2/5 - This was okay! I liked the British voices and am a sucker for books about book people (in this case, a librarian) but the premise was a bit silly and far fetched, and the pacing was really slow. I simply couldn’t get into it. The romance component was very mild and not as explored as I hoped - Kat was quirky but Leo as a character fell flat. Thank you to @netgalley and One More Chapter for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for the ARC (even though I just finished on release day) .

Over all a cute story. I like the fact that it is a little more lighter than most investigative romance books I have read. It's a quick read and I just love the cover art.

I liked the ending and really enjoyed when we found out who was at the center of the mystery.

My main issue with the book was I felt there was a lack of chemistry between the MMC and the FMC. They felt more like friends than love interests. I would have been just as happy for them to stay friends.

This was a pretty entertaining and enjoyable read overall. However, I felt zero chemistry between the characters and the mystery elements fell flat. I felt if the author reworked it a bit, it would be a wonderful book.

Thank you Netgalley for this E-ARC

I found this to be a very entertaining and funny read, the story and plot flowed and I found it to be overall very enjoyable, however what I will say is I struggled to find the chemistry between the two characters I didn’t really find them to be connected romantically. I will say that the writing was good and the characters overall were funny and I really liked them. A really entertaining story, just lacking in the romance department

This is a tricky one for me to rate, the catfish storyline was super interesting and kept me engaged. I think at the first ‘event’ I guessed who was the catfish. It was still a good read and I wanted to keep reading to find out. The MMC, I just didn’t vibe with him, I don’t really like these ‘mean, grunt communication’ type characters

Thank you so much to NetGalley, One More Chapter and Emily Kerr for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Yes, yes, YES!! I absolutely adored this sweet tale of romance and mystery. It was such an easy read and a definite palette cleanser. I love a romance that doesn’t feel too heavy, and this was unique with a touch of class. Kerr has a unique ability to make you laugh whilst getting you totally stuck into the story with her lovable characters and captivating plot. The connection and slow burn between Leo and Kat is wonderful - Kat is such a great, feminist, literature loving icon and Leo has those grumpy male traits with that we love to hate, with a brilliant character breakthrough. I need a sequel for their detective agency please! Highly recommend, a great time all round!

Read Between the Lines is a romcom with a slice of mystery. Set in Oxford around a library with likable characters sets a cozy vibe!
Kat Fischer is a librarian who believes in finding her one true love. At the moment she thinks she has found her one true love on a dating app. Unfortunately her match, Brian James is overseas in the military and needs funds to get home. Is there any way Kat could help him out…
Leo Wilcox is an ex detective who is spending his days in the library, trying to learn how to start his own business and simultaneously annoying Kat.
With no one else to turn to Kat asks Leo to help her find Brian and stop him from scamming anyone else.
I love the setting of this book, the characters and the plot. Unfortunately the story is wordy and slow, with not a lot happening in between. I would recommend this book to a reader who likes long winded descriptions and conversations.
Thank you One More Chapter for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Read Between the Lines
By Emily Kerr

Kat Fischer is a beloved librarian and hopeless romantic who believes she’s finally found the one through the SO Ox dating app. After weeks of flirty messages, she’s ready to meet Brian in person, complete with a new dress and high hopes. But just as she's leaving work, he asks her to send him money for travel. Red flag alert. In a painfully relatable twist, Kat realizes she’s been catfished.

Enter Leo Taylor: a brooding ex-cop turned aspiring entrepreneur, working on his business plan at the library. When their paths cross, the two strike a deal, Leo will help Kat track down the scammer, and Kat will help him polish his business pitch. What follows is a charming mix of sleuthing, slow-burn chemistry, and a refreshingly original take on romance.

I adored the banter between Leo and Kat. Their dynamic felt real, warm, and just the right amount of awkward. This isn’t your typical meet-cute, and that’s exactly what makes it so enjoyable.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for the ARC!

This was a really fun read, with some romance and an investigation along the way!

