What do you think?
Rate this book
Somewhere Along The Line
A spicy opposites-attract romance with humor and heart, just like your favorite 90s romcom.
Their marriage of convenience was supposed to exist on paper. Can these strangers act convincingly in love when the pressure’s on?
Piper Paulson’s life is finally on the upswing. She has a new job, a BFF roommate, and a commitment to avoid dating after an ex cost her her peace—and her former career. She may not have two nickels to spare, but that’s another day’s problem.
James Newhouse doesn’t have time or energy to deal with… well, anything. A hotshot banker with a complicated family, he’s determined to keep people at arm’s length. His attraction to Piper isn’t part of the plan, and neither is adding her to a Family Fares commuter pass as his “wife” to save her money on train fare.
Too bad their judgment is speeding away faster than their shared train.
Thrown together by chance (and a handful of Elvis impersonators), James and Piper find themselves witnesses to an incident on their commute—“married” witnesses, who may be asked to testify if the crime goes to trial.
Can they keep up the charade to avoid being outed for their lie? And perhaps more importantly, can they protect their hearts in the process?
Exploring the journey to build a future when the path you planned no longer exists, SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE is a heartfelt opposites-attract spicy romance with a guaranteed happily ever after.
Their marriage of convenience was supposed to exist on paper. Can these strangers act convincingly in love when the pressure’s on?
Piper Paulson’s life is finally on the upswing. She has a new job, a BFF roommate, and a commitment to avoid dating after an ex cost her her peace—and her former career. She may not have two nickels to spare, but that’s another day’s problem.
James Newhouse doesn’t have time or energy to deal with… well, anything. A hotshot banker with a complicated family, he’s determined to keep people at arm’s length. His attraction to Piper isn’t part of the plan, and neither is adding her to a Family Fares commuter pass as his “wife” to save her money on train fare.
Too bad their judgment is speeding away faster than their shared train.
Thrown together by chance (and a handful of Elvis impersonators), James and Piper find themselves witnesses to an incident on their commute—“married” witnesses, who may be asked to testify if the crime goes to trial.
Can they keep up the charade to avoid being outed for their lie? And perhaps more importantly, can they protect their hearts in the process?
Exploring the journey to build a future when the path you planned no longer exists, SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE is a heartfelt opposites-attract spicy romance with a guaranteed happily ever after.
343 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 22, 2024
197 people are currently reading
1389 people want to read
About the author
Mallory Thomas
7 books39 followersMallory Thomas is a writer and reader of soft love stories that make you swoon, squeal, and blush. When she's not writing, she can be found picking up after her two kids, joking with her handsome husband, and planning trips to the beach. She's also a baby formula expert and content creator. She strives to write books that are better than your phone-- she hopes the time spent reading her books will leave you happier and more hopeful than time spent on social media. If she accomplished this, please leave a review!
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 132 reviews
July 2, 2025
I received a copy of this book for free from the author for promotional purposes.
This was a super cute romance with some spice!
First off, I loved that it was dual POVs. I will never not be a fan of them in romance novels. I always love seeing how and when the characters start to fall for one another through their POVs.
I loved all the characters. The leads, Piper and James, were both so likable and sweet. They made a great couple. The supporting characters, Sami and Kyle, were super fun. I would love to see a spin off featuring those two.
The book heavily features public transportation (the train) and there was one quote in particular that I related a lot to. While on the train James ponders, “Instead, for twenty-five minutes, a measly 1.736% of each day, I let myself exist beyond the demands of my life— to wonder about a different existence” (pg. 20). I used to do this all the time when I took the light rail every day to college. There’s something about public transit that makes you have an existential crisis.
The story is slightly unrealistic at times, mainly the circumstances surrounding their “marriage” of convenience. You have to suspend your disbelief a few times.
Side note: I love the author’s QR code project. Basically, her daughter is tracking where in the world people are reading the book. All you have to do is scan the QR code and log your location. So fun!
Overall, if you’re looking for a romance to read this summer, consider this one!
This was a super cute romance with some spice!
First off, I loved that it was dual POVs. I will never not be a fan of them in romance novels. I always love seeing how and when the characters start to fall for one another through their POVs.
I loved all the characters. The leads, Piper and James, were both so likable and sweet. They made a great couple. The supporting characters, Sami and Kyle, were super fun. I would love to see a spin off featuring those two.
The book heavily features public transportation (the train) and there was one quote in particular that I related a lot to. While on the train James ponders, “Instead, for twenty-five minutes, a measly 1.736% of each day, I let myself exist beyond the demands of my life— to wonder about a different existence” (pg. 20). I used to do this all the time when I took the light rail every day to college. There’s something about public transit that makes you have an existential crisis.
The story is slightly unrealistic at times, mainly the circumstances surrounding their “marriage” of convenience. You have to suspend your disbelief a few times.
Side note: I love the author’s QR code project. Basically, her daughter is tracking where in the world people are reading the book. All you have to do is scan the QR code and log your location. So fun!
Overall, if you’re looking for a romance to read this summer, consider this one!
