The In-Between: Part Two

by Harry Applebottom

Evan Marsh thought getting a job would mean getting his life back. Death had other plans.

Now newly dead and newly employed—twice—Evan splits his days between a fluorescent warehouse (where everyone calls him “Justin”) and nights spent learning the ropes as a soul-guide under Kathleen’s lime-green Post-its. Jack’s Place is his home base. Zack—the guarded reaper who makes him feel alive—might be, too… if Evan doesn’t mess it up.

When Evan attends his own small funeral in disguise, he finally says everything he never could to the people who raised him. Later, a chance encounter at a club with his brother detonates into a misunderstanding that sends Zack storming off and leaves Evan choosing between the rules of the afterlife and the people he can’t stop loving.

His next assignment changes an inseparable couple of forty years facing a final parting—and a choice. In the quiet of their kitchen, Evan learns what commitment looks like when there are no tomorrows to waste.

With a day job, a duty to the dead, and a heart that refuses to quit, Evan has to decide whether he and Zack can risk building something real when a door to the afterlife could open for either of them at any time.

68 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 25, 2025

About the author

Harry Applebottom is a hopeful romantic and a gay erotic romance author here to unabashedly satiate and titillate your inner carnal desires with lots of steam, heart, and love. Harry's works range from short stories and novellas to full-length novels of various subgenres, where every ending ends with a happy one.

Reviews

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Warning: have tissues ready when the scene with A. Luna comes. I thought the funeral scene was heartbreaking enough, but that was just the author using a meat tenderizer on my heart. Chapter 4 was putting it in a blender at top speed until it was liquified, then, it burned the liquid until there’s no more heart left. I’m still teary-eyed. He wrote a 40 years love story using less than a full chapter. Ari and Miles are engraved in my life forever, and I want a love like theirs. And I know they are only in one chapter, but it makes such an impact on Evan, it changes everything for him, and it changed a lot for me. I know they say that a picture is worth 1000 words, well, this book is several movies worth. There’s so much emotion expressed so concisely, it’s amazing and beautiful. A powerful example is this from Zack: “I walked away because I’ve learned that if I stay when I feel like that, I can say things that rot the air. And I don’t want to do that to you. But I also… left you in it. And that’s not who I want to be with you.” There’s so much said in such a short paragraph… when I saw the ARC for this, I squealed, because I loved the first one and wanted more of Zack and Evan, then chapter 4 hits, and I write a voluntary review through tears. Then chapter 5 heals Zack, Evan and myself with this “They were… lucky. They loved each other. All the way through. And then again.” And then, I’m bawling again because these words are beyond beautiful. I think the author should write his own reviews, because my words cannot capture the emotional rollercoaster he put me through, anything I say does not do this book justice. Please, read it, because it’s a beautiful love story, more than that, is a bunch of love stories, and they’re all beautiful.

[Trace Dial · Rating 5 out of 5]

Evan’s decision to attend his own wake or visitation was a powerful and emotionally resonant moment in the book. Justin’s speech to his family was a testament to love and resilience. However, the most captivating aspect for me was the story of the gay husbands who had shared 40 years of life together. This was filled with unexpected twists and turns, leaving me emotionally drained and deeply moved.
I thoroughly enjoyed both books. Harry Applebottom’s writing is truly remarkable.

