3/5 ⭐️
I have mix feelings about this book, the premise was actually very good but I feel like it needed to go more in depth about what the MC wanted in life. This was a good read and I would definitely read this author again. Thank you NetGalley for allowing me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I would like to thank the author and Avon | Harper Voyager Publishing for providing me with an ARC of this book. The anticipated publication date is 14 January 2025.

Although The In-Between Bookstoredeviates slightly from my typical reading preferences, its inclusion of time travel and bookstores captured my interest. I found the author's writing style and humor appealing from the outset. The interactions between the main character and his mother were particularly amusing. I also love a book that can evoke all of the emotions, and this one did just that; certain parts of the dialogue had me on the verge of tears.

The time travel element of the narrative sustained the book’s momentum, rendering it a compelling, fast-paced read. However, some parts of the story could have been better developed, especially regarding topics that I am less familiar with, and probably other readers as well. A more thorough exploration of certain conversations would have improved the story and filled in some gaps. I found the ending to be disappointing, and after finishing the story, I was still left with many unanswered questions. Another round of edits could have improved this book substantially.

This story teetered between 3 and 4 stars, but I'm rounding down to a 3—it has a decent premise but average execution. I would still recommend this book as I think it has potential. Keep an eye out for this author!

**2.5 stars, rounded up

As a trans man who grew up in the midwest (not Illinois), moved to a much more liberal place, and is currently working on a graduate degree, I wanted to like this book SO bad. I often think about if a 15-year-old me would know who I am, if she would believe me about what we would become, and so having that idea be put into a book really caught my attention. It feels like it was made for me.

Problems: it's way more YA than I typically read, even though it's marketed as an adult fiction book. Darby and Michael both bothered me in the sense that the only reason this book even continued the way it did was because you had two men who refused to communicate, despite the fact they are now in their 30s when this book is occurring. And of course, there is a brief romance plot between the two, but to me, it just felt unnatural.

That, and the answer to the premise of 'what would you tell your younger self' is apparently nothing until 80% of the way through the book. Until then, we get a lot of half conversations between young and old Darby, where old Darby is trying to get information about why he and Michael are no longer friends, but like, why does he care? I get he thinks he can change it, but I just found myself not caring why they were arguing in the first place.

Despite all this, I actually did like the ending and how it wasn't necessarily 'happy' - it was realistic, it was genuine. I just didn't feel particularly connected to anyone in the book, despite the fact some of the things Darby said were relatable.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It took me a while to get into reading this one. But it gave me “midnight library” vibes. I don’t know that I can say much about it. But it is a good read once you get into the story.

Darby is a trans man living in New York City when he’s fired due to the start up failing. His mom is moving into a condo in his home town outside of Chicago. So Darby leaves his apartment and his friends and goes home to help his mom. His childhood best friend who stopped talking to him senior year is now a gay teacher at their old school. The bookstore Darby used to work at is still there and when he goes in he’s transported back to before he left town. But it only happens in the bookstore. The story develops from there.

It’s really all about miscommunication and perceived insults influencing our lives and about the road not taken.

The story was entertaining, tender, original, and flowed very well. I really enjoyed the main character and wanted a good outcome for him. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

A lot of people talk about having a book end in a “happily ever after” and how it wraps up the book in a bow and it’s great. The In Between Bookstore didn’t have a HEA, it had something better, this strong sense of melancholy combined with optimism. Edward Underhill is an incredible author and I always know that what i’m going to read is going to make me think and feel so strongly that I don’t stop thinking about it until I read something else that feels the same way. The In Between Bookstore was no different. Darby’s story of not knowing hit me so strongly and will continue to hit me anytime I think about.

This was so good.

I saw a lot of reviews for this one that said they didn't understand Darby's choices in this. But, as someone with really bad social anxiety, I totally got all of his choices. Not replying because he doesn't have the energy or doesn't know what to say, yeah I totally do that. And then a week goes by and I'm a horrible person for not responding and should I respond now or is it too late?

Not feeling like you belong anywhere? Yeah, I 100% get that. Growing up I was always too nerdy to fit in with normal people, not nerdy enough to fit in with other nerds, liked punk/heavy music but didn't fit in there either because I was too shy.

This book just spoke to the nerdy, socially anxious, shy kid that is still inside me and I loved it for that.

This was a very interesting concept, and a great premise although I feel like the execution was a little more drawn out and slower moving than I wanted it to be...

Overall, this was a good read. Some parts felt shorten. I just wanted a little bit more about the decisions that Darby ended up making. Yet, in a weird way it makes sense how the story unfolded even if it felt a bit off. After all it is about Darby making choices in his life and following his own path. Overall , good read.