Librarian Kat is looking for love. Unable to find someone the traditional way, she signs up to a dating site, specifically for people in her home town of Oxford.
Leo is a former police officer, trying to decide what to do next, he visits Kat’s library almost daily to work on his future.
What follows is an exciting tale of them coming together on an intriguing adventure!

I really loved the dynamic between Leo and Kat. Their fun banter, their teasing, their cross words.

The characters are well developed and the scenes are set so well, I can envisage the library and all the places they go. Aside from our main characters there are some other great people, Moira, Doris and Gavin are all brilliant written and fit into the story so well.

All in all this book is a great one to pick up, it’s a fun read that will draw you in and keep you entertained, not wanting to put it down.

rating. 3.5★

short synopsis.
kat’s a librarian who thinks someone on her local dating app played her. she teams up with leo, a former cop, to dig into it and stop the guy from doing it to anyone else. as they chase leads and uncover surprises, things start to heat up between them too.

my thoughts.
it was a cute romance with a mystery plot that does not become so heavy throughout the book. very cozy and enjoyable read.

thank you to to netgalley, one more chapter and harpercollins uk for the opportunity to read and review this ahead of publication.

This book is the reason I’ve been getting so much sleep lately - every time I picked it up before bed, I’d be out cold in ten minutes. Ironically, I’m writing this review at 3am because I’ve now slept too well and can’t fall back asleep 😂

The premise had promise: Kat Fisher, a hopeless romantic with a name that sounds like it came from a YA character generator, works in a cosy Oxford library where she crosses paths with Leo, an ex-cop trying to figure out his next steps. There’s a catfishing subplot, a potential slow-burn romance, and one of my favourite settings - a bookish one.

Oxford - lovely. The fictional library - delighted me. But that’s where the joy ended.

The writing style was very literal - every thought and feeling carefully explained, rather than shown, which made everything feel flat. And since we’re stuck in Kat’s head the whole time, her rigid internal monologue didn’t help. The romance never quite sparked, and the mystery element was predictable, even for someone who regularly forgets the twist mid-thriller.

Despite all that, if you’re in the mood for something undemanding with a bookish backdrop, and you enjoy sweet, closed-door romances with a quirky small-town feel, it might land better for you. Bonus points if you're an Oxford-lover or a fan of tidy endings.

2.25/5 ⭐

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 5 Stars – A Cozy, Clever Standalone with Charm and Surprises

This book starts off slow, but in the best way. A gentle, intriguing introduction that pulls you in without rushing. The banter between the main characters is a highlight, full of wit and warmth, making their slow burn romance both believable and satisfying.

Though it begins as a cozy, comforting read; perfect for slipping into between heavier series. It doesn’t shy away from delivering a twist that genuinely caught me off guard.

It does start to drag a little near the end, but by then, you’re too invested in the characters not to see it through. As a standalone, it wraps up beautifully and leaves you smiling. If you enjoy mutual pining, sharp dialogue, and a slow-build romance with a payoff, this one’s worth the read.

"Read Between the Lines" by Emily Kerr is a light-hearted, delightful contemporary rom-com with a dash of mystery and sleuthing. The story follows Kat Fisher, a librarian, her library workers and regulars, which include retired policeman Leo Taylor.

Kat is looking for love and believes she has found it while using the local Oxford online dating app. Leo meanwhile is using the library to pursue a new career. Their interactions take off when Kat receives a devastating text message and Leo overhears the conversation. Let the adventures begin!

What I enjoyed about this book was the simple dynamic and light banter between Kat and Leo. The way their relationship develops is innocent and honest. Emily Kerr's writing style is easy to read and fairly engaging, however, there were times the story lagged for me. I've not read Emily's work before, so unsure if this is her usual style of writing. Overall, I'd give this book 3.5 out of 5 stars because it was a pleasant and enjoyable read.

Would I recommend it? For sure, if you're after a light storyline with a HEA, and maybe looking for a book 'palette cleanser'.



