3.75 stars

As an incoming superfan of Underhill's YA novels, I was very excited to read this adult debut. While I enjoyed the premise and various motifs, it did not knock my socks off with the same power as previous works.

Darby, the m.c., is a NY resident and has recently found himself unemployed. This latter circumstance, along with his mother's impending move, serve as the impetus for him to return to his midwestern hometown and face some potential discomfort.

While Darby finds a great deal of nostalgia and familiarity in his hometown, one of the most surprising connections he discovers is at the location of his teenage employment: the titular bookstore. This place creates a kind of sliding doors opportunity wherein Darby can actually interact with his teenage self and other relics - and relationships - of the period.

I was much more interested in Darby's identity-based interactions with his younger self than on his relationships with others, and I found myself a little too noticeably more or less engaged depending on the focus at the time. Additionally, while I really loved the concept of the bookstore as a sliding doors style portal, I really wanted a different final outcome.

As noted, I was an incoming fan of this author, and I remain that way after finishing this most recent effort. I am looking forward to more Underhill undertakings!

I really did struggle with the correct rating for this one, because the first half of this book was SO promising. It's the second half that just fell flat and left me feeling... empty. Which is a serious shame, because Edward Underhill's first two books were some of my favorite releases in recent years! As his first adult releases, I had high hopes for The In-Between Bookstore as well! It seemed to have all of the pieces I'd want to create the perfect story, but something was just sadly lacking.

After finding himself unemployed and about to be priced out of his tiny New York City apartment, Darby decides the best course of action is to return home to Oak Falls, Illinois to lick his wounds and figure out his next steps. His mother preparing to move out of the family home is the perfect excuse. But Oak Falls isn't the same as he left it; new shops line the Main Street and there's a small but thriving queer community, including a former friend named Michael who Darby lost touch with after a falling out years ago. Lost and looking for purpose, Darby stumbles into In Between Books, his one-time refuge from the rest of the town and the place where he worked during most of his high school life. Except... In Between Books looks exactly the same as it did back in 2009. And the kid behind the counter looks an awful lot like 2009 Darby. This might just be his chance to fix a mistake from his past, if he can figure out what those mistakes are.

I really did like a lot of this. As a queer person growing up in a tiny rural town, the story of Darby's life in Oak Hill hit me hard - as did his eventual realization that not every rural town stagnates; that they grow and change and can become the pockets of community we make them. The overall plot, of the "wormhole" to 2009 in the bookstore, was also a lot of fun! I would have loved so much more of an explanation for why it was happening, or even some sort of conclusive statement that there was any point to his ability to travel back in time or not.
His friends in New York City were all so fun, which made it frustrating to watch him make the repeated mistake of pulling away from them. And then the whole mystery over his falling out with Michael had a disappointing conclusion. Yes, I absolute believe two teenagers would have a friendship-ending argument over these things, but Darby's continuous lack of communication was just so frustrating. And while I know this book wasn't a romance, the ending was... honestly? A bit of a downer. I think any sort of follow-through on the potential of other timelines would have boosted this up a star or more for me (even a short aside chapter would have been lovely!). Instead, I just leave the book feeling more melancholy than anything else.
And maybe this is more nitpicky than anything, but I don't know why this needed the "adult" labeling except that the characters were in their late-20s/early-30s. It read more like an upper-YA novel, which is absolutely okay, but not what I was expecting going in!

First off, I just have to say, don’t go into this one expecting a fantasy novel! The In-Between Bookstore is much more of a literary fiction or speculative fiction novel. I thought it was an interesting and touching glimpse into the experience of being trans in a small town, but I did have some issues with the novel overall. I am just so mad at the miscommunication between two best friends and wanted to yell at them and lock them in a room together to work out their issues. This book is definitely slower paced, and I think the time travel element was included less than I expected given the book description. The novel ending felt right to me; there was closure but it was also a very realistic ending.
Thanks to NetGalley and Avon for the ARC!

