Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for this incredible Audio Arc!

I can't rave about this book enough. What a delightful and enchanting story! I loved every aspect of it—from the characters and the setting to the brilliant writing. The love story was well-developed, and the characters were flawed yet captivating, making them unforgettable. The narration was fantastic, and the dialogue, along with the emotions, drew the reader into the narrative. I highly recommend this book for both listening and reading! Amazing!!!

Leigh is a very relatable character for me personally and I definitely think that affected my thoughts on this book. I too am an accommodating people-pleaser and she struggled with taking all comments and criticisms into my core. She has a lot going on personally plus the baggage of past interactions with Will that drive her narrative in this story. Her growth is slow to come along but she does eventually learn how to be more comfortable with herself.

I loved Will. The tag line of him not being able to forget her was accurate and I really liked how that played out as the length of his feelings are revealed. He has his own baggage of hurts to work through and that definitely holds back the relationship.

My criticism would be in how young and slightly immature these characters seemed. They felt more like undergraduates than MFA students in their late 20s. That aspect and my thoughts on it did pull me out of the story a bit.

I haven’t seen any reviews that point this out so I will also mention that this book contains very open door romance and was well outside my personal comfort zone so I did some skipping. It has a solid plot without it and it is skippable as you can see it coming (though a little harder on audio).

The narrator did a great job with the voicing of the main characters and I enjoyed her work on this book.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this audiobook. The thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

Content Notes: Multiple open door scenes; strong language

Book: 3.5 stars / Narration: 4.5 stars

I really wanted to love this book, but I had a difficult time connecting to the story. At times, I truly related to Leigh's people-pleasing tendencies and her relationship with her parents. But I also really just wanted her to get over the past and some of her hang-ups with her parents. I think this book will be loved by many, but it was not for me.

The narrator did an amazing job with all of the voices. Honestly, I think I enjoyed this book as much as I did because of the narration.

Overall Impressions: "You Between the Lines" is a solid debut novel. There were parts I really enjoyed, though there were also a few aspects that didn’t quite resonate with me.

The author's writing style is engaging, though the poetry and Taylor Swift references didn’t fully capture my interest.

The romance, while full of tension, wasn’t quite what I was hoping for. I appreciated the dynamics between the characters, but their constant disagreements and back-and-forth were a bit repetitive at times, reminding me of some of the more dramatic relationships often seen in high school.

On a positive note, the book addresses mental health in a thoughtful and meaningful way. It provides an opportunity for readers to reflect and build greater empathy and understanding around these important issues.

In conclusion, while “You Between the Lines” has a lot of potential, it didn't quite reach the five-star level for me.

A big thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

You Between the Lines punches you in the face with the nostalgia of being young and vulnerable. Seeing the main character, Leigh, receiving feedback in her high school creative writing class from Will, her crush, that her poem was "all style no substance" was almost too much to bear. I was excited to see how Leigh’s (and Will’s) story would play out based off that intro and there were plenty of cute details sprinkled throughout that made you root for them to make it!

I had a little resistance in the end believing that Leigh and Will were right for each other. But ultimately the messy union is more realistic than what we see in a lot of romance books so it was still worth the read!
I’m also super picky about audiobooks but really enjoyed the production of this one. Sarah Beth Goer’s voice was perfect for the story!

This was a sweet academia romance read. The author did a wonderful job in character development and portrayed the depth of emotion very well. This felt you and very “now”. Romance is not my favorite genre but for those who like it, I think this is a good pick for you. Also, beautiful narration. Well done. Thank you for the chance to listen to the ALC

This was definitely a sweet academic enemies to lovers/second chance romance that takes place mostly during the first year of a graduate program.

I enjoyed the relationship between Leigh and Will. Their banter and chemistry was well written and the spice was a nice touch!

While I enjoyed this book I felt like Leigh's character was a little whiny and annoying. I did appreciate the discussion of Leigh's mental health was well portrayed and handled this difficult topic with care.

I listened to the audiobook and I thought that it was well performed.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4/5

I really enjoyed listening to this book. The narrator was perfect. The story was the same but different and took place in my favorite setting (school!). The ending was very cute. The female character got on my
nerves here and there but overall I would recommend this book to any romance lover.

Thank you NetGalley, Hachette Audio, and Katie Naymon for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it. I found the main female character a little insufferable and like a child. The male main character was fine. The storyline was fun and i loved how the characters were poets.

ALC Review: You Between the Lines by Katie Naymon
Pub Date: February 18, 2025
Narrator: Sarah Beth Goer

I'm marking this one solidly in the "not for me" category. I didn't hate it but I found both main characters pretty pretentious and I just could not for the life of me understand why they kept saying they couldn't be together? There was never any actual reason given other than "it would end badly". The book was pretty repetitive - the number of times Leigh talks about being a sorority girl and how much she wants to be a poet (again without any reasoning that makes me actually believe she wants to be a poet). In the beginning of the book, she's with her MFA cohort and someone asks her who her favorite poet is and she can only come up with one name because she hasn't read a lot of poetry.... it just didn't work for me. The fact that she chooses to enter an MFA program where she knows she will be critiqued but then can't actually handle any critique?? C'mon. And she also is still perseverating on a critique from the MMC from HIGH SCHOOL - 6 YEARS ago. Girl, get some confidence and get over yourself.

I also didn't love the narration for this one - I found the narrator very breathy, particularly at the end of chapters. I actually think the narration probably did fit the character well but since i didn't like the character...I'm not sure anything would have saved this one for me. I did think she did a good job narrating the poetry.

