The premise is a sorority girl meets former high school crush at a prestigious creative writing program and sparks fly. It's sort of friends to lovers but also enemies to lovers in the sense that she thought of him as his nemesis, but he never did, so maybe not?

I really wanted to like it but from the beginning the FMC wasn't my favorite. I was hoping she would grow on me, but she made a lot of assumptions, felt bad about herself or thought people judged her because of her looks/background, pushed everyone away without communicating well, and it felt like her character evolving took a LONG time. The MMC obviously had his own issues with how he was raised, but he was clearly trying to communicate with her in a healthy way. It was a bit frustrating to see the dynamic play out over and over even though I knew there has to be a HEA at the end. It was like no matter what he did with good intentions, she felt like he didn't do good enough or thought he had bad intentions as part of it. Not saying that we don't all do that, I'm sure my husband would say I do this too, so I know it's reality of how we all judge and jump to conclusions or have our own narrow perspectives, but man it just kept happening. There are definitely good lessons to be learned along the way, but I almost DNFed it. I'm glad I finished it, it just wasn't my fav.

The narration also wasn't my favorite, especially the male voice. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't my favorite. As an audiobook gal, I've gotten picky though!

I really wanted to love this (especially as a former English program girlie), but Leigh was insufferable. her childishness and "not like other girls" attitude was annoying to say the least.

That said, I enjoyed the narration and the audiobook was well produced.

A slow burn academic rivals to lovers, full of tension, pop culture references, and beautiful poetry.

Leigh, a former sorority girl and proud Taylor Swift-lover, starts a Masters Poetry program with fellow grad students, when she realizes her old high school crush, turned enemy, who couldn’t stop writing about her… is in her cohort. Leigh is determined to prove herself after getting no substance feedback, and she can’t avoid Will for long. Will we find out what is happening for them between the lines?

This was so creative and witty! I listened to the audio and it added so much extra personality. Katie’s writing was fun, impressive, and beautiful. I love a down bad man and I love a girl who loves to write. Hidden feelings, angst, and falling in love through poetry?! Yes, yes, and yes please!

Leigh and Will’s story was unique, fun, and extremely well done. There was great mental health and therapy representation, and so many relatable personality traits in both of them. I love a down bad man and I love a girl who loves to write. The side characters in the cohort were a great added addition!

Thank you NetGalley, Hachette, and BookHuddle for the ARC! I was really looking forward to reading this one – a romance centered around books – sounds perfect! Leigh and Will, both angsty writers, have been circling each other for years and are forced together again in a MFA program as late 20-somethings. However, it fell a little flat for me and I gave it 3 stars. There was nothing wrong with the book, just nothing that made it memorable for me.

The parts of the book I liked best were the bits of writing we got to hear from the students in the MFA program. Writing poetry seems like something only a masochist would choose as a career, but I’m thankful that people suffer through it! The narrator did a fine job with the book and I followed the character switches without issue.

Without giving too much away, I felt that some of Leigh and Will’s “I love you I hate you” reasoning was pretty thin, and their reactions overdone. And Leigh seemed awfully tied up in her parents’ relationship. I would expect that from someone in middle school, not middle age.

Basically, I enjoyed the book well enough while I was reading it, but it is not one that I will really remember or be recommending to others. Sorry!

4 stars ⭐️ This was such a fun read! The yearning and the poetry were fantastic!

The narrator, Sarah Beth Goer, did a fantastic job giving each character a distinct voice.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a cute enemies to lovers romance. I felt it was a little dragged out but over very sweet overall.

Thank you Hatchette, this was a big win for me. I am now fan of Katie Naymon's (so much so that I messaged her on social media to share my appreciation for the book, I don't often do that!). To appreciate this book you need to know that she is writing about poets and MFA life and grad school life along with someone struggling to figure out her less than awesome parental situation... Being in your late 20s is a messier time than some realize, or remember, and while this book is a romance, and a good one at that, it is also an ode to the experience of realizing I guess I am an adult and I need to figure out what really is coming next and what I want from adulthood. Naymon nails that along with the complicated self consciousness and inferiority issues that come with grad school, it was real along with the intense magic of making friends with people who want to study and talk about the same niche nerdy things you want to talk about.

stand outs
1. Naymon's lyrical writing. I truly loved her style. This was a in some ways a standard romance and story *which is not a bad thing at all* elevated by her writing. That is what won me over.
2. Leigh's conversations with a therapist. There was something about adding in those scenes, having them happen and part of the story, that added the kind of depth and challenge to Leigh's mindsets that really worked for me. What could have been skipped, or done "off screen" was instead a part of the story that I really valued.
3. messiness. I could understand why Leigh was struggling, some might feel she was immature for 27 but honestly... her parents weren't modeling the best of relationships, she was a little stuck professionally and interpersonally which can happen as you shift into adulthood but don't have models of great adulting (I didn't like her parents much... ), and when you are yearning for something that can feel out of reach, such as a career as a poet.

