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.

In regards to the narration of the audiobook, it was pretty much the only thing keeping me engaged. Sarah Beth Goer really did a great job.

2.5 stars rounded up

This was such a stellar debut and I loved it! It’s perfect for fans of Emily Henry and Jessica Joyce and I can’t wait for others to read it and to recommend it to some of the regulars at the bookstore I work at that I know will devour it.

*3.5 Stars*

This is a different romance story than I am used to. I have never read about poetry before this, but I can say that this aspect made for a great romance. I loved the different styles of poetry throughout this book and loved how it incorporated into Leigh and Will's love story. I loved listening to this book and the narrator does a fantastic job in bringing the story to life. My only downfall with this book is the lack of commitment for each character. Both Leigh and Will seemed to go back and forth on wanting to be in a relationship so much that I was getting whiplash. I did enjoy the overall story but definitely got frustrated in some areas.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the opportunity to review You Between the Lines. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

There are for sure going to be people who love this book. Setting the story in an MFA program was fun. - I almost always find it interesting to read about writers. But there were a couple reasons it didn't work for me. First, Leigh is extremely immature, and I would have liked more time dedicated to her growth. Honestly, it felt like a huge amount of her getting over her issues with Will was solved by his decision to rethink his trajectory. Second, the audiobook narrator's reading felt well-matched to the book in that it was kind of dreamy and poetic, but it was also really breathy and soft in a way that made me feel icky.

Another close reading compared to another of two poetic lovers & I didn’t like it at all. I felt like Leigh was very immature and whiney, especially for her age & her reactions to some events that happened YEARS ago & holding over her & Will’s head… ugh….

Thank you to NetGalley for my audiobook arc.

4.5 stars, rounded to 5

What a wonderful debut novel!

I found this to be a moving and beautifully written exploration of the imposter syndrome that often comes with creative pursuits.

Leigh and Will are different sides of the same coin, both incredibly talented poets dealing with self-doubt during their first year in a prestigious MFA program. As someone who’s sat through a good many art and writing critiques, I found myself relating to these characters on a meaningful level. In a field that is so subjective, so ambiguous, it can be hard to trust your gut.

I loved Leigh and can’t relate to the reviewers who find her “whiny”. Yes, she is riddled with insecurities. But you know what? Characters without flaws, without texture, are boring. And to call out Leigh for this behavior without calling out Will for the same comes awfully close to the kind of internalized misogyny this book aims to call out.

And, oh! The romantic plotline. I’m such a fan of well-written, second-chance romances. The angst! The pining! That poem Will wrote. Oof. The only issue I had was that Leigh and Will’s shared history was just shy of enough. I wish it had held a little more weight.

Before I end this review, I’d like to take a moment to praise the writing, both on the micro and macro levels. There were some really beautiful turns of phrase here. Too often I’ve read books about poets that don’t work because the character’s “talent” exceeds the actual author’s capabilities. Not so in this case. I wasn’t at all surprised to see that Katie Naymon herself graduated from an MFA poetry program.

The audiobook performance was excellent. Reading poetry aloud can be tricky, easily coming off as pretentious or overwrought. Sarah Beth Goer did a fantastic job. I listened to the audiobook version first, and then immediately bought a copy to read. I can’t wait to see it in print, to highlight it and mark it up.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for providing an advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

This was not the literary romp of a novel that I hoped it would be. The main characters are both so flawed to be toxic. The will they, wont they was such that I really just didn't have any investment in their HEA or relationship. They may have gotten their HEA but it did not feel worth the read to get there.

The audiobook production was well done and was more enjoyable than the story, sadly.

When Leigh is accepted into a prestigious MFA program, the last person she expects to see is Will, her high school crush turned nemesis. The two have barely spoken since Will deemed her work “all style and no substance,” but when a coveted fellowship is on the line, Leigh must sort through her insecurities, and the return of that pesky crush on Will, to decide what she truly wants.

I truly believe that You Between the Lines was written for me. This book was a therapy for my soul and now I am contemplating if I want to go back for my MFA. Between the flowery prose and the complex characters, I couldn’t put this book down.

