"If you can dream it, you can be it."

I was intrigued enough by the synopsis for me to "wish for it".

Between Me and You is told from a dual POV and with past and present passages. It tells the story of Ben and Tatum. How they fell in love and how they lost each other.

Tatum Connelly is an aspiring actress who is a bartender at a New York bar when she meets Ben Livingston for the first time. He's a scriptwriter who seems to be going places. After all, he has the right connections. A bet is involved and at the end of the night, Ben leaves without Tatum's number. In part, because he has a girlfriend, Amanda. When he breaks it off with Amanda, Tatum invites him to spend New Year's Eve on Time Square. Ben agrees and the rest is history.....NOT.

Fast forward a couple of decades and Ben and Tatum are now separated and a divorce is imminent. From here the author takes us to the past to let us know what happened to their love from Ben's perspective while we get Tatum's POV in chronological order.

I had high expectations for Between Me and You. Unfortunately, I can't say that I loved it. I was disappointed by the characters, the all-over-the-place chapters, and the cookie-cutter ending. I still can't understand Ben's behavior and the reasons he uses for justifying his cheating. Worse, he was unfair to Amanda in a big way too. On the other hand, Tatum was an interesting character. She was able to forgive her father and deal with her grief in a healthier way. I just thought she forgave Ben too easily.

I do want to mention that the chapter which dealt with 9/11 was very well written. It brought back my own feelings during this awful tragedy.

Cliffhanger: No

2.5/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Lake Union Publishing via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I always enjoy books that alternate story tellers, but this was a first in that one perspective is moving forward, while the other is going backward. It was a unique twist. This book was a bit heartbreaking, but very raw and real. I think I will find myself thinking of these characters as days go on.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC for my Kindle.
A easy read about a couple who meet, marry, split up, abs get back together. No surprises...

All the ways that love goes wrong, then all the ways it corrects itself. When you stop seeing each other and begin to see the other in all their faults and vulnerabilities.


A love story that is magnified of its vulnerabilities in the backdrop of Hollywood. Tatum a rising star that rose to the top with her husband Ben's writing. A part that was made for her. Tatum has acted all her life. As a coping mechanism, she gets in her roles and becomes her roles. Her husband Ben sees thru her and the past she has overcome. Ben has his own issues with a overbearing father. Never good enough to be enough. Love begins to fall apart when insecurities become what drives the other.

With their own voices, you hear their pain, insecurities, failures and their own triggers that affect their relationships. Tatum with her alcoholic father. Ben dealing with the loss of his father and the responsibility he feels with his drug addict brother. Together, they begin to drift apart driven by secrets and coping with reality.

A raw look at being vulnerable in a sense that love needs to be seen in the ugly and the good. To take the ugly and make something beautiful. Ben and Tatum each tell their story in full circle that can be confusing and at times exhausting but love always comes full circle. A never ending circle.

Caution: Strong language (true Hollywood backdrop)
Surprisingly the sex gauge is low.

A Special Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

This book was just not for me. It seemed repetitive and rather drear.

<i>Between Me and You</i> is a real, raw depiction of what it looks like when two people who love each other stop being vulnerable and honest with one another--ultimately shutting down communication completely. More times than not, however, in "real" life when individuals reach the level of disconnect that the characters found themselves in throughout the novel it's virtually impossible to repair the relationship.

The author's method of non-linear storytelling was difficult to follow at times, but overall this novel was well written.

I really enjoyed this book! Told from 2 different perspective of a marriage that started strong but fell apart. Lots of ups and downs.

I really enjoyed the set up of this book. You have two narrators and and two timelines, which could have been messy but was well done. One timeline is past to present and the other present to past. It really adds to the story to see each perspective and it doesn't feel like you're hearing the same story twice. Rather you see two totally different perspectives making each story feel unique.

Fair warning I would not consider this a love story. Love is a theme, yes, but the real focus is around how people and relationships change and how we deal with that. The characters were well written - both had redeeming and not so redeeming qualities. Even at the points that you despised one of them they were redeemed by having their own admissions of guilt or wrong doing.

While this is not my normal type of read I am so glad I read it. It really exposes how we impact our own relationships and how hard it is sometimes to admit and accept faults.

f you’re like me, you don’t like fluffy fic. And if you’re like me, you also prefer your romance fiction to be on the edgier, darker, angstier side.

Well you’re in luck. These books are anything but sweet and schmoopie, and I guarantee they’ll appeal to the anti-sappy reader in you.

