I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
Edward Underhill is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors for queer YA romcoms. While I wasn’t a huge fan of his pivot to adult fantasy earlier this year, In Case You Read This sounded very promising. And upon reading it, I think it just might be my favorite book of his yet.
I love the serendipity at the heart of this, with Arden and Gabe being from California and the Midwest, respectively, and moving vaguely to each other’s region of the US, meeting midway in Nebraska. And while their mutual neglect to impart identifying information to the other during this encounter was a tad frustrating, I kind of liked it too, because it was realistic; they didn’t consider the potential impact of the connection and wanting to stay in contact until after they no longer were in each other’s proximity.
I loved the journey they took to find one another, as they tried to use the band connection to find any possible link, but neither was searching on the same sites as the other person. Additionally, it really shows you that, as valuable as fandom connections are, the community being spread out across many different platforms (and some of these becoming inactive for whatever reason), causes a lot of fracturing and you end up losing people. That really hit hard, not only in the context of these two and their constant search for each other in the wrong places, but in general with the increasing corruption of social media sites at the hands of corporate overlords.
And with Arden and Gabe spending so much time apart, I appreciate how Underhill was still able to make the romantic arc feel central in their motivations, through the search and their desire to reunite in some form. The narrative also beautifully incorporates other plotlines, with each of them having issues with their respective families that play out over the course of the book (fortunately neither concerns rejection for being trans, so no worries on that front), as well as forming new friendships, while maintaining old ones. I loved how the friend groups eventually merged as a result of their growing involvement in Gabe and Arden’s quests to find each other, with chance (and proximity) once again playing a role in making it happen.
This was an absolutely delightful book, and I’d recommend it to readers in search of a whimsical, queer and trans-affirming romcom.

3.5 ⭐️

In Case You Read This is a sweet teen trans story of accepting yourself, finding new friend groups, and finding the boy you left after one night in Nebraska. It's dual POV and both boys are pre-T but are out to their friends and family who are accepting of them. They meet for one night in Nebraska for a few magical hours bonding over a shared identity and a shared favorite band. However, they don't exchange numbers and spend much of the book searching for each other on opposite social media platforms. Because of this, the pacing of the book is off. It takes place from March to July broken up with chapters consisting of texts and internet posts.

They live opposite lives as Gabe moves from a small town in Illinois to Pasadena while Arden moves from LA (Burbank) to a small town in Michigan. It explores the difference between starting a new school in a small town versus a large one. The book takes on a positive note as it shows the joy that comes with being trans as they both find queer friend groups. It also doesn't shy away from discussing dysphoria and hoping they look like a boy enough. There really isn't any transphobia which I loved since a lot of books focus on the struggles rather than the joy.

Moving to Winifred, Michigan from Los Angeles wasn’t Arden’s plan. Being trans, he fit in in Los Angeles, and he’s not sure how he’s going to be accepted in small town Michigan. But since his mom lost her job, they don’t have a choice but to move in with his grandma. Meanwhile, Gabe is excited to get out of his small town in Illinois and make a name for himself in Pasadena, California. That is, if he can find the confidence to make new friends.

When the two have a chance meeting in Kansas City, Missouri, they instantly connect over their favorite band. But in order to keep the night perfect, they don’t exchange contact info. But that may have been a mistake. Will they be able to find each other again?

Thanks to Quill Tree Books and NetGalley for an advanced copy of In Case You Read This by Edward Underhill to review! Underhill has been on my radar ever since Always the Almost, which was a delight to read. This is a missed connection kind of story, and while the two main characters aren’t together for most of the book, they still have a cute relationship. It was fun getting to see the connections made between them, despite the distance. A lot of serendipity for them to eventually meet again, which was fun!

I will say, I do wish the two boys had more distinct voices because they sort of blended together by the end of the book. Sometimes I would forget which point of view I was in, especially when the friends sort of started mixing. There was a fun group of secondary characters, though, that really helped to set the scene. I appreciated that both Gabe and Arden have sort of similar experiences, despite moving to different sized towns. They both move through finding community, and it just shows that you can find community anywhere.

Overall, this is a feel good story that will definitely make for fun reading this summer!

