Cute story about friendship and finding out who you want to be. Enjoyed the main character, plot points, and writing style.
Well written I Just didn't love it.

I think everyone wishes they could go back in time with a message for their teenage self. Maybe to insist that life does, in fact, get better. Maybe to give a warning. Or maybe to plant an idea, something they wish they knew and understood at an earlier age.

This is the premise of Edward Underhill’s THE IN-BETWEEN BOOKSTORE.

No longer feeling like he fits in with the noise and cramped quarters of NYC, when he loses his job and his rent skyrockets, Darby decides to return to his hometown. It’s been too long since he’s seen his mother and she could use the help moving.

Even before leaving NYC, he’s preoccupied with memories of a bookstore where he spent the bulk of his teen years. First as a customer reading books in the aisles and later as an employee. It’s the first place he stops when he rolls back into town. It hasn’t changed a bit - it looks and smells exactly as he remembers. That’s because when he walks through the door, he’s walking back in time to 2009. And the teenager at the counter with the rounded shoulders and oversized sweatshirt is his pre-transition self.

I enjoyed how this story was like a later-in-life coming of age. On the cusp of turning 30, Darby still feels aimless. But as he revisits his teen years through an adult lens, he realizes how much he failed to see and how life might have been different if he wasn’t so focused on his own misery and desire to leave town. Finding a new perspective on his childhood, Darby frees himself to move forward as an adult.

Some of the struggles Darby faces are unique to transgender individuals. But anyone who has ever felt like they're broken in some way will relate to this book.

Around Darby are a great cast of fully developed secondary characters. I loved his supportive and understanding mother, who missed her son but was also living her own vibrant life while hating on the neighbor’s collection of yard penguins. Michael, Darby’s estranged childhood best friend, is especially well crafted - a gay man, who stayed in his small hometown and created space for himself, surrounded by a large group of like-minded supportive friends.

Anyone who didn’t fit in growing up and appreciates the value of found family will likely enjoy this book. I know I did.

I've really enjoyed Edward Underhill's YA novels so far, but his adult debut wasn't quite my favorite. I love the idea of the magical library that transports the main character through time, but honestly, I spent a lot more time feeling second-hand embarrassment than I did rooting for the main character. It wasn't bad by any means, just not fully what I expected and what I wanted out of this book. I will continue to read Underhill's work, though, cause the romances are usually sweet and there's usually a nice lesson to be learned.

I enjoyed this story of Darby returning to his small town hometown after years in NYC in order to figure out his next step. Sounds like the setup for a Hallmark movie, except Darby is trans and is returning for the first time since transitioning, we encounter some fantasy/magical realism and a group of high school classmates that may or may not be friends. I liked the premise and the way it played out, but I felt like there was something missing - I think the fantasy aspect could have been used better, and the story seemed a bit aimless in the middle. This isn't a long book, and parts of it could have been fleshed out better and made it a bit longer. I look forward to the author's next work!

I loved loved loved this book. I’ve read a few books this year that are speculative science fiction that allow for the protagonist to have some retrospection on their lives and the choices they made in the past—which leads them to think about whether the life they are living is the best one they would choose again and again.

This book, focusing on a trans man who returns to the town that he fled from before he could even identify who he really was, is a beautiful exploration of identity, trauma of youth, and a conversation of internal and external struggles—and what we do and do not see. Perception is a huge theme, and conversations about how accurately we remember our past, is so well-handled, as fragile a topic as it is. I was moved by the end of the novel, and though it was bittersweet, found it beautifully realistic. A strong 5⭐

*Thank you again to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.*

Darby, a trans man nearing 30, returns to his small Illinois hometown after losing his job and feeling adrift in New York. There, he stumbles into his old workplace—In Between Books—and discovers it’s frozen in time. Literally. The bookstore becomes a portal to 2009, where he encounters his teenage self just days before a pivotal moment that shaped his life.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the ARC!

🌟🌟🌟🌟 // Spoiler Review

The In-Between Bookstore was such a quietly beautiful read. I really connected with Darby—his voice felt honest and vulnerable, and watching him navigate this surreal, time-bending journey back to his teenage self was incredibly moving. The characters were the heart of this book. I especially loved the layered dynamic between Darby and Michael—full of tenderness, regret, and years of unspoken truth. The bookstore setting felt nostalgic and magical without being over the top, grounding the story in a deeply emotional space.

The only reason this isn’t a five-star read for me is the ending. It didn’t hit quite as hard as I wanted it to. After so much buildup and emotional reflection, I hoped for a bit more resolution. That said, maybe the quietness of it was intentional—healing doesn’t always come in dramatic waves.

What truly makes this book special is the way it portrays the trans experience. Edward Underhill captures the ache, the joy, the grief of “what might’ve been,” and the beauty of becoming who you are with so much care. It’s powerful without ever feeling preachy. Just honest, tender, and real.

Highly recommend if you love introspective stories, queer representation, and a little magical realism mixed with heart.

The moment I picked up this book I couldn't put it down. The concept hooked me from the start, and as the story progressed I was lost to the pages right until the final chapter. A gorgeous story full of heart, healing, and hope.

The In-Between Bookstore by Edward Underhill felt like stepping into a tender time-slip dream. As Darby—a trans man facing a life reset—returns to his hometown and enters the same bookstore from his teenage years, I loved how it gently explores identity, grief, and the roads we almost took . Meeting his younger self—and former friend Michael—unfolds with emotional honesty. The magic is understated but powerful.

It’s more nostalgic than plot‑heavy, with that cozy, reflective vibe. A few moments felt YA-ish (maybe because Underhill excels in that space), but the heart is real and the resolution, while soft, hit me right in the feels .