October 14, 2024
3 Stars ***
Somewhere along the line was a cosy, cute strangers to lovers romance that has a really well placed plot and an engaging storyline.
James and Piper were really fun and easy to read about. They were both likeable and their relationship was cute, light and fluffy to read!
The way they met and the idea of them sharing the train pass was really cute and unique however I did feel like you have to overlook a little about how far fetched some of the elements were. For example the bomb in the train set up a good concept for their growing relationship but seemed a little crazy for the type of book it was!
However, this set the story up really well - I also liked how the author provided a lot of depth to James and Piper. You felt like you really knew them well and could understand their issues and family trauma. It also played a relevant part in the plot.
Overall, I rated it 3 stars because it was an easy read with a happy, satisfying end. It also is a short book so would be a great book to sit with and finish it in one sitting. I didn't feel like it shocked me or will particularly be a memorable one but it was sweet and enjoyable. <3
thank you so much to netgalley for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Somewhere along the line was a cosy, cute strangers to lovers romance that has a really well placed plot and an engaging storyline.
James and Piper were really fun and easy to read about. They were both likeable and their relationship was cute, light and fluffy to read!
The way they met and the idea of them sharing the train pass was really cute and unique however I did feel like you have to overlook a little about how far fetched some of the elements were. For example the bomb in the train set up a good concept for their growing relationship but seemed a little crazy for the type of book it was!
However, this set the story up really well - I also liked how the author provided a lot of depth to James and Piper. You felt like you really knew them well and could understand their issues and family trauma. It also played a relevant part in the plot.
Overall, I rated it 3 stars because it was an easy read with a happy, satisfying end. It also is a short book so would be a great book to sit with and finish it in one sitting. I didn't feel like it shocked me or will particularly be a memorable one but it was sweet and enjoyable. <3
thank you so much to netgalley for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!
October 16, 2024
a very cute cozy "fake" marriage romance! i absolutely loved piper and james and i loved them together even more.
thank you to the publishers and netgalley for the ARC!
thank you to the publishers and netgalley for the ARC!
October 11, 2024
What an excellent debut romance!!! I absolutely loved this book and I found myself smiling multiple times at Piper and James. This book was so cute and sweet and I couldn't put it down. Thank you to Net Galley for giving me the chance to read before it comes out this month!
January 29, 2025
The plot was a little haphazardly assembled with things that didn't quite hold water, and this bothered me more and more as the book went on.
I don't think we get enough explanation for why this woman is on the subway without a shoe, or why James doesn't seem to care that much, or how her toenail is sharp enough to accidentally damage his loafer. There's a night when they both go straight home from work at 5:20, have sex (but not dinner), then fall asleep on a small couch together for approximately 13hrs, which seems unlikely. And somehow this man invites her to his work, attends a fundraiser for hers, tells his dad to set up a donation, and still doesn't realize where she works (though at least he does admit he's the "densest person alive" for this).
But none of that compares to how horrifying the grand gesture was. She asked for a couple days to consider what took him months to arrive at, and so he called her roommate and her coworkers and her boss and made a big public brouhaha out of pushing her to get back together?
I'm glad Piper stands up for herself a little, and I'm glad she tells James everything he did wrong and points out that his apology is months too late.
I don't think we get enough explanation for why this woman is on the subway without a shoe, or why James doesn't seem to care that much, or how her toenail is sharp enough to accidentally damage his loafer. There's a night when they both go straight home from work at 5:20, have sex (but not dinner), then fall asleep on a small couch together for approximately 13hrs, which seems unlikely. And somehow this man invites her to his work, attends a fundraiser for hers, tells his dad to set up a donation, and still doesn't realize where she works (though at least he does admit he's the "densest person alive" for this).
But none of that compares to how horrifying the grand gesture was. She asked for a couple days to consider what took him months to arrive at, and so he called her roommate and her coworkers and her boss and made a big public brouhaha out of pushing her to get back together?
I'm glad Piper stands up for herself a little, and I'm glad she tells James everything he did wrong and points out that his apology is months too late.
October 16, 2024
Ok, let me tell you, I absolutely loved this book! I wasn't too sure at the beginning, but after getting about 20% in, I was INVESTEDDDDD
Ok, so we have Piper aka Pipes aka P (iykyk) and her Banker Man (I swear he has a name but it's just more fun to write it this way). These two take the same train everyday, and while they are both attracted to each other, they don't make the move...well, until Piper's toenail does for her.
Suddenly, a crazy train incident happens, and these two are forced to share this "big lie" which isn't really all that bad, but could literally take the train away from them. *Insert dramatic gasp* How dare they!! These two stick with this fake marriage story and are seeing it through. Except, neither of them really have it together, and this is honestly the best thing about this book. I feel like a lot of times, we have this perfect fmc and a semi-flawed mmc, yet they make it work in the end and he changes for her. Yeah, ever heard the phrase "I can fix him?" Well, this was not it because Piper knew that's not what needed to happen. And I swear to you when she realized this, I jumped from my bed and yelled, "YES THANK GOD" because she actually had a backbone.
