I'm officially obsessed with everything Emma Lord writes. Not only does she make me crave ridiculous food combinations (I've never tried cookie dough cream cheese but now I want to!) but she creates this contemporary worlds I want to sink into. Can I go back to college and attend Blue Ridge state? I'm having nostalgia for a place I've never been. Her characters are always perfectly crafted and the romance swoon-worthy and sweet. I can't wait to read so much more from Emma.

This book was just fine for me. I have enjoy another book by the author so I was excited and maybe expecting a little more. I just was never able to get fully invested in the relationship or the story. It was just okay for me, I might recommend if you like others from Emma Lord.

Thank you NetGalley for the review copy of Begin Again by Emma Lord.

Emma Lord has been a go-to author for me for sweet YA romances since I read Tweet Cute. She knows how to write young people falling in love without focusing too heavily on the angst and instead on the complexities of emotions. I loved the characters created in Andi and Milo. I loved watching Andi discover herself outside her relationship.

The ending was a bit rushed for me, but I really enjoyed my time with this book. I would recommend this book to anyone who would vibe with updated versions of 90s teen rom-coms I grew up loving.

3.5 Stars

Everything Emma Lord writes is amazing and yet again I loved this book and the characters and I can’t wait for more of her work!

Emma lord is one of my favorite YA authors. so I was super excited when I got an advanced copy of begin again. It was so cute and I enjoyed every minute of reading this.
Andie rose went through so much growth and that’s something I really like in ya books. When the characters are better people at the end. Her 2 grandmas were my characters. They should have been in the book more. They loved Ryan Reynolds’s and watched the proposal a lot, which I do too.

I didn't enjoy this at first. I found Andie annoying. Connor is a twat. He'd do really well on a modern dating app.

This is my first Emma Lord book, and I am very excited to read more! I love a good YA romance,and this was no exception! This is about a girl who transfers schools to be with her boyfriend - just for him to transfer out. This throws her into a journey of self discovery with new friends, and maybe a new romance as well! This made me miss college so much - which I was not expecting!

I was given an advanced reader's copy via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own

Where oh where to begin (again) when it comes to extolling my love for Emma Lord’s writing? This book walked a fine balance between the excitement and whimsical nature of going off to college and all the romanticized adventure it can entail, while also bringing in doses of reality that feel like they hit harder during vulnerable moments of change and instability. I felt like this was an optimistic, uplifting story about navigating the transition to young adulthood and learning to find your own path in a way that feels most true to yourself.

I am currently supporting the boycott against St. Martin’s Press until they respond to influencer’s concerns about safety, inequality, systemic issues at hand and also meet the demands of the boycott. I am looking forward to leaving an updated review for this book once the demands are met ❤️

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

"Welcome to The Knights' Watch, Squire."


Begin Again was so freaking cute with some predictable moments. In this, you will meet Andie. Now she is the type of person who puts other people's needs before hers. She's a helper and likes to fix things when she can. So, when she tries to surprise her boyfriend, Connor, by transferring to the school of her dreams (which is where he currently goes), she's surprised to find out that he's not exactly there anymore. No, he transferred to where she was going, which one would think is cute. Me? No, I thought it was dumb because why would he transfer to a community college when he knew that her dream was to go to Blue Ridge State.

The math was not mathing and I was highly suspicious of Connor.

Either the boy was clearly only in his world and never listened to her... or he flunked out badly.

Spoiler alert: He's definitely a selfish asshole, a cheater, and a liar.

Anyway, with his ass not in the picture (currently), Andie is finally getting to experience the college where her parents met one another. She starts to make friends and develops a little crush on the RA. I really did adore her friendship with Shay, Valerie, and Milo. They just seemed to make her time and transition to this school way easier. I also really liked how friendships started to develop into something a bit more.

Milo and Andie were completely adorable, and I loved them so much. They just got along with one another and always made each other do better and be better. They sort of leaned on each other to work through their own family problems. I also just really enjoyed when they were the knight and the squire.

In the end, I'm happy that they are happy, and Connor is completely out of the picture. I totally called the twist before it happened because it just felt so obvious. I don't feel bad for him one bit and feel like maybe, just maybe, if he comes back to this school, he will get kicked out once again because he doesn't deserve to be there.

Bye bye, Connor!

