There is a particular sigh of relief to be breathed as a reader, when you realize that a book you've been highly anticipating, by an author whose writing you really enjoy and respect, is just as good as you had hoped it would be. Rayne & Delilah's Midnite Matinee did a fantastic job depicting female friendship, as well as that weird world you live in at the end of high school when you're wrestling with your options (or lack thereof) and having to make big decisions about your next steps. Jeff Zentner also wrote two teenage girls in a way that makes it seem like he's actually met teenage girls before- they are realistic, quirky, funny characters, and their fierce friendship is an absolute treasure to read. While a public access show about terrible horror movies might not be the most common hobby, it's so fun to read about. While this story definitely had plenty of laughs, it also has a major plotline in Delia's search for her absent father that brings a more somber tone to the story too, as well as touching on mental health. Very excited to start getting this one into readers' hands.

I’m going to start off by saying I don’t usually cry much— okay, full disclosure, I cry a lot. Dog videos on Facebook, eating spicy foods, and don’t even get me started on being spoken to by any person with authority— but when it comes to media, it’s easier for me to distance myself and not get wrapped up in the emotional turmoil of a narrative. This was not the case for this book. I have to hand it to Jeff; he really knows the ways to twist and pull and coerce genuine reactions out of his readers. I was a sopping wet puddle by the end of the novel; having loved and lost and discovered a new sense of self through it all. I related so much to the sentimental and horror-obsessed Delia, and I saw a mixture of two of my best friends as her sharp-witted and hardworking cohost, Josie. Their relationship was expertly crafted, and it honestly felt so familiar and like home. I fell head over heels for Lawson, and it took me by almost as much surprise as it did Josie. Arliss also held a special spot in my heart; bringing up memories of mentors long past who filled a hole I never could quite place. I feel like this book was written for me: mashing up all of these things and combining them with horror. I’ve never really watched public access horror shows, but I love the genre, and my mom and I used to rent low budget horror films every week and just laugh and enjoy our time together. Rayne and Delilah’s Midnite Matinee did just what the show of the same name did for Jacob and Erica in the last fan letter. It made me think of happy times, and of people I love, and of how proud I am to have been shaped and molded by the moments in my life that have led me here. This is the best book I’ve read in a long time.

Every week, Delia and Josie host a public access television horror feature show. As they graduate high school Delia wants to continue the show while Josie is thinking of college. A trip to a horror convention may determine the future of the show and their friendship. Delia and Josie's friendship is at the center of this novel. Their interactions feel like how two 18 year old best friends would interact with each other, especially when they go off on silly tangents. While there are plenty of light moments both girls are at a crossroads that could affect their friendship's future. Delia hires a private eye to track down the father who abandoned her and her mother years ago. While Josie has an internship lined up out of town that would take her away from Delia who has abandonment issues. The narrator alternates between the two girls. This novel works for the short part. The one possible exception is a subplot which starts once the girls reach the convention where things take a turn towards the absurd which contrasts with the more grounded happenings of the rest of the novel. Recommended for those who likes the more humorous side of realistic fiction with a touch of romance.

This was very difficult to read, which is unfortunate because I was so looking forward to it! I just felt so bored and uninterested in the storyline. I wanted to like this so much, but the character fell flat for me. I hope you like it better than I did! Thank you for the advanced copy, netgalley!!

Unfortunately Zentner has joined the Jersey Retirement Club-Authors I will no longer read.

I loved The Serpent King; it was one of my favorites of the year it was published and Goodbye Days was fine but I had issues. I had similar issues with Rayne and Delilah that I had with Goodbye Days.

The idea was solid and timely and always relevant-high school seniors who are best friends are going in different directions. Many high school seniors experience this and I like the idea of it as a plot. We also have two different types of girls. One girl has two loving parents and a younger sibling, she has options after graduation, and she has a boyfriend. Then the other girl has a father who abandoned her when she was seven, she has to take care of her mother sometimes, and that's all she has. She has no siblings or significant other; all she has is her best friend who may be leaving after high school. All of this is great and realistic, however; that's where the goodness ends.

First problem was that I didn't know who Josie was. Josie was the girl with the parents and options. She was supposedly this funny girl who was really cute and good a TV but that was it. There's this instant when she's bickering with her younger sister (I can't remember the age of the sister) and she comes across as a thirteen year old rather than an eighteen year old. I know siblings fight; my brother is 11 years older than me but our disagreements are not about kicking me under the dinner table. They were about him bribing me not to tell mom he had a party in the basement when she was out of town-they were mature fights. That was minor but it contributed to my lack of interest in Josie. I didn't find her funny and it's technically not her that's unfunny; it's Zentner who's unfunny and I'll get into that later. Her draw to the MMA fighter was too quick for me to care/ship and then her subsequent chapters were with him so that made me even more disconnected to her character.

