I love Edward Underhill’s YA books and really liked the concept of this but I think it lacked something. The writing is superb and the story was emotional but it sort of fizzled out. I wanted more for these characters. It was a good read but fell a tad short of my expectations.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book!! This was a beautiful story!! I thought the magical realism was an interesting twist. I wish the relationship in the story could’ve ended differently but that’s ok. Overall, I definitely recommend it!!

Time travel is a story convention that I almost always like because of the way it allows writers to play with the concept of “what if” as well as being a means to explore regret and process past traumas. That is why the description for Edward Underhill’s upcoming novel The In-Between Bookstore caught my interest. Focusing more on regret and the self-doubt that often comes during times of great personal upheaval, The In-Between Bookstore walks the line between being a little absurd because of the time-travel element, and taking itself too seriously exploring some pretty heavy and emotional self-reflection. Luckily, Underhill manages to walk that line using engaging, entertaining, and thoroughly relatable characters.

Darby is having a difficult time as he stares down turning thirty in a few weeks. He’s lost his job and the rent for his absurdly small studio apartment is going up. Despite his friends’ questioning his decision, Darby is headed to his hometown of Oak Falls to help his mother downsize and move from his childhood home to a new condo across town. But going home means facing some difficult memories and emotions. He never felt quite right there, especially after a falling out with his best friend, Michael, when he was seventeen. It was going away to college that gave Darby the courage and comfort to come out as trans and make his transition. When he discovers that Michael never really left Oak Falls and that he’s come out as gay, running into one another seems to become as unavoidable as it is awkward. Upon walking into the bookstore where he worked as a confused and uncomfortable teen, Darby discovers that the teen behind the counter now doesn’t just look like he did, it actually IS a younger Darby and that walking through the bookstore door is somehow transporting him to 2009 and the days leading up to the falling out with Michael. As Darby tries to navigate reviving his friendship with Michael, he wonders if the quirk of traveling backwards in time whenever he goes to the bookstore isn’t the universe trying to give him a second chance at preventing that falling out and the loss of a friendship that once meant so much.

While the rules of time travel in the book are a bit shaky and Darby’s attempts to figure out how it’s happening and why can be clunky, the introspective lessons he learns are relatable. Perhaps more engaging than anything to do with the bookstore and time travel are Darby’s awkward attempts to interact with both those people he knew from childhood and those he’s meeting for the first time. In a lot of ways, it was easy to understand Michael’s frustrations with Darby – even Darby gets frustrated with his younger self. There is a level of self-centeredness that comes with being a teenager. Suffering from dysphoria on top of that would only add to the opportunities for miscommunication (and given Michael’s own personal struggles, there was a bit of self-centeredness on his part that played a role in their falling out too). The social anxiety of seeing people from his youth, regardless of how they treated him in high school, was so accurately depicted, it can spark some serious second-hand embarrassment.

I was a little disappointed there wasn’t more to the actual mechanics of time travel and Darby’s interactions with his younger self, but the resolution the novel finally reached absolutely felt like the right one from an emotional standpoint. It would be interesting to see either a standalone novel where the same thing happens with the same bookstore and a different character from Darby’s youth (Michael in particular with a timeline overlapping with this one) or even an entirely different character from town (actually, Darby’s mother might be a good option…).

The In-Between Bookstore will be available January 14, 2025.

While some of the characters in this book I really enjoyed (Mom, Mr. Grumpy, NYC friends), I just couldn't really appreciate Darby and Michael. They were too... Awkward? Strange? I get that they were supposed to be, but it never felt natural when they were talking. Others, a good book with an interesting premise. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

4.5 ⭐️ rounded up
I really enjoyed the authors writing throughout the book and got sucked into the story once Darcy returns home for NYC to help his mother move and figure out his life. The storyline intrigued me and did not let me down. There is a lot of self-reflection by Darcy throughout the book. Darcy left his small town of Oak Falls because he didn't feel like he fit (but he also doesn't communicate those feelings to his best friend, which leads to lack of communication/miscommunication). This book really puts in the perspective how we, especially as teenagers, get caught up in our own world and get tunnel vision - and how looking back on our past selves we might see things differently.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