Gabe and Arden's meet cute is the meet cute to end all meet cutes. And to top it all off, the greatest journey to find each other across time and the internet. This was a lovely, wholesome story about imperfections, taking chances, and embracing the mess of life. The queer joy, love, and celebration in this book had me tearing up. The love shared between this group of queers (and Liam) is something all LGBTQ youth need.

This was a wonderfully done romantic comedy and worked well with the genre, I was engaged from start to finish and was invested in what was happening with the characters and their world. I was enjoying the way Arden was written and thought this was realistic and had that element that I wanted. Edward Underhill has a strong writing style and was glad I got to read this.

"From acclaimed author Edward Underhill comes a trans rom-com about serendipity, chance encounter, and the ultimate missed connection. This joyful celebration of queer love and found family is perfect for fans of Becky Albertalli, Emery Lee, and Julian Winters.

Arden isn't excited about moving. Los Angeles was an easy place to fit in and find a supportive queer community. But Winifred, Michigan? That sounds like a much more difficult place to exist.

Pasadena, California, is the perfect city for Gabe's reinvention. Everyone knew everything about him in small-town Shelby, Illinois. Gabe, who wants to be out and proud, can't wait to relocate.

When Arden and Gabe randomly meet in the lobby of a motel in Nebraska, it feels like fate. Both are trans, but more importantly, both are huge fans of the band Damaged Pixie Dream Boi. Clearly, the universe is trying to tell them something. Right?

But after an incredible evening of hanging out, the pair part ways only knowing the other's first name. And as both boys struggle to adjust to their new homes, their thoughts keep being drawn back to their time together. Is one perfect night enough to bring Arden and Gabe back to each other, or will the boys need some help to find each other again?"

Oh, they have to get back to each other! Love must win!

In Case You Read This follows Gabe and Arden, two trans boys who meet at a hotel in Nebraska while road-tripping in opposite directions when their families move across the country. They form a bond over their identities and their shared favorite band, Damaged Pixie Dream Boi (awesome band name, by the way), but don't share contact information. However, both feel understood by the other, and they wish they hadn't left how they did. Beautiful, human chaos ensues as they try to track each other down -- all amidst carving out spaces for themselves in their new homes, and grappling with how it feels to be trans in a place that, for each boy, is radically different than his home.

This was lovely - reminiscent of Alice Oseman's I Was Born For This or Radio Silence in its portrayals of fan community and various family structrues, as well as its queer ensemble cast. DPDB being a throughline was also really nice, and I loved getting a sense for their sound, vibes, and fandom through the interstitials and the characters' descriptions. As well, I appreciated that this book dove into deeper topics--such as family drama and expectations, small town life as a queer person / the perception of trans people in rural areas, and the different ways labels and identities can function for each individual. I did feel that the side characters could be a bit one-dimensional and at times blended together a bit, but that's honestly a given with such a large cast. I wish Gabe and Arden's voices and narration had been just the slightest bit more distinguishable, because given that they both know LA and their friend groups end up meshing, I sometimes got confused.

All said, this was a lovely light-hearted summer read with a lovable set of characters and a compelling premise. Well executed, and I will be recommending. 4 stars.

4.75 stars

I loved this so much. This really encapsulates how different many trans experiences can be. Both Gabe and Arden are trans teens moving to the West Coast and the Midwest, but they meet in the middle by chance on their journey. The romance was a focus, but more secondary to me than the friendships that were made and experiences had. That said, the romance was super sweet, and I really enjoyed reading it all play out. The teenage experience felt really raw and real. It's something super relatable for many reasons. What being a teen feels like, what it's like being queer, what it's like being trans, and the emotions that go along with making a big move alongside everything else. All in all, I really enjoyed this, and Edward Underhill is very quickly becoming a must-read author for me.

I’m always in the mood for Edward Underhill’s books. This author is so good and he is one of my comfort author. The writing is always impeccable and this book is no exception.
I cannot wait to read this especially because both the main characters are trans, two trans boys who fell in love with each others. They came from two different backgrounds and it’s really interesting to see how they interact with the world and the changes.
However, it’s a cute story that left me with so much warm inside me.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

Thank you Quill Tree Books for a digital copy to review.

A trans rom-com about serendipity, chance encounter, and the ultimate missed connection. This joyful celebration of queer love and found family is perfect for fans of Becky Albertalli, Emery Lee, and Julian Winters.

