leigh was absolutely atrocious. she was the worse person to everyone she was around and i don’t see how this was romantic. there was an abundance of out of place and invasive taylor swift references that were completely unnecessary, on top of immature writing, characters, and conflicts. i understand this is a debut and i would potentially read her sophomore book, but the cherry on top was the narrator taking me completely out of the sorry :(

You Between The Lines by Katie Naymon
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
368 pages
Publishing February 18th, 2025

Former sorority girl Leigh starts a journey at a prestigious MFA program in North Carolina following undergrad. Leigh quickly discovers her high school crushed-turned-nemesis is now one of her classmates. Leigh is filled with anxiety and low self esteem finding this out as she begins this new journey. She is determined to prove Will wrong and become successful. When Will submits an intimate poem to workshop, they are both forced to face the inevitable.

What a joy was it to read this book! This book is funny, the MMC is lovable, and the book is full of growth! Will’s character is everything a girl wants-smart, sensitive, kind. He fell first for her & fell HARD! I just can’t say enough about this book! Fans of Abby Jimenez, Julie Soto, and Emily Henry should checkout this debut novel! I can’t wait to meet @katienaymonwrites next week in Greensboro!

Read if you like:
✨Rivals to Lovers
✨Mental Health Representation
✨Found Family
✨”Let’s Just Get It Out of Our System”

Thank you @netgalley @katienaymonwrites @readforeverpub @hachetteus for an eARC & ALC of this amazing book!

#katienaymon #rivalstolovers #poetry #romance

Leigh is surprised when she gets accepted into a prestigious MFA program for poetry. Her surprise continues when she finds out that her high school crush (who gave her some harsh feedback on her poetry back then) is also in her program. Now they’re competing for a fellowship with her favorite poet and are forced to confront what happened in the past.

I really wanted to love this story, but I was pretty annoyed with Leigh, who felt immature to me. She’s 27, still very hung up on heartbreak from high school, and overly affected by her parents’ crumbling relationship. She also gets really mean and defensive when people close to her provide her with constructive criticism or try to help her. She felt like a teenager to me. However, I very much enjoyed the on-page therapy sessions and mental health discussions, as well as the poetry, which is so unique in a romance book.

I started this book as audio and other readers have loved it on audio, but I had a really hard time with it. Sarah Beth Goer has a great voice, and I would listen to other books she narrates, but her voice didnt match my vision of Leigh’s character. Leigh is portrayed as the Elle Woods of poetry. She is a pop music-loving former sorority girl, and I thought the narration for her voice sounded a little pretentious. I did really like how the narrator read the poetry and voiced Will though. Overall, I was distracted by the narration and switched to the ebook, where I enjoyed the story more.

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

Read if you like:
💕 Poetry
💕 Forced proximity
💕 MFA Poets
💕 Mental health rep
💕 Rivals to lovers

Leigh and Will are both twentysomethings in a creative writing MFA program in North Carolina. They knew each other in high school and have even critiqued each other’s work before in high school creative writing class. While Leigh had the courage to leave behind her job and life in Boston, she doesn’t quite have the courage to be vulnerable in her poetry. As an English major it was nostalgic to listen to these writers in class and the academia of it all. Poetry is not my genre of choice but I enjoyed the prose that was included in the novel. I didn’t like how judging Leigh was of her cohort when feeling like she didn’t fit in. Once I let go of trying to like Leigh, I was able to just go with the flow as both she and Will are very flawed. Flawed in their ability to communicate as well as share truths about themselves. I get that is where the conflict was, it just was hard always being in Leigh’s head.

Overall, I loved Sara Beth Goer’s performance in the audiobook version of this novel. She does a lovely job with all the poetry readings and bringing the characters to life.

Thank you Hachette Audio, Forever, NetGalley, and Katie Naymore for an advanced listening copy of this book.

Overall I liked this book. I thought it was thought out, written well and I enjoyed the plot, storyline and characters, I thought that the college aged setting fit well for the miscommunication and potential immature aspects of the FMC and MMC.

I would recommend this book / audio to others.

ARC REVIEW (w/ audiobook) I was lucky enough to get the audio arc of this and listen along as I read! I will always love a romance about two authors but two poets? Ugh, this was so cute and fluffy and fun I had a really good time with this! The audio was very well done, and I really enjoyed Katie Naymon's writing style as well! Overall a really cute romance with minimal spice & lots of cuteness

If you, like me, want your contemporary romance with a healthy (??? is it??) helping of angst and pain and pining this book is for you!

