This was pure magic and absolutely Timothy Janovsky's best! It really had me in my feels and was so heartwarming in the end--just pure joy. Could not wipe the smile off my face when I was reading.

Who doesn't want a gay 13 going on 30 rom com?

I finished this book a few days ago and still feel at a loss for words about how to review this book. I laughed, cried, reevaluated my life, and came out of this reading experience with a refreshed view on how I'm living my life. Janovsky skillfully takes the beloved familiar tale of 13 Going On 30 and adds his own unique and charismatic characters to create a fresh new story. He is one of the only authors I can always trust to use pop culture references that are relevant and not cringey/out of date. There are several subtle references that fans of the movie and Taylor Swift will be thrilled to discover as they read. Additionally, the love interest Drew is my new favorite book character. This book is SO good!

I have read all of Timothy Janovsky's books now (this being the third) and I have come to rely on his books for a consistently great romance read. "New Adult" continues this trend and I definitely recommend it!

I was immediately drawn in by the sci-fi/fantasy elements of the premise, with the MC travelling forward in time. The underlying mystery of this event really drove the story, although I think the lead-up to it felt a bit long for my taste. I preferred the second half to the first half.

I also adore friends to lovers and this book was a unique twist on the trope (with the MC and LI being enemies for a bit, too). Overall, I really liked all the characters and seeing their growth throughout the story.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for providing an advanced copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.

Sweet, witty and with it's own kind of unique charm, New Adult is bound to leave you smiling.

With a quirky, magical flare and a Freaky-Friday-esque plot this pun filled slow burn is the perfect comfort, second chance story. Full of magic, sass and feels, this is a great growing-up tale, that perfectly encapsulates Timothy's enchanting style and a truly lovely read.

4.5 stars and a crystal

I really like Timothy Janovsky’s writing and his humor. I also LOVED the idea behind this book, but I must say I had a hard time relating or even liking the main character Nolan. It’s probably a me thing, I tend to be slightly prejudiced against comedians. I really did not like Nolan and I couldn’t understand how and why a sweetheart like Drew would ever be friends with such an asshole. I know that’s the reason for the whole plot, Nolan needs to grow and change and learn, but I don’t feel that he did that throughout the story. Also, I was intrigued by the whole magic crystal thing, but I wasn’t sold on the resolution.

NEW ADULT was everything I've wanted from the "new adult" genre. It started with an MC who was a little self-centered at 23 years old, but when he wakes up into his 30-year-old life, he quickly grows up and sorts his priorities out. Nolan's character growth is incredible, and it's so fun to read. It's a coming-of-age story that's SO WORTH IT as the MC goes from mildly unlikeable to a real adult in the most heartwrenching and heartwarming way.

Y'all, this book is so. cute. Drew and Nolan's relationship was so much fun to read through all its stages: friends to enemies to friends to lovers. Drew is such a sweetheart.

If you like time travel, 13 Going On 30, crystals, or sweet M/M romance, make sure you read this book! I'm already excited for Timothy's next book coming this January.

This book was an emotional time-traveling rollercoaster - and I thoroughly enjoyed the ride.

Nolan, oh Nolan: my self-sabotoge king.

I found myself yelling at my Kindle and facepalming when he kept getting in his own way. However, I resonated heavily with this because like Nolan, my 20-something year old self is also prone to this. This made me eager to see how Nolan's journey would play out, and boy was it satisfying.

I always love when I witness the MCs character growth throughout the book and they don't just have an "a-ha" moment at the end. I honestly think that's what I admired the most: Nolan continuously learns from his mistakes, even if he may not remember some of them (damn you, time travel). He learns to take things in stride, stand up for himself, and most importantly, take accountability and apologize.

As for the romance, Nolan and Drew were delightful, I always love a good friends-to-lovers arc, but this was more of a friends-to-enemies-to-friends-to-lovers, which I enjoyed!

They both supported each other's dreams and it was satisfying watching their relationship come back together in the future timeline. Though sometimes their dynamic was unbalanced at first (Drew being there for Nolan more, in my opinion), it sorted itself in the end. Plus, I liked that they were both down bad for each other from the jump, even if they didh't want to admit it 🤭

This is a sweet romance that will make you self-reflect, and has the perfect balance of 13 Going On 30-esque vibes.

Thank you to Netgalley, Sourcebooks Casablanca and Timothy Janovsky for this ARC in return for an honest review!

This 13 Going on 30-esque queer romcom was an absolute joy to read. It was fun, it was magical, it was heartwarming, it was everything I wanted from it!