Okay, rant aside- I devoured!! Mallory had such a great flow, writing style, and honestly, this is just chef's kiss 🤌🏼 The only reason, and I mean the ONLY reason this did not reach 5 stars was because of the first 15-20%. I just didn't really see the vision, it seemed to drag a little, and I didn't quite vibe with the mysteriousness, but once I understood, I was HOOKED.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Thomas Books for eARC!
Ok, so we have Piper aka Pipes aka P (iykyk) and her Banker Man (I swear he has a name but it's just more fun to write it this way). These two take the same train everyday, and while they are both attracted to each other, they don't make the move...well, until Piper's toenail does for her.
Suddenly, a crazy train incident happens, and these two are forced to share this "big lie" which isn't really all that bad, but could literally take the train away from them. *Insert dramatic gasp* How dare they!! These two stick with this fake marriage story and are seeing it through. Except, neither of them really have it together, and this is honestly the best thing about this book. I feel like a lot of times, we have this perfect fmc and a semi-flawed mmc, yet they make it work in the end and he changes for her. Yeah, ever heard the phrase "I can fix him?" Well, this was not it because Piper knew that's not what needed to happen. And I swear to you when she realized this, I jumped from my bed and yelled, "YES THANK GOD" because she actually had a backbone.
Okay, rant aside- I devoured!! Mallory had such a great flow, writing style, and honestly, this is just chef's kiss 🤌🏼 The only reason, and I mean the ONLY reason this did not reach 5 stars was because of the first 15-20%. I just didn't really see the vision, it seemed to drag a little, and I didn't quite vibe with the mysteriousness, but once I understood, I was HOOKED.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Thomas Books for eARC!
November 16, 2024
(4.5 Stars) A heartfelt thank you to Mallory Thomas for the #gifted print copy of this lovely book! At 326 pages, it’s a delightful and emotional read—and it’s also available on Kindle Unlimited.
Piper is finally clawing her way out of a rough patch. After her ex-boyfriend managed to blow up both their relationship and her career in one fell swoop, she’s reinventing herself, leaving behind the high-stakes world of finance for the rewarding (if far less lucrative) work of a non-profit. Enter James—a handsome stranger on the train—who offers to add her to his commuter pass account as his "spouse," saving her money she desperately needs. What starts as a harmless favor takes a dramatic turn when a crime on the train pulls them into a police investigation. Now, the authorities think they’re married, and Piper and James must learn enough about each other to maintain their charade.
What follows is a journey of discovery and connection, as these opposites slowly realize they might actually fit perfectly together. Piper has sworn off relationships, while James, grieving the loss of his mother, is hesitant to burden anyone with his pain. Yet, as they navigate their way through an unexpected and slow-burning connection—evolving from strangers to confidants—their chemistry is undeniable.
What I loved most was how the stakes felt grounded and relatable. James’s act of kindness seemed simple until they became witnesses to a Crome. Watching their emotional investment grow as they exchanged names, jokes, and eventually phone numbers felt organic and authentic. Piper’s hesitations after her traumatic breakup were deeply understandable, and James’s reluctance to share his grief added an emotional depth to the story. Their growth felt real, raw, and immensely satisfying.
And I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the delightful thread tying this story together: Bisquick sausage balls. If you’ve had them, you know. If you haven’t, this book might just inspire you to change that.
This is a charming, heartfelt tale of healing and the serendipitous connections that can change everything.
Piper is finally clawing her way out of a rough patch. After her ex-boyfriend managed to blow up both their relationship and her career in one fell swoop, she’s reinventing herself, leaving behind the high-stakes world of finance for the rewarding (if far less lucrative) work of a non-profit. Enter James—a handsome stranger on the train—who offers to add her to his commuter pass account as his "spouse," saving her money she desperately needs. What starts as a harmless favor takes a dramatic turn when a crime on the train pulls them into a police investigation. Now, the authorities think they’re married, and Piper and James must learn enough about each other to maintain their charade.
What follows is a journey of discovery and connection, as these opposites slowly realize they might actually fit perfectly together. Piper has sworn off relationships, while James, grieving the loss of his mother, is hesitant to burden anyone with his pain. Yet, as they navigate their way through an unexpected and slow-burning connection—evolving from strangers to confidants—their chemistry is undeniable.
What I loved most was how the stakes felt grounded and relatable. James’s act of kindness seemed simple until they became witnesses to a Crome. Watching their emotional investment grow as they exchanged names, jokes, and eventually phone numbers felt organic and authentic. Piper’s hesitations after her traumatic breakup were deeply understandable, and James’s reluctance to share his grief added an emotional depth to the story. Their growth felt real, raw, and immensely satisfying.
And I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the delightful thread tying this story together: Bisquick sausage balls. If you’ve had them, you know. If you haven’t, this book might just inspire you to change that.
This is a charming, heartfelt tale of healing and the serendipitous connections that can change everything.
October 6, 2024
Somewhere Along the Line is a beautiful "marriage" of convenience story that follows two characters who are *truly* just trying their best to make it through each day.
