𝙈𝙖𝙮𝙗𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚'𝙨 𝙣𝙤 𝙨𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙨 𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙨. 𝙈𝙖𝙮𝙗𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙤𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙥𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝 𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙚𝙣𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚𝙜𝙞𝙣 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙗𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙣𝙙.

I am in awe of this book. It was the most raw, real, and thoughtful depiction of modern dating. It’s like a warm hug but also will have your heart in a vice grip at parts. The witty banter and angsty emotional journey are a match made in romance heaven.

What to expect:
🍁 Hate to friends to lovers
🍁 NYC
🍁 Meet Ugly
🍁 Slow burn
🍁 He falls first
🍁 Sassy FMC
🍁 Broody MMC
🍁 LGBTQ+ rep
🍁 Witty Banter
🍁 Delicious Angst
🍁 Trauma/Healing
🍁 Mental Health Rep
Be sure to check the TWs.

You, Again is one of the best things I’ve read this year and the perfect fall romance — I will not hear otherwise. I could not recommend this book more.

𝘏𝘶𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘗𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘒𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘎𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘬 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.

The author mentions in her notes that she was inspired by the classic romcom, When Harry Met Sally. I was 27 and deep in the throes of big city dating life when that movie was released and for me at least, while the author nailed the sarcastic tone and the dating angst, she kind of missed the mark on the humor.

Sally/Harry is still one of the funniest romcoms I’ve had the pleasure of watching. You, Again was quite angsty and nailed the enemies to friends to lovers trope, but it wasn’t particularly witty or funny, which is all the more surprising since Ari, the FMC, is a struggling stand-up comedian. She was sarcastic and angsty, but we never really got to know why she was so commitment-phobic and never saw her actually working at her craft. It seemed like all she did was struggle, working at random odd jobs to (barely) pay her rent. She talked about the joy she felt from making people laugh, but it was all telling, no showing. Josh, the MMC, was a rising chef at the beginning of the book and he at least got to occasionally show his skills in the kitchen, although he also spiraled downward after he tried and failed to re-invent his dad’s iconic restaurant.

I liked that Ari and Josh kept meeting randomly over the years, like the universe kept trying to throw them together, but they weren’t listening. Then, when both were at their lowest points both professionally and personally, they finally opened up enough to become friends, then lovers, although a relationship between them didn’t stand a chance at the time given both of their mental states. They both still had more growing to do. I’m not entirely convinced about they were right for each other in the end, but there is no denying their connection. My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC.

You, Again follows Ari and Josh. Both of them have met several times throughout the years, and although not always leaving the best of impressions of each other, they finally meet again and have a chance to form a friendship strengthened by their broken hearts.

I will start with what I liked about this book.

1. The writing! I REALLY enjoyed how this story was told. I found myself really enjoying the writing style.
2. The story, dislike to friends to lovers, is very hit or miss for me, but I loved how they continue to meet through out 30-35% of the book, and despite their lives getting intertwined by heartbreak I found them quite fun and endearing.
4. The banter, I really loved the banters between Ari and Josh. They were very open and playful with each other, and right before they get together, their communication was great.

Now, although I was really enjoying the book, the last 75% lost me. They were great at communicating before they get together, then everything becomes messy. The miscommunication was STRONG and not in a good way. I don't want to get into spoilers, but both of them needed to grow up, heal from their pain and actually be better if they wanted to give the relationship a fair shot. Maybe later I will go into details, but since I want to keep this review spoiler free, lets just say the third act break up...too much for me! I understand their fears, specially Ari's but I just can't get behind the whole "I'm not good at this" but lets have sex and not communicate! Josh tried, and although he came on a little bit too strong and he needed to get his act together, at least he was trying.

I do appreciate the ending, and how everything wrapped up! It was cute and I found myself smiling while reading. But honestly the conflict between them...and the miscommunication that developed AFTER them being great at talking, made me rate this book lower than I was expecting.!

Again, thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange for honest review.

3.5 stars

Warning: Both MCs are depressed for the middle 59% of the book

You, Again is a dual POV romance book about two young upstarts in NYC who run into each other over years and months (I love time jumps in romances). Ari and Josh are north and south poles. Josh is NYC culinary royalty with a loving well of family. Ari has no relationship with her parents and moved to NYC during her adult life to purse being a comedian. It has great LGBT+ rep. The novel is a shockingly realistic love story. Ari and Josh definitely do not have it together, if this maybe definitely sounds like past, present or future you make sure to give this novel a try. It was a great debut.

