I enjoyed this and how it instantly brought me back to grad school. Undergrad is one thing but the relationships and found family you form in grad school is something entirely different and I thought this book did a good job portraying that. I really wish this book was Dual POV. I would have loved to have insight into Will's poet brain. This book shines, but adding Will's POV would have put it over the top. I'm excited to see what else this author has in store.

Hello! Meet the new favorite book that I binged in 4 hours last night. I started with the audiobook and then I was completely obsessed I stayed up an extra hour reading this e-book. I normally do not care for poems in novels and skim/skip them but I really enj0yed these. I connected a lot to the main character-my artwork was always seen as kind of "bubble gum pop" compared to the deep artwork of my peers-along with her people pleasing tendencies. The romance was so swoony and the buildup/push and pull of it all was so perfect. Really loved this one!

What a great debut! This was a solid contemporary romance that featured to MFA poetry students, Leigh & Will, and their growth from rival to lovers. They went to high school together, but it has been ten years since then so this sort of has some feels of a second (or third) chance romance.

If you like poetry and/or academic settings this book is for you ... if you don't .. then I would maybe stay clear. That is a BIG part of this book - the plot and the setting. Lots of workshops, written poetry, edits, notes, comments etc.

As a life long student and socials/english teacher, I really appreciated these things but I know it won't be for everyone!
There was some spice to the romance (roughly 3 scenes) but the descriptions were not explicit and quite brief. I would say its a 1.5 pepper rating.

Thank you so much to Netgalley for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for a honest review!

Unfortunately this book missed the mark for me. It was a light hearted fun romance, but the poetry aspect and what felt like miscommunication really took me out of the book. I did not feel like there was enough foundation on the main character for me to really root for her. Her self doubt and self pity felt irritating to me. I definitely think that many people would really like this book it just unfortunately was not for me.

I was initially interested in this book because I enjoy second chance romances, when two characters have a complicated past and still ind a way to make their way back to each other, mix that with the forced proximity of them being in a join MFA program and I thought it was going to be an instant hit.
Unfortunately I was mistaken.
This book reads more like women’s fiction than romance. These two characters, yes are drawn together by this MFA program but their entire relationship is incredible lust driven. I found that there was hardly any communication in the first 50% of the book, any time these two main characters were in the same room, one of them would always walk away without having a conversation and that was the most aggravating reading experience. Because of this I also didn’t find that I had a reason to like the MMC, when as the love interest the story felt like it hardly involved him.
The book instead went into detail of the FMC’s writing process and struggle with her creative block.

I was excited also because the author of this book has her MFA in poetry so i thought shed be able to give these characters life in a new and fun way but instead it just fell flat.

In this debut, late twenty-something Leigh enters a poetry MFA program in North Carolina, only to discover that her high school crush-turned-rival is also in the program.

Strap in for plenty of poetry, the pretentiousness that can be found in academia—the characters even admit to this, issues stemming from parental and parent-child relationships, longstanding grudges, fear of commitment, and imposter syndrome.

This is told in single POV, so we get lots of Leigh telling us that she can’t be with Will.

Throw in a highly coveted fellowship position that they both want, and Leigh’s distrust of Will grows even more.

I did like the notes they make for each other in the margins on poems and appreciated that, in the end, Leigh does show growth and Will opens up more. Ultimately, though, this seems like a case of a book just not being right for my mood when I read it.

I received an advance copy of the ebook from Forever. All review opinions are my own.

You know the feeling when you start reading a book and immediately know it is going to change your life? May I introduce you to an angsty, emotional, and beautifully written DEBUT romance from Katie Naymon.

Leigh has recently left her job with an advertising agency to pursue her passion of poetry. She’s been accepted into a prestigious MFA program where she feels like she doesn’t quite fit. Everyone else is smarter than her, has read all the right things, been published in literary journals, and would never listen to Taylor Swift. To top it all off, the guy from high school who she had crushed on until he told her that her work was ‘all style no substance’ shows up at the welcome party as another first year in the program. Leigh is determined to prove that she belongs, but Will’s presence becomes exceedingly distracting, and soon the two find that they need to just get each other out of their systems. As time goes on and the deadline for the prestigious fellowship comes closer, they must decide if what they have is just pent up feelings, or if there is more to their story.

