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The In-Between Bookstore
A poignant and enchanting novel about a magical bookstore that transports a trans man through time and brings him face-to-face with his teenage self, offering him the chance of a lifetime to examine his life and identity to find a new beginning.
When Darby finds himself unemployed and in need of a fresh start, he moves back to the small Illinois town he left behind. But Oak Falls has changed almost as much as he has since he left.
One thing is familiar: In Between Books, Darby’s refuge growing up and eventual high school job. When he walks into the bookstore now, Darby feels an eerie sense of déjà vu—everything is exactly the same. Even the newspapers are dated 2009. And behind the register is a teen who looks a lot like Darby did at sixteen. . . who just might give Darby the opportunity to change his own present for the better—if he can figure out how before his connection to the past vanishes forever.
The In-Between Bookstore is a stunning novel of love, self-discovery, and the choices that come with both, for anyone who has ever wondered what their life might be like if they had the chance to go back and take a bigger, braver risk.
When Darby finds himself unemployed and in need of a fresh start, he moves back to the small Illinois town he left behind. But Oak Falls has changed almost as much as he has since he left.
One thing is familiar: In Between Books, Darby’s refuge growing up and eventual high school job. When he walks into the bookstore now, Darby feels an eerie sense of déjà vu—everything is exactly the same. Even the newspapers are dated 2009. And behind the register is a teen who looks a lot like Darby did at sixteen. . . who just might give Darby the opportunity to change his own present for the better—if he can figure out how before his connection to the past vanishes forever.
The In-Between Bookstore is a stunning novel of love, self-discovery, and the choices that come with both, for anyone who has ever wondered what their life might be like if they had the chance to go back and take a bigger, braver risk.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published January 14, 2025
298 people are currently reading
26.7k people want to read
About the author
Edward Underhill
4Ìýbooks372ÌýfollowersEdward Underhill is an author and composer who grew up Wisconsin, studied music in Ohio, and spent several years living in tiny apartments in New York City. He currently resides in California with his partner, where he writes music and stories. When not doing either of those things, he’s probably gardening or getting yelled at by his cat. He is the author of the young adult novels Always the Almost and This Day Changes Everything. His adult fiction debut, The In-Between Bookstore, is forthcoming from HarperCollins in 2025.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 635 reviews
January 3, 2025
This an interesting book. It was a lot of melancholy and honestly not a lot happened. I liked the writing and the main characters quite a bit, but I wanted something more. Our main character is Darby, a young transgender man in New York City that isn’t sure where he’s going with his life. He’s lost his job and can’t afford his apartment anymore so when his mother mentions she is working to sell her house and move to a condo he decide to go back to his small town. When Darby visits the bookstore he worked at in high school he sees a kid who weirdly reminds him of who he was in high school. When he visits again he is shocked to find that bookstore seems to be in 2009 and it is his younger self in the bookstore. He also bumps into Michael who was his best friend until the end of high school where their friendship crashed and burned for reasons Darby never understood. The book was well written although definitely bittersweet in the end. It was a good book, but I wanted something more to happen. I listened to the audiobook and thought the narrator did a great job.
August 11, 2024
Every time a YA author reveals they’re publishing an adult book, I get really enthusiastic. And some of those are awesome, just as good as their YA stories, and some even better. But sometimes, I wish they’d stick to what they were good at.
First of all, I really loved Edward Underhill’s writing in The In-Between Bookstore. All his descriptions were incredibly vivid, and I smiled so many times. I love flawed characters, and I found Darcy kind of a jerk when I first met him—not visiting a mom who had always supported him, hmmm. But he’d probably grow a lot during the story.
On the surface, this is a wonderful book. There’s so much to love: great writing, pretty fast pacing, and a diverse cast, and I flew through the first half. But slowly, I started shifting in my seat because I wanted more. I didn’t understand why Darby couldn’t remember what happened in his friendship with Michael back then.
This story is pitched as a healing novel, but I really wanted more character growth. I knew beforehand this wasn’t a romance, and I usually don’t mind. But towards the last pages, my shifting got worse, and I kind of hated the ending. I didn’t like Darby’s choices and that he was still lying to Michael. And his world in New York and his world in Illinois felt so disjointed. This probably doesn’t make sense if you haven’t read the book, but overall, it felt like he had hardly learned anything. Now I’m in doubt. Because I loved the first half but didn’t like the ending. The first half is definitely a four star read, but the last chapters maybe barely a two star. So, in the end, I think my average is somewhere between 3 and 3.5 stars, rounded down to 3.
I’ll be looking forward to Edward Underhill’s next book, though, because I love the vividness in his writing!
Thank you, Avon and Netgalley, for this ARC.
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First of all, I really loved Edward Underhill’s writing in The In-Between Bookstore. All his descriptions were incredibly vivid, and I smiled so many times. I love flawed characters, and I found Darcy kind of a jerk when I first met him—not visiting a mom who had always supported him, hmmm. But he’d probably grow a lot during the story.
On the surface, this is a wonderful book. There’s so much to love: great writing, pretty fast pacing, and a diverse cast, and I flew through the first half. But slowly, I started shifting in my seat because I wanted more. I didn’t understand why Darby couldn’t remember what happened in his friendship with Michael back then.
This story is pitched as a healing novel, but I really wanted more character growth. I knew beforehand this wasn’t a romance, and I usually don’t mind. But towards the last pages, my shifting got worse, and I kind of hated the ending. I didn’t like Darby’s choices and that he was still lying to Michael. And his world in New York and his world in Illinois felt so disjointed. This probably doesn’t make sense if you haven’t read the book, but overall, it felt like he had hardly learned anything. Now I’m in doubt. Because I loved the first half but didn’t like the ending. The first half is definitely a four star read, but the last chapters maybe barely a two star. So, in the end, I think my average is somewhere between 3 and 3.5 stars, rounded down to 3.
I’ll be looking forward to Edward Underhill’s next book, though, because I love the vividness in his writing!
Thank you, Avon and Netgalley, for this ARC.
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January 1, 2025
Thank you HarperCollins and NetGalley for approving me for this arc!! I was ecstatic to find this book and had high hopes I’d get approved for it!! As a transgender person myself, i was intrigued by the storyline, and I honestly haven’t read many books about perspectives such as mine. So thank you for allowing me this read, it has been amazing and I cant wait to buy the book when it releases in stores!!
