3.5/5

The In-Between Bookstore by Edward Underhill is a heartfelt exploration of self-discovery, love, and the choices that shape our lives. This stunning novel follows Darby, a 29-year-old trans man who, after losing his job in New York City, returns to his small hometown of Oak Falls, Illinois, to help his mother move out of his childhood home. But what begins as a reluctant homecoming turns into a journey through time and memory, anchored by the magical and mysterious In-Between Bookstore.

Darby hasn’t been home since high school and carries a lot of unresolved emotions about his past, from his teenage crush on Michael to the identity struggles of his younger self. When he steps into the bookstore where he worked as a teen, Darby is inexplicably transported back to 2009, coming face-to-face with his 16-year-old self. What follows is a beautiful and poignant journey as Darby grapples with the person he was, the life he has now, and the future he wants to create.

Underhill’s writing shines in capturing Darby’s emotional growth and his attempts to reconcile with the “what-ifs” of life. The story blends past and present seamlessly, offering a unique lens through which to reflect on identity, belonging, and personal growth. The Midwest setting adds a special charm, and as someone from Illinois, I loved the subtle quirks that made Oak Falls feel so relatable and real.

Overall, The In-Between Bookstore is a touching and memorable read. It’s perfect for anyone who has ever felt caught between their past and their future, and it will resonate deeply with queer millennials who understand the struggles of self-acceptance and finding where you belong. With its heartfelt writing and vivid characters, this book lingers long after you’ve turned the final page.

✨ Highlights:

A poignant journey of self-discovery and growth.
Midwest charm and relatable small-town quirks.
A perfect blend of magical realism and contemporary fiction.
A must-read for fans of queer stories and introspective narratives.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon Books for the ARC!

Thanks to NetGalley, Avon Books, Harper Voyager US, and BookClubGirl for this copy of "The In-Between Bookstore."

If a book even mentions time travel, I want to read it. What would you tell your younger self if you were able to meet them?

This story is so touching and reflective. Teenage years are tough enough but what if you're questioning your gender and feeling like no one understands or cares. Author Underhill makes us feel all the doubt, uncertainty, fear, and searching that some queer teens and adults feel.

Darby is struggling with figuring out his life, feeling like something's missing, and feeling untethered. Recently fired from his job in NY, he decides to head home to IL to stay with his mother for awhile.

He enters the bookstore where he worked as a teen and sees his teenage self? But how can that be?

And then he runs into his former best friend Michael. What happened to their friendship all those years ago? And all the teenage insecurities bubble to the surface. But maybe this time he can get answers.

The In-Between Bookstore follows Darby, a trans man, after he loses his job in New York and decides to move back home to Oak Falls, IL, for an indefinite amount of time to help his mother move out of his childhood home. Darby has not been home for a very long time (high school, he is now 29) and has some unprocessed feelings about his teenage job site (the bookstore) and his teenage crush (Michael). When he stops by his teenage bookstore, where he used to work, he is suddenly transported back 13 years to 2009 and comes face to face with his teenage self.
This book is for the queer millennials. In 2009, it was difficult to know where you fit in, especially if you’re grappling with your sexuality and gender identity. It’s easy to feel stuck in high school, and I think this book hits on that and does a pretty good job of doing so. Your childhood crushes are still real, but you have grown up, and so have they.
The In-Between Bookstore is Edward Underhill’s first foray into adult fiction, previously having stuck with YA, and it does read that way. Some of the writing is stilted, and some plot points are too easy. Basing the book around an adult reconciling his childhood can lend itself to feeling quite high school in nature. There was a lot of “what could have been” mixed in with longing for acceptance that Darby grapples with throughout the story.
Thank you to Edward Underhill, Avon, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The In-between Bookstore is a book that is about having to completely loose yourself in order to truly find yourself and who you are. The story centers on an almost 30 year old Darby, a trans man, who is happily proud and openly out. The story begins in media res where Darby has been let go from his job because it is shutting down. This is coupled with his rent being increased and his mom has decided to sell the family house. This sets Darby onto a journey of returning home and has him facing and coming to terms with his past, present, and future. The novel is a quick read that has dialogue that cuts right to the heart while also making laugh out loud moments. The time travel is the marketing point and what brought my interest to this novel but sadly it was not the strongest point of the story and eventually became background noise for me in the end.

Edward Underhill wrote a touching debut for Adult Fiction that will stick with me for a little while. The novel thrived in its characters and the almost slice of life vibe that it gave off. It was a great first attempt to cater to the mature audience that any queer person will be able to connect to. And for that I am thankful.

