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Between the Dark Spaces
No secret ever stays buried, no matter how deep the hole is.
Sixteen-year-old Aris Black is fairly certain her father is hiding something. But between school, work and helping him navigate his sobriety, it’s hard to tell if it’s just her imagination or something real. But after a chance encounter that turns her life upside down, things get super-real when she realizes she knows next to nothing about the man who raised her.
Under normal circumstances, Chapman Woolfe’s encounter with Aris Black would be the start of a great relationship. But his life at the moment leaves no room to be social. He can barely handle his first job, his grades are horrible and one of his closest friends is fighting a losing battle with drugs. When a vicious attack lands him in the hospital, his life becomes unrecognizable and the people in it become strangers.
Meeting Aris further complicates things, even if she is smart and cute. But her sudden presence in his life is no accident. Somehow, Aris and Chapman hold the missing pieces for each other’s lives.
As the darkness of the past creeps closer and closer, can these two teenagers find their way out before it swallows them whole?
Sixteen-year-old Aris Black is fairly certain her father is hiding something. But between school, work and helping him navigate his sobriety, it’s hard to tell if it’s just her imagination or something real. But after a chance encounter that turns her life upside down, things get super-real when she realizes she knows next to nothing about the man who raised her.
Under normal circumstances, Chapman Woolfe’s encounter with Aris Black would be the start of a great relationship. But his life at the moment leaves no room to be social. He can barely handle his first job, his grades are horrible and one of his closest friends is fighting a losing battle with drugs. When a vicious attack lands him in the hospital, his life becomes unrecognizable and the people in it become strangers.
Meeting Aris further complicates things, even if she is smart and cute. But her sudden presence in his life is no accident. Somehow, Aris and Chapman hold the missing pieces for each other’s lives.
As the darkness of the past creeps closer and closer, can these two teenagers find their way out before it swallows them whole?
ebook
Published June 1, 2022
1 person is currently reading
10 people want to read
About the author
Melissa Groeling
6 books29 followersMelissa didn’t know she had a Jersey accent until she moved to Philadelphia. She thought everyone spoke the same way, called things by the same name; subs, sprinkles, pork roll, etc. It was quite the struggle.
Proper names of food and household items notwithstanding, being a hardcore reader (thanks to those endless days at the library with her Mom) helped shape her desire to produce stories of her own. Inspiration is endless, from movies, to board games, to more books and more movies.
Proper names of food and household items notwithstanding, being a hardcore reader (thanks to those endless days at the library with her Mom) helped shape her desire to produce stories of her own. Inspiration is endless, from movies, to board games, to more books and more movies.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
July 7, 2022
I haven’t read YA in a long while, but this one was worth taking a chance on.
The Woolfes and the Petersons have been family friends for a few generations. They are closely bound by loyalty, secrets and wealth. When Aris Black saves the life of Chapman Woolfe, the powerful facade of both families starts to crack, as unsavoury things come to light that will forever change their lives.
This was an older YA read that was gritty, raw, and heartbreaking. I found the storyline gripping and absorbing. 16YO Chapman has ignored certain things for far too long - mainly because he didn't feel he had the power to change anything, nor was he confident in shaking the status quo. However, one major event has him mentally and emotionally powering up to solve certain mysteries, and delve into the complicated and dark history of the Woolfe and Peterson families. 16YO Aris, who has her own issues, gets caught up in the landslide fallout of certain events in the story and, between the two of them, the reader begins to get a full picture of the past and how it shaped their present. This was an excellent read dealing with the dark side of life and humanity. As I said, gritty and raw, this story is not for the faint-hearted.
Blog: https://readingwillingable.blogspot.c...
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/review/R15DFOC...
The Woolfes and the Petersons have been family friends for a few generations. They are closely bound by loyalty, secrets and wealth. When Aris Black saves the life of Chapman Woolfe, the powerful facade of both families starts to crack, as unsavoury things come to light that will forever change their lives.
