What do you think?
Rate this book
The Girl in Between #2
The Boy In Her Dreams
When Roman wakes from a six month coma, the first thing he sees is the girl of his dreams. Except Bryn isn’t confined to the dream-state anymore and neither is he. He’s awake and alive and as the memories of how he and Bryn fell in love come rushing back, so do the memories of why he’s lying in that hospital bed in the first place.
Plagued by guilt, Roman makes a decision that alters both their fates and as Bryn fights for her life in a German hospital, Roman must fight for her forgiveness before it’s too late. Because Roman and Bryn weren’t the only things to wake out of Bryn’s dreams. The shadows seem to be hunting them both and a strange side effect of Roman’s miraculous recovery may be the only means of stopping them. That is, if he can reach Bryn before she slips too deeply into the very dreams that seem to be imposing more and more on their waking lives every day.
Plagued by guilt, Roman makes a decision that alters both their fates and as Bryn fights for her life in a German hospital, Roman must fight for her forgiveness before it’s too late. Because Roman and Bryn weren’t the only things to wake out of Bryn’s dreams. The shadows seem to be hunting them both and a strange side effect of Roman’s miraculous recovery may be the only means of stopping them. That is, if he can reach Bryn before she slips too deeply into the very dreams that seem to be imposing more and more on their waking lives every day.
393 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 31, 2014
221 people are currently reading
1494 people want to read
About the author
Laekan Zea Kemp
27 books597 followersLaekan Zea Kemp is a writer living in Austin, Texas. Her debut novel, Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet was a 2022 Pura Belpré Honor Recipient. She has three objectives when it comes to storytelling: to make people laugh, cry, and crave Mexican food. Her work celebrates Chicane grit, resilience, creativity, and joy while exploring themes of identity and mental health.
Find her on social media @LaekanZeaKemp
http://www.laekanzeakemp.com/
Find her on social media @LaekanZeaKemp
http://www.laekanzeakemp.com/
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 135 reviews
August 26, 2015
3.25 Rogue Stars
Definitely not as good as the first one because this delves more into the paranormal aspect. I liked the first book because it was more believable in what could actually happen.
I did like the whole Roman/Bryn relationship problems.
Definitely not as good as the first one because this delves more into the paranormal aspect. I liked the first book because it was more believable in what could actually happen.
I did like the whole Roman/Bryn relationship problems.
June 12, 2015
Did not love :-(
What I liked!
Roman relationship with his loving italian grandparents, and rebuilding his relationship with his dad during a hard-fought recovery following being paralyzed.
So i would say a solid 4 stars for first third of book.
What I didnt like..
Didnt enjoy any of the new characters, and the move away from real life issues of book 1 (abandonment, chronic illness, isolation) into generic PNR 'every one has powers' territory.
Thought the world building was greart in the first one but it lost it for me here, the 'Rogues' didnt connect with me, the villains werent well defined, felt like we were 'told' everything rather than 'shown',
By end I was just like..
BUT this might just be my opinion... and I LOVED the first (Review Here book so definately still consider picking it up !
What I liked!
Roman relationship with his loving italian grandparents, and rebuilding his relationship with his dad during a hard-fought recovery following being paralyzed.
So i would say a solid 4 stars for first third of book.
What I didnt like..
Didnt enjoy any of the new characters, and the move away from real life issues of book 1 (abandonment, chronic illness, isolation) into generic PNR 'every one has powers' territory.
Thought the world building was greart in the first one but it lost it for me here, the 'Rogues' didnt connect with me, the villains werent well defined, felt like we were 'told' everything rather than 'shown',
By end I was just like..
BUT this might just be my opinion... and I LOVED the first (Review Here book so definately still consider picking it up !
July 23, 2020
3.5 Stars
Full Review:
If you're considering starting this series, you might want to check out my review of Book 1 since it covers certain things that I'm not going to repeat in this review.
The reason I love series so much is because they're more than the sum of their parts. And when I first read these books, I felt that the first was good but that the second had the potential to be not only great but also completely heart-wrenching (to be fair, those two words are basically synonymous to me). And holy crap was I right.
By 8% I already had tears falling down my face---and I'm not a crier. The revelation that *SPOILER* *END SPOILER* sucker punched me; I just wasn't ready for that, if you can ever be ready for that.
By 11% I was crushed. Roman's emotions ran so much deeper and so much more painful than I was expecting, and him saying what he said to Bryn was terrible for both of them which meant it was doubly terrible for me, the reader, who was feeling things from both their perspectives.
By 17% I didn't even know what I was feeling because everything in the story was just going to hell (in the best possible way when you're a reading masochist like me). All the parts about Roman's emotions, how he felt about his mother's death, how broken he felt both mentally and physically, his relationship with his father and his grandparents, his feelings for Bryn---geez. I don't even have words. But man, this author can write. It wasn't just that the writing itself was good, but also that she was able to grasp and create and portray the emotions Roman was feeling, the depth of them, the intricacies of them, the confusion of them, the way they all sprouted from the different things that had happened in his life and tangled together and bloomed into new emotions that all threatened to strangle him... It was incredible. And the way he thought and felt, it's something I never would've considered or understood had I just been looking in from the outside, so getting to be inside his head gave me such a completely different perspective on things.
Then there was Bryn and the way her KLS was getting worse, because that was tough too, reading about it, putting myself in her shoes, feeling her emotion over losing Roman, losing her hope, losing her future, losing her dreams, and losing her life (I don't mean literal death, so don't worry, that wasn't a spoiler).
But then, around 50%, things changed, and the heart-wrenching quality went away. I'm not going to say the book went completely downhill after that---I'll discuss the things I disliked in a moment---because, even though it got less heart-wrenching, it somewhat made up for that with lots of twists and turns I didn't see coming. And the mood was still dark. And the writing was still beautiful (though maybe a bit too flowery sometimes). And the characters were still developed. Not to mention Roman went through a major character arc.
The real problem was that the second half of this book was when things started to make less sense. The paranormal aspects constantly changed and seemed to get more random with seemingly no sort of rules as to how things worked. There was even a kind of time travel aspect involved which further confused things.
The first time I read this I also struggled with all the of new characters introduced, I sometimes had trouble keeping track of the passing of time because Roman and Bryn kept getting separated or just going off and doing different things, and I felt that the second half in general was kind of hectic, but I didn't have any of those problems the second time reading (even though it had been a while and I didn't remember much), so those things may or may not be a problem for others. And anyway, that might've been the point, to make the reader feel that chaos that Bryn and Roman were feeling.
Also, whereas the first book and the first half of this one were focused on Bryn and Roman and their lives and relationship, the second half became broader in scope and really wasn't about romance or their normal lives anymore.
So this book did have some confusing paranormal stuff, but it also had lots of emotion, darkness, insight into different perspectives, and beautiful writing and was overall a book that I enjoyed!
*I’ve read this book multiple times. This review was written after my 2nd read.*
Reread Ratings:
3.5 Stars (1st Read – 2015)
3.5 Stars (2nd Read – 2016)
Recommended For:
Fans of Books 1 in Laekan Zea Kemp's The Girl in Between Series. Anyone who likes dark paranormal fantasy and character development and doesn't mind changing paranormal aspects and an open-for-interpretation ending. Anyone who wants to read an amazingly realistic portrayal of chronic illness (in Books 1 and 2).
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
Full Review:
If you're considering starting this series, you might want to check out my review of Book 1 since it covers certain things that I'm not going to repeat in this review.
