Title: The Sweetness Between Us
Author: Sarah Winifred Searle
Publisher: First Second
Publication date: October 22, 2024
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Summary
Perley and Amandine find themselves starting junior year behind their classmates, due to separate health problems. Perley was recently diagnosed with diabetes, and Amandine was recently turned into a vampire. As the two start to grow closer, they realize maybe they can help each other, since Amandine can taste Perley’s blood sugar levels. When their friendship starts to turn into a romance, things start to get complicated. Will their lives ever get back to normal?
Review: The Sweetness Between Us
Thanks to NetGalley and First Second for an advanced copy of The Sweetness Between Us by Sarah Winifred Searle to review! I loved her first graphic novel, The Greatest Thing, and the premise of this one intrigued me. You don’t see a lot of YA featuring a protagonist with diabetes, so I’m glad this book exists! Especially with some of the topics it brings up about affording healthcare in the US.
The beginning is a bit slow, and I think some of the world needed fleshing out at the beginning. Especially the fact that vampires are an accepted thing in this world. Made me wonder if there are other magical creatures as well? I don’t think this is outlined anywhere else, and that would have helped with the clarity. Adding some of that right at the beginning would have cleared up some confusion.
However, this does have an interesting cast of characters that covers a whole spectrum of things. Even though there is a supernatural element, Perley and Amandine’s relationship reflects teen relationships in general, especially ones that might get too serious too quickly. I liked the way that was spelled out, but with the whole vampire/blood sucking thing instead. Made for an interesting read!
The art style wasn’t my favorite, but it wasn’t poorly done, either. The colors really pop, and there are some moments I’d be interested in seeing in the final version.
All in all, not a bad YA graphic novel, especially if you like new takes on vampires!
3.5/5 stars