If you’re in the mood for a quiet, queer-centered story about self-forgiveness and second chances, this one is a warm hug in book form.

This story seemed like a fictional autobiography for the author. The main character, though stated to be 30, acted like they were a kid and the ending really didn't make sense to me because they didn't show a bond with the "friends" in NY for much of the book and then at the end it completely flipped.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I picked up The In-Between Bookstore, but I found myself deeply moved by Darby's story. At nearly 30, Darby returns to his small Illinois hometown after losing his job in New York City. He steps into the bookstore where he once worked as a teenager and is inexplicably transported back to 2009, encountering his teenage self. This magical realism element serves as a powerful backdrop for Darby's journey of self-reflection and growth.

Underhill's writing is tender and insightful. The portrayal of Darby's internal struggles and his interactions with his younger self are both heart-wrenching and hopeful. The small-town setting adds a layer of nostalgia, making Darby's journey feel all the more personal.

The In-Between Bookstore is a story about coming to terms with one's past and finding the courage to embrace one's true self. It is a beautifully crafted novel that resonates with anyone who's ever wondered about the paths not taken and the people they've become. Thank you, NetGalley!

I absolutely loved this book and ended up plowing through it so quickly. The concept had me hooked from the beginning.

When Darby finds himself unemployed and broke, he moves back to his small Illinois hometown. When he walks into In Between Books, where he worked as a teen, Darby feels an eerie sense of déjà vu—everything is exactly the same. Even the newspapers are dated 2009. And behind the register is a teen who looks a lot like Darby did at sixteen. . . who just might give Darby the opportunity to change his own present for the better—if he can figure out how before his connection to the past vanishes forever.

The In-Between Bookstore is a beautiful story that blends nostalgia, time travel, and found family into a thought-provoking and heartfelt novel. Trans representation is so important, especially now, so I always enjoy reading novels from trans authors like Edward Underhill. This adult debut was just as enjoyable as his YA novels, and I’ll continue to pick up anything he writes. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC!

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

The writing and emotions were so good in this one, I'm sort of in tears (both happy and sad) at that ending. Edward Underhill's done a great job of writing the MC's self-discovery and character growth in a dual timeline, and the concept of temporarily going back to your hometown and sorting out your teenage feelings was so well-executed.

-- ty to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy!

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!

I am so surprised I am not seeing more hype for this so far on my socials! I really adored the characters in this story. There are plenty of humorous and 'wtf' type moments. At times, I can struggle with paying attention to alternating timelines but this was not the case with this story. This is definitely heavy on found family trope. Overall, I'd recommend this to fans of Kacen Callender.

I'm holding space for this amazing piece of queer literature! It's a great work of magical realism literary fiction with an unexplained magical time-travel-portal (is it a time gap? time hole? simply a metaphor in the crazy journey of self-discovery?) and it made me emotional enough to cry a socially-appropriate amount. I've been recommending it to all of my friends, and I've been thinking about it since I finished reading it almost three months ago (genuinely thought about it so much I forgot to write my review for it!)
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for this eARC.

The In-Between Bookstore is Edward Underhill's first adult novel. It follows Darby, a trans man who loses his job in New York City just before his thirtieth birthday, and, in the midst of his quarter-life crisis, decides to return to his hometown of (fictional) Oak Falls, Illinois where he comes face to face with his past, literally, via his local bookshop.

The time travel premise feels more like magical realism than science fiction, and most of the book is otherwise contemporary fiction, so this could be a good starter book for readers looking to dip their toes into light speculative fiction. It also has a love story, but not a romance (there is a difference), which was an interesting twist.

That said, though this is a quick read, I struggled a bit with this book. I was very distracted in the first half, because the description of Oak Falls feels very different from the part of Illinois that I am personally familiar with; the closest I could think of was the town of Antioch, which is close to the Wisconsin border (Underhill originally hails from Wisconsin, so that made the most sense to me). I love good trans representation, especially #ownvoices authors, but in the second half of the book, Darby's choices frustrated me because of what comes across as minimal personal growth. Though the premise of the book is an interesting one--giving advice to his younger self and fixing past relationships--in the end, it felt like Darby was too fixated on the past, to the detriment of his present; the conclusion felt like a return to square one, sans crisis. Darby's relationship with his mother, however, was well done, and his dog, Mr. Grumpy, is a huge favorite. If you like Hallmark movies vibes with trans rep and time travel, this could be the book for you!

Other titles of interest may include: Second Chances in New Port Stephen and Chef's Kiss by TJ Alexander, Queer Chameleon and Friends by Amee Wilson, The Seven-Year Slip by Ashley Poston, The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley, Most Ardently by Gabe Cole Novoa, Homebody by Theo Parish, Trans and Disabled ed. Alex Iantaffi, Melissa by Alex Gino, Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe, and Wandering Son by Takako Shimura.

Time travel is always my jam, and of course a book about a bookstore is always a good idea. I enjoyed the tender way Darby’s life as a trans man is handled, but I did find him to be kind of an annoying character (this happens to me a LOT with YA and new adult, so probably more a me thing than a this book thing) Ultimately this was fine but I could have used more magic and less angst.

Edward Underhill’s writing speaks so much to the trans experience and every book he writes highlights a different facet of it. This one is all about connecting with your older self, wanting them to know that life gets better, that there’s power in knowing who you are.

I liked this story, though there were parts of it that stuck out to me more than others. The magical realism of the bookstore was gorgeous, but the romance and friendships I found to be lacking. I kept waiting for something to happen, something bigger than what was. The ending was bittersweet and continued the melancholic tone that was woven through the story.

A good story. I just wish there had been a little bit more to it.