My second problem is that I don't think Zentner is good at writing humor. This was the problem I had with Goodbye Days. The characters spend several pages talking about dumb shit that has nothing to do with the plot and isn't funny. A basset hound is not going to grow old into a beagle. This book literally spent three pages on this and none of it was humorous. This type of dialogue happened A LOT and it was mostly about food. Zentner has this thing with food being funny-I don't get it. Josie was supposed to be quirky and funny but she wasn't because Zentner isn't a comedy writer. Humor is tough to write and some authors a good at it-Andrew Smith; John Green; Jay Kristoff writes a good snarky character; The Nikolai character from Shadow and Bone is a great snarky character and I think this is was where Zentner was trying to go with Josie but it didn't land. Lydia from the Serpent King had a bit of snark and was a good character but Josie... I think Zentner should stick with writing teens who are depressed and moody and sad and have serious issues and stop trying to do humor. Write what you do best, man.

Thirdly, this book lost me when Josie and MMA met the TV guy at that ShiverCon. That was a hot ass mess and not funny or whatever that was supposed to be. This guy was just extra and not in a good way; in a predictable and -where-the-fuck-did-that-come-from way. I think it was meant to be a funny adventure but it was just weird and bad.

Finally, Delia's father reunion. I understand where Zentner was going with it but as someone who had a father leave their family as a kid, I got nothing from this moment. Her father's situation was not nuanced; it was something I've read in other books about men who abandon their children. It wasn't written as well as I know Zentner can write.

Like I said, I like the message and I think teens will benefit from it because it's a great life lesson that all of us forget to value. But the execution of the story was just not my favorite and if Zentner continues to write humor, I'm gonna have to retire his jersey.

I love Jeff Zentner. He Skyped my book club when Serpent King just came out and he was cool as hell. I met him at an author event and he wore a kerchief which was cool as hell and I follow him on IG and his doggy is cute as hell and it pains me to have to retire his jersey. (Please excuse me while I cry now).

Welcome to Rayne and Delilah's Midnite Matinee!

Meet Josie and Delia, Best Friends Forever from Jackson, Tennessee. Delia loves bad horror films. Josie wants to be a television star. They combine this to create the public access horror show Midnite Matinee, where they show and hilariously discuss horrible horror films. Delia struggles with depression, as well as her mother's depression, and longs to find her father while also cling to her best friend, terrified about what life after high school will bring. Josie, on the other hand, knows that she'll go to college no matter what, but is equally worried about the future and doesn't want to leave behind Delia; add in a cute MMA fighter who loves pancakes, and she's even more uncertain about where she wants to be.

The humor in this book is incredible and makes you laugh in ways you didn't think you would. You know what it reminded me of? Zany Nickelodeon shows, specifically iCarly, which is fitting given the premise of the show and the book. (Going ahead and petitioning that, if this were to be made into a movie, it be done by the producers and directors and in the style of iCarly.) But there is also a lot of emotions about growing up, finding your path, following your heart, and facing long-distance friendship.

All of Jeff Zentner's books have been excellent so far, and this one was no exception. Very different from his first two novels, but this one was funny and relatable and very enjoyable. I'll be purchasing this one for my classroom library.

So this is the first thing that I have read so far this year that has me wavering back and forth ...

I did like the overall concept of the book and I was excited to read something from Zentner that wasn't as heavy as his other works. I liked Josie and Delia as characters. But so much of this felt underdeveloped. The tone felt off with an unbalanced mix of ridiculous and heavy situations. The authentic teenage voice was a miss (especially for the female teenage characters) and the banter between almost all the characters felt horribly contrived. In a story that feels like the focus should square be on friendship, the romance wasn't particularly necessary and as a result fell flat.

And I think this was supposed to read as funny? Maybe? And I am not sure that's going to translate to teen readers. In our Netflix/high production value world, I am not certain the concept of Public Access TV (or even what it even means to be a horror host) will resonate (as it will with older readers who know what's it's like to have limited viewing options especially late at night). I am left shrugging on this one. At least this title is lighter topically than his other titles ... and in combo with an attractive cover ... maybe it will circulate better (Even with me pushing these titles on display ... TIV has Serpent King at 0 lifetime check outs and Goodbye Days at 5 - 2 of which were me during RITBA reading season last year).

