You Between the Lines by Katie Naymon is a deeply emotional and evocative novel that explores themes of love, self-discovery, and healing. The story follows two people—whose lives seem destined to intersect—through personal struggles and emotional journeys. As their stories unfold, the novel delves into the complexities of relationships and the hidden layers of individual experiences.

Naymon’s writing is beautifully introspective, capturing the characters’ vulnerabilities with authenticity. The pacing is steady, allowing readers to connect deeply with the characters and their growth. The novel’s emotional depth and exploration of identity make it a compelling read, though some may find the slower pace a challenge.

Overall, You Between the Lines is a moving and reflective book that will resonate with fans of character-driven stories, offering an insightful look at the emotional complexities of love and life.

There was so much I loved about this one: the tiny liberal arts school in the North Carolina mountains, and "being inside" the MFA program; the poetry; the "will they-won't they" push and pull between Leigh and Will. Leigh read immature at times, but by the end of the book I realized why, which is always appreciated. It's a slow burn sizzle with a "half open door" (nondescriptive, but on the page), and that works so well with these characters and their story.

Thank you Forever & Hachette Audio for the review copies.
Quote from 85%:
Leigh:
"But it wasn't just the fight. From the very beginning, he's been wishy-washy." Gen:
"Well, maybe because you've been wishy-washy, too."
-two lines summarizing my thoughts on this whole story.
This had moments that I enjoyed - hello, we never get books that have ties to Ohio so shout out to that!! But overall I really struggled through this, specifically the main character's POV and how she dealt with nearly every relationship in her life. This will absolutely be a hit for folks who love slow burn, angsty, poetic, messy characters and books about writing - the comps to Beach Read are great and deserved. It just wasn't for me, and that's okay. With that said, I am looking forward to reading more from this author in the future.

2.5 stars

When I read the blurb for this novel, it seemed like it would have everything that I love in a story. Romance, literary involvement, second chances, and somewhat of an enemies to lovers relationship.

However, as much as I liked some aspects of Will and Leigh's relationship, there were unfortunately a couple of things that kept this book from being a big hit for me.

I knew that there was going to be poetry involved in this storyline but I didn't realize the influence that it would have on the overall story. I didn't expect multiple poems to be incorporated or how heavy a presence it would have in the novel.

Additionally, both of these characters are meant to be in their late twenties but I could not help but feel that they were not coming across that way. Neither was the overall tone of the story or the environment. With very minor changes, I would have easily believed this novel involved characters in high school or young adults starting out in university.

Lastly, typically the flow of a contemporary romance allows me to become attached and read through a book somewhat quickly due to my investment in the characters. With this novel, I didn't feel that the writing had that flow and I also think when combined with my other issues for this novel, it lead to me not being as invested in the characters as I hoped to be.

I think this novel had huge potential but unfortunately it wasn't one that I loved.

***Thank you to the publisher for supplying me with an e-ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***

It’s refreshing to read a romance where both main characters are in the arts, but unfortunately nothing felt well-rounded and fully developed about this one.

The characters, relationships, and their plot points felt muddled and often rushed, as if getting from point A to point B was as simple as one therapy session (when they were meant to be working through years of trauma).

Former sorority girl Leigh unexpectedly lands in a prestigious poetry MFA, only to find her high school crush-turned-nemesis, Will, enrolled too—and he won't stop submitting poems (obviously about her). Forced to confront past feelings through verse, Leigh discovers some stories are best told between the lines.

Authentic and angsty. Those two words can describe the feeling of a lot of well-written contemporary romances these days, but few carry the weight of them like this story does. I really appreciated how unaware Leigh was while she was trying to be aware. It made her anxiety and grief about her parents’ divorce feel especially real. And though I’m usually not a fan of the poetry written within stories, Leigh’s imperfect poems actually helped convey her lack of personal understanding and made her attempts to solve her life's problems even more relatable. Her final poem at the end—her vulnerable self—was my favorite, as it should be.

So here we are, nearing the end of my review of a romance ebook, and I’ve yet to talk about the romance. Well, this story is less about romance itself and more about second chances—two poets discovering what being a poet means to them.

(Also, you know a book was truly enjoyable when you suddenly want to drop everything in your life to sign up for a poetry MFA, despite there being nothing you hate more than trying to write a poem.)

