Between Me and You: A Novel

Written by Allison Winn Scotch

Narrated by Julia Whelan and Tim Campbell

“A smart, thoughtful look at marriage and love.” —POPSUGAR

“Through alternating views (and years), Allison Winn Scotch crafts a heart-wrenching tale.” —Us Weekly

When their paths first cross, Ben Livingston is a fledgling screenwriter on the brink of success; Tatum Connelly is a struggling actress tending bar in a New York City dive. They fall in love, they marry, they become parents, and they think only of the future. But as the years go by, Tatum’s stardom rises while Ben’s fades. In a marriage that bears the fallout of ambition and fame, Ben and Tatum are at a crossroads. Now all they can do is think back…

A life of passion, joy, tragedy, and loss—once shared—becomes one as shifting and unpredictable as a memory. And as they explore the ways love can bend and break, they recount their individual versions of the story, Ben’s moving backward and Tatum’s moving forward, each wondering what they can do now to make it all right.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brilliance Audio
• Release date: Jan 9, 2018
• ISBN: 9781531868314

Allison Winn Scotch

Allison Winn Scotch is the author of the New York Times bestseller Time of My Life and The One That I Want. She lives in New York with her family.

Reviews for Between Me and You

[laurie · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Enjoyed the book. Would like more titles from the author.

[Michael Ripley · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The story was okay but could have been so much better. I didn’t feel the connection between the H and h and there was very little intensity or passion. The narration was good.

[lorikboyd · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I received an advance review copy of this book from the Great Thought's Ninja Review Team. All opinions are my own.

Another great read from this author. She has a knack for writing about life as it is, not as it seems. Relationships are complex, and the relationship in this book is no different. Book told in alternating voices and points of view. Very realistic on how hard it is to keep a relationship alive, let alone with the pressures of Hollywood. Ironic that I was reading this book on 9/11, since this a touched on in the book. Very well done. Highly recommend!

[cubsfan3410 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I liked the premise of how this was written. However, I wasn’t a big fan of the story itself. I had a hard time following it. It started out pretty good but lost momentum about a third of the way through.

[voracious_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Ben and Tatum met in a NYC bar long before either became famous. After a wonderful first date in Time's Square on New Year's Eve, Ben's career as a writer takes off while Tatum struggles through numerous auditions without landing a role. When Ben's career starts to stall, Tatum suddenly emerges as a megastar, landing the biggest roles in Hollywood. As with any celebrity couple, their relationship flounders with the challenges of fame. With Ben's story told in a backward sequence and Tatum's told going forward in time, the reader is forced to wait for certain details to become clear one year at a time, in alternating chapters.I found this overlapping story device difficult, ,overly complicated and at times, I considered giving up on the story altogether, since I lacked the patience to try to follow the dates on my e-reader. However, I was glad I stuck with the story until the end and I enjoyed the ending. If I had it to do again, however, I wouldn't recommend this book be read in a digital format, so as to avoid additional frustration and I would try not to think too hard about what was going on in the story. Trying to organize the story in your head makes for unnecessary confusion in a relatively simple sequence of events.

[pamv-1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I have to say that I really struggled with this. The back and forth of timelines was quite confusing for me and I had a hard time knowing what was when.

My thanks to netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for this advanced readers copy.

[simplykelina · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I was sent this book from the publisher. My ratings and reviews will be my own personal opinions and are in no way influenced by publishers or authors who may have sent me books to review. This is a love story like I have never read before. This story tells the story of Ben and Tatum. You see how they meet and also the struggles of life and how it can take a toll on your marriage. The author has a very unique spin on how she told this story. You have alternating perspectives from Ben and Tatum. Tatum’s story is starting from the time Ben and her meet, and goes up in years from there. Ben’s story starts off with the ending/worse part of their marriage and decreases in years down to how they get to where they have gotten. I did enjoy Tatum’s sections a little more, as Ben’s seemed a little repetitive. I enjoyed the dual perspective, but I was not a fan of the ever changing years. I found myself flipping back to figure out what year I was currently reading even though I know they went up and down. I took off one star for this as it was a little confusing at times.Even though I did not love the style, I loved the writing and the story itself. I found myself getting lost in the writing. I kept thinking I was going to DNF this due to the format, but the story made me want to continue. I actually found myself not wanting to put it down as I wanted to put all the pieces together. I loved the characters and their journey together. The ending made me cry.Overall, I really enjoyed this (format aside).

[teachlz · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

“Between Me and You” by Allison Winn ScotchKudos to Allison Winn Scotch, Author of “Between Me and You’ for such an enjoyable and heartwarming novel. The genres of this story are Fiction and Contemporary Fiction. The timeline of the story is within a twenty year period, going back only if it pertains to the events and characters,I appreciate the way Allison Winn Scotch makes her colorful cast of characters so appealing and easy to relate to. The characters are complex and complicated. The main two characters Ben and Tatum meet in a bar. As two young adults, both are madly in love, very idealistic, and supportive. Tatum is working in the bar and hopes to become an actress. and Ben is hoping to write screenplays and scripts for movies and television. Tatum comes from a dysfunctional family, with certain problems. Ben also comes from a family with a demanding father, and certain family responsibilities.The chapters in the book alternate between Ben’s and Tatum’s perspective, and a difference in the timeline, the past and the present.The author describes how life is easier when the couple is younger, and how they are challenged with adversity and fame. As the couple marries, and becomes more successful there are new struggles and balances within the marriage. Troubling family situations, and the balance of fame and power occur throughout the years. There are secrets and betrayals.Is it possible to rewrite the past? Is is possible for two people once strongly in love find themselves together again?I appreciate that the author writes about current problems as drug and alcohol dependency and getting the proper therapy. I also find that the author discusses the importance of family relationships, friendships, trust , honest, forgiveness, hope and love. I would highly recommend this novel for readers who appreciate Contemporary fiction. I received An Advanced Reading Copy for my honest review. Edit

[susan0316 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What a fantastic book! I just finished it and loved every minute of reading it. The book begins in New York when Ben, a screenwriter trying to get his big break, meets Tatum, a struggling actress working in a bar. They fall in love and marry and move to LA where their lives begin to take different paths. Tatum becomes a well known actress and Ben is no longer a golden boy in Hollywood. As they struggle in different areas, the distance between them grows. Can their love and their family survive their current life and is there any way to bring them back together again?This book is unique because it's told in alternating chapters by Ben and Tatum AND told in different time periods. Ben's chapter may be about present day and then Tatum's chapter is about when they first met. It's a bit confusing at first but once you get into the rhythm of the story, it's a fantastic way of giving the reader both sides of what's going on in their lives and their marriage. It's also a good way to get to know both characters good points and their flaws.This was another fantastic book by Allison Winn Scotch. Thanks to the Great Thoughts Ninja Review Team for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.