^from the publisher!

Very cute - this is exactly what I expect from a YA book by Edward Underhill - queer joy! Also, a moment for this gorgeous cover, please!?

I really enjoyed the friendships and found family here. He does such a great job showcasing different relationships. Also really enjoyed the dual POV and I LOVED how everything came together at the end. The talk of perfection versus reality was really insightful and something I need to remember too.

We don’t have enough T4T romance in the world and this was a delight. I also really loved how Gabe and Arden learned how to make friends in their new towns.

So yeah go ahead and give this one a read!

This book was such a lovely, heartfelt read—one of those stories that feels both real and hopeful in all the best ways. In Case You Read This pulled me in right away with its chance-meeting premise and the immediate connection between Arden and Gabe. It’s a story about identity, change, and the kind of unexpected connection that sticks with you long after it happens. Both characters are so well-drawn—Arden, who’s nervous about leaving behind a supportive queer community, and Gabe, who’s eager for a fresh start where he can be fully himself. Their random motel encounter is short but electric, and I found myself rooting for them to find their way back to each other from the very beginning. Even though it touches on serious themes—like feeling out of place or navigating life as a trans teen—it’s written with a light, engaging tone that makes it easy to read without losing any emotional depth. It’s sweet, funny, and totally relatable, especially for anyone who's ever felt the push and pull of starting over. If you’re into queer coming-of-age stories with music, fate, and a hint of rom-com magic, In Case You Read This is an absolute gem.

I've read several books by this author, and this new one doesn't dissapoint. Two trans teens, Arden and Gabe, meet randomly at a Nebraska hotel as they are both on road trips to move across country... in opposite directions.
They first bond over a indie band, then spend the evening getting to know each other. They don't exchange contact info, however, and both regret it. The rest of the book, as they adjust to their new lives (Arden in a small town where he needs to deal with coming out again, and Gabe in a big city where he finally hopes to find more queer people), they try to find each other through the band's fan sites.
When they do finally reconnect, they have to decide if they can keep that perfect "one night" feeling going in real life. I appreciated the juxtaposition of small town to big city, and seeing how trans boys growing up in each experienced the world very differently. The ending left you wanting more, but was purposeful and poetic in how it aligned with the song they bonded over.

I received this ARC from @netgalley and publisher @harperkids . The opinions are my own.

I absolutely loved this story! This was the first book I've read with transgender main characters and I think it is such an important book during these current times and can see it providing either a mirror or a lens to the reader. This story follows Arden and Gabe who are both moving to new towns, in opposite directions and end up one night at the same hotel in Nebraska. Gabe and his family are moving from a small town in Illinois to Los Angeles while Arden and his mom are moving from Los Angeles to a small town in Michigan. During this one night in Nebraska they spend time together and form a connection but decide to keep it as Nebraska Dimension and by morning are going their separate ways. Throughout the book we see them trying to find each other again along with forming new friendships in their new towns. I loved these friends groups both the ones Gabe goes to school/works with along with the PQC that Arden gets invited into. For me this story was a lens as someone who is cisgender however I found pieces of a mirror in terms of Arden and his grandma and how they watch Jeopardy together and how birthday dinners are a thing in his family. How Gabe is so passionate about what he loves (music) and how he thinks about long shot ideas to try and find Arden again even if it might not work. I also, though I don't know if it was a intended by the author, found there to be some commentary on how Liam is essentially the only straight friend of the friend groups we meet and how he points it out a few times. Overall, I loved all the vibes this book brought and all feels it delivered.

If the 'missed connections' page on Craigslist was wholesome and queer, it would be just like this book. Fate plays a little game with Arden and Gabe one night as they both have a chance meeting in Nebraska while journeying to the opposite ends of the country. Two trans boys with the same taste in music spend one night together at a hotel, agreeing to let this one day be their only. However in the morning, panic sets in when they realize they've made the biggest mistake of their lives by not exchanging numbers.

But will that missed opportunity plague them for the rest of their lives? As Gabe and Arden go their respective ways and make new friends in the towns their families have moved them to, they begin to do everything in their power to find each other once again. But if they meet, will things be as magical as they were that one Nebraska night?

