this was a solid emma lord book. it was cute and adorable, messy and realistic. loved the characters, as always.

What happens when all your plans seem to go wrong? This is what type-a Andie is attempting to deal with as she transfers to Blue Ridge State in the middle of her Freshman year. She has a plan. Attend college with her childhood friend and long-time boyfriend, Conner. Earn as many of the elusive ribbons as her mother did when she was at Blue Ridge. Continue to find ways to help others. But when she gets there, nothing goes right. Connor has withdrawn from Blue Ridge. Andie has a tough time keeping up with ribbon collecting while maintaining grades. And finding her voice to help others becomes a bigger task than she originally imagined.

I adored this story of finding oneself and finding your core group that becomes your family. Andie, her roommate, Shay, and her RA, Milo, all become a solid trio pretty much from the moment of Andie’s arrival. Shay quickly becomes the kind of supportive friend that we all wish we had. Milo is the dreamy boy down the hall that is fun to crush on. And watching Andie and the others attempt to experience college to the fullest is a blast. Andie and Milo both have deep loss in their life. I loved the conversations they had with one another about their loved ones and how to move on from that. The found family is strong here and may be the best part of this book.

Reading books about coming of age is great because, when well done like this one is, you get to see so much character growth. I cheered these characters on from the sidelines throughout and loved the ending that came about. This is an uplifting novel about family, friendship, and finding and accepting who you are and who you want to be. Highly recommend!

This book was cute and well developed and I enjoyed the coming of age, learning about yourself story and the in depth character development. The relationships were messy and flawed and real and I appreciated that too. I did get a little stuck though because somehow, even though the story went deep on each main character’s struggles and interests, I had a hard time feeling like I actually knew them, as people. I never really understood quite what drew Andie and Milo to each other—not that it wasn’t believable but just that I didn’t feel I knew either of them well enough, beyond surface characteristics, to judge either way whether they were a good match. So when we discover that Andie is an outgoing social butterfly who brings people together, I was confused by that because I didn’t understand her well enough to picture it. And, I felt like the book leaned in too hard on a few things that just didn’t matter that much. For example, why on earth would Andie’s friends be mad that she took a day to process before having a difficult conversation that she always intended to have? And the ribbon obsession was so consuming that I had trouble believing it. That said, it was a fun, thoughtful, cute book and a quick and enjoyable read.

I really love everything Emma has written and this book definitely hit the mark. As someone who thrives on plans myself, I felt deeply for Andie as she navigated all of her carefully laid plans imploding around her. The story was cute and often times profound and I found myself learning quite a bit about myself alongside Andie.

Innocent Andie heads to college mid-year with big dreams and the master plans of her life laid out, but what they don't include: her boyfriend transferring to her old school, her moody caffeine-addicted RA, and the fact she can't always fix everyone else's problems.

Once I got into this book I couldn't put it down I loved the ribbon hunt and the nostalgia it brought up as I pictured my college campus while reading. The characters were easy to connect with and you instantly wanted Andie and Milo to be together. I enjoyed the twist that included Val and her boyfriend. However, there seemed to be too many references to #trending items (i.e. bookstagram, fantasy novels, and T-swift) and it seemed more like a high school romance than based on a college campus.

In summary, this is a slow-burn YA romance. My rating: 3⭐'s

Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for this advance copy!

Such a cute read! At times, I was frustrated and annoyed with our MC, but then remembered that she's a college freshman and I should cut her some slack. The whole story was heartwarming and a lot of fun to read. Emma Lord always does such a good job balancing serious matters with cute and fun characters and scenarios.

Andie is used to being able to plan her way to success, but sometimes even the best laid plans go awry! What will she do when she arrives at her dream college and nothing seems to go right?