THIS BOOK RELEASES JANUARY 14TH!!!
The In-Between Bookstore is about Darby and his journey through life and honestly, his quarter life crisis. Darby is a transgender man living in New York from a small town in Illinois. His job doesn’t work out and he finds himself moving back to his hometown to help his mother move and figure out what he wants to do in life.
Darby transitioned after moving to New York, so he is confronted with past friends, acquaintances, and neighbors. this story is heart wrenching that I have a hard time putting it all into words for you. Darby keeps going back to the In-Between Bookstore where he worked when he was in high school, but whenever he visits this store travels back in time and is able to see his past high school self, and all the struggles he went through during that time.
Again, as a transgender person this book hit HARD . I have to thank the author for putting these struggles into words, and for writing something so relatable it hurt to read at times. I literally cannot wait to buy this book (yes I have an arc ebook copy, but I need the real thing on my shelf) when it releases!!
UPDATE: I got approved for the audiobook version!!! THANKS NETGALLEY I LOVE YOUUU!!
Anyways, the audiobook is narrated by Shaan Dasani who is a transgender award winning actor, writer and producer! I’m so happy that HarperAudio was able to get someone to fit the role of Darby! It really made the read all the more enjoyable and relatable. Might be one of my favorite reads of 2024. Thank you Shaan Dasani for taking this role I can’t wait for the official release!!
THIS BOOK RELEASES JANUARY 14TH!!!
The In-Between Bookstore is about Darby and his journey through life and honestly, his quarter life crisis. Darby is a transgender man living in New York from a small town in Illinois. His job doesn’t work out and he finds himself moving back to his hometown to help his mother move and figure out what he wants to do in life.
Darby transitioned after moving to New York, so he is confronted with past friends, acquaintances, and neighbors. this story is heart wrenching that I have a hard time putting it all into words for you. Darby keeps going back to the In-Between Bookstore where he worked when he was in high school, but whenever he visits this store travels back in time and is able to see his past high school self, and all the struggles he went through during that time.
Again, as a transgender person this book hit HARD . I have to thank the author for putting these struggles into words, and for writing something so relatable it hurt to read at times. I literally cannot wait to buy this book (yes I have an arc ebook copy, but I need the real thing on my shelf) when it releases!!
UPDATE: I got approved for the audiobook version!!! THANKS NETGALLEY I LOVE YOUUU!!
Anyways, the audiobook is narrated by Shaan Dasani who is a transgender award winning actor, writer and producer! I’m so happy that HarperAudio was able to get someone to fit the role of Darby! It really made the read all the more enjoyable and relatable. Might be one of my favorite reads of 2024. Thank you Shaan Dasani for taking this role I can’t wait for the official release!!
March 8, 2025
4.5 stars rounded up
I had heard good things about this and I'm so glad I picked it up! The In-Between Bookstore is a lovely contemporary novel with a bit of magical realism about a trans man who returns to his hometown after losing his job and encounters his teenage self pre-transition. It's emotional and nostalgic, and got me thinking about my own youth. It can be so easy to get caught up in what you're going through you can't see that other people are struggling too, especially in high school and college.
I really liked the ending, but I should note that while this has romantic elements it is NOT a romance. Also I'm a hard sell on time travel usually but this felt more magic-adjacent which worked better for me. Definitely recommend this one! I received a copy for review from the publisher, all opinions are my own.
I had heard good things about this and I'm so glad I picked it up! The In-Between Bookstore is a lovely contemporary novel with a bit of magical realism about a trans man who returns to his hometown after losing his job and encounters his teenage self pre-transition. It's emotional and nostalgic, and got me thinking about my own youth. It can be so easy to get caught up in what you're going through you can't see that other people are struggling too, especially in high school and college.
I really liked the ending, but I should note that while this has romantic elements it is NOT a romance. Also I'm a hard sell on time travel usually but this felt more magic-adjacent which worked better for me. Definitely recommend this one! I received a copy for review from the publisher, all opinions are my own.
January 31, 2025
Giving this one 3 stars is generous. A whole star is added because it has good trans/queer representation.
Things that were lacking in this book are easily broken down:
1) The time travel, magical realism aspect here is redundant and irrelevant. It’s merely a mechanism for our MC to learn about himself instead of a way to move the plot forward. It’s never explained, appears to have limited rules, and very random. To say I’m not a fan of unstructured magic like this would be an understatement. I feel the same emotional growth could have been had by our MC by finding a journal he wrote but couldn’t remember much from and experiencing his own words on the page or in another format. The time travel was totally unnecessary.
2) Nothing happens. Okay that’s a lie, sex happens, once. And it’s a wasted opportunity to discuss what sex is like for a trans man, instead of having a narrative about it the sexual partner indicates he knows what to do or be aware of and nothing more is said. It could have been a great moment of education for readers, and a better understanding of a trans man who has had too surgery but not bottom. Instead it’s totally wasted. Otherwise our MC just wanders around his home town whining and acting like a teenager (even though he’s supposed to be 30!).
3) This author is better known for YA books. And in all honesty he should stick to them. The In-Between Bookstore reads like a coming of age novel; except our MC is 30 years old, whiny, annoying, and makes no sense. It was so weird for him to flip back and forth regarding who he wanted to be friends with, who he cared about, and other emotional issues.
Unfortunately this novel, while short enough, shouldn’t have hit shelves as is. It needed more direction, mature editing, and a real purpose that made more sense to the reader. It also needed some guts to really push on what gender dysphoria feels like, sex with a trans man, and the difficulty of coming out. Instead it glazes over most of these issues without really drawing the reader in. There are many better trans books to read out there (thankfully). I would leave this one on the shelf.
Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.
Things that were lacking in this book are easily broken down:
1) The time travel, magical realism aspect here is redundant and irrelevant. It’s merely a mechanism for our MC to learn about himself instead of a way to move the plot forward. It’s never explained, appears to have limited rules, and very random. To say I’m not a fan of unstructured magic like this would be an understatement. I feel the same emotional growth could have been had by our MC by finding a journal he wrote but couldn’t remember much from and experiencing his own words on the page or in another format. The time travel was totally unnecessary.
2) Nothing happens. Okay that’s a lie, sex happens, once. And it’s a wasted opportunity to discuss what sex is like for a trans man, instead of having a narrative about it the sexual partner indicates he knows what to do or be aware of and nothing more is said. It could have been a great moment of education for readers, and a better understanding of a trans man who has had too surgery but not bottom. Instead it’s totally wasted. Otherwise our MC just wanders around his home town whining and acting like a teenager (even though he’s supposed to be 30!).
