I went into this book with high expectations—angst, tension, rivals-to-lovers, and forced proximity are all tropes I typically love. But the more I sat with this story, the more I realized… I really didn’t like the FMC. 😬

💭 What Worked:
🔥 The tension & angst—if you love that slow, push-and-pull dynamic between characters, this book delivers on that front.
💡 Mental health representation—I appreciated how the book addressed mental health struggles and the complexities of self-worth. It gave the story some depth beyond just the romance.
💖 Rivals-to-lovers + forced proximity—classic tropes that always add drama and intensity!

🚨 What Didn’t Work for Me:
🙄 The FMC—I found her immature, and some of her choices made it difficult to root for her. Instead of coming across as complex or flawed, she often just felt frustrating.
🌶️ The spice felt forced—rather than natural chemistry building between the characters, some of the steamy moments felt awkward or rushed. I wasn’t feeling the connection as much as I wanted to.
📉 Middle-of-the-road execution—while the premise had potential, nothing truly wowed me. The emotional beats and character development could have been stronger.

📌 What to Expect:
✨ Angst & tension-filled romance
🧠 Mental health representation
❤️‍🔥 Rivals to lovers dynamic
🏡 Forced proximity setting

⭐ Final Verdict:
While the book had some strong elements, my overall enjoyment fizzled the more I reflected on it. If you love high-angst romances with emotional depth, you might enjoy this—but for me, the frustrating FMC and forced intimacy held it back from being a standout read.

in all honesty, i didn’t love this one. it started off strong for me but as it went on it felt it dragged and lacked chemistry between the two main characters.

Read this book if you like:
•poetry
•forced proximity
•second chance romance

The audio was great. I’m usually skeptical about poetry but I really enjoyed learning more about it. Leigh was immature at times (but that’s part of growing up) and really started to find herself with the help of therapy. I think the themes are very common and many in their 20s will relate very much! Thank you Forever for the ALC

I started YOU BETWEEN THE LINES on a short, two-hour flight and by the time we landed, I’d almost finished. It immediately captured my attention and had me hooked until the end! Set in an MFA writing program, I loved that the hero and heroine had a bit of history because it added such a nice tension to their interactions. There’s an angst to the story that really worked for me because it wasn’t the overly dramatic kind, more in the sense of yearning for someone. There’s a push-and-pull to their dynamic that was often frustrating but still very compelling to read.

My biggest frustration with the book was the heroine. I understand how the criticism from the hero (in high school) was a knock on her confidence but I did want her to just… get over it. She has a lot of imposter syndrome in her writing program, which I appreciated — but it was sometimes at the expense of wondering, Why did she even want to be in the program in the first place? I’m not a poetry person, so I didn’t connect to that aspect of the book at all. There was moments of pretentiousness that did make me eyeroll a bit.

Overall, I enjoyed YOU BETWEEN THE LINES. It was easy to get into and held my attention. The characters frustrated me, but it was also a sign of how invested I was in the story. A solid debut that made me look forward to what Naymon will write next.

I’m sad that I finished this book. I tried to stretch out the read because I enjoyed Will and Leigh so much. It did get a bit repetitive at the end but you’ll fall in love with the characters and their writing.

I received an arc from Netgalley and the publisher.

This is such a complicated book. I would not consider it a straightforward romance, not swoon worthy. It is gritty and difficult. It is about a woman struggling to accept herself outside of the confines of what she perceives as other people’s opinions about her, and her fraught relationship of over a decade as it goes through various iterations of closeness, of push/pull.

Initially, I found the conceit too hard to swallow: teenaged girl clings to one negative comment well into her 30s, made by cute boy who held a higher station. Immediately I worried she would be another childish, prickly character I would dislike.

Then something happened.

I began to feel empathy for Leigh. Did she still make choices that made me want to shout at her? Yes. But it became clear that she struggles with self esteem, that her lack of belief in herself kept her from happiness. She’s incredibly, frustratingly self destructive, and she knows it, she KNOWS it, and she doesn’t stop.

Painfully relatable to my own life.

And so, Leigh needed the lesson I have worked hard to remember from my time in therapy: If someone says they love you, believe them.

