I initially thought I was going to hate this book. Something about Josh initially being a huge jerk and Ari coming off as a brat. But I loved how the story showed them going from enemies to lovers in a realistic way. The book really showed how people and relationships change over time. It also showcased the battle that happens within someone who doesn’t feel like she can love or be loved.

Ari is a free spirit. She’s fun, always up for anything, not into anything that looks like a committed relationship, or even a committed date. She’s in control. Josh is the epitome of committed. He’s convinced everyone has a soulmate. Each gets under the others nerves, until one random meeting has them both turning to the other for comfort. This was a good story. Somewhat spicy and definitely open door.

This book wasn’t a favorite of mine. I really didn’t enjoy any of the characters, but especially the two mains. It took them years to finally get together, and by then it didn’t feel realistic at all.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for my free copy in exchange for my honest review!

An entertaining read and I loved the humor. The characters are realistic and have chemistry, which moved the story right along. A great escape read.
Many thanks to Random House and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Two of the cutest but most fucked-up and depressed people alive keep meeting up every few years and hating each other. Until they become good friends. Until they become more than friends.

Their progression is so cute. I think it’s the plot of When Harry Met Sally, except that I only saw that movie once 100 years ago so maybe not exactly. I also think it’s one of those millennial, navel-gazing, free-spirited-chick-and-uptight-dude rom-coms set in New York City I’m supposed to hate… but I didn’t. I was really into it for some reason.

Yeah it’s a bit long. And the requisite third-act they-don’t-speak-for-a-year part was annoying as shit cuz, like, really? That long? Whatever - overall I really enjoyed it. Sue me. Also, it made me look up the places referenced in the book and now I have a restaurant to check out in Brooklyn. It made me fantasize about being a dirt-poor, screwed-up millennial living in NYC. I hate myself.

Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy.

When Harry Met Sally is one of my favorite movies, so when I saw that this book is comparable, I snatched it up. It's definitely an entertaining read, an enemies to friends to lovers, with a little bit of second chance and opposites attract thrown in for good measure.

Ari and Josh meet each other and hate each other pretty much instantly. She is a bisexual comedienne that doesn't do commitment. Josh is a professional chef, has big goals, and is fairly straightlaced. They keep bumping into each other over the years, and eventually become friends...which turns into denial about them both wanting more, which turns into a friend break up, and then a reconciliation.

The banter is top notch, there are a couple good steamy scenes, and the end is pretty great. I didn't really love the characters of Ari and Josh, although I felt bad for Josh when he was ready to admit his feelings and Ari was like NOPE, not gonna do it.

I'll definitely read more from this author.

If I were asked to describe You, Again using two words and two words only, they would be emotional damage because, genuinely, my ass did not expect THIS much trauma and pain to be in this seemingly cutesy fall enemies to lovers romance but again, that's on me because my ass (yes, my ass pops up a lot in this review) did not bother reading the synopsis before getting into this ARC.
I just saw the beautiful cover that screamed FALL FALL FALL and I was like yes, this is exactly what I was looking for, and then I read it and it ruined me.

In You, Again, we follow two very damaged, broken and low-key unlikeable people, and over the course of this book, which takes place over 5 years, if I'm not mistaken, we slowly but surely get the impression that these two were meant for one another.
Soulmates, like Josh said, with his morbid but kinda romantic story about how soulmates were seperated from one another.
Josh and Ari are soulmates, and it was an EXPERIENCE seeing them get to where they eventually did, and this experience was painful, emotional, heartbreaking and, at times, quite frustrating.

I very much enjoyed the freshness of this book and its story.
We had Josh, who is a very cynical, OCD chef and Ari, a natural disaster in a comedian's body, and their extremely unlikely chemistry that was just pouring out of the pages.
They had the worst possible meet-cute, and we see them as their paths continue to cross every couple of months until it happens when they're both at their lowest lows, and that's when they finally decide to accept that fate is attempting to push them into each other's lives and they decide to be friends.
I found that the strangers to friends aspect of the story was extremely well done, and it might be because I haven't read a lot of friends to lovers stories, but I found this one to be exceptional.
Josh and Ari's friendship was real, raw and very emotional, because they were, quite literally, two broken and defeated people finding solace in one another, and that's how they formed this intense and strong connection.

The humor in this book was outstanding, as I found myself chuckling multiple times throughout the reading experience, but it was also extremely emotional and raw and poignant, the writing style extremely fucking sharp, elegant and surprisingly polished for a debut author, which I certainly did not expect.
I also very much adored the setting and how it was PROPERLY used in this one, as I strongly felt the NYC spirit coming off the metaphorical pages (Kindle edition) and it added the perfect background for this story.

I'll admit it, I didn't find Ari to be likeable, in fact I really disliked her for the majority of this book, despite her having her reasons for acting the way she did and doing the shit she did, but I also believe we weren't meant to find her likeable, just like Josh didn't come off as likeable either.
Josh grew on me because I strongly related with him as a character, and he wasn't the one to fuck things up like is the case with every other straight romance out there, no.
Josh did his best, he was there for Ari whenever and wherever she needed him, but when it was time to take the next step, and after some truly bombastic and filthy sex, she was the one to shut him out and ruin everything they had built together, and that cemented her as an unlikeable character to me.