Why I personally did not vibe with the novel is how long we spent in their depression era and then it just sped past everything after that. I think they, especially Ari was not okay by the end, and I can't confidently say they're getting better because we don't see their healing journey, we do hear a bit about Josh's. If I'm seeing not one but two character's low point for more than half the book, then I also want to see their healing in that same depth. Some of the chapters were so long too, one of them said 26 minutes to read, which I think is excessive for any book but especially for a romance.

Thank you to Dial Press and Netgalley for the ARC.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random house for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book follows Ari and Josh as they navigate their young adulthood in NYC. This is an opposites attract enemies to lovers romance. It's an updated, gender swapped When Harry Met Sally.

I found the writing very engaging and read the whole book on just a few days. I really like the characters, although Josh needs a full character arc from entitled rich a-hole to empathetic human. I was kinda worried he wouldn't make it. Ari is the quintessential manic pixie dream girl, but she's trying to be her own person too.

Such a fun book!

#YouAgain #NetGalley

Some books you just know are going to be a reread that you’re going to love instantly. Thus began my love affair with You, Again. Kate Goldbeck’s angsty, can’t-get-out-of-their-own-way 8 year love story had me savoring every snarky quip, heartache, and swoon-worthy moment. This is a book I just didn’t want to end and I felt like Josh and Ari were real breathing characters whose story I was sad to leave by the time I finished reading.
A somewhat modern retelling or re-imagined version of Nora Ephron’s When Harry Met Sally, You, Again is smartly crafted to remind the reader of the famous film, without being too on the nose. Ari is struggling to make it as a comedian, working extra jobs to make ends meet and living on sofas and with friends all over New York. As heir to a delicatessen that’s a NY institution, Josh has fought to rise from the shadow of his father and become a world class chef. When Ari and Josh meet, they could not be more different and initially strongly dislike one another. But in a city of 8.8 million people, Ari and Josh keep running into each other over the years and find that oddly enough they can talk to each other and eventually form an unlikely friendship.
This is a rollercoaster for sure, but I loved every minute of it. Anxiety and depression play key roles in connecting Josh and Ari; they find themselves in similar situations and become an ear for the other. Text messages are a key component to their relationship and there is so much humor written through their communication. Some of THE HOTTEST scenes had me gripping my kindle as I read their texts and although there are only approximately three intimate scenes, Goldbeck had me in the palm of her hand with every minute. [The first kiss is off the charts cinematically swoon-worthy]. This book also has one of the sweetest, funniest endings I could have imagined, solidifying this angsty rom-com as a favorite. I would recommend You, Again to anyone looking for a little pain with your romance, humorous banter, amazing queer representation, and plenty of musical references (I would strongly recommend listening to songs mentioned in the book while you read—or see Goldbeck’s social media for her playlist). I can’t wait for more readers to meet Ari and Josh and I know Goldbeck will be acquiring a huge fan base with this debut. Next stop: a When Harry Met Sally rewatch. I received an advanced copy from the publisher and NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I enjoyed the banter between the characters along with a love for the side characters but other than that I kind of hated it. The book felt about 100 pages too long as no romance occurred until over halfway through the book. I felt that the FMC was very annoying and in general, this book is nothing like When Harry Met Sally!

I loooooved this book. I knew I would as soon as I realized it was compared to When Harry Met Sally. Ari and Josh are both walking disasters and I loved them. The book is super funny but also sad. I loved every messy second.

A when Harry met Sally inspired rom com. Keep in mind when reading this book this is set over 9 or 10 years (give or take). This book took me on a ride. I grew to love the characters. They’re real, they’re flawed, they’re lost. And who isn’t? The banter in this book is top tier!

Tropes:
Slow burn
Enemies to friends to lovers
Chef and comedian
Bi FMC

I loved the journey this took me on even if I was yelling at my kindle while reading😅

Wow, I think I just found my new favorite rom-com. I received the ARC of this book this morning and I already finished it. I could not put it down. I love Ari and Josh so much. There is so much character development and so many relationships that they both navigated and in the end it was all worth it. I cried, I laughed, I smiled and giggled. The chemistry between Ari and Josh is off the charts. It started off with snarky comments and comebacks and it just kept going despite their many interactions and eventual relationship.