I think the book can be problematic. I strongly believe dial POV would have significantly improved the story - I loved Will but felt he was unreachable, only exposed in tiny pieces, only by what Leigh could glean. There’s a letter from Will to Leigh late in the book that gives a glimpse of dual POV and it only made me certain it would have significantly changed the book for the better. I think about how @storygraph reviews ask, “is there strong character development?” I usually default to “yes” but this time I truly believe Leigh was introspective and grew, and it felt good to see.

And where the poetry and language didn’t work for some, I found it lyrical and beautiful. It pulled me in, helped me understand.

Ultimately I liked this book. It worked for me when I didn’t think it would, and to overcome an uphill battle feels like a particular win. A special win. I’m not sure I’d recommend this to everyone, but for some it will resonate. It did for me.

*You Between the Lines* follows Leigh, a poet embarking on her MFA journey alongside eight other writers, including William, a former crush and rival from high school. As Leigh navigates the competitive program, she grapples with feelings of inadequacy, especially given how different her writing style is compared to her peers. Driven by a desire to prove her worth, she's determined to succeed and leave William behind.

The novel effectively portrays Leigh's internal struggles with self-worth and anxiety. As an only child dealing with her parents' separation, Leigh experiences a deep sense of rejection, which fuels her insecurities and affects her relationships, particularly with William. Readers who have experienced similar anxieties will likely find Leigh relatable. The author skillfully depicts these emotions and incorporates insights from Leigh's therapy sessions.

The dynamic within the writing group is another strength of the book. The diverse writing styles and critiques offer a glimpse into the creative process and the challenges of artistic expression. The unraveling of Leigh's personal life, with her parents' separation, ties directly into her artistic anxieties. Her fear of rejection permeates her writing and colors her feelings towards William, adding complexity to her character and motivations.

Overall, *You Between the Lines* is an engaging read that explores themes of self-doubt, artistic identity, and the complexities of relationships. I enjoyed the author's insightful portrayal of Leigh's vulnerabilities and the realistic depiction of the writing program environment. It's a book that will likely resonate with anyone who has ever questioned their own abilities or struggled with feelings of inadequacy.


Thank you Grand Central Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

In several ways I had a good time with this one. At the end of the novel I felt satisfied with the romantic conclusion, but if I’m being completely honest, the more time that has passed since I finished it, the less connected I feel to the story, but particularly the FMC. I found Leigh to be whiny and morose…we get told repeatedly that she was a sorority girl and told this line how she “IS” like other girls, she DOES like pink and she does like Taylor Swift… but all of it felt so surface and a bit “told not shown”. All these ways that made her a sorority girl and not like the other poets felt very contrary to the way she actually acted. I wish we just got a more authentic portrayal of who she allegedly really was supposed to be.

⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
I don't think I have related to a character as much as I did with Leigh. The former sorority girl in a prestigious MFA poetry program. Although neither of those things describe me, her struggle to not feel she fits in each world does. The girly girl who writes pop culture poems living in a world of deep and moody literaries. Leigh's story was wonderful in every way, and it was made that much better with her counterpart Will, the intelligent and brooding poet. Leigh and Will are now in the same MFA program but have known each other since Rowan High School. As the present day story unfolds, so does snippets of their complicated history, to be all tied up with a beautiful string in the end.

I did not expect to like this book as much as I did. I thought it might be an enjoyable read from the synopsis but I did not think I would have that undeniable page turning itch to read even a few pages whenever I could squeeze them in throughout the day. I could have easily read it in one sitting if I had the opportunity. The tension between the Will and Leigh was absolute perfection. There was spice (but not over the top) and swoony moments and everything I needed in a romance book. Katie Naymon was a new author for me and I cannot wait to read more from her!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for an e-Arc in exchange for my honest opinions!

5/5⭐️ 1.5/5🌶️ 2/5😢

This one is for the poetry girlies. The writers, the readers, the people-pleasers. Girls with insecurities and who feel like they don’t belong. Who wear their emotions on their sleeve but can’t seem to get the words out right. The Swifties (and the non-Swifties too). Those who’ve been rejected, who’ve rejoiced over the smallest praise, who rely on everyone else’s opinion but their own. You are seen. And you matter, just as you are.

You Between the Lines felt like therapy. Humbly in awe of this debut release. The main characters felt incredibly relatable, and the side characters were great at providing insight and depth to the characters development.

I adored how this book made me feel, and I hope you do too (okay and yeah I cried like a baby during the last 15%).

