The In-Between Bookstore by Edward Underhill, is a cozy love story written from the perspective of Darby, a trans man, who after loosing his job in New York City, moves back to the Oak Fall, Illinois, the town where he grew up. When visiting the In-Between Bookstore where he worked in high school, he is transported back in time, interacting with his former self. Through these interactions he feels he is given the opportunity to change his past and reunite with a former friend.

The plot is similar to that of The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley, as a book that more romance/magical realism set with a time travel backdrop. The language is not complex nor is the time travel concept (as the science of the time travel is not even addressed). The Narrator Shaan Dasani voice and the lack of complexity gives this book a Young Adult feel.

Thank you to HarperAudio Adult | HarperAudio for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook.

Thank you Harper Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this book! I want to start by saying the narrator, Shaan Dasani, did an excellent job bringing this story to life. I felt like I was there with Darby, the main character, facing his struggles and confusion.
In this story, Darby, a trans man, faces the loss of his job and apartment in NYC on the eve of his 30th birthday. He returns to the small town in Illinois that he left as soon as he finished high school. Upon visiting the bookstore he worked in as a teen, he discovers it is a portal through which he can meet with his teenage, pre-transition self.
This book raises a question that almost everyone has contemplated: “What would you do if you could advise your teenage self?” I found this to be a really interesting concept. However, I think the story suffers from trying to do too much, and yet not enough, with this idea. I felt the story could have ended an hour before the end of the book and had a satisfying conclusion. I felt the actual ending lacked the support to really cheer for Darby’s choice.
I also felt this book read very much like a young adult novel. There was some great advice and counsel that would be good for any teen and especially for those that are queer or questioning. However, there is a bit too much adult material to put it in a YA category.
I would recommend this book for anyone who likes to contemplate how their life would have been different if they had made different choices as a teen. I also think this book has an excellent depiction of what it is like to discover your true trans identity.

The In-Between Bookstore follows the story of Darby, a 30-year-old trans man who loses his job and moves back to his small town. One day, he walks into a bookstore where he used to work as a teenager and encounters his younger self. I really enjoy time travel stories, and this one is written in a unique way. I found Darby's story to be incredibly emotional. The story’s message is also important. I also enjoyed the audiobook. The narrator did an amazing job bringing the characters to life. I highly recommend the audiobook as well.. Thanks to NetGalley and HarperAudio Adult for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a great book that focuses not only on the LGBTQ+ community but about finding yourself! It has some “magic” aspects.

The narrator was good but I don't think the audiobook format serves the book well. It's very slow-paced and I think it's better read at one's own (probably faster) pace.

The central conceit of meeting your own younger self when you return to the town you grew up in is such a perfect metaphor, made even more powerful by the split between pre- and post-transition.

Unfortunately, most of the book is not actually about that. It's mostly about Darby just kind of hanging around and feeling repetitively guilty about having been totally out of touch with his extremely supportive mom, and crushing on Michael while they both either fail to or refuse to actually communicate about either their present feelings or what went down between them as teenagers. (Darby literally can't even remember what their fight was about, but when he tells Michael this, Michael gets mad and stomps off without telling him.) When Darby finally does actually talk to his teenage self, he's mostly interested in trying to stop his teenage self from getting in that fight with teenage Michael.

This would be kind of okay if the book was a romance, where things are centered around the romantic relationship, but it isn't. It's a coming of age story, but it's only in the last two chapters that any actual character growth happens. Up until that point, Darby is kind of maddening. He's 28 but acts at least eight years younger. That's the point - he's a case of arrested development - but it was so annoying to read. It doesn't help that Michael acts way more mature than Darby except when it's necessary to keep them from communicating about anything important, and then he just refuses to talk like an adult.

I found this book frustrating. The author is obviously talented but the book needed at least another draft.

Poignant and relevant for right now. Loved the queer rep and the twists and turns of the intricate story telling. Excited to read more form this author

I’m smitten with this YA romance with a touch of magical reality. It has deeply moving character growth and development with a backdrop of multiverse musing. What would we say to our younger selves if we met them now? What would that have changed? That’s really the question. And boy does this novel made you think. But the romance definitely outshone the existential plot line and took center stage. 4.5 stars, fantastic read, rounded out to 5 stars for hiring a trans voice actor for the main trans character! Excellent choice! I HIGHLY recommend this read for anyone 13 and older.

