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The premise of this book drew me in and the story did not disappoint. Darby's return to the small town he left after feeling like he would never belong did not go exactly as I anticipated. His interactions with his younger self did not seem as pivotal to the plot as I thought they would. However, his journey of self-exploration and rekindled friendship with Michael kept me enagaged. While found family is an important part of the novel, Darby's relationship with his mom rang true to me and I enjoyed her character. After reading Underhill's adult debut, I am looking forward to reading his YA titles.

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I'm so glad this was my first read of the year! Edward Underhill nails it again - this time with his adult debut! I was a big fan of his YA debut Always the Almost so I couldn't wait to hop into this one.

The In-Between Bookstore follows Darby on the eve of his thirtieth birthday (or his Saturn Return, as his best friend keeps calling it). Darby is feeling the pressure of living in the city and when he's laid off from his job he takes the opportunity to visit his small hometown. By a twist of time travel or birthday-induced hallucination, Darby is sent back in time to meet his teenage self.

Underhill perfectly captures what it's like to turn 30. At 30, you're almost forced to reflect on how far you have (or haven't) "made it" as an adult and how life may be different if you had taken a different path. Darby's visits both home and to the past perfectly highlight this feeling.

It reminded me a lot of one of my favorite movies of 2024, My Old Ass. Highly recommend for fellow fans of heartwarming queer stories with a speculative twist!

Thanks to Avon and NetGalley for the ARC!

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Thank you to NetGalley and Avon & Harper Voyager for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Non-spoiler synopsis:
Have you ever wished you could go back in time and tell your younger self something that would make the rest of your life easier? The In-Between Bookstore is a whimsical, heartfelt queer story about self-discovery, friendship, (found) family, romance, and second chances. Darby is a trans man who grew up in rural Illinois and couldn’t wait to move away from home as a teenager, find a community who understands him and people who accept and affirm his authentic self. And so he does – he moves to NYC for college, finds a job and a solid group of friends, and plants himself there. As he nears his 30th birthday, he finds himself out of a job and unable to afford his absurd NYC rent, so he goes back home – a place he never envisioned moving back to – to figure out his next steps. While home, he discovers the Bookstore he worked at as a teenager is a portal to the past.

Review:
I really enjoyed the premise of this story, but there are a few things I found myself longing for that made this bump down from a 5- to a 4-star read. For one, I wish there was a bit more description to help visualize the setting, especially of the bookstore. There was some, but I just found myself wanting more. I felt like I really wanted to imagine myself there and be able to transport myself back in time with Darby, but it was difficult for me to do. I also felt like the ending fell a bit flat. Maybe I was just hoping for more and that clouded my judgement?
But, nevertheless, I found the story very sweet and cozy and enjoyed it the whole way through. I really enjoyed how dynamic Darby and all of his relationships were – there was a lot of growth across all of the focal characters. I loved the way younger Darby and current Darby were able to learn and grow from each other, the increasing self-awareness and the repairing of relationships throughout.

Please read The In-Between Bookstore if you like magical realism, The Butterfly Effect, and heartfelt stories that center queerness; it publishes on January 14, 2025!! I’m interested to hear what you think of it if you do!
___
TW: gender dysphoria

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Darcy travels back to his hometown after suddenly losing his job in NYC. In theory it is to help his mother move to a new condo but, in reality, Darcy is feeling a little lost in his life. When he visits the old bookstore where he used to work, he is transported back in time and meets his younger, pretransition, self. Is the time traveling a chance to undo the mistakes of the past or are there other lessons to learn?

With this book, Underhill masterfully displays a 'quarter-life crisis' (kind of, Darcy is turning 30) and all of the painful feelings that come with said crisis. Regardless of life experience, I believe that any reader would identify with unmoored Darcy feels in his life and the hard lessons that one learns trying to find oneself. I certainly did! Underhill's prose puts you in Darcy's head, for better or for worse, to the point where I had knots in my stomach the more anxious Darcy became. This is definitely a book that will make you feel a lot of emotions.

