Super adorable book by this author, she’s amazing by the way. We have some college vibes, sweet romance. I loved Andie, Milo, Shay and Valeria. They were literally the ultimate crew, and I love the podcasting and standing up to the injustices of their school system. Everything about this book was just fun and refreshing, give or a take a few issues that the characters face. But overall it was a fun read. Thanks NetGalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

While this wasn't really a bad book, per se, it was too light and fluffy for my taste. Additionally, I disliked Andie as a character and didn't note any significant character growth. The writing seemed a bit juvenile for the target demographic, although I do think it would be a good pick for advanced juvenile readers.

This one got me with the nostalgia. This book is about the female MC’s freshman year of college and well, like, duh, that’s such a warm and fuzzy time. A year of so much self-discovery and newfound independence. Many of my best friends today are friends I made during that year — so yeah, this one got me in the feels.

That said, as far as the story itself, I liked it, I didn’t love it. Mostly there was a ton going on and it just drug a bit. I feel like at 90% there are two types of books— books you’re sad are almost over, and books you just wanna’ finish so you can move on. This one unfortunately fell in the latter category for me.

What I DID love…
- the college nostalgia
- campus shenanigans
- finding your forever friends
- found family

What I Didn’t Love…
- I predicted the big twist which is always a bummer
- the slow, dragging pace
- some of the decision making was frustrating

Read this if your jam is…
- YA romance
- campus love stories
- previous Emma Lord books

Overall, this was cute, but I was hoping for more. It goes in the ‘like’ column.

Thanks to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the ARC of this!

I've really enjoyed the author's books in the past and this one fits in with them perfectly. A cute story full of family, friends, and fun, I had such a great time from start to finish rooting for the couples that I wanted to work out, the friendships I wanted built and the reconciliations I was hoping for. I will say, one "twist", felt *really* obvious to me, I'm not sure whether just from knowing the author's other books or from other YA, but I was ok with the bit of predictability. I wish Andie's previous relationship might've ended a little sooner and given more space for her feelings for someone new to grow without feeling cheating-adjacent, but overall, this was sweet and easy both to read and to enjoy. I ended it feeling pleased with the outcome, and smiling until the last page.

Let me just say, this book had me in my feels!! I loved everything about it. I could go on and on about it, but I will just say that I started and finished it in the same day. I couldn't stop reading it!!

I didn't think a YA book would make me feel every single emotion.

Andie starts her freshman year at a community college after letting her grades slip in high school to help her boyfriend Connor get his grades up. Because of this, Connor went to Blue Ridge State, and Andie ended up at community college. Well, surprise! Andie transfers to Blue Ridge for her spring semester, and Connor also transfers, but to community college. Blue Ridge is a big deal for Andie, as her parents met there. Andie's mom passed away when she was younger, so she wanted to do the things her mom did. Like the ribbon scavenger hunt and the Knight Talk radio show.

Andie goes through the semester trying to solve her friends and classmates problems over her own. This comes with boy troubles, girl troubles, class troubles, home troubles, you name it. With these troubles, Andie learns lots of lessons.

As someone who loved their college experience and learned a lot from mistakes I made, I related to Andie in trying to find herself and believe in herself. Looking back on the experience, I think that this would be a WONDERFUL book for college students (especially females) to read. I laughed, I cried, and it warmed my heart. I will be buying myself a physical copy, because I will definitely want to keep this in my office!

Thank you to NetGalley, Wednesday Books, and Emma Lord for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

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

I will forever live by that quote. I absolutely love it.

I really enjoyed reading this book. I liked all the characters. I liked the descriptions. I just liked it all.

Emma Lord is fast becoming one of my favorite YA contemporary writers. Andi and Milo are so cute as friends and this book left me wanting a bagel REALLY BAD. Will definitely be picking this one up for my collection.

Begin Again is another sweet, funny, and relatable read from Emma Lord. Following Andie, a college freshman who just transferred to her dream school, eager to trace her mother's young adulthood at Blue Ridge State and jumpstart her 10-year plan. But the thing about plans, is they almost always go wrong. Joined by a charming cast of characters, Andie throws herself into college life and finds lots of shenanigans along the way.

I really enjoyed the growth of Andie's character in this book. Her compulsion to fix everyone else's problems but her own, and her steadfast grip on the future she thought she wanted fell away and it was really great to see her find her way. I loved the side plots and characters and there were plenty of laughs, a few healthy cringes, and so many sweet, nostalgic moments in between. Definitely a great read.