The reason I love series so much is because they're more than the sum of their parts. And when I first read these books, I felt that the first was good but that the second had the potential to be not only great but also completely heart-wrenching (to be fair, those two words are basically synonymous to me). And holy crap was I right.
By 8% I already had tears falling down my face---and I'm not a crier. The revelation that *SPOILER* *END SPOILER* sucker punched me; I just wasn't ready for that, if you can ever be ready for that.
By 11% I was crushed. Roman's emotions ran so much deeper and so much more painful than I was expecting, and him saying what he said to Bryn was terrible for both of them which meant it was doubly terrible for me, the reader, who was feeling things from both their perspectives.
It was burning there in her eyes, the kind of love that turns your insides into glass and the person you love into stone. Every word, every sigh, every pathetic sound I made had the potential to break her or keep her safe but when it came to the two of us, I couldn’t figure out how to do one without the other.
The lie I’d told Bryn was still there every time I swallowed. Like a shard of glass that I couldn’t quite get down and every time someone asked me how I was feeling or how I was doing and I was forced to give the answer that would spare their heartache, I could feel it throbbing there, getting bigger.
By 17% I didn't even know what I was feeling because everything in the story was just going to hell (in the best possible way when you're a reading masochist like me). All the parts about Roman's emotions, how he felt about his mother's death, how broken he felt both mentally and physically, his relationship with his father and his grandparents, his feelings for Bryn---geez. I don't even have words. But man, this author can write. It wasn't just that the writing itself was good, but also that she was able to grasp and create and portray the emotions Roman was feeling, the depth of them, the intricacies of them, the confusion of them, the way they all sprouted from the different things that had happened in his life and tangled together and bloomed into new emotions that all threatened to strangle him... It was incredible. And the way he thought and felt, it's something I never would've considered or understood had I just been looking in from the outside, so getting to be inside his head gave me such a completely different perspective on things.
Then there was Bryn and the way her KLS was getting worse, because that was tough too, reading about it, putting myself in her shoes, feeling her emotion over losing Roman, losing her hope, losing her future, losing her dreams, and losing her life (I don't mean literal death, so don't worry, that wasn't a spoiler).
But then, around 50%, things changed, and the heart-wrenching quality went away. I'm not going to say the book went completely downhill after that---I'll discuss the things I disliked in a moment---because, even though it got less heart-wrenching, it somewhat made up for that with lots of twists and turns I didn't see coming. And the mood was still dark. And the writing was still beautiful (though maybe a bit too flowery sometimes). And the characters were still developed. Not to mention Roman went through a major character arc.
The real problem was that the second half of this book was when things started to make less sense. The paranormal aspects constantly changed and seemed to get more random with seemingly no sort of rules as to how things worked. There was even a kind of time travel aspect involved which further confused things.
The first time I read this I also struggled with all the of new characters introduced, I sometimes had trouble keeping track of the passing of time because Roman and Bryn kept getting separated or just going off and doing different things, and I felt that the second half in general was kind of hectic, but I didn't have any of those problems the second time reading (even though it had been a while and I didn't remember much), so those things may or may not be a problem for others. And anyway, that might've been the point, to make the reader feel that chaos that Bryn and Roman were feeling.
Also, whereas the first book and the first half of this one were focused on Bryn and Roman and their lives and relationship, the second half became broader in scope and really wasn't about romance or their normal lives anymore.
So this book did have some confusing paranormal stuff, but it also had lots of emotion, darkness, insight into different perspectives, and beautiful writing and was overall a book that I enjoyed!
*I’ve read this book multiple times. This review was written after my 2nd read.*
Reread Ratings:
3.5 Stars (1st Read – 2015)
3.5 Stars (2nd Read – 2016)
Recommended For:
Fans of Books 1 in Laekan Zea Kemp's The Girl in Between Series. Anyone who likes dark paranormal fantasy and character development and doesn't mind changing paranormal aspects and an open-for-interpretation ending. Anyone who wants to read an amazingly realistic portrayal of chronic illness (in Books 1 and 2).
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
January 8, 2021
You know, I read this book because I was still curious as to the answers of everything going on in the first book. But the more it was explained, the less engaged I was. They're not bad answers per se, but not as interesting as I was hoping for. I liked the ambiguity of the first book. Even at the end it wasn't totally clear if this was a magic/supernatural thing going on. It probably was, but it could have just been depression, suicidal thoughts, or something like that. Now it's explained that it's basically a black and white magic system with chosen ones and protectors, and evil forces, and… I just lost more and more interest. By the end the book it had lost all grounding in the normal world. It just felt like a very different story. Fine, but not what I was looking for. Don't feel any burning need to continue the series further.
October 23, 2020
Wtf??? Wtf, Roman?!
January 1, 2018
I loved it. I love the author's writing style and the characters she has created. Bryn and Roman are great and I'd loved learning more about each of them. I was disappointed when Roman didn't say he recognised Bryn, but it didn't hinder the story and it was great seeing him patch up his relationship with his dad and find out more about himself. The story flows effortlessly. It's different and something new compared with all the other YA books out there and I think that's why it appealed to me. Bryn is a strong character who's not afraid to go it alone if she has to. We watch her grow in this book as the evil darkness and shadows get stronger too. Can't wait to delve into book 3.
August 16, 2015
It was good and had a similar tone but there were so many things to keep up with it got confusing. Sometimes when a character would be imagining something there would be no change in tone or font so a lot of pages I had to read three times because I didn't know what was happening. But I'm so invested in Roman that now I have to see what happens next!
July 13, 2018
Not enjoying this one as much. Has taken a bit of a super hero turn whereas it was kind of more paranormal before.
Whole host of new characters who I don't really care for.
Ploughing on to book 3...
Whole host of new characters who I don't really care for.
Ploughing on to book 3...
April 13, 2016
At first, I picked this book up just because it was free. I didn't expect to get sucked into it as much as I did. I absolutely loved it!
November 5, 2015
Not as good as the first. The second half just seemed to try and do too much.
January 2, 2017
Twists and turns. Lots of suspense.
March 16, 2016
I was a fan of the first book in the series. I thought that it was refreshingly different in a pile of YA novels that for the most part seem to be exhaustingly similar. While that still holds true for the sequel, The Boy in Her Dreams, it was too much for me. There were too many problems that were thrown at these poor characters. Nothing was truly resolved at the end – everyone was either sad or dead, or in Bryn’s case kind of both.
On the bright side, for those people who thought that the first book was a little slow, the action picked up in the sequel. You find out more about what Bryn’s illness really means and what the shadows are, and you also learn more about what Roman is, which is some kind of super strong immortal guy who throws fireballs out of his hand. Intriguing, right?
Not really.
That could be something cool for the second book to focus on, but instead it throws that piece of information at you in the midst of a bunch of other craptastic events. Let’s take a look at just some of the problems/curveballs that come up:
I mean, there are cliffhangers and then there’s this, which is just a hang from someplace so high that we can’t even see it from the moon, let alone the Earth.
The worst part about all of it?
I’ve lost interest and no longer care enough to read the third book. After the slower pace of the first book and the slow pace of the first half of this one, I could not enjoy the sudden action in every paragraph and the soap opera-like endings to each chapter.