Thank you NetGalley and Kate Goldbeck for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Oh my god this book is everything. I absolutely loved Ari. She was so funny & witty and kept Josh on his toes. This book was like a big hug. I will never stop recommending this work of art to other readers. Thank you for the ARC

"You, Again" is a funny, charming, update to "When Harry Met Sally" or maybe it's more When Sally Met Harry this time around. Ari is a bi-wild child trying to make her way in the competitive world of New York comedy. Josh is the heir apparent of a NY staple deli and restaurant. When they meet the first time, it's pure mutual animosity. But they meet again a few years later, and then again some years after that, until they meet, both at probably the lowest point in their lives and finally connect on a completely different level. But it's not love, it's more like commiserating. It's not until both of them get past their individual pasts that they can finally come together.

Funny, emotional, sexy, racy, and very New York, "You, Again" is a fantastic rom-com read. Both well written and well edited, the story makes you want to keep reading to find out what happens next, like a thriller in the best possible way. Ari and Josh are equally messy, although it doesn't appear to be that way at first. They are wonderfully combative and very spicy. While they have times of being lost in their career paths and feeling unconnected to their families, they both seem to know what they like in bed and that's actually very refreshing. I laughed a lot during this one.

4.5 stars!

I loved "You, Again" by Kate Goldbeck so, so much. I absolutely devoured this book and could not put it down. I read it in a day! From the first instance where Josh and Ari meet, I was hooked on their years-long enemies-to-lovers story. Their tale is full of humor, drama, cooking, roommates, loneliness, toys, running (literally and figuratively), loathing, mutual pining, mutual pain... the entire time I was reading this, I was simultaneously obsessed and wrecked. I rooted for them to be together, and I rooted for them to stay the heck away from each other! Some might say that Ari and Josh don't feel realistic, that they don't feel like fully realized people... I'm here to tell you I've known Aris and I've known Joshs. Their messiness, their unlikeability, their brokenness, and their drama are honest, refreshing, and real. The side characters, the setting, the grief, the friendship, the flaws, the bad decisions, the lack of hindsight, the late-novel realizations...everything about this book feels vulnerable and raw and authentic. I adored this book. It will punch you in the gut and make you believe in love at the same time. I cannot wait for Kate Goldebeck's next book!

Thank you to NetGalley, Kate Goldbeck, Random House Publishing Group, and Dial Press Trade Paperback for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

“Maybe being in love is knowing that you’d live it all over again—every part, suffering included—to get right back to the place where you’re standing.”

For a while I couldn’t decide if I hated this book or loved it. I found both Ari and Josh to be completely unlikeable. And I think they agreed. But as the book progressed, I fell in love with them just as they quietly fell in love with each other.

This wasn’t the easy rom com I was expecting. But really, is real life romance ever easy? It’s rarely the cliche boy meets girl, boy gets girl, a third act breakup occurs over a miscommunication, they rekindle the romance a chapter later. Instead, this book, as like real life, is messy. It’s raw. It’s authentic.

Ari is aimlessly wandering around life telling jokes on stage and off while she deflects her real emotions. Josh is seeking perfection to a fault. He’s a chef with lofty goals and uptight ideals. They don’t fit at all but, without trying, they go from enemies to friends to lovers. I really enjoyed seeing them evolve over the years. And although I found them both unlikeable to start, they’re both deeply relatable.

In short, read this book for
-mental health rep
-Jewish rep
-bisexual rep
-cooking
-comedy
-enemies to friends to lovers
-steam

In the immortal words of Nora Ephron, "Someone is staring at you in 'personal growth'."

This book felt like a warm hug but also that feeling you get right after you spend ten minutes sobbing on your kitchen floor. In other word, I loved it. I'm always down for a when harry met sally retelling and this book was just perfect. It was a great mix of the formula of the movie that I love so dearly with the author's own personal twists. The characters of Ari and Josh popped out on the page in such a way that they felt like real people, not just some characters in a book. Flawed, frustrating, but also lovable, I was hooked from their first meeting and throughout their entire relationship.

Things I loved:
-the perfectly imperfect characters that felt so real.
-the banter. I know I say this every time, but banter does make an excellent romance. If the two characters aren't exchanging sarcastic remarks with each other then what's the point??
-the nods to when harry met sally. I know this was inspired by the actual movie, but it still made me squeal with happiness every time I would come across a reference.
-watching movies together over the phone, the phrase 'i think i'm coming down with something', walking through museums together, and sprinting across town on new years eve.

I feel like Kate Goldbeck really captured the essence of when harry met sally and made it her own, while at the same time, respecting the original. As a movie that I rewatch multiple times a year in the fall, this book made me so so happy. Emotionally exhausted at times, but so happy.