Thank you to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for my eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Emma Lord is queen of Young/New Adult books. She writes characters that are flawed and quirky, but bright, strong, and that you truly are rooting for. Andie is not exception to this. I loved watching Andie develop as her own person and grapple with a huge transition and grief. I related to her and she just felt really real.

I also laughed several times, and teared up a few times. I love Emma Lord's commitment to obnoxious food,

I highlighted some quotes that made me laugh/think/feel seen. I've decided to include them because they are pure gold.
-"But only because I'm a Cosmic Brownie bitch." I too, am a cosmic brownie bitch. Don't get me started on the Crumbl Cookie version.
-"I want to love and be loved without ever having to wonder if it's conditional. I want a life that sometimes is just my own, without feeling like I'm responsible for anyone or anyone is burdened with being responsible for me." SAME.
-"Dancing isn't a skill, it's a goddamn right." PREACH!
-"Go make the most of it, because every day is a chance to begin again."

While this book took me a while to get through (I started it in October, and am just now finishing it), it held my attention while I was reading it, and I blame starting a new job and the holidays for my reading slump, not this book.

I'd highly recommend this book to anyone who loves coming of age stories, slow burn romances, and college-set books.

3.5/5 stars.

I'm a big Emma Lord fan. Begin Again definitely fell into her niche of young adult romance. She always manages to address some serious topic as well, like grief. This was not my favorite book of hers, though. I think the ribbon hunting thing threw me off. There was such a huge focus on it, and I think that was maybe supposed to be a character flaw, but it was a little too much for me. I did love the two main characters and their romance, and I really enjoyed all the friendships in the book.

All that said, I'll continue to read every book Emma Lord writes. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book!

Andie Rose is a planner and a fix-it girl who wants to make her career as a self-help media guru. Unfortunately, Andie's life is messy and she is unable to contain her problems into these planned parameters! Andie transfers to her dream college Blue Ridge State-the one where her parents met-at the same time that her long term boyfriend transfers home to community college to be with her. Andie is torn with what to do but bets on herself and stays put at Blue Ridge. She's dreamed of charting her own course inline with what her late mother's was. Her mother was the anonymous Knight-she led a pirated radio show and organized the school's underground activities with membership ribbons. Andie jumps into getting as many ribbons as she can for both her and her boyfriend Connor and quickly finds out who the current Knight is. Milo, her caffeinated grump of an RA, is the perfect foil for Andie. He listens thoughtfully and dispenses the right kind of advice. Andie's college roommate Shay and her tutor Valeria are the best kind of found family. It made me miss my college days. This story is chock full of college antics, study angst, professor relationships and wonderful crazy food descriptions. Andie grows as a person who is able to fix her own issues with her self-image and her relationship with her father through the relationships that she is able to form.
This is the third Emma Lord book that I've read and I've loved them all. I don't even read that much YA anymore but these books are more than worth a read!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for my honest review.

This book was a fun read. I could definitely seeing it appeal to the college aged crowd but I found it good as well. Andie Rose was an interesting character. She stars out with not a a lot of self-esteem but you can sense the confidence that's brimming under the surface. She just needed to find people that believed in her & that she could accomplish anything she set her mind to do. Ironically she is very good at helping other people with their problems. Milo, Shay, Valeria, & Connor are great characters in her story of how she becomes the person she is by the end of the story. I felt like some of the book was somewhat predictable but it didn't take away from my enjoyment of reading it.

Thanks to the publisher & NetGalley for advanced copy in exchange for my honest review

A cute story with lots of drama that explore growing up, self-esteem and understanding the past. Acceptance and forgiveness. Easy read with a good voice.
However, the reason for the three stars is how long it took me to get into the book. Maybe it was the slow pace at the beginning or maybe my pet peeve with a love triangle, I guess.
I received an ARC from St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. And I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I have enjoyed all of Emma Lord's books, but I was slightly disappointed by "Begin Again". I had a difficult time connecting with Andie, she never felt real. Also, the plot had too many aspects making it feel bogged down at times. Plus, the characters' relationships lacked the charm in Lord's past book. There are aspects of this book that I enjoyed (Milo is the shining star in this novel), but it didn't live up to my expectations.

With each of her new releases, Emma Lord becomes a must-read author for me. Begin Again follows a college student with big shoes to fill as it relates to her mom’s legacy. This book had friendship, romance, and a lot of feel good moments (and some iffy ones, too!). I found myself relating to our main character Andie and how she carries herself. I couldn’t recommend this read more!