Nolan's self growth journey through this book was done so well, It felt like truly a genuine response to seeing the future you only dreamed of and realizing the toll it may take on other aspects of your life. Drew was the golden retriever love interest i NEEDED him to be, i want to be his friend. Also Milkshake is the cutest little corgi and i petition every book has one from now on.

I really appreciated how this book, even while being a romance, did such a heavy focus on inner healing and self discovery/growth. Timothy Janovsky has a way of writing character development in a way that feels truly authentic and in line with the stories he writes - not just a separate self and romantic development storylines, which I really appreciate! Nolan was able to grow as an individual in order to repair his relationships both with himself and his family and loved ones, rather than just two different paths if that makes sense! And he does this all without the book feeling overwhelming in any way.

Overall I really loved this book and would highly recommend if you're looking for a fun romcom full of crystals and tarot and comedy and corgi love and a delicious friends to lovers story!

4.5 stars!

I loved Timothy Janovsky's "New Adult." I could not put this book down, and I read it sooo ridiculously fast. It's like a New York comedian-centered queer retelling of "13 Going on 30" meets Casey McQuiston's "One Last Stop." I was here for every single minute of it. While the premise of this book is familiar, Janovsky's astute observations about life and love make it feel fresh and new. His writing is sharp, witty, hilarious, comforting, gratifying, and devastating all at the same time. The story revolves around the main character, Nolan, getting the shocking opportunity to look into his future. He sees that his professional and monetary successes have cost him everything: his family, friends, morals, comedic style, and most importantly, the love of his life, his best friend Drew. This book is all about regrets, doing things differently, not getting "lost in the sauce," growing from your mistakes, staying true to who you are, and not waiting to tell people how you feel about them. I adored the characters here, especially because they are imperfect but are willing to change. Nolan's personal maturation by the end of the story was absolute perfection to me. I loved Drew so, so much, and loved Drew and Nolan together. I feel lucky to have been able to read this lovely, hilarious, touching, sexy, mystical novel!
Mark Sanderlin gives a fantastic audiobook narration that really adds to the charm and wit of the story. I implore you, however: go into this book knowing as little as possible about the plot for the most overall enjoyment. I cannot wait to read Timothy Janovsky's next novel!!

Thank you to NetGalley, Timothy Janovsky, and SOURCEBOOKS Casablancas for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

CW: sick parent (Alzheimer's), family tensions

I would recommend if you're looking for (SPOILERS)

-m/m new adult
-time twist
-friends to lovers
-coming of age

This book was so soft and sweet. On what should be the best day of Nolan's life, telling his best friend he loves him, getting his dream job, he hits rock bottom instead. Add in some magic crystals and suddenly he's transported from 23 to 30 years old and missing 7 years of his life. A fun twist on the movie 13 Goin on 30 this just really spoke to me. About just keep waiting to hit these certain milestones in your life, but then missing so much. Life isn't going to wait for you, so why are you waiting for it? Waiting for the right moment, waiting for the right part i your career, waiting to call that person and tell them how you feel?

While quiet this book just held such meaning and just made me really think. A beautiful book and such a lovely story about just finding your person and saying screw it, it's right now and I love you and I'm gonna take the jump.

Steam: 3

New Adult is a charming and real story of self-discovery and finding the life you want. This queer take on 13 going on 30 features Nolan Baker, who makes a decision to ditch his sister's wedding in order to advance his career in stand-up comedy. A collection of magic crystals transports his 7 years into the future, where he is 30 years old with the career he always dreamed of. However, Nolan finds that his future self has isolated his family, as well as his roommate/best friend (that he is secretly in love with), Drew. With the help of 30-year-old future Drew, Nolan attempts to find where he went wrong and return to his original timeline in the past so that he can make different choices.

While this is a well-written and nuanced story of relationships, personal growth, and staying true to yourself, it didn't work for me quite as well as Janovsky's previous works. I found Nolan difficult to root for until about halfway through the novel. The love interest, Drew, was my favorite character, and there wasn't quite enough of him, especially early on in the story, to center my attention. I did appreciate Nolan's character growth and I really enjoyed the latter half of the book, as well as the ending. This is a funny and sweet story that I would recommend to others, and I wish it had worked out a bit better for me. I continue to be excited for Timothy Janovsky's future works!

I’ previously read Never Been Kissed by Timothy Janovsky and absolutely loved it! I really thought I would enjoy this one just as much.

I like going into books blind but I didn’t really enjoy the sudden time jump in this one & that is entirely my fault for not reading the blurb. They don’t always bother me but this time jump felt very forced. It ultimately made the middle of the plot go very slow for me.