You Between The Lines is easily going to be one of my favorite books of the year, if not all time. I immediately related to Leigh, with her insecurities, feelings of imposter syndrome, and need to change herself to fit the desires of the people around her. She is a pathological people-pleaser who struggles with finding her true identity, and this is paralleled in the poetry she writes. Because she is constantly accommodating other people and changing to fit into whatever group she's with, she never really has a confidence in who SHE is. Similarly, she tries so hard to write the things she thinks others want to see, instead of being true to herself and showing her vulnerability in her poetry. The one time that she did, it got published, but she is so scared to open herself up and be that vulnerable again. Her character growth in this book was so utterly beautiful. She is messy and imperfect, but recognizes this too. Her interactions with her therapist were so familiar and truly made my heart feel so much for her character. She is truly one of my favorite characters I’ve read, and I love her, flaws and all.

And then we have Will. Will Yum Langford. He is absolutely everything to me. This man is so jaded and has his own struggles that he is dealing with in the book, but this man is down BAD. There is so much angst and tension between them, it is tangible. They have a multi-layered past, which unfolds throughout the book, and you can see how long this man has been pining for her. Their relationship was so real and raw too. They struggle with communication, but in a way that is so relatable. They are so scared of wanting something and the other person not reciprocating, so they dance around their feelings and nothing comes out the right way. The YEARNING we see between them just about killed me too. They were so beautifully messy and I loved how they learned to be vulnerable with each other. They truly brought out the best in each other, both as people and as poets.

This book is honestly one of the best I’ve read in so long. Katie’s writing is heartfelt and lyrical. She weaves in poetry and narrative into this book in such a meaningful way, and truly has written a thought-provoking and emotional story. It’s a slow burn romance with the perfect amount of humor and vulnerability. I adored these characters, their journeys, and their ability to work through the hard things and open themselves up. This book is a must read and is SHOCKINGLY her debut novel. Do not sleep on this one! I cannot wait to see what Katie has in store for us next as she has easily cemented herself in my must-buy category!

Thank you Forever and NetGalley for the copy of this book.

Leigh has just been accepted into the MFA program at the prestigious Perrin University. She will spend the next two years learning and honing her poetry writing skills. Then, she learns her favorite writer will be an adjunct professor next school year. Leigh is determined to land the coveted fellowship which means a lot of one-on-one time with her idol. Leigh soon learns that her High School crush, Will, is also part of the grad program. This puts Leigh's anxieties into overdrive. She still has never gotten over a bad critique Will gave one of her poems during class ten years ago. Leigh has always been intimidated by Will's ease and comfortableness with writing. Not just that, there's history between them that they'll finally have to settle otherwise it'll be a long two years.

I appreciated the plain and simple way the story comes right out and makes clear that Leigh is dealing with her anxiety surrounding how she feels she is perceived by those around her. It informed everything she does. Trying to make sure she is meeting, what she assumes, are everyone's expectations. Oftentimes the morals of the story are circumvented in order for the readers to draw their own conclusions. One might say this is akin to reading and interpreting a poem. I think it's very refreshing that this story is very open with this and we get to see Leigh working her way through these things both in her personal life and her writing.

However, I also felt this sense of strangeness because I never felt like I could get a beat on Leigh as a character. This is actually probably very in line with how Leigh sees herself throughout the majority of the book, and kind of mirrors the struggle she faces of bringing more of herself into her writing. On the opposite side of that I also see myself in every single worry and question and anxiety-ridden tirade she goes on in her mind. I just felt like she never brought the two sides of herself out for others. That Will was really the only person who saw her clearly (to be fair Leigh's best friend Gen also sees the full picture of who she is, but she's a very peripheral character).

I like the connection between Will and Leigh. I loved how Katie Naymon draws out the depth of their relationship. Like Leigh herself, there's more than meets the eye, there's more than surface level. I like how the information is doled out as we go. There's something just so perfect about their relationship journey. Maybe because it never overshadows Leigh's personal journey, but is still just as important. It's all wrapped together perfectly as a whole.

You Between the Lines is a great introduction to Katie Naymon and her writing. I've read fiction books featuring writers. This may be the first one where that writer's specialty is poetry. Seeing the way that the poems are crafted and the techniques used was very interesting and a sure highlight of everything else overall.

You Between the Lines by Katie Naymon is an absolute gem! I devoured it in just five hours, completely swept up in its witty banter, emotional depth, and perfectly executed romance. The characters felt so real, their connection both tender and electric. It’s the kind of book that grabs you from page one and doesn’t let go. A five-star read that I’ll be thinking about for a long time!

Let the record show that when I say that I like my romances full of yearning, this book is what I mean!

In YOU BETWEEN THE LINES, we follow 27-year-old Leigh who’s been accepted to a prestigious poetry MFA program. Meeting her classmates for the first time already has her feeling out of place, but Leigh’s even more thrown off balance when she realizes that her former high school crush-turned-nemesis, Will, is also in the program.

