Katie Naymon's debut novel, You Between the Lines, is the most heartwarming friends to enemies to lovers story that you'll ever read and it had me squealing with joy the entire time. I know 2025 is shaping up to be an amazing year for the book community, but Katie's debut needs to be on your radar. It's a must-read and I will be counting down the days until my physical copy lands on my doorstep so I can re-read it and squeal in delight over and over again.

I love Leigh. She's a former sorority girl filled with insecurities--some of which I know all too well--that she's been able to ignore until meeting Will again at their MFA program orientation. I love Will, too. I mean, how can I not love a man that has literally pined for the girl he loves since high school?! The tension between the two at the orientation is so intense that I wondered if someone could drop dead from merely staring at one another. It was in this moment that I knew I was hooked and I wouldn't be able to put the book down until I finished the story of Leigh and Will.

Leigh comes to the MFA program to escape her soul-sucking job as a copywriter. She sees this program as her chance to become creative again and write without the corporate world sticking her into a restrictive bubble. Her poetry is a magically fresh and she has an unbelievable talent for weaving pop culture references and lyrics into her poetry. It's vastly different from most of the poets that come to mind (think straight, white, male poets), but still, she's holding back from who she can truly be because she's afraid of rejection. And that rejection, it began with Will in a high school writing class.

Will comes to the MFA program to prove to himself (and, in a way, to his deceased father) that he is a poet. He sees this program as a way to right a wrong he made in college and find himself again. His poetry largely focuses on the relationships in his life and the regrets he has in how they ended. All he's ever wanted is his father's acceptance and he can never have that now. But maybe, if he can get out of his own head for long enough, he can fix the other relationship that's occupied his head space since high school.

I loved watching the story of Leigh, the story of Will, and the story of Leigh and Will unfold through flashbacks and present day. Leigh and Will are highly relatable characters and everyone, myself included, will find a part of themselves in Leigh and Will. And, I absolutely love that moment when two people are pulled closer and closer together and then one of them decides to just go for it (AKA, the "f*ck it" moment). I swoon every single time.

Thank you NetGalley and Forever for this e-ARC. Without a doubt, everyone should pick up a copy of Katie's debut on 2/18/25!

Single POV
Setting: MFA English program in eastern North Carolina

Tropes:
High school crush
Missed chances
Forced proximity
Daddy issues (his)

TW: anxiety rep, death of a parent

I needed to wait a bit to review this because I couldn’t figure out if I loved it or hated it. I am settling on a very strong like.

We meet Leigh and Will from Ohio find another for the second time post high school.
It took me a while to warm up to Will. I wasn’t sure if I could trust him. But I think that’s because this story is through Leigh’s POV.

Leigh people pleases so much it was giving me anxiety.
It’s hard to get a read on her (pun intended) when she isn’t honest with herself or others. She constantly presents herself in a way she thinks will be best received; chasing gratification and positive feedback. However, she cannot handle constructive feedback, and while she is 27/28 years old in an MFA writing program, she has an immature mindset/self image. Leigh was self-obsessed with putting herself down for being a sorority girl during undergrad. She paints being a sorority girl as negative, shallow, and also something everyone is judging her for. Girl, I need you to look internally and ask yourself why you believe that. Some of the smartest and kindest women I know were in sororities.

As with anyone who attends grad school, friendly competition in your program is still competition. But with Leigh: everything in life is a competition. She believes she is the best and then spirals when she realizes she’s not the best and denies others their greatness. When in reality, she constantly was in her own way. I can’t knock Will’s criticism of her writing.

I liked that she is in therapy, and while her therapist has given her the necessary tools to break old habits, we all know that’s easier said than done. This is a HEA and she does have her ah-hah moment(s). The ending felt a bit rushed, but the storyline was great and had me invested in their career paths and a will they/wont they.

While this review seems critical it’s only because I really went back and forth on this love/hate with Leigh and Will. But I truly did enjoy them in the end.

