Review: Rayne and Delilah’s Midnite Matinee

Based on the title, this didn’t sound like my kind of book, about two girls who have a Creature Feature show on public access TV. But I loved this book about friendship, family, and life changes.

Rayne and Delilah’s Midnite Matinee by Jeff Zentner

Published on February 26, 2019 by Crown Books

Thanks to Crown for the eARC in exchange for a review

Every Friday night, best friends Delia and Josie become Rayne Ravenscroft and Delilah Darkwood, hosts of the campy creature feature show Midnite Matinee on the local cable station. But with the end of senior year quickly approaching, the girls face tough decisions about their futures. Josie has been dreading graduation, as she tries to decide whether to leave for a big university and chase her dream career in mainstream TV. And Lawson, one of the show’s guest performers, a talented MMA fighter with weaknesses for pancakes, fantasy novels, and Josie, is making her tough decision even harder. Scary movies are the last connection Delia has to her dad, who abandoned the family years ago. If Midnite Matinee becomes a hit, maybe he’ll see it and want to be a part of her life again. And maybe Josie will stay with the show instead of leaving her behind, too. As the tug-of-war between growing up and growing apart tests the bonds of their friendship, Josie and Delia start to realize that an uncertain future can be both monstrous…and momentous.

Review: Rayne and Delilah’s Midnite Matinee

I read (and loved) The Serpent King. I didn’t (and just couldn’t) read Goodbye Days. But I’m so glad I took a chance on this book because I found it completely charming, hilariously funny, and quietly moving.

Josie and Delia are best friends who co-host a show on public access cable. They dress up, camp it up, and discuss cheesy horror movies. Josie’s the natural on camera and dreams of a career in TV. Delia’s the film buff, something she shared with her dad, who left their family. It’s senior year and Josie’s trying to decide about college while Delia’s trying to track down her dad.

What I loved:

The friendship between the girls was so sweet and relatable. These are two best friends who, though they are different, try to support each other.

The romance – one of my most favorite kinds: the has-it-all-together, slightly tough girl who has no time for love and then falls hard for the most unlikely guy. (Think Dexter and Remy in Just Listen by Sarah Dessen.)

The humor. This was a really funny book that made me laugh out loud more than once. There was a subplot about a trip to Las Vegas Orlando – (Whoops. It really felt like Vegas…) that took a turn that was a little weird for me and also took the attention off the girls and onto being rescued by a guy. But that was my only tiny quibble with this book, which is one of my favorite 2019 books so far. Okay, my very favorite so far. It’s only March but this could be a book that’s tough to beat.

If you could use a funny, romantic book about friendship and life, definitely check this one out!