The In-Between Bookstore by Edward Underhill reminded me of that point in Rupaul’s Drag Race where Rupaul asks the contestants what they would say to their younger self. This book is about self discovery and finding your people. Does changing something in the past result in a better or different present or future? I loved Edward Underhill’s previous books, Always The Almost and This Day Changes Everything. I enjoyed the “weird quantum shit” in this book but I’m not sure why I didn’t love this book. It might come down to misunderstanding. I received an advance review copy from Avon Books for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was an interesting book and not what I expected. Darby, the MC, is an almost 30 trans man at loose ends and goes home to figure things out. He has a time travel experience, meeting his former self as a teen, repeatedly, and tries to understand and undo a ruptured relationship with his best friend. As a reader, the time travel aspect of the story worked for me because the emotional intensity of Darby trying to figure out what went wrong and repair it was raw and authentic. I'm not the best reader of new adult stories because I'm too old to really understand that generation, but I felt Darby's angst and sense of unresolved baggage very clearly. I would recommend this to readers of LGBTQIA/New Adult fiction. It leaves the reader with a lot to think about.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC!

A sweet story about finding yourself and about the paths not taken. I was expecting a little bit more of a fantasy element. Overall it was decent but didn't grab me the way I wanted it to.

3.5 rounded to 3 ☆ cause honestly I was bored for a big portion of the book despite it having things I thought were really good.

I loved the idea of this book and I loved the writing style and bits of humor. I loved the side characters... but I wanted more than what we got.

The ending left me sad more than hopeful or feeling like Darby had a true resolution to his story. While he makes many discoveries about himself and his past, I didn't see true character growth on his part. The time travel was interesting but I wanted more of it and thought it would have a bigger impact on Darby than it did.

The best part of this book was seeing Darby's struggle with the emotions that come with being a trans man and queer, but even that felt more melancholic than hopeful that things could change.

I'm not trans but I am queer, and while some points hit really close to home, I was just really disappointed in how Darby's story was executed and with the final resolutions, especially when it came to Michael.

One thing that I really loved though was the author is also a trans queer man. While I didn't enjoy the book as much as I wanted to, I think it's amazing when authors write stories close to their hearts.

Would I recommend this? Maybe. If you're also queer or trans I think you might get something from this book. The parts I loved most were related to these topics. But the overall book just wasn't my favorite.

My many thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for a chance to read this as an ARC. While I did receive this book for free, all thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

Kind of a weak read for me. Story had a lot of potential but the author did nothing with it. Felt unsatisfying in the end

"Because nobody else can tell you who you are."
I know this is a book for adults, and there's a brief sexual situation. The majority of this book feels geared toward young adults though. There is so much angst, fear, and confusion about life choices and regret. Main character, Darby, returns to his hometown in Illinois after becoming jaded with the harsh realities of surviving NYC living. There, he meets his younger self at the bookstore he used to work at while simultaneously navigating awkward social situations in his present, including reconnecting with his former best friend. There's a lot of positivity here. This story is very queer, encouraging inclusion and questions about identity, but it's hard to like Darby, who by his thirtieth birthday still struggles with who he is as a person, even though his gender has been a concrete part of him for years by the present time of the novel. He spends a lot of time complaining about being misunderstood when he is the primary culprit of misunderstanding himself. I'm not sure I found the ending as satisfying as I wish either; one more chapter would have provided a bit more closure. That is likely more of a me issue though, as the ending is rather poetic as is, which could be appealing to most.
Overall, this was a good, quick read. I think anyone struggling with fitting in and embracing who they are would easily empathize with Darby and enjoy it very much.
Thanks to NetGalley and Avon for this ARC!

The In-Between Bookstore by Edward Underhill is not a romance book, but that's okay. From the very first time our two character kiss one another, we get the sinking feeling that things won't be working out between them, or that our main character might lose something vital to himself if it does. This book is all about reflecting on our pasts and being true to ourselves in the present, and I thought it did an excellent job of exploring those themes from an adult queer perspective. I gave this book a four-star rating because I enjoyed it and I would recommend it to a friend, but I wouldn't read it again.

I have read all of Underhill's books now, and they just keep getting better. I love how he captured small town Illinois and how this setting really forced Darby to reflect on what he wanted - to go back to NYC or to stay in his hometown. The magical elements of the story were fresh and unique. They way that it was written had me thinking the story would go in a different direction than it did, and I love it when an author surprises me. I just loved Darby and how honest he is with himself about being unsure. It was just a beautiful story of turning 30 and still figuring things out.