Side note: It’s sauce. Not gravy.🙄

3.5 ⭐️
1 🌶️

Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Book Group/Forever for this eARC.

I haven’t been obsessed with a book in a long time but I am OBSESSED with this one. Leigh and Will who haven’t seen each other in years end up in the same MFA program. While not necessarily enemies their relationship is strained. Watching their relationship evolve throughout the book was beautiful but also frustrating in a good way. I LOVED all the Taylor Swift/One Direction references. Leigh overcoming how she sees herself and her relationships with her parents and others was a difficult journey but one that I felt deeply. Will having to sort out his feelings for Leigh while also dealing with his unresolved feelings over his father was an incredible journey to watch.
The only thing I struggled with was Leigh’s situation with Lucas. It had, what I felt like, a rushed/incomplete ending. It didn’t detract from the book, but I felt something was missing.
Loved all the side characters in the MFA program and Gen!

4.5/5
Lyndsay Rush & Raquel Franco are my favourite poets so reading a romance where the FMC writes just like them was a perfect palate cleanser after binging on fantasy all October. Leigh and Will were so relatable- their struggles and personal lives especially. Even though this was chock full of my least favourite tropes, I really loved it. Thank you for the opportunity to read!

This book had a great premise. The poetry throughout was interesting and helped add to the story. The chemistry between the leads was off the charts. However, the female protagonist felt much younger than her 27 years during the majority of the novel. At times it was so distracting and obvious that it took me out of the story. I don't think it needed to be that heavy-handed. The ending did redeem the story for me, though.

I devoured this. Katie Naymon writes so beautifully, and Will is an ultimate broody boy. This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2025 and I can honestly say it’ll be one of the best books to come out next year. Her characters are so relatable and I found myself relating to Leigh constantly. Absolutely loved. Cannot wait to see what this author releases next.

You Between the Lines by Katie Naymon is a beautifully crafted novel that intricately weaves themes of love, longing, and the power of storytelling. The story follows a protagonist who discovers a mysterious connection between herself and the author of her favorite book, leading to a journey of self-discovery and emotional depth. Naymon's writing is lyrical and evocative, pulling readers into the world of her characters and making their experiences feel deeply relatable. I loved how the book explores the idea of how stories can shape our lives and relationships. This novel is a poignant and enchanting read that will resonate with anyone who has ever found solace in a good book!

I devoured this. Katie Naymon writes so beautifully, and Will is an ultimate broody boy. This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2025 and I can honestly say it’ll be one of the best books to come out that year. Her characters are SO relatable and I found myself relating to Leigh constantly. Absolutely loved. Cannot wait to see what this author releases next.

I am not a poetry girlie, it doesn’t speak to me like it does to some. But it was written SO beautifully, I had no choice but to fall in love. And if Jessica Joyce says to read a book I’m going to do it!! Both Will and Leigh were flawed and hurting and just trying their best and SO in love with each other. Watching their story unfold between the poems and the insecurities and resentments and the pining and longing and so many tender moments was an absolute delight. I loved every single second of this book and I cannot wait to hold a physical copy in my hands!!

There’s a lot of Leigh trying to finally figure herself out, she’s doing something she desperately wants to do but also doesn’t feel like she’s good enough or smart enough to do. And it’s really a challenge for her, but watching her succeed!! Even when she’s doubting herself!! Was so good! Because by the end when she realized she could in fact do it, and that she didn’t need to be perfect to be enough so so beautiful. I love her with my entire being.

I also LOVE WILL LANGFORD. SO. MUCH. He really is just a sad soft boy and that’s my favorite kind of man. And he was SO IN LOVE WITH LEIGH. And I loved that we got to see flashbacks of them. We got to see where the pining and longing started for both of them. And really find yourself a man who will take to you a pumpkin patch for some canned pumpkin!!

