Unemployed and needing a fresh start, Darby heads back to his hometown of Oak Falls, Illinois. While many things are different there, what remains familiar is the bookstore that he used to frequent and work at, In Between Books. But when Darby walks through the door, he finds himself back in 2009 and his younger self behind the counter. Convinced that he needs to use this opportunity to fix his relationship with his old friend Michael, Darby begins to bounce back and forth in time.

This is a new category that I really have been enjoying lately. I love how Underhill easily jumps between real like and the idea of time travel without seeming odd or impossible. I did find it interesting of there being the multiple timelines that leave Darby's life as is despite visiting his past. This is a good representation of learning from a person's past and being allowed to take an introspective look.

The book was, however, a bit slow to get into it the start. And while it's not a bad read, there isn't anything super standout for me. I think the book will hit well with an audience slightly different than me, though.

Thank you to HarperAudio, NetGalley, and Edward Underhill for the audiobook ARC in exchange for my honest review of this book.

This an interesting book. It was a lot of melancholy and honestly not a lot happened. I liked the writing and the main characters quite a bit, but I wanted something more. Our main character is Darby, a young transgender man in New York City that isn’t sure where he’s going with his life. He’s lost his job and can’t afford his apartment anymore so when his mother mentions she is working to sell her house and move to a condo he decide to go back to his small town. When Darby visits the bookstore he worked at in high school he sees a kid who weirdly reminds him of who he was in high school. When he visits again he is shocked to find that bookstore seems to be in 2009 and it is his younger self in the bookstore. He also bumps into Michael who was his best friend until the end of high school where their friendship crashed and burned for reasons Darby never understood. The book was well written although definitely bittersweet in the end. It was a good book, but I wanted something more to happen. I listened to the audiobook and thought the narrator did a great job.

I quite like Edward Underhill's writing but this book didn't work very well for me. It was just fine and I think it would actually be better enjoyed by a younger audience (even though it's not YA), which is why I'm rounding my review up to three stars. Despite the time travel component, this is a book where not only does nothing happen, there is barely any character or relationship development and that's probably where it fell down for me the most. (Also note: this is NOT a romance.) What worked well for me: The sense of place is great and what we do get of the characters is endearing. I'll keep trying with the author, even though this was not the one for me.

I received an audio Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley and HarperAudio in exchange for an honest review.

I don't really know how i feel about this one. It was interesting for sure, but i feel like i was left wanting at the end. Sometimes I don't mind that, but it bothered me with this one. It's a 3.5.

Characters: 7
Atmosphere: 9
Writing: 8
Plot: 8
Intrigue: 9
Logic: 7
Enjoyment 7

I really loved this book! It was my first read of 2025! Edward Underhill really outdid himself by wrapping up relatable, yet deep issues in a cozy sci-fi! The trans representation also feels very genuine! As did the relationships, romantic and platonic!
And for those who are looking at the audiobook, Shaan Disani did an absolutely AMAZING job at narrating Darby's story! His voice just matched Darby perfectly and he did a really good job of dramatizing the audio!
The only thing I felt amiss was a certain romantic aspect. I felt some of it was a bit rushed, BUT the author does a very good job of handling the outcome of the relationship in a positive, realistic way. I really appreciated this :>
4/5 stars, I highly recommend this as a spooky, cozy sci-fi!

I really enjoyed this book. The concept is really cool and I think it was executed really well. I was a little sad that Darby and Michael didn’t end up together BUT they did have their moment and it was everything I could’ve asked for. I definitely think this will do well as a June book of the month feature.

Harper Audio ALC
I have read all of Underhill's books now, and they just keep getting better. I love how he captured small town Illinois and how this setting really forced Darby to reflect on what he wanted - to go back to NYC or to stay in his hometown. The magical elements of the story were fresh and unique. They way that it was written had me thinking the story would go in a different direction than it did, and I love it when an author surprises me. I just loved Darby and how honest he is with himself about being unsure. It was just a beautiful story of turning 30 and still figuring things out.
The narration was done by Shaan Dasani, and the performance was phenomenal. I think he captured Darby and all of his feelings so well in his performance. It was easy to tell the tone of each situation because of his excellent narration.

