3.5 ⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley for this ALC!

Leigh has joined an MFA program after hating her job. At the program in NC, she sees her former rival and crush, Will.

Leigh is a chronic people pleaser and lover all things pink. She was a sorority girl and is never taken seriously.

Will and Leigh grow closer through working on their poems in a group. They can’t deny their feelings but they constantly are hot and cold with each other. There’s some spice and self discovery for these two.

Will had a strained relationship with his late father. Leigh’s parents are going through a separation. They have overcome their bad examples to be together.

This story was both unique and deeply relatable. I felt everything as if I were living it myself. Leigh was so real, an imperfect, pathological people-pleaser. Her struggles were my own, and they cut deep. It was so easy to step into her shoes and follow her raw mental health journey, which was beautifully portrayed.

What resonated with me most was how the book captured the way insecurities can eat us up, slowly distorting our perception of the world and our relationships. The story felt incredibly reflective, and I loved that.

The slow burn romance? Pure angst, tension, and delicious back-and-forth. Will is soft yet unreadable, but we get glimpses when we see him interact with Leigh. Their story is messy, beautiful, sometimes heartbreaking, and deeply vulnerable. I loved every second of it.

And to think this is Katie Naymon’s debut novel! I can’t wait to see what she does next. Time to pre-order a trophy shelf copy!

The narrator was incredible! I loved how she changed her tone, rhythm, and delivery to match the emotions of the story.
It felt so natural and immersive, making the experience absolutely perfect.

Thank you Net Galley & Kate Naymon for providing me with an arc, this is my honest review!

I loved this book! The chemistry between Leigh and William is fantastic. This book is a little bit of everything: second chance romance, slow burn, and rivals-to-lovers vibes. There’s always been a spark between these two since high school and a near connection in college. When they end up in the same poetry cohort of an esteemed MFA program, they meet in the margins and reignite long-held attraction. Leigh is an imperfect leading lady… I imagine some readers will be turned off by her people-pleasing overthinking, but I could relate. William has flaws, too (one that almost lost the book a star), but they work as a pair. The poetry and overall writing works. I thought the audiobook narration was only OK at first as some of the female character voices blurred together. Ultimately this was still a solid listening experience through NetGalley, and I’m grateful to have received an ARC for review!

This book was okay, I saw a lot of hype around it so was excited. It had some good parts, but it wasn’t my favorite. Some parts felt long winded, Leigh was a little insufferable at times. Parts just felt very immature, the same argument over and over. I feel like others may like this more than I did, it just wasn’t for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Hatchette audio for my gifted ALC!

I want to start by saying that I’ve never really studied poetry or worked through the process of writing poetry so I may not have been the ideal audience for this story.

Tired of her marketing job, Leigh applies for and gets accepted into a prestigious poetry MFA program in North Carolina. She arrives to the program only to discover her high school crush and poetry nemesis Will is in the same program.

The setting of the story spent a lot of time in the classroom critiquing each person’s work and at drinking nights with the people in the group. I found the pace of it to be a little slow.

My biggest struggle in the story was with Leigh’s character. She was extremely insecure and that spilled over to her school work and relationships and although she was seeing a counselor throughout the book we didn’t see any growth in her until the very end of the story. The way she handled her parent’s divorce and her relationship with Will felt very childish and petty.

The romance had a lot of push and pull in it. They were either so drawn to each other they couldn’t resist or they were pushing each other away because “this could never work”. I would have loved seeing more time developing the romance.

The audio narrator did a great job with the narration on the story. I would definitely be interested in listening to more of her audiobooks.

Romance content: 2 open-door scenes with some language.

a million stars

I am not a writer so I do not have the words to express the absolutely gorgeous prose in this book. The writing is beautiful and poetic, it makes me want to come up with metaphors for every little thing in my life. I found this book to be not only incredibly romantic but also vulnerable and inspiring and deep. Being able to see both MCs struggle with their own self-worth, passions, and family relationships was a nice parallel between them - and honestly this is impressive as hell for a single POV romance. Will was incredibly fleshed out despite never being able to see into his mind beyond the poems he submits. I also am low-key in love with Leigh's therapist. You can tell the author has an MFA (but is also so unpretentious that I'm in love).

If you love Emily Henry, I truly think this is for you. Just so good and gorgeously written.