Rayne and Delilah’s Midnight Matinee is the name of the campy horror movie show created by best friends Josie and Delia shown on the local cable station. As the end of their senior year approaches, they are pulled in opposite directions when decisions about their futures must be made. Delia’s dysfunctional family limits her options and she wants to keep Josie close by since Josie is one of the only people she can count on. Their close friendship is tested as the pressures mount. This book perfectly captures the dynamics of a close female friendship and that is the aspect of this book that I love the most, which more than makes up for an over the top segment in the latter part of the book. I haven’t read a book recently that does as good a job showing a complex friendship from both character’s perspectives (let alone one written by a male author) and I highly recommend this book!

I really liked this book- the highs and lows, the overwhelming sarcasm, the deep friendship, and the growth of our characters. Both Josie and Delia deal with their own issues, but throughout the novel they consistently have each other's back. The author did a great job writing their friendship. One of my favorite parts about the book was the quirky support the girls give each other. Although their problems are different (depression and money issues compared with parental disagreements and college bickering) the girls never try to put the other down. The romance was also written very well with it having just the right presence in the book. The characters were likeable and distinctive despite being so close that other characters often think they're sisters. I'll definitely be buying this for our library next year!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review the latest Jeff Zentner book. I am a fan of his other books, The Serpent King and Goodbye Days, however I was interested in his newest because of the hype regarding this being more of a comedy. However, would I like a story about teen girls making a public access show about campy horror movies? Well, the answer is YES! 5 stars . I loved it.

First off , what a unique premise! And even though I hate horror and have no understanding of this niche I immediately was drawn into the world of Rayne & Delilah. So don't let the plot throw you off this fun and touching read. Jeff is one of those author's that can make me laugh and cry. His humor isn't forced and I think teens will adore the quirky characters . ( I almost hate to use the word quirky because some of my teens think it's overdone, but not when it is done so well!!) There are many absurd moments that feel cinematic and have you cheering throughout the story. Then there are moments that completely catch you off guard and tears are rolling down your face but you find you are smiling at the same time.

Second, let's appreciate a male author that can capture two female voices so authentically. These girls are smart, sassy, and vulnerable all in one. These girls struggle with following your dreams even if it means letting other's down, loving yourself first, and how you don't need to live an extraordinary life to be happy.

Third note, I appreciate the way that mental health issues are woven into the plot. They are just a part of the lives of the characters without being their main character traits.. Also, the subtle mention of medication and the struggles being on and off them , without lecturing , is handled so well.. Mental health is part of so many lives and it's wonderful to see it normalized in this way.

So, 5 stars, this is my favorite new book. It will be added to my personal and library bookshelf in February!

I will always read everything Jeff Zentner writes. His first two books, The Serpent King and Goodbye Days, are two of my favorite books. I can now add Rayne & Delilah's Midnite Matinee to that list of favorites. Zentner has a way of writing characters that makes them so alive, so real, that you feel like you know them. Rayne and Delilah's Midnite Matinee is a simple story of friendship, but it is also complex in its simplicity. Zentner examines the nuances of friendship, and how they survive, by creating two vibrant, intelligent, hilarious teenage girls. Readers who pick up this book with fall in love with the main characters and will want to read the book again as soon as they finish it.

Lovely story of two girls finding out what it means to follow a dream...and what new beginnings and endings feel like.

Loved the side characters and the weirdness of the Orlando visit. I think teens will enjoy!

I loved this story of friends who did a TV show and going through different things in their lives from finding a dad to romance. Loved the friends and manager :) Great story and loved that it was in different point of views.

What a great read! So much fun! Will have you laughing out loud and wondering how Zentner thought of such things and then gets serious and deep and has you reflecting. Loved it.

A funny and poignant YA book about friendship and making your way in the world. Jackson, Tennessee High School seniors Josie Howard and Delia Wilkes are best friends who created and host their own public access television show. Midnight Matinee is a campy creature-feature complete with dorky attire, low budget “so-bad-its-good” horror movies, and two delightfully risible, costumed, witchy hosts named Rayne and Delilah.

As BFFs Josie and Delia work through what will happen to the show and their friendship after high school, the action is peppered with a search for a long-lost, deadbeat, dad; a cartoonishly over-the-top sequence with a has-been film producer and his Russian mafia sidekick; a slowly developing love story with the world’s greatest guy and wannabe MMA champion; and plenty of (gratuitous?) butt and fart jokes.

The writing is good — some hysterically funny live and text-based banter (the collection of one-line descriptions of country music alone is worth the price of admission) mixed with heartfelt scenes of connection, questioning, and resolve.

Great for fans of John Green.

Intelligent, funny, quirky, and beautifully written. I love the way Jeff Zentner writes friendships, and how he develops characters that you wish were real people. Definite must-read!