This is one of those cases where I got annoyed in the beginning and then a hard time finding anything positive to say, even if I didn't actually hate the book. I think the characters are ultimately a bit too young for me and too immature. But I can see why others are loving this!

This angsty new adult romance felt more like women’s fiction. The heroine takes herself and her literary aspirations very seriously. I loved the audiobook narration.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

I wasn’t sure if I would like this book or not but decided to give it a try and I’m glad I did. The narrator was easy to listen to and the book had a nice flow to it. I was excited to see how the book was going to end.

Leigh has a lot to prove. She’s a smart girl but she lacks self confidence when it comes to her poetry. The guy she had a crush on in high school is named Will and now is a nemesis but ends up coming back into her life to help her with her writing.

In all honesty, sometimes miscommunication I find to be annoying but I did enjoy Leigh and Will. I was rooting for them.

Thanks Netgalley and Publisher for a chance to listen to this audiobook for free in return for my honest opinion.

This is a very fun angsty romance between two rivals in a masters program for creative writing. I genuinely felt interested in both characters development and highly recommend it.

*You Between the Lines* follows Leigh, a poet embarking on her MFA journey alongside eight other writers, including William, a former crush and rival from high school. As Leigh navigates the competitive program, she grapples with feelings of inadequacy, especially given how different her writing style is compared to her peers. Driven by a desire to prove her worth, she's determined to succeed and leave William behind.

The novel effectively portrays Leigh's internal struggles with self-worth and anxiety. As an only child dealing with her parents' separation, Leigh experiences a deep sense of rejection, which fuels her insecurities and affects her relationships, particularly with William. Readers who have experienced similar anxieties will likely find Leigh relatable. The author skillfully depicts these emotions and incorporates insights from Leigh's therapy sessions.

The dynamic within the writing group is another strength of the book. The diverse writing styles and critiques offer a glimpse into the creative process and the challenges of artistic expression. The unraveling of Leigh's personal life, with her parents' separation, ties directly into her artistic anxieties. Her fear of rejection permeates her writing and colors her feelings towards William, adding complexity to her character and motivations.

Overall, *You Between the Lines* is an engaging read that explores themes of self-doubt, artistic identity, and the complexities of relationships. I enjoyed the author's insightful portrayal of Leigh's vulnerabilities and the realistic depiction of the writing program environment. It's a book that will likely resonate with anyone who has ever questioned their own abilities or struggled with feelings of inadequacy.


Thank you Hachette Audio for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

In several ways I had a good time with this one. At the end of the novel I felt satisfied with the romantic conclusion, but if I’m being completely honest, the more time that has passed since I finished it, the less connected I feel to the story, but particularly the FMC. I found Leigh to be whiny and morose…we get told repeatedly that she was a sorority girl and told this line how she “IS” like other girls, she DOES like pink and she does like Taylor Swift… but all of it felt so surface and a bit “told not shown”. All these ways that made her a sorority girl and not like the other poets felt very contrary to the way she actually acted. I wish we just got a more authentic portrayal of who she allegedly really was supposed to be.

I did think the narrator did a great job, and I actually switch from eye to ear reading midway through because I was struggling with how I was supposed to read some of the poetry (in the right cadence etc) and having audio was definitely beneficial there.

Listened to the Audiobook.
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The narration was perfect, the right amount of angst. I loved how the narrator showed emotion.
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This book was fantastic, I loved the setting in academia and how it starts the rival to lovers in high school, showing how it all started. I really liked how it keeps you engaged to know what else happened. Is definitely a slow burn that keeps pulling you in.
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I enjoyed the mental health rep, our FMC goes to therapy and some of the sessions are shown on the page, and how growth is shown throughout the book, from both Leigh and Will
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Thank you NetGalley for the Audiobook ARC

For Fans of Not in My Book by Katie Holt!

This novel follows two MFA candidate students in a second chance romance. Leigh and Will have known each other since high school. They thrive in their animosity but grow into an affectionate romance.

The poetry and writing is phenomenal here. I enjoyed each character's writing. The pop cultural viewpoint illustrated such creative ingenuity. It was such a fun twist to an already well-written book. Katie Naymon is incredibly talented!

I am so happy to have read this on Valentine's Day! 🩷

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for this ARC!

Really enjoyed this book! I was intrigued by this take on a rom-com because of the MFA setting, so I enjoyed that glimpse into a version of life in those programs. There are some great comedic moments but also some deeply emotional ones, too. I enjoyed the narrator as well. Overall, a great listen!

I really enjoyed this book. It was a fun peek into what MFA programs are like, and very nostalgic to me as a former English major. I liked the back and forth between Leigh and William, and Leigh's trauma with her parents was relatable. The narrator did a good job, as well!

I want to start by thanking the publisher and Netgalley for the audio arc!

Now as an audio production, I would say it was average. Not over the top amazing but the artist did a good job with what they were given. I wouldn't mind listening to more of their work. Very clear and good pacing.

The story itself was a 2.5 for me. Our female lead felt a bit insufferable who couldn't take criticism in a field that is HIGHLY critical.

Her fights with Will became redundant and had me rolling my eyes. I personally wasn't interested in her issues. She made me want to close the book/stop the audio.

Now that said I don't think it was poorly written. I believe this author has talent and would look for another sample of their writing to see if that topic was something I was more interested in.