This story will make you laugh, smile, blush, and it might even make you cry 😉 it's a wonderful debut, and I highly recommend it!
This story will make you laugh, smile, blush, and it might even make you cry 😉 it's a wonderful debut, and I highly recommend it!
December 20, 2024
Pensaba que no me iba a gustar por ser demasiado acaramelado, pero debo decir que me ha gustado. Es una rom-com de los 90/2000 en toda regla, al final si que es un poco más pasteloso y me ha costado leer un pelín más, pero nada que no se pueda llevar.
October 7, 2024
Received this book as an ARC from NetGalley and loved it! Thank you NetGalley and Thomas books.
Strangers to friends to love, all from meeting on a commuter train! Loved the progression of this relationship, watching the different trials, and the ending had a cute twist I wasn’t expecting.
I flew through this book, felt like the characters grew and were easy to love, appreciated the side characters, and overall really enjoyed this read.
The only “issue” I had is finding it slightly unrealistic, but also we all suspend reality for most of the books we read anyways. Also referring seriously to themselves as criminals for sharing a train pass felt a little silly (but maybe I can’t be trusted since I’m all for sharing any kind of account to save a few dollars)
A few slight spoilers/heads up if you care…
-Does involve a third act breakup
-Open door romance but fairly easy to skip thru sections as desired
-Loss of parent mentioned
Strangers to friends to love, all from meeting on a commuter train! Loved the progression of this relationship, watching the different trials, and the ending had a cute twist I wasn’t expecting.
I flew through this book, felt like the characters grew and were easy to love, appreciated the side characters, and overall really enjoyed this read.
The only “issue” I had is finding it slightly unrealistic, but also we all suspend reality for most of the books we read anyways. Also referring seriously to themselves as criminals for sharing a train pass felt a little silly (but maybe I can’t be trusted since I’m all for sharing any kind of account to save a few dollars)
A few slight spoilers/heads up if you care…
-Does involve a third act breakup
-Open door romance but fairly easy to skip thru sections as desired
-Loss of parent mentioned
October 13, 2024
I really adored this book and I cannot believe this is a debut romance for Mallory Thomas!
James and Pipers banter was adorable. I found myself smiling and laughing throughout! It was such a fun strangers to lovers story with their meet cute being in such an original way, and I loved getting dual POVs!
Thank you to NetGalley and Mallory Thomas for the opportunity to read this before it comes out this month!
James and Pipers banter was adorable. I found myself smiling and laughing throughout! It was such a fun strangers to lovers story with their meet cute being in such an original way, and I loved getting dual POVs!
Thank you to NetGalley and Mallory Thomas for the opportunity to read this before it comes out this month!
October 31, 2024
This book truly moved me!
One of my top reads for 2024 and I just gobbled it up.
I loved how the author focused on the growth of both characters and the growth of their relationship. I also appreciated how they were older and in the middle of their careers.
I couldn't put the book down at all.
One of my top reads for 2024 and I just gobbled it up.
I loved how the author focused on the growth of both characters and the growth of their relationship. I also appreciated how they were older and in the middle of their careers.
I couldn't put the book down at all.
October 12, 2024
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
A special thank you to Mallory Thomas for providing me with a copy of a great book.
This was a great debut novel by an up and coming author with an original take on the fake relationship trope. I loved it! The meet cute is quirky and fun. Piper Paulson is not starting her day off on the right foot - literally. She’s somehow managed to lose a shoe on her way to the train. Accidentally using the suede shoe of the handsome stranger she always manages to notice on her commute to rest her shoeless foot, the two have a slightly awkward exchange before getting on with their day. The two coincidentally sit next to each other the next day and through their conversation the handsome stranger manages to convince Piper to be his fake wife in order to take advantage of the family fares commuter pass.
James Newhouse can’t help but notice the stunning woman who he sees on his daily commute. He daydreams about what she must be like and has the occasional daydream about what their future could look like. Between the stresses of his job and a complicated family situation, he can’t seem to have much energy for anything else. When he learns of Piper’s financial troubles he offers up a scheme to help her out with her fare pass. When they’re caught up in an emergency on their usual commute, they realize that their innocent scheme may be more complicated than they anticipated.
James is so endearing. His crush on Piper is so adorable, and their commute banter was so much fun. James is dealing with a lot, and he’s worried how that might affect Piper. In his words, he doesn’t want to put all of his baggage on to her and he uses it as a way to keep her at a distance at first.
Piper has a big heart. She was betrayed by her previous banker boyfriend who cost her her job during their break up. Despite this, she’s not jaded. With a new job, she’s finally on the mend, and has given up dating - especially bankers. Focused on her fresh start and new job, she doesn’t see James coming. Their interactions made me smile.
They’re both so earnest and playful with each other, which is definitely something James needs very much in his life. While Piper keeps him on his toes, he provides some stability. It’s a perfect balance. I really loved them as MC’s. There’s so much humor in this novel, and I appreciated how both MC’s were slightly awkward with each other at first and that James wasn’t an alpha bro, but a complex man with insecurities who’s just trying to do the best he can. It felt real, and I truly empathized with his circumstances.