T.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Ashley Carrillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Harry Applebottom freaking does it again. I cannot express the level of emotions this author can make me feel in 100 pages or less. I will never get over it. He doesn't just write spice for the sake of spice but he writes it to show the love, passion, and rawness of two men coming together. It's definitely hot but its so much more than that. This book has a part one which I recommend you read first not only because it will give you the full context of what this book is really about but because it was heart breaking and in some ways life changing with the way it makes you think about your life as well as the lives of the characters Harry Applebottom continues to get us to fall in love with. Here we get to see more of what happens after the events of the first book. We get another peak into the life of Evan and how he's navigating his new life as a reaper and also his new identity that the rest of the world sees when they look at him even though technically he's still Evan. We get to see more about how his family is doing after his death and how he has to come to terms with his life with them being over. It's hard to get a second chance after his first life was over and the people he had to leave behind but he has to find ways to be able to accept and move on from things he can't change even if he'll never forget. Besides that there's also his relationship with Zach to consider. What they have is new and still up in the air in a way even though they're moving through life together trying to figure things out and be there for each other. Both are having a hard time not because they don't want to be together but they don't know how yet or how much time they have. But if there's one thing they've learned is that nothing is guaranteed and bad things could happen but first they have to choose each other and continue to do so if they have any chance of working and making a life together. But with the way you can see their love shine in the background ready to make itself known I think they have an amazing chance at something beautiful. Ugh I definitely cried reading this for so many reasons. I wish I could read more! Trust me you won't regret reading this book and going on this journey with Evan, Zach and all the people they meet along the way. It'll break your heart a bit but it also gives you a strange sense of peace. I can't wait to read whatever else this author has up their sleeve.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn’t sure how it could be possible, but part 2 surpassed 1 in my heart. Evan/Justin has a new job (actually two when you think about it — soul reaper and warehouse worker), a solid connection with Zack as a friend and much more, and a chance to get a bit of closure for himself and his family. How he navigates that without breaking the rules is clever and heartbreaking, but also uplifting for him in that he gets to see his family again and say some of the things he wanted them to know, still without crossing the line. But the part that had me in tears and catching my heart was his reap assignment for A. Luna and the unexpected addition with Miles. Evan was so caring and thoughtful, setting the stage for Miles, then supporting Miles as he made his choice, acting like it was a natural thing to do in this situation.

As my tears fell, all I could think was that I hoped my husband had an Evan when he passed, someone to ease the way. That part of the book was especially beautiful and uplifting, as well as comforting for me, as I relived that time in my life, believing that something comes after. I could definitely be happy with something like Evan. None of us know for sure what is in that moment or on the other side, but my hope for something similar is there.

There is so much heart and forgiveness, and growth and self-realization, and care and love in these few pages, a story that spoke to me and will resonate for awhile. I hope there is an Evan for me when my time comes.

I received an advance review copy for free and this is my voluntary review.

[Angi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can not express how much this book impacted me in so few pages. From the beginning I knew I was going to be crying the tone of the book dictates that’s what’s coming. What I didn’t expect was how deeply this book broke my heart. It was shattered for a several chapters. Zack and Evan have such a fantastic dynamic to their relationship. Book 1 had me crying more than once. This book, I cried on an emotional roller coaster that broke me and healed my heart right along with Zack and Evan. Harry Applebottom wrote these books with such impacting emotions you feel as raw and vulnerable as the characters themselves. I can sing praises all day for how much I adore this author and the beauty and bitter sadness along with the connection to his characters. I know that these characters and the powerful words within these short pages will always resonate with me. I recommend starting at book 1, with a box of Kleenex, an open heart and mind and be prepared for the range of emotions you will go through. More than once I ugly cried and had to wait for my vision to stop being blurry to begin again. Once again I’m in awe of how great these books are.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Babara-Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

BEAUTIFULLY POETIC AND HEART WRENCHING!💕

Gahhh I loved Evan and Zack’s love story and how they learned from two old men who loved each other for forty years right into the afterlife!

Evan starts his first job as Justin and learns his funeral is the next day from Allan’s old phone… angry they must be

A misunderstanding between Evan and Zack leads Evan to do a reaping home visit for Kathleen that turns his upside world rightward…

Chapter Four is a story in itself that will have you as reader bawling your eyes out for these two beautiful souls Ari and Myles who teaches Evan a lesson in everlasting love….

“say it again. In a different room. With your hands not in fists.”

This story was very beautiful and poetic and showcased the beauty of trust, communication and most of all love in an unsure world for these two reapers!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Dolly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Evan from the first part, begins his new life as "Justin". He has a new job and he's in a sort of situationship with Zack, the other reaper he met in the first book. In just a few short pages, we see Evan as Justin being able to get closure with his family by attenting his own funeral. And then he later finds out that his brother, Dennis has had a really big secret that he's been hanging to and he tries to help him through it.

