It took a while for me to truly get sucked into You Between The Lines, but once I did, I absolutely loved it. There were a few points I felt the angst maybe dragged out a bit, or that maybe Leigh was a bit immature for someone who is supposed to be a 27 year old woman, but there was a lot of character growth.

Will and Leigh’s chemistry was great, the story had a few twists I didn’t necessarily expect, and I LOVED the elements of poetry within the book, as a poetry fan and a romance fan. This book might not be everybody’s cup of tea, but if you love romance and poetry, I’d highly recommend.

This was a beautiful read. The style, the story, the characters. Katie Naymon can tell a story! Since both MCs were in a writing/poetry program the book was filled with amazing lines and prose. I enjoyed this story from cover to cover.

I listened to the audiobook version of this story and I thought it was wonderfully narrated. The speaker was understandable and took on the feat of speaking poetry in stride, which can be tricky with timing.

Thank you to Katie Naymon, Hachette Audio, and NetGalley for the ARC!

You Between the Lines is the debut novel by Katie Naymon. Her biography shares many details with her main character, Leigh Simon. That's probably why the book feels so grounded in details.

Leigh is an only child who loves to write but hates the pretentious people who laud the classics - mainly white, straight literary men. She once loved writing unique, pop-culture poetry, but her high school crush called her classwork "all-style-no-substance." In front of her entire high school creative writing class, Will asked, "What's going on between the lines here?" It's a lovely way to tie the title of the book into the text, and it's nice to see this at the beginning of a book instead of near the end.

So instead of pursuing creative writing, Leigh became a mid-level copywriter for an advertising agency, which she bemoaned as a creativity killer. When her parents announced their separation, processed her emotions by writing poetry. She also begins therapy. She's a people-pleaser and needs praise to build up her confidence. So when her first submission is published in Goldfinch Review, she takes a chance and applies for a prestigious MFA program. The acceptance letter gives Leigh hope that she can fall in love with writing again.

Only five fiction writers and five poets are accepted into the two-year program, and one of her new classmates is none other than her is her high school crush - the man who destroyed her confidence, and in her eyes, rejected her with his criticism. As with every time they're in the same space, Leigh is drawn to William Langston. He's the smart, well-dressed kind of man she's always been drawn to. Unfortunately, her sorority girl attitude and love of pop culture inevitably make her feel inadequate and the types of guys she likes always move on without her. So when Will admits he's attracted to her - with a poem read in class that leaves her overwhelmed with confusion and attraction - Leigh knows they'll never last as a couple. 

You Between the Lines has a lovely thread of sexual tension; it's a beautiful dance of push and pull as both Leigh and Will try to fight their attraction. Hot one minute, cold the next, their relationship is complicated and engaging.

As for the audiobook, Sarah Beth Goer did an excellent job as narrator. Her voice is exactly what I'd picture for Leigh. I don't normally like music at the beginning of an audiobook, but the melodies at the beginning and end of You Between the Lines were a lovely touch.

As a final note, that won't be included in my public book review, I thought the "She can't stand him. He can't forget her." from the cover is deceptive for several reasons, but is enough to encourage a reader to pick up the book.

"All style, no substance"—the words Leigh has never been able to forget.
Accepted into a prestigious MFA program at a crossroads in her life, Leigh is determined to prove herself. But when she discovers that Will—her high school crush-turned-nemesis, who once rejected both her and her work—is also enrolled, old wounds resurface, and the tension is undeniable.
The slow-burn dynamic between Leigh and Will is thick with unresolved history, keeping me hooked and rooting for them the entire time. Naymon’s writing—both in the novel itself and through the characters' MFA work—adds layers of emotion and depth, making the romance feel immersive and poetic. Leigh was a complicated character for me. At times, her actions felt younger than her age, but Naymon skillfully unpacks the reasons behind her insecurities, making her growth feel authentic and rewarding. With its lyrical prose, academic setting, and simmering romance, You Between the Lines is a captivating story of longing, self-discovery, and the power of words.
Sarah Beth Goer's voice was great for telling this story. She really was able to bring distinction to the characters, capture the emotion of the poetry and tell Leigh's story. The narration was very well done!
Thank you Hachette Audio | Forever for the copy through NetGalley!