This is the case where I really wanted to like the book, but ended up feeling like it was kind of half baked. There are several interesting elements to the book happening simultaneously, and I don’t think there’s enough time spent balancing them, or showing us how Darby works through them to get to his final decision. Multiple times in the book, Darby needs to make a decision, but he talks about being too overwhelmed to really do anything and so avoids thinking about it. There are also many scenes where he is unable to really interact with anyone around him and so you don’t really get to see what’s going on outside of his confusion. I can totally see something like this happening in real life, but it’s less satisfying to read. Also, I feel like there could’ve been more deliberate thought about the push and pull between trying to figure out his problems in the present versus trying to fix the past, so they never happened. Ultimately, it all goes back to I feel like I never got a really good grasp on his motivation, other than not wanting to make a decision or not knowing how to, and so I didn’t feel satisfied with the decision he ultimately made. There really was a lot of potential here though, and so I’d be curious if another round of edits fixes this and the finally published book is much better.

I am a little torn regarding the rating here. On the one hand, I liked how things started and the direction I felt they were heading. On the other hand, I am not really satisfied with the ending and how the concept of the book gives me the impression of not having been ewploited to its full potential.

'The In-Between Bookstore' is a vividly written book, with great descriptions, if sometimes a bit long, with great interiority, edging to the nearly too much end of the scale. The main character, Darcy, is a perfect exemple of a flawed character, who easily slips into a distant mode toward his friends or family, quite self centered and a tendancy toward lying if a subject is uncomfortable.

And that's exactly where it start to feel like the story isn't developed to its full potential or in the direction I thought it was headed. Because even though Darcy learns to open himself more throughout the book, learns about his flaws and mistakes, I don't have the feeling he really grew that much in the end. I am okay with open-ish endings, but I need to feel like most of the issues surrounding the story are resolved enough for the character to live another story outside the pages. And I don't really have this feeling with Darcy. He is on the right path, and yet... I'm not sure he will not fall back into his habits.

His relationship with Michael is something I have ambivalent emotions about too. I didn't expect a romance when I started, but then, as I saw how things were going, I thought there might be one. In the end, there isn't, and I am somewhat bitter, because I have the impression Darcy let Michael down, not the other way around, and it isn't resolved by the end. They managed to get back in contact, but I am not satisfied.

The concept of Darcy meeting his younger self in a bookstore and trying to fix thing is great, but again, it felt a bit under exploited. I can't really explained how and why, but there was so much potential there, both for Young Darcy and his older self, to confront himself, to heal, to understand. And I don't feel like it happened. Sure, he managed to act and there is something hopeful about how the author decided to play things, but I am not sure I got what I wanted.

Maybe I didn't get what the author wanted to share with this story. In a way, it is a great tale about healing, without big changes withing the character. More like a little introspection on Darcy's side, enabling him to chose what he wants in life, with the hope of that things might have gone differently, if he had made certain choices.

The In-Between Bookstore is a charming and introspective read. Darby, a trans man, returns to his small hometown after losing his job in NYC and stumbles upon a magical bookstore that lets him meet his teenage self. It’s a fascinating concept that really dives into Darby’s past and his old friendships, especially with Michael. The time travel twist adds a unique layer, though it felt like it could’ve been explored more deeply.

The characters are well-crafted, and Darby’s journey of self-acceptance is touching. The ending ties things up nicely but might leave you wanting a bit more detail. Overall, it’s a thoughtful and engaging story about coming to terms with your past and finding your way forward.

This was such a nice, emotional read about growing up queer and reconciling the many versions of you in adulthood.

After being laid off from his job, Darby sits at a crossroads. Unsure where he lands, he decides to uproot his life for a couple of weeks to help his mom pack up her house and move into a condo. After not visiting his small hometown for years, Darby comes back and begins reconnecting with his previous life and everyone - and every place - in it. As he explores his old haunts, he returns to the In-Between Bookstore, where he was a cashier during high school. However, when he enters the store, it’s 2009 and he sees his former self at the register. Darby rekindles former friendships and mentors his former self on his journey of self discovery to determine what and where he goes next in his life.

I really liked the premise of this book - especially the magical realism elements. I adored the scenes with the main character encountering their previous self in the bookstore. However, it really did not use this element to its full capacity. Additionally, I was drawn into the story by the author’s writing and the fast pace of the story. I loved many of the characters, especially Michael and Darby’s mom. But I felt like Darby’s character growth was limited and found myself incredibly frustrated by the ending. While I appreciated the message, I just wanted more resolution to all the loose ends! Ultimately, while I wanted to love this one, I felt a bit mixed on it.

Thank you Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the ARC!

Darby returns to his hometown of Oak Falls after losing his job in NYC and discovers his childhood bookstore unchanged, with a mysterious teen who might offer him a chance to revisit his past. As he confronts his strained relationship with an old friend and the changes around him, Darby faces the possibility of altering his present and future.

I absolutely adore Edward Underhill’s YA novels and was so excited to see an adult debut from him. I dove quickly into Darby’s world and was immediately bought into the story.

I loved the use of time travel here, and how Darby tried to figure out where his friendship with Michael fell apart. I know this wasn’t a romance but Edward wrote the hell out of this friendship, making my heart squeeze multiple times.

The supporting cast of characters is really good. I loved Darby’s mom and her rants about the neighbor, lol, but I loved how much she loved Darby!