3) This author is better known for YA books. And in all honesty he should stick to them. The In-Between Bookstore reads like a coming of age novel; except our MC is 30 years old, whiny, annoying, and makes no sense. It was so weird for him to flip back and forth regarding who he wanted to be friends with, who he cared about, and other emotional issues.
Unfortunately this novel, while short enough, shouldn’t have hit shelves as is. It needed more direction, mature editing, and a real purpose that made more sense to the reader. It also needed some guts to really push on what gender dysphoria feels like, sex with a trans man, and the difficulty of coming out. Instead it glazes over most of these issues without really drawing the reader in. There are many better trans books to read out there (thankfully). I would leave this one on the shelf.
Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.
March 25, 2025
I thoroughly loved this story! Darby was such a beautiful soul. I had so many emotions hearing his story and not feeling like he fit in. I'm so glad he found amazing friends in NY! Him going back home was intriguing. I loved the time traveling aspects. I'm not going to lie, the last few chapters disappointed me. Felt abrupt, rushed, and didn't make sense due to the build-up of the rest of the books. But nonetheless, I thoroughly enjoyed the rest, so I give it 4 stars!
January 3, 2025
4.5 stars rounded up
Time travel queer romance- although Darby the main character is turning 30, this reads like more of a YA romance, which is sweet and follows along with the main theme. And all of us can relate to this concept-- what would you say to your younger self if you could? Would your younger self recognize you? How would it change you now to be reunited with your younger self?
Darby is a trans man living in NYC with a vibrant community of friends, although he worked for a start up that has gone belly up. Darby is originally from a small town in the midwest, and his mom called to let him know she is moving, so Darby is going to visit.... and maybe stay... in the same small town he grew up in. His one time friend and crush Michael still lives there and goes to all the football games, in fact, a lot of the people Darby grew up with are still there. And can you go home again? The age old question?
I don't want to give away any spoilers here, but Darby does experience a split in the space time continuum to be able to visit the bookstore where he worked as a teen, and is able to access the bookstore and his younger self in 2009, when he still thought he was a girl, albeit a broken one. Darby didn't change his name when he transitioned, which eliminates any literary issues of how to address his younger self without deadnaming him.
Has anyone given this book to Hollywood producers yet, and obviously Elliot Page can please play Darby?
Darby is insecure and a realistic and likable lead. Michael is a compelling love interest. But Olivia and all of Darby's friends (as his mom says, "your gay friends" and Darby says "all my friends are gay, mom.) (lol) are fantastic minor characters.
I like time travel and time slip romances quite a bit, it was nice to have a trans character, nice to see a "back in my hometown" romance and I don't want to give away the ending, but it ends differently than it usually does at Hallmark. The ending was not what I expected and I had to sit with it for a few days to realize that I loved it.
Highly recommend for fans of Casey McQuiston and Ashley Poston. Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Harper Vorager for the ARC. Book to be released January 14, 2025.
Time travel queer romance- although Darby the main character is turning 30, this reads like more of a YA romance, which is sweet and follows along with the main theme. And all of us can relate to this concept-- what would you say to your younger self if you could? Would your younger self recognize you? How would it change you now to be reunited with your younger self?
Darby is a trans man living in NYC with a vibrant community of friends, although he worked for a start up that has gone belly up. Darby is originally from a small town in the midwest, and his mom called to let him know she is moving, so Darby is going to visit.... and maybe stay... in the same small town he grew up in. His one time friend and crush Michael still lives there and goes to all the football games, in fact, a lot of the people Darby grew up with are still there. And can you go home again? The age old question?
I don't want to give away any spoilers here, but Darby does experience a split in the space time continuum to be able to visit the bookstore where he worked as a teen, and is able to access the bookstore and his younger self in 2009, when he still thought he was a girl, albeit a broken one. Darby didn't change his name when he transitioned, which eliminates any literary issues of how to address his younger self without deadnaming him.
Has anyone given this book to Hollywood producers yet, and obviously Elliot Page can please play Darby?
Darby is insecure and a realistic and likable lead. Michael is a compelling love interest. But Olivia and all of Darby's friends (as his mom says, "your gay friends" and Darby says "all my friends are gay, mom.) (lol) are fantastic minor characters.
I like time travel and time slip romances quite a bit, it was nice to have a trans character, nice to see a "back in my hometown" romance and I don't want to give away the ending, but it ends differently than it usually does at Hallmark. The ending was not what I expected and I had to sit with it for a few days to realize that I loved it.
Highly recommend for fans of Casey McQuiston and Ashley Poston. Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Harper Vorager for the ARC. Book to be released January 14, 2025.
December 29, 2024
firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc and an alc!
i’ve really enjoyed the time-travel concept in books lately, and the in-between bookstore uses time travel to allow our mc to see himself as a young adult.
while i didn’t really enjoy the writing, the narrator did an excellent job!
i’ve really enjoyed the time-travel concept in books lately, and the in-between bookstore uses time travel to allow our mc to see himself as a young adult.
while i didn’t really enjoy the writing, the narrator did an excellent job!
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August 11, 2024très respectueusement je vais en rester là avec cet auteur... c'est bien les vibes mais il ne faut pas oublier de mettre un minimum de récit derrière, ça peut être utile quand on écrit un livre de trois cents pages
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July 9, 2024I loved this book, even though it was surprisingly melancholy at the end. Hopeful, but wistful. I love Underhill's other books, so I was excited for this ARC. It is a second chance romance featuring time travel and a bookstore which was enough to entice me. But what actually captivated me was how well it spoke to the experience of growing up queer in a small town and not knowing how to reconcile how homesick you can be for it after leaving, with how much you never felt you belonged there, no matter how much you ever wanted to. Leaving somewhere because it felt suffocating, and then missing it anyway. I'm way in my feelings after finishing this, more than I thought I would be, but I'm happy anyway.
July 21, 2024
I was hopeful that this would be a 5 star read, and I did enjoy a lot of elements, but I've ended up with such mixed feelings.
My main issue is that I just can't make sense of what the book was aiming to do, exactly. There's so many incongruences in what the main character wants and is striving for. At the start of the book, he travels back to his hometown from New York after getting laid off and losing his appartment. He leaves his friends behind and goes pretty much no contact with them for the duration of his stay home. This immediately means we don't see what his connection with New York truly is.