Final Rating: 2.5 stars (rounded up solely for Roman’s sake)
In fact, just to prove that Roman is the saving grace of this series, I’ll leave you with this overly sappy yet extremely endearing quote:
On the bright side, for those people who thought that the first book was a little slow, the action picked up in the sequel. You find out more about what Bryn’s illness really means and what the shadows are, and you also learn more about what Roman is, which is some kind of super strong immortal guy who throws fireballs out of his hand. Intriguing, right?
Not really.
That could be something cool for the second book to focus on, but instead it throws that piece of information at you in the midst of a bunch of other craptastic events. Let’s take a look at just some of the problems/curveballs that come up:
I mean, there are cliffhangers and then there’s this, which is just a hang from someplace so high that we can’t even see it from the moon, let alone the Earth.
The worst part about all of it?
I’ve lost interest and no longer care enough to read the third book. After the slower pace of the first book and the slow pace of the first half of this one, I could not enjoy the sudden action in every paragraph and the soap opera-like endings to each chapter.
Final Rating: 2.5 stars (rounded up solely for Roman’s sake)
In fact, just to prove that Roman is the saving grace of this series, I’ll leave you with this overly sappy yet extremely endearing quote:
“And looking at her now, I knew the same thing I’d always known—that we were made for each other. Not in the superficial way that soul mates can spot each other in a crowd. But in the way that one soul split in two will travel eons, endlessly, in pursuit of putting itself back together. Because when we’d touched I’d felt more than immortal. I’d felt more than awake. I’d felt whole.”
May 16, 2019
The Boy In Her Dreams (The Girl In Between : Series Book 2)by Laekan Zea Kemp
This novel continues from the end of the first novel and this review contains my review of that novel with a small amount about this novel added to the end.
-------
I can't claim to be a great fan of some series that include certain elements and this one could easily fall into that category. On the other hand I have to admit that the cover intrigued me; though it did almost put me off, because I rarely read horror fiction and this had that feel to it. As usual I read the sample, which was quite adequate this time and I recommend that anyone taking an interest in this series read the sample. For this reader the sample nailed it for me because of the good crisp writing style and the excellent character development. I've read a few paranormal fictions and this one might fall within that category as well as horror and the first book definitely has less elements of horror, though as the series progresses it seems to dip further and further into a dark sense that's tainted with horrific elements. In reading the sample I think that the thing to keep in mind is that the writing style and pace remain the same, which means that if you get easily hooked by the first book then you'll most likely enjoy the first three books and like the rest of us you'll be impatiently waiting for the Forth and possibly final book of the series. Still I must add the warning that this goes on my growing list of books that I love and hate at the same time and that is mostly tied with the Cliff-hanger-ish-ness of the endings.
With that in mind my suggestion for anyone hooked by the sample would be to buy the three as though they were one very long book. Since there is little value in buying the bundled version, which is the same price as all three books separately, I'd go with the three separate because that dispels some of the reality that as one piece they are a huge and perhaps epic volume. As separate novels it at least fosters the illusion of reasonable size. Because book one and two are clearly cliffhangers I have a hard time resolving them down to individual pieces. Honestly speaking the third novel also is cliff-ish in nature, but it has a specific unique flavor to it that would allow it to exist as an ending that allows the reader a wide range of personal thought about the whole.
To get to the story about Bryn:In the first book; The Girl In Between; I have to admit that I had some reservations about the main character making use of a debilitating disease such as KLS, Klein-Levin Syndrome, as a main plot point although it does bring to mind Elizabeth Moon's The Speed of Dark in, which she has a main character who suffers autism and that was handled quite well. Both books tend to be about how the main character fights just for some small bit of normality in their life. The main difference might be that in this story it becomes clear that there might be something more going on with the main character and that it might not be KLS at all.
The story starts during one of Bryn's episodes where she sleeps for long periods of time. As it opens she's in her dream world alone as usual, but this time something, someone washes onto the beach and into her dream. A boy who has nearly drown ;and she brings him back to the brink of life just before she returns to her real life. This is the beginning of the most unusual part of book one with the mystery boy in her dreams who has no name or memories and for all intent and purpose could easily just be one more figment of her strange dreams. The dreams themselves are something that falls just outside the lines of the usual symptoms of the syndrome, but there is no mistaking that Bryn often falls to sleep for periods longer than a few days and is likely suffering something that has symptoms similar to KLS.
Book one is mostly the story of Bryn and her family as they struggle to create a normal life for Bryn. Bryn is a teen in her final year of high school and is hoping to go to college. But with the episodes still occurring and the possibility that they could be with her well into her thirties, things are looking bleak. All she wants is to be normal and to lessen the burden on her family. It is not until late into book one that the boy in the dreams and the nature of the dreams begin to become a catalyst driving the story toward the darker and more horrific elements to show up in the next book. Still without the horror there is something compelling about the authors handling of the story that drove this reader on through to the end. And though the ending is not quite complete I felt compelled to continue with reading into book two.
Book one is a good, well written, YA fantasy that addresses some of the issues of the debilitating disease and how it affects not just the patient but the whole family that surround her. It's also a novel that this reader had to pay particular attention to the many details because it was too easy to lose the way and have to check back to unravel some of my own confusion.
Though I managed to finish all three novels in one and a half days of reading over the weekend, it may take most readers a bit longer than that; but as I mentioned, if you're hooked by the sample then the rest of the writing should keep you hooked right through to the end of the third book.
In book two the story begins to dip deeply into world building as Bryn and Roman come to terms with the struggles in their own lives while uncovering the truth about the illness that has for so long mimiced KLS. This novel also begins delving into the darker side of what might be described as a Paranormal Horror as Bryn's struggle moves from trying to be normal to trying to survive. Though Bryn and Roman have some natural bond formed between them, their lives and pasts are creating a gulf that leaves them to fight their battles separately. Bryn has a possibility of help from a duo of doctors who are researching, not just the KLS but something quite similar to what she has experienced. One of the doctors lost his daughter to something similar and has promised not to let that happen to Bryn, but in this story we will find that there are many players with their own agenda and Bryn will soon find out she has few people she can trust.
The writing remains solid in this novel that should pique the interest of those who love paranormal and the elements of the horrific. But even for those who find the genre out of their sphere of interest the writing is compelling enough to draw any reader into the story. So much so that even with the second cliffhanger ending I had to continue on to see where Laekan Zea Kemp was taking all of this.
J.L. Dobias
This novel continues from the end of the first novel and this review contains my review of that novel with a small amount about this novel added to the end.
-------
I can't claim to be a great fan of some series that include certain elements and this one could easily fall into that category. On the other hand I have to admit that the cover intrigued me; though it did almost put me off, because I rarely read horror fiction and this had that feel to it. As usual I read the sample, which was quite adequate this time and I recommend that anyone taking an interest in this series read the sample. For this reader the sample nailed it for me because of the good crisp writing style and the excellent character development. I've read a few paranormal fictions and this one might fall within that category as well as horror and the first book definitely has less elements of horror, though as the series progresses it seems to dip further and further into a dark sense that's tainted with horrific elements. In reading the sample I think that the thing to keep in mind is that the writing style and pace remain the same, which means that if you get easily hooked by the first book then you'll most likely enjoy the first three books and like the rest of us you'll be impatiently waiting for the Forth and possibly final book of the series. Still I must add the warning that this goes on my growing list of books that I love and hate at the same time and that is mostly tied with the Cliff-hanger-ish-ness of the endings.