This book had lots of tension that kept you on your toys. If miscommunication is not your thing, this book won’t be for you but I enjoyed it.

Thank you so much @readforeverpub & @netgalley for this ARC of You Between the Lines! I was beyond excited to get my hands on this book after falling for the description, beautiful cover and a FMC who has an infinity for Taylor Swift Lyrics.

Getting to read this debut novel was a treat and unlike any romance book I’ve read. With a unique setting of a MFA program and deeply rooted rivals to lovers and beautifully written poetry throughout this book it’s in a class all its own!

Leigh and Will definitely interested me from the get go and intrigued me with their long standing history of knowing one another since highschool but the time never being right. It was a super well written book that packs a lot of depth.

I have to say that of the FMC and MMC I really fell for Will the most! I loved his endearing heart and his thoughtfulness even though he sometimes struggled to communicate his emotions fully. I also really enjoyed the academic setting, it brought me back to my own college years and the things I really enjoyed about them!

I did have a hard time fully connecting with Leigh at times. She is a perpetual people pleaser and struggling heavily with imposter syndrome and self sabotaging in her own mind. She’s definitely her own worst critic which I can relate to for sure at times. It was hard to watch her struggle and really get in her own way. I did feel like the end and the growth she finally realized helped and shoutout to her best friend Gen for being the best voice of reason and BFF & also to her therapist who helped her really crack through 27 years of deep rooted beliefs she had.

The side characters and their MFA cohort were a delight and the romance when Will & Leigh could get out of their own way was great! I would have loved a POV from Will as sometimes only being in Leigh’s head was hard to see the full picture. Overall though it was a fantastic debut novel!

If you enjoy Rivals to Lovers, Mental Health Rep, poetry , romance and slow burn this one will be for you!

This one left me with butterflies! I loved the characters and thought the enemies to lovers was perfectly done!

You Between The Lines by Katie Naymon
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
368 pages
Publishing February 18th, 2025

Former sorority girl Leigh starts a journey at a prestigious MFA program in North Carolina following undergrad. Leigh quickly discovers her high school crushed-turned-nemesis is now one of her classmates. Leigh is filled with anxiety and low self esteem finding this out as she begins this new journey. She is determined to prove Will wrong and become successful. When Will submits an intimate poem to workshop, they are both forced to face the inevitable.

What a joy was it to read this book! This book is funny, the MMC is lovable, and the book is full of growth! Will’s character is everything a girl wants-smart, sensitive, kind. He fell first for her & fell HARD! I just can’t say enough about this book! Fans of Abby Jimenez, Julie Soto, and Emily Henry should checkout this debut novel! I can’t wait to meet @katienaymonwrites next week in Greensboro!

Read if you like:
✨Rivals to Lovers
✨Mental Health Representation
✨Found Family
✨”Let’s Just Get It Out of Our System”

Thank you @netgalley @katienaymonwrites @readforeverpub @hachetteus for an eARC & ALC of this amazing book!

#katienaymon #rivalstolovers #poetry #romance

Leigh is surprised when she gets accepted into a prestigious MFA program for poetry. Her surprise continues when she finds out that her high school crush (who gave her some harsh feedback on her poetry back then) is also in her program. Now they’re competing for a fellowship with her favorite poet and are forced to confront what happened in the past.

I really wanted to love this story, but I was pretty annoyed with Leigh, who felt immature to me. She’s 27, still very hung up on heartbreak from high school, and overly affected by her parents’ crumbling relationship. She also gets really mean and defensive when people close to her provide her with constructive criticism or try to help her. She felt like a teenager to me. However, I very much enjoyed the on-page therapy sessions and mental health discussions, as well as the poetry, which is so unique in a romance book.

Thank you to Katie Naymon, Forever, and NetGalley for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Read if you like:
💕 Poetry
💕 Forced proximity
💕 MFA Poets
💕 Mental health rep
💕 Rivals to lovers

You Between the Lines follows Leigh as she starts an MFA program for poetry and there she encounters her high school crush William. Leigh is not too enthused to see William again because last time they saw each other William insulted Leigh’s writing. But throughout the course of the MFA program they start getting closer through their poetry and developing feelings.

