Incredible debut novel by Katie Naymon! The story follows Leigh and Will, who had animosity towards each other in high school and wind up back in each other's sights at an MFA program. Both Leigh and Will have a loaded family past, resulting in their own fair share of traumas, insecurities and difficulty maintaining a serious relationship with one another. As the story unravels we become more aware of why they are the way they are. It's very easy to relate to Leigh in the way that she's constantly self-sabotaging and overthinking people's words and actions. There's a quote from the book that says, "I constantly accommodate, but then I secretly resent other people for not being as accommodating." I wasn't expecting to be so directly called out and will also be mentioning this to my therapist.


Will is beautiful character, and the importance of mental health is much appreciated in this book. There was nothing too dark or overwhelmingly tragic, but the way Will opens up about his mental health to Leigh is beautiful and raw and I think a lot of readers can understand their dynamic after hearing both of their stories regarding their upbringing and life events that have shaped their view on themselves and others. We also get to see Leigh communicate with her therapist and it felt very similar to what a session looks like with my therapist and I, so perhaps I'm biased as to why I loved this story so much but I loved seeing mental health representation in this book not only with therapy but positive conversation around medication as well.

It's also fun to read the dialogue between Leigh and her best friend Gen, as well as the other members of the MFA program. The plot was steady and every time we have a scene with Leigh and Will where we want more, we're definitely given more in time. The character development was nicely paced and by the end of the book I was pleasantly surprised. We have themes of loss, grief, love, self-worth, a realistic look of what women have to deal with regarding men and unwanted advances, and growth.

I can't wait to purchase a physical copy of this book for rereading! Will is up there high on the list of favorite book boyfriends. We love yearning and when we finally get resolve for the tension between the two characters it's incredible - I had to reread and couldn't put it down.

Very excited for more from this author! Thank you to NetGalley and Forever Publishing for this E-ARC.

This was a well-written book. It just wasn’t for me. I felt a little too bogged down by the deep dive into writing craft and the MFA program. Again, I think this ended up being a me problem, because analyzing writing was one of my least favorite parts of English classes! But I would try another book by this author again!

Thank you to Forever for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.

The premise for You Between the Lines intrigued me and I’m a big fan of the rivals to lovers trope. Things started off pretty well and I enjoyed the found family vibes of the MFA cohort. I struggled with the main characters though and didn’t find them that likeable. They came across very immature for adults in their late 20’s. I think the story would have benefited from having both Leigh and Will’s POV’s (instead of just Leigh’s).

Unfortunately, the romance didn’t fully work for me because I didn’t feel the connection between Will and Leigh. The interactions that drove them apart in the past felt blown out of proportion and it didn’t help that there were so many starts and stops in the present day. It was frustrating that they wouldn’t just communicate with each other and instead chose to run away and/or make decisions based off of assumptions.

I enjoyed the writing, but it also felt too flowery at times. I’ve always thought that I liked poetry, but the included poems felt like they were all going over my head. The information about the MFA program was also a bit overwhelming and took up a lot of page time. I really wanted to love this one, but sadly it didn’t quite work.

I mainly listened to the audiobook and the narration was enjoyable, but not my favorite. Sarah Beth Goer’s voice worked well for Leigh, but there wasn’t a lot of variation otherwise.

Audiobook Review
Overall 3 stars
Performance 3.5 stars
Story 3 stars

CW: parental separation/divorce, death of parent (past), grief, anxiety, depression, plagiarism (past), FMC experiences unwanted attention and harassment by OM

*I voluntarily read and listened to an advance review copy of this book*

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the arc of this book. All opinions are my own.

I really loved this one! I am not the best at writing reviews sometimes, but sometimes books take you by surprise and this one did just that. I got invested a few chapters in and couldn't put it done. It was so good! I highly recommend this one. This made my heart sing. I loved it.