My only quibble is the third act break up. I’m not a fan of the whole I’m doing this to not hurt you, and while it is addressed, it’s not my favorite trope out there. Also, I felt their separation was a bit long.
All in all I did enjoy this novel and look forward to more books from Ms. Thomas.
A special thank you to Mallory Thomas for providing me with a copy of a great book.
This was a great debut novel by an up and coming author with an original take on the fake relationship trope. I loved it! The meet cute is quirky and fun. Piper Paulson is not starting her day off on the right foot - literally. She’s somehow managed to lose a shoe on her way to the train. Accidentally using the suede shoe of the handsome stranger she always manages to notice on her commute to rest her shoeless foot, the two have a slightly awkward exchange before getting on with their day. The two coincidentally sit next to each other the next day and through their conversation the handsome stranger manages to convince Piper to be his fake wife in order to take advantage of the family fares commuter pass.
James Newhouse can’t help but notice the stunning woman who he sees on his daily commute. He daydreams about what she must be like and has the occasional daydream about what their future could look like. Between the stresses of his job and a complicated family situation, he can’t seem to have much energy for anything else. When he learns of Piper’s financial troubles he offers up a scheme to help her out with her fare pass. When they’re caught up in an emergency on their usual commute, they realize that their innocent scheme may be more complicated than they anticipated.
James is so endearing. His crush on Piper is so adorable, and their commute banter was so much fun. James is dealing with a lot, and he’s worried how that might affect Piper. In his words, he doesn’t want to put all of his baggage on to her and he uses it as a way to keep her at a distance at first.
Piper has a big heart. She was betrayed by her previous banker boyfriend who cost her her job during their break up. Despite this, she’s not jaded. With a new job, she’s finally on the mend, and has given up dating - especially bankers. Focused on her fresh start and new job, she doesn’t see James coming. Their interactions made me smile.
They’re both so earnest and playful with each other, which is definitely something James needs very much in his life. While Piper keeps him on his toes, he provides some stability. It’s a perfect balance. I really loved them as MC’s. There’s so much humor in this novel, and I appreciated how both MC’s were slightly awkward with each other at first and that James wasn’t an alpha bro, but a complex man with insecurities who’s just trying to do the best he can. It felt real, and I truly empathized with his circumstances.
My only quibble is the third act break up. I’m not a fan of the whole I’m doing this to not hurt you, and while it is addressed, it’s not my favorite trope out there. Also, I felt their separation was a bit long.
All in all I did enjoy this novel and look forward to more books from Ms. Thomas.
October 23, 2024
Thank you NetGalley, Victory Editing Co-op and Mallory Thomas for my advanced copy, these are my thoughts:
This was an interesting take on fake dating/marriage of convenience. As the characters put it “fake-marriage-for-benefits-thing”.
James and Piper meet on the train on their daily commute to work. On a day they start a conversation, James suggests he make them a family travel card and offers to put Piper down as his wife - for the sake of collecting the benefits. What was supposed to be a fun ruse, quickly becomes a problem, after they are witnesses to an incident on the train.
Piper is very nervous she won’t be able to keep up the ruse and will end up getting them caught for committing fraud. So what starts off as a few meetings to work through Piper’s anxiety, quickly becomes a fake dating game, where someone is bound to end up getting hurt.
I love a train/public transport meet-cutes! I quite enjoyed this book. It was fun and sweet and even emotional at times. I enjoyed the easy banter between the main characters and their chemistry was sizzling.
It was interesting to see an emotionally vulnerable main male character and how he learnt from his mistakes and took responsibility for his actions - by being honest and open with Piper about his feelings for her. But I did, however want to shake some sense into James on more than one occasion - I know he was grieving but he sure took his time coming to terms with his feelings for her.
Piper starts off all over the place - why was she missing a shoe while on the train?! But her character grows (they both do) and she shows her professional side, as well as emotional growth.
This was quite slow burn, but the HEA was very satisfying after everything Piper and James went through.
[2-2.5/5🌶️]
This was an interesting take on fake dating/marriage of convenience. As the characters put it “fake-marriage-for-benefits-thing”.
James and Piper meet on the train on their daily commute to work. On a day they start a conversation, James suggests he make them a family travel card and offers to put Piper down as his wife - for the sake of collecting the benefits. What was supposed to be a fun ruse, quickly becomes a problem, after they are witnesses to an incident on the train.
Piper is very nervous she won’t be able to keep up the ruse and will end up getting them caught for committing fraud. So what starts off as a few meetings to work through Piper’s anxiety, quickly becomes a fake dating game, where someone is bound to end up getting hurt.
I love a train/public transport meet-cutes! I quite enjoyed this book. It was fun and sweet and even emotional at times. I enjoyed the easy banter between the main characters and their chemistry was sizzling.
It was interesting to see an emotionally vulnerable main male character and how he learnt from his mistakes and took responsibility for his actions - by being honest and open with Piper about his feelings for her. But I did, however want to shake some sense into James on more than one occasion - I know he was grieving but he sure took his time coming to terms with his feelings for her.