Thanks so very much to NetGalley and HarperAudio for this ARC of The In-Between Bookstore. It is a privilege to read and enjoy this book in exchange for my honest review of the book.

This book was alright but was not what I was expecting. I felt like it read very YA for an adult book. The audio narration was good as was the readability but the story itself I felt was a little more on the naive side. When reading the description I was hoping for a bit more whimsy with the bookstore but it didn't really come across that way. I liked the points of introspection but not that it took so long to actually get too or that nothing seemed gained from it.

I am about a decade older than the MC but almost felt a bit too old for this book if that makes any sense.

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.

What would you do if you went back home to help your mom move and find yourself in the bookstore you used to work at as a teenager seeing the person behind the counter is in fact you as a teenager? Well that’s what Darby is about to figure out. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Honestly how Darby reacted I believe I would’ve reacted. I do wish I knew what became of Darby and Michael in the end but that’s okay, I believe it is part of how life like this novel is. I’m straight and my sister is gay, her and I have discussions however I will never understand what she went through and still goes through. I love when I find a book that is in the lbgt+ community because I feel it helps me better understand. Going through this with Darby as he grows and learns, I feel you get to go through it yourself. A truly good read.

The In-Between Bookstore is a standalone queer friendly fantasy coming of age novel by Edward Underhill. Released 14th Jan 2025 HarperCollins on their Avon Books imprint, it's 272 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

The author has a good grasp on the technical aspects of writing. The scene settings, descriptive prose, and storytelling themselves are all competent and well wrought. The idea of being able to timeslip and go back and maybe change our future selves, is powerfully attractive. This is a well told story about precisely that. Darby gets the chance to go back to interact with his 16 year old self when he accidentally time-slips into 2009 in the bookstore he worked at as a teenager.

It's a wistfully told story and not always a happily-ever-after (though the denouement and resolution are fully developed). The characterizations are a trifle two dimensional and trope-y, but overall, it's a solid novel and a satisfying read.

The unabridged audiobook has a run time of 9 hours 23 minutes and is capably read by Shaan Dasani. He does a good job delineating the various characters and doesn't get tripped up on any of the rapid scene shifts/time shifts/dialogue. He has a warm upper midrange neutral male voice without strong regional accent (maybe central East USA, but nothing openly identifiable).

Three and a half stars for both print and audiobook.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Rating: 4/5 Stars
Pub Date: 1/14
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“A poignant and enchanting novel about a magical bookstore that transports a trans man through time and brings him face-to-face with his teenage self, offering him the chance of a lifetime to examine his life and identity to find a new beginning.” This is the opening of the synopsis of this book and it sums it up perfectly.
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This was such a phenomenal debut. I adore magical realism books and I also adore rediscovery and books that really focus on that “what if” question. This book tackled those tropes so beautifully. I cannot express how much I loved Darby going into the bookstore and ending up back in time to talk to his younger self, to guide his younger self and seeing the changes that it made.
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I was captivated by this story. I loved this journey and I cannot express how much I loved the ending. It’s just under 300 pages, so a shorter read but one that really packs a punch! Underhill is most definitely an author to keep an eye on!
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I listened to this one via audiobook while reading along with my ARC. Shalan Dasani is the perfect Darby. I was sucked right into this audio like Darby in the bookstore. If you want to read this one - definitely give the audio a shot!
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Any fans of magical realism should give this one a shot. Its fantastic. Huge thank you to NetGalley, Edward Underhill, Harper Audio and Avon Publishing for the ALC and ARC in exchange for my honest review.

*Thanks to Harper Audio and Net Galley for copy of audiobook*


While for the most part the story was okay my main problem was that Darby was not that likable and felt very immature and chose to solve his problems by running away. He continuously blames his friend for a fight that happened that ruined their friendship. Also he's very surprised to find that there was other queer people in his hometown which of course happened because he kept himself closed off from everyone. Luckily some of this gets rectified by the end of the story. The speculative element was handled okay, but did not bring enough to the story.

