An unfortunate dnf 10% of the way in. The cat fishing plot soured the entire thing for me. The prose is also very wordy and challenging to follow. I couldn't stand listening to Kat for another 90% of the book...

A charming setting and a dreamy cover—this book is made for cosy reading sessions! 📖 ❤️

Set against the warm, bookish backdrop of an Oxford Community Library, Read Between the Lines has plenty of romcom appeal. Kat, a hopeless romantic, and Leo, a gruff ex-cop, are thrown together by library squabbles, mismatched priorities—and, eventually, slow-burn sparks. 💖

I especially appreciated the Oxford setting, with many well-known places lovingly referenced. Familiar landmarks such as the Rad Cam, the Botanic Gardens, the Ashmolean Museum, and the Randolph Hotel were lovingly drawn, adding an authentic charm to the story. The cobbled lanes and cosy cafés brought the city vividly to life, and instantly transported me back to my university days. 🎓 It made the reading experience feel personal, nostalgic, and quietly magical—a true trip down memory lane!

There’s lots to enjoy here: the premise is delightful and the enemies-to-something-more dynamic has promise. While I enjoyed the premise and the soft, slice-of-life pacing, the romance lacked a little spark for me. I liked both leads individually but found myself wishing for more tension or emotional build-up between them. Still, there’s an endearing quality to the story’s quieter approach, and fans of gentle, feel-good reads with a literary twist will find much to enjoy here.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ – A sweet, low-stakes romance that wears its heart on its sleeve. Perfect for fans of cosy contemporary love stories with a British twist ☕❤️

A funny, romantic novel which, although a little predictable, was still enjoyable. I loved Leo and liked Kat, albeit she was a bit annoying in places. An easy read that I got through in a day.

This was a lovely book but just slightly too cheesy for me. I didn't fully gel with Kat and didn't get immersed in the romance. I'm sure previous fans of Emily Kerr will absolutely love this.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing this ARC. 

This read more like an anti catfishing PSA than it did a romance book. 

Kat was so rude to Leo in the beginning for no reason. 

I read this after reading a really great romance book, which really emphasized how much I disliked this. 

I was tempted to DNF, but pushed though and I don't think that was the right decision. 

Now that I'm looking at Emily Kerr's other books, I just don't think that her writing is for me. So if you like her writing, don't let this discourage you, you'll probably enjoy this one too.

A rom com featuring a library and an ex-detective? Right up my street!
Read Between the Lines was everything a romantic comedy should be! I loved the investigation and the banter between the main characters. I loved the humour in the main characters name and the plot of the story. The only thing I will say is that the ending was a little too cheesy for my tastes, but it didn’t take away from anything.
If you’re looking for a romantic comedy that ticks all of the boxes, then look no further than Read Between the Lines!

3.5 stars

Kat Fisher, una bibliotecaria idealista, cree en los finales felices. Y por fin parece estar cerca de uno: tras semanas de intercambiar mensajes dulces y románticos con Brian, un atractivo y atento soldado en misión internacional, todo indica que está a punto de comenzar un nuevo y prometedor capítulo en su vida amorosa. Sin embargo, cuando Brian le pide dinero poco antes de su esperada cita, Kat se enfrenta a una dolorosa verdad: tal vez el hombre perfecto solo existía en su imaginación.

Lo que parecía una historia romántica se convierte en una experiencia que la obliga a enfrentarse a sus inseguridades, a redescubrir su propio valor y a replantearse qué significa el amor verdadero. En el corazón de la comunidad, entre estanterías repletas de libros y personajes tan peculiares como entrañables, Kat aprenderá a distinguir entre la ficción romántica y las realidades del corazón… y tal vez a encontrar algo más auténtico de lo que jamás imaginó.



Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest.

Reading between the Lines has these cliched yet cute characters who fall for each other while on a mission to bring a catfisher to justice. The amateur detective pair had a fun, sweet journey on the way to become partners in more than kns sense.

Read Between the Lines is a charming and witty romcom set in the picturesque city of Oxford, blending humour, heart, and just the right touch of mystery.

Librarian Kat Fisher, a romantic at heart, is having little luck with online dating - until she discovers she’s been catfished.

Determined to find the culprit, she enlists the help of Leo Taylor, a somewhat grumpy ex-police officer who’s been loitering (and mildly irritating her) in the library.

What unfolds is a delightful enemies-to-lovers story with plenty of spark between Kat and Leo.

Their chemistry builds slowly but convincingly, with amusing banter and touching moments that make their relationship easy to root for.

Leo’s transformation from annoying library squatter to loyal sidekick (and more) is both sweet and satisfying.

While Kat and Leo are a great central couple, it’s the secondary characters an eclectic group of library regulars who truly steal the show.

They add warmth, humour, and community to the story, making the library setting feel cosy and alive.

Oxford itself also shines as a backdrop, offering a fresh change from the usual big-city romcom locations.