In his hometown, he reconnects with his childhood best friend and gets to meet a lot of queer people who've stayed behind in this small town instead of leaving like he did as a teen. Now, he has to figure out if he wants to stay in this small town, or go back to New York.
This is an understandable dilemma, except I never felt like the main character was really thinking about anything and growing in any way, shape or form. By the end of the book, I was surprised at the choices he makes, because we just never get any depth into why he'd want to make this choice.
There's also a time travel element, with the main character travelling back in time in the bookstore where he worked as a teen, and meeting his old self. I thought this element was incredibly underused, and I didn't feel like it had all that much impact on either the main character or the story.
I was a little taken aback by the ending, because I'd expected this to be a romance novel. I think that's because it's published by Avon, but I did check and saw it isn't being marketed as a romance, so that's on me for assuming! I just wanted to mention it in case you're making the same assumption.
My main issue is that I just can't make sense of what the book was aiming to do, exactly. There's so many incongruences in what the main character wants and is striving for. At the start of the book, he travels back to his hometown from New York after getting laid off and losing his appartment. He leaves his friends behind and goes pretty much no contact with them for the duration of his stay home. This immediately means we don't see what his connection with New York truly is.
In his hometown, he reconnects with his childhood best friend and gets to meet a lot of queer people who've stayed behind in this small town instead of leaving like he did as a teen. Now, he has to figure out if he wants to stay in this small town, or go back to New York.
This is an understandable dilemma, except I never felt like the main character was really thinking about anything and growing in any way, shape or form. By the end of the book, I was surprised at the choices he makes, because we just never get any depth into why he'd want to make this choice.
There's also a time travel element, with the main character travelling back in time in the bookstore where he worked as a teen, and meeting his old self. I thought this element was incredibly underused, and I didn't feel like it had all that much impact on either the main character or the story.
I was a little taken aback by the ending, because I'd expected this to be a romance novel. I think that's because it's published by Avon, but I did check and saw it isn't being marketed as a romance, so that's on me for assuming! I just wanted to mention it in case you're making the same assumption.
September 17, 2024
I would like to thank the author and Avon | Harper Voyager Publishing for providing me with an ARC of this book. The anticipated publication date is 14 January 2025.
Although The In-Between Bookstore deviates slightly from my typical reading preferences, its inclusion of time travel and bookstores captured my interest. I found the author's writing style and humor appealing from the outset. The interactions between the main character and their mother were particularly amusing. I also enjoy it when a book can evoke various emotions.
The time travel element of the narrative sustained the book’s momentum, rendering it a compelling, fast-paced read. However, some parts of the story could have been better developed, especially regarding topics that I am less familiar with, and probably other readers as well. A more thorough exploration of certain conversations would have improved the story and filled in some gaps. I found the ending to be disappointing, and after finishing the story, I was still left with many unanswered questions. Another round of edits could have improved this book substantially.
This story teetered around 2-3 stars, but I'm rounding down to a 2 due to the ending. The book has a promising premise, but the execution is mediocre. I would still recommend reading it if the plot interests you, but personally, I found it slightly below par compared to similar books.
Although The In-Between Bookstore deviates slightly from my typical reading preferences, its inclusion of time travel and bookstores captured my interest. I found the author's writing style and humor appealing from the outset. The interactions between the main character and their mother were particularly amusing. I also enjoy it when a book can evoke various emotions.
The time travel element of the narrative sustained the book’s momentum, rendering it a compelling, fast-paced read. However, some parts of the story could have been better developed, especially regarding topics that I am less familiar with, and probably other readers as well. A more thorough exploration of certain conversations would have improved the story and filled in some gaps. I found the ending to be disappointing, and after finishing the story, I was still left with many unanswered questions. Another round of edits could have improved this book substantially.
This story teetered around 2-3 stars, but I'm rounding down to a 2 due to the ending. The book has a promising premise, but the execution is mediocre. I would still recommend reading it if the plot interests you, but personally, I found it slightly below par compared to similar books.
July 28, 2024
As a non-binary, queer person who worked at a book store in high school, this book hit WAY too close to home. I love time travel stories and have spent more time than I should on what I would tell young me, so thing book brought up a lot. What kept it from being great was the miscommunication in the regular timeline between all the adults. It was frustrating. I planned on rating it a 3, but it made me cry, so a 4 it became. The ending will be hit or miss for people, but it felt right for me. So grateful to NetGalley for this arc!
January 18, 2025
After reading the first few pages, I had to stop and check whether the book belonged to the YA genre. I have nothing against the genre itself; I just lost interest in it somewhere along the way. In the beginning, the main character came across as too childish for someone approaching 30. It felt like reading Twitter posts, with phrases like “hangry� and “IRL� and sentences such as “I absolutely have no chill.� This was quite irksome, but I knew from the blurb that the book sounded like something I would enjoy, so I decided to keep going.
I'm glad I chose to continue reading because, as the story unfolds, I can clearly see Darby's growth.
The In-Between Bookstore follows the journey of Darby, a nearly 30-year-old trans man who is trying to figure out what he wants to do next in life after being laid off and feeling lost in New York. Having decided to return to his small hometown in Illinois, he steps into the old bookstore where he once worked during his high school years. However, an extraordinary twist of fate occurs and he unexpectedly slips through the fabric of time, encountering his teenage self—before his transition and before his falling out with his closest friend, Michael.
This story is an emotional and heartfelt tale of self-discovery. The ending feels both happy and sad because Darby found what he wanted and also needed to make a decision to let go at the same time. I was hoping for something else the whole time, but I am also not disappointed by the outcome.
I feel conflicted because the writing style seems aimed at a younger audience, yet the overall story is definitely intended for readers like me. Regardless, I still enjoy it a lot.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for providing the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I'm glad I chose to continue reading because, as the story unfolds, I can clearly see Darby's growth.
The In-Between Bookstore follows the journey of Darby, a nearly 30-year-old trans man who is trying to figure out what he wants to do next in life after being laid off and feeling lost in New York. Having decided to return to his small hometown in Illinois, he steps into the old bookstore where he once worked during his high school years. However, an extraordinary twist of fate occurs and he unexpectedly slips through the fabric of time, encountering his teenage self—before his transition and before his falling out with his closest friend, Michael.
