This one is for everyone who has sat through an advanced creative writing program. It's for anyone who felt their love of pop culture negated their intelligence. It's for anyone who ever doubted they were enough, were loveable, were deserving. Man, I loved this book. I read it in a few hours, I couldn't put it down. Leigh was such a real person to me. I recognized parts of my younger self in her. She made me reminisce about my time in college taking advance writing classes with the MFA students. I imagined things about them and contrasted it with the immature, hurting, warped view of myself, much as she does in the book. I loved Leigh's moments of honesty and vulnerability. How tightly she closes after was so true! And the author actually got therapy session right! As a therapist, I see so few authors who do, they usually just use it as a plot contrivence.

And Will. Who hasn't felt like their parent disapproves of them and moreover doesn't even really know the person they truly are and disapproves of an idea of them? The journey of him holding himself back to esteeming himself enough to stand in his truth was powerful.

The MFA program was full of character tropes, or just a little more formed than that. There was a bit of a hiccup in the third act (felt like some inauthentic choices/pacing issues). I loved Gen and the contrast of her solid sense of self/ love for Leigh and Leigh's mercurial personality and self doubt.

This book was such a fast and interesting read, I would highly recommend it! 4.75 stats Thanks to Net Galley and Forever for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Sadly this one is a DNF for me. I made it to about 36% and tried to push through. However, I have too many other books to get to and if the current read isn’t doing it for me then I need to set it down. I’m really bummed I didn’t love this one more because the cover is so cute, and the reviews were so far really positive. But the execution just wasn’t there for me.

I think my biggest struggle with this book is that I’m not a poetry girly. And poetry reading and writing is a huge element to this book. To make matters worse the book was extremely slow pacing wise and our main characters honestly have the personality of a doorknob. Every chapter was go to class, review peer work, tutoring. So basically rinse, wash and repeat. Leigh our MFC is a big hypocrite and probably needs therapy. She kept saying she wants to grow and mature but in the parts I read all she did was kept being a judgy A-hole. And eventually as I earlier mentioned I just couldn’t tolerate it anymore.

Even though I didn’t love this. I do think there is an audience for it and if you are a poetry girly I’d recommend it. Lastly big thanks to NetGalley & Forever for providing an arc for me to read and review

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5/🌶️ You Between The Lines by Katie Naymon is a sweet romance about an unrequited love story that starts in a high school writing class.

"How do you show someone you've evolved? That you're better -- because of them?"

Will and Leigh seem to keep coming back to each other since high school, never wanting to acknowledge that tiny spark that started that first day in their writing class. Never seeming to be the right time, or the right version of themselves, they part ways over and over. We get to see their character growth as they move on from high school to undergrad and finally culminating in the MFA program they happen to both be attending -- with a coveted internship that will only be awarded to one student. During their years apart, and their brief interludes together in the same place at the same time, they learn more and more about themselves and their life journeys. The story and characters are so relatable, each of them and their insecurities around their short-comings, relationships, and trying to figure out where they belong in the world. But with that place be with each other? Or were they always destined to part again?

✨Rivals-to-lovers
✨Unrequited love
✨Good girl
✨Second chance
✨the one that got away
✨Spice

I really loved this book! Thank you @netgalley for the gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review. And @katienaymonwrites for sharing your work with the world. It was so beautifully written -- I am really excited to read more of your work.

PS- Katie, if you, by chance, see this review.. I'm going to need to know what Will wrote on Leigh's Perrin Review!!! 😭😅

You Between the Lines was a refreshing and heartfelt departure from the typical romance novel. The book immerses readers in its world, blending picturesque settings with relatable, multidimensional characters. The novel centers around a unique love story that goes beyond the usual tropes of romance, delving into deeper emotional connections and personal growth.

What truly sets this book apart is the way it intertwines romance with a thoughtful exploration of identity, relationships, and self-discovery. The characters aren't just there to fall in love—they are fully realized individuals, each with their own struggles and aspirations. This depth adds complexity to their interactions, making their journey feel real and earned.

The pacing is just right, not rushed, allowing readers to truly invest in the characters' development. The academic setting itself feels almost like a character in the story, offering a rich backdrop that enhances the narrative without overshadowing it.

I loved everything about this book! What an amazing debut! I think I was the exact target audience for this novel - a lover of words, romance, and all things pop culture. The result was me not only enjoying myself but also relating to both Leigh and Will.
Leigh is a relatable main character that is easy to understand and empathize with, even when she made not-so-good decisions. I loved being in her mind and connecting with her.
Additionally, Will is the man of my dreams. The perfect book boyfriend. He is equally flawed but mature, and so, so lovable. I knew I was going to be hooked on him from the very beginning. That stayed true until the last page.
More than anything though, it was so heartwarming to read about two writers falling in love as a writer myself. Katie Naymon really put those feelings onto the page, and her skill in writing and weaving words together left me speechless at times. I loved it! This has been one of the most enjoyable reads of the year for me, and Katie Naymon has solidified herself as one of my auto-buy authors.