Overall, I do really enjoy Timothy Janovsky’s writing style but this specific book wasn’t the one for me. Thank you to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Casablanca, and Timothy Janovsky for letting me read an early copy!

Thank you to the publisher for my review copies of New Adult!

I devoured this book in 24 hours, it was absolutely delightful! I went into it completely blind, which was extra fun.

Think “13 Going on 30,” except a 23-year-old jumping into his 30-year-old self. 23-year-old Nolan dreams of being a comedian, and will sacrifice any social event - whether it’s a fancy dinner with the parents of the guy he’s dating or his own sister’s wedding - for a shot at fame.

After alienating his family and best friend Drew (who he’s secretly had a crush on for years), Nolan makes a wish on a gift of healing crystals…and wakes up 30 years old and at the top of his comedy career. The catch? He no longer speaks to his family or best friend.

New Adult is a lighthearted rom com, but it also explores the nature of a career like comedy. As someone who spent some time pursuing an acting career, I think Janovsky could have leaned into the pressure to give up anything for a chance at comedy even more. As a teenager and college student, I was told on numerous occasions that if I wasn’t willing to give up everything to be an actor I should quit, including being told as a 10 year old that if I wasn’t willing to eat a hamburger for a commercial I really wasn’t cut out to be an actor. (Since I stopped eating meat when I was 5, if I accidentally eat something containing meat I basically get food poisoning. But the show must go on, right?) I miss acting, but I do not miss how all-consuming it was.

🎧 Mark Sanderlin brought Nolan and the rest of the cast to life so well! The book did well as an audiobook, even with the magic time jump there wasn’t anything that made the story hard to follow.

I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an advance copy of "New Adult." Please note that all opinions are my own.

Summary: This book really is perfection for all the "13 Going on 30" fans (i.e. me!) Nolan Baker is a 23 year old comedian going through all the identity crises 23 year olds go through. He's trying to figure out his life, his career, his relationship with his family, and of course, his love life. After screwing up his sisters wedding, he gets a blast from the future, where he got everything he wanted...so he thought. While doing his best to salvage the relationships he missed most from his past timeline, Nolan reconnects with his best-friend, Drew, who is truly just the best friend you could have in all timelines. Drew is, of course, Nolan's long-held unrequited crush, but Nolan has to reconcile for mistakes he made in the future timeline he's suddenly dropped into. With shifting dreams and new goals, and a different life, is it still possible for Nolan to get everything he ever wanted?

Review: I really enjoyed "New Adult," and I breezed through it quickly. I really like 13 Going on 30, and so this book was an easy one to pick up based on how it's being marketed. There were also a few nods to the film that I appreciated. I liked Nolan as a character, and as a mid-twenties adult, I understood a lot of the internal crisis he was having in the early chapters of the book. As the book went along and Nolan went to the future timeline, he got even better. As Nolan learned more about himself, he becomes even more enjoyable, funny, and redeemable.

The supporting characters are well developed and add to the comedy of the story. I'm officially a self-proclaimed Imogen stan, and I would like to petition for a follow-up book about her life as a growing comedian. I felt that each of the supporting cast had their moments of reason and their moments of dramatic flair, which made them all more human and helped to drive the story in the direction of Nolan's future, both the one he wanted and the one he didn't want. And as all good rom coms do, this story had perfect comedic timing, and good pacing throughout the book. (And there were short chapters, yay!)

Overall, I would recommend this book to all the fans of the Flamhaff family, corgi lovers, tarot card users, and of course anyone who is looking for a good queer rom com to ring in the end of summer! It was humorous, fast-paced, quirky and lovable, and is a romance book I'll be keeping on my shelf for a long time.

Tropes: Best friends-to-lovers, time travel, first (and second?) chance romance, strong family influences
Open-door spice: Yes

*4.5 Stars*

Nolan Baker has one dream, to make it big as a comic, it's all he's ever wanted to do and he'll do anything to get it, even missing the big meeting with his boyfriend's parents or leave in the middle of his sister's wedding. He just cannot wait to be a star. A few crystals later, he wakes up and he's not longer 23 but 30 and he's famous! But everyone he used to love hates his guts? What can he do now? He turns to the only person he can. His ex-best-friend who he's been in love with forever. Except things didn't turn out so well there either...

