Thank you NetGalley, Victory Editing Co-op and Mallory Thomas for my advanced copy, these are my thoughts:

This was an interesting take on fake dating/marriage of convenience. As the characters put it “fake-marriage-for-benefits-thing”.

James and Piper meet on the train on their daily commute to work. On a day they start a conversation, James suggests he make them a family travel card and offers to put Piper down as his wife - for the sake of collecting the benefits. What was supposed to be a fun ruse, quickly becomes a problem, after they are witnesses to an incident on the train.
Piper is very nervous she won’t be able to keep up the ruse and will end up getting them caught for committing fraud. So what starts off as a few meetings to work through Piper’s anxiety, quickly becomes a fake dating game, where someone is bound to end up getting hurt.

I love a train/public transport meet-cute! I quite enjoyed this book. It was fun and sweet and even emotional at times. I enjoyed the easy banter between the main characters and their chemistry was sizzling.

It was interesting to see an emotionally vulnerable main male character and how he learnt from his mistakes and took responsibility for his actions - by being honest and open with Piper about his feelings for her. But I did, however want to shake some sense into James on more than one occasion - I know he was grieving but he sure took his time coming to terms with his feelings.

Piper starts off all over the place - why was she missing a shoe while on the train?! But her character grows (they both do) and she shows her professional side, as well as emotional growth.

This was quite slow burn, but the HEA was very satisfying, after everything Piper and James went through.

[2-2.5/5🌶️]

This book is a very sweet and unique take on the whole fake relationship trope.

For the most part, this story felt fairly grounded, which made the two or three more farcical moments stick out like sore thumbs. However, they didn't detract from my overall enjoyment of the book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the author for the advanced reader copy of this book, provided in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

This book is an absolute gem! It’s a delightful mix of humor, sweetness, emotion, and romance. You can't help but relate to Piper and James, making it easy to cheer them on throughout their journey. I am eager to read more from this author.

Somewhere Along The Line by Mallory Thomas is a sweet debut romance
This strangers to lovers/fake dating story was written so dang well.
This feel-good romance was like a ray of sunshine, making me smile throughout the whole read.

Thank You NetGalley and Thomas Books for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

This story centers on Piper, a free-spirited woman who, after nearly two years of healing from a bad breakup with a banker, now works at a not-for-profit. She crosses paths with James, the very type of person she’s trying to avoid, and after a dramatic event, they enter into a “marriage” of convenience. As they navigate the line between their fake relationship and a real one, they also confront their personal fears, grief, and emotional baggage.

What sets this book apart from other marriage-of-convenience stories is the grounded and relatable reason for their arrangement, especially given the context of a cost-of-living crisis. The author’s strength lies in crafting flawed, authentic characters who feel like real people, complete with their own misconceptions about love and relationships. The story includes some intimate moments, but they serve to deepen the connection between the characters rather than feeling forced.

4.5/5

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! This is a wonderful debut novel by Mallory Thomas. I quickly got into the story and it was a struggle to put the book down. The emotional depth of both of the main characters was well written (including a very accurate portrayal of anxiety). I really enjoyed and look forward to what Mallory Thomas writes next!

I devoured this book. Piper and Hames had the best chemistry and love show they were able to work through their issues and the character development. Also, Sami is truly the best friend and would love to see a sequel about her and Kyle.

A fun fake dating romance for Piper and James who meet on the train to work. I liked how it was told from both points of view.

This was cute!! I liked the fake dating set up and how they had mutual secret crushes/attractions to each other for so long prior to the catalyst of the story getting going.

The spice is SO good. This isn’t overly spicy like 2 peppers with the number of scenes I’d say but yes great.

My reason for 4 vs 5 stars- I’m usually a fan of a 3rd act breakup, I love the angst. The setup for this one really wasn’t my favorite. I felt the FMC was a bit too intense with it (I’m sparing spoilers). The resolution and ending made up for this but still the setup was nearing a bit of a stretch so it just brought it down a bit for me.

The quality of writing was also great. I felt like I really got to know the FMC (she was also very relatable especially at the start) and things were shown and not told which definitely takes talent.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the eARC!

3.5⭐️

I knew immediately when I read the book description that this was a book I wanted to get my hands on. I’m really thankful to Netgalley for giving me the arc and allowing me to read it before its debut next month!

It was such a cute and fast paced book. The MMC and FMC are very easy to connect to in my opinion. It’s dual pov (which I love & typically prefer.) It’s a strangers to lovers, fake marriage, with some spicy scenes. I think this would be a good palate cleanser book. I really enjoyed my time reading it. I also really liked the train art in between paragraphs.

This author has picked a good genre. And her future is going to be mega if this is anything to go by. She just 'got it'.
It was giggly and yet had angst. It was spicy but the banter was not cringe or clichéd. The leads were really well written so you liked them instantly.
It was a great twist on the convenience to lovers romance trope.
I can't recommend this book enough. It was a joy.
Definitely one for those that don't want to feel a books filled with heartbreak to make it "real". But isn't any less meaningfully written. A book you'd look forward to reading.

Somewhere Along the Line is the debut novel of Mallory Thomas and it’s probably one of my favourite stories this year. It’s such a fantastic character driven story that really explores the fears and misbeliefs that many of us face during relationships and the prose is so polished!

