Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an audiobook in exchange for an honest review!

Before I dive into what didn’t quite work for me with this book, let me say what did: Audionarrator Shaan Dasani makes a great Darby - neurotic, self-conscious, anxious and very, very human.

Now onto what didn’t. I really wanted to like this more than I did. But it doesn’t quite live up to the promise of its intriguing premise. The magical realism element of the book is grossly underused. In the end, it didn’t achieve a whole lot. I was hoping to enjoy a good cathartic cry reading this book. I was hoping to catch some warm and fuzzies - but the story left me uncomfortably cold. Again, I’m not really sure what I was meant to get out of it. It seemed like an incredibly personal story to Underhilll, but he leaves the reader on the outside looking in.

BOOKSTORE is quite light on plot. Indeed, 98% of the story is us in Darby’s head as he tries to figure out a path forward for himself. Now, I might have been down for a tale like that, but I have to be engaged in the character’s journey. Instead, I found it rather frustrating that most of Darby’s self-actualizing is just… running away. From Michael. (Who also does his fair share of inexplicable bolting.) From his younger self. From New York. From his friends. After a while the book just starts to appear avoidant. And that has the unfortunately effect of repelling a reader. All of Darby’s growth happens in the last fraction of the book - and it doesn’t feel earned. Nothing about his self-discovery in the end comes off triumphant like it should.

I also wonder about the intended audience for this book. It’s billed as an adult narrative, but it feels quite YA. Darby may be 29, but he behaves like a young person. It wasn’t just his constant running away, but also his blatant refusal to have any sort of non-surface-level conversation. Every problem in this book could have been solved by folks just having a simple talk, but they couldn’t. And while I might expect and welcome that from a YA novel, a repeated lack of basic communication quickly grows forced and stale in an adult one.

I love anything queer and add a life affirming time travel storyline??? SAY LESS! I loved Darby and the internal struggle he has throughout the book. When he moves home to help his mom he hot us the bookstore he used to work at and unknowingly goes back in time and meets his highschool self before coming out as trans or as queer. This was a wild concept and I thought the author did an exceptional job showcasing the character in 2 timelines

The pacing was a little wonky and the miscommunication of Darby as an adult was frustrating but otherwise tis hit me in all the feels and really puts things into perspective about the way we judge who we were, who we are and who we become.

*Special thanks to NetGalley, Avon, and HarperAudio for this ALC in exchange for an honest review.

I truly enjoyed this read. I was delightfully surprised to find out our MC is a 29 year old, almost 30 year old trans man working through a crisis and ends up finding a way to heal his inner teen.
As a 29 year old also queer person it was really cool to feel so seen and find our MC’s inner thoughts so relatable.
I loved that we got a small love story plot line that was not the main focus and that it wasn’t a necessarily “happy ending” in the way a fairytale might be. It was the ending that needed to happen for the story, and open ended enough that I am hopeful for a sequel where we find an even older Darby and a love story where he ends up with a partner and madly in love and life is good.

I found myself easily engrossed in the story and not wanting to put it down. Finding myself listening to it into the wee hours of the morning instead of sleeping. It made me VERY excited to read more from this author.

I received an audio version of The In-between Bookstore by Edward Underhill. The narrator was perfect for this story.

Heartbreaking and healing. So many emotions all in one book. I can see what the author was trying to do with this story.

Unfortunately, the ending and even character development were a let down. Also, my interest in this book was because of the time travel aspect, but it wasn't really a part of the story even though it was.

Overall 3 stars because I felt let down.

Time travel in a book about a bookstore ... um, yes, please!!

This is my first Edward Uphill read and I have to say I love his writing. The characters in this book were believable and well built. I enjoyed the idea of the story , but the execution and connections between the characters and the story fell a bit flat for me. I wanted more emotion and desire/drive. So, instead of being in the story, I felt like I was floating above it.

That said, though, I did give it 4🌟s - the narrator was wonderful (I read the audiobook), and while I got lost in the story, the ending gave me joy. I would definitely read from this author again.

Wonderful as always, Edward Underhill! I think some plot points & the relationship were ultimately rushed - there was not enough communication for the amount of 'relationship development' happening - however the heart of the novel is what drags the reader in.

