“Between You, Me, and the Fence Post” by Hunter Snow

Between You, Me, and the Fence Post

Hunter Snow
Tellwell Talent (2026)
ISBN:  978-1739047672
Reviewed by Stephanie Elizabeth Long for Reader Views (08/2026)

After the death of her beloved partner five years ago, Canadian actress Claire Davis has thrown herself into her career and recently earned herself an induction into the Canadian Hall of Fame. When she meets washed-up rockstar Reed Hart at an awards ceremony, dating is the last thing on her mind. But something about Reed’s persistence and sarcastic sense of humor intrigues her. Before she knows it, they are talking every night. She can’t wait to spend all her free time with him.

But a big problem looms, and Claire learns it quickly. Reed Hart is damaged goods. He’s a chain-smoking alcoholic with a penchant for being completely insensitive to Claire. But by then, her heart is so wildly invested in him, she doesn’t want to walk away.

Will Claire succumb to the plight of being in a toxic relationship with a person with an addiction, or will she learn that if you love someone, you need to set them free?

Between You, Me, and the Fence Post by Hunter Snow is an emotionally driven novel that explores the realities of loving someone with an addiction. Although Claire is a successful, independent woman, Snow shows that no one is immune to poor judgment when it comes to matters of the heart. You don’t get to choose who you love, but you do get to decide how you move forward. The author warns us that while the novel has some lighthearted parts, it is not a romantic comedy and explores heavy themes like addiction, suicide, and abuse.

Not only does the novel cover navigating a toxic romance, but the author explores how unresolved grief and trauma can bleed into other relationships. Claire had been stuffing down her grief over losing her partner Ben for years, which made her much more vulnerable to being played or taken advantage of. This will resonate strongly with readers whose loneliness may have manifested into an unhealthy partnership or second-chance romance.

Anyone who’s ever been in any sort of abusive relationship knows the struggle of power dynamics. You start as equals, and in Claire’s case, she quickly falls into an unhealthy routine of catering to Reed and making excuses for his behavior. The author did an excellent job of transporting readers into their private, unhealthy relationship, rife with insults, gaslighting, a dirty house, and plenty of guilt. It affected me on a visceral level; I wanted to jump into the story and shake some sense into Claire before she lost her identity forever. This was a raw and painstakingly real portrayal of how love can hold you hostage.

Ever wonder what it would be like to date a rockstar? Snow’s writing will appeal to that inner fangirl. If you like complex, messy, unconventional relationship stories, this one is for you. Between You, Me, and the Fence Post by Hunter Snow intersperses a little glitz and humor into a weighty storyline, brimming with well-developed characters.