I could not get enough of Goodbye Days by Zentner so I was very excited for this new book. In the end though it just fell flat for me and I was annoyed by much of the story. I kept reading hoping for the magic that was in Goodbye Days but it never came. I was bored for much of this and while I finished I didn't love it.

The friendship between Rayne & Delilah is really the highlight of this book. The storyline about Delia's dad takes a back seat to the other plot points of the book. I enjoyed the friendship, humor, and the thoughtful representation of depression.

*Review link provided will go live on clairefy in February* 

"On TV, things are uncomplicated, with lots of fanfare. But sometimes real life is better, in all of its complications, in all of its everyday, quiet ache."

In this novel, Jeff Zenter weaves the perspectives of high school seniors Josie and Delia, known to their horror movie show audience as Rayne and Delilah. On "Rayne and Delilah's Midnite Matinee", the girls watch and review old films that Delia's father shared with her as a child. For Josie, the show is practice for her future career in television. As high school graduation approaches, however, Josie struggles to choose between staying in her hometown to continue the local show and moving to Knoxville to pursue something bigger: an internship at the Food Network. She also unexpectedly falls in love with a guest on her show, Lawson, further complicating her decision. For Delia, the show has more personal meaning: "Rayne and Delilah's Midnite Matinee" is her escape from her home situation, where Delia must care for her mother, and a way to reach out to the father that left her. Zenter's book illustrates the hard decisions that young adults face during their transition to life after high school.

During graduation season, high school seniors confront nuanced situations and their own sense of self. Throughout Rayne and Delilah's Midnight Matinee, Josie and Delia grapple with the reality of moving forward and experience nostalgia looking back. Beyond their concerns for the future of their show, they wonder whether their friendship can last if their futures take them separate places-- a real question many seniors face as the end of high school draws nearer.

"It suddenly hits me, more raw than it ever has before: everything ends...one day you wake up and you're eighteen and going to college...You may find someone you love and get married. And it might last a long time, but it ends one way or another...I'm glad things end, though...There's nothing worth having that doesn't die."

As someone who was in the same position as this book's protagonists not even a year ago, I recognize that this period of transition is unique to the individual. For some, life after high school is enlisting in the military. For others, post-graduation is seeking work, taking time off, or preparing to start college. Writing about this vulnerable time in a teenager's life can be a great opportunity. But to succeed, the characters in such a story must be well-developed, as unique and individual as the high school seniors that they emulate. Herein lies the greatest detriment to Rayne and Delilah's Midnite Matinee: poor characterization that fails to capture the perspective of high school girls.

Zenter presents the story through dual narration, with chapters alternating between Josie and Delia's perspectives. Yet the girls' narration styles were so similar and so unlike how high school seniors speak that I struggled to tell them apart, even when they conversed with one another. In conversation, for example, Josie and Delia exclusively refer to each other as "DeeDeeBooBoo" and "JoJoBee". 

As the novel progresses, the girls' diverging storylines allow their characters to become more distinguishable. While Josie, accompanied by Lawson, tries to secure a deal with horror producer Jack Divine, Delia borrows Josie's car to track the father that left her. Josie and Delia's narration starts to work not because the characters' personalities develop to be different from one another, but because their circumstances are different. The similarity in the girls' voices makes them read like the same character.

The dialogue almost creates caricatures of the two teenage girls and contributes to their lacking characters. Josie and Delia's banter alternates between random and drawn-out attempts at humor and moments of existentialism. During the climax, in which Josie's efforts to bargain with celebrity producer Jack Divine devolve into a fistfight, Josie's out-of-place jokes make the last portion of the book feel slightly ridiculous. Her reaction to the crisis exacerbates the contrast between the ending and the more realistic first half of the novel. My lasting impression of these interactions was that I was reading someone's attempt to write in the voices of two teenage girls instead of reading the actual voices of two teenage girls.

While I appreciated Rayne and Delilah's Midnite Matinee's unique story concept, centered around the girls' own TV show, its portrayal of teen girls, the foundation of the book, fell short.