When Darby finds himself unemployed and in need of a fresh start, he moves back to the small Illinois town he left behind. But Oak Falls has changed almost as much as he has since he left.

One thing is familiar: In Between Books, Darby’s refuge growing up and eventual high school job. When he walks into the bookstore now, 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.

Fascinating premise, execution was not too bad. I think this book will be a hit with queer people or anyone else who feels other'd, whatever their reasons. I really enjoyed this, but I don't see it being as well received by general readers. It deals too much with emotion, and I don't feel like there's enough external plot going on to balance it. That said, I enjoyed the book a lot, and I'm grateful for the chance to have read it. 3.5⭐

I received an advanced complimentary digital copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed are my own.

I'm going to be thinking about this book for a long time.

As a fan of Edward Underhill's other books, I requested for an ARC knowing that I would enjoy anything he publishes, but what I didn't know was that I would be getting teary eyed and emotional over Darby's story in The In-Between Bookstore. The book starts with him getting let go from his job in New York City, rent being raised, and feeling stuck in life. Darby makes a last minute decision to go home and help his Mom move out of his childhood home, giving him time to rethink his life and figure out of NYC is really for him. If that wasn't enough, his ex-best friend is still in town and his pre-transitioned teenage self is stuck in time at the bookstore he worked at in high school.

This novel highlights a lot of self discovery and the different choices you make in life. It makes me think a lot of myself. While I'm not close to entering my thirties like Darby, I had the same idea to run away from my hometown to start a "new life". I didn't think I could be myself as a trans-man surrounded by people I've known all my life, so I went to an out-of-state college and started my own transition there. It's never easy thinking about the choices I made to be where I am today, but I am happy with those decisions. I hope Darby can be happy with those decisions too.

Unfortunately, this book was mostly forgettable. It had an interesting plot, with a promising trans character, but the magical realism left a LOT to be desired, and I felt no chemistry between the two main characters. Plus all they needed to do was talk about their feelings and there would have been no book at all lol. Good audiobook narration though, and a quick read. 3.75 rounded up!

🌈Queer rep: Main trans guy, gay male love interest, MM main couple. Secondary, FF couple, MM couple, and F/NB couple.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Edward Underhill always puts out such raw and beautiful masterpieces of fiction and I always appreciate it. This book feels like a hug and I always look forward to seeing more and more about the trans experience. I look forward to more adult novels by Edward!

I really enjoyed how much LGBTQIA+ representation was in this book. I’m still trying to figure out how and why the bookstore was going between the past and present and which theory Darby and Michael had is the correct one.
Overall it was a cozy and quick read and I enjoyed it.

*I received a free ARC from NetGalley*

This is the adult debut for Edward Underhill. I have read and enjoyed his previously published YA books.

This book takes a good look at how we view our younger selves. And the main character, Darby, has a chance to talk to their younger self, before they have fully understood that they were trans.

This book is based mostly in a small town in Illinois, and I found it very relatable. I especially loved that it centers around the bookstore Darby worked at as a teenager.

I really enjoy this authors writing style, it draws me in every time.

I mostly read romance, and this book is definitely not a romance, but it does give this hope in the unknown, in the what if’s, and it may take a detour, but finding where we belong, and finding where home truly is.

Such an interesting read, wasn't really sure what to expect going in, but I ended up being absolutely captivated, The writing was beautiful, and the ending was just so bittersweet...

Darby, a young trans man in NYC isn't sure where to go next in his life - he's lost his job, his apartment rent is raising, and he really isn't sure on if he even wants to stay in NYC any longer. He has an amazing friends group there, but is that enough? So he gives away all his furniture, packs his things into his rental car and heads back to his hometown. He was so quick to get away from there, but under the pretense of returning home in order to help his mom pack - he heads back and bumps into his former best friend, Michael.

He basically enters the bookstore he worked at while in high school and is transported back to that year - he sees it all again, and sees all of the struggles he went through from a different perspective. Michael is a really compelling and enjoyable love interest. Darby is an absolutely incredible main characters, and I loved all of the other characters as well.

The writing is melancholic and wistful all at once. The struggles easily feel real and I just truly loved the prospect of finding oneself by returning to where you came from.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Avon Harper Voyager for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review..