I love the concept of time travel or parallel universes. Every decision we make can lead us down a different path. Darby is about to turn 30 and his life falls apart - he loses his job, can't afford rent in his tiny studio NYC apartment, and his mom is moving and selling his childhood home. Darby is overwhelmed and decides to take a break from the busy New York scene and returns to his small Illinois hometown to help his mom move and figure out where in the world he fits in. When he steps into In-between Books, the book store he worked at as a teen, he travels back in time and can talk to his teen self. Does he need to help his teen self figure out he's trans? Help young Darby not get into a fight with his childhood best friend, Michael? Does anything he do in the past change his future? In present day, Darby is rekindling the friendship that fell apart with Michael. Important lessons were learned, but the lack of communication was infuriating. I wish people would talk to each other, but then I guess there would be no story. This is an adult book, not quite YA, maybe more of a new adult book. I listened to the audiobook and I did think it was great that it's read by Shaan Dasani who is trans and brought an authentic voice to the book.

The In-Between Bookstore by Edward Underhill reminded me of that point in Rupaul’s Drag Race where Rupaul asks the contestants what they would say to their younger self. This book is about self discovery and finding your people. Does changing something in the past result in a better or different present or future? I loved Edward Underhill’s previous books, Always The Almost and This Day Changes Everything. I enjoyed the “weird quantum shit” in this book but I’m not sure why I didn’t love this book. It might come down to misunderstanding. Audiobook is narrated by Shaan Dasani. I received an advance listening copy from HarperAudio Adult for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Really well done book exploring how we can grow up from how we were. I liked the illustration of time travel here and how time can heal after all. Some parts felt more YA and overall I enjoyed this one a lot!

Unemployed and needing a fresh start, Darby heads back to his hometown of Oak Falls, Illinois. While many things are different there, what remains familiar is the bookstore that he used to frequent and work at, In Between Books. But when Darby walks through the door, he finds himself back in 2009 and his younger self behind the counter. Convinced that he needs to use this opportunity to fix his relationship with his old friend Michael, Darby begins to bounce back and forth in time.

This is a new category that I really have been enjoying lately. I love how Underhill easily jumps between real like and the idea of time travel without seeming odd or impossible. I did find it interesting of there being the multiple timelines that leave Darby's life as is despite visiting his past. This is a good representation of learning from a person's past and being allowed to take an introspective look.

The book was, however, a bit slow to get into it the start. And while it's not a bad read, there isn't anything super standout for me. I think the book will hit well with an audience slightly different than me, though.

Thank you to HarperAudio, NetGalley, and Edward Underhill for the audiobook ARC in exchange for my honest review of this book.

This an interesting book. It was a lot of melancholy and honestly not a lot happened. I liked the writing and the main characters quite a bit, but I wanted something more. Our main character is Darby, a young transgender man in New York City that isn’t sure where he’s going with his life. He’s lost his job and can’t afford his apartment anymore so when his mother mentions she is working to sell her house and move to a condo he decide to go back to his small town. When Darby visits the bookstore he worked at in high school he sees a kid who weirdly reminds him of who he was in high school. When he visits again he is shocked to find that bookstore seems to be in 2009 and it is his younger self in the bookstore. He also bumps into Michael who was his best friend until the end of high school where their friendship crashed and burned for reasons Darby never understood. The book was well written although definitely bittersweet in the end. It was a good book, but I wanted something more to happen. I listened to the audiobook and thought the narrator did a great job.

I quite like Edward Underhill's writing but this book didn't work very well for me. It was just fine and I think it would actually be better enjoyed by a younger audience (even though it's not YA), which is why I'm rounding my review up to three stars. Despite the time travel component, this is a book where not only does nothing happen, there is barely any character or relationship development and that's probably where it fell down for me the most. (Also note: this is NOT a romance.) What worked well for me: The sense of place is great and what we do get of the characters is endearing. I'll keep trying with the author, even though this was not the one for me.

I received an audio Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley and HarperAudio in exchange for an honest review.

I don't really know how i feel about this one. It was interesting for sure, but i feel like i was left wanting at the end. Sometimes I don't mind that, but it bothered me with this one. It's a 3.5.

Characters: 7
Atmosphere: 9
Writing: 8
Plot: 8
Intrigue: 9
Logic: 7
Enjoyment 7

I really loved this book! It was my first read of 2025! Edward Underhill really outdid himself by wrapping up relatable, yet deep issues in a cozy sci-fi! The trans representation also feels very genuine! As did the relationships, romantic and platonic!
And for those who are looking at the audiobook, Shaan Disani did an absolutely AMAZING job at narrating Darby's story! His voice just matched Darby perfectly and he did a really good job of dramatizing the audio!
The only thing I felt amiss was a certain romantic aspect. I felt some of it was a bit rushed, BUT the author does a very good job of handling the outcome of the relationship in a positive, realistic way. I really appreciated this :>
4/5 stars, I highly recommend this as a spooky, cozy sci-fi!