-★★.5-

I requested this one from Netgalley because I read The Serpent King by this author and loved it. Unfortunately, before I could start this one I read some not great reviews about it. 
I did read 2 chapters - 1 in each of the characters POV and nothing happened? It doesn't feel like my type of writing, since I'm not a huge fan of character-driven plots most the time, but as I had only read barely 2% of the book, I pushed on. I read 4 chapters, 4% into the book and... I'm not grabbed by it at all. I think at this point, if I tried pushing myself I'd end up disliking the book more and more ☹

This book just wasn't for me. I would prefer not to write a negative review as it could be more well suited for other readers.

This was my first book by this author, It was pretty enjoyable. I would give this book a 3.5 star rating! It was a pretty Quick and easy read!

Love Jeff Zentner’s writing style and characterization of teenagers. The storyline of cable access horror hosts was fun and the ladies interesting and funny. The relationship between Josie and Lawson, while sweet, seemed too sweet and easy. I did appreciate the journey between Delia and her mother in the end. Not Zentner’s strongest outing but a strong showing in YA realistic fiction.

Best friends Josie and Delia host a creature feature that airs every Friday on a public assess television station. Now that graduation has come and gone, Josie and Delia are facing the big "what comes next" when it comes to the show and their friendship. For Josie, television has always been the goal, for Delia, the bad horror movies are a link to her absent father. It's never easy to say goodbye.

Once again Jeff Zentner managed to get me to laugh out loud and cry while reading Rayne & Delilah's Midnite Matinee. He's three for three on that count, and that's why I love his books. This one leans more toward the comedic side than his previous tearjerkers, but there were still plenty of real, hard topics and poignant moments (clearly).

Every year, Delia and Josie become Rayne and Delilah, the hosts of the creature feature on their local cable television channel. Delia is hoping that her long-lost dad will see her on the show and want to be a part of her life again. Both are trying to make big decisions about their futures, will interference from some of their friends. As they are trying to make decisions, they also begin to drift apart, knowing that whatever they decide could end their friendship for good. This book was so good and heartwarming. It reminded me of some of my own decisions as I was growing up and maturing. It also reminded me of how easy it is to lose friends we once thought we would never lose simply because we were growing up.

Rayne and Delilah’s Midnight Matinee is perfect with the Gilmore Girl style of quips between two young friends. They are relatable to young and mature readers who deal with feelings of loneliness and anxiety. But the humor in this story, (even the guy at the tv station) show us that we can all appreciate each other and help us move on with changes and challenges in our lives. Rayne and Delilah is now one of my favorite books!

I liked this book from the onset, but I loved this book as I got deeper into it. It just started to fit right like a comfy sweater. The characters found their own voices and felt like old friends each time I started to read. I laughed out loud many times...yes, tears came out of my eyes I was laughing so hard, but I couldn't explain why "fart tubes not being connected to the liver" was so funny to other people. You just had to read Zentner's description. The story and relationships were so real and visceral.

I DNF'd this book at about 20% for a few reasons. The pacing was really slow and I couldn't connect with the characters at all–they were super obnoxious and it didn't seem like they were going to change over the course of the story.

Jeff Zentner completely captured me with the Serpent King, and while I wanted to be so into Rayne & Delilah's Midnite Matinee it fell a little short for me. When they finally got to Devine, he was a little too much. I think this book will find readers amongst fans of Down and Across and possibly Paper Towns.

WHAT DID I THINK OF RAYNE & DELILAH’S MIDNITE MATINEE?
Rayne & Delilah’s Midnite Matinee is different from other books I’ve read by Jeff Zentner (I have read them all up to this point and Goodbye Days is my favorite). I just didn’t think this book hit me quite as hard as his other ones. Still, the concept is an interesting one. This book features Josie and Delia two teens who are best friends and run a show on local cable access featuring horror movies and their commentary. The horror movies come from a VHS collection that Delia’s dad had left behind when he walked out on the family. Josie has to make some choices about her internship and college and leaving the show behind. Delia doesn’t exactly have the same choices as Josie. Anyways, the two think they have an option to take their show to the next level and that opportunity comes via a Horror Con in Florida. I found I was much more into Delia’s parts.