Piper starts off all over the place - why was she missing a shoe while on the train?! But her character grows (they both do) and she shows her professional side, as well as emotional growth.
This was quite slow burn, but the HEA was very satisfying after everything Piper and James went through.
[2-2.5/5🌶️]
October 17, 2024
Somewhere Along the Line is the debut novel of Mallory Thomas and it’s probably one of my favourite stories this year. It’s such a fantastic character driven story that really explores the fears and misbeliefs that many of us face during relationships and the prose is so polished!
This story follows Piper, a free spirit who’s freshly (meaning nearly 2 years) out of a bad breakup with a banker, who works at a not-for-profit, while James is the exact person Piper is trying to avoid. After a dramatic incident ties them together in a “marriage” of convenience, the two work to navigate where their fake relationship ends and the real one begins, dealing with their own fears, grief and hangups along the way.
Unlike many marriage of convenience novels I’ve read, I appreciated the mundane nature of their reasons for “marriage” and in a cost of living crisis, it’s almost believable. But where this novel shines is the way the author has made the characters so perfectly flawed that they feel like any person you could meet down the street. They have their own misbeliefs about love and relationships, and their interactions felt really authentic.
While there was a bit of spice, it supported development of the relationship between the protagonists, and it didn’t feel forced.
My only complaint was I felt like the inciting incident never really got closed out - we never learn the outcome!
All in all though, this is my favourite debut of the year and I’m looking forward to what Mallory writes next. Thank you to the author, NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this early 💗
This story follows Piper, a free spirit who’s freshly (meaning nearly 2 years) out of a bad breakup with a banker, who works at a not-for-profit, while James is the exact person Piper is trying to avoid. After a dramatic incident ties them together in a “marriage” of convenience, the two work to navigate where their fake relationship ends and the real one begins, dealing with their own fears, grief and hangups along the way.
Unlike many marriage of convenience novels I’ve read, I appreciated the mundane nature of their reasons for “marriage” and in a cost of living crisis, it’s almost believable. But where this novel shines is the way the author has made the characters so perfectly flawed that they feel like any person you could meet down the street. They have their own misbeliefs about love and relationships, and their interactions felt really authentic.
While there was a bit of spice, it supported development of the relationship between the protagonists, and it didn’t feel forced.
My only complaint was I felt like the inciting incident never really got closed out - we never learn the outcome!
All in all though, this is my favourite debut of the year and I’m looking forward to what Mallory writes next. Thank you to the author, NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this early 💗
October 7, 2024
Ahh, listen, I’m not gonna shut up about this book because I loved it that much!
We started with a lot of comedic banter but the second half packed an angsty punch. As a whole, the romance was so so sweet, and the few more spicy scenes, I felt, were written well.
If you enjoy romance by Hannah Bonam-Young or classic rom-coms like “While You Were Sleeping”, I think you’d like this one a lot!
I liked our two romantic leads and I enjoyed both their POVs. I thought James was so sweet even though I felt like giving him a headshake “my son, no” at times. I loved Piper wholeheartedly, I am usually the anxious person embarrassing myself on the train, so I honestly felt like I wanted to pack her in a tiny box and protect her.
Personally, the book could have ended after chapter 23 and I would have been satisfied. I believe this may be Mallory Thomas’s romance debut and I’m just sold on her next books (especially if starring Sami and Kyle…👀). I can’t wait to see her writing get even better with time.
I really really need a physical release for this, hopefully we’ll get one in the future!
Thank you to NetGalley and Mallory Thomas for providing a complimentary digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 11, 2025
4.5⭐️
Truthfully when this book started I thought “oh no, I’m going to hate it. Why is she missing a shoe? This FMC is going to bee too chaotic for me and I’m going to hate it” but I gave it a chance and I’m so glad I did. I will say…. I still have no clue why we were missing a shoe and why our toenail was long enough to scuff someone else’s loafer. But whatever lol
The book is cute, with sweet and realistic banter, the characters have jobs that make sense for their ages (I hate when books have 20 year olds owning their own mega companies. Just doesn’t track), and I LOVED piper and her best friend’s relationship.
It’s funny, because I found Mallory through her work with Formula. I was a new mom struggling HARD and found her instagram by chance.. she was a huge part of my success as a first time mom back in 2020. I’ve even DM’d her, telling her what she’s done for me. Well my kids are 3 and 4 now and I just don’t have use for her content anymore the way I did back then. Well imagine my surprise when she pops back into my life, at a time where I’m trying to find myself some hobbies and be more than JUST a mom - I started reading, got a kindle, and here we are again!
If you want a cute little rom-com type story that’s not entirely unbelievable, check this one out.
Oh and Mallory… I see what you did there with Dr. Browne 😉
Truthfully when this book started I thought “oh no, I’m going to hate it. Why is she missing a shoe? This FMC is going to bee too chaotic for me and I’m going to hate it” but I gave it a chance and I’m so glad I did. I will say…. I still have no clue why we were missing a shoe and why our toenail was long enough to scuff someone else’s loafer. But whatever lol
The book is cute, with sweet and realistic banter, the characters have jobs that make sense for their ages (I hate when books have 20 year olds owning their own mega companies. Just doesn’t track), and I LOVED piper and her best friend’s relationship.