This was an older YA read that was gritty, raw, and heartbreaking. I found the storyline gripping and absorbing. 16YO Chapman has ignored certain things for far too long - mainly because he didn't feel he had the power to change anything, nor was he confident in shaking the status quo. However, one major event has him mentally and emotionally powering up to solve certain mysteries, and delve into the complicated and dark history of the Woolfe and Peterson families. 16YO Aris, who has her own issues, gets caught up in the landslide fallout of certain events in the story and, between the two of them, the reader begins to get a full picture of the past and how it shaped their present. This was an excellent read dealing with the dark side of life and humanity. As I said, gritty and raw, this story is not for the faint-hearted.
Blog: https://readingwillingable.blogspot.c...
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/review/R15DFOC...
November 2, 2022
Teens Chapman and Aris couldn’t be any different—Chapman lives in the wealthier end of town and attends a prestigious private school, while Aris and her father struggle to make ends meet. While their lives are vastly different, the plight of caring for an addict is an unfortunate commonality. There’s that and the mutual attraction shared whenever their paths cross. They are further fettered when a horrible accident almost takes Chapman’s life, and shocking revelations are made. The two become enmeshed in a scandal rife with family secrets.
“Between the Dark Spaces” by Melissa Groeling is a thrilling young adult book about secrets and getting even. Written from the third-person perspective, each chapter alternates between Chapman and Aris as they try to make sense of Chapman’s horrifying accident and how their loved ones fit into the puzzling conflict. Teeming with anger and propelled by the desire for justice, the two must work together to unearth the truth, even if that means exposing family members.
I thought the author did an excellent job of developing the backstories of Aris and Chapman before amalgamating their experience. By strategically dropping breadcrumbs of information at a steady pace, I was quickly lured in, and the more I began to speculate about how it would all fit together, which kept me reading to find out if I was correct. Further, the author deftly succeeded in providing a relatable, age-appropriate voice for young adult readers. Coming-of-age, grief, death, and revenge were themes expertly woven into the immersive plot.
“Between the Dark Spaces” aptly illustrates the formidable beast that is drugs. The way it can tear through families, causing rifts and irrevocable damage, was captured through Aris’s PTSD from living with an addict and Chapman’s tumultuous friendship with the Peterson boys. In addition, it highlighted the tactics abusers and enablers use to control a drug addict, like gaslighting and destroying their self-worth. While the book is geared toward young adults, these topics will resonate with all audiences.
Overall, “Between the Dark Spaces” had an intriguing premise. Despite the weighty topics explored, it was peppered with lighter themes relatable to younger teen readers. In addition, the main characters were flawed but likable, immature but evolving, and fiercely unique—everything that makes up a protagonist worth rooting for.
“Between the Dark Spaces” by Melissa Groeling is a thrilling young adult book about secrets and getting even. Written from the third-person perspective, each chapter alternates between Chapman and Aris as they try to make sense of Chapman’s horrifying accident and how their loved ones fit into the puzzling conflict. Teeming with anger and propelled by the desire for justice, the two must work together to unearth the truth, even if that means exposing family members.
I thought the author did an excellent job of developing the backstories of Aris and Chapman before amalgamating their experience. By strategically dropping breadcrumbs of information at a steady pace, I was quickly lured in, and the more I began to speculate about how it would all fit together, which kept me reading to find out if I was correct. Further, the author deftly succeeded in providing a relatable, age-appropriate voice for young adult readers. Coming-of-age, grief, death, and revenge were themes expertly woven into the immersive plot.
“Between the Dark Spaces” aptly illustrates the formidable beast that is drugs. The way it can tear through families, causing rifts and irrevocable damage, was captured through Aris’s PTSD from living with an addict and Chapman’s tumultuous friendship with the Peterson boys. In addition, it highlighted the tactics abusers and enablers use to control a drug addict, like gaslighting and destroying their self-worth. While the book is geared toward young adults, these topics will resonate with all audiences.