This was a surprisingly cozy read. I think I assumed there’d be a bit more magical realism to the plot but I think it worked well enough in the way it was done. I enjoyed Darby as a character and the premise of the plot. His mom was well written. There is a typo at the end of chapter 23 for reference. It did feel a bit anticlimactic at the end of the novel but I did enjoy the decisions that were made.

The In-Between Bookstore by Edward Underhill

A beautiful novel about self discovery, love and the choices that come with both.

When Darby becomes unemployed, he decides to go back home, the one place he couldn’t wait to get away from. A place he just didn’t feel like he belonged in.

When Darby runs into his old best friend Michael, all these feelings come back to him. He can’t remember why him and Michael stopped being friends. Spending time with Michael and Michael’s friends brings back so many feelings and memories. Darby has to figure out what he wants.

Whenever Darby stepped into the bookstore, he was brought back to 2009 and the young boy working the counter look like younger Darby. He wanted to guide younger Darby and let him know he belonged in this world!

I loved this book so much! I truly wanted the best for Darby! I would have loved a different ending for Darby and Michael but Darby ultimately did what was best and I love that! Darby found his place and his people, a place where he could truly feel himself. Such a positive message and a beautiful written book.

I really liked Darby’s mom! She seemed so sweet and supportive which I loved. She never gave him a hard time.

I feel so lucky to have received an E-ARC of Edward’s book! I’m really looking forward to reading more books by Edward. I just couldn’t put this book down! Thank you so much NetGalley, Edward Underhill and Avon and Harper Voyager for the E-ARC! Make sure to check out Edward’s book in January!

Publication Date: January 14th 2025
Rating : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#bookaddict #TheInBetweenBookstore #NetGalley

I was very excited about The In-Between Bookstore because of the description. A trans man travels back to his teenage pre-transition self by walking into his hometown book store. I love time travel books and I love bookstores.

However, it fell flat in some ways for me despite being very well written. The time travel never felt essential to the story. The main story could have easily been written without the time travel element because I am really not sure what it added, especially since nothing changed in the future. If you're going to write a time travel book then there needs to be some reason for it. My other issue with this book is the relationship between Darby and his former best friend. It sounded like he missed their friendship, but then suddenly they're kissing and having sex and.. what? I didn't get the sense Darby was ever attracted to Michael in high school, so where is this coming from? Is it a lost love story or a lost friendship story? It felt confusing.

What did I love? Darby's mother! She is a joy. It made me said that Darby wasn't a good son to her (he repeatedly said he never called her) while she was clearly very accepting of who he was. She is a hoot. I also liked Darby's NYC friends, they are well developed despite not having a lot of page time. They seem like a very supportive, loving group of friends that I wish I had in my 20s!

Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyage for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Darby, a trans man living in NYC on the cusp of his 30th birthday loses his job and his rent goes up, so he packs up and heads back to his mom's house in the midwest to help her move. He stops in the old book store he worked in as a teen, and when he enters, he finds he has stepped back in time to the summer before his senior year of high school, when he hasn't yet figured out he's trans and right before he ruins the relationship with his best friend Michael. Able to go between the present where he and Michael, who turns out is gay, reconnect but still have unresolved issues from high school, and the book store, Darby tries to guide he younger self to not mess up the friendship with Michael and to be more self assured and that there is a place for him in the world. The novel spends more time on the budding relationship than the time travel aspect. Overall, a positive message about belonging and the sometimes confusing path to figuring out who you are and where you fit in the world.

