You Between the Lines is a book I became obsessed with after hearing the main characters went to high school in Cleveland, Ohio. I ran to download when it became available on netgalley and read in a few sittings, pacing it out because I just didn't want it to end. The tension between Will and Leigh was rising with every chapter towards the middle and I couldn't wait for them to just fuck it out of their systems. I appreciated the real take Will took towards taking an antidepressant and found myself rooting for him alll the way. I sit here and think to myself- DAMN this was a debut. I can not wait to read what Katie puts out next.

Thank you Forever for my earc. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I don’t usually pick up romance novels, but You Between the Lines surprised me in the best possible way. From the very first page, I was completely hooked. Naymon’s writing is sharp and engaging, but what truly caught my attention was how she used poetry to tell the story. I don’t typically read a lot of poetry, but I found myself wanting more and more of it as I continued. Leigh and Will’s communication through their poems felt so genuine, and the way they interpreted each other’s words added an extra depth to their relationship that I really appreciated.

Coming from a scientific academic background, I also found the setting of the MFA program very interesting. Naymon creates such a vivid picture of the creative writing world that I felt like I was actually there with the students, sitting in the workshops listening to their discussions and feeling the pressure they face to create something meaningful. It felt less like reading about fictional characters and more like I was reconnecting with old classmates.

What I also loved about You Between The Lines is how it deals with very relatable and real-life issues. Mental health, impostor syndrome, people-pleasing, and difficult relationships with parents are all explored in a way that feels both personal and universal. The characters are far from perfect, but that’s what makes them so real and relatable. Their struggles and insecurities are very human, and you can easily see parts of yourself in them, which makes their stories even more powerful.

Leigh and Will’s relationship is not simple, it’s messy and complicated, but that’s what makes it feel so authentic. It’s not a typical romance. Their bond grows through their writing and poetry, and you can feel the intensity of their connection on a much deeper level. Naymon manages to express this without making it feel too intellectual or heavy. It’s very accessible and speaks to emotions in a way that feels honest. If you appreciate storytelling in the style of Taylor Swift’s lyrics or enjoy narratives told through art, this book will resonate with you.

I also have to mention the cover, it’s absolutely beautiful, and I can’t wait to have a physical copy on my bookshelf. It’s one of those books you’d be proud to display!

In the end, You Between the Lines is much more than just a romance. It’s a story about finding yourself, learning to express your feelings, and the complex ways we connect with others. Katie Naymon is definitely an author to watch, and I’m excited to see what she will write next. This book feels like the start of something truly special.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶

💓 Rivals to Lovers
💓 Found Family
💓 Mental Health Rep
💓 Poetry as Banter

First of all, I have to say that I fell in love with Katie's writing. I was hooked from the very beginning and devoured the book in just a few hours.

Leigh and Will were two characters that truly captivated me, and I could really relate to them. This book touches on topics like depression and anxiety, and I think they were handled in the best way possible because I could put myself in the characters' shoes without feeling overwhelmed.

But beyond these topics, the book brings incredible tension between the characters. Honestly, I couldn’t stop smiling and tapping my feet because of these two. The chemistry between them is simply out of this world.

I’m usually a girl who loves dual POV, but in this case, I think the single POV worked perfectly. From the very start, I found myself analyzing Will’s actions the same way Leigh did—hahaha.

I loved how their relationship developed—I could understand the insecurities they felt, but in the end, they just couldn’t stay away from each other.

I can’t forget to mention how much I loved Gen—she’s an amazing friend to Leigh.

I had the best time reading this book and would highly recommend it!

Thank you so much, Forever and NetGalley, for sending me this ARC!

Romance is not usually my go-to genre, but YBTL surprised me in the best way. What initially drew me in was the title, but what kept me engaged was the emotional depth and wit woven throughout the story. Leigh is not your conventional "likable" character, and that’s exactly what makes her so relatable. Her struggles with insecurity, people-pleasing, and self-worth are portrayed with raw honesty, making her journey of self-growth both authentic and compelling.

I appreciated how the book did not shy away from showing Leigh's vulnerabilities, allowing her to be an imperfect, fully realized character. Her emotional maturation by the end of the book was reflected beautifully in her poetry, which is a unique and intimate aspect of this novel. The academic setting, combined with the intellectual tension between Leigh and Will, made for a rich narrative that transcended the typical rivals-to-lovers trope. Their chemistry was undeniable, but what I loved most was how their relationship allowed both characters to grow emotionally and confront their own insecurities, especially through open discussions around mental health.

In a genre where sometimes women are portrayed as someone to “give in to a relationship”, this book felt refreshingly different. Both Leigh and Will matured together, and their development was handled with care and realism. The writing was sharp and thought-provoking, and I found myself rooting for both of them—not just as a couple, but as individuals on their own journeys of self-acceptance.

Overall, YBTL is a touching, beautifully written debut that blends romance, self-discovery, and the messy yet rewarding process of finding one's voice. I highly recommend it, especially if you're a fan of smart, character-driven narratives with emotional depth.