Leigh is a character I connected to immediately, recognizing her anxious, perfectionist, people pleasing ways as notions I share. Narrator Sarah Beth Goer did a wonderful job at voicing Leigh, brining the nuances of her character to life. I especially enjoyed the way she performed the poetry within the story. It elevated the reading experience to hear the character’s work aloud and I’m of the camp that insists poetry be read both written and orally. With Goer’s narration, the cadences of the stanzas are performed as intended and I was able to fully analyze the pieces. Goer also dipped into a lower “male voice” when speaking as Leigh’s love interest Will and it’s a testament to her skill that this did not distract me. I thought this was a lovely audiobook production and would highly recommend reading it this way to heighten one’s experience.

Many thanks to Hachette Audio and NetGalley for providing me with an ALC in exchange for my honest review!

This audiobook was absolutely captivating, from the very first chapter. I literally couldn’t stop! It was sweet, it was cute, and totally swoon-worthy.

"You Between the Lines" is a second-chance romance set against the backdrop of an MFA program. Unfortunately, it falls short in delivering meaningful character growth. The lead character feels out of touch with reality, clinging to the past in a way that stifles her development. While she does get another shot at love, her personal evolution remains disappointingly stagnant outside of her writing. She never truly pushes herself to change or take charge of her future, making it difficult to fully invest in her journey. The novel also lacks a strong supporting cast, and with little humor to break up the introspective tone, the story felt one-note. While the premise held promise, the execution left much to be desired."

Sarah Beth Goer’s performance was a delight to listen to! Her musical voice worked perfectly for both the poems and the characters! Will definitely be listening to again!

I absolutely loved this story. I will be purchasing a copy for the shelf! The narration was spot on and I loved the character building. As a writer myself, I felt I could relate to the pressure and anxiety. I enjoyed how it all came together in the end!

okay i am finally ready to write a review for this book. listen, i have never been a poem girly, not in spanish nor in english but that didn’t stop me from having the best time of my life with this book. actually, i’d say it unlocked a new thing for me👀

will “wrist man” langford you guys!!!!! this man had me FLOORED pleaseeeeeeee. katie wrote him in a way that every single thing that comes out of his mouth is MELTING and maddening at the same time.

now onto leigh. this felt like a personal attack. it has been a while since i felt so seen and so identified with a fmc like i did with leigh. it’s SO refreshing to see everything that you are insecure about in a character, it truly feels like a hug from the author and it’s like they were saying “i understand you, you are not alone” thank you katie, because leigh made me feel like im not alone in this crazy world.

the tension, the pining of this man😭 this book is absolutely mind blowing and it deserves absolutely everything in this world. katie is magic, her poems and her words are magic and i truly cannot wait to see what else she is gonna bring for us because i can already see her like a shiny and bright star up in the sky🌟

the audiobook? incredible if you ask me. i got the whole experience and it’s AMAZING.

thank you for this eARC and ALC in exchange for my honest review.

I feel like I have read a similar premise before, however, that didn’t stop my enjoyment from this book. Leigh is in a prestigious MFA program from poetry when she finds out that her archrival, Will, is also in the program. Honestly, the poems that were “created” were not great. Leigh and Will fall in like and are both going for a coveted fellowship. Leigh needs some mental health help and was very immature. I did enjoy the mental health representation from Will. I also didn’t really see or feel the spice between Leigh and Will. While it started off pretty good, parts of the story were lacking.

DNF 14%. I wanted to like this book and thought it would give me the same vibes as Emily Henry but it was pretty clear that the author was trying very hard to write a book like Henry and didn't succeed. The entire setting for this book is an MFA program with MCs who are getting MFA's in poetry. This is after our heroine says that getting this degree will do nothing to further her career and after she acts like a complete child still being hung up on a guy she was kind of into in high school and with her parents being separated for a very valid reason which she can't seem to handle. I'm past the point of reading about whiny privileged people and that's what this book was to me. Also, the narrator wasn't terrible, but didn't do much for me particularly in terms of distinguishing the voices of different characters. It felt less like the story being narrated and more like it was being read to me, not my favorite.