Fire Sermon by Jamie Quatro: In this tale of a thorny affair, Quatro has figured out how to combine mesh erotic love with the spiritual. Maggie, a writer, mother, and wife who finds herself yearning for a grand passion and a better understanding of God, begins a passionate extramarital relationship with James, a poet who has many of the same unsettling questions. Maggie will find herself on the edge of desire, betrayal and faith as she tangles between her feelings for James and her deep devotion for her family. Grove Atlantic

The Long Deception by Mary McCluskey:Are our memories of youth accurate? Or do we only remember the good and filter out the bad? In McCluskey’s story, Alison Eastlake is caught between her past and present when her childhood friend Sophie commits suicide. Obligated to go back home to face the many questions that arise, Alison must also confront the attraction she still feels for Sophie’s brother Matt, which pushes her closer towards a reckless affair. Little A/Amazon Publishing

The Days When Birds Come Back by Deborah Reed: Trying her best to stay sober while putting her life back together after a painful divorce, June returns to the place where she grew up, hoping that this connection with her childhood will help heal her wounds. When she meets Jameson, a man that is perhaps as broken as she is, June must decide if she dares risk her heart one more time. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Dreaming in Chocolate by Susan Bishop Crispell: Don’t let the smores-by-the-campfire title fool you. Bishop Crispell’s heroine Penelope Dalton hasn’t had it easy. Although running a lovely hot chocolate cafe in the company of her mother is close to idyllic, Penelope is afraid she won’t be able to give her daughter won’t she wants the most: her biological father who is in town for only a few days, and as it happens, has no idea he has a daughter. St. Martin’s Griffin

Between Me and You by Allison Winn Scotch: A charmed marriage is interrupted by ambition and fame in this Hollywood-set novel. Ben Livingston and Tatum Connelly meet unexpectedly while struggling with their careers as a screenwriter and actor. Years of a happy marriage lead to resentment and distance when Tatum’s star rises while Ben’s slowly slumps, making their relationship teeter on the edge of separation and remembering what brought them together all those years ago. Lake Union Publishing

My Last Love Story by Falguni Kothari: Desai’s novel will surely make you ponder the question: what would I do? Simi Desai’s life is upended when her husband is diagnosed with cancer. At only thirty Simi feels she’s losing the most important thing in her life, but is in for a shock when her husband tells her he has two last wishes in his final months: first, that she’ll have his baby so that a piece of him lives on, and second, that she’ll reconcile with her old flame, who just happens to be their mutual best friend. Over the course of their last summer together, Simi’s husband is determined to prove to Simi that it’s okay to move on without him, and even find love again. Graydon House

The Music Shop by Rachel Joyce: The year is 1988, and on a run-down suburb in London there is a small music shop with records of every variety imaginable. Frank, the shop’s owner, knows exactly what music customers need as soon as they come into his store. But one day, Ilse Brauchmann enters his store and his life, and eventually asks Frank to teach her about music. Scared of any kind of connection, Frank doesn’t know whether to run or take a real risk, while Ilse is not really who she says she is. Will music bond them together, or fuel their fears instead? Random House

Say My Name by Allegra Huston: Eve has always settled for the safest option, afraid to experience the unknown. She’s married safely, has an ordinary life. But in the wake of a betrayal, she finds herself wanting more. When she one day goes antique hunting for a friend, she finds a rare instrument, carved with twining vines. This sets her on a journey, and into the path of a much younger man who happens to be the son of an old love. Eve is astounded when she finds herself deeply attracted to him, and is even more surprised when he pursues her with bold determination. But can a connection between two very different people last? And can she ever go back to she used to be? Will she even want to? Harlequin

I like the book even though I am a little conflicted about this story and times I got a little lost with the switching in timelines as it was written in different points of views from the characters in different time frames. I also didn't feel as connected to the characters as I like to in a book. All in all if your a romance fan ( I am not really and not sure how this book got in my que) you should love it!

I have to say that I really struggled with this. The back and forth of timelines was quite confusing for me and I had a hard time knowing what was when.

My thanks to netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for this advanced readers copy.

almost didn't read the book when I knew infidelity played a part in the story. I'm glad I decided to read in spite of that. The book was a good read. The going back and forth in time was a little annoying in that sometimes I had to go back to look at what year we were in for the particular chapter.

I read an ARC from Netgalley and voluntarily leave this review.

An entertaing read, even though I felt a little disconnected to the characters. I liked the non-linear storytelling and felt compelled to keep reading well into the night. This is the type of book that I think would translate well into a movie, for sure.

Everything began when Tatum met Ben. Young, aspiring, full of dreams and doubts, they’ve embarked on the journey of adulthood together. But that journey brought them not only closer, but also further, not only success and stardom, but also grief and betrayal.

Tatum Connelly is a barmaid and an actress-in-progress, studying at the prestigious Tisch. A small-town girl with big ambitions and past she’s trying to escape from, Tatum has only one goal in life that would make up for all the disappointments and upset that she had to go through growing up. She wants to be an actress, but not just any actress – the best one. Yet back then she didn’t realize that it would come up with the a cost.

Ben Livingston is an aspiring scriptwriter at Tisch, whose childhood was very much different from that of Tatum. Instead of having to work at younger age, he had all the time for himself to pursue the dreams his father laid our for him. But both Ben and Tatum had one thing in common (besides the shared feeling of loss that glued them together) – the drive to leave the path others have chosen for them. The life they’ve built together is nothing, but cheerful and calm. Loss, grief, blame, guilt, ups and downs followed them throughout. And yet throughout they’re given with multiple choices and opportunities to figure it out, keep trying to repair themselves and move on.