Without delving into spoiler territory, I appreciate that Underhill subverted several time travel and coming of age tropes. Subverting these tropes makes for a more realistic and meaningful story. Darcy cannot undo the mistakes that he made in the past, but that doesn't mean he can't go on to have a perfectly content life. Underhill also acknowledges that sometimes we do have to leave people we love behind in order to grow and yet that fact doesn't change how impactful the relationship was. There is a happy ending but not in the way you expect. In my opinion, that made the overall book much more fulfilling.

Overall, a beautiful and emotional book that hit all the right notes, especially the conclusion.

Reviews going live on Goodreads, Storygraph, Fable and Tik tok on 1/5.

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** SPOILERS AHEAD **

Edward Underhill has written a powerful and evocative novel about identity and love and closure. He is a great writer and has produced a wonderful tale, based in the time travel trope, where the main character, a trans man, has the opportunity to interact with his younger self. He also makes peace with his mother and his former best friend, for whom he harbors both wistful and romantic feelings. While I tend to prefer a more typical happily-ever-after, I also appreciate a realistic and true happy ending that includes love and hope and found family. I also truly appreciate a book about a trans character written by a trans writer. The own-voice aspect of a novel like this is so very important. And it features a perfectly, aptly named bookstore, In-Between Books.

Thanks to NetGalley for access to the eARC.

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It's like if The Midnight Library and The People We Meet on Vacation had a very queer child. One of those books where you playfully tear your hair out thinking, "Why can't you just talk to this guy about your feelings?" And I say that with love! I've felt this frustration while reading huge bestsellers featuring straight, cis romances, (cough cough PWMOV,) but gosh darn it, queer readers deserve these stories, too.

The In-Between Bookstore is a sweet, cozy book featuring a trans guy turning 30, coming back to his hometown, and discovering that the indie bookstore in town allows him to travel back in time. I actually had the flu while I was reading this and it was the perfect comfort read. I don't typically read YA, but I will consider reading Underhill's other books because The In-Between Bookstore was just so gosh darn sweet.

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Rating:

Review: On goodreads, you'll see this book described as "The In-Between Bookstore is a stunning novel of love, self-discovery, and the choices that come with both, for anyone who has ever wondered what their life might be like if they had the chance to go back and take a bigger, braver risk." And that is exactly what it is. There were so many moments while I was reading and listening to this book that I was like "oh, it would be so cool if the message or lesson here is this," and then it was. This book is a book that reminds you that love doesn't have to be romantic, and it doesn't have to external. Figuring out your place in the world doesn't have to mean you feel nothing for another place too. Just because a scenario could work out doesn't mean it should. Something ending differently that you expect doesn't mean it was a failure. Some time success comes from what we learn about ourselves along the way. I absolutely loved this book. This was my first book by Edward, and I'm so glad I have another one in my personal library to immediately pick up.

Synopsis: When Darby finds himself unemployed and in need of a fresh start, he moves back to the small Illinois town he left behind. But Oak Falls has changed almost as much as he has since he left.

One thing is familiar: In Between Books, Darby’s refuge growing up and eventual high school job. When he walks into the bookstore now, Darby feels an eerie sense of déjà vu—everything is exactly the same. Even the newspapers are dated 2009. And behind the register is a teen who looks a lot like Darby did at sixteen. . . who just might give Darby the opportunity to change his own present for the better—if he can figure out how before his connection to the past vanishes forever.

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The In-Between Library is a heartfelt and bittersweet story about self-discovery and second chances. I especially enjoyed Darby’s opportunity to connect with his younger self and how it created a dynamic where both versions of Darby learn and grow from each other.

The In-Between Library is a sweet story that will continue to stay with you even after you've finished reading. It is a perfect read for those who appreciate emotional storytelling with just a touch of magic.✨️

Thank you, NetGalley and Avon Harper Voyager, for the ARC of this book!

