I won’t bury the lead here: You Between the Lines is now my favorite contemporary romance.

Two poets, one MFA program. An exploration of imposter syndrome and what healing looks like. A book about how impossible it can feel to be vulnerable — on the page, in love - and why it matters so much that you try anyway.

Most importantly for me, Naymon gives the English major permission to also love romance novels - reminding us that:
🌸just because it’s popular doesn’t mean it can’t be profound
🌸just because you adore Love Island, doesn’t mean you aren’t also a scholar

And, as a Taylor-Swift-loving PhD in literature with new Bookstagram account, THIS was the book I didn’t know I needed.

📝If you are a romance reader, you’re going to love it.

📝If you are - or were - in a grad program, you’re going to love it even more.

📝And if you were also majoring in English in said program, this book is about to become your entire personality.

I think everyone who reads contemporary romance is going to adore YBTL, but if you’re an English major, it will hit on another level, taking you you out with nostalgia (in a good way).

When I was in these programs it always felt like there was such a huge divide between critical (where I was) and creative tracks, between the MA and MFA.

YBTL convinced me that isn’t actually the case.

Did we all have the same brand of imposter syndrome? Yes, we did.

Did we use absolutely cringy esoteric language in class comments? Yes, we did.

Did we also pick a sushi place and make ridiculous cohort toasts when left to our own devices at academic conferences? Yes, we did.

Y’all. Did Katie Naymon just write my favorite Contemporary romance I’ve read this year?

Yes, she did.

Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for an ARC of this incredible read in exchange for an honest review.

An interesting idea for a book that missed the mark a bit for me as a reader. Leigh felt very immature for a 27 year old, and her relationship with Will made me feel more frustration than a desire to see the characters get together. I think this is a book that would have been helped significantly by the inclusion of the MMC’s POV, because as it stands, Will is mostly a blank slate and thus I as a reader found it hard to care about him much in general and particularly as a match for Leigh. The book did pick up towards the end as we got real insight into what Will was thinking and also as Leigh actually committed to working on herself more, but for my taste, it was too little too late to save the book overall. I did enjoy some of the poetry and the insights into the workings of an MFA program, but overall this book was not for me.

This was such a fun and heartfelt read! You Between the Lines follows Leigh, a former sorority girl who’s just been accepted into a prestigious MFA poetry program in North Carolina—only to discover her high school crush-turned-nemesis, Will, is in the same program.

Leigh is determined to prove herself as a serious writer, especially after Will once dismissed her work as “all style, no substance.” But when Will (now William) submits an intimate poem clearly about Leigh, the tension between them ignites. Cue the slow-burn rivals-to-lovers tension, angsty poetry, and unexpected vulnerability.

I loved how this story tackled mental health openly and authentically, while also showing Leigh’s journey of self-acceptance and growth. The found family element among the MFA students was so heartwarming, and the chemistry between Leigh and Will was full of delicious tension.

Adorable, emotional, and full of academic tension and heart, You Between the Lines is a perfect pick if you love slow burns, enemies-to-lovers, and books with big heart.

Tropes you’ll find:
💖 Rivals to lovers
📚 Poets in MFA program
🧠 Mental health rep
👯‍♀️ Found family
🌟 High school crush turned rivals
🔥 Slow burn tension

Adorable, emotional, and full of academic tension and heart, You Between the Lines is a perfect pick if you love slow burns, enemies-to-lovers, and books with big heart. I completed an immersive read for this book and really enjoyed it!

Thank you Forever (Grand Central Publishing) | Forever and Hachette Audio for providing an e-ARC and ALC in exchange for my honest review!

This book was perfectly swoon worthy, a love story for the ages that I tabbed and annotated to death and wanted to devour and keep reading it forever in equal measure. Leigh and Will will carry a part of my bookish heart forever, there’s just not enough space to gush enough about this book, but you HAVE to read it.

Katie’s beautiful writing style, from the perfectly crafted poems to each beat of the plotline wove emotion and vulnerability into characters that were messy and real and perfect together. It had everything about second-chance that I love, while giving depth to miscommunication in a way that worked for the characters. I loved how messy they were, together and apart. Their group of fellow writers were both the family they needed and the competition that enhanced their insecurities and showed their true talent that kept me invested in their character growth outside of the relationship.