I really enjoyed this book. The concept is really cool and I think it was executed really well. I was a little sad that Darby and Michael didn’t end up together BUT they did have their moment and it was everything I could’ve asked for. I definitely think this will do well as a June book of the month feature.

Harper Audio ALC
I have read all of Underhill's books now, and they just keep getting better. I love how he captured small town Illinois and how this setting really forced Darby to reflect on what he wanted - to go back to NYC or to stay in his hometown. The magical elements of the story were fresh and unique. They way that it was written had me thinking the story would go in a different direction than it did, and I love it when an author surprises me. I just loved Darby and how honest he is with himself about being unsure. It was just a beautiful story of turning 30 and still figuring things out.
The narration was done by Shaan Dasani, and the performance was phenomenal. I think he captured Darby and all of his feelings so well in his performance. It was easy to tell the tone of each situation because of his excellent narration.

4 ⭐ (audio) I listen to a lot of audiobooks, and I'm generally happy as long as the narrator doesn't pull me out of the story. This narrator is new to me, and I enjoyed their telling of the story.

3.5 ⭐ (story) When Darby finds himself unemployed and in need of a fresh start, he moves back to the small Illinois town he left behind. But Oak Falls has changed almost as much as he has since he left.

One thing is familiar: In Between Books, Darby’s refuge growing up and eventual high school job. When he walks into the bookstore now, Darby feels an eerie sense of déjà vu—everything is exactly the same. Even the newspapers are dated 2009. And behind the register is a teen who looks a lot like Darby did at sixteen. . . who just might give Darby the opportunity to change his own present for the better—if he can figure out how before his connection to the past vanishes forever.

Fascinating premise, execution was not too bad. I think this book will be a hit with queer people or anyone else who feels other'd, whatever their reasons. I really enjoyed this, but I don't see it being as well received by general readers. It deals too much with emotion, and I don't feel like there's enough external plot going on to balance it. That said, I enjoyed the book a lot, and I'm grateful for the chance to have read it. 3.5⭐

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced audio copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!

Unfortunately, this book was mostly forgettable. It had an interesting plot, with a promising trans character, but the magical realism left a LOT to be desired, and I felt no chemistry between the two main characters. Plus all they needed to do was talk about their feelings and there would have been no book at all lol. Good audiobook narration though, and a quick read. 3.75 rounded up!

🌈Queer rep: Main trans guy, gay male love interest, MM main couple. Secondary, FF couple, MM couple, and F/NB couple.

*3.5-3.75 stars.
First, a huge thank you is owed to Harper Audio and to Netgalley for the opportunity to review the audiobook of this novel before the release date. Second, I want to start this review off by acknowledging the fact that I am a cis straight woman, so I am approaching the narrative as an ally, but recognize that I am not the target audience for this novel nor am I experientially familiar with the deep nuances presented by a trans author writing a trans character.
At first, I was so excited about the premise, but as the novel got underway I started to wonder if the author was possibly stuck a bit in his previous YA wheelhouse, because the speaker came across a bit juvenile. Once I understood Darby’s character more, this voice began to make a lot more sense, and I was blown away by the development of his voice throughout the novel.
I have seen quite a lot of reviews saying that they did not love the ending, but honestly the ending was perfect to me. The final paragraphs were just so beautiful and for me really encompassed the modern feeling of purposelessness in your mid to late twenties when you are having to really reckon with the adult life you pictured not living up to your hopes in undergrad. These two lines were particularly impactful and beautiful for me:
“Maybe there are alternate realities and a million versions of ourselves live out there”
“Every time we make a decision, reality splits, like a tree branching”
I am really excited to read more from the author and see the way that his voice develops and matures as he branches out even more!
Lastly, I am open to feedback from the target community in how I can best review and communicate about LGBTQIA+ genres and I am committed to continuing my own education on how to be a good ally.

This was my first book by this author, and i wasn't disappointed. The book was fast paced. Has a diverse cast, and is well written
Only given 4 stars because the second half of the book left me wanting a little bit more as far as character growth went.
Although not a romance, I found myself wanting the ending to then out differently.