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An absolutely incredible book!!! A combination of TJ Klune, The Midnight Library, Mr. Penumbra's 24 Hour Bookstore, and The Book of Doors!! I fell in love with the characters and was cheering for them the whole way. I cried and laughed at the same time, and now I want to read this book again!! Maybe in another universe...

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The In-Between Bookstore is a solid, whimsical, queer story with a magic realism lens. The book explores coming of age themes mirrored with romance. Altogether I thought this was a very solid novel with likable characters who I found myself rooting for. The writing was vivid, but not overly flourished, and the storyline was digestible and relatable. A super solid story that I would recommend to queer fiction, fantasy, and even romance fans!

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4.5 stars rounded up
Time travel queer romance- although Darby the main character is turning 30, this reads like more of a YA romance, which is sweet and follows along with the main theme. And all of us can relate to this concept-- what would you say to your younger self if you could? Would your younger self recognize you? How would it change you now to be reunited with your younger self?

Darby is a trans man living in NYC with a vibrant community of friends, although he worked for a start up that has gone belly up. Darby is originally from a small town in the midwest, and his mom called to let him know she is moving, so Darby is going to visit.... and maybe stay... in the same small town he grew up in. His one time friend and crush Michael still lives there and goes to all the football games, in fact, a lot of the people Darby grew up with are still there. And can you go home again? The age old question?

I don't want to give away any spoilers here, but Darby does experience a split in the space time continuum to be able to visit the bookstore where he worked as a teen, and is able to access the bookstore and his younger self in 2009, when he still thought he was a girl, albeit a broken one. Darby didn't change his name when he transitioned, which eliminates any literary issues of how to address his younger self without deadnaming him.

Has anyone given this book to Hollywood producers yet, and obviously Elliot Page can please play Darby?

Darby is insecure and a realistic and likable lead. Michael is a compelling love interest. But Olivia and all of Darby's friends (as his mom says, "your gay friends" and Darby says "all my friends are gay, mom.) (lol) are fantastic minor characters.

I like time travel and time slip romances quite a bit, it was nice to have a trans character, nice to see a "back in my hometown" romance and I don't want to give away the ending, but it ends differently than it usually does at Hallmark. The ending was not what I expected and I had to sit with it for a few days to realize that I loved it.

Highly recommend for fans of Casey McQuiston and Ashley Poston. Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Harper Vorager for the ARC. Book to be released January 14, 2025.

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Unfortunately, this was a DNF for me. The premise was SO intriguing and sounded so good! The execution was not done well. Darby was an interesting enough character, but he was also incredibly frustrating.

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The In-Between Bookstore is a story about facing a past that you’ve been avoiding, maybe even running away from. Going home for Darby doesn’t exactly feel like “home”, sure the house is the same, the high school still there, but the town has changed and so has Darby. While I wouldn’t call this a story of self-discovery, Darby already knows who they are, it is a story about making peace with your life choices and maybe giving yourself some grace. Being at a crossroads, at any point of your life is never easy and as Darby is helping his mom slowly empty their childhood home there is a bit of a metaphor for resolving past trauma and history of another life. I liked this book, the sci-fi aspect is more about talking to your past self than anything really supernatural, it was an enjoyable read.

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What if you could go back in time to your teen years? Darby returns home and to the bookstore he worked at in high school, only to realize it is once again 2009.

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I received an ARC of The In-Between Bookstore from the publisher, and it was the perfect read to kick off 2025. This novel blends magical realism (one of my favorite genres!) with heartfelt self-reflection and second chances, making it both entertaining and thoughtful.

Darby’s story felt incredibly real—sometimes uncomfortably so—and I appreciated how the author captured both the beauty and struggles of his journey. Darby’s experience mirrors so many trans stories I’ve heard—the need to leave your hometown to grow into yourself, and then the complicated emotions that come with returning years later to confront your past.

