• Home
  • Book Reviews
  • Books
    • Monthly Wrap Up
    • Giveaways
    • Book Hauls
    • Events
  • Discussions
  • New Releases
  • Features
    • Top Ten Tuesday
    • Romance Thursdays
    • Movie Reviews
    • TV Series Reviews
    • Waiting on Wednesday
  • #LoveOzYA
    • OZYA Interviews
    • OZYA Reviews
  • About
  • Contact
Angel ReadsAngel Reads
  • Home
  • Book Reviews
  • Books
    • Monthly Wrap Up
    • Giveaways
    • Book Hauls
    • Events
  • Discussions
  • New Releases
  • Features
    • Top Ten Tuesday
    • Romance Thursdays
    • Movie Reviews
    • TV Series Reviews
    • Waiting on Wednesday
  • #LoveOzYA
    • OZYA Interviews
    • OZYA Reviews
  • About
  • Contact

Book Review: Between the Lives by Jessica Shirvington

Home Book ReviewsBook Review: Between the Lives by Jessica Shirvington

Book Review: Between the Lives by Jessica Shirvington

June 17, 2014 Posted by angelreads Book Reviews 3 Comments

cover45828-mediumBetween the Lives

Pages: 336 (paperback)
Publish date: August 7th 2014 (UK)
Publisher: Hachette Children’s Books, Orchard Books
ISBN: 140833173X
Purchase: Book Depository – Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU

The perfect life or the perfect love. You choose.

For as long as she can remember, Sabine has lived two lives. Every 24 hours she shifts to her ‘other’ life – a life where she is exactly the same, but absolutely everything else is different: different family, different friends, different social expectations. In one life she has a sister, in the other she does not. In one life she’s a straight-A student with the perfect boyfriend, in the other she’s considered a reckless delinquent. Nothing about her situation has ever changed, until the day when she discovers a glitch: the arm she breaks in one life is perfectly fine in the other.

With this new knowledge, Sabine begins a series of increasingly risky experiments that bring her dangerously close to the life she’s always wanted. But if she can only have one life, which is the one she’ll choose?

Between the Lives:

I received an e-copy of Between the Lives from Hachette Children’s Books, Orchard Books on Netgalley for review. This has in no way influenced my review.

I have wanted to read this book for ages, since it came out in Australia quite a while ago. But I never got the chance to get it so as soon as I saw it was available on Netgalley I jumped and I am so glad I did.

This book was just so good. I didn’t know what to expect reading this, as I had never really read anything like it before, and I enjoyed it so much. Like Sabine, I struggled with what world I thought she would live in. There were so many faults in both, that it was hard to decide which world she belonged in.

In one world she was rich, had the ‘perfect’ boyfriend and friends. She was doing pretty okay, but she wasn’t happy. She didn’t have the best family.

You said you wanted someone to know you. Maybe I just want to have someone know me too. Without you in this world, the memories of every moment we’ve shared together will be gone. We only exist because others see us. Part of my existence…an important part, only exists because you are here to see it.

In her other life, her family is just doing the best they can. They are making it work and she have very few friends. But she has a loving sister and, even though she doesn’t have that many, she has good friends.

Going back and forth day by day. Living one day in one world then living the same in the next, was a really interesting concept to read about and defiantly kept me reading.

I really enjoyed Sabine. I found her very interesting. She was strong in a different way than other characters that I read. She was strong mentally and she didn’t even realise it. She had to live these two lives, two very different lives and keep up with everything. After something big happens with one family she feel betrayed by them, and you know what I would do, I would feel angry. I really felt Sabine’s emotions a lot throughout the novel. They just gave me this connect to the book that was really intense of sorts.

I enjoyed Jessica’s writing. It was really emotional, real and just straight to the point. It didn’t go on pages upon pages explaining something. She creates such an interesting storyline that you cannot put the book down.

Falling in love with you only made those choices more complicated and I feared that you might choose to stay for me and then, after I was gone, change your mind. I couldn’t let that happen.

I really enjoyed Ethan. He was mysterious and so charming at the same time. I just couldn’t stop smiling at the things he said, especially towards the end of the book. Ethan and Sabine were just so cute.

Sabine’s rich life in Between the Lives? Yes, she got things, but she wasn’t happy. I didn’t like her so called ‘perfect’ boyfriend from the start. He just got on my nerves so much throughout the book.

The ending of Between the Lives was just so powerful. It definitely left a mark. Between the Lives was bursting a punch with its beautiful characters and moving story that will leave you like it did me: with a permanent impression.

The beautiful writing style of Jessica Shirvington and the characterisation of her characters Between the Lives unravels you in such a compelling way that you will be hanging for more. You will want everyone to read it.  It is just simply beautiful and breathtaking.