✨ The Vibes ✨
The Tortured Poets Department (if it was an MFA program in North Carolina)

📖 Read if…
✨ You had a crush on someone in your college lit class
✨ You firmly believe TTPD is Taylor Swift’s best album
✨ You enjoy angst and pining in your romances

I think I was five pages in when I was sure You Between the Lines would land on my favorites of 2025 list. That’s a bold declaration, but it’s true, as I can’t remember the last time I was so instantly captivated by a romance novel.

Jumping right into why this is a new forever favorite, the main character Leigh was so relatable it almost hurt. I could relate to her feelings of imposter syndrome and constant second guessing, as well as her struggles with balancing corporate writing and creative writing. That’s such a specific feeling and Katie Naymon absolutely nails it.

In terms of love interests, Will is up there with some of the greatest book boyfriends of all time. He’s broody and emotional, but sweet and well meaning and reading his email at the end (IYKYK) was just 🥺🥺. And in a world where we could have literary crossovers in the vein “That’s So Suite Life of Hannah Montana,” I could see Gus Everett and Will being best friends.

If that doesn’t make you want to read this book, I don’t know what will. I’m already planning a reread while I wait for what Katie Naymon cooks up next!

You Between the Lines is out now. Thanks to Forever and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed the author’s writing style, but the story itself was just too slow for me. I was somewhat invested in Leigh but not at all in Will, which made their romance a struggle for me. I had to put it down at 25%. Might pick it up in the future.

Thank you NetGalley and Forever Publishing for this ARC of You Between the Lines by Katie Naymon! I will be giving my honest review.
I could not put this book down! I finished it in less than 24 hours. Naymon wove together a narrative that was compelling and engaging and had me desperate to know what happens next, even if at times it was because I was severely frustrated with the storyline and needed resolution.
I enjoyed both main characters of Will and Leigh. They were both deeply flawed but relatable and mostly likable. Although Leigh at some points truly had me going crazy. Her constant fear of judgement but in turn being the most judgmental character gave me a bit of whiplash. I think the hypocrisy was intended but mixed with her intensely deep-rooted insecurity and victim complex, I was finding myself ready to both yell at her and give her a big hug. Because truthfully, I have been a similar version of her in the past and so I both related and resented her fears and motives.
I think the biggest reason that I took off a star (and was considering going lower) was because of the constant "will they, won't they" of it all. Up until about 65% or so, I was fully hooked and convinced this was a 5 star, EmHen level romance for me. But the constant back and forth and rejection and emotional immaturity between Leigh and Will (but primarily Leigh) turned me off a bit. I felt myself getting so frustrated, and by the official 3rd act breakup, I almost wanted them to not get back together because they were both so toxic for one another.
I think what truly redeemed this was Leigh's revelations through therapy and the entire situation of her parents divorce. She didn't just brush off her past actions and mistakes, but instead recognized and apologized for them and made an effort to do better. I always like when an author can take you through an emotional roller coaster throughout the book and end with you actually liking them and proud of them.
This is a book that I will most definitely be purchasing a physical copy of me. I am very excited to read more books by Katie Naymon.

RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
SPICE LEVEL: 🌶️🌶️

Not only does this book have one of the cutest covers ever, it also has a story inside that is filled with great banter, emotional growth and all the warm fuzzies! This was a 5 star read for me and I think it’s because I found so many of my favorite things within these pages—Mr. Brightside, Usher’s “Yeah” at Homecoming, Delta Gamma, etc! I’m so glad this was my first read by Katie Naymon and I’m excited to read more of her work now! I loved our main characters and the second chance romance/frenemies to lovers aspects. There were fun Easter eggs for Swifties and Twihards (both of which I am a proud member of haha). The romance was sweet but gives the butterflies needed to make you CARE about the couple as well as their individual journeys. This is definitely worth picking up if you love a lighthearted romance. I think it would be well-loved by fans of Emily Henry, Lynn Painter, Ali Hazelwood and Cara Bastone. I got a lot of Love Theoretically vibes but I actually liked this storyline and characters more! Please pick this one up! You won’t regret it!

Side Note: The MC and I are Delta Gamma sorority sisters! Ha! Loved that little connection!

Thank you to NetGalley, Katie Naymon & Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for providing me with an ARC!

*Review also posted to Goodreads, Target, Amazon, Barnes & Noble

Thank you Net Galley for providing this eARC for an honest review.
This book is the poster girl for cozy and comfort in romance but with raw reality. This book contains family issue and how it can change your relationship with the people you love and how it can sometimes be for the best. If you want to cry and feel good and be attach to some character with some of the sweetest poetry in the world you will love this. If you love the romance from Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren and letters from Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross you will DEVOR AND BE FULL.

