Short Synopsis: Begin Again is a coming-of-age YA college romance that follows Andie as she transfer from community college to the competitive Blue Ridge State. While she thinks she has it all planned out, her new experience offers many great surprises and unforgettable memories. With that, you see Andie grow as she finds true love, comes to terms with her past and figures out her purpose!

Thoughts: Emma Lord consistently writes great YA books. While this was not my favorite by her, there was a lot of fun to the story, which made it enjoyable and a quick listen. I enjoyed the full cast of characters, especially Andie’s bookish roommate Shay, the radio broadcasting pieces, the trivia nights and the budding romance with Andie’s RA Milo. However, I will say I was itching for more of the romance side-typical I know. I did a read/ audio combo and thought the audiobook was extremely well-done and engaging for a single POV story!

Read if you like:
-Coming of Age YA books
-College campus setting
-Booksatgrammers
-Bagel talk
-Radio broadcasting
-Great, supportive friends

Thank you to Netgalley, Wednesday Books, and MacMillan Audio for providing me with an eARC and LRC in exchange for an honest review. This on is out 1/28!!

A sweet YA novel featuring a driven young woman, Andie, who has just transferred to her boyfriend's university to be with him and finds out that he has transferred to her community college to be with her. Andie is working through her grief over her mother's death, some uneasiness with her romantic relationship, and struggling with the academic expectations at her new school. She finds an awesome friend group, a new role as a radio announcer doling out advice (fitting her long-term career goal to become a self-help guru), and undergoes a lot of growth in all her relationships, familial, romantic, and most importantly, her relationship with her self. Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Wednesday Books for a digital review copy.

True to form, Emma Lord's latest novel is the perfect mix of witty and fun, sad and thoughtful, and perfectly coming-of-age. Begin Again is at its heart a story about crossroads. Do you take the safe path or the unknown one? When Andie transfers to her dream school to be with her boyfriend, follow her mother's legacy, and ace her psychology classes. When basically everything goes downhill on her first day-- she's faced with two diverging paths. Andie is given a fresh start, new, supportive friends, and a really caring RA who is addicted to coffee and cares deeply for her. This is a real rollercoaster of a book that I think teens and adults alike will enjoy! Emma Lord's books always bring a smile to my face and Begin Again is no exception. This hits stores on Feb 7th, 2023. Thanks so much to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was such a cute book! I wish that there were more stories like this when I was in my late teens/early 20s! This is the perfect book for going away to college and all the feelings that happen with it. Andie is the perfect FMC and I really like her development through the book. The characters are perfectly aged and it hits that right balance of being 18 and being mature enough to be on your own, but also need the comfort of home. Milo... Lord, where was my Milo in college? Perfection. The friend group, also perfection. I recommend this for anyone around that college age, but also for anyone thinking back to that time wanting a cute read. 5 stars, 0 spice.

This was another cute story from Emma Lord!! She’s so good at creating vivid, yet comforting worlds, and I loved the characters in this one so much!

This one is great for fans of:
📖 YA stories
💕 Adorable slow burns
🏫 College campus settings
💛 Found-family friend groups

There were several little side plots in this one, and my attention drifted in certain chapters, but all the threads tied up nicely in the end. I found it to be a really sweet and touching story!

Andie Rose always needs a plan. And her current one seems flawless. Transfer from her community college to Blue Ridge State to be with her long-time boyfriend Connor, major in psychology, and get her life back on track. But as soon as she arrives at Blue Ridge, a major crack hits: Connor has transferred from Blue Ridge to be with her. Oops. Blue Ridge is tough academically. Andie needs a campus job. And her new roommate Shay needs a major, which Andie is struggling with, despite her reputation as someone who can fix anyone's problems... except maybe her own.