This story is an emotional and heartfelt tale of self-discovery. The ending feels both happy and sad because Darby found what he wanted and also needed to make a decision to let go at the same time. I was hoping for something else the whole time, but I am also not disappointed by the outcome.
I feel conflicted because the writing style seems aimed at a younger audience, yet the overall story is definitely intended for readers like me. Regardless, I still enjoy it a lot.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for providing the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 27, 2025
*3.5 stars
Not being able to remember the name of the first Percy Jackson book? You won’t see me forgetting that when I’m older. How embarrassing lmao.
My interest started waning around the halfway mark where I couldn’t tell if I was bored (despite the book only reaching 250 pages) or if I was getting annoyed with Darby. And while I enjoyed the messy dynamic of a failed, unresolved friendship between Darby and Michael, I don’t think a “romance� element needed to be introduced between them. It wasn’t built up well and was kind of awkward to read, especially since they ended up sleeping together before they solved any of their past problems.
Also, as a personal gripe, I didn’t quite like the underlying, subtle comment of at thirty you’re an adult now so of course you won’t be into the things you were at 16. I understand that is true for a lot of people, but if you don’t see me still stanning Avatar the Last Airbender no matter how old I get, assume I’ve been possessed by a demon. It’s just something that always grates on my nerves. (personally, I think it would be super ok if Michael was still obsessed with Marvel or Darby was still keeping tabs on PJO)
I did, however, find myself being able to connect with Darby on some scale, especially with his struggle about what to do in life.
I really enjoyed this author’s YA work so I hoped I would enjoy his adult debut too. Ultimately, it was a decent, quick read but nothing too memorable for me.
Not being able to remember the name of the first Percy Jackson book? You won’t see me forgetting that when I’m older. How embarrassing lmao.
My interest started waning around the halfway mark where I couldn’t tell if I was bored (despite the book only reaching 250 pages) or if I was getting annoyed with Darby. And while I enjoyed the messy dynamic of a failed, unresolved friendship between Darby and Michael, I don’t think a “romance� element needed to be introduced between them. It wasn’t built up well and was kind of awkward to read, especially since they ended up sleeping together before they solved any of their past problems.
Also, as a personal gripe, I didn’t quite like the underlying, subtle comment of at thirty you’re an adult now so of course you won’t be into the things you were at 16. I understand that is true for a lot of people, but if you don’t see me still stanning Avatar the Last Airbender no matter how old I get, assume I’ve been possessed by a demon. It’s just something that always grates on my nerves. (personally, I think it would be super ok if Michael was still obsessed with Marvel or Darby was still keeping tabs on PJO)
I did, however, find myself being able to connect with Darby on some scale, especially with his struggle about what to do in life.
I really enjoyed this author’s YA work so I hoped I would enjoy his adult debut too. Ultimately, it was a decent, quick read but nothing too memorable for me.
January 23, 2025
After being laid off from his job, Darby decided to get a fresh start and move back home to Oak Falls, Illinois. When he walks into In Between Bookstore where Darby worked as a teen, he is shocked to see everything is the same from High School. The new releases and newspapers are all dated from 2009, and the cashier is a teen who looks exactly like Darby did at 16. Darby is given the opportunity to talk to his younger self and possibly change his present situation for the better.
I loved listening about Darby's journey back home to Oak Falls and the time travel aspect of In Between Bookstore. I enjoyed the different timelines with Darby trying to reconnect with his high school best friend, Michael and discovering what is next in his life in the present while talking with his teenage self in the past at the bookstore. The conversations between Darby and his teenage self were some of my favorite parts of this book. Although the ending was not what I expected, I was happy with the conclusion.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperAudio Adult for the opportunity to review The In-Between Bookstore. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I loved listening about Darby's journey back home to Oak Falls and the time travel aspect of In Between Bookstore. I enjoyed the different timelines with Darby trying to reconnect with his high school best friend, Michael and discovering what is next in his life in the present while talking with his teenage self in the past at the bookstore. The conversations between Darby and his teenage self were some of my favorite parts of this book. Although the ending was not what I expected, I was happy with the conclusion.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperAudio Adult for the opportunity to review The In-Between Bookstore. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
December 17, 2024
3 stars - slow
January 18, 2025
Ugh I so wanted to love this…�.magical realism�..bookstores……LGBTQIA main character leaves New York to head back to small town Illinois and finds that it has a whole LGBTQIA community. This sounded awesome. And not that it wasn’t an okay read, I just was disappointed at the way it went in the end. Definitely just a one time read for me. Hoping it finds a niche with another reader.
I received an ARC of this title, all opinions are my own.
I received an ARC of this title, all opinions are my own.
January 14, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an audiobook in exchange for an honest review!
Before I dive into what didn’t quite work for me with this book, let me say what did: Audionarrator Shaan Dasani makes a great Darby - neurotic, self-conscious, anxious and very, very human.
Now onto what didn’t. I really wanted to like this more than I did. But it doesn’t quite live up to the promise of its intriguing premise. The magical realism element of the book is grossly underused. In the end, it didn’t achieve a whole lot. I was hoping to enjoy a good cathartic cry reading this book. I was hoping to catch some warm and fuzzies - but the story left me uncomfortably cold. Again, I’m not really sure what I was meant to get out of it. It seemed like an incredibly personal story to Underhilll, but he leaves the reader on the outside looking in.
BOOKSTORE is quite light on plot. Indeed, 98% of the story is us in Darby’s head as he tries to figure out a path forward for himself. Now, I might have been down for a tale like that, but I have to be engaged in the character’s journey. Instead, I found it rather frustrating that most of Darby’s self-actualizing is just� running away. From Michael. (Who also does his fair share of inexplicable bolting.) From his younger self. From New York. From his friends. After a while the book just starts to appear avoidant. And that has the unfortunately effect of repelling a reader. All of Darby’s growth happens in the last fraction of the book - and it doesn’t feel earned. Nothing about his self-discovery in the end comes off triumphant like it should.
I also wonder about the intended audience for this book. It’s billed as an adult narrative, but it feels quite YA. Darby may be 29, but he behaves like a young person. It wasn’t just his constant running away, but also his blatant refusal to have any sort of non-surface-level conversation. Every problem in this book could have been solved by folks just having a simple talk, but they couldn’t. And while I might expect and welcome that from a YA novel, a repeated lack of basic communication quickly grows forced and stale in an adult one.
