#the in-between bookstore

[transbookoftheday]

The In-Between Bookstore by Edward Underhill

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.

[lgbtqreads]

New Releases: January 2025

So Not My Type by Dana Hawkins (January 5th) Sophie Black has clawed her way up from coffee runs to project manager at a top Seattle ad agency. She’s laser-focused on her career—until the CEO’s daughter, Ella Northwood, joins the team. Forced to work together on a high-stakes campaign, sparks fly as Sophie’s scrappy determination clashes with Ella’s polished privilege. But there’s more to both…

[solreads]

The In-Between Bookstore - Review

Title: The In-Between Bookstore

Author: Edward Underhill

Genre: Fantasy, Contemporary

Audience: Adult

Format: Novel

Representation: Trans man POV character

Summary: Thirty years old, freshly laid off and broke, with the dreams of a New York City life curdling, Darby Madden moves back to his small Illinois hometown only to find himself feeling just as out of place in the home he left behind. The town has changed. It’s being developed; new shops are springing up on the corners; his mother is selling off his childhood home; and his childhood friends have grown into people he doesn’t recognize. Amidst it all, he wanders into the bookshop that was his refuge as a teenager and finds everything exactly as it was, including his pre-transition, high school self behind the register. 

With this door to the past, Darby hopes to discover what went so wrong with his closest friendship and perhaps nudge sixteen-year-old Darby down a happier path. 

Reflections: I was initially drawn in by Darby’s internal conflicts and the complicated relationship with ‘home’ and childhood born of his queerness and transness. His memories of his teenage years were all warped through the lens of this hidden turmoil he had no name for at the time. And it stuck that way; even as an adult far from his hometown, he carried that childhood turmoil. The use of the time travel element as a device to reframe this time of his life, allowing him to see that wider, adult perspective, hooked me. However, I wasn’t fully satisfied with how it played out. The magical element went fairly underused. I like how the story showed the compromises of either finding a more accepting place to build a home or making a place for yourself as a queer person in the home you already have through Darby and his friend Michael’s decisions. Similarly, I enjoyed how Darby as an adult was able to see more in his hometown and the possibilities for a life and a community there than his isolated, confused teenage self did and how he tried to provide the kinship his younger self was lacking. But Darby‘s character development still ended up feeling a little weak. 

Warnings: Mentions of misgendering, dysphoria, transphobia

Notes on Rep: Explicit on-page representation

[charlesemersonwinchesteriii]

if Crozier had a nickel for every time someone close to him kept a mortal wound secret from him he'd have two nickels which isn't a lot but it's definitely enough to give him some very specific trauma for the rest of his life

[bri-cheeses]

personally I think that all queer books should have a “special edition” with a subtle cover (and a code name if it’s necessary) for all of the people in homophobic areas

[magpie-trove]

Actually I don’t think you are actually fr an adult author if you can’t write something without a s*x scene in it

[peachsukii]

✧. ┊ reishima ⨯ kireibaku lore

“Not for the right person.”

That phrase burns in Bakugo’s brain for days. What the fuck did Kirishima mean by that? That him and myself are in an open relationship…or wiling to be? It’s driving him batshit insane, but he’s too stubborn to press Kirishima for details. So, he stews in his own frustration for the next week or so.

Kirishima and I had talked about trying an open relationship, purely out of curiosity. Not that we were bored with one another, but it’s something we casually stumbled into talking about in the middle of the night while blissed out in each other’s arms. Needless to say, it was shocking that both of us were okay with it — excited, even. Neither of us named anyone, but I don’t think we needed to even say who we thought of.

Cut to a movie night at Bakugo’s place with everyone, we’re all gathered in his nice ass apartment. We’ve been here before, plenty of times, but tonight felt…different. Bakugo hovers around me more than usual, whether it be standing in the kitchen while snacking on some food or grabbing a drink from the fridge. Kirishima doesn’t bat an eye, in fact, he keeps leaving my side anytime Bakugo comes up to us, as if he’s testing his best friend’s control. He watches with a smirk on his face from afar every time, winking in our direction with approval.