Overall, “Between the Dark Spaces” had an intriguing premise. Despite the weighty topics explored, it was peppered with lighter themes relatable to younger teen readers. In addition, the main characters were flawed but likable, immature but evolving, and fiercely unique—everything that makes up a protagonist worth rooting for.
September 7, 2022
Rating: 4.5/5.0
“Between the Dark Spaces” is a very intriguing young adult novel that hits on some very hard topics such as drug use, sexual assault, and violence.
Read full review in the 2022 September issue of InD'tale Magazine.
“Between the Dark Spaces” is a very intriguing young adult novel that hits on some very hard topics such as drug use, sexual assault, and violence.
Read full review in the 2022 September issue of InD'tale Magazine.
August 10, 2022
Chapman Woolfe is way over his young head, he is forced to get a job to pay back a credit card debt to his dad . He is trying to get through school and is watching is best friend Gabe try and kick his drug addiction. Then in walks Aris the young waitress that boy oh boy he can't stop thinking about her . When a tragedy brings them closer together and they start to unravel the past and what legacy of pain has done to them . Will they be able to come out from under the pain or will the pain be the thing that pulls them down and cost them everything .
Ok there are lot of characters in this book and I mean a lot . Chapman is up front and center as the young man who is conflicted and just trying to do what everyone wants of him. He kind of starts off as a naive young kid but as you read he really starts to grow up and stand up for himself . There is so much that happens to him, he really just wants things to be ok . Gabe is his best friend and he is one of those characters that you will just want to wrap up and hug . He is a tortured soul who well is drug addicted and you just feel the hopelessness in his demeanor . You will really care for him . Aris is a sweet girl who is doing her best to keep her and her dad safe. She is a strong young woman who will not take anything from anyone . There is a cast of secondary characters that will add so many twists in the story . From the older brothers to family members . Each of them play significant roles in the story and hiding secrets .
This is a ya book but I would say for older teens , there is violence and yes they talk about drug addiction but there is also a story of a young man trying to make his way through life and figure out what and who he is . The characters are well written and you really want to keep them safe . The story is relevant in today's world and everyone knows someone who is going through drug addiction and trying to get clean and the pressures that go along with it. This is one of those stories that will have you shed a tear every now and then and maybe get a little angry with a few of the characters . I enjoyed this book but I felt like it kind of dragged in parts then all of a sudden it felt rushed at the end with all the reveals . Over all it is a really good book that will make you think and want to hug the ones you love just a little harder . So if you want a book that will give you all the feels check it out .
Ok there are lot of characters in this book and I mean a lot . Chapman is up front and center as the young man who is conflicted and just trying to do what everyone wants of him. He kind of starts off as a naive young kid but as you read he really starts to grow up and stand up for himself . There is so much that happens to him, he really just wants things to be ok . Gabe is his best friend and he is one of those characters that you will just want to wrap up and hug . He is a tortured soul who well is drug addicted and you just feel the hopelessness in his demeanor . You will really care for him . Aris is a sweet girl who is doing her best to keep her and her dad safe. She is a strong young woman who will not take anything from anyone . There is a cast of secondary characters that will add so many twists in the story . From the older brothers to family members . Each of them play significant roles in the story and hiding secrets .
This is a ya book but I would say for older teens , there is violence and yes they talk about drug addiction but there is also a story of a young man trying to make his way through life and figure out what and who he is . The characters are well written and you really want to keep them safe . The story is relevant in today's world and everyone knows someone who is going through drug addiction and trying to get clean and the pressures that go along with it. This is one of those stories that will have you shed a tear every now and then and maybe get a little angry with a few of the characters . I enjoyed this book but I felt like it kind of dragged in parts then all of a sudden it felt rushed at the end with all the reveals . Over all it is a really good book that will make you think and want to hug the ones you love just a little harder . So if you want a book that will give you all the feels check it out .