You Between The Lines
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This book had soooo much potential, but it kinda fell flat for me! To be blunt…I found the FMC to be insufferable and felt like she had no character development. She overthinks everything, almost in an unbelievable way (and that’s coming from someone who overthinks everything) At one point they were walking and people were coming from the other direction and so the MMC stepped in front of her to make room and then she had a moment of like “ugh I always accommodate for people, why is it always me, why couldn’t he step behind me.” And I’m thinking sis it’s a sidewalk. She needed validation from absolutely everyone and it felt like we wanted to spread awareness of anxiety/ mental health / people pleasing tendencies / self sabotage, but ultimately it missed the mark for me. Dual POV probably would have helped balance it better. She just flip flopped so much I had whiplash! We do get some spice, but not overly graphic, I did like the writing aspect and following along during their creative process, the Cleveland references were fun, and I love the cover! Ultimately I liked the concept better. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
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Thank you NetGalley, Katie Naymon, and Forever for this e-arc, it comes out February 18th!

I quite liked the themes, prose and plot of the story. I however found the characters challenging and immature. It was hard to get passed. It just wasn’t for me. I wish I could have liked them more, but they just seemed like they had never left high school…

Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for an advanced electronic copy in exchange for an honest review.

3.5⭐️ I really wanted to love this more. Because I really did love parts of it and the writing especially, I can’t believe this is a debut.

But I found the FMC insufferable. She is meant to be 27, but reads close 17 to me. And it just got to be me painful to read for me.

The whole push pull between them also got so frustrating. Like her friend Genevieve said, I really wanted them to just get over themselves and get on with it. Side bar, Gen might have been my favourite character, she seemed like a riot, I wanted more of her.

The audiobook was great, I really did enjoy the narrator. Overall pleasant book, but could have been better.

Thank you to Hachette audio, NetGalley & the author Katie Naymon for the advanced listening + reading copies, all my opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley, Forever, and Grand Central Publishing for this advance reader copy! You can pick up You Between the Lines by Katie Naymon on February 18, 2025!

This book deserves all the hype!

You Between the Lines follows a former sorority girl starts a prestigious poetry MFA program only to discover that one of her fellow grad students is her high school crush-turned-nemesis—​who can't stop writing about her.

First off, I want to say that this book lives rent free! I'm obsessed with Naymon's beautiful writing and how she crafted characters with emotional depth to enhance the overall experience. Will and Leigh are so adorable! I'd love to have a Will in my life! I'd be happy to read more Naymon's emotional stories in the future!

You Between the Lines does includes the following:

- academic rivals-to-lovers
- lots of yearning
- mental health rep
- open-door spice
- so much angst

I highly recommend picking up You Between the Lines by Katie Naymon if you are looking for a heart-wrenching story!

For two people who are in a masters program about words they are terrible communicators. Leigh and Will were high school classmates where Leigh had a crush on Will who never gave her the time of day. Now 10 years later they are in the same MFA program and still find each other at odds creatively but drawn to one another.

I think that there was just too many little things added together that I couldn't get past and enjoy the book but I feel like for some people they may not be a bother: Leigh being the "I'm not like other girls" pick me archetype, the cringy Taylor Swift and One Direction poetry (and this is from a Swiftie and Directioner), Leigh being 27 and overly invested in her parents failing marriage, and the number of times her and Will make one step towards being together before ultimately saying "we can't for xyz.." weak reasoning. Also I cannot get over Will's daddy issues being used as an excuse for plagiarism???

The writing in this is very beautiful though, and I think I have realized after reading this that any book that uses Beach Read as a comp title will just end up missing the mark for me. Thank you Forever and NetGalley for an ARC & ALC of You Between the Lines.