You know when you’re reading a book, and you can see why other people love it, but at the same time feel like it might not be for you? This book was objectively good. It was well written, I liked both Will and Leigh, and their relationship felt realistic. I also think, for my personal taste it was a little bit slow. I think the things I didn’t love about this book were the same things I don’t love about poetry in general.

Overall I would recommend You Between the Lines.

Thanks NetGalley for the eARC

Thanks to Netgalley & Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for access to this E-ARC! This was ok. Wasn't a big fan of the main female character. Liked the pacing and the main guy though. Would give this author another shot.

More of a 4.5.

What an excellent debut. Self assured and confident. I loved that not only was this a love story it was about succeeding in a field dominated by white men and a certain kind of writing. The imposter syndrome was too real. I will definitely be reading this authors next book!

I always end an ARC review by thanking the publisher and author, but I’m starting with a HUGE thank-you to Katie for writing such an amazing debut novel. Debut?! How is this even possible???

You Between the Lines took over my life until I flipped the final page. This book easily jumped to my top read of 2024. I have no idea how another book will topple it.

This sweet, adorable story centered around Leigh and Will, MFA students with a shared history. My only complaint…at times I felt as if I were cheating on Abby Jimenez and Julie Soto—my two favorite romance writers—by loving this book so much.

Oh, and the pinkie touch!! *thud, swoon*

Katie, I love you and can’t wait for your next book!!

Thank you to Forever Publishing, Katie Naymon, and Netgalley for allowing me the opportunity to read this incredible book!!

4.75 ⭐️

I honestly couldn’t tell it was a debut novel … it was so good and so hard to put down . The tension the characters shared was so intense and honestly I lived for their moments they shared.

Leigh and Will since high school always had a pull for each other. I was so glad we got to see their will they or won’t moments. They had so many and when they finally got together I was so happy.

Will and Leigh reconnect after getting into the same MFA program and honestly seeing how protective and wanting Leigh to do a good job in the program had me giddy. I related so much to Leigh and Will. Their characters really spoke out to me .

Thank you so much to netgalley, forever and Katie for the arc 🩵

I loved this book! There was so much tension and forced proximity between Will and Leigh, and I completely ate it up. I really enjoyed the academia setting, and I was surprised at how much I loved reading the poetry. This will be one of my favorite romances of the year. Thank you, Forever Publishing, for the advanced copy!

I’m actually at a loss for words. This was such a stunning a debut. For a book about poets the writing did not disappoint. Leigh is such a mirrorball girl and her fears of being an imposter within her writing group is SO REAL. I just love this book so much and I need more from Katie IMMEDIATELY.

I really loved this. This had so much potential to be a 5 star. This book has nearly everything I love: rivals to lovers, history between the two MCs, tension, banter, an academic setting, and a little bit of found family. It was fast paced, easy to read, and so entertaining. Leigh and Will’s *will they won’t they* had me on the edge of my seat wanting them to just GIVE IN!!! The tension was so good though. I loveddd Will, I thought he was such a sweet mmc. I enjoyed Leigh’s character and found myself relating to her pretty strongly with the people pleasing and never feeling good enough for others.

“Your first reaction, when someone ignores you, is to assume that there’s something wrong with you. You assign your self worth based on your perception of what others think about you.”

OKAYYYY call me out I guess!!! While I could really relate to her character, she started to drive me insane. Instead of feeling like she was doing something about all of these negative feelings, I felt like she kept throwing herself pity parties and it was frustrating to read. (It also made me do some self reflection lmao.) Other than that, I really loved this whole book and think it’ll be a hit when it releases. Definitely recommend adding to your tbr!!! 💜

I finished the book the other night. Or, rather, the book finished me.

We are a month away from the end of 2024, and this book is already a contender for my favorite of 2025.

Let’s start with Leigh. What makes her stand out among the other characters in the MFA program is that she is “just like other girls”. She loves Taylor Swift, finding the perfect outfit for every occasion, and getting her makeup just right. She struggles with imposter syndrome, saying sorry too often, and editing herself to make other people more comfortable. I felt like I was sitting right there with her in her therapy sessions or in poetry workshop as she compared herself to everyone and kept convincing herself she came up short. It’s these elements of Leigh, not just the things she likes, that make me feel so connected to her. It’s something I’m realizing is much more universal that I ever thought and I think it’s a common feeling experienced by a lot of us in this community. That’s why I know this debut is going to knock everyone’s socks off.

And then there’s Will. Will who meets Leigh where she is. He encourages her without pushing her and supports her when she wants the support. I live for his comments in the margins. I am sustained by the press of his pinky of hers during that keynote address. And don’t even get me started on the tote bag.