I would recommend this to an older teen to read, because their is a life transition in it that they may relate to even if it's different in the story.

The In-Between Bookstore is a story about rediscovering home while figuring out one’s place in the world. The main character, Darby, is sick of New York City and decides to move home in order to help his mother move. While there, he reconnects with his childhood best friend, witnesses a community that he never knew existed, and discovers a time slip at his local bookstore that allows him to interact with his teenage self.

I found Darby both relatable and frustrating, which is probably a sign of a well written character (we aren’t lovable all the time, after all). I appreciated his character arc throughout the course of the book and the growth he experienced. While it ended on a bittersweet note, it felt like both he and Michael experienced some needed healing in their relationship.

Many thanks to Avon and Net Galley for an audiobook ARC of this title in exchange for my honest review.

I loved the premise of this story and all the lgbtqiap+ rep, but ultimately it fell flat for me. For a debut the novel was well written, but there was a convenient use of unstable magic to explain away the things that just couldn’t be made to make sense. The beginning was good and got me invested, the middle dragged on too long and the end was rushed and disappointing.

Unfortunately, the main character drove me a bit bonkers because he needed to get off his jump to conclusions mat throughout the entire story. I was so excited to find out how the characters reconcile their past and present selves and see some major character development, but alas I did not.

The best part of listening to this book was the narration. It was done really well.

I received an audiobook ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. I genuinely wanted to love this story, as I’m a fan of magical realism when it’s subtly woven into the narrative. Unfortunately, I struggled to connect with this one.

The mother’s character came across as overly immature, and her constant talk about the penguins became repetitive. The plot itself felt stagnant, with the main character repeatedly driving to the bookstore, going to Michael’s, and revisiting the same scenarios. It gave the impression of listening to the same chapter on loop.

I also found the character development lacking. I wanted to learn more about the main character’s mom, dad, and Michael, but they were never fully explored. Additionally, the narrative felt choppy, with unnecessary characters and interactions that didn’t contribute to the story.

I’m giving this book two stars, though I recognize that my perspective might be influenced by not having personally experienced the situation it portrays. Readers who have walked in those shoes might find it more relatable and impactful.

This was a really sweet story of love, hurt and acceptance among friends and also with one’s self. It was refreshing to read a romance that centers young queer friend groups and couples, and in which the protagonist is trans. There were parts of the story that felt belabored, and the time travel element was a little heavy handed - I wonder if different editorial choices could have made it feel more mystical or else figurative as a journey to seeing and nurturing one’s inner confused child/earlier self… All in all, I enjoyed it and glad I read it.

Thanks to NetGalley for a chance to listen to this well-narrated audiobook.

Thank you to Netgalley, HarperAudio, and the author for providing a free audio arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The book’s combination of time travel and bookstores intrigued me, and I genuinely wanted to love it. The premise sounded fantastic and incredibly promising, but unfortunately, “BOOKSTORE” is quite light on plot.

Furthermore, the characters appeared perpetually exhausted and disillusioned with life, which made me feel ancient and disconnected. This aspect of the book didn’t resonate with me, but I recognize that my perspective may not be the intended audience for this book. I believe it would be a great fit for those who enjoy these themes.

4.5⭐️

I absolutely loved the storyline of this book. The MC time traveling back in time to help his high school self figure out who he is was at that time in his life was so heartwarming.

And also showing Darby reconnecting with his former best friend and learning exactly why they had a falling out was also very inspiring.

Growing up in a small, conservative town myself and having a lot of queer friends and family, I definitely understand Darby’s emotional turmoil and why he felt like he needed to escape that town.

If you’re struggling with trans identity or know someone who is, I would definitely recommend this book. It shows both sides of figuring out your identity and I think it would be helpful to those who are also struggling.

This book had the bones of a good book, but it fell short for me. It just felt a little convoluted and that there was actually no character growth throughout the entire book. I loved to see some trans representation and the overall vibes of a very queer book. I just wanted more. I wanted more character growth. I wanted more depth. I wanted more explanation of the bookstore and its magic. I don't know. It just fell a little...flat.