September 1, 2023
This YA book took me on a roller coaster of emotions. It was so dark and twisted that I found myself saying, “what the****” so many times! It is told from Chapmans and Aris point of view. Chapman‘s father is a partner in a law firm with his lifelong friend and Aris comes from a low income background, and her father is a recovering addict. They are brought together when Aris saves Chapmans life after he is attacked in an alley behind their jobs. They uncover that their families pasts are linked through a series of events and the secrets being kept.
This does have triggers for addiction, overdose, death, and sexual assault. It was an emotional read for me as someone who has family members that struggled with addiction but I liked that this book portrays a realistic view on how hard it is to stop even when you are trying and how it sometimes takes multiple tries. It was well written with great insight into the characters. I would definitely recommend.
Thank you Melissa Groeling and RR Book tours for the opportunity to read and give my honest review.
This does have triggers for addiction, overdose, death, and sexual assault. It was an emotional read for me as someone who has family members that struggled with addiction but I liked that this book portrays a realistic view on how hard it is to stop even when you are trying and how it sometimes takes multiple tries. It was well written with great insight into the characters. I would definitely recommend.
Thank you Melissa Groeling and RR Book tours for the opportunity to read and give my honest review.
September 1, 2023
To say that this book was an emotional roller coaster ride wouldn’t do it justice. Aris and Chapman’s story will rouse a full spectrum of feels from readers.
This Upper YA novel is a very compelling read that will certainly get its hooks in you, but that I would without a doubt label as not for the faint of heart.
Between The Dark Spaces is gritty, raw and emotional from beginning to end, touching on some really tough subject matter in a way that some readers may find difficult to swallow— but there’s also a beauty in the way that Aris and Chap maneuver the jagged pieces of their interwoven puzzles to locate the answers that they so desperately seek, hidden within the dark spaces between.
I would highly recommend this read, so long as you are aware of and keep yourself safe from your triggers.
August 11, 2022
This was a dark, captivating read. Two MCs, living separate lives that manage to intertwine. After all, some secrets are best left buried. Overall, I liked the storyline and the twists that were woven into it. There were a few times when the flow wasn't very smooth, but overall the plot flowed nicely. The one thing that really bugged me is right from the start Aris is set up as a stereotypical manic pixie dream girl, and I would've liked her to have more depth than that. I did enjoy reading it, and was reluctant to put it down once I started. A great upper YA, dark read.
August 10, 2022
I dont know what emotion to put with this book. I feel sympathy for the boy and girl. I feel in rage for justice that wasn't given. I grieve for people in the story that life's were lost for someone else's sick pleasure. While Chap is just trying to be a 16 year old boy. This is a very emotion Rollercoaster of a book.
August 11, 2022
Wow that was a wild rollercoaster ride. I had a hard time with some of the story but they were my demons to bear. Chap messed up he should never have used his dad's credit card for a video game he had to have now he has to get a job. The job leads to so many twisted things and secrets are reveled in time.
August 17, 2023
This book was intriguing but hard to read in some places. Major trigger warning for drug use, addiction, and overdose. This book is told in two very different POVs. One is Chapman, a teenager whose father is partners in one of the most prestigious law firms on the East Coast. The other is Aris, a teenager from the other side of the tracks whose father is suffering from drug addiction. They are brought together one fateful night and their lives become intertwined. Throughout this book, it talks about the battle with addiction and how it is hard to stop even when you want too. Even though it was tough to read, these topics are important. There is an addiction crisis in this country that many are afraid to talk about. I highly recommend this book. Thank you R&R Book Tours for my gifted copy of this book!
August 7, 2022
“What in the world was this story! I’m out of words, the story had plenty of secrets and unexpected revelations. Guess it’s true that you never fully met a person until the corpses are no longer hidden in the closet. It was proof of how taking the risk to change your comfort zone is worth living a lie. The story was more complex than what you could think at first.”
August 9, 2022
Oh my, how secrets can hide on plain sight and make you realize you never know any body, not even your own family! This book grabs your attention in a way that I find compelling, so many emotions, such a roller coaster. An awesome read from the first to last page. Loved it!
