ARC Review: Between the Lives by Jessica Shirvington

Posted May 27, 2014 by Melissa in Uncategorized / 12 Comments

Title: Between the Lives
Author: Jessica Shirvington

Series: Stand alone
Genre: YA Paranormal
Publisher: Orchard Books
Publication Date: August 7th, 2014 (first pub: 2013)
Page count: 336 pages
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher via Netgalley


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Book Summary:
For as long as she can remember, Sabine has lived two lives. Every 24 hours she shifts to her ‘other’ life – a life where she is exactly the same, but absolutely everything else is different: different family, different friends, different social expectations. In one life she has a sister, in the other she does not. In one life she’s a straight-A student with the perfect boyfriend, in the other she’s considered a reckless delinquent. Nothing about her situation has ever changed, until the day when she discovers a glitch: the arm she breaks in one life is perfectly fine in the other.

With this new knowledge, Sabine begins a series of increasingly risky experiments that bring her dangerously close to the life she’s always wanted. But if she can only have one life, which is the one she’ll choose?

A compelling psychological thriller about a girl who lives two parallel lives – this is Sliding Doors for the YA audience.

     *The Reader’s Review*

     My rating: 5/5 stars
Between the Lives is an insane read. Hands down a unique, beautiful book that I’ll be sure to come back to several times. Imagine a girl forced to live two different lives every time the clock strikes midnight. One day a rich girl with absolutely everything she could ever ask for, another day a life more run-down and difficult to live. Hit repeat.
I just can’t even explain all the things this book made me live through. Basically, it’s a book about cherishing what life gives and throws at you. To not take for granted what little or much you have. Sabine is tired of living this way, of going twice through everything in different places with two different families. It’s hard not to mix them up and I don’t know how she managed to do it for such a long time. And not trying to give too much away, let’s just say that this girl tries everything to see how she can give up one of her lives in order to live only one.
I loved the intricate way this book was written. I loved the possibilities of Sabine’s two lives even if she didn’t like having them both. I adored the characters from both lives. From her brother’s in one life (even if we don’t see much of them) to her little sister in the other. But most of all, I loved Ethan. All of him. Every word, every page he was in it. I loved the feels he caused me, but hated some of them too because… *deep breath*. I can’t even discuss about that because it’s a huge spoiler. Just so you know, I’ve now lost track of how many times my heart has been broken. 
I didn’t expect this book to be an emotional read for me. But boy, you can’t imagine how much it turned out to be. I wasn’t even in one of those moments and I was already breaking up. I felt things and knew something was going to burst my bubble, but like a true book masochist, I went through it all. 
As a last round, all I want to say is that this book is a must and always will be. To feel, to experience, to learn in this rough way is incomparable. Some might disagree with Sabine’s approach and how she deals with her lives, but I believe she had guts and deserved a chance to find out. And besides, thanks to everything she did, she met Ethan, so no regrets there. Between the Lives is a bittersweet read that beat me roughly a few times but left me smiling and hopeful. Although that ending is not what my heart actually wanted, it sure is the next best thing.
*Note: Between the Lives is the Australian version of the U.S. edition of One Past Midnight by Jessica Shirvington.*

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12 responses to “ARC Review: Between the Lives by Jessica Shirvington”

  1. Chene Sterckx

    Oh wow what a review! I remember reading about this book a few weeks ago and your review just sold it all over again. I really like the sound and premise of this book 🙂 I hope I get to check it out!! It look like it turned out to be an unexpected pleasure for you 🙂

    Chanzie @ Mean Who You Are.

    • thereade

      I had my hopes for this book to be a good one when I found out about it, but I didn't expect it to be that good. I hope you get to read it soon and then we can talk about it and eat virtual ice cream afterwards. 😀

    • Chene Sterckx

      I am so sad 🙁 I went on to NetGalley to request this title and I am not able to because I don't live in any of the 'approved' regions! Not the first time this has happened either…

  2. Enbrethiliel

    +JMJ+

    Fantastic premise! I've always been fascinated by parallel worlds and by people who can slide in and out of them. =) Which reminds me . . . Did you ever watch Sliders back in the 90s or any reruns afterwards? (Or am I showing my age? LOL!)

    • thereade

      Lol! I haven't watched Sliders… yet. Is it cool? I'm going to check it out! 😀 / You should definitely check this book out if your into parallel worlds. 😉

  3. Silvia

    I really like the sound of that "A compelling psychological thriller about a girl who lives two parallel lives", and I love your review, Melissa! I'm so happy this book worked SO well for you, and I'm definitely intrigued now!