The InBetween Bookstore by Edward Underhill, when we meet Darby, he is at a crossroads in his life. his weeks away from turning 30 living in New York City in the same tiny apartment he moved into right after college and just got fired from a startup. So when he calls his mom who he’s never visited since graduating, but who visited him in New York, but he was so embarrassed to do the touristy things. His mom a Tourist, wanted to do. So essentially she stopped visiting,. When he calls to tell her his problems, he learned she is downsizing and selling his childhood home and moving to a condominium. Helping her move is the excuse he uses to retreat back home and try and get some space to figure out what he wants to do. When he tells his closest New York friends he’s going home. They don’t take it well but throw him a goodbye party anyway. So OK he arrives in Oak Falls, Illinois and before going to his mom’s he stops to see if The In-Between Bookstore is still there and not only is it still there he sees someone at the checkout who is dressed and looks strikingly like Darby himself. when he goes to get back in his car, he runs in to his childhood friend Michael Weaver, who abruptly stop being his friend on the 17th birthday. There were many things I liked and didn’t like about the book 1st of all, when it begins Darby just made me depressed. It seems there was nothing about his life. He liked not that he had three great friends who wanted to help him not that he had a loving mother. He really started grading on my nerves when he realize that, yes, gay and transgender? people do live in small towns,he acted almost as if he was left out of the no on purpose. I was looking so forward to this book because who wouldn’t like to speak to their younger self, but sadly the ending ruined it for me they had many likable and even lovable characters, but the ending was a little bit like a pointless exercise, because I didn’t get the point. It was a little bit like you get to the last page. In the last sentence it says don’t read this book. I can’t say anything because I don’t want to give anything away. People are going to love this book. I just did not.#NetGalley, #EdwardUnderhill, #TheInBetweenBookstore,

The In-Between Bookstore is about Darby, a trans man, who discovers that his hometown bookstore is sending him back in time to meet his closeted self.
The story is very slow and low-stakes, and I loved the concept of “what would you say to your former trans self?” However, it was a little too slow, and I ended up losing interest in the story.
I wished there had been more time travel in the story, and I wish there had been more interaction with young Darby. It would’ve made the messaging stronger. I felt like the messaging was trying too hard, and it came off as cheesy and predictable more than anything.
The ending was good, but the rest of the book didn’t match up with it, so it came off as weak. It ended up being a giant miscommunication that I wish had been solved earlier.

CW: transphobia; panic attacks; bullying; dysphoria; sexual content

This was such an interesting read. I truly had no idea what was going to happen, I was just rooting for Darby to live his best life. What would you say to yourself if you were face-to-face? This is the dilemma that Darby faces when he returns to his hometown and somehow ends up looking at himself as a teen, working in the bookstore. Do you impart great wisdom? Do you try and right a wrong? Or do you let fate get the last say? I was so in love with this story until the very end, which threw me for a loop. It was still a wonderful story and I loved it. Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Harper Collins for the free advance copy. This review is my honest opinion.

The In-Between Bookstore by Edward Underhill is my newest early book read from Net Galley. In this book, Darby is a trans-man who isn’t sure he fits into his life in New York anymore. So he decides to go back to his old hometown in Illinois. His mother is moving, his former best friend is gay, almost everything he knew back home is changing. One thing that hasn’t changed: the old bookstore that he worked at as a kid. It even has a younger version of himself behind the counter selling books! What would you do with a chance to talk to your younger self?

I have to admit the concept of “talking to your younger self” intrigued me as soon as I saw it. I’ve always wondered what I’d say if I could do that. I have a ton of regrets. I guess a lot of people do. Darby isn’t sure how to deal with his regrets.

So for most of the novel he’s very confused and unsure of himself which makes him feel very relatable. I’m not trans nor do I know much about being trans (though I’m slowly learning more thanks to some of the books I’ve read), but regretting my past, feeling confused and unsure of myself are the order of the day. I did like finding out about his experience as a trans-man too. I like reading about someone who is not me and being able to visit their world for a while.

The In-Between Bookstore has a bit of fantasy but overall, its more focused on Darby. Its a much cozier book compared to what I read last time. I needed this palate cleanser before going back to horror with The Night Birds. The In-Between Bookstore is a really good book, with wonderful characters and a familiar small town world. I really liked this book. I felt myself speeding through it; I couldn’t put it down. I wanted to know what was going to happen to Darby. The resolution to the story is pretty satisfying while also leaving a bit of magic on the table.