Edward Underhill's newest YA novel has themes of love and friendship, of finding oneself and a community to belong in, all wrapped up with a little miscommunication trope to top it off. Though this was not my favorite of the novels he's written, I did still enjoy getting to follow along with the lives of Gabe, Arden, and their friend groups as they worked on finding their way back to one another.

As someone from the Nebraska Dimension (as in from the state of Nebraska), I absolutely love this story. Any book that mentions or takes place in Nebraska, sign me up, especially if it's about queer people in Nebraska.

Okay, enough about Nebraska. I don't read a lot of books with Second Chance Romance and Missed Connections tropes, but I can't pass up anything written by Edward Underhill. It wasn't a coincidence that Gabe and Arden crossed paths in Nebraska, love the same band (Damaged Pixie Dream Boi), and happen to be trans. Their connection couldn't have been more perfect.

If only they could find each other again.

This book came into my life at a perfect time. A time when I need to remind myself that everything happens for a reason and that connections are meant to be made. People will always come back to you if they are meant to be in it. Also, it's okay to not be perfect! Hard emphasis on not being perfect.

Thank you, HarperCollins, for giving me an ARC for In Case You Read This!

Edward Underhill's upcoming novel, *In Case You Read This*, slated for release on May 20, 2025, is a heartfelt trans rom-com that delves into themes of serendipity, missed connections, and the quest for belonging. The story introduces readers to Arden and Gabe, two trans teens embarking on significant relocations—Arden from Los Angeles to Winifred, Michigan, and Gabe from Shelby, Illinois, to Pasadena, California. Their paths cross unexpectedly in a Nebraska motel lobby, where they bond over their shared identity and mutual admiration for the band Damaged Pixie Dream Boi. Despite an unforgettable evening together, they part ways knowing only each other's first names. As they navigate their new environments, both find their thoughts returning to that singular encounter, pondering whether fate will reunite them or if they'll need to take destiny into their own hands.

I really enjoyed the novel's celebration of queer love and found family, and would recommend it to any fans of authors like Becky Albertalli, Emery Lee, and Mason Deaver.

Overall, In Case You Read This is a poignant exploration of identity, connection, and the lengths we go to find our place in the world. Its focus on trans main characters and the challenges they face adds a vital perspective to the contemporary young adult romance genre.

This book was just not meant for me, but I also think that the audience that would enjoy this is very small. I was so excited to read this, but it just totally fell flat for me. First, the trans representation felt so stereotypical to me, but that might just be because I’ve been around so many trans people that I’ve heard all sides of the story. But also, the romance was so sudden. Like, I did not feel a spark of romantic tension. In fact, I gasped when they kissed, because I simply did not see it coming. Like no consent no nothing, one guy closed his eyes and the other just kissed him. I actually gasped. Also, the family dynamics were too perfectly resolved. One confrontation cannot fix decades worth of problems. Also, I didn’t like the formatting of the book. I’m truly just a hater of texts in books, and the interstitial chapters just didn’t click with me. OH and also what was up with calling Liam queer when he obviously didn’t want to be? Maybe it was intended to be funny, but like having your identity disregarded sucks, even if it’s in the reverse manner from how it normally is.

LI loved Edward Underhill’s previous YA stories but wasn’t a huge fan of his adult debut, even though the writing was excellent. Still, I was excited to read In Case You Read This, especially for its T4T representation.

The book has a great premise and, as expected from Edward Underhill, strong writing. However, since this is his fourth book, I found myself wanting more—more depth, more chemistry, and fewer side characters. So while I liked it, I didn’t fully love it.

Actual rating: 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.

I received this book for free in return for my honest opinion.

When I saw this book was T4T I jumped at the chance to read it. Gage and Arden are adorable teens just trying to figure themselves out. Being trans, family strife, trying to make friends, and big moves are enough individually to cause someone stress. Their moment of kismet in Nebraska was enough to both give them hope in the moment and give them something to keep hoping for.
As with most books I was left wanting deeper moments. More depth from the characters, more depth from the relationships. I would have happily read a longer book to get MORE. In a time where queerness/transness are being attacked and erased I am always grateful for more books to celebrate that.

This book was okay. I really liked the premise but the execution fell short.

I think part of it was the sheer number of characters. The number of friends involved with each boy was overwhelming and hard to keep track of.

I found myself having to backtrack to figure out who the friend belonged to.