I love a good love story, and this just had something extra sweet about it. It was fabulous! Loved the characters and the setting. It was wonderfully written. Get ready for an adorable ride with this one!

A lovely romantic read perfect for Valentine’s. I swooned over Will and wanted to shake Leigh. It made me giddy with anticipation!

This was available for read-now and all I knew about it was that it was being suggested for readers that enjoy Julie Soto’s books. As a huge fan of Julie Soto, I figured I would check this out and see. Oh, boy did this exceed my every expectation. Dare I say this is my favorite read of the year? (I’ve read over 100 books so far this year, for reference. Yes, I know that is utterly insane). Will and Leigh’s story captivated me in a way few other books have. I saw so much of myself in Leigh as someone who also went to school for English and Creative Writing and someone who also struggles with anxiety over being perceived as smart and competent in a room of others. While I have not pursued my MFA, my partner recently finished his MFA for creative writing and we were giggling over the many accurate detailings of life in an MFA program throughout the book. The romance was unbelievably phenomenal. The chemistry, the tension, and the pining. AHH. It was all so palpable. This book had me giggling, crying, hyperventilating. I cannot wait to see what comes next from Katie Naymon. I will be eagerly awaiting more from her!

You Between the Lines is the perfect title for book. Leigh and William/Will went to the same high school and years later wind up at the same North Carolina University for a Masters writing and poetry program. Each week those in the program write a piece, share it and constructively critique each other; writing this review feels like one of these workshops.

Leigh and Will are interesting characters, and seem to be written well. They are hiding who and what they are to varying degrees, and it's frustrating but it's also so true in life; how many of us hide who we are because we want to be liked.
The story wraps up well tying up the loose ends and doesn't leave any strings behind.

I wanted to love this. I wanted so badly for this novel to consume me. From the moment it was presented as a must-read for fans of Julie Soto, I was in. I had high hopes. Maybe that's where it went wrong—Julie Soto's writing is fast-paced and sends you on a roller coaster of emotions. And yes, I had a roller coaster of emotions—a roller coaster of annoyance that we were doing the same dance several times in a row.

The novel started off strong; the prologue set the tone nicely. The first time Leigh and Will decided they were better off as friends, I thought, okay, yeah, that makes sense. The second time the same thing happened, I thought: okay, sure, I don't love it, but I get it. The THIRD time it happened, I thought, are you KIDDING me???? Mind you, the same dance happened six years ago, so the same situation presented itself four or five times. And I was sick of it.

There were some quotes that I resonated with, most notably because I am also a people pleaser:

"You assign your self-worth based on your perception of what others think about you."

But ultimately, this fell flat for me. Leigh was a bit unbearable. Will had some endearing moments, but at one point, I stopped caring because it just felt like we were going in circles. This novel may resonate more with English majors. I have a friend in the English program at our grad school, so I am curious what she would think of it.

Thank you Forever for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I just finished the book, and I found it to be a great read, especially for young adult and romance readers. I really appreciated how you captured the ups and downs of being a writer, particularly the way other people's intelligence can make you question your own. As a writer myself, I found that aspect very relatable. However, I did feel that, at times, I had to push myself to keep reading. The writing is good, but I think it could have used something more to fully captivate the reader. Overall, though, it was an enjoyable read!

great story and beautiful characters. This made me swoon and I loved the main male character. The cover is beautiful

Such a lovely fall read.

The tale of two ex high school crushes that find themselves in the same MFA program.
Leigh and Will are perfect for each other, if only they can each get out of their own way. Both dealing with past and current trauma related to their parents - they must both come to terms with the fact that they are their own people and the mistakes of others and the opinions of others do not define them.

Thanks to NetGalley for the E-ARC.

Thank you to ForeverPub and NetGalley for making this arc copy available in exchange for an honest review!

You Between the Lines follows Leigh as she begins a poetry MFA program in North Carolina. Enter William—Will—someone Leigh used to know in high school, a rival if you will, who now also happens to be a part of her poetry cohort. Both characters are dealing with their own issues and insecurities, and yet seem to be more similar than they realize.

Leigh felt relatable, struggling with self-doubt, feeling as if not worthy of being part of the program. There were moments where she was scared of people judging her, invalidating her work, and in the process of this insecurity she ended up doing the same to others (and later becomes self-aware of course). It felt realistic to have someone so wrapped up in their head that they closed themselves off to possibilities.
I was probably one chapter in when I knew how special this book was going to be. I could feel the characters and the humor coming off the page. I was quite literally giggling and kicking my feet, okay? I couldn’t get enough of it.

Don’t even get me started on Will. “I was born eight pounds, eight ounces, and eighteen inches long—which is to say, both too much and not enough.” What a sentence! The passing of notes in the margins of their assignments. Stolen glances. Moments where they find themselves alone (halloween party I’m looking at you). A farmers market and a corn maze. I was (and still am) obsessed!
I loved the writing cohort as a whole, the way they felt truly like a found family—they had my heart! I loved the scenes where they discussed their work in length, it’s probably the English major in me.