As someone who is basically a Taylor Swift hater, I went into this thinking I wasn’t going to like it but I was sent a book so I was just gonna try it out… and I ended up crying, relating, and loving it.

I combo read this with audio and the narrator was so great, there are a lot of characters and she did a great job of giving them distinct voices and also her Will voice uhhhh does something for me 😳.

Thank you Forever for the eARC and finished copy, and Hachette audio for the ALC!!

Thank you to Forever Publishing for the eARC and Hachette Audio for the ALC.

I wish I had liked this one. But I think I’m a little too much of a STEM girly for most of You Between the Lines.

There is so much about poetry, and composition, and writing, and I felt like my eyes were glazing over. But I think I could have persevered and continued had I enjoyed the main characters—at all.

Leigh is a ‘pick me’ girl; always judging and putting down others in her classes. Acting like she’s better because she wears pink and listens to current pop music. And she PINES for Will, despite acting like he’s the devil. It’s like whiplash at times.

And Will? He gives off so many mixed signals. While I appreciate him being open about his depression and treatment (and I wish we all could talk about it more freely), he still felt like bland and forgettable.

Sorry, despite the great narrator, I couldn’t finish.

Thank you to Netgalley for the arc. This on audio was so good. I loved Leigh as a main character. She was so relatable and likable. I really felt for her as she was not really feeling fulfilled at her marketing job. I too can say I don't always feel happy at work. Her parents are also going through a divorce and I myself have recently gone through a divorce. So that can be tough. So Leigh is just going through a lot and she sees Will at a MFA program and hasn't seen him since High school. The banter between the two characters was very entertaining and the way they fell for each other was done phenomenally. I would rate this a 4 out of 5 stars. I highly recommend checking out this book if you also like books based on writing and poetry. I love books based off books. This was a really enjoyable and fun read.

This audiobook is absolutely fantastic. The narrator does such a BEAUTIFUL job. Between having difference voices/tones for each character and brining so much emotion to Leigh’s words and thoughts and feelings. Everything is so perfect.

And I love this book so much. It’s one of the absolute best books!

Thanks so much to Hachette for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

The narrators were nice but I was not in love with the female narrator. She played the character well but I feel like it just made me more irritated with the character. The book was good the characters were relatable but the same issue happening over and over was super frustrating and over done

This book<3

Will and Leigh are poets from the same hometown. While life brought them together once after high school, they went their separate ways before finding themselves in the same MFA program for poetry. Through some misunderstandings, they resist the pull they feel towards one another until they can't anymore.

I completely fell in love with Will and Leigh's story. They both have anxiety-related issues and they are written so well, you can really feel what Leigh is feeling throughout the book. I cannot recommend this book enough for my romantics, it is truly a fantastic read!

The wrist? The email? The feedback? I cannot wait to continue to follow Katie Naymon over her career!

3.5 stars, rounded down because I struggled to stick with this book through a large portion of it. At the end though, I was glad I did.

I was attracted to this advance review audiobook by the adorable cover and the premise. Two high school crushes turned rivals end up in the same prestigious MFA program, and the poetry he’s writing seems to pretty definitely be about her. And, overall, the book delivers.

There’s lots of lovely poetry from the MFA candidates, particularly Leigh and Will, our MCs. Leigh, though, is really struggling with her myriad insecurities. This is someone more attuned to the poetry of a Taylor Swift lyric than classic poets, and Will’s peer feedback of her work frequently centers on an all-style, no-substance critique that hits too close to home, as she knows she’s unwilling to be the level of vulnerable necessary to compete for the program’s prestigious fellowship. Will, on the other hand, is very willing to lay himself bare in his poetry. And while Leigh is struggling with feeling like she’s an outsider among the more artsy, well-read MFA candidates, that she’s responsible for her parents’ impending divorce - yes, this is an almost 30-year-old with the rather immature ability to make every situation all about her - Will is going through his own challenging personal stuff, like the recent loss of his father. This isn’t so much a will they or won’t they, but a, can I bear with these two until they hopefully get their stuff together?