*Warning: Spoilers Below: Nothing intense just subplot points*
The Good
As I mentioned the conversations and the dialogue in this novel is superb. It truly felt grounded and real and there were moments where I felt I was reading Darby’s diary. This was done with the parenthetical commentary and it brought a tenderness and authenticity you do not always get in fiction. The writing style provided an a almost chaotic voice and that brought the story to life and made the experience very sweet and causal.

If you know my then you know on test that I give any books is to see if it will make me cry. It is not difficult to do so but I use it as a litmus test for the heart of the novel. Happily this novel/story got me to cry a few times. It was moments where Darby speaks up for himself or when he connects with his friends and they just went straight to my heart and got me to cry. In addition my gay feet were kicking with joy as I read the short but intense romance that occurred within the pages. I mean that football scene and the kiss had me screaming!

The novel has a lot of heart and it is made for the queer community. It gave a place for those that may have felt misunderstood in their youth to exist and show that they are never alone.

The last comment that I have on what was really good in this novel was Darby. I am not going to lie but Darby made me mad at certain points in the story and it was not due to horrible writing but in fact the opposite. Darby had is head stuck in his ass for a while and could not see what was happening around him and for my reactions was visceral which made me happy because it felt real the actions Darby was making. I mean Michael was being cute and Olivia was trying to reach out and Darby was just so not aware. Darby is flawed and had to grow in the story and he was trying to avoid what was going on and if that is not real life than I have no idea what is.

The Bad
Let it be known that I really liked this book and “The Bad” is not meant to detract from the achievement the book is but it is to be honest and let readers share thoughts.

Okay so my first things is there was a weird attention to details. Not always is it the details because of a over explanation but but it was odd inclusions or decisions. An example is

“Behind my Solar Plexus”

Like I know where that is, and I and I know what is being said about that but does everyone know it? Or was that just used as something so adults feel more adulty? I have no clue and I found it distracting.

Chapter and chapter breaks are a decision made by the author. A shorter chapter and make the pace quicker while longer chapters can slow things down. For this novel the chapters are rather slow, and at the beginning the chapters were abrupt and had breaks that split a scene in half, which I found odd. Towards the middle the chapters did even out and they were used to change scenes, locations, or days.

Another issue that I has was the switch in Darby and the related sex scene that for me came out of nowhere. Darby doubled down on his stubbornness and unwillingness to see around himself and it was quite shocking because at the time Darby was paying too much attention to others and what is going on. Darby had some growth but then the sex scene threw it all away. The morning after Darby was not giving Michael attention or seeing that he was vulnerable and only worried about getting back to the bookstore. I am not the hugest of romance and so I do not need a sex scene to feel happy, so when the out of nowhere quick escalation to that fade to black scene took me out of the moment. Part of me feels that was thrown in there for the adult audience and the for the genre rather than being a naturally occurring thing.

Now I know there may be an argument that the two needed to get it out of their systems so they could progress in being friends but they had not talked in 12.5 years! So to have that sudden kiss to sex transition was a lot for me. (I am not the target audience for things like this so if you like that type of thing it may be for you).

The last “bad” thing that I have to talk about is the time travel that almost felt like a hallucinations rather than actually traveling through time. I am thankful that the logistics of time travel was briefly discussed but I am not even upset with the how but more of the why time travel happened. Darby is a proud person and has a sense of who he is so going back in time did not provide that clarity since he already had it. Darby was also retrospective before getting home and was thinking about his past and life at Oak Falls so the time traveling did not help there either. Also Darby did not even learn why Michael was made at time from the traveling but because of a fight they had together. I think it was all to discuss the theory that each choice splits into multiple universes? But Darby did get something out of the traveling and I am glad for that and it did push him to truly understand where he belongs but that could have been done without seeing the younger version of himself. (Also what was going on with the phone thing, just leave it in the car)

Rating
⭐⭐⭐.5
Rating: 3.5 out of 5.
I think book was a strong 3.5 star book. It had good laughs and touching moments. It was a rather easy read that had a decent flow to it. For me the time travel and the odd romance is what knocked it down the 1.5 stars.

Target Audience
Queer people of any identity and specifically that that have had to go home to their trauma and face their demons. It is a story for those that have lost themselves and have had to find their way back to themselves

Overall
The book has a lot of heart and it was a pleasure getting to read it. I will be keeping an eye out for Edward Underhill and see if he publishes any more adult fiction because he has the ability to write characters in ways that I do not see frequently.

