I ate this book up!

It’s been awhile since I’ve seen When Harry Met Sally, but I could definitely see this as an homage. The characters are very different than H&S, but the story follows Ari and Josh over several years as they keep running into one another at different points in their lives. Their initial meeting is far from a meet cute and at first it seems like the only thing they have in common is their taste in women. Ari is a brash young woman working odd jobs and trying to make it as a standup comedian. She sleeps around and doesn’t seem interested in relationships or falling in love. Josh couldn’t be more different - he’s a smarmy (rather elitist) chef who thinks the proper way is the best way to do things. He believes in soul mates and Sunday brunches. As the story progresses and the characters experience the ups and downs in love and life, they discover that maybe they do work as friends - and maybe even something more.

This was a bit of a longer book, but like I said - I ate it up! The length really allowed the relationship to develop in a realistic way as we see Ari and Josh go from enemies to friends to lovers. The story takes place over the course of several years and I thought the time spent in each moment of time was perfect to get glimpses of these characters at these different points in their lives. I didn’t particularly love either of these main characters, but still couldn’t help laughing and swooning the whole way through.

I just wish we had some recipes at the end. So many references to food had me very hungry through out!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for a review copy. I’m seriously impressed by this debut and can’t wait to read more from this author.

You, Again is likened to When Harry Met Sally and having never seen the movie I cannot tell you how well the book captures its spirit. However, if it captures it well, let’s just say I’m not sad to have never seen it.

Having read other early reviews that are quite positive, I think this is a case of it’s not the book but me. If I hadn’t graciously been provided a review copy by the publisher I would have thrown in the towel and DNFed. I simply did not vibe with this book. I did not like either of the main characters, and while I can appreciate an arc that takes an unlikeable character on a journey of growth, that did not happen here. Despite it taking place over a span of EIGHT years, I found both Ari and Josh to be just as grating by the end of the book. The chapters, particularly in the beginning were too long for my preference and my interest was lost. I did not find the dual POV to lend itself well to this story. With the POVs changing multiple times per chapter, with no other indication than a microphone icon (for comedian Ari) and a spatula (for chef Josh), it was very confusing to keep up with.

I picked up this story because it was pitched as being a realistic, modern love story but I could not find any part of it relatable. In a rom com I’m looking for banter and our two MCs instead were continually throwing sharp barbs at one another. The humor was simply not my brand of humor, much of it cruder than I find funny. Lastly, though it is mentioned in the blurb that our MCs are sad… it did not prepare me for just how sad. This book is downright depressing. With the humorous parts not hitting for me, the mood was never lifted. If you’re a fan of When Harry Met Sally, or if your humor is more inline with those within these pages, maybe this book will be work you. Unfortunately, it did not work for me.

I will note that the bisexual and Jewish representation were nice to see. And a New York setting is always appreciated.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

You, Again makes me want to run around Central Park and shout at random strangers about it (my unathletic introverted ass could never, but the desire is there, okay?). Ari and Josh’s first meeting is everything my (and their) nightmares are made of, but in a fictional scenario it’s hilarious and perfect. And then they keep meeting. It’s bad until it’s not and I have never rooted for two stubborn idiots harder than I have in this book.

You, Again just feels real, in a way a lot of other romance books don’t. I know Ari and Josh, they’re my friends, they’re me. They’re messy and it’s beautiful. The way they navigate their lives and the city they live in are so well depicted I felt like I was walking down the street with them sometimes, nodding along thinking ‘yes, I am this disaster too’. They’re both broken in their own ways, and wading their way through their random meetings brings them closer to each other and to fitting their broken pieces together in a way that lifts each other up. Enemies to friends to lovers, and it’s such a beautiful arc between the characters to witness.

Witty, real, lovely, emotional, it’s all of that and more. Definitely on my short list for favorite book of the year. An incredible debut and has me already excited for whatever Kate writes next.

Many thanks to NetGalley Random House Publishing, Dial Press Trade Paperback and Kate Goldbeck for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I don't 100% know how I feel about this one, which surprises me. Let me say that this story is VERY well written. The characters are fleshed-out and feel very real. Ari's struggle with her divorce feels very thoughtful and I can appreciate the struggle of what she goes through even though she and I would make different choices and navigate life very different.

I think what made this book a little difficult for me is that I could connect with the characters but didn't feel emotionally invested in them. That is me personally -- I think MANY readers will adore Josh and Ari. I think it was just a personality difference between me and the characters. Like Ari and I were polar opposites, and weirdly, Josh and I were polar opposites as well. I still appreciated who they were as people, but it was hard for me (personally) to connect to them.

Like, it was intentional that they had boundary problems, it was intentional that they were both just kind of crazy, in their own way. There is no miscommunication trope, but there isn't a ton of communication either, which made me want to shake the two by the shoulders. AGAIN, that was intended due to Ari's past trauma and anxiety with her ex. It made for great writing and story-telling because I wanted to know how they would get together, because it wasn't predictable, even though I knew it would happen, I had no idea how.

I want to reiterate, this book was very well-done, just probably not for me. Others will LOVE it, guaranteed. Writing was fantastic, polished, and descriptive.

Kate Goldbeck NAILED the new-years-eve speech. She did Harry proud.