This story follows Piper, a free spirit who’s freshly (meaning nearly 2 years) out of a bad breakup with a banker, who works at a not-for-profit, while James is the exact person Piper is trying to avoid. After a dramatic incident ties them together in a “marriage” of convenience, the two work to navigate where their fake relationship ends and the real one begins, dealing with their own fears, grief and hangups along the way.

Unlike many marriage of convenience novels I’ve read, I appreciated the mundane nature of their reasons for “marriage” and in a cost of living crisis, it’s almost believable. But where this novel shines is the way the author has made the characters so perfectly flawed that they feel like any person you could meet down the street. They have their own misbeliefs about love and relationships, and their interactions felt really authentic.

While there was a bit of spice, it supported development of the relationship between the protagonists, and it didn’t feel forced.

My only complaint was I felt like the inciting incident never really got closed out - we never learn the outcome of the trial!

All in all though, this is my favourite debut of the year and I’m looking forward to what Mallory writes next. Thank you to the author, NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this early 💗

SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE is a sweet and cute love story! After meeting on the train on bit of a rocky, shoeless start, James and Piper find themselves looking forward to their morning commute to see one another. James offers to include Piper on his fare pass, listing her as his "wife," which then requires them to go on these non-dates to discuss this "fake" relationships of theirs. But Piper is at a time in her life where she can't afford to have any distractions and James believes Piper can find a much "nicer" gentleman to be with...they keep their distance when they want to do the exact opposite... what's it going to take them for to acknowledge that there isn't anything fake about their relationship? I thought their relationship was a believable and accurate representation of relationships that include insecurities and fears and growth it takes to overcome them.

Thank you to Thomas Books and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

a very cute cozy "fake" marriage romance! i absolutely loved piper and james and i loved them together even more.

Ok, let me tell you, I absolutely loved this book! I wasn't too sure at the beginning, but after getting about 20% in, I was INVESTEDDDDD

Ok, so we have Piper aka Pipes aka P (iykyk) and her Banker Man (I swear he has a name but it's just more fun to write it this way). These two take the same train everyday, and while they are both attracted to each other, they don't make the move...well, until Piper's toenail does for her.

Suddenly, a crazy train incident happens, and these two are forced to share this "big lie" which isn't really all that bad, but could literally take the train away from them. *Insert dramatic gasp* How dare they!! These two stick with this fake marriage story and are seeing it through. Except, neither of them really have it together, and this is honestly the best thing about this book. I feel like a lot of times, we have this perfect fmc and a semi-flawed mmc, yet they make it work in the end and he changes for her. Yeah, ever heard the phrase "I can fix him?" Well, this was not it because Piper knew that's not what needed to happen. And I swear to you when she realized this, I jumped from my bed and yelled, "YES THANK GOD" because she actually had a backbone.

Okay, rant aside- I devoured!! Mallory had such a great flow, writing style, and honestly, this is just chef's kiss 🤌🏼 The only reason, and I mean the ONLY reason this did not reach 5 stars was because of the first 15-20%. I just didn't really see the vision, it seemed to drag a little, and I didn't quite vibe with the mysteriousness, but once I understood, I was HOOKED.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Thomas Books for eARC!

4.5/5 stars!!

really really loved this. like, ‘read it in one day’ loved it.

piper was so relatable and james was a perfect book boyfriend. some of the things he said gave me ACTUAL butterflies!!!!

the whole concept was so unique and was executed perfectly. this was honestly such a great read!

Somewhere along the line was a cosy, cute strangers to lovers romance that has a really well placed plot and an engaging storyline.

James and Piper were really fun and easy to read about. They were both likeable and their relationship was cute, light and fluffy to read!
The way they met and the idea of them sharing the train pass was really cute and unique however I did feel like you have to overlook a little about how far fetched some of the elements were. For example the bomb in the train set up a good concept for their growing relationship but seemed a little crazy for the type of book it was!
However, this set the story up really well - I also liked how the author provided a lot of depth to James and Piper. You felt like you really knew them well and could understand their issues and family trauma. It also played a relevant part in the plot.
Overall, I rated it 3 stars because it was an easy read with a happy, satisfying end. It also is a short book so would be a great book to sit with and finish it in one sitting. I didn't feel like it shocked me or will particularly be a memorable one but it was sweet and enjoyable. <3

thank you so much to netgalley for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

this book was really cute and heartwarming! The situation the main characters got them into with their „fake marriage“ was quite hilarious and really unique!
The grand gesture near the end of the book was so cute and funny, especially knowing how out of James comfort zone this was! :)

"After a while, seeing her stopped feeling like the means to an end.
Somewhere along the line, it started to feel like a beginning." ♥️

Oh, and I also absolutely loved the friendship between Piper and her best friend Sami!

I really adored this book and cannot believe this is a debut romance for Mallory Thomas!

James and Pipers banter was adorable. I found myself smiling and laughing throughout! It was such a fun strangers to lovers story with their “meet cute” being in such an original way, and I loved getting dual POVs!

Thank you to NetGalley and Mallory Thomas for the opportunity to read this before it comes out this month!

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. I initially struggled with it in the beginning but ended up loving it. The fake marriage storyline took an unexpected turn and the romance surprised me. I also hope there will be a book 2 featuring a romance between Kyle and Sami. To P and J.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Books for the ARC.