There were so many cute things I loved about this just arrived at college story. Great supporting characters definitely drew me in (yay for feisty grandmas and Milo, the cute but grumpy RA!) and had me laughing out loud! I did have a hard time connecting with Andie’s “head in the sand” mentality in regards to her boyfriend. Not only did they grossly miscommunicate, but she bent over backwards for a guy who made it pretty clear he wasn’t sure about wanting to be in a relationship with her. It frustrated me to see this go on for so much of the book. It was good however, to watch Andie mature as time went by and I very much appreciated the evolution we see in her relationship with her father as well as the found family she discovers at school. While this wasn’t my favorite by Emma Lord (Tweet Cute was the best!) I will continue to read everything and anything she writes!

Overview: Andie Rose is finally walking in her mother's footsteps transferring to Blue Ridge State halfway through freshman year. Her mom is a legend at the university, and after she passed, it felt like one of the few connections Andie still has left with her. But transitioning to Blue Ridge isn't without complications from blips in gathering ribbons to join a secret society to failing a stats exam to issues with her boyfriend, Andie is starting to doubt if her long held fantasy isn't all she built it up to be. Still, there's an epic roommate, an RA she's trying to deny sparks for, and an awesome student tutor that keeps her buoyed through the tumultuous times. Overall: 4.5

Characters: 5 I love everyone in this book. Andie is optimistic and sweet but also gets worn down by everything that college throws at you pretty easily. She has drive and determination, but she's also too willing to sacrifice herself and her happiness for others. She just exudes good person vibes in the least annoying way possible, and it's amazing to see her journey of learning that sometimes putting yourself first is the most important thing.

Then there's her family. After her mom passed when she was a kid, her two grandmas moved in to help raise her. There are so many cute scenes showing how her unconventional family has been so supportive and helpful, even in the face of a tragedy. Andie's dad is also an important part of the story, even thought they start the book barely speaking to each other. This storyline is handled so well as Andie and her dad start at an impasse of built up negative feelings and really work in a natural and honest way to resolve the hurt feelings in a healthy way. I feel like we don't get enough parent-child storylines like this, and I really connected to it.

Finally, there's the friends in Andie's like, most of who she meets at Blue Ridge. But before we get to them, I feel like her awful boyfriend, Connor, deserves a shout out. You can tell from the start that he sucks, but Andie's journey with moving on from that part of her childhood also feels very organic and realistic even though we know from the start that we shouldn't trust or like Connor. Then there's her friends that she makes along the way – Milo, Shay, and Valeria. Shay is her bookstagram famous roommate who has a super aesthetic half to the room and more books than you could imagine. Shay is supportive and can be tons of fun. Milo is the floor's RA, and it's clear from Andie's first meeting with him that there's undeniable chemistry there despite his cynical and sarcastic approach to life. Finally, there's Val who meets Andie when Andie needs a student stats tutor. She ends up blending into the friend group and having sparks with one of the friends. Each of the members of the friend group are so lovely and fully realized, having plots and journeys of their own that are equally weighted to Andie's.

Plot: 5 This is one of the most intricately plotted contemporary books I've read in a while. There are definitely moments were you can see the outline working and which moments are left as tells for what will happen later in the book. It means that by the end, all of the story threads perfectly stack together and snap into place to create a super satisfying ending where all the threads get tied together in a way you can't help smiling at. Andie starts the book with so much to figure out, and there's answers to every quest she begins (and yes, even though this is a contemporary novel, there is basically a quest). Also, Andie and Milo's slow burn love story is the first in a long time that's made me want to be in love like that.

Writing: 4 College YA is and has always been my soft spot, and this gave me the same joy and hope for my college experience (in admittedly a more PG way) as The Sex Lives of College Girls. Both the show and the book have such a comforting and hilarious feeling in their found family narratives and promise of community. Sadly, my college experience hasn't lead me to an idealized friend group, but I love seeing it in media about that time. The book does a great job capturing the trials and tribulations of that time of life from all angles. It feels very honest to the experience, and it was comforting to read as someone in the middle of her college experience but would also be a great primer for a high schooler looking ahead. It's been a while since I've read YA, and Begin Again was a good reminder of why I love these stories. Also, why do I love romance so much more when it's in YA stories?

http://www.readingwritingandme.com/2023/02/ya-book-review-begin-again-by-emma-lord.html

I discovered Emma Lord in the midst of the pandemic with her debut, Tweet Cute, which ended up being one my favorite reads of 2020, and since then i'm hooked, give me any book by her and i would devour it, and probably love it.