I enjoyed the more realistic depict of the Hollywood lifestyle – not so glamorous from within. All the fame and endless resources didn’t have the same appeal as we’d think judging by the outside. Ben and Tatum’s lives weren’t easy and I couldn’t help, but cheer for them, hoping they find a way towards one another like they used to do before, quiet their pride and resentment, and forgive themselves.

The story is interesting and told in two perspectives that are not aligned in time. Some might find the structure confusing, but I found it interesting. Just like Allison Winn Scotch has said in her acknowledgment – she knew she had to break the pattern of traditional structured novels. If you like reading contemporary fiction that gives you an emotionally-charged glimpse of complex relationships, this one is for you.

Requested additional information by the publisher:
-- Name of the publication/blog/outlet where your review will be published/posted - An Afterthought: Books & Reviews
--Run date for when the review will be posted/published - 08/02/2018
--A link to your review, if available, so Lake Union Publishing can share your review - link is provided int he Link section, but you can also access it from here: https://afterthoughtbooksandreviews.wordpress.com/2018/02/08/between-me-and-you-a-journey-of-forgiveness-and-moving-on/

I have kindly received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing in exchange of a fair review.

The premise was an interesting one and certainly different, not only two POVs but also writing one forward and the other backward. I did get confused at times and wanted them in the same year and that was frustrating. I did not like Ben, he was ok if it was all about him but when Tatum starts to shine he seems to sulk. I am not sure that he grew or learned anything from this experience.

Love Allison Winn Scotch's novels...especially her latest. A thought provoking story...well written and real. I have shared this novel w/ all of my reading friends. Five Stars.

Allison Winn Scotch is one of my favorite authors -- I really enjoy her books because they're smart chick lit/women's fiction. They have really well-developed characters and realistic plots, and usually end up being something I can relate to. I've been looking forward to reading this one for a long time, and since I received it long before its publication date, had been hoping to read it sooner before life intervened.

I am a little conflicted about this one, however. I respect that Winn Scotch doesn't produce a new book every year (although I wish that were possible while still maintaining the quality she brings to each book.) But with this one, I ultimately felt like it was trying too hard to write the plot backwards. It was hard for me to remember all the details, or build up any steam as I read. It was a clever way to present the plot, and I'm sure required a lot of skill, but I started wishing the chapters were on 3x5 cards, so I could just rearrange them and read the book in order. And I just loathed Ben as a character. While Winn Scotch (and Tatum) went to great lengths to explain why he was the way he was, I just couldn't root for him all that much, or even understood why Tatum ever loved him. (The "I see you" just wasn't enough to explain it for me.)

But lest it sound like I'm being really harsh or hated the book, I gave it 4 stars, because I think that many people, especially those who are not already Allison Winn Scotch fans already, might really like this book, and appreciate the cleverness of having the plot unfold backwards more than I did. They might even feel more sympathy and less antipathy towards Ben. So don't let my review dissuade you from reading it should you feel inclined to otherwise. Because it is a very good book -- it was just not as good for me personally as I generally expect Allison Winn Scotch books to be.

I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Really great. What a romance story. However the book felt really long and reparative and confusing due to the changing dates.

As someone who is not a huge fan of women’s fiction romances, this book was a very pleasant surprise. The synopsis is fairly straightforward: two people fall in love in their mid-20’s, but tragedy, success and failure tear holes in their once strong relationship. Tatum recounts their story in chronological order, while Ben’s perspective is shared in reverse.

For the first third or so of the book, I wasn’t sure that I was going to care for this story either, but something changed my mind.

I think that something was the characters. While the dual perspectives of Ben and Tatum were sometimes hard to follow and some situations were a bit repetitive when told from both sides, it also gave me so much more insight into the characters. Where it would be easy to see either as the “bad guy” in their relationship struggles, seeing both sides gave me sympathy for them both and let me further tap into their emotions and thoughts.

Thank you to Netgalley for a free ARC of this book in return for my honest review.

This book somewhat ripped my heart out, held it, and played with it a bit while I read. At the beginning, I enjoyed that the story jumped around, but as it continued, it was just too confusing for me to lay everything out without giving myself a headache. That was my only dislike about this book. It took me weeks to read it and I still felt like I may have missed something in my confusion. Although I felt the chapters were necessary, well written, and added much-needed depth and understanding to the story – my brain just couldn’t handle it.
I loved Tatum and Ben. They were very well written characters that were so different, but honestly so perfect for each other. I loved that their love story wasn’t without fault and heartache. It was the most wonderful, not-so-perfect fairy tale. It was honest and believable. I especially loved how they met and hearing it from different perspectives. I love how they came to find each other and that Ben followed through on his ‘gift’ to Tatum.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this book. It’s the sweetest love story I have read in a long time. BUT——> You’ll need Kleenex (and probably some chocolate and ice cream) to get through the heartbreaking parts! If your brain can’t handle the disjointed timeline, either hold off until you have the time to slowly piece it together or take detailed notes!