If you want a story about someone who is lost and confused and trying to find their way in life with a bit of magic, then The In-Between Bookstore is the story you should read. I know I don’t regret reading this one.

The In Between Bookstore is coming out on January 14th, 2025. Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for providing an early digital review copy of this book.

Thank you HarperCollins and NetGalley for approving me for this arc!! I was ecstatic to find this book and had high hopes I’d get approved for it!! As a transgender person myself, i was intrigued by the storyline, and I honestly haven’t read many books about perspectives such as mine. So thank you for allowing me this read, it has been amazing and I cant wait to buy the book when it releases in stores!!

THIS BOOK RELEASES JANUARY 14TH!!!

The In-Between Bookstore is about Darby and his journey through life and honestly, his quarter life crisis. Darby is a transgender man living in New York from a small town in Illinois. His job doesn’t work out and he finds himself moving back to his hometown to help his mother move and figure out what he wants to do in life.

Darby transitioned after moving to New York, so he is confronted with past friends, acquaintances, and neighbors. this story is heart wrenching that I have a hard time putting it all into words for you. Darby keeps going back to the In-Between Bookstore where he worked when he was in high school, but whenever he visits this store travels back in time and is able to see his past high school self, and all the struggles he went through during that time.

Again, as a transgender person this book hit HARD. I have to thank the author for putting these struggles into words, and for writing something so relatable it hurt to read at times. I literally cannot wait to buy this book (yes I have an arc ebook copy, but I need the real thing on my shelf) when it releases!!

Author Edward Underhill has written a sweet book, THE IN-BETWEEN BOOKSTORE, about finding one’s true self, whether one is a teen on the brink of adulthood or a newly thirty-something struggling with adult demands. In this tale, both time frames are represented by Darby, a trans man in adulthood. Unlike many time travel books, this one is more about self exploration than time travel. How is Darby to fully understand herself today if she still carries the slings and arrows of adolescence? He travels home to Illinois on the eve of his 30th birthday and comes face to face with her past, while still struggling in his present. The book raises interesting issues about how well we ever really see ourselves while grappling with internal confusion. Suitable for YA; there is a modest sex scene. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Thank you for the ARC of this beautiful novel. I loved getting to know Darby and Michael.

The In Between Bookstore is a heartwarming novel about a magical bookstore that offers a trans man a unique opportunity to travel through time & reconnect with his teenage self.

Darby returns to his hometown of Oak Falls, Illinois, after losing his job and finds comfort in the familiarity of In Between Books, the bookstore where he spent much of his youth and worked during high school. The bookstore sends to be stuck in time and remains unchanged despite the town's significant changes, offering him a chance to alter his present day life.

What would you tell your teenage self of you could go back in time?

4.5 stars and my thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the eARC!

Underhill, you got some explaining to do.

Darby comes back to his hometown after being away for more than a decade, no longer the person he was before leaving, and has to contend with some bad memories and miscommunication to reconnect with old friends. He finds out his old bookstore is still there, almost eerily the same.

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this, knowing my thoughts on Underhill's other books (we're not going to talk about Always the Almost...). He can write an adult novel full of nostalgia for your hometown mixed with trepidation that you won't be welcomed back anymore. Darby was such an interesting character and I loved being in his mind while he navigated all this.

With all that being said, what the fuck was that ending. I wasn't expecting Darby to suddenly want to live in his hometown, this isn't a Hallmark Christmas Movie, but ughghghghgh. Michael, you deserve the world, sweetie.

DNF at 44%. I wanted to like this book, but I just couldn’t bring myself to care. On the surface, I relate to Darby’s social anxiety, but I just didn’t feel like he was all that well-drawn to make me resonate with him. No one else in the story was all that interesting either. And the time travel element was super weird and underwhelming.