So this is cute and fun, for sure. Not my favorite Emma Lord (that is still TWEET CUTE) but a very good read nonetheless. I spent half the book trying to figure out if Blue Ridge was a stand-in for UVA, so I need some mental health help of my own. Andie certainly came with her own set of issues, but don't we all? Her mom passed away when she was young and then her dad basically bailed, leaving her in the care of two sweet, silly grandmas. Sure, they took care of her, but wouldn't that give you a bit of a complex, too? Blue Ridge is where Andie's parents met and fell in love, so she's dealing with that extra heaping of pressure.

The highlights in this book are the friend groups. I loved AGAIN's message about finding yourself and finding your friend family in college (or anywhere). Shay, Andie's roommate, is great, as is Valeria, another friend. And Andie's R.A., Milo, is wonderful--along with his extended family that seems to lurk at every place in Blue Ridge, including the local bagel shop. Andie and Milo's relationship is a slow burner, but it's a good one, and like a lot of Emma Lord relationships, it's really hard not to get behind it. They are just so darn... perfect. Milo has lost his dad; we know Andie has lost her mom, and the book does a strong job of exploring grief and how losing a parent affects your ability to trust. (We will just ignore the whole side plot with Connor, because frankly, he's not worth our time.)

This one felt a bit repetitive off and on--Andie is obsessed with earning these school ribbons, for example, because her parents did--that are tied to club events at the school and sometimes that all felt too much. For someone who loves to give advice, you wanted to shake her from time to time for her decision-making. There's a broadcasting/radio angle that seemed like it would be too much, but actually turned out to be perfect.

Overall, BEGIN AGAIN is chaotic and probably not one bit reflective of my college experience, but it's sweet and touching and full of charm and humor. There are representative characters and a couple you can root for--sometimes there's not much more you need, right?

Synopsis: Andie is a fixer and a planner. Upon transferring to her boyfriend’s college, Blue Ridge State, she has it all figured out. She’s going to major in psychology so that she can achieve her dream of becoming a famous self-help figure. Of course the best laid plans… Her relationship with Connor becomes more complicated when he shares that he, too, transferred colleges to her community college! Andie decides to make the most of her time at Blue Ridge State by helping her roommate, Shay, finally decide her major (easier said than done). There’s also Milo, her RA, who makes her question her ideas about love and relationships. Life as Andie knows it is quickly spiraling out of control. However, through her role as the anonymous Squire on the school’s pirate radio station, Andie finally begins to find her voice.

Thoughts: This was a cute new adult book that combines lightheartedness with the empowering journey of a young woman finding her way. There was a great and diverse cast of characters, and I enjoyed the variety of representation incorporated. One gripe I had was in Andie’s substitution of her favorite foods for swear words—it felt a bit juvenile for a college-aged student. I also had hope for a little more romance (and that’s saying a lot from me!). Still, this was a solid read!

Emma Lords YA books just hit a sweet spot for me every single time. She writes such funny and relatable young characters and takes them on fun journeys that help them let loose and grow so much. I’ve found that every one of her books so far has had a few elements that touched on something deeper than just a fluffy romance, and in this one I could so relate to Andy’s struggles with her mom having passed and trying to live up to a standard in her honor. This was adorable, fluffy, fun and so emotional at times !!

Obsessed with anything Emma Lord writes. I know once I start the book I won’t put it down until I’m done.

Begin again was no exception. Loved this story about starting over, second chances, heartbreak, loss and so much more.

Milo and Andie are the most charming and lovable characters and you can’t help but feel EVERY emotion they feel. From the losses they both have experienced to betrayals by friends/family to new friendships that become family you feel it all!

Heartwarming YA story that constantly made me want to drink all the tea and coffee.

A heartfelt coming of age YA college romance that sees Andie Rose transferring to the school where her dead mother went trying to forge a connection she's never had before. Along the way she finds a new friend group and struggles with a long distance romance.

This wasn't my favorite by Emma Lord but it was still enjoyable. I liked the underground radio broadcasting crew and the secret society vibes. Good on audio too narrated by Georgina Sadler. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for early digital copies in exchange for my honest review!!