I’m so impressed by Leigh’s character arc and the growth she experiences through the course of the novel. I love the way she learns to take up space as her truest self. Anyway, Katie Naymon is a genius. I cried my eyes out at the end of the book. I could cry again just thinking about it now.

Read if you like:

✏️ perfect fucking books, man idk
✏️ academic rivals & second chances
✏️ flirty banter in the literal margins
✏️ every era of Taylor
✏️ suffering through graduate school
✏️ manual transmissions
✏️ green cable knit sweaters
✏️ praise, literary or otherwise

Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for an early copy of this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love a good academic setting, and even more so when it's in the humanities! Granted, I am stupidly biased as a graduate student getting my own Masters in Writing, but I just say that that makes me the perfect audience for this delightful book. From beginning to end, this was such a sweet and lovely story filled with humor, heart, and beautiful poetry!

Leigh was a very compelling protagonist, and I was so invested in her emotional arc throughout the book. She felt so relatable and grounded, and I saw a lot of myself in her as she fought to own who she is and her place in the literary world. Her voice was also just so dang entertaining! And as for Will... I adore a man who is head over heels from day one (and it's clear to see, he just adores Leigh!). He had a quietness and kindness to him that created such a nice dynamic with Leigh, and I loved how he played a role in her journey and supported her through it, but he let her go through the necessary revelations and changes herself and honored that well. Their chemistry was wonderful, and it was one of those book couples that I truly could see making it "out in the real world" (I love a good idealistic book couple, but it is so fun to find a realistic one, too!). Their communication was great, and I appreciated how they worked through their issues-- maybe it was because they are writers, but whatever the reason, it worked!

Also, I absolutely adored the poetry! It added such dimension and intrigue to the book, and it was neat to hear Will and Leigh's respective poetic voices. It was also a nice romantic touch as they fell in love through each others' words and notes.

This was such a delightful debut, and I cannot wait to see what Katie writes next. Thank you so much to Forever Publishing and NetGalley for the chance to read this as an ARC. I cannot wait for the world to discover this wonderful story and author!

3.5 rounded up!

Almost a legally blonde of the literary world.

Leigh is a poet who looks (and acts) like she should be at a sorority house instead of the MFA program with the other tattooed, museum tote bag, loafer wearing students. But she's here and she's ready to prove herself. What she doesn't expect is Will, or William as he goes by now, her high school crush and the man who's rejected her one too many times. Struggling with her identity, her parent's separation, being in close proximity to a man she's never stopped thinking about is the last thing she needed.

While I really did enjoy this, I wanted a bit more out of the romance side. If you're really into poetry and higher education, this book is probably for you. I tended to zone out a bit during the poetry breakdowns - but that may be more of a me issue than anything else. While Leigh and Will had amazing tension - I wanted to see how their love story built out. I felt like it was a lot of talking about feelings, talking about why they couldn't be together to hooking up. Seeing the 10 years of tension would have done a lot for me, I think.

Overall - a joy of a book!

Thank you NetGalley and Katie Naymon for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Forever Publishing and NetGalley for an early copy.

Katie Naymon's debut follows Leigh and Will, former high school classmates, who mutually had crushes on each other, as they reconnect in their MFA poetry program. The two left things on the wrong footing, and their reunion starts to boil when Will starts submitting poems that are clearly about Leigh.

This book was a delightfully, entertaining read. I enjoyed reading from Leigh's POV and seeing her internal struggles with her writing/feelings/relationships and feeling imposter syndrome in the MFA program. The main tension with Leigh and Will's relationship does boil down to miscommunication/lack-of-communication, but I think Naymon handled it in a well throughout way.

This book!

This book took me by surprise.
I was expecting something cute, cause look at that cover!
This exceeded my expectations, in every way.
Beautifully written, funny, witty, sweet.
Was like a warm fresh cup of coffee on a cold sunday morning. Loved it so much, highly recommend!

I really loved this book! I loved the development of Leigh and Will as individuals and as a couple. I loved the poetry included and them as writers. Thank you for the advanced copy! I definitely recommend!

4.5 stars

You Between the Lines was wonderful.

Admittedly, some of the poetry/discussions on poetry went over my head, but that didn't affect my enjoyment in the least.

Leigh was like me in many ways, both good and bad. I saw myself in so much of her insecurity and self-doubt. Her skewed perception of how people saw her, and felt about her. Always assuming the worst. It was tough to read for me.

Will is struggling in his own ways, and though we don't get his POV I still felt that the author did a fantastic job of allowing the reader to slowly get to know him through Leigh's POV. He doubts himself just as much as Leigh doubts herself.

A romance between two people who feel like they aren't good enough, while the other sees them as way out of their league. It created such great tension between them.

The Spice. It was slow, and dreamy and so damn hot! The mirror?! Honestly, I love when spice isn't flashy or too out there.. this was just beautifully written, intimate and sexy.

This is such a truly fantastic debut novel. The writing was beautiful, the pacing just slow enough to have me aching for more and characters I loved.