This one was a really good slow-burn missed connection story. Leigh and Will were in the same high school writing class and Will had given Leigh hypercritical feedback during class, basically derailing her crush on him. We fast forward ten years later and they’ve just started the same Masters of Fine Arts program together and it’s a pretty small cohort. Things are awkward between them, as expected, especially when we learn that they had seen each other once six years ago (also ending badly). It was interesting to see these two people continuing to skirt around their feelings for each other and not quite communicate directly. Everything is sort of hiding in their poetry and creative work and they’re both deeply insecure. It was fun seeing the dynamic with all their classmates and working through their career aspirations. Overall, the book kept me hooked, even if all the poetry went over my head. Narrator was great, although I would prefer if whispered dialogue is not also whisper narrated since it makes it tough to hear.

You Between the Lines was a solid debut with an engaging academic setting and a compelling rivals-to-lovers dynamic, but it didn’t fully hit the mark for me. Leigh’s journey through the MFA program had a lot of promise, and I enjoyed seeing her push past self-doubt to find her own voice. The tension between her and Will was fun, especially with their shared history and the way poetry became a battleground for their emotions. However, I struggled with Leigh’s constant self-deprecation—while insecurity is understandable, it felt repetitive at times, making it hard to fully connect with her growth. Also as a former sorority girl myself, these women are some of the smartest people I know as well as being super well rounded, so I never like negative stereotypes about women who choose that path. I also felt the commentary on straight white men dominating the poetry world was a bit overdone; the point was valid, but the repetition took away from its impact. That said, I still enjoyed the academic rivalries, the witty banter, and the exploration of what it means to be a "real" writer. A solid debut!

The performance was great and I thought our narrator did an excellent jobs taking on the variety of characters throughout this book despite being the only narrator.

Unfortunately I will not be able to listen to this audiobook in a time frame that would allow me to offer a well-considered review. Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for providing the advance listener's copy, and I will return to it as soon as I can for a review.

A beautiful debut. Following Will and Leigh’s relationship from high school to their reconnection in their grad program, we see both characters grow both professionally and personally. A unique premise with poetry throughout the story as well, made for a very different and interesting read. I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed hearing the narrator read the poetry.

I especially really enjoyed the Northeast Ohio love - not a super common location for books but as an Ohioan I loved to hear it.

Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the ARC. The narration does not disappoint. When Leigh and Will end up in the same poetry MFA program, Leigh is quite nervous as past memories of Will come flooding back heightening her insecurities. Leigh is struggling to find her voice as both a person and a writer as she learns to master her self-confidence. Leigh is graveling with the power of words and the words left unspoken. This is all complicated by the feelings she never got over from her teenage self and her parents' untimely divorce. Leigh and Will's story is about the one who got away, but even years later their path continues to cross haunted by Will's words left unspoken. The characters are raw and real, forced to undergo change as their personal lives challenge their judgment and feelings of inadequacies. You Between the Lines is finding and losing yourself all over again. "Somehow you knew who I was before I did."

When Leigh starts a prestigious MFA program, she discovers her high school crush Will who gave her 'all-substance-no-style' feedback in their poetry workshop is also in the same program.

I enjoyed the academic setting of this as we follow Leigh, Will and their cohort through the first year of their writing program. As Leigh and Will are forced to spend time together, we get some fun banter, chemistry, and notes in the margins of their class critiques.

Leigh is a bit self-centered and personally victimized by everything around her, so that grew old after a while, but I enjoyed the story overall.

I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed Sarah Beth Goer's narration of all the characters.

Thanks Hachette Audio for the complimentary copy.

You Between the Lines by Katie Naymon started off a bit slow for me, particularly during the early writing group sessions, where the poetry readings and critiques felt long and unengaging. However, as the story progressed and I became more invested in the characters, I came to appreciate these scenes and the realistic depiction of a writing program environment.

The narrative smoothly transitions between past and present, which deepened my understanding of the characters' undeniable chemistry. That said, the constant disagreements and back-and-forth between them felt repetitive at times.

One of the novel’s strongest aspects is its portrayal of the main female character’s struggles with self-doubt in the writing world, leading to anxiety and feelings of inadequacy—something I found extremely relatable.

I experienced this book in both formats, reading a hard copy and listening to the audiobook. While I often enjoy both, in this case, I much preferred reading. Unfortunately, the audiobook narrator made the story feel even slower and less engaging, to the point where I didn’t finish listening. Given my vastly different experiences, I’m rating the audiobook a 2 and the hard copy a 4.