Before I dive into what didn’t quite work for me with this book, let me say what did: Audionarrator Shaan Dasani makes a great Darby - neurotic, self-conscious, anxious and very, very human.
Now onto what didn’t. I really wanted to like this more than I did. But it doesn’t quite live up to the promise of its intriguing premise. The magical realism element of the book is grossly underused. In the end, it didn’t achieve a whole lot. I was hoping to enjoy a good cathartic cry reading this book. I was hoping to catch some warm and fuzzies - but the story left me uncomfortably cold. Again, I’m not really sure what I was meant to get out of it. It seemed like an incredibly personal story to Underhilll, but he leaves the reader on the outside looking in.
BOOKSTORE is quite light on plot. Indeed, 98% of the story is us in Darby’s head as he tries to figure out a path forward for himself. Now, I might have been down for a tale like that, but I have to be engaged in the character’s journey. Instead, I found it rather frustrating that most of Darby’s self-actualizing is just� running away. From Michael. (Who also does his fair share of inexplicable bolting.) From his younger self. From New York. From his friends. After a while the book just starts to appear avoidant. And that has the unfortunately effect of repelling a reader. All of Darby’s growth happens in the last fraction of the book - and it doesn’t feel earned. Nothing about his self-discovery in the end comes off triumphant like it should.
I also wonder about the intended audience for this book. It’s billed as an adult narrative, but it feels quite YA. Darby may be 29, but he behaves like a young person. It wasn’t just his constant running away, but also his blatant refusal to have any sort of non-surface-level conversation. Every problem in this book could have been solved by folks just having a simple talk, but they couldn’t. And while I might expect and welcome that from a YA novel, a repeated lack of basic communication quickly grows forced and stale in an adult one.
January 15, 2025
I’m undoubtedly a tremendous fan of this author’s previous works. There isn’t a book of his that I wouldn’t read at plain face value. I truly expected to love this move into the adult fiction space but something about it fell completely flat for me. While his previous works have a lot of heart and exuberance, this one felt misguided almost.
Our main character really just doesn’t make sense to me. Darby wants to be in New York and then doesn’t want to be there. He misses his friends and then completely disconnects from them. I completely understand reaching your thirties and wanting to find yourself, move away, broaden your horizons but that doesn’t mean everything from the past just vanishes? How does he not remember the fall out between Michael??? He mentions every couple chapters or so that he has no idea how their friendship ended but I’m not sure how that’s possible. There’s no explanation given at all.
The relationships and connection just feel frigid and detached and the time travel element is so underused. I understand that it wasn’t ever meant to be a romance and I wasn’t looking for that. I just thought that the bond between past and current self might be more pertinent to the story. It’s such a cool concept to not be taken more advantage of.
Overall though, I was glad that Darby found his way, even if I didn’t completely agree with how he went about it. The writing was great and I loved the description. It was enough to keep me vibing through it to get to the end.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Our main character really just doesn’t make sense to me. Darby wants to be in New York and then doesn’t want to be there. He misses his friends and then completely disconnects from them. I completely understand reaching your thirties and wanting to find yourself, move away, broaden your horizons but that doesn’t mean everything from the past just vanishes? How does he not remember the fall out between Michael??? He mentions every couple chapters or so that he has no idea how their friendship ended but I’m not sure how that’s possible. There’s no explanation given at all.
The relationships and connection just feel frigid and detached and the time travel element is so underused. I understand that it wasn’t ever meant to be a romance and I wasn’t looking for that. I just thought that the bond between past and current self might be more pertinent to the story. It’s such a cool concept to not be taken more advantage of.
Overall though, I was glad that Darby found his way, even if I didn’t completely agree with how he went about it. The writing was great and I loved the description. It was enough to keep me vibing through it to get to the end.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with eARC in exchange for my honest review.
October 24, 2024
This is an amazing novel about Darby, a trans man who has recently lost his job when the company he was working at folded. He decides to return to his hometown, walks into the bookstore that he worked at as a teen, and is transported back in time, meeting his teenage self.
The book does such a wonderful job with representation, like talking about how Darby was in denial for years. How he almost walked out of the LGBT club in college, but it would be obvious that he was leaving. Just little things that made it flow. So many books, the author tries to be inclusive and either falls flat or ends up being totally offensive. Nothing like here. I ended up with tears in my eyes many times. Like during his coming out story.
I know from looking at the reviews that tons of people didn't like the ending, but I actually loved it. It was different than the normal hea that you get in romance books all the time and loved it.
The book does such a wonderful job with representation, like talking about how Darby was in denial for years. How he almost walked out of the LGBT club in college, but it would be obvious that he was leaving. Just little things that made it flow. So many books, the author tries to be inclusive and either falls flat or ends up being totally offensive. Nothing like here. I ended up with tears in my eyes many times. Like during his coming out story.
I know from looking at the reviews that tons of people didn't like the ending, but I actually loved it. It was different than the normal hea that you get in romance books all the time and loved it.
January 14, 2025
"The In-Between Bookstore" presents an intriguing premise about a magical bookstore that allows a trans man to confront his past self, but ultimately feels more melancholic than magical. While Underhill's writing is strong and the exploration of identity thoughtful, the time-travel element serves more as metaphor than plot device. The relationship between Darby and Michael shines, though Darby's chronic communication issues can frustrate. The audiobook narrator delivers a solid performance, bringing warmth to this bittersweet tale. While it may resonate deeply with some readers, others might find the pacing too slow and the story's heavy emotional weight overwhelming. A contemplative literary novel that happens to contain magical elements, rather than the sci-fi adventure some might expect.
April 4, 2025
is ’s adult fiction debut as well as my first time reading him. I generally love a book that includes time travel or loops and loved the premise of this being thanks to a bookstore. Darby was not always a likeable character for me especially considering how oblivious he was throughout most of the book, but I loved the characterization that Underhill achieved. He also made Darby feel relatable, and you do have to consider the transformation Darby was going through when he was younger.
The audiobook has to be the best way to experience this book and I loved having Shaan Dasani as the narrator. His voice has a very specific sound (duh but you’ll see if you listen) and it felt so much like what I imagined Darby to sound like. His pacing and everything else flowed perfectly making the audio a breeze to listen to. I do have to admit the ending wasn’t quite what I had expected but it was definitely fitting, and I really enjoyed the idea of getting to speak to your younger self. I mean, who hasn’t thought about that? I know I have.
