This was not the literary romp of a novel that I hoped it would be. The main characters are both so flawed to be toxic. The will they, wont they was such that I really just didn't have any investment in their HEA or relationship. They may have gotten their HEA but it did not feel worth the read to get there.

The audiobook production was well done and was more enjoyable than the story, sadly.

When Leigh is accepted into a prestigious MFA program, the last person she expects to see is Will, her high school crush turned nemesis. The two have barely spoken since Will deemed her work “all style and no substance,” but when a coveted fellowship is on the line, Leigh must sort through her insecurities, and the return of that pesky crush on Will, to decide what she truly wants.

I truly believe that You Between the Lines was written for me. This book was a therapy for my soul and now I am contemplating if I want to go back for my MFA. Between the flowery prose and the complex characters, I couldn’t put this book down.

Leigh is a character I connected to immediately, recognizing her anxious, perfectionist, people pleasing ways as notions I share. Narrator Sarah Beth Goer did a wonderful job at voicing Leigh, brining the nuances of her character to life. I especially enjoyed the way she performed the poetry within the story. It elevated the reading experience to hear the character’s work aloud and I’m of the camp that insists poetry be read both written and orally. With Goer’s narration, the cadences of the stanzas are performed as intended and I was able to fully analyze the pieces. Goer also dipped into a lower “male voice” when speaking as Leigh’s love interest Will and it’s a testament to her skill that this did not distract me. I thought this was a lovely audiobook production and would highly recommend reading it this way to heighten one’s experience.

Many thanks to Hachette Audio and NetGalley for providing me with an ALC in exchange for my honest review!

This audiobook was absolutely captivating, from the very first chapter. I literally couldn’t stop! It was sweet, it was cute, and totally swoon-worthy.

"You Between the Lines" is a second-chance romance set against the backdrop of an MFA program. Unfortunately, it falls short in delivering meaningful character growth. The lead character feels out of touch with reality, clinging to the past in a way that stifles her development. While she does get another shot at love, her personal evolution remains disappointingly stagnant outside of her writing. She never truly pushes herself to change or take charge of her future, making it difficult to fully invest in her journey. The novel also lacks a strong supporting cast, and with little humor to break up the introspective tone, the story felt one-note. While the premise held promise, the execution left much to be desired."

Sarah Beth Goer’s performance was a delight to listen to! Her musical voice worked perfectly for both the poems and the characters! Will definitely be listening to again!

I absolutely loved this story. I will be purchasing a copy for the shelf! The narration was spot on and I loved the character building. As a writer myself, I felt I could relate to the pressure and anxiety. I enjoyed how it all came together in the end!

okay i am finally ready to write a review for this book. listen, i have never been a poem girly, not in spanish nor in english but that didn’t stop me from having the best time of my life with this book. actually, i’d say it unlocked a new thing for me👀

will “wrist man” langford you guys!!!!! this man had me FLOORED pleaseeeeeeee. katie wrote him in a way that every single thing that comes out of his mouth is MELTING and maddening at the same time.

now onto leigh. this felt like a personal attack. it has been a while since i felt so seen and so identified with a fmc like i did with leigh. it’s SO refreshing to see everything that you are insecure about in a character, it truly feels like a hug from the author and it’s like they were saying “i understand you, you are not alone” thank you katie, because leigh made me feel like im not alone in this crazy world.

the tension, the pining of this man😭 this book is absolutely mind blowing and it deserves absolutely everything in this world. katie is magic, her poems and her words are magic and i truly cannot wait to see what else she is gonna bring for us because i can already see her like a shiny and bright star up in the sky🌟

the audiobook? incredible if you ask me. i got the whole experience and it’s AMAZING.

thank you for this eARC and ALC in exchange for my honest review.

I feel like I have read a similar premise before, however, that didn’t stop my enjoyment from this book. Leigh is in a prestigious MFA program from poetry when she finds out that her archrival, Will, is also in the program. Honestly, the poems that were “created” were not great. Leigh and Will fall in like and are both going for a coveted fellowship. Leigh needs some mental health help and was very immature. I did enjoy the mental health representation from Will. I also didn’t really see or feel the spice between Leigh and Will. While it started off pretty good, parts of the story were lacking.

DNF 14%. I wanted to like this book and thought it would give me the same vibes as Emily Henry but it was pretty clear that the author was trying very hard to write a book like Henry and didn't succeed. The entire setting for this book is an MFA program with MCs who are getting MFA's in poetry. This is after our heroine says that getting this degree will do nothing to further her career and after she acts like a complete child still being hung up on a guy she was kind of into in high school and with her parents being separated for a very valid reason which she can't seem to handle. I'm past the point of reading about whiny privileged people and that's what this book was to me. Also, the narrator wasn't terrible, but didn't do much for me particularly in terms of distinguishing the voices of different characters. It felt less like the story being narrated and more like it was being read to me, not my favorite.

Thank you Netgalley and Hachette Audio for a copy of an advance audiobook in exchange for my honest review!

The premise of this book was cute, a high school crush comes back into Leigh's life at a prestigious college poetry program. Everyone can't believe that she knows Will and we get the back story between the 2 of them and some encounters they've had since high school.

I don't think I've ever been so upset with a main character before than I was with Leigh. She whined the entire book and honestly, she was the definition and why people use the phrase, "s*** or get off the pot." I was so fed up with her going back & forth on liking Will and wanting something with him to not. Talk about leading a man on and on...he has the patience of a saint!