Rating

 

Have you reading Between the Lives? Did you like it? Are you looking forward to reading it?

Like this:

Like Loading…

Related

3 Comments
Share

3 Comments

Leave your reply.
  • Francoise
    · Reply

    June 18, 2014 at 5:10 PM

    I really want to read this book. It sounds soooooo goood and your review has just confirmed it. I love books that have two different choices, that’s why I love Pivot Point so much. (If you haven’t read that btw you HAVE to) I also love it when you’re torn between the two because both lives has it’s pros and cons. Great review, I have to somehow read this!

    Loading...
  • Vivienne
    · Reply

    June 23, 2014 at 11:10 PM

    I love this book so much. She wrote it really beautifully, sad but still happy and hopeful. and ohmygosh Ethan <3

    Loading...
  • Ebony @ Paperbacks & Protagonists
    · Reply

    June 28, 2014 at 9:18 PM

    After reading your fantastic review and briefly talking about this book today, I definitely have to pick this book up sooner or later. 🙂

    Loading...

Leave a Reply

Your email is safe with us.
Cancel Reply

Recent Posts

  • Books Covers With Typography That I Love | TTT
  • New To Me Authors I Loved in 2025
  • My Favourite Reads of 2025
  • Most Anticipated Books Releasing in the First Half of 2026
  • Slow but an Okay August | Monthly Wrap Up

Subscribe to Angel Reads

Enter your email address to subscribe to Angel Reads and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Bookstagram

angelreads

book blogger 💻| romance books 💜| bookseller 📖
💌 angel@angelreads.com
📚46/150

my ten before the end 📚 I can’t before it’s alrea my ten before the end 📚

I can’t before it’s already October and so close to the end of the year. Which means it’s time to wrap up my reading. 2026 hasn’t been my best reading year but I want to try and finish it off with as many books as I can! 

What books are you hoping to read before the end of the year? 

Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins 
Beautiful Broken Redemption by Catherine Cowles 
The Keeper by Ana Huang 
The Poison Daughter by Sheila Masterson
Alma Vampires by Elena Armas
Long Song by Elle Kennedy 
The Last King of Faerie by Cassandra Clare 
Hate You to Love You by Joshua Hortinela
Game Misconduct by Ari Baran 
In Stormy Weather by Chelsea Curto 
🏷️ 
#romancebooks #bookstagram  #angelreads  #spicybooks #10beforetheend
💀 spooky season romance reads 💀 It’s spooky seaso 💀 spooky season romance reads 💀

It’s spooky season and do you know the best thing to do in October as a reader? Oh read a romance book that is perfect for the season. 

Here are some of my spooky romance reads that I think are perfect to read this month: 

In the Dark by Chelsea Curto 
Hot for Slayer by Ali Hazelwood 
The Female by Invi Wright 
Soul Searching by Lyla Sage 
Bride by Ali Hazelwood 
A Soul To Keep by Opal Reyne 
Ghost by Kat Blackthorne 
Serpentine Valentine by Giana Darling 
Gothikana by RuNyx 

What are you reading this month? 🧛

🏷️ 
#romancebooks #bookstagram  #angelreads  #spicybooks #halloweenreads
I had such a great time reading this book. I didn’ I had such a great time reading this book. I didn’t know what to expect, but at the same time it was exactly what I wanted.

Driven is an entertaining, suspenseful new adult romance debut that has a second chance romance, is brothers best friend and has fast cars. 

It’s one of those books that is perfect for those looking for something that they won’t want to put down, leave them second guessing and wanting more. 

It’s full of second changes, finding yourself and falling for the one person that is forbidden. 

This is all such a great debut novel that makes me want to read more from Emma J Warrender.

#driven #angelreads #bookreview #2026releases #contemporaryromance
Honestly I haven’t been a lot this year at all, es Honestly I haven’t been a lot this year at all, especially compared to what I normally read. Because you know life but I wanted to share some of my latest reads. 

I finished a series, I re read a book that I had an inch to read. I also picked up another YA! Who am I? Nothing really that stood out but knocked a few more off my tbr. 

What are some of your latest reads? Anything that has stood out for you? A 5 star? Let’s chat! 

🏷️ 
#romancebooks #bookstagram  #angelreads  #spicybooks #latestreads
Follow on Instagram

GoodReads

2026 Reading Challenge

2026 Reading Challenge
Angel - Angel Reads has read 0 books toward her goal of 150 books.
hide
0 of 150 (0%)
view books

Contact Us

Send us an email and I'll get back to you, asap.

Send Message

© 2013 - 2026 · Angel Reads · Disclaimer

Prev Next
%d