the show, they created their alter ego: Rayne Ravenscroft (Josie) and Delilah Darkwood (Delia). Before decisions about their futures are made, Josie and Delia take a road trip to Orlando to pitch Midnite Matinee to a bigger audience.

    Josie and  Delia are teenagers with problems, dilemmas, decisions. Teenagers who must make tough decisions about their futures.
     Josie doesn’t love horror movies. For her, their TV show is a small preparation before the future. She is very natural in front of the camera and wants to pursue a career in television. She knows that her decision can make something good or bad. Good for her because to attend a big university and a guaranteed internship with a TV studio. Bad – because that would mean leaving everything that she loves: the show Midnite Matinee,  her best friend Delia and her boyfriend Lawson - the show's guest performer
    Delia is a girl whose life isn’t easy. When she was 7, her father left her. For her scary movies are something like the last connection between her and her father. That’s why she put the whole heart to the show. Her mother suffered from major depression, and also Dalia suffered from some sort of depression-centered mental illness. That’s why the girl sometimes isn’t in the best frame of mind.
     And she believes, that if their show Midnite Matinee becomes a hit, maybe her father will see it and want to be a part of her life again.
    Josie and Delia start to realize that an uncertain future depends only on them and can be good or bad, sweet or bitter. Or better: bitter-sweet. But they both believe that everything will go well and that they will find the right way to “kill” all their problems, these bigger and smaller. And maybe their show Midnite Matinee will survive the worst moments and maybe Josie will stay with the show.

     "Rayne & Delilah's Midnite Matinee" is a great story about true friendship, growing up and standing up to own demons, fears, decisions. About a friendship with someone who understands you and who accepts your good and bad days, your flaws, your needs. The story about living and choosing, believing and losing hopes. The story about a huge passion. A passion to make something you love, what is a part of you and your World. A passion to live with your dreams.

   Things to look out for: The relationship between Lawson and Josie. The friendship between Josie and Delia. The balance between friendship and love. Their dilemmas, anxieties, and worries. And all these decisions and questions. All the colors of honesty, devotion, love, concern, closeness. All the bright and dark sides of life.

    "Rayne & Delilah's Midnite Matinee" is a novel about choosing. About choosing life, the future, what’s more important. Choosing what you want, who you want to be, what’s your bigger dreams, what’s next in your life.
     "Rayne & Delilah's Midnite Matinee" isn’t a book like many others. You won't find here this scheme, repeated by other novels with a lot of “bad things”. Sure, there's a bit of bad language, violence, drinking/smoking, but hey, you can find the same things in other YA books.
     The characters in the book are really great. As always. I can say the same about the story created by Mr. Zentner. I really don’t know how he does it. Maybe one day he will share with his “dark” secret…
      Sure, sometimes I wanted to scream: nooo! or what the hell?! because of the action or character. But hey, you have such feelings when you read any book.
      But this time, just like in his previous books (and probably in next books also), the story will stay with you for a long, long time. The story about dreams, love, friendship. The story about life with all bright and dark moments.
      The writing is perfect. You read this book and quick. "Rayne & Delilah's Midnite Matinee" is a mix of a laugh, smile, joy and light with an ocean of tears, scream, sadness and despair. In my opinion, Mr. Zentner created a perfect and really realistic look of life at the last year of high school, when you have to figure out who you are and what you want to do with your life. All these ups and the downs are like a storm-tossed sea and you have to survive it and find your own safe island – your perfect “this is me and this is my life”.
 
     One thing is sure: Jeff Zentner is a real King of incredible stories and emotions. And of course, he is also the King of the power of all kind relationships (friendship/love/hate) and the bond that comes with it. And we are slaves of his words... 
     As always, I am impressed with Mr. Zentner's work and I highly recommend anything that he writes. Now I can't wait to see what comes next!