MIDNIGHT AND BEX

A YA romance centers on trauma and healing.

The title of Van Fleet’s novel refers to the author’s two teenage protagonists. Midnight Turner and Bex Capone are paired for a chemistry project. Bex, once a self-professed awkward loner, is a sidekick to the loud and bossy Jo Donahue. When Bex starts collaborating with the mysterious outsider Midnight, she finds herself “dying to know everything about the guy,” including his troubled history. Meanwhile, Midnight avoids Bex’s overtures as he grapples with the tragic circumstances of his life. The book opens with his mother escaping Emmanuel, Midnight’s father and the “prophet” of Children of His Mercy, a cultlike religious sect that the teen is being groomed for. Midnight struggles to escape indoctrination and abuse while trying to save his friend Eve from the cult’s creepy agenda. He finds a kindred spirit in Bex, who seems to understand his pain while she copes with mourning her father’s death. As a high school romance blossoms between the two teens, they are impeded by forces ranging from the ostensibly ordinary to the terribly sinister. Jo seems to hate Midnight and Bex’s blossoming relationship, which threatens the two girls’ friendship. And Bex isn’t sure if Midnight’s bond with Eve means he is unavailable. The Mercy sect follows Midnight around, and he must endanger his life and those he loves to sever his ties with the group. Finally, Midnight and Bex wonder if they can truly forge a strong relationship, given their fragile emotional states. Trigger warnings at the start of the novel effectively describe the serious themes, which the story’s threads of mystery, drama, and romance are built around. The tale gives readers a balanced combination of feel-good YA scenes and an in-depth look at the impacts of religious indoctrination, child abuse, and the loss of a parent. The romance between the two leads develops at a realistic, fun, slow-burn pace and both characters are equally complex. One player whose personality could have been explored more is Jo—she had the potential to be the perfect foil for Bex. Van Fleet’s greatest strength lies in plot construction. The author presents unexpected connections among the characters, which will keep readers hooked.

A heartwarming page-turner that focuses on an intricate teen relationship.