This book was great start to finish. Leigh and Will were both deep characters who had struggled of their own and I appreciate both were discussed and not overlooked. The side characters were also very well developed and felt just as real as the main characters. The history between Will and Leigh was enough to keep you interested and the constant back and forth, and yearning was perfect in every way. Truly this book does was so many recently haven’t done and that’s build an amazing love story with few words and actions right off the bat. I also appreciate how the author didn’t do something that could have been cliche with the fellowship. This book is a new favorite and will be an automatic recommend to friends and followers! I can’t wait to see what Katie makes next!

Thank you to Forever & NetGalley for an ARC of this book, in exchange for my honest opinion.

I was really looking forward to this one, but it honestly fell flat for me. The relationship between Will and Leigh felt very unnatural and forced almost, they had zero chemistry. I also felt like Leigh was a bit insufferable as a FMC, she didn’t have many redeeming qualities, and spent most of the book complaining.

I also tend to enjoy dual POV more, and as this was single POV, I had a hard time getting into it.

I think others may enjoy this book, but sadly it wasn’t for me.

I thought this book was going to be made for me as an English grad.

Unfortunately, I had such a hard time thinking that Leigh would have made it into this MFA program. And there's no way I could have ever believed she'd have a shot at the special apprenticeship. She's immature, stubborn, and has a big case of the "not like other girls." Why was Will so obsessed?

Not to mention the amount of Taylor Swift references in this book is absolutely egregious. It got to the point that if it was a drinking game, you would NOT be ok.

This book is tailor-made for readers who are captivated by angsty, second-chance romance stories filled with emotional depth and the slow-burning tension that defines the enemies-to-lovers trope. It will resonate deeply with those who appreciate a healthy dose of humor and lightheartedness woven into a story that explores the complexities of love, identity, and the pursuit of creative passion.

If you find yourself drawn to characters who grapple with their pasts, navigate the challenges of rekindled feelings, and discover the transformative power of love amidst adversity, then this book is likely to capture your heart. It is a perfect choice for those who relish stories that delve into the depths of human emotions, showcase the resilience of the human spirit, and ultimately celebrate the triumph of love and second chances.

This is the perfect balance of romance and self reflection. Leigh has had a crush on Will since high school but after being criticized for her writing, she shuts down and moves through the web of being a writer. When she lands a MFA program for poetry, she is surprised to be in front of Will once again and they teeter on the tension of something unknown that is both thrilling but terrifies her. I loved this book for the dynamic of the romance and the closeness of the cohorts. Naymon writes so beautifully that every allegory and nuance was met with swooning by me. When I think of a romance book that gives equal parts yearning and molding into a better version of oneself, I will always think of this.

I cried so many times that I gave myself a headache. And like... a continual stream of tears. This book made me sooo emotional and I stayed up until 1:30 am to finish it even though I had work the next day. The writing style, the tension, and the MMC all really worked for me. THE TENSION WAS TEN OUT OF TEN AND ALL THE STARS.

Now... just because I gave this 5 stars (4.5 rounded up) doesn't mean I don't have critiques of it. I struggled quite a bit with some of the obnoxious and judgmental things the FMC would think. She was always so aware of how others *may* perceive her because she's blonde and an ex-sorority girl that she then turns around and judges every person she comes into contact with. I liked how the book actively showed her going to therapy and how her insecurities were reflected in her treatment of others and the imposter syndrome she felt, but it took her soooo long to have any sort of growth and that was frustrating. I would totally get someone not liking this book because of the FMC, which is so sad because her growth is lovely and the romance really worked.

I find MFA programs pretentious in general and didn't think the FMC's poetry was good, so that also colored how I felt about her sometimes.

So why did I like this? The author is a very good writer. Her descriptions of the characters' feelings had me all up in my feels. The tension was god tier. Like... the way I was feeling about these two even TOUCHING. Criminal. And I really enjoyed the growth I saw the FMC go through (even if I wish it was occurring more throughout the book instead of all at the end). This book is really about the romance and the FMC's journey through her insecurities. And there's just something special about a book you can't put down for hours. So I will understand and completely hold space for critiques of this story, but for me it was an excellent way to spend an evening, lost in someone else's life.