I do not read summaries. I really should have for this one cause I was expecting a contemporary and it wasn't one which wouldn't be a problem for most people but I'm very strict with my tbr. Anyway. I still enjoyed this book quite a lot. The main character was insufferable for a lot of it but we love to see growth and character development. That's was the whole book was about really. Definitely a character driven story and I enjoyed it a lot. I liked the plot too. It took me by surprise but I was all in. I also really enjoyed the Love Interest, the romance as well as the other relationships in the story. I found the parents and sibling dynamics super interesting most of all. And I enjoyed seeing all these characters grow.
Basically, this was really fun and captivating and redeemed this series for me after I really disliked the second one. I cannot wait for more from this author. He writes such interesting and compelling characters.

This one took me a little longer to connect with than the others in the series. When I got there I loved it, but it was a rocky (Rocks - Crystals—No?) start.

You see, I think Nolan was a bit of flake. Yes he had to make sacrifices to grow a career, snatch up any last minute opportunities, but damned if I wasn’t as irritated at him as the other people in his life were. He blew off personal commitments like they were nothing, even once in lifetime things, and that didn’t sit right with me.

In retrospect Nolan had to start low to end high, to get that top notch character growth but maaaan if I didn’t spend the first 1/3 of the book wanting to shake him!
The ending was worth the journey though and, like I said, I ended up loving it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the ARC!

This was an interesting book. I really did not like Nolan at the beginning but that's kind of the point. He realized his issues pretty early on and I liked that. He and Drew were really cute. I kind of wanted to see more from them when they were back in the original timeline but I had a good time.

I received an arc through netgalley.

Rounded up from 3.5 - this was VERY sweet and I loved the overall message, it just felt a little bit drawn out for me. Nolan was insufferable the first 25%, and I knew he would be redeemed but I feel like we could’ve gotten into the plot just a little more quickly because he left a bit of a yucky taste in my mouth.

BUT I really liked this story and how it all ended up coming together! I’m a real sucker for time travel lately and I loved how that was introduced. Nolan and Drew were so sweet and basically the definition of MFEO!

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
New Adult is the third in Timothy Janovsky’s Boy Meets Boy romances. It works as a standalone, although it is in a similar vein to the first two, reimagining romcom tropes, and even plotlines, with a queer twist. I really enjoyed the fun Gen Z, New Adult take on 13 Going on 30, reflecting on whether things really are better at 30.
Nolan is incredibly relatable, even as someone who is now in my early thirties. I can’t help but still relate to his desires for what he defines as success, with the age of 30 being part of that. And I liked how the story was about his journey of acknowledging things he took for granted that he actually can’t live without, but ended up falling away in the “lost years” between 23 and 30.
But as much as I love Janovsky’s character work where the protagonist is concerned from book to book, I find myself constantly disappointed with how the romantic arc is handled. This one felt the most disappointing, because of the way the story was structured. I suppose, given that it mirrors the plot of 13 Going on 30, it’s not surprising it went in the direction that it did. But ultimately, it is like none of what happened matters from Future Drew’s perspective; he’s just a vehicle for Nolan to come to appreciate him, and then Nolan gets a do-over in the past, basically removing that version of Future Drew out of existence.
While I had mixed feelings about this book, I did still have fun with it. While it might not work for readers who prefer the romantic arc to be the central driving force of the narrative, I do recommend it to readers who don’t mind character-driven contemporaries with romantic subplots.

thank you to sourcebooks casablanca and netgalley for giving me this e-arc in exchange for my honest thoughts :)

*** 4.5 stars

nolan baker knows what he wants his life to look like by the time he’s 30: a great stand-up career and a relationship with his best friend and roommate drew. for now, he’s 23, single, and struggling to afford his life in nyc. luck finally strikes, giving him a spot with a hot shot comedian. the only problem is it’s during his sisters wedding. he ditches the wedding, upsetting those closest to him and stranding himself in the hotel without drew. he desperately wishes on a gifted set of magical healing crystals and wakes up seven years later where all of his dreams have come true, but none of his loved ones are talking to him anymore. his only source of help is drew. except drew hates him for something that happened in nolan’s missing seven years. as nolan tries to find his way back to his 23 year old self, he also has to prove to his loved one’s that he’s not the man everyone thinks he is.

i have loved 13 going on 30 since the first time i watched it as an angsty preteen, so i was so so excited for new adult. and… it did not disappoint!! all the magical moments from 13go30 were such fun to read in new adult. nolan was the perfect amount of unlikable 20 something to me, and his growth throughout the story was honestly moving to read about. nolan and drew were such a cute couple and their friends to kind of lovers to estranged enemies to lovers was the ultimate serve (v much gave jennifer garner and mark ruffalo a run for their money imo)!! this was so cute and so magical and so charming!!