YA Review - Inbetween by Tara Fuller

“Inbetween” is a refreshing new story that lacks the ever present vampires, werewolves and fairies. It is instead, a look into the world of reapers, both heavenly and otherwise, whose job it is to take the soul to its final resting place. “Inbetween” isn’t a story about faith or religion. It’s a look into the lives of reapers who have to make the tough call day after day under trying conditions.

17 year old Emma’s life hasn’t exactly been peaches and crème over the past two years. She’s lost her father and ended up confined to a mental hospital after being diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic for thinking that someone was out to get her. While nice and interesting enough, Emma was a little on the blasé side until Finn comes along and explains that she’s not crazy, and that yes, there is someone after her for something he did 17 years ago.

Emma is this books broken heart that needs mending. I'm not saying that Emma hasn't gone through a lot therefore doesn't need a little TLC and lots of hugs. Nobody in their right mind can truly understand loss and how it can devastate your well-being, and leave you a shell of your former self. Emma's coup de grace is that Finn cares more about her than his own life and would do nearly everything to ensure that Emma’s stalker doesn’t succeed.

When it comes to Finn, I can't help but grin like a buffoon. Finn is a reluctant reaper who was given the job he never really wanted. He does everything in his powers to keep Emma unharmed and away from her stalker’s rampage at the danger of ending up in a dark place where souls are tortured on a daily basis.

Finn is one of the best new characters that you will read about. I absolutely loved Fullers storytelling and character building when it came to understanding why Finn cares so much about Emma and would risk ending up in Hell to be with her. I won’t spoil the ending for anyone, but, I will say that readers will be pleasantly surprised at what happens.

Inbetween gets inside both Finn and Emma's heads. This time around, I didn't mind the duality of the competing POV's. Sometimes you need to have two POV's in order to allow you more access to the characters themselves and what they are thinking at the time and what they are dealing with as well.

I actually found myself enjoying this book more than I thought I would. The secondary characters like Cash, Amaya, Scout, and Easton kept things interesting and the story flowing. Obviously, there is more to be said about Cash's future, and would not be surprised if the next book was about Cash and his new struggles. Cash slowly grew on me over the course of this book in both his actions, and his genuine caring for Emma. I think Cash is Emma’s only real friend.

*Recvd via Netgalley 07/18/2012* Expected publication: August 28th 2012 by Entangled Teen

Title - InBetween
Author - Tara Fuller
Publisher - Entangled Teen
Releases - August 28, 2012