I enjoyed the relationship between Leigh and William but I wish there was a more yearning from both of them. There’s one part I really liked where William writes a poem about Leigh and I loved that. I just wished it happened more than once. Poetry is the perfect medium to convey yearning and affection and I just wished it was used more to further their relationship. I liked Williams character but I wasn’t a fan of Leigh. I didn’t really connect with her character at all.

Overall a solid debut and I look forward to reading future works from Naymon.

Also if you like Taylor Swift, you’ll like this.

Thank you to Netgalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to Netgalley for the arc! Katie Naymon's book is an intriguing look into a very realistic and vulnerable romance. At first, I wasn't sure if I liked the characters... at times I thought Will was too fickle with his treatment and feelings, and at times I wanted to scream at Leigh for being too please-pleasing and dishonest with her feelings. Their growth into a relationship was rocky, and I missed swoon and tension. But as I continued reading, I realized very quickly this is a very authentic relationship, not a cheesy, Hallmark plot. I really appreciated both of their growth, and especially the moments with Gen (Leigh's blunt best friend) and Bridget (her therapist). While this isn't a swoony romcom, it's a coming-of-age, reflective romance, and I adored the poetry throughout. It's a unique romance that I will definitely purchase and recommend to my reader friends!

You Between the Lines was a book that I was intrigued by when I read the synopsis as I tend to enjoy a rivals to lovers trope. While I enjoyed the book, I did struggle with aspects of the story, which led to my ultimate rating.

Leigh has been accepted into an MFA program in North Carolina. There is no way she could have known that her rival and high school crush, William was also going to be in the program. Leigh has a lot going on with her parents divorce, her vying for a fellowship and also dealing with insecurities tied to her writing. How will things end up between Leigh and Will given both new and old feelings?

As I noted above, there were a few things for me that didn't quite work. I didn't feel the connection between Leigh and Will like I thought I should/would. That for me is one of the things I feel always has to be there. Also, I felt like the characters were immature for the ages they were stated to be. Some of the actions didn't lend themselves to people who are in their late 20's.

I would be willing to give upcoming books by Katie Naymon a read.

**I voluntarily read an early copy of this title courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review**

you between the lines by katie naymon is sooo yummy!

📖 leigh isn’t your typical broody, introspective poet who writes about her thoughts. she’s a sorority girl who loves pop culture poetry. needless to say she feels out of place at her mfa program, especially when she realizes will, her high school crush-turned-nemesis, is in her cohort. now she’s even more determined to prove her talents

what i truly loved about this book (and haven’t seen much of in romance) is naymon’s exploration of jealousy between the love interests. a lot of academic rivals to lovers books tend to focus on the competition aspect, but leigh was green with envy! there was a lot of inner turmoil standing in her way of finding love, but being jealous of will was probably her biggest hurdle. we got to see those feelings take shape from a young age. her fear of judgment molding into her misconceptions of her classmates, it’s so raw and every minute of it was intriguing

and to make it even better, my boy will was DOWN BAD! every scene with will and leigh was electric! the secret flirtationship, the poetry workshops, i just craved more and more will ☺️

as far as the plot goes, this was more introspective than actionable. some of the middle felt a bit repetitive — leigh was so set in her ways and spent a majority of the book with the same mentality. it isn’t until the final act when it all clicks for her

i really understood her deep-seeded insecurities and i was rooting for her so hard! i wanted so badly to watch leigh grow and experiment with her poetry, so it’s a bit frustrating when all the pieces are clearly there but the fmc refuses to learn a lesson 😩 i have some mixed feelings about leigh, but that just means she’s complex, and isn’t that the best?

this book just had me from the start. it’s just so honest and relatable (painfully so, i saw so much of myself in leigh) 💌 i think if you like the real, messy parts of life baked into a delicious romance, then you’ll enjoy this

thank you forever and netgalley for a copy of this arc!

If you, like me, want your contemporary romance with a healthy (??? is it??) helping of angst and pain and pining this book is for you!

As someone who is basically a Taylor Swift hater, I went into this thinking I wasn’t going to like it but I was sent a book so I was just gonna try it out… and I ended up crying, relating, and loving it.

I combo read this with audio and the narrator was so great, there are a lot of characters and she did a great job of giving them distinct voices and also her Will voice uhhhh does something for me 😳.

Thank you Forever for the eARC and finished copy, and Hachette audio for the ALC!!