Read this if you are looking for exceptional queer representation, adult fiction with a YA feel, and a steady stream of internal monologue.
The audiobook has to be the best way to experience this book and I loved having Shaan Dasani as the narrator. His voice has a very specific sound (duh but you’ll see if you listen) and it felt so much like what I imagined Darby to sound like. His pacing and everything else flowed perfectly making the audio a breeze to listen to. I do have to admit the ending wasn’t quite what I had expected but it was definitely fitting, and I really enjoyed the idea of getting to speak to your younger self. I mean, who hasn’t thought about that? I know I have.
Read this if you are looking for exceptional queer representation, adult fiction with a YA feel, and a steady stream of internal monologue.
March 24, 2025
This review is also featured on
Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins for providing me with a copy of this book! I voluntarily leave this review!
When the company Darby works for shuts down, he’s left wondering what to do next. Despite finding a great group of friends he still feels as if he doesn’t belong in New York. Darby decides to take a break from the city and go back home to the small town of Oak Falls to help his mother move. The same town he left because of their attitudes towards the LGBTQ+ community. And Darby will find more than just the town he left behind, but his high school best friend as well.
The In Between Bookstore has a wealth of representation and a beautiful portrayal of transgender identity. From the path to discovering your true identity, to finding a group of friends who are supportive. Darby’s mother is also a hoot. She is proud of Darby no matter what and will be there for him. And the way Edward Underhill portrayed the tension between Darby and his ex-best friend Michael was so well done.
There is a hint of magic in this novel, as Darby discovers the old bookstore, In Between Books, where he used to work. Strangely enough, he sees a younger version of himself behind the counter and soon realizes he’s travelled back in time. But to what purpose? Caught up in the moment we so often can’t see certain signs from those we care about. However, when you have the ability to gain an outside view, quite a bit can be revealed. One single miscommunication can cause a snowball effect.
The characters in this novel are a joy to read. They will inspire a range of emotions and become familiar friends by the end of the story. The In Between Bookstore is for those who enjoy stories about self discovery and friendship with a hint of magic and romance.
Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins for providing me with a copy of this book! I voluntarily leave this review!
When the company Darby works for shuts down, he’s left wondering what to do next. Despite finding a great group of friends he still feels as if he doesn’t belong in New York. Darby decides to take a break from the city and go back home to the small town of Oak Falls to help his mother move. The same town he left because of their attitudes towards the LGBTQ+ community. And Darby will find more than just the town he left behind, but his high school best friend as well.
The In Between Bookstore has a wealth of representation and a beautiful portrayal of transgender identity. From the path to discovering your true identity, to finding a group of friends who are supportive. Darby’s mother is also a hoot. She is proud of Darby no matter what and will be there for him. And the way Edward Underhill portrayed the tension between Darby and his ex-best friend Michael was so well done.
There is a hint of magic in this novel, as Darby discovers the old bookstore, In Between Books, where he used to work. Strangely enough, he sees a younger version of himself behind the counter and soon realizes he’s travelled back in time. But to what purpose? Caught up in the moment we so often can’t see certain signs from those we care about. However, when you have the ability to gain an outside view, quite a bit can be revealed. One single miscommunication can cause a snowball effect.
The characters in this novel are a joy to read. They will inspire a range of emotions and become familiar friends by the end of the story. The In Between Bookstore is for those who enjoy stories about self discovery and friendship with a hint of magic and romance.
January 14, 2025
A review.
3 stars
The In-Between Bookstore is a melancholy character study about a man who is lost. Going home was an emotional decision, made because the stress of life in New York � the bills, the smell, the noise, the sudden unemployment � was all just too much. Going home felt simpler, felt safer. Helping his mom, revisiting his childhood � and maybe staying. Maybe small town life wasn’t as bad as Darby thought it was; maybe small town people weren’t, either.
It’s a lot of naval gazing, a lot self-indulgent obsession � and while well written, I think the book didn’t quite manage to do what it intended to do. What I saw was an adult Darby who was ineffectual, inconsistent, thoughtless, casually cruel, indifferent, and isolated. He is someone who would rather put the burden upon the younger version of himself to fix a problem than look at the world around him and realize he’s making the same mistakes in the here and now.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety .
3 stars
The In-Between Bookstore is a melancholy character study about a man who is lost. Going home was an emotional decision, made because the stress of life in New York � the bills, the smell, the noise, the sudden unemployment � was all just too much. Going home felt simpler, felt safer. Helping his mom, revisiting his childhood � and maybe staying. Maybe small town life wasn’t as bad as Darby thought it was; maybe small town people weren’t, either.
It’s a lot of naval gazing, a lot self-indulgent obsession � and while well written, I think the book didn’t quite manage to do what it intended to do. What I saw was an adult Darby who was ineffectual, inconsistent, thoughtless, casually cruel, indifferent, and isolated. He is someone who would rather put the burden upon the younger version of himself to fix a problem than look at the world around him and realize he’s making the same mistakes in the here and now.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety .
October 27, 2024
Actually 3.5. <3 Netgalley <3
An "it's not you, it's me" kind of book. I don't think it's bad, I just don't think it was for me.
I also kind of feel like labeling it as sci-fi/fantasy isn't the best move, it's closer to literary? Yeah, there is an element of that with the time travel, but given that it was kind of the selling point of the book to me it was...kind of underutilized. That entire plot point could have been cut and the story would effectively not change. The time travel is effectively just a metaphor for Darby reflecting on his actions before leaving his hometown. If you go into it like me expecting that to be a more focused on plot point, you're going to be disappointed.
Darby can be pretty relatable with his social anxiety and teen angst, but he's pretty consistently a bad friend. He doesn't reply to his found family back in NYC for pretty much the whole book, and the entire plot happens because he fails to communicate properly with Michael as a teen. We also learn he like never speaks to his mother? Darby seems to have some kind of a character growth realization moment at the end, but because this is one of the most consistent patterns we see with his behavior it kind of adds a layer of,,,just annoyance throughout the book.
One thing I did really, really enjoy was Darby's relationship with Michael. Watching it progress and learning more about their past as friends was cool. That ending beat the shit out of me though. My god.
I do love reading books about trans adults because there aren't a whole lot of them and it's always a bonus when an actual trans person is writing it. I had a different experience from Darby, but it was pretty cool coming across things where our trans experiences still overlapped. You can tell the author put a lot of himself into the book. I think for someone who has shared more experiences with the author, it'll be a 5 star.