I haven't read this author before and after reading Begin Again, I can see why so many readers love her.

Rom-Coms are a favorite of mine when I need a pick-me-up type read. YA Rom-Coms are newer to me so I wasn't sure what to expect when I snagged this on NetGalley.

I was pleasantly surprised as this was a super easy read to fall in love with It's nerdy, funny, sweet, and of course has some life lessons and growth for our characters along the way.

Definitely recommend this one for any who love the Rom-Com genre, YA or otherwise. I sincerely appreciate Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

While I haven’t read TWEET CUTE yet, I’ve adored Emma Lord’s other two books, WHEN YOU GET THE CHANCE and YOU HAVE A MATCH. When I was approved for BEGIN AGAIN, I was thrilled. In her newest book, we have a college freshman who transferred to a new school, eager to end her long-distance relationship and be with her boyfriend, and eager to make her mark on a school that also meant so much to her mom. There are secret societies, a scavenger hunt, a cute RA, and a fun group of friends.

This was such a cute coming-of-age story, with a dash of YA romance. I was so rooting for our main character, Andie - you just want her to believe in herself as much as you do. And, it just took me back to college - late night junk food and venting sessions, struggling with particular classes, and just learning about yourself.

BEGIN AGAIN is out Jan. 24!

This was a cool concept!! I do think the ending felt rushed and parts (long distance boyfriend) were a bit dragged out. Overall a decent YA read

Thank you netgalley for eARC in exchange for an honest review

Emma Lord has done it again! I laughed, I cried, I swooned. Begin Again is a coming of age YA about Andie as she deals with her grief over losing a loved one, finding her confidence in a new school, and learning to love herself for who she is. I recently went through some rough times and I was able to deeply relate with Andie. She was able to narrate her insecurities without being whiny or annoying. A very likable and relatable character. I also thought the romance between her and Milo was very sweet. My only critique was that parts of the book are rather predictable. I instantly predicted the love triangle and I was able to guess how it would be resolved.

3.25 stars - Firstly, thank you NetGalley for sending me a copy of this arc to read and review! Begin Again was my first read from author Emma Lord, and I thought it was a cute, playful, and overall fun story that is perfect for teens and young adults.

While it took me a while to get invested in the story, I still felt very comfortable reading about the characters in a way where getting through this book didn't feel like a tedious job at all. I admire the strong cast of characters in this book, with great representation in Andie's friend group. I especially loved Shay's character (her room full of books is so relatable).

I felt a little misled by the description and cover, thinking this would have more romance involved, but really this is a story of self growth and discovery for Andie, the protagonist. I still really enjoyed the sprinkles of romance between Andie and Milo, where even the little moments that most people would look over gave me butterflies. I did think their relationship escalated too quickly near the end where it felt like the two skipped many stages of a relationship and sort of just jumped to declarations. This was mainly due to the conflict with Andie and her long-distance boyfriend. This of course just felt like something that was being dragged on for most of the book, and the ending of them felt inevitable to satisfy the relationship with Milo, so there was really no surprise for the reader.

I wasn't quite sold by the concept of the school's ribbon hunt and radio show, but I could appreciate how they were important to make Andie's character relatable as a freshman in this new setting. I think many young readers would relate to Andie, who feels an immense pressure to always help those close to her while carrying the weight of everyone's responsibilities. The progression of her character as she slowly learns to focus on helping herself is pleasing, and Emma Lord's writing is quite humourous at times, with lighthearted and touching moments. Overall, I'd say if you're a teen preparing for college or just starting your college/university years, then this book would be a fantastic read for you.

4 stars

Emma Lord will be hitting the ground running in 2023 with a slight departure from her previous three YA books: a venture into New Adult territory! While this book is (in my opinion MIS-) labeled as YA across platforms, for me, it falls squarely in the New Adult camp, and there are no resulting losses.