Thank you Netgalley and Hachette Audio for a copy of an advance audiobook in exchange for my honest review!

The premise of this book was cute, a high school crush comes back into Leigh's life at a prestigious college poetry program. Everyone can't believe that she knows Will and we get the back story between the 2 of them and some encounters they've had since high school.

I don't think I've ever been so upset with a main character before than I was with Leigh. She whined the entire book and honestly, she was the definition and why people use the phrase, "s*** or get off the pot." I was so fed up with her going back & forth on liking Will and wanting something with him to not. Talk about leading a man on and on...he has the patience of a saint!

The only reason I gave it 3 stars was because at the end things fall into place and it stops being a whine fest. But honestly, this hurt my head with how much back & forth there was. Do I dare mention how offended she also got when people were giving her the same constructive criticism with her poetry? Get over yourself Leigh!

If you're into books that are drawn out hemming and hawwing from a main character who just needs to listen to her heart and her brain (for love AND her poetry), this is for you. At the end it was like she suddenly just matured overnight and boom, what a great person who has her life together. Maybe you'll like it, but it was just a meh for me!

This was such a strong debut! I loved the complexity of the FMC. Watching her struggle with perfectionism and people pleasing was painfully relatable for someone like me who also pursued an artistic degree. At times I found it hard to read because Leigh was making the same mistakes past me made and I just wanted to shake her and tell her to stop being so dependent on other's opinions. However, just like past me, old habits are hard to break. I loved getting to see Leigh grow throughout the story. I also loved the literary focus of the book. The poetry as flirting aspect of this story had me swooning. The almost-English major in me adored all the discussion of storytelling. I will say that Leigh's complex journey made it difficult for me to root for the romance for most of the book. Her insecurities led her to lash out in ways that I found hard to forgive and ultimately she just seemed really unprepared for a healthy romantic relationship. I loved Leigh's story but as a romance I wasn't 100% convinced that she was ready for that relationship by the end of the book. I still had a good time reading the book because I felt so seen. I'm definitely going to be checking out this author's future books because she knows how to write some complex characters!!

The narrator was well cast because they added to the insecurity and angst that the FMC was feeling. Definitely give the audio a try if that's how you like to consume books!

I absolutely loved it!! It was such a cute story !! And it’s absolutely a MUST read. I highly HIGKY recommend this book if you looking for a really good romance read.

The narration for this audiobook was excellent—well-paced, engaging, and full of personality, perfectly capturing the tone of the story.

This book felt like the MFA version of Legally Blonde—a witty, self-aware journey of ambition, self-discovery, and emotional chaos. Leigh, a former sorority girl and die-hard Swifty, is determined to prove herself as a writer and secure the coveted fellowship that will validate her talent. But just as she’s forging her path, in walks William—her devastatingly swoon-worthy crush—sending her into an emotional tailspin. Add in her parents’ unexpected divorce and her chronic people-pleasing tendencies, and Leigh quickly spirals into full-fledged hot-mess territory. Her therapist has her work cut out for her.

This was a lighthearted yet introspective read, balancing humor with emotional depth. It explores friendship, heartbreak, self-sabotage, and the relentless pursuit of creative dreams. Writers, poetry lovers, and literary enthusiasts will especially appreciate the book’s themes.

⭐ 3.75 stars—an enjoyable, thoughtful read with a touch of chaos and plenty of heart.

You Between the Lines is THAT book. Katie Naymon has crafted a brilliantly inventive, mind-bending, and delightfully meta reading experience that feels less like flipping pages and more like stepping into a literary funhouse mirror.

This book doesn’t just break the fourth wall—it demolishes it, hands you a brick, and asks "Now what?" The interactive and playful storytelling had me questioning reality, my reading habits, and whether I’ve been unknowingly starring in someone else’s plotline this whole time.

Witty, immersive, and unlike anything I’ve read before, You Between the Lines is a bookworm’s dream and a control freak’s nightmare (in the best way). If you love books that surprise you, challenge you, and maybe even mildly roast you—this one’s for you. Highly recommend!