An "it's not you, it's me" kind of book. I don't think it's bad, I just don't think it was for me.
I also kind of feel like labeling it as sci-fi/fantasy isn't the best move, it's closer to literary? Yeah, there is an element of that with the time travel, but given that it was kind of the selling point of the book to me it was...kind of underutilized. That entire plot point could have been cut and the story would effectively not change. The time travel is effectively just a metaphor for Darby reflecting on his actions before leaving his hometown. If you go into it like me expecting that to be a more focused on plot point, you're going to be disappointed.
Darby can be pretty relatable with his social anxiety and teen angst, but he's pretty consistently a bad friend. He doesn't reply to his found family back in NYC for pretty much the whole book, and the entire plot happens because he fails to communicate properly with Michael as a teen. We also learn he like never speaks to his mother? Darby seems to have some kind of a character growth realization moment at the end, but because this is one of the most consistent patterns we see with his behavior it kind of adds a layer of,,,just annoyance throughout the book.
One thing I did really, really enjoy was Darby's relationship with Michael. Watching it progress and learning more about their past as friends was cool. That ending beat the shit out of me though. My god.
I do love reading books about trans adults because there aren't a whole lot of them and it's always a bonus when an actual trans person is writing it. I had a different experience from Darby, but it was pretty cool coming across things where our trans experiences still overlapped. You can tell the author put a lot of himself into the book. I think for someone who has shared more experiences with the author, it'll be a 5 star.
February 15, 2025
This was a really sweet story of love, hurt and acceptance among friends and also with one’s self. It was refreshing to read a romance that centers young queer friend groups and couples, and in which the protagonist is trans. There were parts of the story that felt belabored, and the time travel element was a little heavy handed - I wonder if different editorial choices could have made it feel more mystical or else figurative as a journey to seeing and nurturing one’s inner confused child/earlier self� All in all, I enjoyed it and glad I read it.
Thanks to NetGalley for a chance to listen to this well-narrated audiobook.
Thanks to NetGalley for a chance to listen to this well-narrated audiobook.
October 14, 2024
I received an ARC from a Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ giveaway.
I really, really enjoyed this book. As a 30-something year old myself I have often wondered about small changes in my life that I would have made given the context I have now. Who amongst us hasn't had a full on shower conversation with their past selves or redid an argument after the fact. Darby could be a little insufferable to be honest but that is what made him feel so real. He didn't all of a sudden change all his flaws and become a better person. The time travel aspect was done well and felt very engaging. I had a hard time putting this down as I wanted to know the next past conversation Darby would have. I liked the melancholy ending as it felt very adult like. Friends you had growing up aren't always lifetime friends but that doesn't make them any less important. I think this is a great book for anyone entering their 30s.
I really, really enjoyed this book. As a 30-something year old myself I have often wondered about small changes in my life that I would have made given the context I have now. Who amongst us hasn't had a full on shower conversation with their past selves or redid an argument after the fact. Darby could be a little insufferable to be honest but that is what made him feel so real. He didn't all of a sudden change all his flaws and become a better person. The time travel aspect was done well and felt very engaging. I had a hard time putting this down as I wanted to know the next past conversation Darby would have. I liked the melancholy ending as it felt very adult like. Friends you had growing up aren't always lifetime friends but that doesn't make them any less important. I think this is a great book for anyone entering their 30s.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Shelved as '2025'
December 23, 2024📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Avon
🎧 Thank you to NetGalley and HarperAudio
🎧 Thank you to NetGalley and HarperAudio
April 4, 2025
2.5/5
I live and work in the sort of place that's certainly "liberal" but not quite trustworthy when it comes to demonstrating active interest in works by and about trans folks. So, when a relevant book crosses my path at a local library, I do my best to make room for it if it makes me look back more than once. This particular work came tidily wrapped in YA-breaking-into-A/NA and a lower than optimal average rating, so I certainly had my warnings going in. At first I appreciated a slower look at transition and a more evenhanded view of urban/suburbia viability when it comes to queer living, and there's nothing like setting something in a bookstore to make me perk up my ears. However, much of the conflict came from the main character's acting as if he were seventeen rather than twenty-nine, and having been going through the hormone/surgery/legal update rigamarole myself (if without any sort of supportive familial presence), I have a hard time believing the character would have made it this far without growing a thicker skin or getting out of his own head for more than two seconds. This wouldn't have been an issue had there been any sort of other plot driving mechanic, but alas, late 2000s teen reading/throwback watching is not my idea of even a second tier good time, leastwise not compared to the culinary shenanigans that tend to round out my queer reading experiences. For all that, I'm extremely pleased that, last I checked, I'm the first of four holds on this, and if anything, this book wasn't the hardest to race through to give those appreciative folks their turn in line. And if it ends up doing at least one person who hasn't quite gotten it as figured out as I have some good, I'll gladly forgo my enthusiasm for their enlightenment.
P.S. Whom do I have to assassinate to receive Underhill as a surname?
I live and work in the sort of place that's certainly "liberal" but not quite trustworthy when it comes to demonstrating active interest in works by and about trans folks. So, when a relevant book crosses my path at a local library, I do my best to make room for it if it makes me look back more than once. This particular work came tidily wrapped in YA-breaking-into-A/NA and a lower than optimal average rating, so I certainly had my warnings going in. At first I appreciated a slower look at transition and a more evenhanded view of urban/suburbia viability when it comes to queer living, and there's nothing like setting something in a bookstore to make me perk up my ears. However, much of the conflict came from the main character's acting as if he were seventeen rather than twenty-nine, and having been going through the hormone/surgery/legal update rigamarole myself (if without any sort of supportive familial presence), I have a hard time believing the character would have made it this far without growing a thicker skin or getting out of his own head for more than two seconds. This wouldn't have been an issue had there been any sort of other plot driving mechanic, but alas, late 2000s teen reading/throwback watching is not my idea of even a second tier good time, leastwise not compared to the culinary shenanigans that tend to round out my queer reading experiences. For all that, I'm extremely pleased that, last I checked, I'm the first of four holds on this, and if anything, this book wasn't the hardest to race through to give those appreciative folks their turn in line. And if it ends up doing at least one person who hasn't quite gotten it as figured out as I have some good, I'll gladly forgo my enthusiasm for their enlightenment.
P.S. Whom do I have to assassinate to receive Underhill as a surname?
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