HOW’S THE NARRATION?
The audiobook of Rayne & Delilah’s Midnite Matinee is narrated by Sophie Amoss and Phoebe Stroll. It is 10 hours and 20 minutes. I liked that it had two narrators for the two characters. It’s a relatively quick feeling listen. Like, I didn’t feel bored or like the audiobook is going on forever and ever. I did gel much more with Stroll’s narration because she reminds me of Emma Galvin. This is a pretty solid listen and worth your time.

This book had so much potential. I promise it did. It started off so great but it sort of,,,,,folded in on itself. About 50% in. If the first half of this book only existed, then it would be a 5/5 star book. HOWEVER. 
The plot just didn’t do it for me. Which is sad. life just wants to...punch me in the gut here lately and it’s fine.

I did not expect to cry, but this book brought out the tears - in a good way! Delia and Josie had the quirky, sarcastic relationship that I have with some of my friends. Their family dynamics were so great. The slight love story tugged at my heartstrings. This was an all-around great read. It is, however, a different kind of read than The Serpent King or Goodbye Days. This book had a lot of emotion - a lot - but it was definitely a more upbeat read than either of those two books combined. It was kind of refreshing to see this side of one of my favorite YA authors.

The audio version of this book was performed well, and you really got a feel for the sarcasm dripping from the dialogue. I super loved it. Hearing the story read out loud brought Delia and Josie's relationship to life, and made the emotions that much more real for me. I laughed out loud as I listened in my earbuds, I had to stop and catch my breath a few times, and I let some tears flow for the heartbreak.

Everything about this book was so quirky and genuine, and I loved it to bits. It's so quote-able and hilarious, and I just can't give it enough praise. I know a lot of people didn't like this book - for reasons ranging between MPDG troupes to a character disconnect. But that just wasn't the case for me. I listened to and then reread this book, and I have a feeling it's one that I will keep going back to.

osie (Rayne) and Delia (Delilah) are the hosts of Rayne and Delilah's Midnite Matinee, a public access cable TV show in Jackson, Tennessee, which features hokey horror movies, interspersed with the girls' humorous banter and silly skits. Josie, who hopes to pursue a career in television, has an opportunity to take an internship with the Food Network, but struggles with her feelings of loyalty to Delia. Delia is passionate about resurrecting the old horror movies she watched with her absentee father as a kid.  She secretly hopes he will someday see the show and reconnect with her.  When Lawson, a young MMA fighter, guest stars with his beagle on the show, Josie finds herself falling for him.  The three head to Orlando for the ShiverCon festival, where they plan to meet with legendary horror host Jack Devine, who might help them gain a wider audience. Delia also hopes to find her father, who is supposedly in Orlando.  Written from alternating perspectives, the novel paints a picture of two colorful characters, whose witty banter and heartfelt angst about the future makes them an unforgettable pair.

Loved it, the kind of book that has you going through a range of emotions. Really enjoyable read, will look for more by this amazing author.

I didn't really connect with this book until about half way in. At the half way point, I started to enjoy it quite a bit more. I felt like it took a while to get into the meat of the story.

My heart. I loved this book about two best friends who are striving for the extraordinary by finding the beauty and the shine in the ordinary. Josie and Delia and Lawson and Arliss are my new favorite people. If you're looking for a book with a lot of heart, sass, laughter, and some heartbreak (but the GOOD kind, the one that feels like a soft bruise), then this book is for you. 

Rayne & Delilah's Midnite Matinee is about friendship, love, following your dreams, and the inevitability of change. If you're put off by the fact that their TV show is about horror movies, don't be; I hate horror movies but I loved reading about their passion. This is older YA, and Zentner perfectly captures that feeling of being on the cusp of adulthood. Zentner's dialogue is top-notch: quippy and fast and absolutely hilarious. I laughed out loud several times. If you like people who are slightly cynical and sarcastic but never mean, then Josie and Delia's banter is something to aspire to and an absolute pleasure to read. 

I laughed and I cried and I finished this book with new best friends. A gem of a book. 

PS: if you're not the kind of a person that can appreciate the conversation that would stem from "Okay, so would you rather fight one horse-sized duck or fifty duck-sized horses?" this book might not be for you. But give it a shot!