August 7, 2022
Two families are tied together with secrets. Aris Black saves Chapman Woolf life and things begin to come to light that may fracture the facade they have built. This YA book is complex, riveting, and dark.
August 10, 2022
Everyone knows that one mistake changes your life forever. Chap learns that. When an accident brings him and Aris, a waitress, together, they learn their families have a history and secrets. Secrets that want to stay secrets. Can they survive the revelation or be buried by them?
August 31, 2023
This was a lot more grittier and raw than most YA books and that's why I'm giving it a higher rating than I normally would. There's injustice, grief, action, and so many themes going on that this is an emotional read. I loved Chap and Aris' characters and that storyline. I will say that I believe there's maybe a few too many characters introduced, but overall, I loved the darker take on YA genre.
August 31, 2023
Hmmm how do I feel about this book. Well for one I don’t think it’s a great read for 14 year olds which is the age Amazon suggests. The book is about two teens who live very different lives. Chap’s childhood friend is struggling with a drug addiction, which it becomes clear as the novel progresses, may not be as cut and dry as everyone assumed. I don’t think it’s fair to label this book a thriller. Nothing about it reads that way. I also was thrown because the back of the book synopsis is vastly different from the synopsis on Amazon.
In my opinion the book could have been way shorter and achieved the same goal. Aris has a POV but the story could almost be told without her perspective in all fairness; other than when she stumbles across one of the characters and proves crucial for like 5 minutes of the story. It basically turns into this story about a rich kid who did whatever he want and then had a son who followed in his footsteps.
I didn’t feel like anything was resolved in this book at all. People did some messed up stuff and pretended it didn’t happen or they randomly decided to care about what had always been happening. Overall I really disliked this book and the characters in it. I don’t think I would recommend it to anyone. I only gave it three stars because I finished it.
In my opinion the book could have been way shorter and achieved the same goal. Aris has a POV but the story could almost be told without her perspective in all fairness; other than when she stumbles across one of the characters and proves crucial for like 5 minutes of the story. It basically turns into this story about a rich kid who did whatever he want and then had a son who followed in his footsteps.
I didn’t feel like anything was resolved in this book at all. People did some messed up stuff and pretended it didn’t happen or they randomly decided to care about what had always been happening. Overall I really disliked this book and the characters in it. I don’t think I would recommend it to anyone. I only gave it three stars because I finished it.
September 4, 2023
What can I say about this book?😮 I LOVED it! The character of Chapman as our male MC was so well written, and so was Aris, our female MC. Chap is from a well off family but they are a family who works for all that they have.
Chap meets Aris while he is working off a mistake at his part time job and they have an instant connection. Chap also is dealing with part time job woes, a friend who is an addict, other friends who have their own issues, and so many more things during high school.
This book was so well written and made me want to read more and find out what happens to Chap and Aris, and other people in the book. And that ending! I am hoping there is another book sometime in the works to wrap up the story😍👏
Chap meets Aris while he is working off a mistake at his part time job and they have an instant connection. Chap also is dealing with part time job woes, a friend who is an addict, other friends who have their own issues, and so many more things during high school.
This book was so well written and made me want to read more and find out what happens to Chap and Aris, and other people in the book. And that ending! I am hoping there is another book sometime in the works to wrap up the story😍👏
August 29, 2023
First and foremost, check the trigger warnings! This story does not shy away from the gritty details that surround addiction and alcoholism. The book follows an FMC & MMC from opposite sides of town whose lives become entwined by a twist fate. As they navigate their family's issues, secrets, and violence, they lean on each other to make it through the other side.
I highly recommend this read!
I highly recommend this read!
August 12, 2022
Suspense is not lacking in the amazing book. Edge of the seat and page turning the whole time. The story is well developed and I highly reccomend
August 6, 2022
A darkly twisted story full of so much heart-breaking emotion and spine-tingling suspense. It was a rollercoaster of emotion that kept me glued to the pages until the end.
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