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A review by marginmuse
You Between the Lines by Katie Naymon
4.0
This book hit way too close to home in the best way possible. As a college student who’s spent more time than I’d like to admit second-guessing my place in academic spaces, Leigh’s journey in You Between the Lines felt ridiculously relatable. She’s thrown into this super pretentious MFA program where everyone has read books you’ve only pretended to know, and she’s trying to prove she belongs—who hasn’t been there in some way?
Leigh is hilarious and self-aware, but also painfully honest about her insecurities. She’s not the “perfect poet” stereotype, which makes rooting for her so much more satisfying. And then there’s William, her high school crush-turned-MFA nemesis. Their banter is sharp and cutting, but it’s laced with this undercurrent of unresolved history that had me absolutely hooked. I swear, every time they shared a scene, I was screaming internally, “Just kiss already!”
What really sold me, though, was how real this book feels. It’s about more than just academic rivalries and romance—it’s about figuring out who you are when you’re surrounded by people who seem like they have it all together (spoiler: they don’t). It’s funny, smart, and just a little bit messy, like all the best things in life.
If you’ve ever doubted yourself, fallen for someone you shouldn’t, or felt like you were faking your way through something big, you need this book. It’s like a love letter to anyone who’s ever felt like an outsider trying to make it work.
✧˖°. ⤷ I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review, and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Leigh is hilarious and self-aware, but also painfully honest about her insecurities. She’s not the “perfect poet” stereotype, which makes rooting for her so much more satisfying. And then there’s William, her high school crush-turned-MFA nemesis. Their banter is sharp and cutting, but it’s laced with this undercurrent of unresolved history that had me absolutely hooked. I swear, every time they shared a scene, I was screaming internally, “Just kiss already!”
What really sold me, though, was how real this book feels. It’s about more than just academic rivalries and romance—it’s about figuring out who you are when you’re surrounded by people who seem like they have it all together (spoiler: they don’t). It’s funny, smart, and just a little bit messy, like all the best things in life.
If you’ve ever doubted yourself, fallen for someone you shouldn’t, or felt like you were faking your way through something big, you need this book. It’s like a love letter to anyone who’s ever felt like an outsider trying to make it work.
✧˖°. ⤷ I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review, and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.