The only reason I gave it 3 stars was because at the end things fall into place and it stops being a whine fest. But honestly, this hurt my head with how much back & forth there was. Do I dare mention how offended she also got when people were giving her the same constructive criticism with her poetry? Get over yourself Leigh!

If you're into books that are drawn out hemming and hawwing from a main character who just needs to listen to her heart and her brain (for love AND her poetry), this is for you. At the end it was like she suddenly just matured overnight and boom, what a great person who has her life together. Maybe you'll like it, but it was just a meh for me!

This was such a strong debut! I loved the complexity of the FMC. Watching her struggle with perfectionism and people pleasing was painfully relatable for someone like me who also pursued an artistic degree. At times I found it hard to read because Leigh was making the same mistakes past me made and I just wanted to shake her and tell her to stop being so dependent on other's opinions. However, just like past me, old habits are hard to break. I loved getting to see Leigh grow throughout the story. I also loved the literary focus of the book. The poetry as flirting aspect of this story had me swooning. The almost-English major in me adored all the discussion of storytelling. I will say that Leigh's complex journey made it difficult for me to root for the romance for most of the book. Her insecurities led her to lash out in ways that I found hard to forgive and ultimately she just seemed really unprepared for a healthy romantic relationship. I loved Leigh's story but as a romance I wasn't 100% convinced that she was ready for that relationship by the end of the book. I still had a good time reading the book because I felt so seen. I'm definitely going to be checking out this author's future books because she knows how to write some complex characters!!

The narrator was well cast because they added to the insecurity and angst that the FMC was feeling. Definitely give the audio a try if that's how you like to consume books!

I absolutely loved it!! It was such a cute story !! And it’s absolutely a MUST read. I highly HIGKY recommend this book if you looking for a really good romance read.

The narration for this audiobook was excellent—well-paced, engaging, and full of personality, perfectly capturing the tone of the story.

This book felt like the MFA version of Legally Blonde—a witty, self-aware journey of ambition, self-discovery, and emotional chaos. Leigh, a former sorority girl and die-hard Swifty, is determined to prove herself as a writer and secure the coveted fellowship that will validate her talent. But just as she’s forging her path, in walks William—her devastatingly swoon-worthy crush—sending her into an emotional tailspin. Add in her parents’ unexpected divorce and her chronic people-pleasing tendencies, and Leigh quickly spirals into full-fledged hot-mess territory. Her therapist has her work cut out for her.

This was a lighthearted yet introspective read, balancing humor with emotional depth. It explores friendship, heartbreak, self-sabotage, and the relentless pursuit of creative dreams. Writers, poetry lovers, and literary enthusiasts will especially appreciate the book’s themes.

⭐ 3.75 stars—an enjoyable, thoughtful read with a touch of chaos and plenty of heart.

You Between the Lines is THAT book. Katie Naymon has crafted a brilliantly inventive, mind-bending, and delightfully meta reading experience that feels less like flipping pages and more like stepping into a literary funhouse mirror.

This book doesn’t just break the fourth wall—it demolishes it, hands you a brick, and asks "Now what?" The interactive and playful storytelling had me questioning reality, my reading habits, and whether I’ve been unknowingly starring in someone else’s plotline this whole time.

Witty, immersive, and unlike anything I’ve read before, You Between the Lines is a bookworm’s dream and a control freak’s nightmare (in the best way). If you love books that surprise you, challenge you, and maybe even mildly roast you—this one’s for you. Highly recommend!

Sarah Beth Goer did this story so much justice! She did a great job as a solo female narrator with a story with a handful of male characters. With a big focus on poetry in this book, the audio narration brought more emotion to the poems which made me feel more connected to the story

This book was too good! I absolutely loved Will and highlighted just about everything he said. Leigh was such a strong protagonist and reminded me so much of myself. I really enjoyed learning about the ins and outs of an MFA program. Overall this was a cute and fun read with the best main characters.

This was cute! The characters were likeable and “real”. The audio version a solo female narrator but I thought she did the male parts well. It was pleasant and easy to follow. I would recommend this as a light- romance read. Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the ARC.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc/alc.

This was a beautiful love story and a wonderful debut novel by Katie Naymon. I really enjoyed the chemistry between Leigh and Will. Additionally, being a huge Swiftie, I loved all of the Taylor Swift references in this novel. Sarah Beth Goer did a fabulous job with the audiobook narration and I would definitely consider listenig to more books by her in the future. I would also read more by Katie Naymon in the future as well!

I really enjoyed this debut novel by Katie Naymon. Leigh, a previous sorority girl, gets into a prestigious MFA program where she finds out her high school crush, William Langston is in her class as well. She has only seen him once since he graduated high school and that was when he rejected her. He also put down her writing when they had class together in high school and always seems to make her feel inadequate. There is so much tension between the two main characters and it makes you truly root for them to end up together. The narrators did a great job, especially with all the poems in the story when Leigh and William were in class. Overall, a great debut novel for Naymon.

I don’t really have much to say about You Between the Lines. It was just kind of a basic romance in a vast sea of romance novels. There was nothing that set it apart for me.

Two authors that knew each other from school years ago reminded me a bit of Beach Read, and the depression and moodiness of the characters felt a bit like Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow.

I thought Leigh was whiny and annoying, and Will was apathetic and broody. Honestly, Leigh’s best friend Jen, who has a very minor role, was my favorite character in the entire book.

You Between the Lines was well written but overall just an okay read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Forever, and Hachette Audio for an advanced copy of You Between the Lines.