Publication Date: February 6, 2026
Some stories change your life. Some help you rebuild it.
After ten years in a toxic relationship, Sadie Reed is done being anyone’s cautionary tale. By day she edits other people’s stories, polishing their words and pushing their dreams forward, while quietly abandoning her own. So when she’s offered one impossible assignment, fly to a quiet English village and convince reclusive bestselling author Corbyn Pearce to finish the novel he’s been avoiding, she says yes.
Corbyn is brilliant. Corbyn is infuriating.
Corbyn is absolutely not interested in being “handled.”
Scarred by a tragic accident and locked behind walls he refuses to lower, he has driven away every editor sent his way, until Sadie. Their clash is immediate, electric, and laced with a spark neither of them expected.
But as creative battles turn into late-night confessions, old wounds resurface, hers from the man she escaped and his from the betrayal he never recovered from. And when a long-buried truth pulls them back to a single, unforgettable moment from their past, Sadie must decide:
Is she brave enough to rewrite her story?
And will Corbyn choose to be part of it?
Between the Lines is a heartfelt, slow-burn romance about healing, found family, the courage to trust again, and the love we are meant to find, no matter how many years it takes. Perfect for fans of Emily Henry, Carley Fortune, and emotional, character-driven love stories.
A touch between strangers leads to an unforgettable spark. Sixteen years later, Sadie Reed recaptures that feeling from an unexpected source.
Between the Lines by Tracey Magruder tells the story of a scarred, reclusive writer in an English village caught up in the throes of writer’s block. Corbyn Pearce is trapped in a cycle of bitterness with no desire for help.
Enter Sadie, who is dealing with plenty of emotional baggage courtesy of her ex-boyfriend. Returning to England for the first time since high school offers an opportunity to work with a well-known writer and a respite from a depressive funk.
Both characters have a sense of vulnerability that is channeled through their viewpoints. Once they are able to work through the barriers, the characters begin to build trust. Their relationship is well-paced, more of a slow burn that is built on a solid foundation.
The central theme focuses on acknowledging past hurts while cultivating hope for the future. The snappy dialogue plus the discovery from the past make this an unforgettable story.
Between the Lines delivers a powerful message about two people faced with a chance to write their own story—together.
Tracey Magruder writes romance stories filled with heart, humor, and the kind of emotional chemistry that refuses to be ignored. A lifelong storyteller and music instructor by day, she’s spent years helping others find their voice-now she’s finally using hers on the page. Whether she’s crafting modern love stories or building worlds with a touch of magic, Tracey is most at home writing characters who feel real, messy, and impossible not to root for. When she’s not writing, she’s usually reading, spending time with her family, or daydreaming about her next novel.