I can't wait for whatever Kate Goldbeck writes next!

🍁 You, Again 🍾

Y’all are going to be seeing this everywhere and it’s worth all the space and hype it’s receiving!

Imagine a When Harry Met Sally story, with all the favorite vibes of park arches, New York delis, two people who hate each other at first, but keep re-meeting over the years, late night movie watching over phone, and giving it a contemporary feel, and you have this amazing debut.

And ok, I loved all that, but I LOVED the banter. So much wit, sharp and sassy banter. Josh and Ari were not glossed over. They were messy, grumpy and grumpier, real, full of mistakes and angst and emotions and self-discovery and I loved that and them!! While there’s a lot of humor, this story is also greatly about grief - grief of relationships, careers, family members, the idea of who you wanted to be, the grief of dreams that didn’t come true, and bonding over mutual misery.

Meg Ryan gave us that infamous scene and that steamy and sex-positive element runs throughout this story. The first time Josh and Ari meet, they discover they are both sleeping with the same girl. The third time they meet again is in a sex shop. There’s as much fire in this book as there is sass and heart and vulnerability. Swoon!

I look forward to whatever this author writes next.

Thank you to Random House/Dial Press for sending me an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

A sweet, funny, and romantic story! I loved the tension and sass between the characters. They had great chemistry and even greater dialogue. It was messy, sexy, and fun. Love!

Amazing! This is my first novel based off a book, so I was curious how it would turn out. I was thrilled with the pacing of the story, feeling the drama and anticipation like in When Harry Met Sally, while also feeling like a contemporary romance novel. The author's choices to honor the original material while updating for the 2020s were so well done. Gender swapping the roles. Loved it. By not literally matching the original film step by step, but including details that felt like the essence of the original story, it really read like something Nora Ephron would have loved. Replacing Sharper Image with the Strand was 10/10 perfect. Original, but a story as old as time. Can a man and woman really just be friends?

Great for lovers of Ali Hazelwood and Ashley Poston. Smart characters, empathetic stories, spicy love scenes, and really sharp, funny writing.

<b>A commitment-phobe and a hopeless romantic clash over and over again--until heartbreak and unexpected chemistry bring them together in this clever enemies-to-friends-to-lovers debut romance.</b>

This book was so good! I heard it was a modern retelling of "When Harry Met Sally" and I have to admit I've never seen the movie. Which of course, I immediately watched after finishing this book.

I can't find one fault with this book at all. The characters were perfect, the plot was perfect, the ending was perfect. It is very similar to the movie and I think Kate Goldbeck did a fantastic job with this retelling.

This story takes place over 12 years or so. Ari and Josh become friends after some depressing events and they bond over wallowing in life together. Though it sounds depressing it actually wasn't. I mean we get to see them navigating through life after Ari's divorce and a Josh's total failure in his career. But there is also witty banter and the real angst that people suffer when navigating life after these unsuccessful events.

10/10 recommend!

A new take on When Harry Met Sally with a dash of You're the Worst (FX). A fun and romantic story featuring a commitment-phoebe comedian who is chaos personified and a hopelessly romantic chef who lives his life neatly, who both end up meeting only to realize they are both sleeping with the same woman. Told through different spans of time, the story follows free-spirited go getter Ari, who is working to become a comedian and Josh, an ambitious chef. They were never suppose to meet but end up meeting when the woman they're both sleeping with dips and they have a pretty bad first meeting. The next time they meet, they're again at another low in their own perspective love lives, Ari doesn't believe in true love and is always the first to leave... except now she's getting a divorce, while Josh wants nothing more than to find true love but keeps finding himself in relationships that end badly. Ari and Josh end up bonding and soon realize that they have connections and could be friends, and soon find themselves bonding, watching movies together, going furniture shopping, helping each other out... but something else is happening between them. Can they both work it out before it's a missed opportunity or will they break apart? This was such a fun twist on When Harry Met Sally, especially since the gender role reversals (which I loved), but it was also reminding me of a show I absolutely love called You're the Worst (FX) and it was just the perfect mixture of both and I had so much fun with this book. I couldn't put it down and I was laughing and also crying over these characters, Ari and Josh have their own issues, but they work together so well, their friendship is so sweet and they care about each other so much. Seriously, it was great that you got to see them fall for each other and the genuine friendship between them. I would definitely recommend this if you're looking for a fun romance read about two messy people with a dash of opposites attract, and enemies to friends to lovers!

*Thanks Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House, Dial Press Trade Paperback for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*