I really liked this one. I enjoyed Part one and this was a really nice sequel. The scene with Ari and Miles was so heartbreaking, but beautiful at the same time. I totally cried.

I defintely recommend both parts.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Emma Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Harry Applebottom’s The In-Between: Part Two is heartfelt, witty, and quietly devastating in all the best ways. Evan’s journey—balancing crappy warehouse shifts, reaper training, and a tender, complicated pull toward Zack—feels raw and real, even set against the surreal backdrop of life after death. The mix of humor, heartbreak, and hope is perfectly balanced, and the scenes with both his grieving family and the elderly couple hit especially hard. A beautiful continuation that deepens the story while keeping Evan’s voice sharp and relatable. Can’t wait for more.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Nina Diab · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book continued where part one left off and I loved it. I loved the first book, too- the premise, the characters. I had gotten so emotionally invested in Evan and cried my heart out when he died. I didn't think this book would would make me cry too- but that funeral had tears running down my cheeks. Harry Applebottom wrote that scene so beautifully with love and compassion. It still chokes me up. I loved seeing Zack and Evan connect more and was completely hooked to this story. Another beautiful read. 5 stars

[R · Rating 5 out of 5]

His job is to reap souls. Help them pass on. But Evan is floating. Trying to reconcile the face people see (Justin’s) with the face he was born with, lived with, and died with. He’s gotten closer to Zack but isn’t sure what that means.

This book was very nice. Lots of spice between Evan and Zack. Evan’s funeral was sad. What really got to me with this story was Evan’s reap. Heartbreaking but at the same time so sweet it made me teary.

Don’t know if this is the end of their story but ending was satisfying.

I received an arc of this book.

[Val Francis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having read several of Harry Applebottom's romantic gay novels, I took this one to review without realising how refreshingly different it would be from his previous books. I never expected there to be romance after death, though obviously Harry thinks there might be.

The In-Between (Part Two) is highly original, and his main characters, Evan and Zach, are fresh and engaging. The story moves along nicely, with no dull spots. I can happily recommend this book to all readers.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A surprise (to me) there is second part to Evan's journey as a reaper and watching his family grieving. Wonderfully written and the growth of Evan's relationship with Jack is organic and believable. Also watching Even do his first job is revealing and heartwarming 💕.

I hope there will be a third part because this an exquisite series. Well done you, Harry!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Shannon Janssen · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The In-Between (Part Two)" by Harry Applebottom is a continuation of "The In-Between" and is a well written, emotionally charged story. The author continues to pack a lot of story into few pages. Evan is figuring out how to move on from his earthly family with his reaper family and the connection between him and Zack continues to grow. I enjoyed this story and always look forward to more from this author.

[Marty Hamrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a beautifully written and emotionally intense story from Harry Applebottom; a perfect and engaging continuation from book one. The author has managed to pack an immense amount of depth and development in such a short number of pages.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

In book 1 Evan has died. He is now joined with a group they call the reapers. The reapers help souls pass over. He has a new name, new job & possible love interest in Zach. This being only a less than 100 page book I don't want to go into the details other than it is well worth the read. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Debbie Benson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. Evan is trying to help his family even if it is only words of comfort. I liked that Evan learns from the old couple that he reaps and he uses the lessons learned to help his relationship with Zack.

[brenda hurley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed read this book I couldn’t put it down turning the pages. I thought the story was interesting and was well written that kept you reading. I can’t wait to read from Harry Applebottom.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book it is the second part of Evan and Zack’s story and for a short read it will take you on an emotional rollercoaster but it is definitely a set of books that I would recommend highly.

[Sara Irons · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book picks up exactly where book one left off. Evan is still having difficulties navigating his new existence. Wonderful characters and great world building. Heart felt story.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Cheyenne Rivera · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love first one and I love this one just as much. Like oh my goodness this is a good no a great read. I can't wait for more.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Reatha Klein · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always with a Harry Applebottom book i loved this one. Was so excited for this one and it did not let me down.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Janet Jaramillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

The In-Between: Part Two

OMGGGGG no notes this is perfect! I love Harry's books and I wish I could just read them all!