I just couldn’t get into this book. I wasn’t a fan of the narrator and felt his pacing was extremely slow. I normally read books at a faster speed but even when listening at double speed, it sounded as if it was on regular speed. I was unable to finish the book due to the slow pacing of other the story and the narrator.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperAudio for my arc audiobook copy! All opinions expressed are my own.

I would give this book about 3.5 stars. If you could talk to your past self and possibly change your future, would you? This seems to be the main theme of the book along with relationships and fixing past mistakes.. While this was a fast-paced, quick read, I wish the book leaned more on the sci-fi/fantasy elements and understanding the time-travel aspect. I feel like a lot more could have been added as I was expecting a little more regarding time travel. If you're a fan of LGBTQ themes, then I will say you will enjoy this book. It just felt that there was a lot more to be desired as the ending was also a little lackluster in my opinion.

"What would you tell your younger self if you could go back in time and speak to them?" is a question that practically everyone has been asked. "The In-Between Bookstore" explores what the answer to that question could look like for its main character, Darby. Underhill gives the reader comfort by presenting this book so that it feels like a sequel to the familiar "big fish in a small pond" YA trope, turning it on its head when everything isn't what you dreamed it would be. This book sometimes feels like it's headed down a predictable path, and story beats feel very familiar. However, the writing and narration of the story make this an enjoyable listen that is easy to lose yourself in. The story has excellent LGBTQ+ representation, and it was even more wonderful to have a transman as the reader to match the main character's identity, adding an extra layer of authenticity.

I throughly enjoyed this book. The tension of not knowing how long we can stay in the past. Focusing so much on how you can change the past you forget to enjoy the present. This was such a heartfelt story.

I was very excited about The In-Between Bookstore because of the description. A trans man travels back to his teenage pre-transition self by walking into his hometown book store. I love time travel books and I love bookstores.

However, it fell flat in some ways for me despite being very well written. The time travel never felt essential to the story. The main story could have easily been written without the time travel element because I am really not sure what it added, especially since nothing changed in the future. If you're going to write a time travel book then there needs to be some reason for it. My other issue with this book is the relationship between Darby and his former best friend. It sounded like he missed their friendship, but then suddenly they're kissing and having sex and.. what? I didn't get the sense Darby was ever attracted to Michael in high school, so where is this coming from? Is it a lost love story or a lost friendship story? It felt confusing.

What did I love? Darby's mother! She is a joy. It made me said that Darby wasn't a good son to her (he repeatedly said he never called her) while she was clearly very accepting of who he was. She is a hoot. I also liked Darby's NYC friends, they are well developed despite not having a lot of page time. They seem like a very supportive, loving group of friends that I wish I had in my 20s!

This part of the review is specific to the audiobook: The narrator is fantastic, and adds depth to the story. They also do the voices of other characters well. The audio experience was exactly what I hope for when I listen to an audio book and I will seek out more from this narrator.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyage for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

This in depth portrait of a trans man's exploration into his next phase of life is a beautifully written story.

The portrayal of small town Illinois is extremely accurate and the world building was detailed.

The pace was slow and the plot is almost cozy in a low stakes sort of way, but the engaging characters and mysterious magical aspects kept me engaged.

Thank you first and foremost to HarperAudio and NetGalley for the ALC!

The In-Between Bookstore is the story of Darby’s journey to finding his place in life. It poses the question of what would you say to younger self if you had the chance to go back in time? What advice would you give your younger self? On the heels of losing his job and his apartment in New York City, Darby makes the uncomfortable decision of going back home to a town that as a teen he couldn’t wait to get away from. While many things in his old town have changed, one thing remains the same, the In-Between bookstore he used to work in as a teen. The moment Darby steps in he’s confronted with his past self. The self that he was before he transitioned. He also comes face to face with the best friend who abandoned and ghosted him. Now Darby is in a race against time to figure out why he and his best friend fell apart, while hoping the advice he gives his younger self can change whatever happened in the past.

I’m not a huge time traveler fan but I did enjoy the question of what advice would you give your younger self if given the chance. This was a beautifully written story about finding your place in this world, with the people you want to surround yourself with. And if you can’t find that place, being brave enough to carve out a place for yourself. This was beautiful and touching and definitely a must read.

Thank you to Edward Underhill, HarperCollins and NetGalley for the ALC! I really liked this story, and I'm giving it a 3.5 star rating! This story centers around Darby, a trans man who returns back to his hometown and finds that he can see and communicate with his teenage self in the bookstore he used to work at. I really loved the premise of this book, and the time traveling aspect was especially interesting. I loved how well the "speak to your younger self" trope was done, particularly with the added element of Darby's transition. The audiobook had a great narrator, and I enjoyed listening to this book. The pace was a little slow for my liking, and while I liked the ending, I wish it had been a little more developed! I would have loved to also read more about the relationship Darby had with his mom.

Thank you HarperCollins and NetGalley for approving me for this arc!! I was ecstatic to find this book and had high hopes I’d get approved for it!! As a transgender person myself, i was intrigued by the storyline, and I honestly haven’t read many books about perspectives such as mine. So thank you for allowing me this read, it has been amazing and I cant wait to buy the book when it releases in stores!!

