Review: The Space Between by Michelle L. Teichman

Everything’s great for Harper Isabelle, the most popular girl in grade nine. That is, until she meets Sarah Jamieson. Sarah is a reclusive artist, a loner who wears black makeup and doesn’t have any friends, but for some reason, Harper can’t stop thinking about her.

Sarah isn’t used to people looking her way, especially popular girls like Harper Isabelle. Scared, religious, and unsure of herself, when Sarah begins to realize that her feelings for Harper might go beyond friendship, she is afraid to take the plunge and tell Harper how she feels.

Emotions build between these young women until they both reach their breaking points, and they need to make a choice about coming to terms with who they really are, and what they can and cannot live without.

The Space Between was a super sweet read about coming out, being true to yourself, and it has an adorable romance! Harper is just starting high school, but she’s already on top of the social food chain thanks to her older sister. Harper just goes with the flow in her crowd until she meets Sarah. There’s just something about this girl that draws Harper in and she can’t help but what to be her friend…or more. Too bad Sarah’s twin brother likes Harper and it’s basically expected for her to date him. But getting close to Tyler also means getting closer to Sarah.

At first I wasn’t sure about The Space Between because it read a little young. Harper and Sarah are 14, then turn 15, so they are younger than what I usually read. It was also strange in the beginning to see just how obsessed with popularity everyone is. It felt like a spoof movie about high school! But the more I read, the more I was drawn in, and the more I started believing these characters. Harper has always had her big sister to lead the way so she really doesn’t know anything else. Meanwhile, Sarah has only had her brother and never felt like she fit in anywhere, so of course she notices those who seem to have it so easy. They’re just young girls trying navigate new social situations and new feelings.

The romance portion of The Space Between was wonderful! There is so much tension between Sarah and Harper at the beginning. Sarah starts off wary about the queen bee paying attention to her, but she likes the way she feels around Harper. Harper takes the lead in their relationship and finds ways to be alone with Sarah and to touch her and eventually to kiss her. All the while she’s dating Tyler! But he’s a cover! No one can know about Sarah and Harper for various reasons. I wanted them to shout their love from the rooftops, so it was frustrating at times to have them swear that they can’t tell anyone because no one would understand. Perhaps it’s just because I’m older and know from experience that people do understand and being gay isn’t the end of the world, but I did get annoyed with them at times for dragging it out for so long.

The Space Between does end on a happy note, so have no fear! This is not a tragic queers tale! Harper and Sarah work through their problems and fears to get to where they want to be: with each other. I also like how the epilogue involves a time jump so we can see where the girls are later in life. I do just wish we had gotten to see Sarah coming out to her religious parents, and a follow up to how Harper’s reacted after that initial family meeting.

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