Special thanks to NetGally and the publisher for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Emma Lord has fast become one of my favorite YA/NA authors, and Begin Again has further solidified that standing. Begin Again is full of rich, compelling language in a fun, quirky coming-of-age novel. True to Lord's style, the characters are vulnerable and authentic -- and the story overall very, very cute.

Begin Again by Emma Lord was a cute coming of age YA college romance. Andie is a college student transferring to the school where her dead mother went. Andie connects with a new group of friends and struggles with a long distance romance. I enjoyed the writing but this wasn't my favorite by Emma Lord. I will still continue to read her work because Tweet Cute will still be one of my favorite books. Thank you NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to receive an early copy. I will definitely recommend this novel to my students.

Another adorable book by Emma Lord! I really enjoyed the college setting, the podcast element and the fun ribbon events. The romance was super cute and the banter between Andie and Milo was perfection. Definitely a book I would recommend picking up!

Begin Again follows Andie Rose, an intrepid college student who is thrilled to finally be at her mom’s alma mater. To her dismay, her boyfriend has transferred schools and the stats class she needs for her major is super difficult. With the help of her roommate, her tutor, and her RA, can Andie get her plan back on track? Or will she choose to create a different plan- maybe even a better one?

I devoured Begin Again! Andie Rose is a charming character with lots of empathy and determination. She is always focused on helping as many people as she can. I think Andie is someone who many readers will relate to, as she has grown up finding immense satisfaction in helping others but then also must learn to choose to make herself a priority. The writing is friendly, filled with humor, and feels as relaxing as rewatching an old episode of Gilmore Girls. Andie has to balance the memory of her mom and familiar friends with the new adventure of being at Blue Ridge State and meeting people she couldn’t have predicted. I especially loved the found family and beautiful friendships between Andie, Milo, Shay and Val.

I love Emma Lord’s writing; it is fun and lighthearted but then manages to sneak in a deeper meaning along the way. As a former barista, I loved how Milo created a blend called Eternal Darkness and then Andie accidentally decaffeinated the campus! Begin Again is filled with tons of fun, joyful moments along with reflections on grief and loss. Andie has to come to terms with her memories of her mom, grief about the time stolen from them, and how she will choose what is best for her future without her mom there to help.

Begin Again is the perfect book for readers who enjoy sunshine/grump pairings, slow burn romance, and fans of Gilmore Girls (season three). Begin Again releases January 24, 2023. Thank you to Emma Lord, Wednesday Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For publisher: My review will be posted on Instagram, Goodreads, Amazon, Storygraph, Wordpress blog, and Barnes & Noble etc

<b> <i>Begin Again</I> is another immensely enjoyable YA romance from Emma Lord.</b>

<b>Tropes:</b>
-Friends-to-Lovers
-Opposites-Attract
-Found Family
-Fresh Start

<b>CW:</b> Andie’s mom’s passing is mentioned in the book description but it’s worth noting that a lot of her personal journey is tied up in how she has/hasn’t grieved that loss.

<b>Plot at a glance:</b> Andie Rose has her heart set on becoming a beloved self-help figure. The first big step toward making that happen is transferring from community college to highly competitive Blue Ridge State. This should help revive her long-distance relationship with her boyfriend, but he ended up transferring to the community college to be closer to her. Unable to find a quick fix for her boyfriend, Andie tries to channel her problem-solving nature into helping her roommate Shay and their R.A. Milo with their respective problems. But spending more time with Milo stirs up all kinds of feelings Andie isn’t ready to deal with yet.

<b>Review:</b> Once again Emma Lord crafts relatable and endearing characters. I found myself wishing I could be part of Andie’s newfound friend group. I loved Milo – the grumpy, over-caffeinated cynic with a big heart – and adored Andie’s grandmothers.

Emma Lord also did an incredible job capturing the jitters of starting over, the struggles of letting go of the past, and the uncertainty of finding your place in the world. There were so many moments where my heart ached for Andie. I also loved the exploration of relationships. Through Andie and her friends, readers experience the many ups and downs of friendly, romantic and familial relationships.

<b>Overall, I highly recommend <i>Begin Again</I> for anyone seeking YA romances featuring thoughtful personal journeys for the MCs.</b>

Do yourself a favor and add Emma Lord to your list of auto-buy authors, you won’t be disappointed!

<i>Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press (Wednesday Books) for the chance to read this digital ARC.</i>