I could write sonnets about all of the things I loved about this book, but I’ll focus on just a few.

I thought the single POV with Leigh worked so perfectly. It was a little uncomfy at times (Leigh is definitely one of those “mirror characters” for me, for better or worse) and I loved that. I thought being inside her head and not Will’s was the perfect way of showing us her (very relatable) flaws while also capitalizing on the uncertain will-they-won’t-they of it all.

And did I mention the yearning? Because OMG. The tension and the years-long pining go so crazy in this! When the scene is just them touching pinkies and you’re inwardly shrieking, you know it’s good.

Thanks to Forever and NetGalley for this eARC! Trust and believe I will be on the lookout for Katie Naymon’s next book!

I am rounding up here- I fall on the 3 1/2 stars range with this one. I cheered at times and then wanted to stop at others. Will and Leigh are likable. I guess if you have liked someone for so long, you should try when no one else measures up. And please, have the conversations... feelings get hurt, but if you have lived on your own for 5 years in a big city- learn to communicate especially if you can explain why you don't like your job and the lack of creativity. But the poetry? Stay for the poetry.

Thank you, #NetGalley for the ARC.

Thanks to Forever and NetGalley for early access to You Between the Lines which comes out tomorrow! I started reading this yesterday, curled up with my cat as shown here, and I finished it today on my flight. While I tend to bounce back and forth between books, I didn’t read anything else once I started this book, which means it fully captured my attention - great work to a debut author!
You Between the Lines takes place at a small town North Carolina MFA program for poetry and fiction, with just five candidates per program per year. After realizing being a copywriter is sucking the life from her, Leigh applies to the program to build off of her English degree and tap back into her love for creative writing. At the welcome barbecue, she finds that one of the other poetry candidates is her high school crush, Will - who now goes by William. He had criticized her work in a writing semester in high school and Leigh had never forgiven her. Except for maybe when they ran into each other that one time at Middlebury… Leigh’s parents are going through a separation, which has her, the only child, questioning why their three-person unit is no longer viable. Her people-pleasing is at an all time high, while she’s supposed to be vulnerable to achieve greatness in her program. Luckily, she has a best friend and a therapist who both tell it like it is, keeping her head on straight-ish.
I appreciated the way the book showed Leigh’s struggle with her insecurity and indecision, even in terms of her choosing her outfits, as they felt realistic and made me care about her character. The sex scenes were quite steamy, and the ending felt natural. Sometimes I felt like chapters ended and time moved forward without fully finishing some experiences, but that could be because I read it quickly. I sobbed through the epilogue on my flight, but no one asked if I was okay, so that’s a plus 🤣 I don’t read much poetry, as I don’t feel it’s very accessible, but I really enjoyed the way it was presented in this book, and I feel like I should be more open to reading it. I’m excited for others to read this great debut! And if you’re a Taylor Swift fan, there are plenty of references to her and her music to enjoy in this book.

Thank you for this ARC!

The blurb for this one had me so excited. I love poetry and romance, so the combination of them sounded perfect for me. However, I ended this one disappointed. I actually almost DNF'd it around 60%. The reason is because I found the Leigh to be unbearable and the plot repetitive. We have the same argument multiple times within the story, and each time the outcome is similar. The FMC had 0% character growth for me. Which contrasts with what she says about her own character. She is a poet and wants constructive criticism, but if it comes from a white male she disregards everything and considers them her enemy. The criticism Will gave her was actually useful for her poem. Yet that made her want to never see him again? She was okay with the criticism from females though. This entire book felt like a ballooned ego of feminism but in the worst way.

Also, it's clear as day that this character hates white men lol. But her arguments were hypocritical with the character's own traits.

Vulnerability, lyrical turns of phrase, and notes in the margin combine in this flirtatious romance set amid a prestigious MFA poetry program.

✨ Book Review: YOU BETWEEN THE LINES by Katie Naymon ✨

Leigh and Will know each other from high school and even nursed a bit of a crush back then, but are forced to reexamine each other and themselves when they discover they’re in the same intimate grad school program. Between cohort gatherings, small classes, reading and commenting on each other’s writing, and a shared campus job, there’s no escaping each other or their growing feelings.

🌟 My Take: Really enjoyed the writing and definitely recommend this to anyone interested in poetry or who enjoys a university setting. Leigh and Will’s past is shared through well-timed flashbacks, all while their current experiences push onward. The structure deftly mimics the push and pull of their relationship. The author also weaves poetry into the story beyond the poems each character officially shares for class, demonstrating her own writing strength. The examination of Leigh and Will’s insecurities was a bit much at times, though, making me frustrated on their behalf. Still, a solid coming-of-age story and romance.

