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.

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