After reading Underhill's previous 2 YA books, I was super excited to dive into his debut adult book. I will read anything he will write and was excited at the prospect of reading a "time travel/what could've been" type of story. But unfortunately, something fell flat for me. The writing was good, but I just didn't feel this was whole heartedly an adult book since we were so focused on the MC going back in time and talking to his teen self. Therefore it still felt like a YA story with not as much hearts his previous two books gave me.

Darby is a trans man that moved to NYC shortly after high school, never looking back. He found his people. But after getting laid off from work and not having a way to pay the exorbitant rent of the city, he decides to return home and help his mother move, or that is what he tells himself why he is returning back to his small town where he grew up. While there, he reconnects with a former BFF as well as with his teen self that works at the bookstore he worked at.

The In-Between Bookstore was a good story and easy to follow along with Darby and him connecting with his past in his small town he grew up in. I liked the concept of being able to go back in time to talk to your teen self and what they should be doing differently. Don't we all wish we could go back and tell our teen self some things that may change their outlook on the future or the future itself? What didn't work for me is I wasn't quite sure what the whole point was of visiting young Darby was doing for his present self. I did appreciate him connecting with his old BFF Michael and wish they had more resolution on their past and were able to push their present situation into something a little MORE. I also liked that he did get a little time with his mother, but there still seemed to be something that wasn't touched on in their relationship that was never brought to resolution. I wanted some closure or at least more discussions between them since there seemed to be parts of their pasts that they just let go. I felt it in the two tire swing scenes.

Overall, I liked the book, but wished I liked it more. This may be because I came in with high expectations. Probably more of a me thing than the actual book, but I would still recommend it to perhaps someone in their mid 20's and younger. It is well written, but just didn't come full circle in a few aspects that I thought it would.

The In-Between Bookstore is a heartfelt adult debut from Edward Underhill. Darby just got laid off and is struggling with the rent in NYC. On a whim, he decides to return home to IL. As a trans man returning to a small town, he wonders what he will find. Once there, he reconnects with his mom and is shocked to run into his old best friend, Michael. As Darby retraces his steps, he encounters a mysterious bookstore that invites self-reflection and perhaps a second chance.

The In-Between Bookstore is such a thoughtful story. Edward Underhill writes about the melancholy allure of wondering what could have been. This is such a relatable experience in the queer community and it is beautifully portrayed. While most people don’t have access to a time-traveling bookstore, I think anyone can relate to thinking about “what if” only one thing had been different in their past. The ending was a little bittersweet, but also felt honest and realistic. Darby has an amazing group of found family and I was also glad to see him rekindle his connection with his supportive mom.

Readers who seek found family, self-reflection, and magical bookstores will enjoy The In-Between Bookstore.

Thank you to Edward Underhill, Avon, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For publisher: My review will be posted on Goodreads, Amazon, Storygraph, and Barnes & Noble etc.

A thoroughly enjoyable story surrounding Darby, a transgender male, as he reassesses his life just prior to his 30th birthday. When his New York City life takes a downturn, he reaches out to his mother in Oak Falls, Illinois, where Darby grew up and couldn't wait to escape from as a high schooler., only to discover his mother is planning to sell the family home to move into a condominium elsewhere in town. To buy some time for himself, Darby agrees to go back to Oak Falls, ostensibly to help his mother pack up and move. In a clever twist on not being able to go home again, Darby discovers that the weird doubling of things that stay the same and those that have changed in small towns over the course of more than a decade jumbles together in In Between Books, the same bookstore a young female Darby worked at during high school, in her last year before leaving Oak Falls. For some reason, when Darby enters In Between Books, he is returned to the exact same day and the exact same time thirteen years earlier, but only while he remains inside In Between Books. Faced with his younger self, Darby explores his life at this pivotal moment, hoping that understanding his past, will help him understand his place in the present as he comes to realize thigs were not always what they seemed even then.

A quick and thoughtful read, I'm not sure if Underhill has truly shed his YA leanings. The book definitely leans heavily on the YA character of young Darby and feels a little weak on the "adult" nature of present Darby. Still, it was an enjoyable look at the what-ifs that tend to plague us all at each of those milestone birthdays, be it 30, 40, or 50.