There are some clever twists throughout the story to keep readers on their toes, and moments of vulnerability, especially from Leo, that give the book unexpected emotional depth.

Kat’s determination and optimism are infectious, and it’s satisfying to see her take control of her own story.

Funny, engaging, and full of heart, Read Between the Lines is a joy to read.

With its quirky side characters, slow-burn romance, and a plot that keeps you invested, this is a perfect pick for fans of feel-good romantic fiction.

Emily Kerr is quickly becoming one to watch in the romcom world.

With thanks to NetGalley and One More Chapter for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Kat Fisher has had jokes about her name all her life but really she just wants to find someone to come home to who values her quiet charms. Ex-police officer Leo bursts into her library and sparks fly, but when it comes to tracking down a scammer to make sure her precious patrons and others aren't harmed, they team up amusingly, pursuing the bad guy through a series of dating app events. I loved the range of library users and friends of Kat and the messages about keeping safe peppered through the text and, although I did work out the identity of the scammer, not how they did it! Leo is a sweet hero who cares too much and there's satisfying character development for both him and Kat. Another good read from Emily Kerr!

Blog review 29 May 2025: https://librofulltime.wordpress.com/2025/05/29/book-reviews-two-books-about-books-moira-macdonald-storybook-ending-and-emily-kerr-read-between-the-lines/

Dnfed at 34%
I really tried to get into this one but sadly I just couldn't and just felt myself skimming and not really reading as the plot nor the characters really seemed to engage with me

Kat is a librarian dreaming of finding the right man. She goes online and meets on or so she thinks.
Leo is an ex policeman who uses the library regularly and annoys Kat with his habit of leaving his papers everywhere.
But when Kat is scammed Leo is the person she feels can help her. Can he find the scammer and also heal her heart

Kat Fisher, a librarian, has finally met a seemingly perfect guy, Brian, on a respected dating site. He is an officer in the military so they haven’t been able to meet in person. When he asks for money to come see her, she is a bit suspicious. Leo, an ex-police officer, hears her talking about her suspicions, he emphatically warns her she’s being scammed. Together, they decide to find out the truth about Brian. Hi jinx ensue, and a rom com is born. This is an entertaining beach read, with a charming vibe.

Librarian Kat invites ex policeman ,Leo, to help her find her on-line dating scammer. Can they find him, will romance develop? Perfect holiday reading.

This was a great read! It had a little mystery, a little humour and a little romance! A well thought out story of a librarian who was looking for love on a dating app, only to realize she was being scammed, and seeking justice for not only herself but others. Katherine paired up with Leo, a visitor to the library, in hopes of finding who was behind the face that she had fallen for on the app. Their adventures (and sometimes misadventures) lead them to the ending she was hoping for!

(I received a complimentary ecopy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own. Thank you Netgalley, One More Chapter and Emily Kerr)

I really liked this book, it was a cute read with great characters. Kat works in a library and is trying to find her perfect man online, she has a date and can’t wait for it. Meanwhile Leo is at the library daily when Kat asks for his help. It’s a great topic in this story and I was good to read about it, it’s very common now and needs to be written about. Emily writes well and I enjoy reading her books. A 4.5 star read. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.

I absolutely adored this story! The chemistry between Kat and Leo was perfection. So much cute banter, which is my favorite. Loved it!

Read Between the Lines is a cute romcom set in Oxford. Librarian Kat is not having a great experience with online dating, whilst Leo seems a bit lost, spending his days sitting in the library apparently working on a business plan. When Kat finds she has been a catfishing victim, she enlists ex-policeman Leo’s help with tracking down the scammer.
Kat and Leo are a cute enemies-to-lovers couple, but for me the secondary characters who are all library regulars are the star turn of this story.

oh i love to read stories about librarians… and especially in romcoms stories… and this one was truly entertaining 💗

this a delightful story about kat a cute and lovely librarian that dreams to find a guy described in the books she reads and immerse herself in real life… but who wouldn’t ? am i right? but love’s ready to surprise her and not only her… why? because leo’s a former detective’s ready to help her to find the person who deceived our kat and even tho leo and kat didn’t have the best start trough this mystery they will develop an amazing chemistry and cute relationship 💘 with a lot of fun and enjoyable moments :)

read between the lines’s perfect to binge it in my opinion’s a lighthearted romcom with mystery and lovely characters? yes please! perfect for a different and maybe more refreshing escape so if u are a looking up for a story with these vibes be ready to read between the lines and find love!

a lot of thanks to netgalley and one more chapter for sending me the e-arc of this book in exchange for my honest opinion!

This was a room com with a difference! Librarian Kat has had a spot of bad luck with online dating. Cue ex detective Leo to her rescue!
This was a slow burn with a page turny side plot that kept me hooked. The secondary characters were also brilliant, and I loved the community feel of the library.
The plot kept me guessing but I did figure out who was behind it!
Would recommend to readers who want more than a rom com and love a mystery!