I received a complimentary copy of the book by NetGalley from HarperCollinsUK and One More Chapter. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

When librarian Kat Fisher (yes you read that correctly) finds herself the victim of a scam, she teams up with former police officer (and annoying spreader of belongings) Leo Taylor to track down the scammer and save other potential victims. Leo might not seem like the perfect match from Kat’s romance novels, but might just be the match she needs…

This was a cosy and enjoyable read and I found the characters interesting and, for the most part, relatable. I did find Kat a bit frustrating at times – she came across as very naïve early in the book but then went on to steamroller experienced detective Leo in their investigations.

The mystery element was engaging, although perhaps a little bit predictable once certain events had happened. Nonetheless, I’m really liking the combination of romance and mystery at the moment, and enjoyed seeing the development of Kat and Leo’s partnership as their investigated the Kat’s match and the So Ox app. It did also feel like it wrapped up perhaps a bit too neatly for me.

Overall, I had a good time with this book. It was fun and humorous but with enough of a warning message and mystery to keep me reading. I would have probably liked to have seen a bit more, but if you’re looking for a (sort of) bookish romance/mystery it’s well worth checking out.
With thanks to One More Chapter, HarperCollins UK and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ahead of publication.

Woman wronged turned amateur detective and former police officer grump trying to uncover who wronged her? Yes please.

The perfect mix of mystery and romance, with light-hearted banter and obvious mutual pining, what could be better?

Read Between The Lines features Kat, the librarian, and Leo, a former police officer, a seemingly unlikely pair brought together by an attempted online dating scam. When the online dating app refuses to investigate the fake profile belonging to 'Brian', Kat decides to take matters into her own hands and enlists Leo's expertise. But after trying so hard to find love online, is the right person right in front of her?

Kat was a fantastic main character, who grew in confidence throughout the book, but my favourite was Moira hands down! This book was such a quick, fun read which left me unable to put it down!

— 3 ★

! Thank you NetGalley and ONE MORE CHAPTER for the copy of the book!

⤷ It has been a cute romance with a mystery plot that does not become so heavy throughout the book, in addition to the fact that apart from the romance of the book the mystery itself helps to be aware of how you can be deceived when talking to someone online and the combination of these two things make the book very good and entertaining. The only thing is that in certain parts it was very slow and some chapters were very long but anyway I recommend one hundred percent if you want a romance with mystery and books involved 🙂‍↕️

Plus, I loved the characters, Especially to Kat, she is the representation of a hopeless romantic reader who loves books very much. Especially to Kat, she is the representation of a hopeless romantic reader who loves books very much. And Leo is a real grumpy who in the end falls in love with her very hard and no one can convince me otherwise

This was a fun, light read, but it didn’t fully live up to my expectations. I liked the concept and there were definitely some cute, charming moments throughout. The setting was enjoyable, and there was a nice balance of humor and romance.

That said, I struggled a bit to connect with the characters. Some of their decisions felt frustrating or unrealistic, which pulled me out of the story at times. The pacing also dragged in a few spots, making it hard to stay fully engaged.

Overall, it’s a perfectly fine rom-com if you’re looking for something easy and entertaining, but it didn’t quite stand out for me compared to others in the genre.

I liked the overall story but the pace was a little slower for me personally and I just didn’t gel with the writing style as much as I wanted to. A great cozy book for most just not for me.

Emily is a relatively new author for me but this is an enjoyable and funny read. Well planned book with lovely characters and an intriguing storyline.

3+⭐

It was an enjoyable and cosy read. I was very intrigued by the premise and the mystery+romance mix is something I'm finding more and more I'm attracted towards 🩷
All that being said, I did expect more on the romance side 😔 It lacked a bit of spark and it was underwhelming in the latest chapters.
So, I wasn't totally impressed by this, but I might read more from the author in the future ✨

Ⓟⓡⓔ—Ⓡⓔⓥⓘⓔⓦ

I saw the gorgeous cover, read the blurb about a romance born between the books of a library and I simply had to add this to my TBR 🤓💗

// Thank you to Netgalley, Emily Kerr and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange of my honest opinion //