Emma Lord is one of my favorite YA authors for a reason. Her stories have everything I love- quirky characters, found families, heroines I can root for, and romance that is believable. In Begin Again, Andie Rose has spent her life with a plan- attend Blue Ridge State and become a self-help icon like her late mother. So far, her plan hasn't gone, well, according to plan, but she knows that with her organizational skills she will make it happen. First step- transfer in and meet up with her long-distance boyfriend, Connor. But, surprise- Connor transferred to the community college Andie just left. Now, Andie has to figure out what her next step is. I just loved this book. Andie finds the most amazing friends and makes surprising discoveries about herself along the way. I think this may be my new favorite book by Emma Lord and I can't wait to read more!

This made me so nostalgic for freshman year at college. Oh, the memories. Emma Lord just knows how to write YA books. This was so good and I enjoyed every minute.

As someone who is slowly finding her groove with YA books, I have to say -- Emma Lord is it for me. I love her unique ideas, the evolution and maturity her characters experience, and the freshness in her writing style.

"Begin Again" themes of college romance, friends-to-lovers, and coming of age resonated with me as I followed our leading gal Andie's path of self-discovery and growth. With its blend of emotional depth and lighthearted moments, this binge-worthy YA is poised to capture your heart.

Kudos to Lord for completely taking me by surprised with the romantic twist at the end of the book. I never saw this connection coming and I ABSOLUTELY loved how it was handled.

Emma Lord is one of the few YA authors I still read. Her books are the perfect mix of sweet, fun, and angsty with a healthy dose of personal growth.

Andie is excited to attend the same college her parents did, and where her boyfriend attends now. Of course things do not go smoothly and she has to adapt. I liked watching her form friendships with people there to support her. She also learns so much about herself and what is important to her and why. I did like the sweet friendship turned more she had with Milo as well

“Anything worth doing starts with a mess.”

You guysssss, I have yet to meet an Emma Lord book and not love it. This is my third of hers? They are contemporary YA perfection.

Synopsis: Andie Rose is a planner with a checklist. Get into Blue Ridge State, major in psychology, become an iconic therapist and help people all over. But the moment Andie arrives at Blue Ridge, everything is thrown for a loop. Her boyfriend transferred to a different school, her roommate is aimlessly floating and desperate to discover her major, and her RA is throwing all of Andie’s notions of love out the window.

You’ll love:
+ ya friendship & romance
+ found family
+ finding your way
+ dramaaaaa
+ slooooow burn

From the very beginning I just loved and related to Andie. She only wants the best for her friends and she’s willing to sacrifice herself to help them succeed. She had so much positivity and determination, it was contagious.

Milo and Shay were the best side characters. I was so invested in their stories and was rooting for them too!!

The tension in this one, y’all!! (But like it’s ya so temper those expectations)

Andie’s roommate Shay is a bookstagrammer — reaffirming my love for books about bookish people!

I will continue to read anything from Emma Lord. 🫶🏼

**Disclaimer: I recieved a free eARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a cute romance.  I loved the coming of age elements, and Andie was such a great protagonist.  I really loved watching her come to terms with who she is and how she can't always fix everything.  The friendships that she gained throughout the novel were so special, and I loved their friend group as a whole.  This book made me cry a lot as she dealt with her grief.  It was handled in such a lovely way.  I cannot recommend this book enough.

This was a super cute story. I felt for Andie as she navigates the struggles of college, love, and family. I recommend this book to anyone who loves a good love story.

Just a solid, cute NA college romcom. Good character growth and development throughout the book, the plot was a bit predictable but I think that's part of the romcom appeal - you know you're getting a happy ending, there will be some kind of breakup scene in the last 25% of the book, and you can count on some humor and charm! I think this would be a relatable read for anyone currently in their undergrad phase of life - there are so many changes happening all at once, and I have felt Andie's inner turmoil myself many times.

I loved this book! It's well-written, enjoyable, and a great read. The author did a great job of writing in a way that captures the readers attention, and makes you not want to put it down until you're finished! I would highly recommend it!

A college romance, a coming of age, a reconciling with our personal faults, and decisions about how to live life and where to place priorities. Fun and fast, an enjoyable crew of characters, you can see how relationships develop over time. Also loved the coffee shop vibes.