Thank you @netgalley @hatchetteaudio @readforeverpub for the books #netgalley

Perfect for you if you like:
Books about grad school and poetry
Second chance romance
Anxiety rep.
Taylor Swift

Similar to:
Not in My Book by Katie Holt
How to Plot a Love Story by Yulin Kuang
Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood

⛔️chapters 15, 20 & 22 contain explicit romance scenes (open door)
⚠️explicit language, parental divorce (very present), previous death of parent, anxiety and mental health (very present), sexual harassment

4.5 STARS!

This book was equal parts beautiful, painful, moving, frustrating, and satisfying. The synopsis promises a nemesis/rivals to lovers, but this book is so so much more than that. It’s full of self discovery and looking deep into the scary and ugly parts of ourselves that we try to hide so deep in the form of masks mirrors. To learn how to not place our self worth and value through the perception of others. The entire time I was reading this book, Taylor Swift’s song mirrorball kept playing in my head. So many pieces of both main characters are so relatable and raw! Often times, leads can be presented as always having it together, but to be able to see the flawed parts of both Leigh and Will and how they overcome it in this book was such a beautiful thing to read!!

The book centers around Leigh who leaves her copywriting job that is slowly killing her and joins an MFA program in North Carolina. During this time her parents marriage is falling apart and she desperately wants to fall back in love with writing! Everything seems to be going off without a hitch until at the welcome bbq she makes the horrible discovery that her high school crush Will is also in the MFA program. The same Will that gave her a terrible critique on her writing in highschool and a terrible rejection the last time she saw him 6 years ago. After the death of his father, Will is struggling and sending mixed to Leigh and she can't help but wonder what she should do.

I thought this book was beautifully written and did such an amazing job of painting the characters. I loved how different poems where laced through out the whole book! The whole book almost reads like poetry though! It's so lyrical! I loved Leigh and Will's will they won't they it left me on my seat and wanting more! I feel like having their insecurities be a big part of why they couldn't connect worked so good for both the characters and once they finally get together it feels so rewarding!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Forever ( Grand Central Publishing) for this wonderful book in exchange for an honest review!

You Between the Lines by Katie Naymon is one of those rare books that makes you laugh out loud, only to leave you teary-eyed a few pages later. With sharp, witty dialogue and moments of heartfelt emotion, The author masterfully balances humor and depth.

What truly makes this novel unforgettable are its characters — flawed, endearing, and incredibly real. They feel like old friends, the kind you root for and miss once the story ends.

This book is a touching reminder that words — spoken, written, or left unsaid — have the power to shape our most meaningful connections. It's a must-read for anyone craving a story that's equal parts funny, moving, and full of heart.

Thank you Forever for an advanced copy of this book for review!

A former sorority girl starts a prestigious poetry MFA program only to discover that one of her classmates is her high school crush-turned-nemesis—​and he can't stop writing about her.

^from the publisher!

This romance hit all of the right spots for me and honestly I felt like Leigh’s therapy sessions with Bridget were mirror images of mine with my own therapist. I too put a lot of my worth in what others think of me. I also think people are mad at me if they don’t respond or don’t return my looks. Get very stressed about it. A people pleaser to my core. I related to Leigh so much. And how much she wanted Will?? Babyyyyy I felt the same.

ANYWAY. I loved the backdrop of the MFA program here, and I found the conflict really interesting and realistic. Her relationship with her parents was a bit stressful as they both seemed to pit her against the other. I understand her unease! I enjoyed the friend group. They were so much fun as they opened up to each other more.

Will Langford the tortured poet that you are 😮‍💨😮‍💨😮‍💨. “Why do you think Leigh?” “This isn’t you and you know it.” “Good girl.” I’m sweating. He was so flirty and hot and in charge. Swooooooony.

Such a sweet ending too that had me all up in my feelings.

A surprisingly engaging book despite the fact that the main characters are....in it. Leigh is unfortunately one of the most immature and self-centered FMC's I've read in a while, hiding behind a bunch of "pop culture" references that do nothing more than age the book nearly immediately. I was expecting a little bit more fun from her given there's a bit of an Elle Woods, Legally Blonde, kind of thing going on with a former sorority girl moving onto a more "serious" study, though in the end Leigh only mentioned that she was a sorority girl while never actually displaying any of the the straits she said she had. She came off as a "not like other girls" kind of girl, saying that because she was blonde and liked to party--something barely explored with her always finding an excuse to leave early, not go at al, or be upset about the idea of socializing all together--that she didn't fit in with the people in her group. Will was cute, I could see him clearly, but everything about him I wanted was More. There were moments when I thought we'd get more from him--more of his inner thoughts, more of who he is behind the feedback and poetry, more of just everything he said he was but barely showed. He wasn't bad, definitely the better between the two, but there was more to be had from him. In general, I can't say I didn't like the story itself given how it was hard to put down and I wanted to pick it back up every time I closed it, though the characters were the worst part of the whole thing.