𝐘𝐨𝐮 ℬℯ𝓉𝓌ℯℯ𝓃 𝐓𝐡𝐞 ℒ𝒾𝓃ℯ𝓈 ♥︎
ℬ𝓎 𝐊𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐞 𝐍𝐚𝐲𝐦𝐨𝐧

𝐀𝐋𝐂 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰

🎧𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐨 𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧:
𝒮𝒶𝓇𝒶𝒽 ℬℯ𝓉𝒽 𝒢ℴℯ𝓇 🎙️

🖋️𝐀𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐑𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐬
🎀𝐌𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠
🖋️𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐜𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐡

✨𝒯𝒽ℴ𝓊𝑔𝒽𝓉𝓈✨
𝐀𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 reading this story, I immediately wanted to go back and experience it all over again. I absolutely fell in love with the characters, the storyline, and each and every poem that brought Leigh and Will together. The remarkable solo narration only enhanced the overall experience for me!

𝐋𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡 is a talented writer, drawing inspiration from Taylor Swift songs among other sources. Despite her initial insecurities, she enrolls in a prestigious poetry MFA program only to discover that her high school crush and now nemesis, Will, is also in the same program. As they navigate their complicated relationship through their writing, Leigh realizes that Will's poems are all about her, revealing a depth of emotion she never expected.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 blend of poetry and romance in the story is perfect, allowing us to witness the pain and beauty of Leigh and Will's connection through poems. Each line flows effortlessly, highlighting Katie Naymon's remarkable storytelling skills.

🎧𝐈 cannot praise the narration enough. This audiobook was produced by Hachette Audio and narrated by Sarah Beth Goer. Her solo performance was outstanding, especially when she read Leigh’s poems that left me feeling giddy. But it was her portrayal of Will that truly stole my heart. Will was the ideal book boyfriend. He may have struggled to express his emotions, but when he wrote his poems, it was like a direct hit to the heart, and Sarah truly captured the character's essence.

𝐃𝐨 not let this gem of a novel pass you by – it is an absolute must-read! Whether you choose to read or listen, this book is guaranteed to leave a lasting impression. If you have a soft spot for poetry, your romantic heart will be absolutely smitten!

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 you to Katie Naymon and Hachette Audio for this ALC. All opinions here reflect my genuine experience listening to this book.

I think this book delivers on prose but falls a bit short as far as actual story or plot. There are moments of really lovely writing which complements the story being about poets in an MFA program, but unfortunately the storyline is kind of boring.

I think some of the themes - finding your own voice, limiting the weight we give to the opinion of others to determine our self-worth, and rejection are delivered clearly, but I found that the main character came across as entitled and I felt like she let her parents situation affect her way more than it needed to as an adult. (I mean, this is a woman in a masters program talking about being shuttled back and forth between her parents over her holiday break).

I listened to this as an audiobook and I think it was well done. It was a smooth production with one narrator who still gave distinct voices to each character. Some of them were a bit overdone but I think overall this was easy to listen to and the story was nicely delivered.

This book is a delightful blend of academic rivalry and unexpected romance. Leigh, a former sorority girl, steps into the intimidating world of a prestigious poetry MFA program, only to find her high school crush-turned-nemesis, Will, among her peers. Their journey is a back and forth of competition and undeniable chemistry, set against the backdrop of poetic expression and personal growth. There is tension that comes off the page and the will-they-won't-they energy. I love a good former crush to lovers story and this one delivered. I did an immersive read of this book and think that the narrator definitely adds to the story and I enjoyed that. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the free eARC. All opinions are my own.

Instagram post will be live 17Feb25.

This was such a fun read, especially since I read it around Valentine’s Day! I loved the character growth from our two main characters as they navigate their connection in high school through college. There were lots of swoony, romantic moments. This is the perfect read for anyone who needs a light, fun rom-com. The audiobook was great, too!

I really wanted to LOVE this one… but didn’t. The FMC was weird and annoying at times!
the poetry written throughout the book made me cringe at times.. how are these being read in a MFA program… and not in some middle school is beyond me. also too many Taylor swift references… to the point where a poem is based off of her POV…

I just didn’t care for the ‘will they won’t they’ push and pull of the book. Overall, I saw the vision… it was just executed poorly.