It’s funny, because I found Mallory through her work with Formula. I was a new mom struggling HARD and found her instagram by chance.. she was a huge part of my success as a first time mom back in 2020. I’ve even DM’d her, telling her what she’s done for me. Well my kids are 3 and 4 now and I just don’t have use for her content anymore the way I did back then. Well imagine my surprise when she pops back into my life, at a time where I’m trying to find myself some hobbies and be more than JUST a mom - I started reading, got a kindle, and here we are again!
If you want a cute little rom-com type story that’s not entirely unbelievable, check this one out.
Oh and Mallory… I see what you did there with Dr. Browne 😉
October 7, 2024
I absolutely loved this book and won’t stop raving about it!
It starts off fun and light with charming banter, but as the story progresses, it delivers a perfect dose of angst and heart. The romance? Utterly sweet, and the few spicy scenes were written so well—tasteful but with the right emotional punch. If you enjoy contemporary romance that balances humor and heartfelt moments, you’ll fall for this one.
Piper and James are both so easy to root for. I connected with Piper instantly—her quirks and anxieties made her feel so real, and I wanted to protect her the whole way through. And James? Even when he made some questionable decisions, I couldn’t help but cheer him on. Their chemistry was everything, and the way their perspectives were written kept me glued to the story.
Mallory Thomas absolutely nailed this debut. I’m already excited for whatever she writes next—fingers crossed for more of Sami and Kyle!
This is one of those reads that leaves you with a smile on your face. I really hope we get a physical release because I need it on my shelf!
Thank you to NetGalley and Mallory Thomas for the chance to read this gem in exchange for an honest review.
It starts off fun and light with charming banter, but as the story progresses, it delivers a perfect dose of angst and heart. The romance? Utterly sweet, and the few spicy scenes were written so well—tasteful but with the right emotional punch. If you enjoy contemporary romance that balances humor and heartfelt moments, you’ll fall for this one.
Piper and James are both so easy to root for. I connected with Piper instantly—her quirks and anxieties made her feel so real, and I wanted to protect her the whole way through. And James? Even when he made some questionable decisions, I couldn’t help but cheer him on. Their chemistry was everything, and the way their perspectives were written kept me glued to the story.
Mallory Thomas absolutely nailed this debut. I’m already excited for whatever she writes next—fingers crossed for more of Sami and Kyle!
This is one of those reads that leaves you with a smile on your face. I really hope we get a physical release because I need it on my shelf!
Thank you to NetGalley and Mallory Thomas for the chance to read this gem in exchange for an honest review.
October 27, 2024
5/5 ⭐️
what an incredible debut! i decided to give this book a go because the cover was pretty and the blurb seemed interesting, but this was probably one of my favorite romances of this year.
Piper and James are me. combine these two and you have me, which is probably why i understood everything that was happening in their heads, why all their actions made sense, and why the third-act breakup didn’t give me an ick. if you are or know people who deal with anxiety or are socially stunted, then give this book a go – you won’t regret it :)
i loved how this author introduced the side characters and how they just all made sense. the plot of this book was entertaining, and every scene just happened there for a reason (which is not always the case in romance books). loved loved loved this one!
thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
what an incredible debut! i decided to give this book a go because the cover was pretty and the blurb seemed interesting, but this was probably one of my favorite romances of this year.
Piper and James are me. combine these two and you have me, which is probably why i understood everything that was happening in their heads, why all their actions made sense, and why the third-act breakup didn’t give me an ick. if you are or know people who deal with anxiety or are socially stunted, then give this book a go – you won’t regret it :)
i loved how this author introduced the side characters and how they just all made sense. the plot of this book was entertaining, and every scene just happened there for a reason (which is not always the case in romance books). loved loved loved this one!
thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
October 27, 2024
Piper Paulson and James Newhouse ride the same train in to work every day. He’s in a suit, she’s in retro t’s and jeans. They are complete opposites, yet their eyes connect, then look away until one day when the Elvis convention is in town and the only seat available is next to each other and they take a chance and talk. One conversation that leads to their being connected during a freak incident on that train. Neither one of them is looking for a relationship but circumstance and chemistry keeps bringing them together. Will this connection turn into something more?
I liked this opposites attract romance. Piper and James are drawn to each other in large part because they remind each other of their past. She reminds him of his mother and he reminds her of a previous relationship. Both add conflict to their reaching their happily ever after and make for some interesting story arc’s that held my interest and kept me reading. Were there problematic moments? Yes, but the positive outweighed the negative and these problems didn’t slow the story down or take me out of the story so I was able to stay “in the moment” and move past those brief moments.
I looked up the author and didn’t see any other books in her bio so I believe this is her debut novel. In this reviewers humble opinion I think she did a solid job, gave us interesting characters to read about, and created a plot that was simple but had some dynamics that were unexpected and gave the reader that element of surprise that keeps us reading. Nice job!