Regarding the audiobook, I wasn't a huge fan of the narrator. Very much a me issue but the lilting quality of her voice wasn't for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ALC!

I read this as an eARC and listening to this unlocked a new level of obsession for me.

This story is about a girl named Leigh who starts her Master of Fine Arts (MFA) program with the hopes of pursuing her dreams in poetry. Her dreams of honing her craft and learning are shattered on day one when she finds out that her childhood crush/rival/nemesis with impeccable, sexy poet fashion sense and annoyingly perfect writing skills who she simped for since high school is in the same program. And well… two years is a long time for history to stay in the past.

My favorite part of this story was the exploration of the main character, Leigh Simon. She is your pathological people pleaser forged from the unfortunate life experiences that repeatedly told her that she was not enough. From crush rejections (yes, plural but does it make it better its from one person???) to being the middleman bearer of the spillage from a failing marriage between her parents… Leigh quickly learned that there was no point in being herself because that only resulted in hurt. When people tell you that being you is not enough to be more than friends or save a marriage, what’s even the point? Yes, I got so frustratingly annoyed at her (especially towards the end), but I think that is just a testament to how the author got the characterization nailed down.

Then, cue Will Langford. When the forced proximity starts to unravel years of unresolved tension, feelings, and secrets, hiding behind time is no longer an option. The tension between Will and Leigh was magnetic and dare I say, fateful. When two exceptionally talented writers like Leigh and Simon fall in love, the result is a beautifully crafted masterpiece that the author executed with flying colors.

Recommend if you enjoy:
- Poetry (whether you are kind of interested or immersed in it, READ THIS)
- Artistic prose, writers being writers and it’s *chefs kiss*
- Spice with class (I kid you not, I was highlighting the spice scenes…)
- Rivals to lovers in an emotional romance format that remind you of Beach Read and Book Lover vibes from Emily Henry with a sprinkle of Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez
- An act-of-service book boyfriend who steals glimpses, protects, and has large hands, corded veins… I understand I may have a problem…

Huge thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for sharing this masterpiece early for my honest opinions.

this is one of the most beautiful books I’ve ever read. perfect for fans of Emily Henry, Jessica Joyce, and Sarah Adams, this story is full of so much love, acceptance, growth, & tenderness. this audiobook is absolute perfection! the narration matched the way I read this as an eARC and let me fall so seamlessly into the story!!! the dual pov was perfect for this story and the narrators were perfectly cast for these characters!!

Leigh & William have had many almosts, almost falling into their mutual attraction, but let their real life fears, realities, & circumstances stand in the way of filling falling into it. I loved their connection throughout the whole story, not just in talking to each other but in sharing their poems & thoughts abt them. their slow burn allows them to overcome a lot of their fears & realities so when they finally do fall into their attraction & love for one another, they can do so safely & wholly. it’s just beautiful

the use of poetry in this story is brilliant! I am not a big poetry buff, but I could easily escape in these works as they exist in the context of the story & are thoughtfully explained.

overall, this is one of my absolute favorite reads, everything about this story is brilliant & beautiful. thank you so much for the alc :)

I had serious FOMO seeing everyone's gorgeous reviews and edits ahead of this book, so I was STOKED to get an ALC just a few weeks ago!

I think this is my first narration by Sarah Beth Goer and I cannot recommend her highly enough! There's some tricky "what's written vs what's spoken" dynamics at play here and she did a phenomenal job.

Its difficult for me to recall a more beautifully, purposefully worded book. Naymon has a gift for choosing the exact right phrase for the moment and feeling. The poetry written "by the characters" is the icing on the cake.

However, I have a hard time buying that someone with Leigh's degree of people-pleasing tendencies would thrive as a writer. If it costs you that much to be vulnerable..maybe don't stake your livelihood on it?

Thank you to NetGalley, Hachette Audio, and Forever for the ALC of *You Between the Lines* by Katie Naymon. Experiencing this novel in audiobook format made it even more immersive—an absolute gem of a romance that captured my heart from the very first chapter. The narration brought Leigh and Will to life, making their chemistry feel even more electric and their emotional journeys even more poignant.