The magical bookstore at the heart of this novel is such a clever, nostalgic setting, and it adds just the right touch of whimsy without overpowering the emotional depth of Darby’s story. I found myself completely absorbed as he navigated the blurry lines between past and present, questioning what it means to take risks and start over.

If you’re looking for a short, thoughtful read with a little magic and a lot of heart, I highly recommend checking this one out!

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I was really hoping for a tone similar to the author’s YA works (queer joy and acceptance), but alas, the YA is geared more towards gen Z, and this is geared more towards millennials, so instead we get queer angst and identity crisis. The book isn’t bad, but I really love the joy in his YA. This also isn’t a romance like the YA are, so I was much slower to read because I wasn’t sure what kind of ending I was going to get. It was a hopeful ending, but with lots of internal anguish and uncertainty leading up to it. I do think the book is realistic (even with the magical realism wormhole aspect) because man, do people like to push down negative emotions and pretend everything is okay. Just frustrating to see it on paper 😅 I think if you know what you’re getting going into the book, you should be fine.

Thanks so much to Avon and NetGalley for the ARC!!

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Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Please keep in mind the following content warning: depression, and mentions of homophobia/transphobia.

I just have to start this review by saying that this book destroyed me. As a trans man who grew up in a small town and then moved to a big city for college, I saw so much of myself in Darby. I could feel a part of myself slowly heal as I read this book.

The book really explores the idea of meeting one's younger self, the way our decisions shape us, and how we're not always as alone as we think. Honestly, at some point, the book reminded me of when I had a panic attack over telling a friend that I am bi only for him to tell me he is bi too. It has hit me so deeply in a personal way that I can't even touch the surface of why I love this book so much.

If you're a trans person who felt like you had to run away to be yourself, this book is meant for you and I hope this book feels like a hug to you, the same way it felt for me.

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DNF @ 53%

Oh gosh I wanted to love this one but it didn't quite come together for me. Darby is a trans man in his 30s who is having a bit of a quarter-life crisis. He doesn't know what he wants to do or where he wants to live and while he reevaluates those things he goes back to his hometown to help his mother move. This was marketed as magical realism but the magic is minimal at best. It reads much more like literary fiction. I liked the premise but I found the main character to be so frustrating because he wouldn't communicate with the people in his life. If the time travel element had been used as a self-reflective tool it might have worked for me but instead it was a way to glean information about other people from the past without having actual conversations with them in the present which really annoyed me. If you are interested in coming of age/self-discovery stories this could be the book for you. I found I couldn't continue but I'm sure that others will find Darby's grapplings moving.

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Haven’t we all wondered what we’d do if we could go back to a specific moment and have a do over or have a conversation with your 18 year old self?
What might happen if you could have that one moment back? This book was interesting. It’s about self discovery and trying to Find your place.
It is not a romance.

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I know we’ve all thought, “what would I say to my younger self if I could go back in time?” I remember being an awkward, homeschooled kid and I would love to stand in front of that 13 year old and give him some advice for the future.

In The In-Between Bookstore, Edward Underhill draws us into the life of Darby, a recently unemployed trans man who moves from NYC back to his home town in the Midwest. Back home, he visits his hometown bookstore where he worked as a high schooler, and walks through the door to find nothing has changed and his younger self is sitting behind the counter.

Underhill’s characters are so lifelike, and it’s clear that he’s put some amount of himself into the book. The struggle of growing up in a small town where you don’t feel like you fit in, the pain of moving away, and the guilt of not keeping up with the people that stayed behind all resonated with me and felt so familiar to the writer. I just loved Darby, his mom, Michael, and especially Mr. Grumpy ❤️

The In-Between Bookstore comes out January 14th, please go check it out. Whether the trans experience resonates with you or not, this is also just a wonderful novel about relationships, family, and how messy and beautiful they can be.

Thank you to Edward Underhill, HarperAudio, and Avon for the e-ARC and audio ARC through Netgalley 🫶🏼

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