With that in mind my suggestion for anyone hooked by the sample would be to buy the three as though they were one very long book. Since there is little value in buying the bundled version, which is the same price as all three books separately, I'd go with the three separate because that dispels some of the reality that as one piece they are a huge and perhaps epic volume. As separate novels it at least fosters the illusion of reasonable size. Because book one and two are clearly cliffhangers I have a hard time resolving them down to individual pieces. Honestly speaking the third novel also is cliff-ish in nature, but it has a specific unique flavor to it that would allow it to exist as an ending that allows the reader a wide range of personal thought about the whole.
To get to the story about Bryn:In the first book; The Girl In Between; I have to admit that I had some reservations about the main character making use of a debilitating disease such as KLS, Klein-Levin Syndrome, as a main plot point although it does bring to mind Elizabeth Moon's The Speed of Dark in, which she has a main character who suffers autism and that was handled quite well. Both books tend to be about how the main character fights just for some small bit of normality in their life. The main difference might be that in this story it becomes clear that there might be something more going on with the main character and that it might not be KLS at all.
The story starts during one of Bryn's episodes where she sleeps for long periods of time. As it opens she's in her dream world alone as usual, but this time something, someone washes onto the beach and into her dream. A boy who has nearly drown ;and she brings him back to the brink of life just before she returns to her real life. This is the beginning of the most unusual part of book one with the mystery boy in her dreams who has no name or memories and for all intent and purpose could easily just be one more figment of her strange dreams. The dreams themselves are something that falls just outside the lines of the usual symptoms of the syndrome, but there is no mistaking that Bryn often falls to sleep for periods longer than a few days and is likely suffering something that has symptoms similar to KLS.
Book one is mostly the story of Bryn and her family as they struggle to create a normal life for Bryn. Bryn is a teen in her final year of high school and is hoping to go to college. But with the episodes still occurring and the possibility that they could be with her well into her thirties, things are looking bleak. All she wants is to be normal and to lessen the burden on her family. It is not until late into book one that the boy in the dreams and the nature of the dreams begin to become a catalyst driving the story toward the darker and more horrific elements to show up in the next book. Still without the horror there is something compelling about the authors handling of the story that drove this reader on through to the end. And though the ending is not quite complete I felt compelled to continue with reading into book two.
Book one is a good, well written, YA fantasy that addresses some of the issues of the debilitating disease and how it affects not just the patient but the whole family that surround her. It's also a novel that this reader had to pay particular attention to the many details because it was too easy to lose the way and have to check back to unravel some of my own confusion.
Though I managed to finish all three novels in one and a half days of reading over the weekend, it may take most readers a bit longer than that; but as I mentioned, if you're hooked by the sample then the rest of the writing should keep you hooked right through to the end of the third book.
In book two the story begins to dip deeply into world building as Bryn and Roman come to terms with the struggles in their own lives while uncovering the truth about the illness that has for so long mimiced KLS. This novel also begins delving into the darker side of what might be described as a Paranormal Horror as Bryn's struggle moves from trying to be normal to trying to survive. Though Bryn and Roman have some natural bond formed between them, their lives and pasts are creating a gulf that leaves them to fight their battles separately. Bryn has a possibility of help from a duo of doctors who are researching, not just the KLS but something quite similar to what she has experienced. One of the doctors lost his daughter to something similar and has promised not to let that happen to Bryn, but in this story we will find that there are many players with their own agenda and Bryn will soon find out she has few people she can trust.
The writing remains solid in this novel that should pique the interest of those who love paranormal and the elements of the horrific. But even for those who find the genre out of their sphere of interest the writing is compelling enough to draw any reader into the story. So much so that even with the second cliffhanger ending I had to continue on to see where Laekan Zea Kemp was taking all of this.
J.L. Dobias
December 12, 2024
3.5⭐️ I read this book when I was younger and couldn’t remember it so I decided to reread it. It was more enjoyable than I expected but there was times I felt like the storyline seemed rushed. Book 1 went from real-life based issues to the 2nd book being completely paranormal. A thing I did like is how the emotions of the characters were expressed. I loved Bryn and Roman’s relationship back then and I still do !
October 16, 2024
This was an easy read, the story was okay and enjoyable.
The main issue i had was the editing throughout the series was shocking! there were sentances/thoughts left unfinished and spelling mistakes everywhere.
The main issue i had was the editing throughout the series was shocking! there were sentances/thoughts left unfinished and spelling mistakes everywhere.
May 17, 2020
I’m enjoying this series. I like how the writer is developing the characters and the story. Bryn and Roman. On to book 3 now, let’s see what in store for me.
April 25, 2022
Absolutely love this book. The series has grabbed my attention from the very beginning and I haven’t been able to put it down!! Highly recommend.
Want to read
March 13, 2024IF ANYONE CAN FIND THIS BOOK PLEASE TELL ME I NEED TO FIND IT
January 22, 2025
This happens so rarely that I like a sequel more than the previous part.
December 11, 2024
Determined to finish this series even though it is BREAKING ME INTO PIECES
Y'all if you can find it, please read. It's disappeared off the face of the earth, and the only reason I'm able to read now is I had it downloaded on my Kindle app years ago
Y'all if you can find it, please read. It's disappeared off the face of the earth, and the only reason I'm able to read now is I had it downloaded on my Kindle app years ago
January 13, 2015
I was so excited to have the opportunity to read The Boy in Her Dreams, the second book in the The Girl In Between series, to find out more of what happens to Bryn and Roman, to finally get some answers to my questions. Laekan Zea Kemp does not disappoint.
The book starts out right where the first book ends, and you can already tell that the dynamic and chemistry between the two main characters, Bryn and Roman, are just as potent as in the first. Now, however, they are no longer in the dream world where they met, they are in the real world and real world issues play a huge role in their story. Roman has just woken up from a six month coma, a car crash putting him there, and he has to start from the beginning: learning how to talk, move his arms and hands, legs and feet. Bryn still has her KLS to deal with, graduation, and an impending trip to Germany to have more tests done on her disease. Roman soon realizes his legs are paralized and he doesn't think he is the same guy Bryn got to know in dream world, the boy with no memory, and so he cruelly sends her away.
Bryn moves on with her life, yet with a broken heart, and Roman works to get control back over his body. Bryn goes to Germany and soon her strange symptoms start to return, seeing the future, fighting against the shadows. Roman starts to get the feeling back in his legs, but he soon starts to develop strange abilities. He realizes the mistake he made in sending Bryn away and races after her. Together again, they meet new people, people with Bryn's abilities, and people with Roman's, realizing they aren't alone and it wasn't the KLS causing everything.
A whole new world emerges of Rogues, Dreamers, and Demons, and Bryn and Roman realize the shadows of before were not the only ones and they are again fighting for their lives and the lives of others. It won't be an easy fight, the line between friends and enemies blurred by desperation and longing.
This is such a brilliant story and I tried not to give away too many spoilers and ruin the book for anyone wanting to read it. There is so much more involved in this second story, so many questions answered, though I must admit, I have many new ones waiting to be answered. The imagery is just as good as in the first book, the real world and the many different places visited in the dream. You get a closer look at the family dynamics of both Bryn and Roman, and you, as the reader, develop a relationship with each character, invested in their lives because Kemp created such memorable and loving characters. They evil characters, “baddies” are just as developed and you feel the pain and anger of them as well. Kemp is a wonderful storyteller.