This book honestly changed my life and healed me in ways I didn't know I needed. The FMC, Leigh was so relatable that sometimes I hated the mirror she was holding up to me. This realisticness of how Leigh dealt with her imposture syndrome, feelings of not being enough, and dealing with the scariness of vulnerability and truly being seen. I found myself getting frustrated at her for becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy when I do the exact same thing in my life. This book made me reflect and look into how I have handled things, which was so surprising, as I did not expect this from the book. Will is an amazing love interest. He isn't perfect and that's what makes him perfect.

The audiobook narrator did such a fantastic job really putting us in Leigh's head and really made the book feel so grounded.

The way this book was written was so beautiful I literally had to pause the book several times to process and. catch my breath. Truly, the style was unique and fresh.

3.75 🌟

Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Audio for my audiobook ARC.

The story itself wasn’t my favorite. I appreciated the character depth and Cleveland references, but really struggled with the main character’s mix of insecurity and judgement, the insane lack of communication between the leads, and how insufferably pretentious her MFA cohort is. I can only believe this was done intentionally due to how over the top they are but I was just really wishing for a character I could root for.

The audio production was very impressive; I thought the narrator did a good job with character voices and matching the atmosphere. I did feel like the narrator sounds older than I envisioned the FMC to be, but I’m sure that was an intentional choice.

Not for me, but if you’re a lover of poetry and more lyrical romance, you will likely enjoy this!

"You Between the Lines" is an absolute delight—equal parts witty, romantic, and emotionally raw. Leigh’s journey of self-discovery in the high-stakes world of academia is relatable, hilarious, and full of heart. I love Katie Naymon's banter between Leigh and Will, and their chemistry crackles with tension, making their enemies-to-lovers arc all the more satisfying. Plus, the use of poetry as a narrative device? Chef’s kiss. Overall, this novel is a charming and witty exploration of second chances, self-discovery, and unexpected romance. The characters are well-developed, the plot is engaging, and the writing is sharp and insightful. It's a perfect read for anyone who enjoys a well-crafted romantic comedy with a touch of literary flair.

This was cute , simple and not that much going on, but cute. it does need some work and maybe some chapters need to be looked at. The characters do need a little more development and some work to make them a little more likable.

The story is pure, heartfelt, unique, creative and so enjoyable. There is a fantastic balance of sarcasm and sensitivity. I loved the narrator. I was quickly engrossed in the story.

You Between the Lines by Katie Naymon
Contemporary romance. New adult. Enemies to lovers troupe. High angst.
Leigh Simon is shocked when she’s accepted in a prestigious poetry program in North Carolina. She wanted it badly but didn’t believe she had a chance. Now that she’s in the program, she’ll do whatever she needs to in learning, growing and maybe even winning a fellowship. Leigh is floored when she finds that William Langford is in the same program. She won’t have a chance against him in poetry or a relationship relaunch. Can she step up her game and hold her own with her poetry and her love life?

🎧 I alternated between an ebook and an audiobook. The narration was performed by Sarah Beth Goer who was able to create specific voices for Leigh and William, as well as emotional spikes. The audiobook narrator is able to keep the reader’s attention using the dialog as conversation, banter and arguments between the characters. I did increase the speed to 1.5 which more closely matches my reading and conversation speed.
I’d recommend the audio in this instance for the lively new adult situations.

Ultimately a good romance in the end but to be honest if a couple breaks up more than once in a book, I tend to distance myself from them so I don’t get hurt. This couple, over the years had a yo-yo relationship that was too much on and off for me to keep being invested. Too much angst for me.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley and Hachette Audio.

6⭐️ brilliant. I loved everything about this.

Two poetry students with a past dating back to high school poetry workshops end up in the same MFA program post-college. When former sorority girl Leigh realizes she and her former crush-turned-‘nemesis’ would be vying the same prestigious fellowship, she knew she was screwed. Leigh has always associated William with the ‘high brow’ literary bros ever since he criticized her work in high school. Little does she know, that isn’t the full story. As Leigh works through this program with her poignant but pop-culture centered poetry, circumstances bring them closer and closer.

I am GUSHING at the artistry that went into this novel. I cannot believe this is Katie’s debut. It is stunning. The use of epizeuxis (repetition of a word in rapid succession) emphasize the emotion in certain scenes throughout this book made my nerdy little heart flutter every time. Being a child of parental issues myself, I deeply connected with both of the main characters and felt all of their raw emotions. There are so many beautiful poems and lines from the main characters that I ATE up. I could go on for days and days about how much I loved this novel and the characters for days, but I will leave you here.

The narrator, Sarah Beth Goer, did a phenomenal job! I typically prefer dual/duet narration and a dual pov book, but this exceeded my expectations for a single pov/solo narration book! The different voices the narrator used were distinct and unique.

Thank you so much to Hachette Audio & Forever for this ALC!

‼️UNPOPULAR OPINION ALERT‼️

2.5 stars

Just a warning since I know so many people loved this book and raved about it. I wanted to love it so badly.