This book completely stole my heart. You Between the Lines is an emotional, beautifully written story about love, ambition, and self-discovery. Leigh is at a crossroads—navigating her parents’ separation, feeling unfulfilled at her ad agency job, and taking a leap of faith by applying to an MFA program. To her surprise, she gets in. But even more shocking? Will, her high school crush who once rejected both her and her writing, is there too. As they find themselves competing for a prestigious fellowship, the tension between them is undeniable. They try to stay away, to move on—but it’s never that simple.

Leigh is messy, flawed, and incredibly relatable. Her struggle with people-pleasing and her journey through therapy felt so raw and real. Watching her grow and find her voice was both heart-wrenching and inspiring. And then there’s Will—soft, reserved, and difficult to read, but in the smallest moments, his care for Leigh shines through. His personal struggles, especially his complicated relationship with his father, made him such a layered and compelling character.

The nostalgia in this book hit so hard, weaving together past and present in a way that made every interaction between Leigh and Will feel meaningful. Their push-and-pull dynamic had me feeling everything—joy, frustration, longing, hope. Their relationship isn’t perfect, but that’s what makes it so beautiful.

This was more than just a love story—it was about finding yourself, healing, and learning to let go of the past while embracing what’s ahead. If you love angsty, heartfelt romances with deep character growth, this book is an absolute must-read.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for this advanced audio copy of You Between the Lines.

After my travels recently, I thought I was too tired to read but TURNS OUT I WASN’T because I inhaled this book. Leigh is wildly relatable*, Will Langford is crazy hot, and this story was perfect.

*While I’m lucky I can’t relate to Leigh’s trauma about her parents’ separation, I can very much relate to her people-pleasing tendencies, low self esteem, and anxiety. I truly felt like the author did an incredible job crafting this character.

This book also includes:

🔥 Great smut
🎓 Not really a second chance, but a “I had a huge crush on you in high school”
🪩 Taylor Swift references if you’re into that
🖊️ Flirting via poem annotations

I was lucky to read this book physically and also via audio. I very much enjoyed the narration - not monotonous at all, there was great emotion and emphasis in the voice. I was also happy with the production of the novel and would recommend this sound to anyone!

Huge thanks to Katie Naymon, Forever, Hachette Audio, and NetGalley for this ALC in exchange for an honest review.

As a former English major, this was a FUN read. I could very much relate to Leigh's feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt during writers workshops. I read this one in audio-- thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for this audio ARC in exchange for an honest review. That little book was such a sweet story of second chances. The characters were well-developed and I was rooting for Leigh and Will from the start.

I absolutely adored Katie’s writing, and this book! 🥰

⭐️: 5/5
🌶️: open door, a few scenes

💭 overall thoughts:
I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about this one. Poetry isn’t really my “thing” - I have nothing against it, I’ve just never really been interested/into it.

I really appreciated the way it was used in this story, showing the development of both main characters. It was a big part of how they got to know each other, in both their own writing & the feedback they gave.

Leigh has this sort of imposter syndrome for who she is - she likes “girly” pop culture, but feels that makes her less of a “serious” writer.
She’s drawn to men like Will, who make her feel validated - or not.

Leigh spends a lot of time doubting herself, and relying on others’ opinions. She (thankfully) has a lot of growth throughout the story.

I think the main theme of You Between the Lines is what it means to be vulnerable, to be yourself, whether in writing or just in general. That was certainly relatable, and I enjoyed reading both characters working through this.

I generally prefer dual POV, but single really worked well here.

*side note - I seem to strongly have a thing for Wills 😅
(Beautiful Player, Perfect Fit, In Spades - to name a few)

🎧 audiobook thoughts:
I haven’t heard Sarah Beth Goer before, and I loved her narration!
She really worked for me as Leigh, and I didn’t mind her “male” voice (which can really throw me off with others sometimes 🙃).

read if you love:
📝 MFA students (poetry writers)
🏫 academic rivals to lovers
📓 former high school classmates
🥹 longtime crush/pining
🧠 mental health rep
🫶🏼found family
💖 single 1st person pov

✨ books/authors with similar vibes:
♡ Clare Gilmore (reminded me of Perfect Fit but I’m not sure why!)

Thank you Forever, Hachette Audio & NetGalley for advanced copies. All opinions are my own.