Andie, the m.c., is in the middle of her undergraduate experience, which means that she has the opportunity to learn SO MUCH about nearly every aspect of her life. Early on, readers learn that Andie is grappling with the loss of her mother and that her mother's death plays a complex role in her current major life decisions. This is an absolutely gripping part of the novel and Andie's development, and folks who enjoyed this element of an absent mom in _When You Get the Chance_ will be hard pressed not to find some parallels here (though there are also some clear distinctions). Andie also has a partner who seems sketchy from the jump, but how is one to feel otherwise about a certain type of fella of this age and stage? Her life decisions also seem a little too closely tied to this individual for more experienced readers' comfort. But Andie is not just shaped by her relationship to her past; she also has important lessons to learn about prioritizing herself, creating an individual sense of self based her interests and merits, and keeping her own best interests in mind.

Incoming fans of Lord's (raises hand here) and readers who appreciate a solid coming of age story will find much to love here. To be transparent, I adore YA and often feel the opposite about New Adult, and I was pleasantly surprised to find that I enjoyed this NA from Lord as much as (and in some cases more than) I've enjoyed her YA novels (which is quite a lot overall). Readers who have similar hesitations should definitely give this one a go.

I started the book excited to read more from this author and am ending it feeling the same!

Thank you to Wednesday Books for a gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I'm so impressed with Emma Lord's writing and she's definitely one of my favorite YA authors. This book took me right back to college and hit me with all the feels. I would go back to college in a heartbeat! I loved the perspective of being a transfer student, the struggles of being at a competitive school, choosing a major - essentially finding your place and people during a very vulnerable and scary time of your life.

This is a very sweet book, perfect for lovers of YA and romance books. The characters are very endearing. You follow Andie, a young college freshman as she navigates life on her new college campus. She loves to "help people", so she instantly bonds with her new roommate and RA. She has some trouble with her classes, learns how to be a part of a broadcast program, and deals with her long distance boyfriend. If you need a sweet read, this is the book for you!

4.75 stars

“Anything worth doing starts with a mess.”

Begin Again is another great example of author Emma Lord’s thorough understanding and command of the YA genre. It’s sweet, affecting, and perfectly encapsulates the growing pains that come during that unique sliver of time between adolescence and full-blown adulthood.

Andie Rose is a woman with a plan. First on her list? Transferring to her dream college to fulfill her dreams of becoming a self-help maven and also to understand to her dead mother’s past. Second? To reconnect with her longtime boyfriend, as they’ve both felt the toll of a long-distance relationship. The moment Andie gets to Blue Ridge State, however, her plans go off the rails. Starting with the fact that said boyfriend transferred to the community college she just left. Add in new friends whose problems she wants to solve, and an RA named Milo with impossibly green eyes, and things are about to get a whole lot more complicated for Andie Rose.

From the beginning, this book grabbed me. Sure, Andie’s journey to self-discovery is a little bit bumpy, and there were times I wanted to shake her, the story felt super relatable and real. Life is messy, and that particular stage of life is fraught with missteps and mistakes. I loved the way that Lord sort of builds a slow burning tension that has a satisfying payoff in the end. It’s romantic and sweet and an absolute joy to read.

I’m already counting down the days when I can get a hard copy of this book on my shelf.

Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Reviews Posted: December 16, 2022
Storygraph
Goodreads


I promise I tried really hard to get through this book, but I just could not do it. Not even 20% in, and I had to DNF. I would read a page or two and have to put the book down to get from throwing it across the room.

One the main character Andie was so incredibly insufferable. While there are plenty of characters out there that I don’t like or am not a big fan of, Andie made me want to rip all the hair from my head. Like, I truly don’t think I have ever hated or been annoyed with a character more.

Also, the little I saw of the writing was not for me, and that also played a big role in pulling me out of the story.

Maybe this is a sign that Emma Lord books are just not for me.