3.5 STARS

I am a sucker for the roommate trope and couldn't resist this one. It was somewhat predictable but entertaining nonetheless. Kaden is the typical badboy with a good heart, and while I disliked him initially, he did grow on me. It was a cute, light-hearted read but nothing overly rememberable or unique. If the subsequent books are translated into English, I would likely give them a read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bastei Entertainment for my advanced review copy.

I was pleasantly surprised but this story! So impressed, I can't wait to read more!

Allie leaves the Midwest to get away from a dysfunctional family life. She's having a hard time finding a place to live now that she has decided to go to college and become a teacher (against her parent's wishes). Kaden is a college student tortured by mistakes of his past. He doesn't want to trust again and he definitely doesn't want a female roommate. Somehow, when he meets Allie, he seems to forget about all the rules he had imposed for himself and for his new roommate.

I will be the first one to tell you, I am usually not a fan of new adult romances. I am far enough removed from that age group to find those books annoying. However, Ms. Kasten has changed my mind. I love Allie and Kaden's story! It has an entrancing story without all the tired tropes that tend to come with this genre. I also love the fact that the cast of characters is well developed. Bravo, Ms. Kasten! I want to read more!

4.5 stars This is a contemporary college romance. Kaden needs a roommate never expecting the person to be a female. Allie is desperate she wants to rent the bedroom from Kaden. She needs to make it work. Both individuals come with plenty of baggage from their pasts but have no intention in acting on their sudden feelings. Unfortunately, the last has a way of pushing into the present and effecting everyone. The author did a great job developing the characters so they're realistic and the story draws you in and to keep reading. I received a complementary copy of this book via NetGalley and chose to write a review. I look forward to reading future books by this author.

I really enjoyed this one! Kaden was an absolutely jerk, but with that tender good guy deep down, that Allie brought out in him. Oh, don't get me wrong - he absolutely shut down and reverted to assholedness (yep, it's a word!!!!) when things got too scary for him, but he was totally redeemable, and good at realizing when he had his head up his ass!

Good romance, a bit of angst, lots of humor, and if you love asshats, this one is for you!!!

This book was incredible! I honestly thought that Kaden was a pompous ass, but I'm sure I am not the only one. I was not so sure about Allie as a character because she seemed all over the place, but I think that's what the author was going for. Overall, the story was fantastic and I want to see what happens between the secondary characters. Sequels please!!

This was a cute romance between two college students, Kaden and Allie. Allie is running away from her family and something bad that happened to her. She is starting a new life in college. She needs an apartment and is having no luck finding a suitable roommate, until her last appointment. She feels right at home here, but the male roommate, Kaden at first tells her "no." But with some persuasion, Allie gets the room, but with rules from Kaden she must follow. She totally agrees because she is focusing on her future and nothing else. Of course the rules don't last long. The slowly building relationship between Allie and Kaden is great to watch. On the surface, Kaden is a very hard person, but we learn that he has a past he's running from, too. Allie is witnessing first hand Kaden's hidden sweetness. By the end of the book I totally fell for Kaden. And the secondary characters, Dawn and Spencer in particular, are great. They bring a level of humor to the story. This was a good story that had secrets revealed at the perfect times in the book.

This is a new author for me, and I really enjoyed Kaden and Allie's story. Book is about two "just bent" young adults who come from different parts of the country and end up in Woodshill, Oregon, an small town where they are both in college. Both have issues that keep them from a normal relationship, and end up being roommates. The overall story was pretty good, emotional when things started coming out regarding their challenges, but definitely long in parts of the journey. I didn't care for the number of times they went back and forth with regard to their new found relationship, but the chemistry between the two was pretty interesting. Would love to read Spencer and Dawn's story if there is one, would definitely read other books from this author.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC copy of this book.

I enjoyed reading this book about friendship, love and starting over. Allie "Crystal" is trying to run away from her high society parents and begin a new life. Allie meets Dawn when she first arrives in Woodshill and they become best friends right off the bat. She is having trouble finding a place to live while she attends college in her new town, Woodshill, Oregon. She finally meets Kaden and he allows her to rent a room in his place, but all the rules he gave are a bit much and he has his own baggage and family drama. The roommate arrangement starts off rocky, but then gets better until it gets rocky again. Kaden's friends accept and like Allie and even go the extra mile for her. I don't want to give too much away, but I recommend reading it.

https://www.amazon.com/review/R7VYMSBUT0VTK/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

Begin Again by Mona Kasten is the story Allie and Kaden who are both dealing with pain and heartbreak from their past. This is a sweet romance about starting over and finding love in a most unlikely place. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it.

This is a first read for me by this author. I couldn't put this book down it had me from the start, I just had to finish before bed.

Unfortunately, this was a DNF. It feels way too much like Beautiful Disaster. If I had read this maybe 4 years ago, I probably would've liked it. But as of right now, my reading taste have really changed which is prolly why this book didn't work for me.

AMAZING!! LOVED IT!! Everyone who likes love stories has to read this!!! I already sold the german edition to several costumers and orderd the english edition. Can‘t wait to recommend it!

Great character and storyline development kept my interest from the very first page and kept me totally engaged until the turn of the very last page!

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.

Begin Again is a touching, heartfelt story about starting over, dealing with your past, and moving forward. It’s about finding freedom, both physically and emotionally. It’s about friendships, and peace within, and letting go. It’s simply beautiful!

I enjoyed the writing so much. I felt what these characters were going through, the pain, the frustration, the bonds. The peeling back of the layers of both Allie and Kayden was emotional and touching. While Kayden could come across as a jerk at times, there’s so much more to him, and getting to know him and understand him is worth the heartache. Both Allie and Kayden have pain they are working through, and seeing how they help each other open up, learn to trust, and work through it, warms your heart.

The most heartwarming part of this story is the friendships and bonds that are made. I love how they have each other’s backs and getting to see the trust and bonds build. You will fall in love with everyone!

A genuine story that’s real, honest, and emotional that had me captivated from the start. I’m so excited to see Spencer and Dawn are the next book!

I received this book "Begin Again" from Netgalley for my honest review.

This was a good book. Allie is beginning college and needs a place to live. She has looked at a lot of places that were horrible. She finally looks at a place but the guy Kaden is a real jerk. He doesn't want a girl roommate. The story is about Allie and Kaden's relationship as friends. Allie needed a fresh start and she finds it in Oregon with Kaden. Not broken, Just bent.

This is an interesting love story between two people who fit well together. Is it a conventional love story? No...there's an awful lot of negative banter going on between the two main characters, Allie and Kaden, especially at the beginning.

Most of that negative talk is coming from Kaden, aimed at Allie, throughout the story. I had a difficult time empathizing with Kaden because of his mental volatility (ups and downs). We all are a product of what happens in our lives but Kaden's manner towards Allie, too often for me, seemed cruel. Maybe it's their age (this is young college-aged characters who are still figuring themselves out) but some self awareness could go a long way. Do we learn why he behaves like he does? Of course. Is it enough of a reason? Only the reader can decide for themselves.

Allie was the bright spot in this story - although the supporting characters were wonderful too! - and she has her own demons to face. Is some of what Kaden says to her "tough love" that she needs to hear? Maybe so. Could he have delivered it differently? Yes. And I think that's the part I struggled with.

But in the end, it seemed to work for both of them. Love isn't always neat and clean and Kaden and Allie are good examples of that. Do they fit well together? YES!

Thank you NetGalley and Bastei Entertainment for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was really good! The h/h and the storyline are great! Well written and gripping. I couldn't put it down. The depth of feeling and the realness of it just get to me. I thoroughly loved it!