The setting and the circumstances felt all very raw and real and I couldn’t get enough of it. I read this in a 24 hour time frame which is extremely rare for me, so let that be a testament to how obsessed I was with the characters and the writing. Katie Naymon you have my heart and I will read anything you write from now on! This book is out February 18, 2025, trust me you’ll want to read it!

Poetry, angst, chemistry - I loved it!

Leigh can’t quite believe she got into a MFA program that accepts five poetry students a year. She is intimidated and excited until she finds out that her high school crush, whose criticism she has never forgotten (or quite gotten over), is part of her cohort. Things are awkward for a while, then they become a little friendly, and there seems to be potential for more if only Leigh and Will can learn to open up.

This was a joy to read. I adored the MFA/poetry writing plot. Leigh’s analyses of Will’s work to see if he was writing about her was funny (and somehow relatable). I also loved the little written comments and messages back and forth during workshop sessions and how their relationship progressed (though it also zigzagged, perhaps one too many times). Leigh and Will are so different and yet make so much sense together thanks to the author’s thoughtful storytelling. 4.5 stars.

Thank you very much to Forever and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

A woman and a man in a writing program, where the woman has a grudge against the man for being too critical of her writing. Am I talking about Beach Read by Emily Henry? No, lol.

Leigh feeling so dumb and inadequate on the first day of class brought back such a visceral memory of being in law school and feeling completely out of my depth.

I still don’t understand what took these two so long to get together. They explicitly tell the other how much they think about them, and for how long they’ve desired the other. And then just…? Both of them refusing to believe the other genuinely likes them? Over and over, across 10 years. Exhausting.

Leigh’s insecurity and anxiety and inaction are so stressful to read, but at least the author knows what’s up, with the stone cold reads delivered by William, Gen, and Bridget the therapist. (I really liked William a whole lot.) Like this line from William:
“Leigh, sometimes I feel like this is just a self-fulfilling prophecy with you. You’re looking for reasons why this won’t work, and I have to be honest, it’s pushing me away.”
(this quote is from an advanced copy, so it may change)

Taking all of that together, it sounds like I didn’t like the book, which is not accurate. I liked that Leigh matured and grew more confident interpersonally and in her writing. By far her biggest flaw was her insecurity, so seeing her work through it felt rewarding. I also enjoyed a lot of the side characters (not Leigh's parents, god). And, surprisingly, I didn't mind all the poetry, which I normally hate reading in a book (though I definitely agree that Leigh's earlier poems seemed surface-level).

The debut novel is a powerful and emotional and heart-wrenching read, yet beautifully written. Kate Naymon writing in truly fantastic, leaving me in awe that this is her first book. The way in which she crafts her characters is done so beautifully, adding depth to the story in a way that enhances the overall experience.

This book follows two characters Leigh and Will who were once ‘rivals ‘ in highschool but years later they met each other at a MFA program. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about both the , as their characters were incredibly relatable. Both were dealing with personal challenges , making the progression of their relationship understandable and natural. things in their life’s so understanding the progress of their relationship taking it slowly to get into a relationship was really understandable. At times you might question Leigh’s actions and notice how she tends to self sabotage in certain situations . However the more you read the book , you gain a better understanding of her behavior and the reasons behind it . Will is simply just perfect. Honestly he is now included in my favorite book boyfriend category.

The only issue I had with this book was the time jump; at times , it felt unrealistic, especially with how quick the “months” went by . Nevertheless this was a very fantastic read and I highly recommend it . I can’t wait to read more from her in the future!!

Thank you Netgalley and Forever publishing for the Arc . The Arc was provided in exchange for my honest review.

this was written beautifully, the prose was so descriptive and the metaphors were actual works of art. i was constantly rereading and pausing to sit with passages because they were so captivating. having actual poems included for different characters gave you deeper insight into their personalities and writing styles without having to blatantly state it, and seeing how they each analyze each others poems was interesting from a non-writer perspective. it was an enticing story that had style AND substance!

You Between the Lines by Katie Naymon is a contemporary romance full of substance and style.

Leigh Simon isn’t your normal MFA candidate and she has a lot to prove, even to herself. William Langford is your typical lit bro, or is he? The next 2 years are going to be very interesting.

They may be new cohort members, but their story started 10 years ago in a high school classroom. When William starts to submit poems about Leigh, everything changes, even them.

Read if you like:
🤎 Academia Romance
🤎 Rivals to Lovers
🤎 Poetry

you know a book is good when it takes 3 days to finish but you aren’t even mad about it because you get to sit in the way it makes you feel during it

this was a PHENOMENAL debut from katie naymon and it’s so absolutely insane i cannot fathom what her future books will bring.

if you love any book by emily henry and you love an academia setting in romance, this is a must read. the emotions from both leigh and will, together and on their own, were so real and raw and relatable, it broke my heart and put it back together.

i think this may be one of my top 10 reads of the year and katie naymon has grabbed my attention from here on out.

thank you to netgalley for this arc<3

This story was both sort of an enemies to lovers and second chance romance. I liked both aspects and connected well with the characters. I also liked the fact that Leigh went to therapy and wasn't embarrassed by it.

Sometimes the amount of mental health talk got a little tiring, but in general I really enjoyed this book.