The Sweetness Between Us

After separate medical emergencies result in teens Perley, a human, and Amadine, a recently turned vampire, missing the first few weeks of school, they find themselves thrown together in tutoring to get caught up. The pair slowly bond as they adjust to their new normal, in which Perley must navigate the cost of managing his diabetes and Amadine must contend with physical side effects from her turning. When Amadine offers to help Perley test his blood sugar, their relationship blossoms into something more intimate. But as the two grow increasingly dependent on each other, Amadine and Perley must find a way to untangle their relationship from their conditions before resentment sours it forever. Searle (Ruined) delivers a stunning graphic novel romance with a thoughtful supernatural spin. Soft lines and muted colors convey Perley and Amadine’s gentle yearning for each other and their longing for a sense of normalcy and equilibrium; this empathetic and expressive style extends to the characters’ dialogue. Perley is depicted with pale skin and Amadine is Black. Ages 14–up. (Oct.)