Thank you so much to Forever for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book!!! Rivals to Lovers. Hot literary nerds. Fall fun. Flirting in the line notes. This book gave me all the feels: I laughed, I swooned, I cried, and I blushed, hard. I didn’t want it to end. I saved the last half to read every night as my treat. You Between the Lines is so good! Katie Naymon has written an amazing debut. I can’t wait to listen to the audiobook. And I really can’t wait to read your next book.

This was frustratingly delectable, hard to put down, and emotionally satisfying. I connected deeply with both characters—Will reminded me so much of my high school crush who went to a prestigious liberal arts college in New England, though he was a musician, not a poet. I loved Leigh’s relatable inner monologue and her therapist’s thoughtful guidance. The story is filled with miscommunication, but that’s exactly what made it work for me. It felt so real and heartfelt, capturing how people often misinterpret intentions in real life. Katie Naymon’s debut made me feel so much, and I can’t wait to read more of her work. A stunning first novel, and I hope others connect with it as much as I did.

"I am just words on a page and he's the poet, arranging me how he wants, using alliteration, rhyme, white space."

MY GOD it’s been a very long time since a book has hit me in the feelings as much as this one has. I have never resonated so hard with a character as much as I do with our FMC, Leigh. I don’t think I will be able to fully articulate just how much this book meant to me but I urge everyone to immediately add this to your 2025 TBR

This story follows Leigh, a former sorority girl, as she navigates her way through a prestigious MFA program. She battles constant imposter syndrome and the pressure to be seen at the same level as her fellow cohorts. Leigh also has to deal with the fact that her high school nemesis and long time crush is also attending the same MFA program alongside her. 

WILL LANGFORD THE MAN THAT YOU ARE. He comes to us with his own insecurities but has figured out a way to write about his emotions in a way that Leigh has long avoided. Tables are turned when Will submits a piece that Leigh immediately knows is about her. In an effort to leave this as spoiler free as possible just know that I am simping over this man way too hard…. The tension that has been created between these two is ABSOLUTELY INSANE. I found myself giddy and screaming throughout all of their interactions and had the time of my life reading this story.

If you are a Beach Read girlie then this is for you!!!! 

Katie, thank you for letting me scream about this story in your DMs. I cannot wait for this book to be out in this world and for others to get to know Leigh and Will. I just know everyone is going to love this as much as I did.

A million stars for You Between the Lines! ♾️⭐️

Thank you NetGalley and Forever for the chance to read this early in exchange for an honest review.

This was so good!! I loved the poetry MFA setting, I loved the romance. I’m not usually a fan of second-chance ish romance, but the YEARNING was excellent. A really great debut and I look forward to reading more from this author!

When I received an ARC from NetGalley, I thought I was in for a typical, feel good contemporary romance. While the HEA lived up to expectations, I was not prepared for the emotional rollercoaster of You Between the Lines. Leigh’s anxiety and imposter syndrome took me back to my days as a graduate student. It was almost hard to read, because of how spot on her depiction of graduate school is. Naymon’s intoxicating prose soon over rode any of those feelings. Her sentences snared my mind and demanded to be underlined. It was easy to be frustrated by and then forgive the main characters due to the superb character development. I hope You Between the Lines is the first in a series. I want to revisit the characters like they’re old friends. Katie Naymon has become a must read author for me.

this is one of the most beautiful books I’ve ever read. perfect for fans of Emily Henry, Jessica Joyce, and Sarah Adams, this story is full of so much love, acceptance, growth, & tenderness.

Leigh & William have had many almosts, almost falling into their mutual attraction, but let their real life fears, realities, & circumstances stand in the way of filling falling into it. I loved their connection throughout the whole story, not just in talking to each other but in sharing their poems & thoughts abt them. their slow burn allows them to overcome a lot of their fears & realities so when they finally do fall into their attraction & love for one another, they can do so safely & wholly. it’s just beautiful

the use of poetry in this story is brilliant! I am not a big poetry buff, but I could easily escape in these works as they exist in the context of the story & are thoughtfully explained.

overall, this is one of my absolute favorite reads, everything about this story is brilliant & beautiful. thank you so much for the arc :)

After quitting her soul-destroying copywriting job to study a poetry MFA, Leigh is stunned one of her classmates is Will, her high school crush who critiqued her poem as ‘style but no substance’ then rejected her after a chance encounter a few years later.