This one was no exception. Begin Again was a delightful read from beginning to end.

Andie was a lovely character in the throes of self-discovery who wanted to feel closer to her dead mom. Milo was the perfect blend of mystery and sweetness. I loved how their friendship bloomed and that he supported Andie from the beginning, helping her adapt to college life, and obviously, how they ended up getting together. It felt very organic and satisfying.

Shay and Valeria were awesome, too. Loved their friendship with Andie, and especially how Valeria acted during the climax of the story.

Overall, I think this book was great. If you like slow-burn, they get together at the end-kind of romances set in college this is for you!

“Go make the most out of it, because every day is a chance to begin again.”

Begin Again - 3/5 ⭐️
📍Coming-of-age
📍Slow Burn
📍Young Adult

Begin Again was a adorably sweet, heartwarming story with plain character growth. The characters were entertaining and I found the romance to be very cute.
Even though it was difficult to get into, I really liked the message behind this book.
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Thank you to to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the gifted copy!

In general, I’ve realized that I’ve outgrown most YA romcoms. Emma Lord is an exception to that. Her books are always full of charming characters and realistic conflicts. They’re decidedly teen-drama free. Emma writes characters that are easy to root for. I loved Miles in this story. I love the found family and friendships that Andie works so hard to develop. I love the secret society mystery and the cozy bagel shop and the welcoming warm hug that is Miles’ mother. I would love to read more stories from their family. My only mild complaint is that this book felt a big long and *almost* boring at times. It was cozy, but there were large stretches where not much was happening to progress the plot. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC to review.

(4.5 rounded up)
Emma Lord has once again written a masterpiece. I adore this book. I rally loved the YA college student feel of this book. I loved the characters and getting to know the found family that Andie had. Each person in their group was such a great addition. I really liked the friendship between her and Milo throughout the book and seeing them grow into something more was so fun. This book had me laughing out loud, smiling, giggling, and kicking my feet because of its cuteness. I also teared up in some spots. This book tackled grief in a way that felt very honest and real and i liked that. Emma Lord has written some of my all time favorite YA books and this is definitely being an addition to the list.

Emma Lord does it again! Begin Again is one of her best, full of heart, humor and a few cry-worthy moments. This follows Andie, a college freshman who is navigating a mid-year transfer to her late mom's alma mater. As someone whose college experience was cut short, this felt really needed. I was a hit with an intense wave of nostalgia. Also, an intense bagel craving.

The best part of this group is the friend group. I liked that finding people wasn't a struggle for Andie, and I hope that this will quell any anxiety teen readers have about this. Each member of the friend group was unique and so likable. It really did become a bit of a found family dynamic, although Andie has a really great real family. I loved the love interest Milo, and liked that he seemed like a real teenage boy. The way he was described made me like him more, because he felt like any number of boys I befriended in college. There's a great friends to lovers story in here, and I honestly got a little teary while reading parts of it. Andie and Milo just get each other!

Ultimately, I'm an Emma Lord fan for life. She does a great a job of balancing romance with real life stuff and humor. Also, she writes amazing descriptions of food. Her books just spread joy, and every teen library should include her work. I can not wait for whatever she does next.

I really really really liked this. This is my favorite kind of contemporary with romance, found family, a little heavy topics, and personal growth. It was overall the perfect YA college romance with the friends to lovers and grumpy x sunshine. I will read anything Emma Lord writes the writing was amazing.

TW: death of a parent

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Emma Lord writes the MOST adorable characters, I swear to god. I’d call her books tooth-rotting fluff, but there’s always an element of groundedness and deeper emotion that balances out all the sweetness. Needless to say, I loved this one.

I always enjoy a book set in college, because as the title implies, it’s a chance for characters to reevaluate their lives and start over. To cast off what was holding them back when they were in high school and finally grow into their own people. Andie’s journey into self-actualization and self-care was a delight to read, and I also loved how extroverted she was - a nice contrast from all the introverts I’ve been reading about lately.