Unlikeable or not, I did like how they got back together after the third act conflict, as it was well done, and even though I don't like Ari, I do believe that she belongs with Josh and he belongs with her so at the end of the day, it all worked out for the best.

This book felt like a breath of fresh Fall air, with a perfect setting and an enemies to friends to lovers romance that will have you going through IT!
Strongly recommended.

This was a really unique and enjoyable modern romance. Ari and Josh are characters that it takes a while to warm up to. They are both a little damaged and beaten up by life. They keep running into each other over the course of time and initially they don't like one another. As a matter of fact, it takes a while before they find anything likable about each other. But life sneaks up on them and they find themselves becoming friends and eventually more.

But Ari has become a commit-phone and her skittishness may be their undoing. Josh wants the whole enchilada - - a full on relationship and Ari is petrified of it because she believes relationships always end. Thus, starts their angsty time to figure out how to love each other but not be together.

This book truly is like the seasons of love in a way and I was totally there for it. Set it New York City, it felt real and messy just like life can be sometimes. Ari is bold and tries to be shocking at all times. One of her favorite people to try to shock is Josh. Josh is more straight-laced and a rule follower but he's drawn to every facet of Ari. They compliment each other.

I felt that not only was this a well-written romance, there was bisexual representation which enriched the storyline and gave it an authentic feel.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to read and review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

I had been seeing this all over social media with rave reviews, and, being associated with When Harry Met Sally vibes, I was really excited to read it. I was approved for an ARC a week before it came out and couldn’t wait to binge read. Unfortunately, it took a really long time for me to get into it and even when I was invested, I wasn’t in love.
The hardest thing for me was that I just didn’t find either main character all that likeable. I came around to Josh early enough, but I don’t think I ever really cared for Ari enough to root for her in any kind of capacity, and that made it really hard for me to root for their love story. I did enjoy their connection and their banter was fantastic. I loved the times they were just together doing “friend stuff” and watching their relationship blossom. Their chemistry is very strong and I enjoyed the slow burn, although at times it felt TOO slow- probably because of the years of separation between some of the parts, a la When Harry Met Sally but a little more boring (again, probably because I didn’t like either one of them at all at the beginning chapters).
This book was extremely well-written and the story itself was likeable, but the characters were just not for me. I can definitely understand why this is getting rave reviews and look forward to the author’s next story.
Thank you so much to Random House Publishing Group and Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

You Again, was okay, but I didn't love it. I felt like the writing was a little dry. The two main characters were both deadpan and a little emotionless. I think it would have been better if at least one of them was a little livelier and more upbeat. It could have been 100 pages shorter as well. Nonetheless, this is the authors debut novel, and I would be willing to check out Kate Goldbeck's future work.

Thank you to netgalley, Berkley, and Kate Goldbeck for the eARC.

You, Again is out now.

“I think I found the other half of my black-and-white cookie and someone else might be eating it right now. I need to find him.”

Don't read many enemies to friends to lovers. These characters are so opposite but that sometimes attracts the most. This was so sweet and each character evolved and had sweet inside jokes.
Loved the journey they went on. A good relationship starts with friendship. Loved the family dynamic and the stress of carrying on a legacy but wanting to make it your own. They both struggled professionally even though they were talented. They just took awhile to land in the right place.
Glad I picked this as my botm.

When Ari and Josh first meet, it’s hate at first sight. Where Josh is a super serious planner, Ari is a nonchalant procrastinator. Their commonality? The woman they are both sleeping with. Given they have nothing else in common, each goes their separate ways. But then something weird happens and they keep meeting- again and again…and again.

One time they meet, each is coming off of a bad breakup. Surprisingly, they find their mutual licking of proverbial wounds to be fodder for unexpected friendship. Suddenly they find themselves spending more and more time together platonically- until one day it’s not so platonic anymore.

Unequipped to process what she’s feeling after their hookup, Ari flees. Heartbroken yet again, both move on with their lives. But as each of them should know by now- it’s not over til it’s over.

You Again is an entertaining romantic debut by author @kategoldbeck. Full of romantic cynicism and memorable banter, Ari and Josh are ostentatious opposites, but in the best way. I love how this book played out over years, their love story not neatly linear. It’s a romance that reminds the lovesick reader in us to not give up, because sometimes timing really is everything.

I started this book, got around 20%, and stopped. I thought it wasn’t for me, but I love WHEN HARRY MET SALLY so I decided to give it another go. Overall, I enjoyed it, but didn’t love it. I never rooted for either character and both were aggravating at times. I also thought the book was longer than necessary. If you like WHMS, then give it a whirl. Or if you want a raw, enemies-to-loves set in NYC for an autumn vibe, read it.

First of all, how dreamy is this cover? Give me all the fall vibes.

Second, enemies to friends to lovers. Slooooooow burn. Yes.