The story is written from both Bryn's and Roman's first person points of views, as is the first book. And I love that in each chapter you get to hear their voices, understand their thoughts. Kemp makes it easy to follow them, never confusing the two because each has such a different personality.
I will admit, I did not like the ending to this story as well as the first. They both leave you jumping in your seat for the next book, but this one is more confusing, less clear on exactly what happened.
I cannot wait for the next book in this series, to jump back into the harrowing adventure Bryn and Roman have ahead of them and to find out what other dangers and discoveries Kemp has put in their path.
One Last Thought: As mentioned above, the ending was a bit confusing. I couldn't tell who survived in the end, and even the last line of the book left me saying, “huh?”
Also, something I forgot to mention in the first book review, there is a lot of cussing in these stories, many many “F-bombs” dropped. If a younger teen or preteen were interested in reading this, I would recommend reading it first or waiting till they are a bit older. Nothing against it, but in a movie, this would be R-rated just for the language.
My Favorite Thing About This Book: Roman and Bryn's realization that this was all much bigger than just them and the dream world they met in. Realizing how much deeper the story goes, transcending the dream world into the real one.
First Sentence: First there was her voice, a stray thin thing I couldn't hold onto.
Favorite Character: Bryn
Least Favorite Character: Michael
The book starts out right where the first book ends, and you can already tell that the dynamic and chemistry between the two main characters, Bryn and Roman, are just as potent as in the first. Now, however, they are no longer in the dream world where they met, they are in the real world and real world issues play a huge role in their story. Roman has just woken up from a six month coma, a car crash putting him there, and he has to start from the beginning: learning how to talk, move his arms and hands, legs and feet. Bryn still has her KLS to deal with, graduation, and an impending trip to Germany to have more tests done on her disease. Roman soon realizes his legs are paralized and he doesn't think he is the same guy Bryn got to know in dream world, the boy with no memory, and so he cruelly sends her away.
Bryn moves on with her life, yet with a broken heart, and Roman works to get control back over his body. Bryn goes to Germany and soon her strange symptoms start to return, seeing the future, fighting against the shadows. Roman starts to get the feeling back in his legs, but he soon starts to develop strange abilities. He realizes the mistake he made in sending Bryn away and races after her. Together again, they meet new people, people with Bryn's abilities, and people with Roman's, realizing they aren't alone and it wasn't the KLS causing everything.
A whole new world emerges of Rogues, Dreamers, and Demons, and Bryn and Roman realize the shadows of before were not the only ones and they are again fighting for their lives and the lives of others. It won't be an easy fight, the line between friends and enemies blurred by desperation and longing.
This is such a brilliant story and I tried not to give away too many spoilers and ruin the book for anyone wanting to read it. There is so much more involved in this second story, so many questions answered, though I must admit, I have many new ones waiting to be answered. The imagery is just as good as in the first book, the real world and the many different places visited in the dream. You get a closer look at the family dynamics of both Bryn and Roman, and you, as the reader, develop a relationship with each character, invested in their lives because Kemp created such memorable and loving characters. They evil characters, “baddies” are just as developed and you feel the pain and anger of them as well. Kemp is a wonderful storyteller.
The story is written from both Bryn's and Roman's first person points of views, as is the first book. And I love that in each chapter you get to hear their voices, understand their thoughts. Kemp makes it easy to follow them, never confusing the two because each has such a different personality.
I will admit, I did not like the ending to this story as well as the first. They both leave you jumping in your seat for the next book, but this one is more confusing, less clear on exactly what happened.
I cannot wait for the next book in this series, to jump back into the harrowing adventure Bryn and Roman have ahead of them and to find out what other dangers and discoveries Kemp has put in their path.
One Last Thought: As mentioned above, the ending was a bit confusing. I couldn't tell who survived in the end, and even the last line of the book left me saying, “huh?”
Also, something I forgot to mention in the first book review, there is a lot of cussing in these stories, many many “F-bombs” dropped. If a younger teen or preteen were interested in reading this, I would recommend reading it first or waiting till they are a bit older. Nothing against it, but in a movie, this would be R-rated just for the language.
My Favorite Thing About This Book: Roman and Bryn's realization that this was all much bigger than just them and the dream world they met in. Realizing how much deeper the story goes, transcending the dream world into the real one.
First Sentence: First there was her voice, a stray thin thing I couldn't hold onto.
Favorite Character: Bryn
Least Favorite Character: Michael
February 18, 2015
Originally posted at: http://ethpages.blogspot.com/2015/02/...
*Thank you so much to the author for sending me a copy of this book! **
The thing that carried this book were the characters. OMG THE GROWTH OF THESE CHARACTERS <3. I was actually a little bit wary about the whole separation thing ("I need to protect her etc etc") because that seemed a little cliche, but I ended up LOVING it. The separation honestly helped them to grow. We get to see these characters (esp. Roman, who had immense character development yay!) independent of one another (which we hadn't really seen before), and because of that, we also get to see different sides of them. It was the little things, like the emotions of the characters or Roman's adjustment and his past, that truly made this book. And I loved how we get to see these characters in such a realistic setting, because despite it being a fantasy, it reminds us these characters are human too. In fact, I sort of felt the first half of this book was like a contemporary novel, rather than fantasy- and even without the fantasy aspect, I thought this series as a whole could stand pretty well (more on that later). Can I just say how I LOVED that this book didn't have disappearing parent syndrome? It was nice to see the relationship between father and son (complex because of the past, but also mending), and mother and daughter. Again, these are the little things that I really loved about the book.
Now the plot, I was a little iffy on. As a whole, I thought the plot was pretty good. It was fast-paced (maybe a little bit too fast?), and it was really unique (an Olive Oyl in a sea of Betty Boops? Can't remember where I read that from, but I love Olive Oyl xD ). However, I started getting lost at some parts (esp. towards the end), and there were a couple of places where I thought the logic leaped a little too soon. I think this had to do with how there was so much action crammed into one book (with revelations shooting up especially towards the end of the book). If you even skim a little bit of the book, you'll get lost. I didn't, and I still was a little lost by the end (which hints at a third book??? :D). But even with the confusing bits, it was still enjoyable because a) once you start piecing it together, it's like WHOA ^0^ and b) the writing was REALLY strong. There were a few places where I thought the writing was a little awkward, but as a whole, I really loved the writing; at some parts, it gave me chills.
I thought the world building was lacking, though, and there was an info dump in the book (which was where I mostly thought the logic was shaky). I mean, I was happy that my questions were answered (because the build-up to the actually revelations was SO GOOD), but at the same time, I didn't like how the information about the Dreamers and such were just handed to us like that. Also, there was a TON of cursing in this book. Whenever it was Roman's point of view, the F word was used A LOT- and I think that's the only curse word used. I personally do not like cursing, and I honestly thought that that wasn't necessary.
If you take out the fantasy parts, this book would have made a great contemporary novel. I thought the fantasy bits were sort of a background thing in the first book, and, for the most part, this book as well. What really shined through were the characters, their growth, and their relationships. The fantasy aspect didn't really start kicking until the middle half of the book (which I think contributed to the info dump), and it just made me confused.