I liked this opposites attract romance. Piper and James are drawn to each other in large part because they remind each other of their past. She reminds him of his mother and he reminds her of a previous relationship. Both add conflict to their reaching their happily ever after and make for some interesting story arc’s that held my interest and kept me reading. Were there problematic moments? Yes, but the positive outweighed the negative and these problems didn’t slow the story down or take me out of the story so I was able to stay “in the moment” and move past those brief moments.
I looked up the author and didn’t see any other books in her bio so I believe this is her debut novel. In this reviewers humble opinion I think she did a solid job, gave us interesting characters to read about, and created a plot that was simple but had some dynamics that were unexpected and gave the reader that element of surprise that keeps us reading. Nice job!
January 3, 2026
This contemporary romcom completely won me over from the very first chapter. Set in a bustling city and grounded in everyday moments like public transportation and hectic work mornings, this story feels instantly relatable and refreshingly fun.
It opens with Piper running late, hopping on a train, and realizing she is not only stepping on a stranger’s shoe, but she herself is shoeless. Add in a scraped toenail against his very fancy leather shoes, and I was hooked. The humor lands immediately and never lets up. I flew through this book in just a couple of sittings because I genuinely could not put it down.
One of my favorite aspects was the dual POV. Being able to see inside both characters’ heads added so much emotional depth and made their motivations feel authentic and easy to root for. The fake marriage trope was a first for me in a romcom, and it absolutely worked. It was charming, well paced, and balanced the romance and humor beautifully.
If you love contemporary romcoms with strong chemistry, laugh out loud moments, and a modern city setting, this one deserves a spot on your TBR.
It opens with Piper running late, hopping on a train, and realizing she is not only stepping on a stranger’s shoe, but she herself is shoeless. Add in a scraped toenail against his very fancy leather shoes, and I was hooked. The humor lands immediately and never lets up. I flew through this book in just a couple of sittings because I genuinely could not put it down.
One of my favorite aspects was the dual POV. Being able to see inside both characters’ heads added so much emotional depth and made their motivations feel authentic and easy to root for. The fake marriage trope was a first for me in a romcom, and it absolutely worked. It was charming, well paced, and balanced the romance and humor beautifully.
If you love contemporary romcoms with strong chemistry, laugh out loud moments, and a modern city setting, this one deserves a spot on your TBR.
December 29, 2024
OMG Just finished SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE and it was so delightful, charming, and deeply touching. I don't normally highlight beautiful lines from romance novels, but I highlighted a lot in the this one and her discussion on grief was so spot on I cried in several places.
WELL DONE MALLORY. Also well done to your cover artist, the reason I first picked it up because yes I do judge books by their covers even though I know were aren't supposed to.
WELL DONE MALLORY. Also well done to your cover artist, the reason I first picked it up because yes I do judge books by their covers even though I know were aren't supposed to.
January 22, 2025
2.5★
this story was cute! i think this was a decent debut romance novel. i think there was some character depth missing, and the plot wasn’t my favorite (i’m not a fake dating fan in general). the romance between the two characters was sweet. i’m interested to see what the author writes next, and how she improves over time!
this story was cute! i think this was a decent debut romance novel. i think there was some character depth missing, and the plot wasn’t my favorite (i’m not a fake dating fan in general). the romance between the two characters was sweet. i’m interested to see what the author writes next, and how she improves over time!
October 18, 2024
Such a cute book! Loved the relationship between Piper and James! Would definitely recommend if you want a book that keeps you smiling the whole time.
October 31, 2024
This book is the definition of what a modern romance would look like. The plot line is enjoyable, James and Piper have the right level of believable chemistry, and the banter is downright sexy.
James’ character has my heart and I pictured Tom Hiddleston(Other readers, do you see it?). Someone turn this into a movie!
Mallory Thomas, I hope you’ve begun work on your next book- Sami and Kyle?
James’ character has my heart and I pictured Tom Hiddleston(Other readers, do you see it?). Someone turn this into a movie!
Mallory Thomas, I hope you’ve begun work on your next book- Sami and Kyle?
November 2, 2024
I really enjoyed this book. Can’t wait to read more
December 9, 2024
Very sweet, very dear. I want to bundle James and Piper up and protect them from the big bad world.
December 21, 2024
Couldn’t put this book down — I read it in a day! Somewhere Along The Line is a cute rom com that quickly gets to the exciting “will they/won’t they/oh wait here they go” of it all. This is the kind of book I’d love to pick up for a travel day, and stay up way too late reading upon my destination. Give it a read!
January 25, 2025
DNF at 50%
It was just a bit of a weird scenario and although I enjoyed the writing here and there, just couldn’t get into it. Took me 5 days to read half which tells me I’m not invested.
It was just a bit of a weird scenario and although I enjoyed the writing here and there, just couldn’t get into it. Took me 5 days to read half which tells me I’m not invested.
March 10, 2025
4.5 stars
Displaying 1 - 30 of 132 reviews