There isn’t a ton of character development here, so that might be annoying to some, but overall I enjoyed this book. It was quirky, it had some heartbreaking moments, and the narration was excellent.

Not a home run, but I liked it!

This story had great banter and humor. Both characters were very messy and a lot of the time I wanted to shake them and yell at them for being idiots. It got a little frustrating in the end, but I understand ~character growth~

The beginning of the book also felt like The Bear, and I had JUST finished season 1 & 2 so it was really fitting. after the third(?) time jump The Bear feels stop.

What I didn't like about this book was how it was written. For some reason closed third person is frustrating to read in a romance novel. I struggled to want to pick this book back up because I would get annoyed with the third person. Halfway through I switched to the audiobook, which was easier and I now think I can only listen to this type of third person. However, switching it to the audiobook was frustrating because the mid-chapter character pov switches were not easy to recognize and it would take me a few sentences to realize we had switched characters. Overall, big fan of the story, but not the way it was written.

Spice: 2.5

You, Again is an extremely clever and exciting debut by Kate Goldbeck!

Ari and Josh are such different people and it was so satisfying watching them move from hating each other to being friends to something more. They both feel like they could be real people and I was very excited to see where their relationship went.

The writing style is clever and fun and the plot is immaculate! It has roots in the classic romcom Where Harry Met Sally and it definitely gives off an updated romcom vibe. It’s the perfect romcom for a fun weekend read and I highly recommend it!

I absolutely loved this book and cannot wait to read more of Kate’s work in the future!

This book has captivated many romcom lovers and for a good reason! I've heard other reviewers compare this story to When Harry Met Sally and I totally see the similarities. This book has a very similar 90s romantic comedy vibe and is filled with witty banter, inside jokes, and real life struggles.

This story focuses on our two main characters Ari and Josh and the development of their enemies-to-friends-to-lovers relationship over the span of multiple years. I found both MCs to be very well developed though slightly annoying at times, which made them all the more realistic and lovable. This is a book I will be thinking about for a while and cannot wait to read more from this debut author!

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for providing an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

*Disclaimer: I thought I couldn't access this fic anymore (because I was in the hospital and the date had expired in the app. Then I figured out I just needed to download it again, so I did that. Thus, I will be giving feedback!.*

This was a modern-day adaptation of the When Harry Met Sally trope, but written in a unique, authentic, and original way that it stands on its own merits.

I posted an aesthetic on my TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@semperfidani/video/7280690922336029957">You, Again aesthetic!</a>

We follow the story of Ari & Josh. Ari an emotionally-stunted bi-sexual female, and hopeful comedian. Her past makes her fear attachments and rejections, so she puts on a mask of someone who is carefree and indifferent as she faces both personal and professional rejection. Josh is a snobby, stubborn cis-male and chef, trying to carve his way forward from the heavy legacy that is his family.
The first few times they meet does not go particularly well. But when they are both at their lowest, they connect again and, against all odds, form a friendship. When feelings enter the picture, their default toxic behaviors kick-in. Can they overcome their own barriers to be with one another?

What I loved:
This was a fresh and exciting take on a beloved story. The writing was strong, and the dialogue was absolutely excellent. The pace was great (in large part due to the great writing skills of the author). The challenges they both met professionally felt real and relatable. The beat of this story were two people overcoming the worst of themselves to personally and professionally grow; the heart were two people finding "their person" who helps them overcome the worst of themselves, and encourages to reach the best of themselves. As a fanfic-adapted AU, the author did a wonderful job (then most that I have read) in transitioning their story into fiction.

Minor critique:
I had a hard time connecting to Ari. In many ways, I understood why she was the way she was, and the insecurity driving the way her default defense mechanism kicked in. But her past could have been better explored to give more insight into why she was how she was (which, by contrast, Josh's past was fleshed out stronger). I think that might have been one of the risks of transitioning from fanfic to fic (because as a fanfic reader, we already get the characters going in).

At times, I found Ari a bit one-note in that yes, we get it, she's really into drugs, sex, and extreme-ideological concepts about relationships. However, as the story developed, some of these issues got addressed in a way that I was satisfied with, and her character did grow and evolve over the story. Thus, as a reader, it was worth committing to the novel and that character.

Final thoughts:
Honestly, I can't wait to read more from Kate Goldbeck. She is a superb, witty and strong writer. In a sea of bland romance novels lately, this story shines.

***
I want to thank Random House Publishing Group for permitting me to read an advance DRC copy through NetGalley. In exchange, I offer an honest review.

Also note that I am late in offering this review due to being hospitalized for surgery!

I’m sorry, but this book just isn’t for me. I like rom-coms and don’t mind some explicit language, but this was too much for me. I won’t be able to finish reading the book.
I also didn’t love the consistent drug use and sexual references. I can get through some, but this was way out of my comfort zone.

I LOVED this book!!! Ari and Josh meet over and over. They are complete opposites and don't get along, but hang in the same circles and keep meeting up. At one point, they are both getting over break-ups at the same time and end up hanging out and becoming real friends and confiding in each other. It's such a great story and felt different than so many other romances.