Leigh is the ultimate girls’ girl—relatable, funny, and fiercely independent. Her journey feels so authentic, filled with moments of vulnerability, self-discovery, and unshakable strength. Will is the perfect match for her, a layered and swoon-worthy love interest who balances charm with substance. Hearing their dynamic shift from cautious interactions to undeniable connection was pure magic.

Naymon’s prose is breathtaking, and the dialogue is sharp, witty, and brimming with emotion. The narrator’s performance enhances every moment, from the steamy romance to the heartfelt introspection, making the themes of identity, ambition, and personal growth resonate even more deeply.

This audiobook is an absolute must-listen—relatable, empowering, and oh-so-satisfying. I already know *You Between the Lines* will be one of my favorite romances of the year!

First thing’s first: thank you Netgalley for the ALC of this book!
You Between The Lines was an absolute master class in yearning. You’re looking for yearning? Look no further. This is the book for you!! Both main characters are poets so you know the writing is beautiful and flowery and sweet. I thought this was a super strong debut novel and I can’t wait to read more by this author!! There was a brief period of self destruction that made me roll my eyes but it was addressed in a way that was very satisfying to me. I really enjoyed this one!
4.25⭐️

On the surface, this is a light and fun Romance, but it is also a little more. The setting and characters in the story are based in a graduate Poetry program. The poetry woven throughout is delightful. The main (female) character narrates, and her views and descriptions are so poetic. We also get snippets of the poems the students are creating and critiquing.
After initially getting frustrated with the main character's (often whiny) insecurities, I soon realized this was a serious, crippling issue for her, affecting her relationships and career goals. The author presents this very well, acknowledging and normalizing mental health issues.
I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator really brought out the characters' personalities well through her varied tones. And actually hearing the poetry read was a real plus with the audiobook (perhaps adding that 4th star!).
Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the advance copy to review.

I really enjoyed this. I'm a bit of a stickler for audiobooks--the narrator truly makes or breaks the story, regardless of how good it is. This one was pretty alright! Story itself I really liked.

Thank you to NetGalley, Forever, and Hachette Audio for providing me with an audio ARC of this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Leigh has been admitted to a prestigious MFA program. All she wants to do is keep to herself and write her poetry. When her childhood nemesis, Will, ends up in the same program, she wants to stay as far away from him as possible. But when the work he submits makes it obvious he's writing about her, she can't help but feel drawn to him. Competing for the same fellowship could possibly push them further apart. Or will it bring them closer?
I love the premise of this book. I was an English major who always dreamed of getting my MFA. And if you like poetry and romance, you will more than likely enjoy this title. I wanted to connect with these characters and understand their thought process and reactions. Unfortunately, that was not to be for me. I ended up DNFing this title at 55%.
I need to start by saying I was expecting this to be more adult than it came across. The characters just did not seem like people who were in their late 20s with some life experience behind them. But both main characters came across as immature.
Leigh centers her whole personality around her having been a sorority girl in college, though I actually never got the sense that she had those connections with her sorority sisters I know happen. Her constant insecurities about being in the MFA program also seemed odd to me. She got into the program but was always stating she didn't belong. I cannot imagine she would have been admitted had that been the case. I did not see her growing and developing and understanding her worth. I didn't get a sense that this would change, either. I was also annoyed with the fact that she had one experience with Will in high school she deemed bad and that was what shaped her entire opinion of him. And that moment was about constructive criticism, which she tells us she can take a few times in the book. Obviously this was not the case. Listening to her POV became exhausting and repetitive.
As for Will, I didn't know him at all. He was very surface level. Given the book was only from Leigh's POV, I needed more from her to show who Will was and that just didn't happen. All I saw was what she deemed a pretentious white male poet. But I never got that sense from him. I didn't get much of a sense of him at all.
As for the romance, it felt a little forced. I know the characters had some past engagement that was part of what should have been their underlying chemistry, but it didn't resonate with me. I wanted to feel the emotion between them and it just wasn't happening for me. There were some sweet moments when I though this might turn around but for me it did not.
I really thought this would have been a bit more light-hearted than it was. It was bogged down with a lot of emotion centering around the death of parents and lives that did not go as planned. While I don't mind emotional things in a book, I need to see the characters utilizing it for growth and this was not happening. The blurb made it feel more like a rom-com than it was.
There is much potential from this author, though. I can see it in her phrases and how her words flow. She just needs to tighten up how she portrays things on the page. A little more showing and a lot less telling. I did like the inclusion of the poetry in the story.
The narrator was fine but I think because the pacing of the book was so slow, it made me not like her as much as I might have.
Overall, the book fell flat for me. The plot was monotonous and the repetitive scenes never seemed to move the story forward. I wasn't invested in the story and I didn't care about the characters. I didn't find the FMC likeable and the themes were repetitive to the point I didn't understand why they were never getting resolved or at least developed past being the same thing over and over again. This book is likened to Julie Soto's works but I just don't see it. I do see I'm in the minority on that opinion, though. Perhaps the book would have hit me better in print and I'll give it a try that way once it's released.