THIS BOOK RELEASES JANUARY 14TH!!!

The In-Between Bookstore is about Darby and his journey through life and honestly, his quarter life crisis. Darby is a transgender man living in New York from a small town in Illinois. His job doesn’t work out and he finds himself moving back to his hometown to help his mother move and figure out what he wants to do in life.

Darby transitioned after moving to New York, so he is confronted with past friends, acquaintances, and neighbors. this story is heart wrenching that I have a hard time putting it all into words for you. Darby keeps going back to the In-Between Bookstore where he worked when he was in high school, but whenever he visits this store travels back in time and is able to see his past high school self, and all the struggles he went through during that time.

Again, as a transgender person this book hit HARD. I have to thank the author for putting these struggles into words, and for writing something so relatable it hurt to read at times. I literally cannot wait to buy this book (yes I have an arc ebook copy, but I need the real thing on my shelf) when it releases!!

UPDATE: I got approved for the audiobook version!!! THANKS NETGALLEY I LOVE YOUUU!

Anyways, the audiobook is narrated by Shaan Dasani who is a transgender award winning actor, writer and producer! I’m so happy that HarperAudio was able to get someone to fit the role of Darby! It really made the read all the more enjoyable and relatable. Might be one of my favorite reads of 2024. Thank you Shaan Dasani for taking this role I can’t wait for the official release!!

DNF @ 53%

Oh gosh I wanted to love this one but it didn't quite come together for me. Darby is a trans man in his 30s who is having a bit of a quarter-life crisis. He doesn't know what he wants to do or where he wants to live and while he reevaluates those things he goes back to his hometown to help his mother move. This was marketed as magical realism but the magic is minimal at best. It reads much more like literary fiction. I liked the premise but I found the main character to be so frustrating because he wouldn't communicate with the people in his life. If the time travel element had been used as a self-reflective tool it might have worked for me but instead it was a way to glean information about other people from the past without having actual conversations with them in the present which really annoyed me. If you are interested in coming of age/self-discovery stories this could be the book for you. I found I couldn't continue but I'm sure that others will find Darby's grapplings moving.


The narrator was perfect for this character! I loved the casting and would love to read other books they narrate.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Audio Adult for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review. Darby is living in New York where he left all the struggles of small town living behind him. Now recently unemployed, he finds himself heading back to that small town to help his mom move after selling the family home. The memories come back fast and furious and when he enters the bookstore where he worked during high school all the memories come back with a vengeance. It is like deja vu until Darby sees the newspaper that says it is 2009 and the "Darby" behind the counter is a girl. As the current Darby tries to figure out what is going on, he also meets up with his past friends who knew "him" back in the day. This was a quick read and I did like it. Enjoy!!!

Darby, a trans man with a rapidly approaching 30th birthday, finds himself unemployed and suddenly overwhelmed in his New York life. When he returns to his small hometown in Illinois to help his mother move, he stumbles into a time warp as he comes face-to-face with his teenage self working in the local bookstore. Will this be an opportunity to right a wrong from the past, and if so, how will it impact his present life?

I liked but didn't love this book. I thought the premise was interesting and the characters were likable. At first, it felt like the time-traveling aspect was moving toward something monumental, but things plateaued. The plot followed a story that was more realistic to what would actually happen versus providing the most gratifying resolution (in my opinion, anyway). Still, this was a sweet story filled with moments of queer joy and thought-provoking situations.

I enjoyed the audiobook narration and appreciate that they found a voice actor who is trans.

This is a beautiful story of finding your true self and coming to terms with your past. Having the opportunity to speak to your younger self is something we’ve all wished we could do at some point. “What is something I’d tell my teenage self?” Oh so many things.
The fantasy element was creatively done and fun to explore the past along with Darby. I loved watching it all come together.

I know we’ve all thought, “what would I say to my younger self if I could go back in time?” I remember being an awkward, homeschooled kid and I would love to stand in front of that 13 year old and give him some advice for the future.

In The In-Between Bookstore, Edward Underhill draws us into the life of Darby, a recently unemployed trans man who moves from NYC back to his home town in the Midwest. Back home, he visits his hometown bookstore where he worked as a high schooler, and walks through the door to find nothing has changed and his younger self is sitting behind the counter.

Underhill’s characters are so lifelike, and it’s clear that he’s put some amount of himself into the book. The struggle of growing up in a small town where you don’t feel like you fit in, the pain of moving away, and the guilt of not keeping up with the people that stayed behind all resonated with me and felt so familiar to the writer. I just loved Darby, his mom, Michael, and especially Mr. Grumpy ❤️

The In-Between Bookstore comes out January 14th, please go check it out. Whether the trans experience resonates with you or not, this is also just a wonderful novel about relationships, family, and how messy and beautiful they can be.

Thank you to Edward Underhill, HarperAudio, and Avon for the e-ARC and audio ARC through Netgalley 🫶🏼

Darby is coming up on a milestone birthday and is faced with a disappointing outlook on the life they've built in NYC. With his mom planning a move out of their childhood home, he heads back to a small town in Illinois to face the past, present, and future.

