Skip to content

RAYNE AND DELILAH'S MIDNITE MATINEE

Jeff Zentner

From the Morris Award-winning author of The Serpent King comes a contemporary novel about two best friends who must make tough decisions about their futures--and the TV show they host--in their senior year of high school.
With the end of senior year quickly approaching, Delia and Josie face tough decisions about their futures. Josie has been dreading graduation, as she tries to decide whether to leave for a big university and chase her dream career in mainstream TV. And Lawson, one of the show's guest performers, a talented MMA fighter with weaknesses for pancakes, fantasy novels, and Josie, is making her tough decision even harder. Scary movies are the last connection Delia has to her dad, who abandoned the family years ago. If Midnite Matinee becomes a hit, maybe he'll see it and want to be a part of her life again. And maybe Josie will stay with the show instead of leaving her behind, too. As the tug-of-war between growing up and growing apart tests the bonds of their friendship, Josie and Delia start to realize that an uncertain future can be both monstrous... and momentous. Jeff Zentner is the critically-acclaimed author of The Serpent King and Goodbye Days, which have both sold abroad widely. The Serpent King was named a New York Times Notable Book and an Amazon Best Book of the Year, and selected as a William C. Morris Award winner. In addition to writing, Jeff is also a singer-songwriter and guitarist who has recorded with Iggy Pop, Nick Cave, and Debbie Harry. He lives in Nashville with his wife and son.
Available products
Book

Published 2019-02-26 by Crown Books for Young Readers

Comments

[W]ill no doubt offer hope to readers who want to stay friends when posthigh school plans take them in very different directions.

Move over, John Green; Zentner is coming for you.

Zentner's quick?witted, charming characters tackle real?life issues with snappy dialogue and engaging levity.

Zentner nails his teen characters, their longings, and their motivations, and the first chapters are downright hilarious.

UK: Andersen Press ; Brazil: Companhia das Letras ; Turkish: Ithaki/Yabanci

A quirky fun, read that will give teens all the feels.

[A] heartfelt story of a friendship in transition, fueled by funny, rapid?fire dialogue.

As funny as it is bittersweet.

As in his award-winning The Serpent King (2016), Zentner packs a poignantly satisfying blend of wit and pathos, with lovable and unpredictable characters. The banter between the characters is smart and funny, and even the text messages capture full nuances of emotion. Readers looking for an unforgettable slice of small-town angst will love this one.

Anyone can break your heart--Jeff Zentner can also make you laugh out loud!