You Between the Lines is a story about finding your voice and finding the courage to take the mask off to be vulnerable. Both Leigh and Will carry have insecurities and feel the other is out of their league. Leigh struggles with confidence to be her true self and sublimates it by being a people-pleaser. She doesn’t feel she fits with literary types such as Will whom she is scared will judge her. Will is a sweetheart nursing his own insecurities thanks to her late academic father's impossible standards. I could understand why he rejected her at times and my heart broke for them both.

I loved the supporting characters in their MFA program and really felt like I could understand the comradery and competition that comes with being in such a close-knit cohort. I also loved Leigh’s best friend Gen and therapy scenes for home truths about her self sabotage. A highlight was the author adding poems in the narrative for extra authenticity. Pace-wise I would’ve liked the emotional beats to hit a bit earlier for Leigh as push/pull with Will was frustrating and I'd like for Leigh to have reached her growth earlier so we could see more of her trying to make amends with Will. I also wasn’t a fan of her stereotyping her classmates (who were all welcoming to each other) while behaving like a stereotype herself (can we please stop with the constant Taylor Swift references in books? Why are all the authors doing this?). It’s also a bit of a weird one that sororities are supposedly bastions of inclusion.

A slow burn, poetically angsty academia romance that’s gorgeously swoony (pinky fingers have never been so sensual). I couldn’t put it down.

Thanks to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for the ARC.

I'll start this off by saying that the cover is gorgeous and I really liked the author's writing style. The concept was unique and I loved how the romance was played out through poetry prose.

However, I was annoyed with Leigh. She came off as childish and the conflict felt repetitive and the lack of communication was agonizing.

I was pleased with how quickly the pace picked up in the spicy scenes and I was satisfied with the end resolution. Overall this was okay and I would be willing to read more from the author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and Forever for providing a DRC of this title.

I think Naymon did a good job of capturing how insular and tight some graduate programs can feel (in both good and bad ways). Because we were only in Leigh’s POV and the novel was written in first-person present, at times the narrative did feel a little claustrophobic and navel-gazey. I think I enjoyed this more as a story as a woman in her twenties finding her creative voice than as a romance, but I would still recommend for contemporary romance readers who enjoy pop culture + two leads who are both writers. 3.5 stars/5.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Forever Publishing for this arc in exchange for an honest review. AND THANK YOU KATIE FOR WRITING LEIGH AND WILL 🫶🏼.

I don’t know what was in this but I DEVOURED IT. I keep asking if I finished it or if it finished me because it has essentially ruined me for other romance books right now in THE BEST WAY! It hooked me from the jump and I pretty much read it straight through.

I just love a book where the characters feel real and fleshed out.

Some of my thoughts:
I am currently still reeling from the pinky touch. Like I truly had to get up and walk around my house when that scene happened. I may never get over it.

Some of what Leigh dealt with with Will and her family felt very relatable. The will-they-won’t-they was so angsty and I can see it being a problem for some but I DID NOT MIND IT. I felt like it worked for who I thought the characters were.

I really liked the therapy representation. It felt genuine and real in my unprofessional opinion.

And I loved the MFA program glimpses and the poems with feedback!! 🥹 I’m awful at taking criticism but I feel like Will would do a good job. 😝

I loved the supporting cast- Gen was my favorite!! We just love to see healthy female friendships that know you deeply.

🌶️ Spice level: there were 3 open door scenes

This book was so fun! The main character were very relatable and I really felt for them! And their banter was so funny!