4 ⭐ (audio) I listen to a lot of audiobooks, and I'm generally happy as long as the narrator doesn't pull me out of the story. This narrator is new to me, and I enjoyed their telling of the story.

3.5 ⭐ (story) When Darby finds himself unemployed and in need of a fresh start, he moves back to the small Illinois town he left behind. But Oak Falls has changed almost as much as he has since he left.

One thing is familiar: In Between Books, Darby’s refuge growing up and eventual high school job. When he walks into the bookstore now, Darby feels an eerie sense of déjà vu—everything is exactly the same. Even the newspapers are dated 2009. And behind the register is a teen who looks a lot like Darby did at sixteen. . . who just might give Darby the opportunity to change his own present for the better—if he can figure out how before his connection to the past vanishes forever.

Fascinating premise, execution was not too bad. I think this book will be a hit with queer people or anyone else who feels other'd, whatever their reasons. I really enjoyed this, but I don't see it being as well received by general readers. It deals too much with emotion, and I don't feel like there's enough external plot going on to balance it. That said, I enjoyed the book a lot, and I'm grateful for the chance to have read it. 3.5⭐

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced audio copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!

Unfortunately, this book was mostly forgettable. It had an interesting plot, with a promising trans character, but the magical realism left a LOT to be desired, and I felt no chemistry between the two main characters. Plus all they needed to do was talk about their feelings and there would have been no book at all lol. Good audiobook narration though, and a quick read. 3.75 rounded up!

🌈Queer rep: Main trans guy, gay male love interest, MM main couple. Secondary, FF couple, MM couple, and F/NB couple.

*3.5-3.75 stars.
First, a huge thank you is owed to Harper Audio and to Netgalley for the opportunity to review the audiobook of this novel before the release date. Second, I want to start this review off by acknowledging the fact that I am a cis straight woman, so I am approaching the narrative as an ally, but recognize that I am not the target audience for this novel nor am I experientially familiar with the deep nuances presented by a trans author writing a trans character.
At first, I was so excited about the premise, but as the novel got underway I started to wonder if the author was possibly stuck a bit in his previous YA wheelhouse, because the speaker came across a bit juvenile. Once I understood Darby’s character more, this voice began to make a lot more sense, and I was blown away by the development of his voice throughout the novel.
I have seen quite a lot of reviews saying that they did not love the ending, but honestly the ending was perfect to me. The final paragraphs were just so beautiful and for me really encompassed the modern feeling of purposelessness in your mid to late twenties when you are having to really reckon with the adult life you pictured not living up to your hopes in undergrad. These two lines were particularly impactful and beautiful for me:
“Maybe there are alternate realities and a million versions of ourselves live out there”
“Every time we make a decision, reality splits, like a tree branching”
I am really excited to read more from the author and see the way that his voice develops and matures as he branches out even more!
Lastly, I am open to feedback from the target community in how I can best review and communicate about LGBTQIA+ genres and I am committed to continuing my own education on how to be a good ally.

This was my first book by this author, and i wasn't disappointed. The book was fast paced. Has a diverse cast, and is well written
Only given 4 stars because the second half of the book left me wanting a little bit more as far as character growth went.
Although not a romance, I found myself wanting the ending to then out differently.

I’d read and loved Underhill’s YA works so I was excited to read his foray into the adult space. Thank you NetGalley and HarperAudio for the opportunity to read the audiobook!

The story was incredibly poignant and made me do a lot of self-reflection that I wasn’t prepared for. The themes of finding your place in the world hits different in adult fiction because there is a lot more focus on what could have been than the what could be of YA. It definitely resonates.