In the end, I was happy with where this ended up, I really liked Will and some of the supporting characters in the MFA cohort, and both the poetry and the writing style were beautiful, as one would expect from a writer with these credentials (debut author Katie Naymon holds an MFA herself). This book had its shortcomings for me, probably largely due to a female MC that I just couldn’t relate to, but I enjoyed it overall and think the author has a voice worth following. Speaking of voices, for quite a while I felt that narrator Sarah Beth Goer was simply too low-key and chill in her delivery, but as the book went on, I couldn’t picture anyone else voicing Leigh and think she struck just the right note.

Thank you #NetGalley #HachetteAudio #Forever for the advance listen! This one comes out on Feb. 18.

The audiobook of ‘You Between the Lines’ by Katie Naymon is an evocative experience, bringing a beautifully written story to life through its sensitive and nuanced narration. Firstly, this novel is a true testament to masterful prose, with the kind of writing that feels almost poetic, pulling you into a world of vulnerability, self-discovery, and complicated relationships. It’s a love letter to anyone who has ever felt the need to shrink themselves to fit in, especially those who can relate to the experiences of being an only child or a people pleaser.

Leigh, the protagonist, is an incredibly well-crafted character — a people pleaser at her core who constantly struggles with self-worth and with being seen as "too much" in her relationships. The story, which deals with mental health, yearning, and self-acceptance, hits hard in its emotional depth. Although Leigh’s behavior can occasionally be frustrating, particularly due to her self-destructive tendencies, her character’s development is incredibly relatable. It’s a journey many of us have gone through, and it’s this authenticity that makes her both irritating and lovable at the same time.

The audiobook narrator quickly proves to be an excellent fit for the story. The narrator's performance captures Leigh’s fragility and inner turmoil beautifully, making it easy to see why she’s the perfect choice for this character. She does a wonderful job of playing with tone and cadence, especially in the more intimate or "spicier" scenes, truly bringing the emotions and subtleties of the story to life. The narrator nails the internal struggle Leigh faces in finding her voice — whether in her poetry or in her relationships. Through this performance, the audiobook doesn’t just retell the words; it feels like an extension of the story itself, adding depth to the listening experience.

The production values of this audiobook are also impressive, enhancing the emotional impact of the story. It’s one of those rare audiobooks where the voice performance and the writing work in tandem to create something far more than the sum of its parts.

However, the narrator’s lilting voice may not be for everyone. For some listeners, it may initially take time to adjust, especially if you’re not accustomed to that kind of delivery. But for those who appreciate subtleties in character portrayal, this audiobook will likely resonate deeply.

In short, ‘You Between the Lines’ is a beautifully crafted novel that is only enhanced in audiobook format. It’s the kind of story that teaches you not only about love and self-worth but also about empathy and understanding. If you’re someone who appreciates rich, introspective storytelling and the art of narration, this audiobook should not be missed.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy.

Thank you NetGalley for an ALC of You Between the Lines in exchange of my honest opinion.

4.5 stars

This is such an amazing story with flawed characters that are pushing through life even though they are filled with doubts.
Story is about Leigh, that got accepted into a prestigious MFA program in North Carolina and leaves behind a copyright job that is clearly burning her out. She sees that as an opportunity to follow her passion and start over. However, her past does not want to let her go as she sees her past crush attending the same program as her.

I really loved that this book has several layers that one can dissect. One of them is about Leigh's relationship with her parents and how that mirrors or not her attitude towards her own career and mental health. Speaking of mental health, I very much loved to see a character that has trouble in separating herself from her work when receiving criticism. It was so well done and I could see myself in Leigh at a times.
Will, the MMC, also have his own family issues and insecurities, but nonetheless, communicates and grow with Leigh in this book in a way that I found so delicate, not bypassing or taking the spotlight from her.

Moreover the angst and push-pull between both of the main characters is THICK! They feel so much and that bleeds into the reader.

Lastly, I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this book. As Leigh wants to be a poet, there is a lot of poetry throughout the book, and I thought it was amazing to have that come to life with the narrator. It really enriched the experience of hearing someone declaiming those words than just reading in silence.