I enjoyed You Between the Lines as a rivals to lovers romance set in the competitive atmosphere of an MFA program. It reminded me of Beach Read and Not in My Book, two of my other beloved conroms. However, I really found myself feeling frustrated and often annoyed with Leigh. She spent so much time bemoaning how there's a certain mold of MFA writers who find success easier than she ever could simply because they're the artsy fartsy types while she's *exactly like other girls* aka a sorority girl who loves Taylor Swift whose only trauma is her parents getting divorced when she's in her late 20s. For a the last half of the book I found her less and less likable with every chapter -- especially in her self sabotage era, but that is the point there! I did also really enjoy how poetic the writing was throughout the book. There were certain lines sprinkled throughout that had me pausing, rewinding, and just sitting with the beauty of their words.

This was a nice story with a strong female lead. It was sad and a bit depressing; definitely not light-hearted. However, I did like the story overall. It was a good, cozy romance.

Thank you to Hachette Audio for the gifted audiobook!

I just love this book so much. It's got the heart and humor of an Abby Jimenez book. It uses poetry the way Julie Soto uses cellos (IYKYK). The writing is “Emily Henry”-esque with characters that could’ve walked straight out of Emily’s latest novel. If you gave me this book without a title page and told me Emily Henry wrote it, I’d believe you. YBTL is the whole package and an absolute must read for anyone who has ever enjoyed a romcom.

This is one of those books I know I'll come back to over and over again, so I was so relieved to love the audiobook just as much. Sarah Beth Goer was the perfect choice to bring Leigh to life, capturing her hang-ups, insecurities, a-ha moments, and triumphs with authenticity. She also gives each side character a distinctive voice, which is especially important in a story with so much dialogue from minor characters. My only minor critique is that it was sometimes difficult to distinguish between Leigh’s internal monologue and her poetry drafts. Not a dealbreaker at all—this is still one I’d highly recommend!

Leigh is in her late 20s who leaves behind her soul-sucking copywriting job after being accepted into a prestigious MFA program in North Carolina. Only thing is, her crush turned rival from high school is also in her class and vying for the same fellowship position.

I think this didn’t work for me as I didn’t like Leigh as a character.
She was so self-absorbed from her parents’ broken marriage and divorce to putting herself at the centre of any issue she and Will has without asking or considering him.

She is also not like other girls and she thinks that’s why she’s never picked for opportunities.
I actually had to check she was in her late 20s because she acts so immature.

<b>He can’t write a single poem where I don’t exist. In his stanzas, his lines, his words.
</b>
Finally, there were way too many references and hits on “straight, white male” authors.

Perhaps this didn’t hit as hard as it felt eerily similar to Not in My Book by Katie Holt.

Arc gifted by Hatchette Audio.

This book didn't catch my interest like I wanted it to, but it was a good first book for the author.

I felt that the story was too repetitive, too long, and too negative.

Many thanks to Net Galley and Hachette Audio for an audio ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was very interested in the premise of this novel, but unfortunately for me I don't think I was the target audience because the story fell flat for me. I was drawn in by the Taylor references and thought the poetry aspect would be fun. It took awhile for me to get engaged with the story, like...30%. By that point I'd usually DNF if I wasn't feeling it, but I also acknowledge this is a debut novel and I believe that the author has a lot of talent. I just didn't resonate with this story or the characters. Enemies to lovers is also not my thing. I know that is a popular trope. I also felt like the character seemed a bit immature for their ages. .

As for the audiobook experience- I did believe it was well produced and the narrator was one I had never listened to before. I added them to my list and will seek out others of their work. I had no issues with it.