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The In-Between Bookstore
Edward Underhill
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“What would you tell your teen self if you could go back in time? Underhill’s tender, innovative debut is the smartest take on this trope I’ve ever read. . . and for the record, I read it in a single sitting. A beautiful, thoughtful study of how we find our truest selves, and whom we choose to trust with that gift.”
— Jodi Picoult, #1 New York Times bestselling author
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.
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Posts about this title from Not So Well Read
Not So Well Read\ \ Courtney\ \ • Jan 19 2025
[Shit got weird this week... like really weird.\ \ This Week in the Book World: \ \ RIP Booktok. I was hoping you and I would get to know one another a bit better this year, but looks like fate had different ideas for us. Seriously though, the last 24 hours have been a propaganda fueled nightmare and I would like to wake up.\ \ Neil Gaiman. What is that quote about living long enough to see your heros become villains? Well that one hit real hard this week. I read half of the Vulture article, immediately wanted to throw up, and then mourned for several days. Please, please take care of yourself if you decide to read this article.\ **Onyx Storm. **I'm going to say it. Some of y'all need to chill the f*ck out. It's literally a book. If you go into a target and swap the dust jacket on a book, that's theft. If you're digging through boxes that are unopened on the floor and causing a headache for underpaid retail workers, you're the asshole. If you're complaining about how a small business (who probably got their books on Friday) can't compete with one of the largest supply chains in the world, you're buying local for a pat on the back, not because you actually want to support local. I know someone is going to be a jerk to me this week about their book and I am going to lose it.\ \ Also, low key am glad that B&N finally got fined for breaking the rules, which they've been doing for YEARS.\ \ Also, also, people started preordering this book in like March, so watch me cackling at these videos of people crying about how they can't get a deluxe edition now. Like, friends... really?\ \ This week's publishing news: \ \ So many great gothic books announced this week! Here are some favs:\ \
- Necrogenesis by Ashia Monet's which is a dark academia gothic fantasy about a true crime fan who "resurrects a victim of a massacre to uncover what claimed the lives of six necromancy students at a secluded manor in the '70s"\
- Bloody Mother by Kim Bohyun (translated by Archana Madhavan) about a mother-turned-vampire "fated to a lifetime of man-killing time-travel to avenge her daughter's brutal death"\
- A Practical Guide to Dating a Demon by Hannah Reynolds's which was pitched as a " YA cozy romantasy" where a magic academy student tells suitors by telling she's engaged to a demon "only to return home and find a demon waiting for her, insisting she honor the engagement"\
- Two books from Kawai Strong Washburn's (Sharks in the Time of Saviors)–The Names of the New World, a literary ecothriller in 4 acts; and The Horizon Thief, a "Polynesian retelling of Lord of the Flies"\
- The Halls of the Dead by S.M. Hallow, described as "a queer, gothic romance set in Victorian London, in which a woman who has dedicated her life to protecting the necromantic secrets held in sentient grimoires bound with human skin" resurrects her murdered partner\ \ This week's new releases:\ \
- Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao (Adult, fantasy)\
- Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor (Adult, sci-fi)\
- The In-Between Bookstore by Edward Underhill (Adult, fiction)\ \ What I read this week: \ \ Elatsoe (78%)\ \ This has been such a fun middle-grade/teen read. I'm almost finished with the audiobook and I have LOVED the asexaual representation in this one. This one is fully focused on family and friendship, which has been so refreshing. I can't wait to finish it.\ \ Fagin the Thief (62%)\ \ I had to pause on this one this week to read my Underbrush fantasy book club pick–The Will of the Many.\ \ The Will of the Many (31%)\ \ Not going to lie, I was super intimidated by this one, but was up for the challenge when we chose it as our book club pick. I am thrilled to say that this one is actually super easy to get into. I started this one on a 7:30am flight and was almost immediately invested, which is saying a lot because I am NOT a morning person. I need to get to the halfway point of this one before meeting tomorrow, so excuse me while I read this for the rest of the evening.\ \ What I bought/shelved \ \ I've already posted two posts about new books in my collections, so I won't bore you with those again. If you're interested you can see my Indianapolis book haul here and my extremely exciting publisher book mail here.\ \ Other musings: \ \ Honestly, I'm tired. Like really tired. So, I don't really have any other thoughts. I'm sending all of you all so much love as we head into tomorrow. It's going to be an emotional rollercoaster, but we will get through it.\ \ See you on the other side. Take care of yourselves.](https://notsowellread.binderybooks.com/item/LrnHi4hmhZo6hZ3XVBb2/)
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Posts about this book from across Bindery
Alex (Pucksandpaperbacks)\ \ Alex (he/him/his)\ \ • Jun 28
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50+ trans book recommendations 🏳️⚧️
Over 50 trans book recommendations for the Trans Rights Readathon and Trans Reading Challenge ranging from memoirs, nonfiction, romance, contemporary, YA and middle grade, and some SFF.
