Between the Lines by Tammara Webber

Between the Lines by Tammara Webber
Between the Lines #1
Release Date: February 14, 2013
Publisher: Razorbill
Source: Publisher
Goodreads Stars: 4
Rating: Enjoyable

Buy it: Amazon UK

Young actress Emma is starring in her first ever major film role, opposite well-known teen heart-throb Reid. The exclusive clubs, snapping photographers and screaming fans are all a normal part of life for Reid but it's all new to Emma.The other actors befriend her - and Graham in particular seeks her out - but Emma isn't sure she's really comfortable in this scene. Reid is also experiencing something new - girls throwing themselves at him is an everday occurrence but genuinely falling for his co-star? That's not what he expected to happen . . . - Goodreads

Between the Lines was my first venture into the new world of New Adult. I had been meaning to pick it up for a while due to the number positive reviews I have seen around Goodreads and the book blogosphere, so when I was offered a copy to review I jumped at the chance.

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed Between the Lines. From what I had heard about the New Adult genre, I didn't have the highest hopes, since I was expected under-developed characters and plot in order to make way for sex and drugs and booze. Fortunately, my initial feelings were totally off, and Between the Lines was packed with great characters and interesting subplots.


I really liked the main female protagonist, Emma. The book is told from her point of view, as well as Reid's (more on him later), with her parts taking up half of each chapter. In addition to her love interests and that whole plot, Emma was going through a lot in her personal life. She moved away from her best friend to shoot this movie, her step-mother was a controlling idjit who cared more about fame and networking with the rich and famous than Emma herself, and Emma's father just went along with it.

I loved the focus on the relationship between Emma and her father. It changed a lot in this book, and I'm really pleased with how things turned out. There was one emotional scene towards the end that made me cry, because I had been waiting a long time for it to happen.

Reid, the other protagonist, can GTFO. All he wanted to do was get in Emma's pants because they had ~chemistry on and off camera. He made it his goal to sleep with Emma, and their relationship (however brief) was full of manipulation on his part. I despised him. Sure, he was going through a lot at home, but so were all the other characters and none of them emotionally manipulated Emma because they saw her as a conquest. I was not okay with their relationship at all.

Graham, on the other hand, was fabulous. Graham can stay. This is another case of someone who was dealing with a lot, but still managed to be a decent person. I'm not a big fan of secrets, and Graham has a HUGE one, but I actually really liked how his storyline played out. We get his point of view in the second book, and I'm very excited because I LOVE HIM. He's adorable. And in my head he looks like Dylan O'Brien.

I must say, though, I really don't know why the New Adult genre is separated from Young Adult like it is. I guess it's partly a marketing thing, right? I mean, sure, the characters were having sex and partying and drinking a lot, but you get that in YA as well. Of course, in this particular case, Emma is college age, so I'm thinking that the age of your MC(s) plays a part. But still, I've read a few books with older protagonists in the YA genre and it worked just as well. Just... Why is New Adult a thing? Do we really need to categorise everything so minutely? I personally don't think it's necessary at all. I should probably read more within this category before I judge, though.

Overall I ended up really enjoying Between the Lines. It was a great character-driven book full of fun scenes and emotional moments. I'll definitely be reading the next book when it's out in the UK later this month! All I can say is that I need MORE GRAHAM in my life.