If you like quiet stories about self-discovery and making mistakes (and trying to fix them and making more) then I think you’ll enjoy this story. I feel like this is more for literary and contemporary fiction readers dipping their toes into speculative fiction than it was primarily genre readers.

It was beautifully crafted but ultimately not what I was hoping for from a book with a time-traveling bookstore. And that’s okay, because I am certain this book is going to resonate with a lot of readers who are going to love it for exactly what it is.

This book I think had a lot of potential , and mostly hit the mark. Its an emotional book about a trans person who leaves their life behind to find themselves in New York--just to head back home and face what happened to them in highschool.
The book is based around a bookstore that Darby finds his younger self whenever he enters. When he's with other people in the bookstore- it remains present day. The book involves him trying to get to the bottom of a fall out between himself and his best friend-- by looking for clues from his younger self
The time travel piece isnt explained or developed, you have to take it at face value. While there was character growth, it felt a lot like the grown up Darby was 16 in terms of emotional reflection and maturity. I enjoyed the book but didnt love it.
Those looking for a trans/LGBTQ+ novel I think will relate to and appreciate Darby's journey in finding himself and doing whats best for him.

This is a beautiful queer story about finding yourself, second chances, love, and a bit of time travel! I absolutely adored this story and just wanted to give Darby a big hug! Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for my audio ARC!

The In-Between Bookstore is an intriguing story about a soon to be 30-year-old trans man who returns home to a small town in Illinois to help his mother move. While there, Darby visits a bookstore where he used to work, and is somehow transported back to the past and is able to interact and talk with himself pre-transition. He attempts to learn why his relationship with his bestfriend turned sour, and to provide some guidance to his previous self.

Overall, I really enjoyed the book and the development of the characters. It's so strange when you leave a place you are intimately familiar with only to return several years later as a changed person. Darby's struggle with finding his own identity and own desires was told in such a relatable way. The issues of finding your true identity can happen at any age (despite most books with similar plots tend to focus on young adults).

I would recommend this book to others, and enjoyed it.

Thank you NetGalley for early access in return for my honest review!

Where do I even begin? I really wanted to love this book. Although it deviates slightly from my typical reading preferences, its inclusion of time travel & bookstores captured my interest. The premise sounded fantastic, & it seemed really promising.

My main issue is that I just can't make sense of what the book was aiming to do, exactly. There's so many inconsistencies with what the main character wanted & was striving for. By the end of the book, I was surprised at the choices he made, because I felt like the book never went into depth about why he'd want to make that choice.

I also felt like the Author could have gone a bit deeper into the characters & the subject matter. Figuring out who you are as a gay kid is a scary thing, & I wanted more from the scenes between the two versions of Darby.

Also, in my opinion, if you’re going to add a time travel element to a book, you need to COMMIT to it. I didn't feel like it had all that much impact on either the main character or the story.

So, on paper this sounds like a heartwarming, thoughtful story that touches on important issues. It promises great queer representation & positive messages about being true to oneself, & it has the potential to be a deeply moving narrative. But unfortunately, it didn't quite hit the mark.

Thank you Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC.

I had to set with this book before I reviewed it. Not because it is bad, but because the themes within it hit too close to home.

I know what it is like to grow up queer in a small town, move to a larger town, and have people judge you for your background and your love for your hometown. I loved the exploration of themes of not belonging that this book explored, and how our refusal to have difficult conversations. Also appreciated the way the author made it clear that however one is Queer is okay.

This book was a tender and sweet coming-of-age for adults. I really enjoyed listening to this book. Shaan Dasani is an excellent narrator who brought the book to life. Thanks to HarperAudio and NetGalley for the early copy!

Novel Concept: 5/5
Execution 5/5

Title: 4/5
Characters: 5/5
Dialogue: 4/5
Plot 5/5
Atmosphere: 5/5
Theme: 5/5
Prose 3/5

Does this pass the Bechdel Test: Yes, Joan and Olivia talk about fries

Title
The Title refers to the literal bookstore in the novel called In-Between Books. It also connects to the themes about time travel, but also the in-between state that Darby finds himself in both as an adult between two towns and as a teenager, between two gender identities.