But overall, it was a nice read, especially because of the characters. Can't for the next book!! ;)
(And can I just say I thought it was so cute how Roman marked his toes? ;) )
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
*Thank you so much to the author for sending me a copy of this book! **
The thing that carried this book were the characters. OMG THE GROWTH OF THESE CHARACTERS <3. I was actually a little bit wary about the whole separation thing ("I need to protect her etc etc") because that seemed a little cliche, but I ended up LOVING it. The separation honestly helped them to grow. We get to see these characters (esp. Roman, who had immense character development yay!) independent of one another (which we hadn't really seen before), and because of that, we also get to see different sides of them. It was the little things, like the emotions of the characters or Roman's adjustment and his past, that truly made this book. And I loved how we get to see these characters in such a realistic setting, because despite it being a fantasy, it reminds us these characters are human too. In fact, I sort of felt the first half of this book was like a contemporary novel, rather than fantasy- and even without the fantasy aspect, I thought this series as a whole could stand pretty well (more on that later). Can I just say how I LOVED that this book didn't have disappearing parent syndrome? It was nice to see the relationship between father and son (complex because of the past, but also mending), and mother and daughter. Again, these are the little things that I really loved about the book.
Now the plot, I was a little iffy on. As a whole, I thought the plot was pretty good. It was fast-paced (maybe a little bit too fast?), and it was really unique (an Olive Oyl in a sea of Betty Boops? Can't remember where I read that from, but I love Olive Oyl xD ). However, I started getting lost at some parts (esp. towards the end), and there were a couple of places where I thought the logic leaped a little too soon. I think this had to do with how there was so much action crammed into one book (with revelations shooting up especially towards the end of the book). If you even skim a little bit of the book, you'll get lost. I didn't, and I still was a little lost by the end (which hints at a third book??? :D). But even with the confusing bits, it was still enjoyable because a) once you start piecing it together, it's like WHOA ^0^ and b) the writing was REALLY strong. There were a few places where I thought the writing was a little awkward, but as a whole, I really loved the writing; at some parts, it gave me chills.
I thought the world building was lacking, though, and there was an info dump in the book (which was where I mostly thought the logic was shaky). I mean, I was happy that my questions were answered (because the build-up to the actually revelations was SO GOOD), but at the same time, I didn't like how the information about the Dreamers and such were just handed to us like that. Also, there was a TON of cursing in this book. Whenever it was Roman's point of view, the F word was used A LOT- and I think that's the only curse word used. I personally do not like cursing, and I honestly thought that that wasn't necessary.
If you take out the fantasy parts, this book would have made a great contemporary novel. I thought the fantasy bits were sort of a background thing in the first book, and, for the most part, this book as well. What really shined through were the characters, their growth, and their relationships. The fantasy aspect didn't really start kicking until the middle half of the book (which I think contributed to the info dump), and it just made me confused.
But overall, it was a nice read, especially because of the characters. Can't for the next book!! ;)
(And can I just say I thought it was so cute how Roman marked his toes? ;) )
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
January 13, 2015
If you haven't read book 1, DO NOT READ THIS REVIEW.
The Boy in Her Dreams starts right where book one ended. So now that Roman has awakened things should be easy and everyone should be happy, don't they? Well... let's say that shit just got real.
Once Roman takes what it looks like not only a selfish but the most stupid decision in the world, Bryn accelerates her journey to Germany. (Of course, after she sleeps for eight weeks. Crazy as it sounds it helps to move time in a faster way). The minute she and her mother set foot in Germany is when the real story begins.
This change of scenario permits new events in unknown locations, not only for us but for the characters. Put great and interesting people in a strange land and the result will be good.
This book has a dual POV, it alternates chapters between Roman and Bryn. For me it was an excellent choice made by the author. The change allows us to see where each one is and how they live the absence of the other.
Roman grows as a character. Now we really get to know him and we witness how he deals with hard times. Also it was good to see that he is not perfect at all. Bryn continues being an awesome girl. This time she has to face even bigger danger and she starts to realize that there is a whole complete world that involves her and her gifts (dreaming and all).
Their relationship matures and it's amazing how well they fit together. They have really good scenes and they're so good that you start to feel sorry for them. They have to live so many drama and threat that it feels unfair.
This book has a stronger paranormal element than the first book. Due to the mix of the shadows, the dreams, the walking between dream and reality as two separate entities, it creates a world were nothing is what it seems. There are different people, each one with their own agenda which creates a lot of conflicts, secrets and action.
As for the new characters I liked the addition of Sam, a sweet and innocent young girl who knows more than her age might allow.
This installment has the same writing style as the first and its quality is really good. The dream state is still powerful and intriguing. And agian... the emotions are super palpable.
However, the book loses half a star on my ranking for one tiny detail. There was one particular character that turned up being too obvious, I mean if you read a lot (like myself) it was clear what his or her intentions were.
And... we have a cliffhanger AGAIN. It may seem a bit confusing but if you pay close attention you will understand perfectly what the author meant by those final lines.
*** I received a complimentary copy in exchange of an honest review. ***
The Boy in Her Dreams starts right where book one ended. So now that Roman has awakened things should be easy and everyone should be happy, don't they? Well... let's say that shit just got real.
Once Roman takes what it looks like not only a selfish but the most stupid decision in the world, Bryn accelerates her journey to Germany. (Of course, after she sleeps for eight weeks. Crazy as it sounds it helps to move time in a faster way). The minute she and her mother set foot in Germany is when the real story begins.
This change of scenario permits new events in unknown locations, not only for us but for the characters. Put great and interesting people in a strange land and the result will be good.
This book has a dual POV, it alternates chapters between Roman and Bryn. For me it was an excellent choice made by the author. The change allows us to see where each one is and how they live the absence of the other.
Roman grows as a character. Now we really get to know him and we witness how he deals with hard times. Also it was good to see that he is not perfect at all. Bryn continues being an awesome girl. This time she has to face even bigger danger and she starts to realize that there is a whole complete world that involves her and her gifts (dreaming and all).
Their relationship matures and it's amazing how well they fit together. They have really good scenes and they're so good that you start to feel sorry for them. They have to live so many drama and threat that it feels unfair.
This book has a stronger paranormal element than the first book. Due to the mix of the shadows, the dreams, the walking between dream and reality as two separate entities, it creates a world were nothing is what it seems. There are different people, each one with their own agenda which creates a lot of conflicts, secrets and action.
As for the new characters I liked the addition of Sam, a sweet and innocent young girl who knows more than her age might allow.
This installment has the same writing style as the first and its quality is really good. The dream state is still powerful and intriguing. And agian... the emotions are super palpable.
However, the book loses half a star on my ranking for one tiny detail. There was one particular character that turned up being too obvious, I mean if you read a lot (like myself) it was clear what his or her intentions were.
And... we have a cliffhanger AGAIN. It may seem a bit confusing but if you pay close attention you will understand perfectly what the author meant by those final lines.
*** I received a complimentary copy in exchange of an honest review. ***
October 31, 2014
The boy in her dreams is the sequel to The Girl in between and follows the story of Bryn, a teenage girl who suffers from Klein-Levin Syndrome ( a disease that makes her sleep for long periods) and Roman, a boy who just woke up from coma.
This book starts off exactly were the previous left off. Roman has woken up from the coma and Bryn believes that things are finally looking better. But she couldn’t be more wrong. Roman may have woken up but he has changed. He’s no longer the boy Bryn met in her dreams. Roman is facing his own demons now and Bryn can’t do anything but wait for him. However, they both know that Bryn is running out of time. Her symptoms are getting worse forcing her to go to Germany to be part of an experimental cure for her disease.