Ultimately, this book is about found family, forgiving yourself, giving yourself grace to make mistakes and own up to them, and finding your bliss, even if it takes longer than you expected.

I really enjoyed this and I think a lot of people will be able to relate.

I enjoyed it. Edward's writing was beautifully written, fast pacing, and had a great group of characters. There were a couple of things throughout the book that made me stop and question.

Why did he not want to go visit his mom who always supported him?
Why couldn't Darby remember what happened between him and Michael throughout their friendship?
Why doesn't he keep talking to his NY friends once he goes back to Illinois?

I loved the idea of going back in time and seeing your young self. If I was able to, I would in a heartbeat.

Overall, this book was considered a healing and accepting choices book, which I quite liked. It's all about self-discovery, how to accept your self, and how to accept the choices that we make.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this book.

If you're someone who grew up queer in a small town, or at the very least felt like an outsider no matter where you went. Or if you're someone having quarter-life crisis... This book may be perfect for you.

This novel really brings out the uncomfortable truths of turning 30, going back to the hometown you never thought you'd go back to, and coming face-to-face with childhood problems and teenage mistakes. The time travel aspect of this book really tied it all together, it would not have made sense or hit the same way it did otherwise.

Darby, the most perfectly imperfect character. I think it was important for his own development to have these interactions with his younger self. I think it was his own way of healing himself and his inner child. The decisions he made along the way were not always the best choices, but I feel like it's quite realistic to not always do things right the first time. The journey is sometimes more important than the destination. I feel like Darby's argument with Olivia was kind of pointless, and the fact that he ignored them for so long. There are plenty of other ways to introduce Darby's want/need to go back to Oak Falls, especially without leaving his friends in the dust.

The book as a whole is very low stakes and the sci-fi aspect is pretty minimal/easy to digest. I thoroughly enjoyed the delivery of this book and all the issues it addresses (regardless of how they're resolved). I hope that if you choose to read this, that it will heal you a little bit as it did for me.

Every time a YA author reveals they’re publishing an adult book, I get really enthusiastic. And some of those are awesome, just as good as their YA stories, and some even better. But sometimes, I wish they’d stick to what they were good at.

First of all, I really loved Edward Underhill’s writing in The In-Between Bookstore. All his descriptions were incredibly vivid, and I smiled so many times. I love flawed characters, and I found Darcy kind of a jerk when I first met him—not visiting a mom who had always supported him, hmmm. But he’d probably grow a lot during the story.

On the surface, this is a wonderful book. There’s so much to love: great writing, pretty fast pacing, and a diverse cast, and I flew through the first half. But slowly, I started shifting in my seat because I wanted more. I didn’t understand why Darby couldn’t remember what happened in his friendship with Michael back then.

This story is pitched as a healing novel, but I really wanted more character growth. I knew beforehand this wasn’t a romance, and I usually don’t mind. But towards the last pages, my shifting got worse, and I kind of hated the ending. I didn’t like Darby’s choices and that he was still lying to Michael. And his world in New York and his world in Illinois felt so disjointed. This probably doesn’t make sense if you haven’t read the book, but overall, it felt like he had hardly learned anything. Now I’m in doubt. Because I loved the first half but didn’t like the ending. The first half is definitely a four star read, but the last chapters maybe barely a two star. So, in the end, I think my average is somewhere between 3 and 3.5 stars, rounded down to 3.

I think this book would have been better had it not suffered from a pretty boring main character, because a lot of the plot lines that could have been fairly impactful didn’t really make their mark on me because I did not care at all about what happened to Darby or the past version of him at all. However, I think that the transition from writing YA books to writing adult books was pulled off pretty well, and I wasn’t bored of the book, just its narrator (if that makes any sense)

What would you say to your younger, pre-transition self?

When Darby leaves New York after being let go to help his mother move in his small hometown, he visits the bookstore he use to work at, his refuge, only to find his pre-transition self looking back at him. But why is his pre-transition self so miserable? And is this his chance to find out what happened between him and his best friend?

While I loved "This Day Changes Everything," this one didn't quite make it for me. The time travel is CRIMINIALLY underutilized, and I was left wishing Darby was different. While touched on, I wish there was more in-depth insight into what it was like visiting his home town, seeing his past self, living in his pre-transition room. He blows off his mother's attempts to reconnect. He barely talks to his New York friends after leaving. There was such an opportunity for growth for Darby that the reader just didn't quite get. In one way this works, because he's an adult and life isn't quite so neat, but I don't know if he really learns anything, either. I don't believe him when he says he'll try to visit his mother and home town more often. I just don't believe him.

After loving "This Day Changes Everything," I'll continue reading anything Underhill writes. This one just didn't quite make me fall in love, though.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

I really liked this. I didn't read the synopsis closely and didn't realize it's a very personal story about coming out as trans and accepting choices. The parallel time travel was fascinating without getting bogged down in science, adding to the fantasy of the story. I really liked how the story ended (no spoilers) because it felt real and earned.