Between the Lines by Tracey Magruder
Thank you to Tracey Magruder, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, and NetGalley for providing this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Commissions may be earned on links in this article.
Book Recap: After a devastating car wreck, Corbyn hasn’t been able to write and has gone through multiple editors with no luck. As his publishers' concern for the book rises, Sadie is sent from New York to Corbyn’s home in Great Missenden, England to sort the book out. Slowly Corbyn begins to trust Sadie with his book and his heart.
Top Tropes/Themes:
☀️Grumpy/Sunshine
📚Author/Editor
🐶Dog as a Character
Spice Rating: 🌶️ (One “cracked” door scene)
Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 (4.5 stars)
Let’s Talk About It…
I must start by saying that I love a good book about books and/or publishing. Seeing the back and forth between an author and an editor, even in a work of fiction, is like a peak behind the publishing curtain. The author in this book, Corbyn, is grumpier than most main characters I’ve seen in the “grumpy/sunshine” trope as he is dealing with the trauma of a car wreck that almost took his life and drastically changed him as a person. Sadie is the editor from New York. She is also dealing with a personal struggle after a recent break up with her abusive ex-fiancé whom she dated for years. Neither one of them is perfect and are still working through their pasts when the readers are introduced to them.
The setting of this book is incredibly cozy. Great Missenden seems like a fairy tale in real life. The community is supportive and the landscape is mesmerizing. It is the perfect setting for our characters to write a book and their love story.
I loved so many aspects of this book from seeing the writing process grow along our character’s relationship to the loving members of Corbyn’s found family, reading this story really made me feel like I was getting a warm hug. I couldn’t do this book review justice without mentioning the dog, Riley. He was such a fun addition to the story and the amount of times he intervened in this love affair made him feel like a very strong secondary character.
If you like contemporary romance with imperfect characters who are willing to grow and books about books, this one is for you. If you have struggled with an abusive relationship in the past or a devastating accident, this book may be a trigger for you so be aware that the details surrounding these events are graphic at times and troubling to read. The main reason for my rating not being a full 5 stars was due to how the abuser is handled in a section of the book, but that did not take away much from the enjoyment I had from the rest of the story.
Overall, this was a cute, quick read that I loved so much as an ARC that I purchased a signed hardback copy for my shelf to support the author. If you are in the mood for a contemporary romance that doesn’t shy away from difficult topics, but rather faces them head on in the safety of a story with a happily ever after, please pick up a copy of Between the Lines!