The only thing that I deduct a half star is that I wish one of the threads were slightly more developed (but I don't want to spoil so I will leave it like that).
Overall an amazing read

so swoony and perfect. i loved it so much. one of my friends loved this story and i am so excited i got the opportunity to read it early as well. i loved it so much

I did not enjoy this at all. The first half of this book I had decided I was going to give it 2.5 stars and round up to 3. Because what do I know about writing a book with likeable characters? I struggle to write these reviews. Leigh is the FMC of this book and she is just the worst. Is she really supposed to be 27? Granted I have not been 27 in a decade but I feel like late 20s is when women should be getting more confident and accepting themselves. Leigh is insecure and whining about her mommy and daddy getting divorced. And the fact that this (divorce) is compared to the death of a parent is absolutely criminal in my opinion.

Then we get to the second half of the book where Leigh turns a corner from insecure and unlikeable to completely insufferable. The "intrusive thoughts" she has about Will (the MMC) that she thinks she loves are just unforgiveable. She almost treats him as a frenemy. I have read several books where the FMC and MMC are competing against each other and I don't think I've read anything so hateful from a character after they are together.

Clearly I do not like Leigh. Let's discuss Will. He also is not great. Both of these main characters are immature. That being said I felt like at least he always saw her genuine talent and never thought badly about her. Also I think the recent death of a parent gives you a decent excuse to be emotionally stunted.

Clearly this was not for me. I should mention I also have no appreciation for poetry and found the poems a little cringe.

Thank you netgalley for the ARC, this is clearly my honest opinion. This ARC was an audio format and I have no complaints about the narrator, she did a great job.

Fun, lighthearted, and addicting. I sucked this book up in a day. I can not wait for it to come out so I can giggle with all my friends about it.

First off, before I review this audiobook... I need everyone to know this is arguably one of the most well written books I've read in a while. The prose is absolutely stunning throughout this entire novel.

"I can't write a single poem where you don't exist."

Now that I have that out of the way, let's talk about this love letter to only children, people pleasers, and everyone who has ever felt like they have to become smaller, take up less space, so that everyone around you can be more comfortable. This book is for you.

Leigh is a people pleaser to her core. She doesn't want to be a burden on her family, her friends, or really in her life. Will, the man she has been pining for in high school who told her she was more "style than substance" has re-entered her life in the same MFA program. Thus solidifying through forced proximity, the decade of mutual pining and yearning.

The author did an incredible job with the mental health rep in this novel. While the FMC started to grate on my nerves at numerous times due to her self destructive behavior, the character development made sense. The character, made sense. I think most of us would find her irritating, because we have been her. We have been irritated with ourselves for the same things that Leigh struggles with.

Now onto the audiobook. At first I thought the narrator was overly breathy. However, she changed my mind very quick once I got to know the main character. She was the perfect narrator for this novel from both tone and cadence. I absolutely loved how she played with her tone throughout the scenes, especially the spicier scenes, really bringing everything to life. She was Leigh and she did an incredible job bringing Leigh's fragile voice to the surface throughout the audiobook. This is a character who isn't sure of herself, who isn't even sure she has a voice. She is writing poetry through other people's POVs... So honestly, this narrator absolutely crushed the subtleties of the character throughout this audiobook. This is one of those audiobooks where the production told the story, just as much as the words that wrote this story.

Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the privilege of being able to review this heartfelt novel/audiobook. This is one of those books that teaches you a lot about yourself, people, and the empathy required to show up in life.

As a teenager, Leigh Simon got crushing feedback from her high school crush on a poem she wrote for creative writing class. Years later, she enters an MFA grad program only to come face to face with none other than Will.

I had a mixed experience with this book. YOU BETWEEN THE LINES has beautiful, lyrical writing and a standout audiobook performance that enhanced my experience with the story. While I appreciated those elements, I struggled to fully connect with the romance and character growth.

I felt the romance between Leigh and Will was unconvincing, and lacked emotional depth and continuity needed for their romance to progress from high school crush to college almost something to suddenly in love. There were a few isolated moments of strong connection, but I felt their romantic past wasn’t full explored in a way that justified a 10 year crush turned love story.

The narrator brings Leigh to life with a breathy, ethereal quality to her voice that perfectly complements the lyrical writing style. Her impressive range of character voices makes each one feel distinct, and she uses pacing masterfully, slowing down in intimate moments to heighten anticipation and tension.

Thank you Hachette Audio and Forever for providing this audiobook for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.