Review: Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April Genevieve Tucholke

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea (Between, #1)
by April Genevieve Tucholke
Published by Dial
Hardcover (bought)
YA, paranormal, romance

“You stop fearing the Devil when you're holding his hand...”

Nothing much exciting rolls through Violet White’s sleepy, seaside town… until River West comes along. River rents the guest house behind Violet’s crumbling estate, and as eerie, grim things start to happen, Violet begins to wonder about the boy living in her backyard.

Is River just a crooked-smiling liar with pretty eyes and a mysterious past? Or could he be something more?

Violet’s grandmother always warned her about the Devil, but she never said he could be a dark-haired boy who takes naps in the sun, who likes coffee, who kisses you in a cemetery... who makes you want to kiss back.

Violet’s already so knee-deep in love, she can’t see straight. And that’s just how River likes it.

 

I've disappointed many times for promise of a bad boy who won't change or devil that truly is devil without turning sappy teenager in love. This one didn't disappoint me and I worship Tucholke for that. I'm aware how many complaints this book has gotten but I say, let them complain. There's as many interpretations as there's readers and I say this one is both worth time and money.

 

I firmly believe that love isn't unconditional and great if one of the characters needs to change for the other. It's conditional and makes love worthless. To love someone one has to accept the beloved ones flaws. That's why I liked Violet and River together - they accepted each other. Yes, River was almost devil himself and some say he was unlikable because of that. However, I was estatic: every promise the backcover made were true. I praise Tucholke for that!

 

The book was full of wonderful and insightful quotes. Tucholke's writing style was something I needed to get used to for a couple of chapters but after that it was beautiful, enchanting and downright stunning.

 

Twisted, insightful characters was not all this book was full of. No, there was patient, interesting and depth owning characters as well. Tucholke created a beautiful, detailed setting for a deep characters that will steal your soul - more or less literally.

I cannot wait for the sequel, Between the Spark and the Burn!

 

5 of 5 stars.

 

“Lots of people have bad stories, and if they wail and sob and tell their story to anyone who’ll listen, it’s crap. Or half crap, at least.The stuff that really hurts people, the stuff that almost breaks them . . . that they won’t talk about. Ever.”

 

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea on Goodreads.