I mean, WILL. Will just had my heart. His vulnerability really stuck with me, and I loved him for Leigh. The two main leads did drive me crazy at times with their immaturity, but all in all, a feel good novel that will make you feel all cozy and warm inside. <3

This was a fun one! I like gritty and real main characters. This felt more realistic than others I have read.

First and foremost as always thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book. This was an incredibly good read! The story was beautifully written and the characters were flushed out really well! I really enjoyed the way the author weaved pop culture into her poetry, she did an amazing job! Definitely worth the read!

A huge thank you to @readforeverpub for the eARC and @hachetteaudio for the gifted audiobook!
I have never felt more seen than when reading this book. I related to Leigh so much, reading this book was cathartic and enriching. The story is so real - the characters' vulnerability and identities felt near tangible. This was such a beautiful and healing story. I loved the romance. I loved Leigh's emotional journey. This was such an incredible book. My favorite romance of the year so far. Please read immediately!

Katie Naymon’s You Between the Lines is a contemporary romance that explores personal growth, mental health, and creative expression. The story follows Leigh, a former sorority girl pursuing an MFA in poetry, who is forced to confront unresolved tensions with her high school crush-turned-rival, Will.

I think the author’s poetic writing captured Leigh’s struggles with self-acceptance well. I also enjoyed the mental health representation in the book. What I did find frustrating was I felt Leigh’s insecurities seemed somewhat immature her age as well as the miscommunication between her and Will. I also wanted to feel more of a connection and angst between Leigh and Will. I think the fact that I wasn’t a huge fan of the FMC and there was little character growth was the biggest reason for my rating of this novel.

Thanks the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

"You Between the Lines" by Katie Naymon was a cute second-chance rom-com with touches of slight enemies to lovers.

I enjoyed the angst between Leigh and Will and could see plenty of readers calling Will their new book boyfriend.

It was nice to see Leigh's journey as she achieved her dream of being in grad school coupled with the self-doubt she possessed about belonging there in the first place. It felt refreshing and relatable.

I will be keeping an eye out for Katie Naymon's new work moving forward.

Thank you the NetGalley and Forever for gifting me this ARC.

If you need a book that’s going to break you down and then put you back together, this is the book for you. The story follows Leigh an MFA student attending a school in Asheville, NC who happens to find her high school crush turned rival Will is also in the program. This was such a brilliant debut. I kept flipping back and forth between wanting to read it in one sitting vs savoring it because I wasn’t quite ready for the story to end. Leigh struggles to let her true self shine in her poetry & in her life as she is a chronic people pleaser. I loved the snippets of her work as she twisted pop culture into her poetry.

I loved going a long her journey with her as it felt so vulnerable and real as we’ve all had moments of impostor syndrome and anxiety. Shes so messy, and relatable to me specifically. The yearning between Will and Leigh was just so good too! I’m obsessed with both of them.

As this is Katie Naymon’s first book, I’m excited to read whatever she has coming next!

Thank you to Forever and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

1/5 ★

DNF at 38%... -- I am so sad I could not get into this book because I really did want to love it! Initially what drew me in was the cover art, title, and concept but this just fell really short for me. I struggled to find any connections with the characters in this book. But what really stumped my desire to continue reading was Leigh. Her personality was not my cup of tea. Her whiny attitude (especially during any constructive feedback) annoyed me. I looked past that though because it was short, but then it was the weird Taylor Swift references that just made me cringe a bit. Pair all of that with the chemistry between both main characters that was giving nothing?? I could not continue. Maybe I'm being picky but I just didn't love their connection in the start of the book.

I didn't love this book but many do, so maybe I'll attempt again in the future

Oh this book is an absolute DELIGHT. I went into this book blind & didn’t expect to be smiling at the pages while I read. Emotional in the sweetest way.