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Queer as Books\ \ José\ \ • Mar 31
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\ \ Join for free or login](https://queerasbooks.binderybooks.com/item/TVz8wynkKCqWg1axSvBr/)
🏳️⚧️ 30 Trans Books to Read All Year 📚
Because every story matters. 🩵🩷🤍
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The Very Queer Library\ \ Jacob Demlow\ \ • Jul 15 2025
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\ \ The exclusive Bookish People book list is now available for the Friends of the Library paid tier members! 💕📖\ \ Upgrade to a Friend of the Library to access it now!\ \ #BookishPeople #BookList #FriendsOfTheLibrary\ \ Join for free or login](https://theveryqueerlibrarian.binderybooks.com/item/vFDo5DL3EFPjAQFWC44R/)
📚 New Book List Alert: Bookish People
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Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Apr 19 2025
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in which i rob HarperCollins (without remorse) once again.
SHELVES AND THE CITY HAUL EEP!
📚 books mentioned: - The Macabre by Kosoko Jackson - (S)kin by Ibi Zoboi - The In-Between Bookstore by Edward Underhill - The Queen’s Spade by Sarah Raughley - Katabasis by R.F. Kuang
many many thanks to @harpercollins @harpervoyagerus @epicreads @avonbooks @williammorrowbooks
#shelvesandthecity #shelvesandthecityla #bookhaul #bookunboxing #harpercollins #rfkuang #katabasis #bookbrandtrip #bookishbrandtrip #starrysteph #nycinfluencer #bookstagram
Queer as Books\ \ José\ \ • Mar 20 2025
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Perfect for the Trans Rights Readathon starting on March 21st!
15 books
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Queer as Books\ \ José\ \ • Mar 18 2025
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\ \ Upgrade for $5 or login](https://queerasbooks.binderybooks.com/item/vhqijAdnPuxT9tj12CAl/)
🚀 Early Access 🚀 Trans Book Recs 🏳️⚧️ 📚
Perfect for the Trans Rights Readathon that starts on March 21st and all year!
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Queer as Books\ \ José\ \ • Feb 11 2025
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\ \ Join for free or login](https://queerasbooks.binderybooks.com/item/CZWNR8SuPcKQmMev5xMJ/)
Y’all, January was a STRUGGLE. With everything going on in the news—in both the US and Puerto Rico—all that collective stress really got to me. I have to give thanks to audiobooks because without them, I wouldn’t have been able to finish a single book that month. I've already posted more in-depth reviews of most of these books, but here’s the rapid-fire version.
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Queer as Books\ \ José\ \ • Jan 31 2025
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“The In-Between Bookstore” by Edward Underhill: Video Mini Review
It's the heartwarming story of Darby, a trans man who returns to his small hometown looking for a fresh start. When he steps into a familiar bookstore from his childhood, he’s transported back in time and comes face-to-face with his teenage self.
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Queer as Books\ \ José\ \ • Jan 21 2025
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"The In-Between Bookstore" by Edward Underhill: Mini Review
The heartwarming story of Darby, a trans man who returns to his small hometown looking for a fresh start.
1 book
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Not So Well Read\ \ Courtney\ \ • Jan 19 2025
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Arcane Nights Press\ \ Cassidy\ \ • Jan 16 2025
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New Books Released January 14th
Here are just some of the many books that came out today! We’re talking romance, mystery, fantasy, and more!
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Queer as Books\ \ José\ \ • Dec 24 2024
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My Most Anticipated Releases of 2025
Check out my most anticipated books of 2025! From swoony romances to thrilling adventures and emotional stories, these upcoming releases are packed with everything I love.
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