“The fuck is he winkin’ at?” Bakugo snarls under his breath near me, crossing his arms over his chest. “He’s done that five times in the last ten goddamn minutes.”

I can’t help but laugh. “He’s being flirty.”

Bakugo’s about to make some snarky comment when the word ‘flirty’ registers. Kirishima was looking at him, not just me.

[displayheartcode]

Not to be annoying, but Young Adult as a market hasn’t been doing so well in terms of sales. A lot of the industry focus has been switched to the crossover appeal of New Adult and romantasy. (While romantasy uses a lot of the same tropes as YA paranormal romance, there’s an emphasis on vibes and spice.)

So before you use YA as an insult, at least check your research…

[fortunatelychaoticphantom]

"tee hee amazon loses money for every book you read on kindle unlimited! ☺" girl. girl this is their business model. girl this is intentional. girl this is how they became a monopoly. girl they can afford to lose this money because they make enough through stolen wages and environmental pollution. girl this is the whole point. girl if you keep supporting them there will be no other bookshops to buy from at all. girl you are helping amazon destroy the publishing world. girl this isn't a bug you are exploiting this is a feature ment to lure you in. girl you are not the predator you are the prey. girl.

[darkficsyouneveraskedfor]

Between the Lines 3

Warnings: non/dubcon, Lee is rude, customer service triggers. and other dark elements. My username actually says you never asked for any of this.

Characters:Lee Bodecker

Part of the Bookstore AU

My warnings are not exhaustive but be aware this is a dark fic and may include potentially triggering topics. Please use your common sense when consuming content. I am not responsible for your decisions.

As usual, I would appreciate any and all feedback. I’m happy to once more go on this adventure with all of you! Thank you in advance for your comments and for reblogging.

There’s banging on the door. So loud it wakes you in your bed. You roll over, dizzy with grogginess, and stumble onto your feet. Zuzu, your sleepy calico, only lifts her head before dropping it back down. She doesn’t have energy for human concerns.

You follow the banging as it continues and come out to the main room of your apartment. Your neighbours aren’t exactly peaceful but you don’t expect such a rude awakening. You go to the door and peek through the peephole. You can see nothing as it’s covered from the other side.

The door shakes and a voice holler through, “police.”

You’re not sure you trust the disembodied declaration. You keep the chain hooked but turn the latch back. You lean into the door and inch it open. It’s pushed from the other side to the limit of the links.

“Hel…lo,” your greeting splits in two as the officer drags his hand away from the door. It’s the same man from the bookstore. The sheriff, he said.

“Good mornin’, ma’am,” he drawls with a coy smirk, “we got calls about a disturbance in the building. You hear anything?”

His question hangs between you. His eyes drift down to your crooked pajama shirt and the pajama pants clinging low to your hips. You cross your arms and sniff. You not his badge; Sheriff. L. Bodecker.

“I just woke up. Didn’t hear a thing,” you answer curtly.

“We’re just makin’ sure everyone’s safe,” he looks you in the eye and tilts his head, “ladies livin’ alone…”

“I’m fine,” you feel the way he pushes even more on the door. You almost fear he’ll pull the chain completely loose.

“Ya mind if I have a look around?” He asks.

You stare at him, unflinching. Something about this doesn’t seem coincidental. It’s as ominous as the words that dogged you since your tense meeting in the parking lot.

“Do you have a warrant?” You breathe.

He chuckles and pulls his arm back, shoving his foot into the small space between the door and frame, “now,” he rubs his ruddy cheek, “why would I need that if you’re not hidin’ anything?”

“Hiding? What? I just don’t think it’s necessary for you to come in. I told you, I haven’t heard a thing.”

“Mmm,” the noise rumbles up his throat, “just lookin’ out for ya. Wouldn’t want some creep hangin’ around.” He clucks and puts his hand on his hip, “rough neighbourhood.”

“Thank you for your concern, but I’m fine,” you insist.