I absolutely LOVED “You Between the Lines.” It was everything I wanted and more. Both Will and Leigh were so well developed and the story itself was well-paced. It was easy to relate to the characters and their struggles, especially with mental health, throughout the novel. I appreciated Leigh’s growth, as she struggled to overcome her self-doubt.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever Publishing for this advanced copy!

I loved this book! It was dreamy and tender. The yearning! The angst! The romanticism! Do we love anything more than a man who’s been down bad for years and can’t hold back any longer? No, we (I) do not. All of my favorite books have MMCs who have been secretly jonesing for the FMC, so we can add this to the list.

Leigh is a very relatable character, at least to me. She’s a girly, pop-loving, former sorority member who also happens to love writing poetry. But it’s not the typical poetry that is usually lauded, leading to her imposter syndrome. She wants to do it right, so would prefer to be told exactly how to do it. (Hi, it’s me). Unfortunately, that’s not how a MFA program works and she really goes through it trying to make her square self fit into a round hole. That coupled with her parent’s recent separation has her feeling unmoored. I loved the messaging that it’s okay to like the popular things and that we can be multi-faceted in our interests.

Will is also struggling, with grief from his father’s passing and their antagonistic relationship. Unlike Leigh, he’s pretty in touch with his emotions and it translates to his poetry. He’s very vulnerable in his writing and that’s both inspiring and intimidating to Leigh.

They are like to magnets drawn to one another, but also sometimes pushing apart. Their chemistry was palpable and the tension that built up between them led to such a satisfying culmination. I loved the healing that happened not only through their relationship, but also through the use of therapy. All that to say, it’s a must read!

This cover is so gorgeous. Too bad I didn’t care for the book. The MC was hard to root for and I had no idea why her love interest liked her. While I respected her learning to accept her family dynamic it just felt like she remained immature. The ending didn’t really feel all that satisfying because I didn’t get the relationship but whatever. I did like her friend putting her in check but that’s pretty much it. The story just felt like an entitled woman who was mad that someone else was more given more opportunities than her. She trashed him, then liked him? Kinda hard to relate to that.

The official blurb per the publisher on GR currently mentions that the FMC is a former sorority girl twice in the first 3 sentences. Sorority girls deserve better representation than the neuroses in this book. The FMC is ~not like other poets~ because she was in a sorority (I have to mention it again because it was mentioned so many times in the book) and because she doesn't solely wear black. I and many others have lived experience that plenty of different walks of life can be English majors and workshop cohesively together and go to readings and form a community, etc.

I am also confused as to how these are 27-28 year olds. I can respect a petty grudge from high school but the actions and comments as a result over 10 years later were just immature.

Additionally, there are snippets of essays and poems written by the characters throughout this book. This is not based on any kind of proof so don't sue me but it makes me wonder if this author who has an MFA wanted to form a book around random snippets she had written from either real or made up class prompts. The excerpts were not always very smoothly added or really necessary in my opinion.

Thank you to Forever for the eARC. The cover is so gorgeous and this is highly recommended by authors I greatly respect so I am still grateful to have had the chance to read this.

This book is so beautiful. I loved every minute of it. Will is the ultimate book boyfriend and Leigh is highly relatable. The slow burn, their history, the poetry, all adds up to one of the best stories I’ve read in a long time. Leigh’s character growth is one of my favorite parts of this book. Her people pleasing tendencies hit close to home. The way she works through it in her therapy sessions was very realistic. Will is not perfect but he’s perfect to me. He also has to work through some of his own insecurities, but throughout the book you can tell how much he cares for Leigh. There was so much angst and so much yearning which made the pay off that much better when they finally get together. Will and Leigh learn to be open with each other and share vulnerabilities and that’s what ultimately makes them work as a couple. I can already tell this will be one of my favorites for the year. I look forward to reading more from Katie! Highly recommend!!