Any time I see a sliding doors/time travel story, I want to read it. This book really takes a look at how the past shapes our present and thus makes the future so murky. Sometimes in order to look forward, we have to look back. I love that it looks at the complications of trans youth, the difficult parts of being a teen, and how sometimes we can't see the whole picture until we've grown.

I loved to see the healing that both main characters find along the way. I think there could have been more to the story, but I felt that they both found closure. The ending felt a little flat after the build up of the story was more interesting. I'd have loved to get an epilogue or more to the story of what happened next. But otherwise, a great story. A solid 3.5.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperAudio for the ARC!!

This book was filled with beautiful representation! I loved the integration of time travel and Darby getting to know his younger self. It was about stepping into your true self and recognizing where you fit with the people who lift you up. I loved Michael’s storyline and the realization that where he felt most comfortable may not be the same as Darby, and that is okay.

I’m obsessed with multiple realities and different paths so I hope there is a timeline where Michael and Darby end up together🥹

It’s a sweet story about a guy leaving a big city to return to their hometown to help their mom move during a period of time when their own life isn’t really taking off. There is a light fantasy element of a bookstore where their former self works and it’s actually kind of a clever plot. The main character has to figure out why they had a falling out with a former friend by getting the information from the past self, while also trying to get their former self to understand themselves better so they don’t have to struggle as much with their identity later. Revisiting the small town, re-meeting old acquaintances and seeing how they’ve changed was fun. The author does a good job making it feel cozy and low stakes.

The writing is a bit cheesy, but it’s all good for this genre, not too much of a detractor. But my god man, how many times do we need to complain about mosquitos? It’s not that big of a deal.

4/5 stars if the summary appeals to you. And the narrator has a nice voice, I can recommend the audiobook version.

*An uncorrected proof of this book was provided by the publisher at the reviewer’s request in exchange for a fair and uncompromising review.

ALC Review: The In-Between Bookstore by Edward Underhill
Pub date: January 14, 2025

Darby moved out of his hometown at 18 and never looked back - or visited. But when he is let go from his job in NYC, his rent becomes unaffordable, and he is just generally fed up with the hustle and bustle, he starts to think about a fresh start. His mom is moving from the house he grew up in, so he decides to head back to Oak Falls, Illinois and he may just stick around. Being a young trans man who didn't have the words to explain how he was feeling meant that Darby never really felt like he belonged. But when he walks in the door at the town bookstore that he used to work in, he runs into himself...at age 16. When he leaves the bookstore, he's back in the present. But for some reason, the bookstore is always back in the past, and Darby is determined to figure out why.

Listen, we all know that I primarily read romance and even when I read a different genre, there's usually a romantic element. This is unequivocally NOT a romance nor does it have a romance subplot. I think it's important to know that going in (which I did). The book is queer as heck and I really loved the exploration of coming back to ones hometown and finding out how drastically things have changed. Even though Darby didn't feel like he belonged growing up, the people he reconnects with show him that he actually belonged more than he thought, just no one had the words for it.

I've seen a lot of reviews saying that people hated the ending and found it sad, but I found it hopeful and realistic! I won't say too much more about it since that would involve a lot of spoilers but I was satisfied by the outcome.

The only thing I wish we had a little bit more of was some character growth from Darby. I think we're on our way there by the end of the book but Darby was pretty immature in the beginning of the book and I just don't know that I saw quite enough growth within the confines of the story. Nor did he really apologize to anyone that deserved apologies - including his mom who he didn't visit EVER?? The book does feel a bit YA at times which makes sense given the authors background but doesn't work quite as well as an adult novel. Also the entire book could have been solved by Darby just asking his childhood friend what happened when they were younger to cause a rift.

I really liked the narration from Shaan Dasani. I thought he was engaging and made the book a breeze to listen to.

Thank you to Harper Audio for the ALC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Although the characters are from college and adult age, it does involve teenage Darby. It can feel very YA at times with the content and exploration of how things went so wrong from when he was younger with his BF Michael. I do recommend, especially with anyone dealing with who and what they are. The bookstore taking Darby back in time to visit his younger self was a nice twist in the story. Thank You Netgalley for the ALC of this book. I did enjoy the narrator and felt they were perfect for the character. This book explores topics of Transgender, and sexual orientation.

I thought this was a stunning story, not only is the time travel element done perfectly, but it's such a delight to see a story share the experiences of queer people thriving in small rural towns. I think so much queer contemporary writing is set in big cities and queer folks are kicked out of their small minded small towns, but we get to see something completely different in this story- not to mention the exploration of what we might tell our younger searching selves to help us feel less broken in the current moment.

Additionally - I want to note how beautifully the story with Darby's mom was told. Not to mention that I adored Mr. Grumpy, the basset hound.

I am so grateful to have been granted access to an audio ARC of The In-Between Bookstore, and I'd highly recommend that folks add it to their 2025 TBR or add it to their book club lists for sure! On top of excellent story telling, the audio narration was so engaging and easy to take in. With such a wide cast, they did a phenomenal job of incorporating everyone's story.