Characters
All of the characters feel like fully realized people with interesting quirks and flaws that help naturally create tension and propell the plot forward. Darby truely is his own worst enemy and he knows it. He both is trying desperately to figure himself out but is so unaware of others that he ends up accidentally hurting people in the process.

I loved the neighbor woman and her penguins. It's such a small detail but it really made the town feel all that much more alive.

Dialogue
So the voice of Darby's interrior monologue can sometimes come off as very juvenile way. There's a lot of stating things like directly acknowledging Midwestern social norms rather than just letting them play out. I wouldn't say this book as a show/tell problem because these moments aren't common but something I was aware of. It tended to stop the further we got into the story.

Everyone spoke in a natural way. Nothing felt forced nor did I feel like I was getting any exposition dumps disguised as dialogues.

Plot
This is a fairly simple plot of Darby coming home to help his mother move while he figures out what he wants to do with his life, and then encountering the past in the bookstore. It's a really unique way to explore a coming of age novel. Teenage Darby is struggling with his gender identity and adult Darby wants to help. He wants to help stop Darby's path of self destruction and as a result, helps himself reach a semblance of peace. And as a queer woman, it was nice that this queer coming of age novel wasn't a tragedy steeped in homophobia. While I do think those narratives are important because that's real, it was really nice to see a story about identity that wasn't about trying to get people to understand and accept queer people.

I also liked that this book did not take the Hallmark Route. The dynamics between Michael and Darby are complicated and steeped with both nostalgia and regret, but I'm glad that neither side was willing to fold and abandon everything for the other.

Atmosphere
This novel feels well researched. I believed the small town in Illinois and also the bustling city of New York. The time travel stuff was also believable and I'm glad that there wasn't any hard explanation on how it worked, but there clearly are rules and regulations that we can figure out some of on our own. It really made it seem all that more mysterious.

The thematic and emotional Atmosphere is great. We feel as overwhelmed and frustrated as Darby as he's trying to navigate himself and the city he's currently in. He is steeped in this struggle of understanding and we feel it every step of the way.

Theme
This book is about identity. When we set aside homophobia for a moment, a queer person trying to figure themselves out is extremely difficult. Especially because it's getting harder and harder for people to get access to the right information and terms. Identity is so difficult to navigate on your own. And I think this book does a great job of exploring that self destructive property of feeling alone and maybe queer and mix that with every teenager feeling like no one understands them. It's a recipe for an explosion. And the thing is, even if this book is not directly every interacting with homophobia often (i believe there's one scene), the effects of it are invisibly felt because Darby just doesn't know if his small town would accept him. It's so terrifying to wonder if your mother will hate you for something so undeniably out of your control.

The unique set up for the coming of age part is also steeped in really good theme. Because while nothing changes, Adult Darby has changed. He has always struggled with his identity even as an adult and talking through his younger self about it has also helped him feel more confident in who he is and where he belongs. Adult Darby becomes the person young Darby needed, because young Darby was too scared to articulate these things to his mother or his friend, people who would have played that role that Adult Darby is playing to Young Darby in the bookstore. Adult Darby is, weirdly, also coming of age because he's coming into himself.

Prose
The writing is fairly simple and sometimes a little too direct for my taste. But it was easy to understand and I never felt lost in the plot

A very reflective book, that doesn't set out to fix everything, have the MC find all the answers, or go live happily ever after with their childhood best friend. It's real and raw and I really appreciated the OwnVoices experience that was easily discernible through both the teenage and 30 year old trans main character. Although the ending was bittersweet and melancholy, it was also realistic and fit well with the story. The MC grew and learned a lot. I enjoyed the magical realism, although it was mostly there to serve as a mirror for the MC to look at himself in and be able to develop.

The narration was very well done! A perfect choice for this book, excellent quality and enjoyable to listen to.