He smirks again and gets closer. You keep your hand on the door but lean away, “I’m sure you can take care of yourself. You’re a smart girl and all.”

“Sir,” you eke out.

He laughs and taps the door with his knuckles. He pulls his foot out of the door and you nearly slam it with the release of tension. He backs up, pushing out his stomach as he eyes you from head to toe. You hide behind the barrier but it feels like he can see everything.

“You stay safe,” he winks and turns lazily on his heel.

You snap the door shut and quickly turn the deadbolt. Your heart pumps wildly as you cling to the handle. You listen and hear his soles scuff down the hallway. You wonder how he found you but you guess it’s not that hard given his position.

🚓

The rest of the day holds little of note. No more surprises, even as you watch over your shoulder. Not just for the sheriff but your manager. Colin isn’t subtle as he circles like a hawk each time you’re with a customer.

You’re probably the most helpful employee left in the place. Ever since that older woman disappeared on sick leave, you seem to be the only employee without an addiction to TikTok. You can understand being distracted in a bookstore but definitely not by your phone.

You leave for the day and stop on your way home to get take out at the Lebanese shop at the corner of your street. They have a combo sale that costs you as much as a homemade meal. You’re feeling lazy and too agitated to deal with a hot stove.

You feed Zuzu after she serenades you shrilly. You eat with her pacing behind you on the couch, waiting for any scrap to pounce on as she forgets her kibble. You try to ignore her as you watch a documentary on Alexandre Dumas. You lose interest shortly after you finish your food and shut off the television.

You recline on the couch with your book, too stubborn to go to bed yet. You know you’ll fall asleep the minute your head touches the pillow. You lay against the armrest and ease into the collection of essays on the Victorian era and various strains of relationships; from friendship to marriage.

It’s not the most compelling to the non-academic but you find spurts of intrigue. You yawn and turn the page, the quiet coaxing you further into your fatigue. Your eyes turn itchy and the font begins to smear. You close the book and get up, leaving it under the lamp as you flick off the light.

You collapse into bed as Zuzu claims her spot by your feet. It doesn’t take much to fall asleep, the world slipping into blackness in a blink. 

The sharp hiss brings you back to the world. You sit up, trying to shake away the cloudiness in your skull. You hear Zuzu jump onto the floor and scurry into the next room. Then a crash.

“What the he–” you murmur as you shove yourself to the edge, “Zu, what are you doing?”

You call out to the cat as you follow her into the front room. As you come out, the darkness is thicker than you expect. The curtains are drawn, blocking out the streetlights and the moon, but you don’t remember closing them.

Zuzu hiss again then lets out an angry yowl, her claws tearing into the rug as she rips around the room. Another clatter as you search through squinting eyelids. What is going on?

“Zu,” you think you see her dash across the floor. You bend over and lunge, trying to catch her, “Zu, chill–”

You feel something clasp around the back of your neck, stopping you in place as it holds you bent awkwardly over your knees. You extend your arms, fingertips on the floor as the thick fingertips pinch into your tendons. You whimper in horror.

“Ain’t no good for a girl like you to be livin’ on her own,” the sheriff’s voice rolls through the dark.

[dan-whoell]

had a dream that someone won a zoom call with dan and phil, and part of the deal was they could ask ten questions and dnp HAD to tell the truth (idk how this worked at all i just know the winner filmed it and released the vid and that was the premise)

anyway they asked about how it is navigating their personal relationship vs public / what it's like having so much of their public and professional identities entwined with someone they also have such a close personal relationship with / do they ever get tired of each other since it seems like their whole lives are together constantly and if any of it has ever caused Real Problems in their personal relationship

and dan gave a super thoughtful answer about boundaries and always putting their personal relationship first above all else, and how their priority has to be each other and what they have together. if it all ended tomorrow, if their 'fame' was over and no one cared about them anymore, the question for dan is 'what would i want?' and he said the answer was 'my life with phil. if i never do another cool thing again it would suck but i would be fine bc id still be with phil. and we both know that at the end of the day we're going to choose each other over everything else.' which he said makes the public relationship not affect the personal bc he knows nothing can touch that ever.