Not me shouting "DUMP YOUR BOYFRIEND!” this whole book, but…I was. Milo was a perfect love interest, funny and sweet and a good friend before they even get together. And the other friends/found family Andie grows are a wonderful cast of characters as well. (Lovely shoutout to the bookstagram community there, Emma!)

I do have one little gripe…what is with all these books/shows set in college and their obsession with radio? Were you all listening to your student-led radio programs in college? It seems such an outdated trope to me, but maybe I’m missing something.

I always anticipate the next Emma Lord and this one did not disappoint! It's a great coming-of-age young adult story with a great college setting, found family, and a friends to lovers/grumpy sunshine romance.

Emma Lord only ever seems to improve more and more with each book and I can easily see her becoming the Emily Henry of the YA/NA genre.

Her writing is so compulsively readable and engaging. Her pacing is always spectacular and not once did the story feel like it was dragging. Even if there’s nothing particularly thrilling or exciting happening, her writing has a way of making you wanting to keep going until you’ve reached the end.

I think a major driving force in this book was my desire to see Andie and Milo’s relationship develop. I have never been a big friends to lovers fan but I found myself genuinely excited about and warmed by the developing friendship between Milo and Andie. These are two characters who see and understand each other, from the very beginning, even when the person doesn’t fully know themselves yet. It’s clear that the two are destined to be more than friends and we get to see the beautiful journey they go on to get to that point. At only 17% into the book, I was getting emotional over the acts of affection they were showing each other. (He got her ribbon back!)

Speaking of friendship, that was another major theme in this book that I really loved. Shay, Andie, and Milo, and later Val, form a friendship fairly instantaneously but it never once feels disingenuous. You get to see the four of them create this little found family for themselves and it’s wonderful. A common motif in Emma Lord’s books is complex families and it’s one of the things I adore most about her work. Her family dynamics are always messy and raw but never without love and reflect the reality of complex family relationships in a way that most books don’t. That was the case again here and I loved seeing all of her families: her comfortable one with her Grandmas, the fractured one with her dad, the one she lost when her mom died, and the new but steady one with her friends.

Andie’s growth overall is what I think really made me love this book. I felt a connected to Andie so immediately. She’s just a young girl who’s spent her life being a people pleaser, someone who’s always trying to help people by fixing their problems because she feels like she owes it to everyone. I relayed to her on a deeply personal level and getting to see her slowly start to let go of the perfectionist she was and start to reinvent herself was extremely cathartic.

For the past few years, I’ve been on a mission to find a recently published YA book that made me feel the way Sarah Dessen books used to. I’ve come close once or twice but there was always something missing. I could tell from the very first chapter of this book that I’d finally found the book I’d been searching for. The combination of the easy yet compelling writing, rich and flawed characters, family and friendship dynamics, and swoony romance made this book such an utter delight to read.

I’d recommend this specifically to fans of Sarah Dessen (clearly), Deb Caletti, and K.L. Walther. But I also just highly recommend it in general to anybody!

Begin Again is a novel about finding yourself and no longer walking in the footsteps of a parent. The persistence Andie shows with her schooling, radio show, and love life is to be admired. Throw in a wrench here and a problem there and you have the perfect components for an "unputdownable" story. The characters are likeable friends you didn't know you needed. The warmth of true friendship that underlies this tale makes it the ideal book to pick up anytime you need a charming new read.

Another delightful Emma Lord romance! I was hooked from the beginning, seeing the mix-up between this couple making sacrifices for each other, and loved the family and friend dynamics throughout. Lord is an auto-purchase, and her new novel was just as lovely as the previous ones.

Another gem from Emma! As an adult, this book made me nostalgic for the days of being a college freshman and getting to Begin Again on a new campus away from home.
The story includes self-discovery, making new friends, and staying true to your roots. Highly recommend this to any person looking at going to college to nostalgic for their college days.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s press for this free ARC in exchange for my honest review.