Across the ocean, Roman realises his mistake too late. He should have never let Bryn leave like that. So, when Bryn’s uncle gives him the opportunity to fix his mistakes, Roman is happy to accept. Will the thruth set them free or rip them apart?
The boy in her dreams was insanely incredible. It was so interesting following their journey and it was quite a journey. I admired Bryn for her strength and Roman for his determination. They were both such strong characters. But so were and the secondary ones. Bryn’s mother has suffered so much yet she remained strong, calm and efficient for her daughter’s sake.
Moreover, I loved Dani, Bryn’s cousin and Felix, Dani’s boyfriend. Felix! Oh, Felix. What to say about him?! I think I might have liked him more than Roman. He was so sweet, charming, loving and protective! How could I not like him?! Anyway, Dani played a big role but I cannot say that I liked her that much in this book.
However, there were times that I got lost in the story. There were so many things going on at the same time that I truly lost the flow of the story. When things got quite normal again, it was much easier to follow the story. Besides that, everything else was great.
This book hid many secrets and it was very interesting unravelling them. There were many new characters and namy twists and turns. Watch out for the new characters! You never know who’s telling the truth.
Filled with action, suspense, romance, dreams and two incredible protagonists, The boy in her dreams will surely capture your attention.
Totally recommended!
*A copy was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review*
Posted on: http://sofialovesreading.blogspot.gr/...
This book starts off exactly were the previous left off. Roman has woken up from the coma and Bryn believes that things are finally looking better. But she couldn’t be more wrong. Roman may have woken up but he has changed. He’s no longer the boy Bryn met in her dreams. Roman is facing his own demons now and Bryn can’t do anything but wait for him. However, they both know that Bryn is running out of time. Her symptoms are getting worse forcing her to go to Germany to be part of an experimental cure for her disease.
Across the ocean, Roman realises his mistake too late. He should have never let Bryn leave like that. So, when Bryn’s uncle gives him the opportunity to fix his mistakes, Roman is happy to accept. Will the thruth set them free or rip them apart?
The boy in her dreams was insanely incredible. It was so interesting following their journey and it was quite a journey. I admired Bryn for her strength and Roman for his determination. They were both such strong characters. But so were and the secondary ones. Bryn’s mother has suffered so much yet she remained strong, calm and efficient for her daughter’s sake.
Moreover, I loved Dani, Bryn’s cousin and Felix, Dani’s boyfriend. Felix! Oh, Felix. What to say about him?! I think I might have liked him more than Roman. He was so sweet, charming, loving and protective! How could I not like him?! Anyway, Dani played a big role but I cannot say that I liked her that much in this book.
However, there were times that I got lost in the story. There were so many things going on at the same time that I truly lost the flow of the story. When things got quite normal again, it was much easier to follow the story. Besides that, everything else was great.
This book hid many secrets and it was very interesting unravelling them. There were many new characters and namy twists and turns. Watch out for the new characters! You never know who’s telling the truth.
Filled with action, suspense, romance, dreams and two incredible protagonists, The boy in her dreams will surely capture your attention.
Totally recommended!
*A copy was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review*
Posted on: http://sofialovesreading.blogspot.gr/...
December 17, 2014
This book was just as good as the first one, but I could not rate it more than three stars because the editing was subpar. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if no editing had been done at all. There were complete sentences that contradicted each other.
"Felix fell to his knees, rushing to tear it from her hands, but I pushed him aside."
I don't really see how Felix can rush to tear something from a girls hands if he's fallen to his knees. In the first book, Roman's full name was David Roman Santillo. In this one, apparently his middle name was Davide. With an "e". Things like this were scattered throughout the book and at first I could ignore it. But the more it happened, the more frustrated I got.
Also, I mentioned in my review of the first book that there were times when I knew the author was trying to paint a picture that just didn't turn out, and I realized why I felt that way: she uses way too many metaphors. Some of them worked, but some of them didn't. There were times where I would get incredibly confused about what was going on in a situation, and I'm sure this goes back to the fact that the editing was basically nonexistent as well as the fact that the author was trying to throw too much in one sentence than there really needed to be.
And what was with all of the F words? I'm not one to shy away from swearing and I barely noticed them in the first book, but this was just excessive. Especially since the F word is the only swear word they used.
I loved the book, though. I loved how the story progressed, how things changed so quickly and the explanations that only had more questions attached. I loved that a lot of new characters were introduced, but they all still felt individual and real. I love where this is going and I'm still going to run around recommending this series to everyone. I just wish that more effort had been put into cleaning this book up before it was published.
I can't wait for the next book!
"Felix fell to his knees, rushing to tear it from her hands, but I pushed him aside."
I don't really see how Felix can rush to tear something from a girls hands if he's fallen to his knees. In the first book, Roman's full name was David Roman Santillo. In this one, apparently his middle name was Davide. With an "e". Things like this were scattered throughout the book and at first I could ignore it. But the more it happened, the more frustrated I got.
Also, I mentioned in my review of the first book that there were times when I knew the author was trying to paint a picture that just didn't turn out, and I realized why I felt that way: she uses way too many metaphors. Some of them worked, but some of them didn't. There were times where I would get incredibly confused about what was going on in a situation, and I'm sure this goes back to the fact that the editing was basically nonexistent as well as the fact that the author was trying to throw too much in one sentence than there really needed to be.
And what was with all of the F words? I'm not one to shy away from swearing and I barely noticed them in the first book, but this was just excessive. Especially since the F word is the only swear word they used.
I loved the book, though. I loved how the story progressed, how things changed so quickly and the explanations that only had more questions attached. I loved that a lot of new characters were introduced, but they all still felt individual and real. I love where this is going and I'm still going to run around recommending this series to everyone. I just wish that more effort had been put into cleaning this book up before it was published.
I can't wait for the next book!
April 12, 2018
We got a great amount of character exploration for Roman as well as many other characters this installment. I really like that the author has allowed each aspect of the story to unfold with time and given each character a role in the development of the plot. We really got to know who Roman was as a person before going into a coma and meeting Bryn and man, he was a jerk. I really came to appreciate how he has changed for the better as he struggled with his recovery after the accident and waking up from a coma.
It was nice to see that Roman's life at home wasn't all sunshine and peaches before the accident and during recovery. His dad and him had a strained relationship before it happened and he was quite the asshole. Thankfully his recovery helped better the emotional gap between them a lot. Relationships are complicated and the way Roman and his dad portray just that is really something I appreciate.
Dani and Felix also get some time in this book. Their relationship is still on uncertain ground for various reasons. Dani and Felix are both nice people and do care very much for each other, but they still don't seem completely comfortable talking out their feelings. I'm really hoping they do in the next book.
The supernatural element of the story is definitely more prominent as each book goes on. We get actual information as to what Bryn and Roman are.
SPOILERS AHEAD
Bryn and Roman both learn that their strange experiences are not unique to them and actually run in their families. It really sucks that their situations have become way more complicated than they want them to be. Bryn's great aunt was haunted by shadows the way she is. Roman's mom may have even died due to her ties to her supernatural. By the end of the book, Bryn seems to have been lost to the dream world. I really do want to see how Roman deals with all of this weight on his own and how Dani and Felix help him out. Great book!
It was nice to see that Roman's life at home wasn't all sunshine and peaches before the accident and during recovery. His dad and him had a strained relationship before it happened and he was quite the asshole. Thankfully his recovery helped better the emotional gap between them a lot. Relationships are complicated and the way Roman and his dad portray just that is really something I appreciate.
