Rayne & Delilah’s Midnite Matinee is one of the most disappointing books I read in 2020. I thought this would be a five-star read; however, this book took a nose-dive halfway through. I rated this three stars on Goodreads. I’m curious to see what other readers felt about this book.

Josie and Delia host a TV show titled Midnite Matinee on TV Access. They have been filming the show for a while, but as their high school graduation comes closer, reality sinks in. Josie has dreams of starring on TV, while Delia wants to keep the horror show alive. Delia’s love of horror reminds her of her father, who abandoned her when she was young. Rayne & Delilah’s Midnite Matinee is a reminder of being young, dealing with heartbreak, and finding ways to heal after trauma.

The first half of the book was enjoyable to read. Delia is hands down my favorite character. She reminds me of how I was at that age. Delia’s love for horror is endearing, and I can tell how passionate she is about the show and the movies picked each week. Josie had to grow on me. She comes across as this spoiled, stuck-up girl, especially with how she treats Lawson. Josie grows as a person, but her story arc is predictable. I would have liked to see Josie do what she wants to do, versus following a path that’s put in front of her.

The book takes a left turn when Josie and Delia attend a horror convention in Orlando. This particular scene was uncomfortable to read. Josie and Lawson end up in a dangerous situation after they leave the convention. The situation itself seems to be over the top. After reading this scene, I was contemplating whether I wanted to finish the book. I linked my Goodreads review where I discussed this scene in more detail.

I’m glad I finished the book. Delia found her light at the end of the tunnel while Josie went off to college. I wish I had rented this from the library, so I didn’t have to pay for it. There were good qualities about the book, but I was majorly let down. This is a solid three-star read on Goodreads, but if I could give half ratings, I would probably drop it down to 2 1/2 stars. Rayne and Delilah’s Midnite Matinee is a horror-themed contemporary novel with a monstrous outcome.