The pining, relatable self-doubt, chemistry, family drama, the poetry. I felt all of the feelings! I enjoyed Leigh + Will.

This novel is more than a romance; it is Leigh figuring herself out. I struggled a bit with Leigh's self destructive self talk and spiraling thoughts. I did feel like it was relatable, but it was difficult to read at times. I would recommend this novel!

This book gave Beach Read vibes in the best way, and was a masterclass in the delicate balance of spice and sweetness in contemporary romance. Katie Naymon is a new autobuy author!

DNF - I had high expectations for this book, but after starting it, my attention was not grabbed in the way I prefer. This is not necessarily a bad book, but I'm not interested in finishing it at this time.

A beautifully written book, with a wonderful prose, an original plot that varies from your run of the mill love stories. A charming story full of yearning with a satisfying ending and lots of character development. The prose was a standout, it was gorgeous! I loved the scattered poems and the metaphor they created throughout.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for my eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was charming and emotional and so freaking romantic!!! Katie Naymon I am a big fan and can't wait to see what you write next. I also want a man in glasses to write me poetry, @ god above.

I ended up listening to the audio-arc of this rather than reading but I really enjoyed it and tore through it in two days. I loved the MFA setting and the Cleveland references (I too am a Power of the Pen alum), and thought the world of the MFA program was well-drawn.

This was a fun debut from Katie Naymon. I did not know what to expect when I picked the book up, but I was pleasantly surprised with the pacing and the plot!

One aspect I liked about this book is how the author portrayed the FMC.s anxiety. She’s dealing with the competitiveness of the MFA program and the other students who she perceives as better writers. She’s also dealing with the drama of her parents and their relationship. And then there’s the MMC and the history and past feelings that he brings back to her life. I think this book does a good job of capturing those feelings of your early 20s when you sometimes feel like everything is happening all at once and you don’t know how to handle it. Sometimes I did find myself questioning the FMC and her decisions, but I think they all do start to make sense once you realize that she has no sure footing in any of the relationships in her life - with her peers, parents and love interest.

While this book does deal with anxiety, there are also a lot of sweet moments between the FMC and MMC. You are rooting for them to figure out their relationship because it is so obvious that they are interested in each other.

Overall, this was a fun and quick read. Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for giving me an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

You Between the Lines is a fresh, witty, and unexpectedly heartfelt debut that delivers all the tension and charm of a great enemies-to-lovers romance. Katie Naymon has a gift for sharp banter, slow-burning chemistry, and characters that feel so real you want to jump into the pages and hang out with them.

The dynamic between the leads is electric—equal parts frustration and longing—and the emotional growth throughout the story adds so much depth to the romance. It’s clever, it’s modern, and it’s full of moments that made me laugh, swoon, and ache all at once.

Perfect for fans of smart, character-driven rom-coms with just the right edge of spice and a whole lot of heart.

The characters were witty and relatable. The author brought a fresh perspective to the romance world with this one and I can’t wait to see what else she does!

This was such an easy and reflective book for me to read. I resonated heavily with Leigh as a former English major turned marketing career path, I couldn’t help but notice the similarities we possess. Will was a true perfect book boyfriend and was very kind and patient with Leigh on her own trip to self discovery and vulnerability. One of the main reasons I neglected my English major path was because I felt I did not belong ESPECIALLY as a lover of romance books. Leigh is a true representation of how I was feeling in those college courses and how I felt like there must be something wrong with myself even though I’ve always had a passion for reading.

I'm not exaggerating when I state that I am absolutely devastated over this book. I wanted to love it, I wanted to run around screaming about how much I love this book only, I can't do that.

I read this and I kept trying to feel engaged with the characters, engaged with the story - but I just felt dumb and way too old to be reading something that felt so juvenile. The constant references back to Leigh's sorority days, and calling all men old white dudes, lit bros, or frat guys just felt so wrong and not like how a 27 year old should be acting. There seemed to be no growth for her for so long in this book, and then what was there just felt superficial and shallow. The entire supposed connection between Will and Leigh felt forced and I truly felt that I was being shown something that really was not there - the chemistry was not there, the banter was ok but nothing remarkable, and the way they just both acted really bothered me.

I would have expected the wishy washy feelings and insecurity in a book about college freshman or so - that would have worked far better but the ages just threw me for a loop. Leigh in particular was just too whiney and I couldn't see past that.

So sadly this one didn't work for me - but I know that it has for others and that so many love this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.