A second chance romance with time travel and a bookstore lured me right in, and I'm so glad. I really enjoyed this book, especially the ending. Id absolutely recommend this book, I think many people can connect with this story in different ways.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC! The In-Between Bookstore truly gave off nostalgic and contemplative feelings. It was a very reflective lgbtq+ book that I would happily recommend to others. The story was easy to follow and the concept of talking to your past self is very novel where past choices truly dictate the future but then you play the what if game and hope to make it even better. The main character goes through a comforting and empathetic journey which validates who they are and gives them hope for their future in their acceptance of their i identity. While this book is very nostalgic to me, I feel like it truly is written for a niche audience: young millennials/zillennials from the Midwest fachg identity issues and acceptance. The references were all very 2010s and since I grew up in that time as a teenager, I understood them very well, but I can see others outside this age range would not be able to relate at all.

After reading the synopsis of this book, I was really excited to start reading. The idea that you could go back in time and talk to your past self sounded interesting to me. However, right off from the beginning I just didn't like Darby. Could be the writing of the character or maybe going into this book without a clear head. Not sure, but I just didn't vibe with the book. I wish the themes can gone more in-depth and just scratched the surface of what Darby's life was like. But overall a wonderful look at oneself and the conversations you could have if you had the chance to talk to your younger self. Loved the exploration of Darby's transness and self discovery, just didn't vibe with the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for this E-Arc in exchange for an honest review.

Darby is at a crossroads in his life. He’s out of work and feels like he doesn’t quite fit in New York anymore, so he decides to return to his small hometown of Oak Falls, Illinois. When he gets there, he finds that a lot has changed—his mom is moving into a new home, and the town itself feels different. But one thing stays the same: The In Between Bookstore, a place he used to hang out as a kid and later worked at in high school. When Darby steps inside, he gets a strange feeling that he’s been there before, even though something’s off. The newspapers are all from 2009, and behind the counter is a teenager who looks just like Darby did when he was sixteen.

This book takes readers on a journey of self-discovery, love, and reflecting on the choices that shape our lives. I really enjoyed seeing how Darby grows throughout the story, and it was nice to read about his old friends from New York, though I kind of wished there was more focus on them. I think it would’ve been interesting to explore more of Darby’s life in New York, and his connection with his friends, especially since we only get glimpses of that part of his life.

The book is under 300 pages, so there’s only so much you can fit in, but the author did a good job of showing Darby’s growth in a short amount of time. Still, I think I would’ve liked it if the book were longer to really dive deeper into his life and his time in New York.

Overall, I really liked the story and it stayed with me for a while after finishing the book.
4 Stars

3.5 stars

I loved the concept behind The In-Between Bookstore, because who hasn't at one point thought about being able to go back in time and talk to their younger selves? Overall I really did enjoy this, but at times felt Darby came across too immature.

Edward Underhill’s wistful debut follows trans man Darby at a crossroads after being laid off from his job in New York City. Darby reluctantly returns to his hometown of Oak Falls, Illinois to help his mother pack up and sell his childhood home. When Darby visits the local bookstore, he’s magically transported back in time and encounters his younger pre-transition self. As Darby wrestles with what to say and how that might affect his future, he reconnects with an estranged friend and learns to embrace the choices he’s made.

This was a very beautiful and melancholy view into what it’s like growing up queer and specifically Trans* in a small town. This book is full of journey, self love, forgiveness, healing your inner child, self discovery, second chances, nostalgia, and the question of “where do I belong?”. I really enjoyed this one, but it still made me sad - and that’s okay. I love a happy ending, but sometimes I need a dose of reality, and this story gives that. This book made me want to hug my younger self.

This was an intriguing time-travel tale where the main character got to revisit their past teenage self (before having transitioned) and mend some relationships with the perspective of a decade as an adult whilst simultaneously encountering the friends they'd unintentionally lost in the present. I had read the author's previous YA title and this one was similar in tone. I'll be curious to see who he writes for next: YA or new adult or both?

The In Between Bookstore was a charming novel about Darby who is unsure about his life in New York and is given the opportunity to go home to Illinois to help his mom move. While back home he visits the bookstore he used to work at in high school and is actually transported back to 2009 where he meets his younger self before he came out as trans. I found this book interesting as Darby explored his former friendships and what it was like to grow up in his hometown. I do wish there was a bit more growth with him and Michael, it still felt like they couldn’t be honest with each other, but maybe that’s more realistic. Overall, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to others.

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

4.5 rounded up. Thank you so much to Edward Underhill and Avon and Harper Voyager for the opportunity to read this beautiful ARC!