This book was not merely “meh” for me, I actively disliked it by the end. At first, I just struggled with all of the poetry. There’s a LOT, and while I knew the book dealt with writing going in, I guess I did not realize how poetry-heavy it was going to be. At times it felt like the romance took a back seat to our FMC’s classes and personal struggles. Which, you know, is totally fine if that’s made clear up front. I’m just not a huge poetry fan, so right away I found myself tuning out of the story.

I don’t usually dnf books, and this alone wasn’t enough to make me quit reading the book, because really, the writing in this book is beautiful. I would definitely give Katie Naymon another chance in the future.

I also struggled feeling a connection between the FMC and MMC. There’s a reconnecting of sorts between them (not quite second chance though), and the FMC, Leigh, just seemed to actively dislike the MMC, Will, most of the book.

And then my biggest issue is Leigh herself. I appreciate a female character being written as “finding herself” and openly tackling her mental health struggles. But Leigh really can’t handle any amount of criticism (in an MFA program…) from her peers, has negative thoughts towards others constantly when they’re innocent, and in her and Will’s big third act breakup fight, literally says the meanest things I think I’ve seen written in a fight before.

Is it all bad? No! Like I said, the writing is great, I do love the mental health rep, and the found family aspect with their peers in their program is endearing. I just think it wasn’t for ME.

But I am clearly in the minority, so you should read this if it’s caught your eye!

🎧The narrator is definitely talented, and maybe it’s just my lack of love for poetry, but this felt “overacted” to me. Almost trying too hard to evoke emotion, if that makes sense.

Thank you to @hachetteaudio for my #gifted audiobook.

Leigh is a poet entering an MFA program in North Carolina. She is plagued by self-doubt, people-pleasing, and assuming that her interests in pop culture and being a "sorority" girl make her different from the typical poet. She judges her classmates for being too judgmental, ruminates entirely too much on her parents' relationship, refuses to be vulnerable within her poems, and decides that a smart man could never actually love her. Also, in the program is Will(iam), her high school crush. The two cannot seem to stay away from one another but she fears that they cannot be together either.

This book confused me. It is labelled as "New Adult" on Net Galley and read very "New Adult" but the characters are in their late 20s. Everyone parties like they are still in their early 20s even though by their late 20s those hangovers should be hangovering, whether or not one drinks water. I can also only read or listen to someone hate themselves for so long before I start to lose my mind. In many ways, this felt more YA with older characters and some open door scenes.

While there were quite a few things that I disliked, I still rooted for the characters to get their HEA because their insecurities fit together. In many ways, I wonder if this would have worked better as a dual-POV, breaking up Leigh with some of Will's thoughts to give the reader a break. Also, the language was gorgeous and lyrical. I wanted Leigh to use her inner monologue as a poem, because it was better than what she was turning in.

I am really torn on rating this book, I think 2.5 stars. There are some that may love this but I struggle to believe that anyone has no part of themselves that they are confident about.

Thank you to Net Galley, Forever, and Hachette Audio for the ALC. All opinions are my own.

Fantastic! I really enjoyed this book! I was so excited to see this book come up because it kept getting advertised to me and when I began reading I understood why.

For anyone who has struggled with feeling inferior or less than because you are not the scholar that everyone around you seems to be then you will enjoy this book. I think there are so many women who have doubted themselves because of "basic" girly interests that they have. Genuinely this book was so relatable and the love interest was so dreamy.

Overall, I loved this book and cannot wait to read more from this author. I felt like she really understood the struggle of feeling good enough and the way that it translated to their relationship made sense and was so realistic. I recommend this book to anyone who wants a book that feels like they have struggled to meet their potential but also struggled to get pushed outside of their comfort zones. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read such a fantastic story.

We meet a writer who seems pretty insecure about her writing because she doesn't believe she is as well versed in the subject as her peers. After an incident with a classmate in high school and his criticism of her writing she sort of gives up on her writing. Then she gets an opportunity to join a masters program. Unexpectedly crossing paths with the one person she thought she'd never see again. It's there that after failed attempts she comes to realize that her writing just needs to be her own and that it does not matter it if isn't what she believes everyone else wants from her. The complications between the main characters made for an interesting story.

Thanks to the publisher for the ALC~

I read a lot of romance books, so many truly. Hundreds in the last few years, and I truly have not wanted a couple together so badly or rooted for a couple so much as rooted for Leigh and Will—my god. There's nothing as good as two messes who get it together. The audio book was beautifully voiced, I loved how the narrator captured Leigh's unsure nature and fear in her feelings and herself and then her strength. I thought the stakes were perfect for these two, and I thought the academic setting was really rich with side characters I cared about too! This was really really well done and I'm looking forward to more Katie Naymon in my future!

2 stars⭐️

I had decent expectations for this book because it started off pretty good, but then she wrote the Taylor Swift poem which felt more cringey and cliche instead of a statement on society like the main character intended. Honestly, most of what the main character wrote felt very cliche. Overall, it felt like her character didn't have a lot of solid traits, she was more shaped by the differences she had with the other characters which made her feel like an "I'm not like the other girls" character. The love interest felt like the generic Emily Henry love interest, so I'd recommend reading this if you're fans of her work. I was more invested in the main character's parent's relationship than her own.