A moving coming of age story with a magical time travel twist that has a young trans man getting a chance to help his younger self when he mysteriously goes back in time for a chance to prevent a years long fall out with his former best friend and crush. Great on audio narrated by Shaan Dasani and perfect for fans of authors like Timothy Janovsky and Laura Kay. I really liked the found family and unique premise of this book. This is definitely a new favorite for me by Edward Underhill. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

3.5/5

The In-Between Bookstore by Edward Underhill is a heartfelt exploration of self-discovery, love, and the choices that shape our lives. This stunning novel follows Darby, a 29-year-old trans man who, after losing his job in New York City, returns to his small hometown of Oak Falls, Illinois, to help his mother move out of his childhood home. But what begins as a reluctant homecoming turns into a journey through time and memory, anchored by the magical and mysterious In-Between Bookstore.

Darby hasn’t been home since high school and carries a lot of unresolved emotions about his past, from his teenage crush on Michael to the identity struggles of his younger self. When he steps into the bookstore where he worked as a teen, Darby is inexplicably transported back to 2009, coming face-to-face with his 16-year-old self. What follows is a beautiful and poignant journey as Darby grapples with the person he was, the life he has now, and the future he wants to create.

Underhill’s writing shines in capturing Darby’s emotional growth and his attempts to reconcile with the “what-ifs” of life. The story blends past and present seamlessly, offering a unique lens through which to reflect on identity, belonging, and personal growth. The Midwest setting adds a special charm, and as someone from Illinois, I loved the subtle quirks that made Oak Falls feel so relatable and real.

Overall, The In-Between Bookstore is a touching and memorable read. It’s perfect for anyone who has ever felt caught between their past and their future, and it will resonate deeply with queer millennials who understand the struggles of self-acceptance and finding where you belong. With its heartfelt writing and vivid characters, this book lingers long after you’ve turned the final page.

✨ Highlights:

A poignant journey of self-discovery and growth.
Midwest charm and relatable small-town quirks.
A perfect blend of magical realism and contemporary fiction.
A must-read for fans of queer stories and introspective narratives.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon Books for the ARC!

Thanks to NetGalley, Avon Books, Harper Voyager US, and BookClubGirl for this copy of "The In-Between Bookstore."

If a book even mentions time travel, I want to read it. What would you tell your younger self if you were able to meet them?

This story is so touching and reflective. Teenage years are tough enough but what if you're questioning your gender and feeling like no one understands or cares. Author Underhill makes us feel all the doubt, uncertainty, fear, and searching that some queer teens and adults feel.

Darby is struggling with figuring out his life, feeling like something's missing, and feeling untethered. Recently fired from his job in NY, he decides to head home to IL to stay with his mother for awhile.

He enters the bookstore where he worked as a teen and sees his teenage self? But how can that be?

And then he runs into his former best friend Michael. What happened to their friendship all those years ago? And all the teenage insecurities bubble to the surface. But maybe this time he can get answers.

The In-Between Bookstore follows Darby, a trans man, after he loses his job in New York and decides to move back home to Oak Falls, IL, for an indefinite amount of time to help his mother move out of his childhood home. Darby has not been home for a very long time (high school, he is now 29) and has some unprocessed feelings about his teenage job site (the bookstore) and his teenage crush (Michael). When he stops by his teenage bookstore, where he used to work, he is suddenly transported back 13 years to 2009 and comes face to face with his teenage self.
This book is for the queer millennials. In 2009, it was difficult to know where you fit in, especially if you’re grappling with your sexuality and gender identity. It’s easy to feel stuck in high school, and I think this book hits on that and does a pretty good job of doing so. Your childhood crushes are still real, but you have grown up, and so have they.
The In-Between Bookstore is Edward Underhill’s first foray into adult fiction, previously having stuck with YA, and it does read that way. Some of the writing is stilted, and some plot points are too easy. Basing the book around an adult reconciling his childhood can lend itself to feeling quite high school in nature. There was a lot of “what could have been” mixed in with longing for acceptance that Darby grapples with throughout the story.
Thank you to Edward Underhill, Avon, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.