Read YOU BETWEEN THE LINES for
🎓 University setting
📝 Poetry and prose
🤫 Secrets
💕 Forced-proximity romance
🫠 Mental health rep
💣 Family dynamics
🥸 Coming of age

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 stars)

😘 Thanks to @ReadForeverPub for the gifted #Netgalley eARC. All opinions my own.

My God. This was MARVELOUS. One of the best novels I've read it ages! It rides the line between women's fiction and contemporary romance beautifully, filled with meditations vulnerability, self-worth, and the ability to truly SEE one another. The slow burn for the first half of the book had my Kindle simmering in my hands. And yes, despite having an eARC, I went out and bought myself a copy on release day. I'm just that excited about this author's debut novel!

This story is about Leigh, an MFA poetry student struggling to find her place in the world. As she enters her new program, she finds Will, the man who she once adored in high school who ultimately made her feel unworthy. Now she has to navigate not only her place in her new cohort, but her feelings about Will. Additionally, her family is going through a period of upheaval. The result: an emotional roller coaster that Leigh is desperate to get off of unscathed. But can she?

Listen to me. I'm saying this right now: Katie Naymon is going to be BIG. Her writing is fantastic! I loved the emotional love scenes, the slow burn, the ways in which the characters grew and slowly revealed themselves. I also appreciated how she occasionally toyed with the timeline for maximum impact. I also felt that this book does an exceptional job of supporting the idea of mental health. It's steamy. It's filled with tension. It's deep. It's un-put-downable. And it's made Naymon an auto-buy author for me!

Trigger warnings: family in crisis, feuding parents, death of a father, sexual harrassment (hand on thigh, uncomfortable staring), divorce, quick passing reference to a previous eating disorder by a secondary character

I'd like to thank Forever (Grand Central Publishing), Katie Naymon, and Netgalley for the eARC of this book, even though I also went out and bought myself a copy. 🤣 All opinions expressed are my own.

Here's the thing. I am bored at 25%. Very limited interactions between the mains. I'm not even sure what the premise is here. Although there's an overwhelming imposter syndrome which I think can be crucial to Leigh's internal thoughts and Just how much words can hurt you and shape you and how overwhelmed you can be when you don't see yourself clearly. However. I am bored. Which is a bummer because i was looking forward to this.

What a cutie of a debut! I related hard to Leigh's imposter syndrome, feeling like she has to tamp down her interests since they don't fit in with her idea of who she's supposed to be in an academic space. The way she and Will see each other through all the layers and years made for a couple I really wanted to work out.

I was thankful to receive both an arc and audio copy from NetGalley.

I had a concentration in creative writing for my undergrad, and I know the workshop space. While I enjoyed the romance, I could not reconcile with the fact that Leigh could not take constructive criticism. The whole point of workshop is to receive feedback. I can sympathize with sensitivity to rejection, but if you are so affected by it, why would you sign up for many classes where you’d feel just that? I’m glad she was in therapy, because boy was it needed.

I also hated the fact that she judged literally everyone. Which, again, she was working on in therapy, but dang she really projected her own insecurities onto everyone. She did have these realizations and changed her behavior; but she had overhwelming stereotypes about writers.

Will was sweet and somewhat dynamic and honestly deserved someone who put more effort into him, who was kinder to him.

Overall, the book was okay. I wish the main character wasn’t fairly insufferable. The vibes were alright, though.

2.5 stars rounded up

You Between the Lines blends enemies to lovers romance with a sharp exploration of ambition, self-doubt, and mental health. Set in an intense MFA poetry program, it captures the creative struggles, competitiveness, and deep connections that come with it. Leigh and Will’s dynamic is filled with tension, banter, and unresolved history that makes their slow-burn romance feel authentic. The book also handles anxiety, depression, and self-esteem with care, adding depth to their individual journeys. While miscommunication plays a role, it fits the characters’ flaws and growth. The poetry woven throughout is a standout, elevating the story beyond a typical romance. With strong writing, immersive atmosphere, and characters that feel real, this is a must-read for fans of literary fiction with a romantic edge. Perfect for those who love stories about writers, ambition, and complicated relationships.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really liked the premise of this book - reuniting with your high school crush in your MFA program. I had a very hard time connecting with Leigh's character. I found her character to be caught in that vicious "victim" mindset, and while there is some redemption for her through her therapy work by the end, it didn't come soon enough for me. I honestly couldn't understand why her and Will's characters would be together. It was a nice one-time read for me, but I wouldn't read it again.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the gifted eARC!