Between Here and Forever

Seventeen-year-old Abby is struggling in the aftermath of her sister Tess's car accident, which has left Tess in a coma. Convinced that everyone prefers her perfect older sister, Abby becomes fixated on finding ways to wake Tess up. At the hospital, Abby encounters Eli, a boy who works there and seems immune to Tess's beauty and charm. Abby recruits Eli to help with her plan to revive Tess, but their time together forces her to confront truths about both her sister and herself. The narrative explores the complexities of sibling relationships, self-worth, and the stories we tell ourselves about who we are. Through Abby's journey, the book examines how family dynamics and perceptions can shape identity, and what it means to step out of someone else's shadow.

Readers found this book dealt realistically with grief, sisterly relationships, and self-worth issues. The protagonist's flaws and emotional struggles resonated as authentic, though some felt her character development moved too slowly. Liked: - Natural dialogue and interactions between characters - Accurate portrayal of small-town life - LGBTQ+ representation without making it the main focus - Complex family dynamics Disliked: - Repetitive internal monologue - Slow pacing in middle sections - Main character described as frustratingly negative - Resolution felt rushed to some readers Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon: 3.8/5 (40+ ratings) "The protagonist's self-hatred became exhausting," noted one Goodreads reviewer. Another praised how the book "captures the messiness of grief without neat solutions." Several readers mentioned connecting with the accurate depiction of living in someone else's shadow, though some found the theme overemphasized.

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🌟 Author Elizabeth Scott wrote her first novel, "Bloom," while working full-time as a technical writer. 📚 The book explores complex themes of identity and self-worth through the lens of a sibling relationship, specifically focusing on how people can live in the shadow of a "perfect" family member. 💫 The main character's journey mirrors many real psychological studies about "sibling comparison," a phenomenon where individuals measure their worth against their siblings' perceived success. 🏥 The hospital setting in the novel was inspired by Scott's own experiences visiting loved ones in long-term care facilities. 🎯 The title "Between Here and Forever" was chosen to represent the liminal space between accepting who we are and who we think we should be, reflecting the main character's emotional journey.