Dani and Felix also get some time in this book. Their relationship is still on uncertain ground for various reasons. Dani and Felix are both nice people and do care very much for each other, but they still don't seem completely comfortable talking out their feelings. I'm really hoping they do in the next book.
The supernatural element of the story is definitely more prominent as each book goes on. We get actual information as to what Bryn and Roman are.
SPOILERS AHEAD
Bryn and Roman both learn that their strange experiences are not unique to them and actually run in their families. It really sucks that their situations have become way more complicated than they want them to be. Bryn's great aunt was haunted by shadows the way she is. Roman's mom may have even died due to her ties to her supernatural. By the end of the book, Bryn seems to have been lost to the dream world. I really do want to see how Roman deals with all of this weight on his own and how Dani and Felix help him out. Great book!
July 2, 2016
The Boy In Her Dreams is the second book in The Girl In Between trilogy and picks up right where book one ended.
I enjoyed this book as much as the first, and there was more involvement in the characters and plenty more drama and action. Many questions from the first book were answered and by the end of this book I had more, especially after the slightly confusing ending.
Once again, this book is wonderfully written. It’s so easy to read and hard to put down because the storyline is so intriguing and you just want to keep on reading to find out what happens next.
There is more of Bryn’s grandmother in this book, which I loved because I really liked her character in the first book, and we also see more of some of the minor characters from the first book, like Bryn’s friends Dani and Felix. There are new characters as well in this book that really help to develop the story. I really liked the relationship between Roman and Bryn in this book and I think it is quite a mature one for the most part which is quite refreshing to see in teen books.
In this book we are given more information about Bryn’s illness as well as being given more insight into Roman’s life before and after his accident. We also discover more about the shadows that Bryn sees and the plot becomes more complicated with the inclusion of demonic creatures, special abilities held by the characters, and messing around with the past, present and future. But nothing is as it seems in this book, and there are many exciting developments and surprises at every turn.
The book ended on a cliff hanger, as did the first book, and I can’t wait to begin reading the last book in the series. If you enjoyed reading the first book, you will love reading this one. Highly recommended.
I enjoyed this book as much as the first, and there was more involvement in the characters and plenty more drama and action. Many questions from the first book were answered and by the end of this book I had more, especially after the slightly confusing ending.
Once again, this book is wonderfully written. It’s so easy to read and hard to put down because the storyline is so intriguing and you just want to keep on reading to find out what happens next.
There is more of Bryn’s grandmother in this book, which I loved because I really liked her character in the first book, and we also see more of some of the minor characters from the first book, like Bryn’s friends Dani and Felix. There are new characters as well in this book that really help to develop the story. I really liked the relationship between Roman and Bryn in this book and I think it is quite a mature one for the most part which is quite refreshing to see in teen books.
In this book we are given more information about Bryn’s illness as well as being given more insight into Roman’s life before and after his accident. We also discover more about the shadows that Bryn sees and the plot becomes more complicated with the inclusion of demonic creatures, special abilities held by the characters, and messing around with the past, present and future. But nothing is as it seems in this book, and there are many exciting developments and surprises at every turn.
The book ended on a cliff hanger, as did the first book, and I can’t wait to begin reading the last book in the series. If you enjoyed reading the first book, you will love reading this one. Highly recommended.
May 10, 2017
Solid 4★ for the sequel of The Girl In Between
1) The sequel contains more fantasy and sci-fi elements than the first one. If you're not into this, then you probably won't like it. I already knew sci-fi becomes a huge role in the sequels of the first book, but if you're not prepared you might find it a bit... odd, I'd say. We were left with the knowledge Bryn isn't ill but somehow "gifted", in book 2 you'll realise it is a lot more than that.
2) The dream world, the different dreamers and their abilities, the shadows and everything around it is quite detailed and falls nicely together. The plot and dynamics change a bit, compared to book 1, and there were a few moments I was... well not bored, but... while I couldn't stop reading book 1, book 2 took longer. Some scenes felt stretched, as if the author tried to fill the pages.
3) While the author describes the friendship between Sam and Bryn quite detailed and nicely, it feels like she kind of forgets about the relationship between Roman and Bryn. The time they spend together is definitely less special and romantic compared to book 1 and sometimes I had the feeling they're more like best friends than lovers. Perhaps it was just me.
4) A couple of events were obvious and predictable, others quite shocking. Like I said, this sequel was a teeny, tiny bit less thrilling, but still a very nice read.
I'd definitely recommend it if you like Sci-Fi / Fantasy. If not, then this book as well as the third and fourth, will disappoint you.
1) The sequel contains more fantasy and sci-fi elements than the first one. If you're not into this, then you probably won't like it. I already knew sci-fi becomes a huge role in the sequels of the first book, but if you're not prepared you might find it a bit... odd, I'd say. We were left with the knowledge Bryn isn't ill but somehow "gifted", in book 2 you'll realise it is a lot more than that.
2) The dream world, the different dreamers and their abilities, the shadows and everything around it is quite detailed and falls nicely together. The plot and dynamics change a bit, compared to book 1, and there were a few moments I was... well not bored, but... while I couldn't stop reading book 1, book 2 took longer. Some scenes felt stretched, as if the author tried to fill the pages.
3) While the author describes the friendship between Sam and Bryn quite detailed and nicely, it feels like she kind of forgets about the relationship between Roman and Bryn. The time they spend together is definitely less special and romantic compared to book 1 and sometimes I had the feeling they're more like best friends than lovers. Perhaps it was just me.
4) A couple of events were obvious and predictable, others quite shocking. Like I said, this sequel was a teeny, tiny bit less thrilling, but still a very nice read.
I'd definitely recommend it if you like Sci-Fi / Fantasy. If not, then this book as well as the third and fourth, will disappoint you.
December 13, 2020
Engaging
I love these characters! Even the so called minor characters have life and character arcs.
The ending in this book, as in the first one, is satisfying but also impels me to read the next one. :)
I love these characters! Even the so called minor characters have life and character arcs.
The ending in this book, as in the first one, is satisfying but also impels me to read the next one. :)
January 3, 2016
I really wanted to like this book - but I guess the most I could hope for was not hating it. I got halfway through it the first day, and put it down in boredom - decided to finish it anyway instead of throwing it in the "meh, IDGAF"pile.
I liked but it didn't feel like it was completely thought out or explained in enough detail. That's probably just my preference, I'm much more into environment and mechanics than relationship building and rambling dialog.
Speaking of relationships and dialog, I really hated the characters relationships. Roman is supposed to be but he keeps traipsing off doing useless shit that doesn't develop the story at all and
And if I read another story where the main characters run into unnecessary peril because they are secretive to the ones close to them, and over-share with strangers I'm gonna lose my mind.
I like the concept of the story, but just disappointed with the delivery. Will not be reading book 3 :/
I liked but it didn't feel like it was completely thought out or explained in enough detail. That's probably just my preference, I'm much more into environment and mechanics than relationship building and rambling dialog.
Speaking of relationships and dialog, I really hated the characters relationships. Roman is supposed to be but he keeps traipsing off doing useless shit that doesn't develop the story at all and
And if I read another story where the main characters run into unnecessary peril because they are secretive to the ones close to them, and over-share with strangers I'm gonna lose my mind.
I like the concept of the story, but just disappointed with the delivery. Will not be reading book 3 :/
Displaying 1 - 30 of 135 reviews