which was all very sweet and very genuine and the whole time phil is nodding along and agreeing, and he suddenly starts laughing and says 'nah, i don't know what you're talking about, we're just coworkers' in that 'can you believe someone said this' tone and everyone had a good laugh

then the person on the call apologized for maybe overstepping and they said it was fine, everyone knows what it is and dan especially will take any opportunity to yap about their relationship

8/10 wish i knew more of the questions asked BUT it was very sweet and i want to write a fic about it

[greenelight]

mason   is spending   new   years   with   his   bookstore   /   cafe   besties   &   having   a   grand   old   time.   usually   parties   are   hosted   at   janet's   apartment   (   his   manager   )   ,   but   this   is   a   rare   instance   in   which   the   owner   ,   desmond   ,   invites   everyone   to   his   spacious   home   &   they   all   get   to   celebrate   over   expensive   wines   &   fine   cheeses.   also   ofc   they   get   to   see   mister   darcy   ,   desmond's   cat   , who   he   brings   to   work   ,   in   his   true   home   &   how   spoiled   he   truly   is.   when   midnight   hits   ,   everyone   hugs   &   kisses   each   other   &   its   all   platonic   fun   &   they   all   make   new   years   resolutions   they   will   definitely   abandon   mid   january   ,   but   it   doesn't   matter   bc   they're   all   enjoying   each   other   &   loving   their   little   found   family   that   they've   created.

[diathadevil]

Do you ever think about how Fakir, after him and Ahiru finally broke everything that kept the town of Goldkröne in the ghostly hands of its writer, after they finally have some air of peace over the town finally being able to live in its intended early 2000s environment, that Fakir still feels at times like it's not real and that for a while he fears that if he closes his eyes it'll be back in Drosselmeyer's control. Like it just doesn't feel real to him during that first year of calm, until he feels the dull pain on his recovering hand injury and Ahiru who follows him without a pendant anywhere to be found.

He doesn't feel it's real, the calm finality of this town, but he makes sure to feel the scar on his hand. And he makes sure to hold the little duck and realize that she is who she has always been. Him and the town are finally living peacefully.

[thegothicalice]

Betwixt Between 📚 Tiny bookstore facade with upper apartment! In an 11”x14” shadowbox; cardboard, wood, acetate, moss, paint and paper, with premade bottles & planters.

[shesmore-shoebill]

im relatively certain i wont love ACOTAR from what I know of it. but I AM increasingly tempted to read it just so i can effectively make jokes about it. bc amanda and court love it SO much and i dont think shayne does and in general. its very funny to me. i want to know whats happenin 👀

[bigcats-birds-and-books]

Books of 2024: What I'd Like To Read By The End Of The Year.

I was feeling ~Whelmed~ over the weekend about all the things I still want to read, and I thought to myself, "Gee Why Is That??", so I pulled everything off my shelf and stacked it up basically in the order I'd like to read it and then went "....ah I see, carry on."

Now this stack WOULD be fine, except everything from ALWAYS COMING HOME down through HOUSE OF LEAVES is stuff I'd like to read adjacent to writing projects, namely: 1. IN BETWEEN (which I'm working on now but need to wrap up by the end of August) and then 2. NANO (which, y'know. Starts on November 1). So the sixteen (16) books between ACH and HOL are for the next three (3) months, and then I'll come back for the side-leaners during/after NaNo, I think.

(Not pictured in this stack is STARLING HOUSE, which I don't have in hand yet but will also be a NaNo Prep book!)

Basically my plan is to read down through this stack in this order and see how long it takes me! I finally got set up with my coworking space today, so hopefully I'll be writing late a couple nights a week starting. tomorrow. Which. will eat into reading time pretty significantly, hopefully.

But there's so much cool stuff I want to read! And write! And knit!! You see why I'm having A Time, huh.