Darby has been running away from his hometown since he was young, but when he starts to feel out of place in New York, he decides to take the leap and return to a community that calls to him like a "What if?" With an impersonal connection to his mother, an ex-best friend whose abandonment felt nonsensical, and a town where everyone knows everyone, Darby doesn't know what he's looking for - but finds a hint when he walks into the bookstore he used to work out and spots his teenager self behind the counter, pre-transition.

With a story filled with reflection and redemption, The In-Between Bookstore offers us a chance to consider all of the ways we can go through life, and all of the possibilities that could have been. With real characters whose flaws add instead of taking away, getting to watch Darby go on a journey to remember his roots and come to terms with who he has become was something special. I think many of us will be able to relate to his feelings of overwhelm and struggling to tell the people we care about how we really feel.

The ending was not what I expected, and I adored it for that very reason. I'm so glad to have read a book that shows so many ways friendships can form, develop, fall apart, and be rekindled. How nostalgia can be so powerful. How mistakes don't need to be erased to be fixed.

Really gorgeous. Highly recommend to people who enjoy a bit of magical/sci-fi realism while exploring complex characters. The In-Between Bookstore will be available Tuesday, January 14th, 2025 so definitely pick it up. Thank you again for the ARC!

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.

One of my favorite hypothetical questions is, "If you could go back in time and tell your younger self one thing, what would that be?" Obviously, I don't want to mess with the timeline too much so I always say that I would tell my teenage self that everything will be okay. You'll have a rough go, but pay attention, learn the lessons, and stick with it because you'll meet some amazing people who will lift you up and be your friends for life. I'd also probably give myself a set of winning lottery numbers that I could play once the younger me turns 35 (when I was mature enough to handle the wealth). Now, all I need is an opportunity to go back in time and make that happen.

In this book, author Edward Underhill explores this hypothetical question through the lens of 29 (almost 30) year-old Darby, a trans man who has hit a roadblock in life after losing his job. One night, Darby calls his mom, who tells him she is selling his childhood home and moving into a condo. Darby decides to rent a car, pack all of his belongings, and travel back to his hometown of Oak Falls, Illinois (much to the chagrin of his friends in NYC) to help his mother out. He feels like he needs to get away, clear his head, and decide what his future holds.

Darby doesn't anticipate running into his former best friend, Mike - a friend with whom he had a falling out just before their senior year of high school. He also doesn't expect to walk into the bookstore where he used to work as a teenager - back before he transitioned or even really knew he was trans - and find his younger self working there. As the days pass, and Darby reconnects with old friends, and continues to encounter his teenage self whenever he walks into the bookstore, more questions and feelings arise, but will he find the answers he is looking for?

There's a lot to like in this book. I found the characters to be likable and engaging - I think any queer kid will see something of themself in Darby and/or Mike. I felt for Darby. I know what it's like to grow up in a small town where you don't fit in. I also know what it's like to return to your hometown and feel both at home and like an outsider whenever you run into someone from your past. I also really enjoyed watching Darby discover his old self and, in a way, reconnect with who he was then. When I first started reading this book, I thought that this would be about Darby helping his younger self through a difficult time, but that's not exactly the case. The younger version of Darby helps the future version more than vice versa.

While I enjoyed the concept and liked the characters, I felt something was missing in the novel. While reading, I often found myself thinking that the book felt almost like a young adult novel, and then once I read that the author has written several YA novels and this is their first adult novel, it made sense. Some of the conflicts felt a little juvenile - something a teenager or someone in their early 20s would get worked up over. I also felt that the author could have gone deeper into the characters and the subject matter. Figuring out who you are as a gay kid is a scary thing, and I wanted more from the scenes between the two versions of Darby. I realize that the author was obeying the laws of "don't mess with the timeline in time travel." but I would have liked to have seen a more emotional connection here.

Overall, this is a touching and insightful read that touches on important themes. I just wished it had dug a little deeper. That said, I did appreciate that the book didn't go in a predictable direction. I expected it to end one way, but it went in a different, more bittersweet direction, which I appreciated. Sometimes, a happy ending comes in unexpected ways.

This book is special and wonderful and I cannot recommend it enough, especially to queer readers.

This story started with us meeting the MC, Darby, when he’s newly in a really heightened emotional space. I think that could have been a difficult entry point, but instead I found I could completely understand his thought processes and motivations, and that I was immediately invested. I really like time travel books and felt that the travel in this one was really unique, being rooted to a place. It was also a great way for Darby to have a heartwarming and healing exploration of his transness and his teenage years.

I never cry at books but this ending had me crying happy tears. Darby felt like a real person and I was just so happy for him. This book was advertised as healing and it really, really was.