I read that this was a modern retelling of When Harry met Sally, but Sally and Harry were just SO much more likable. Ari, the main female lead, was annoying and immature. As a wannabe comedian, her only humor consisted of penis jokes and she was quite crude. Josh was boring and I couldn’t get find anything cute about him. Both individually and together they were both miserable.

I did appreciate all the NYC descriptions because that was my only connection to the book.

2/5 Stars

This unfortunately was not the book for me. I was not a fan of the way the characters were written. While I adore When Harry Met Sally, this book just wasn't it. Most of my issues came from Ari as a character. I found her completely unlikable. I couldn't connect with her at all. She felt very much like a pick me but also I'm not like other girls and I'm super woke all at the same time. It just didn't work for me. I will say that I had a great time reading the banter, it kept me entertained and intrigued. I would absolutely read other books from this author as it seems to be more of a dislike of the characters rather than the writing. That all being said I can see people really loving this book and would still recommend to then regardless of my personal experience.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

There is so much angst in this book. And I devoured it. I was t sure, at first, if it was going to good. About 30 pages in, I couldn't put it down. I loved the quick wit and banter between Josh and Ari. I was laughing and crying and crylaughing. It was a great read.

"You Again" is a retelling of "When Harry Met Sally" with a bi-sexual female character and a strong mental health representation. It is an an enemies-to-friends-to-lovers, with a an emphasis on the friends phase that makes all the difference. For the first quarter of the book, I didn’t like either character. If you find yourself in that state, keep reading. Once they became friends, the characters became people I hoped would get what they wanted and needed.

The story dramatically improves when Josh and Ari meet at the their respective rock bottoms. Their friendship grows out of them both experiencing deep depression and a mutual understanding of what each other is going through. Despite the heavy subject matter, Goldbeck adds in moments of grace and a little comedy.

Once Josh and Ari take their friendship to another level, things get darker and I grew sad for Josh and angry at Ari. I know she had her reasons for being alone but I really needed her to grow up a bit faster. Even so, I loved the overall message mutual love for one another helping us become better people.

I had a hard time believing that Ari was a comedian (she makes it clear she is not a comedienne) because she was rarely funny and often mean not only to Josh but to her friends, who kept forgiving her over and over again for hurting them, without her having to much because they just “understood” her. Also her constant sexual encounters became a crutch for her isolation that it grew tiresome.

As for Josh, for a lot of the story, his job is just being rich. Yes, he is a chef but for most of this book, he does nothing, simply because he can do nothing. And yes, that is part of depression and he does manage to make it to the gym to keep up his romance hero physique. But upon losing all ambition, he has so much privilege that he can survive on his family’s wealth. That said, I was Team Josh and I really wanted him to get what he wanted.

Overall, this book is very well written and is a wonderful love story to New York City. The story and setting are iconic New York and I loved seeing familiar, favorite places pop up in the pages. Goldbeck’s writing was poignant and open about depression and what it’s like to be in a prolonged state of hopelessness and how sometime we can find hope in another person who is feeling the same way. I went from hating Ari and Josh to rooting for them and that is what good writing does.

I received an ARC copy of "You Again" by Kate Goldbeck for my honest review. Thank you to the author and Random House Publishing Group - Random House, Dial Press Trade Paperback.

This book was an absolute delight! The banter between the main characters was next-level, and their chemistry jumped off the page. It also felt like the *perfect* summer to fall transitional book. It gave me all the cozy New York fall vibes, just like everyone’s favorite Nora Ephron movie 😊 Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review!

I was offered an ARC of You, Again and accepted it based on it being likened to the movie When Met Sally ( which I remember very little of- 1989 was a long time ago.)

You, Again is told 3rd person in dual POVs. Wannabe comedian Ari is an abrasive, polyamorous one night stander, and up-and-coming chef Josh is a prickly and arrogant believer in soul mates. I ended up liking this overall, despite the fact that I found both leads to be not very likable for a good portion of the book - but, even during the part where I didn't like Ari and Josh I still found the story interesting.

The leads meet several times (fairly antagonistically) over many years before reconnecting when they are both at the rock bottom of their lives, wallowing together and bonding over the utter failures of their dreams. While wallowing they drop their barriers and become friends and, when they are at their most broken, I actually started wanting them to heal and end up together. I like when friends-to-lovers or enemies-to-friends-to-lovers stories actually take the time to flesh out the friendship. On the side, I really liked the best friend Priya ( who has some great insights.)

Picking this up I didn't realize that this was labeled LGBTQIAP+ - the bi female lead is highly sexual and and talks about her hook ups with couples and uses crude sexual observations to keep people at a distance, but the only onscreen sex scenes are between the leads. (The poly dating aspect of the story really just serves to make her even more alone.)

Content warnings are drug use, divorce, cheating and death of a parent.

This get 3 stars from me - I liked it but the characters were difficult to like and the epilog chapter dulled the 'feels' of the ending
ARC courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley. Expected publication September 12, 2023

It's been a long time since I've stayed up on a work night because I kept wanting to see how the story played out and what would happen to the characters! (It's probably good that I don't do that too often, though, since I kept yawning today and will crash later...) This is a testament to Kate Goldbeck's writing and storytelling; it's always a good sign if I have to keep reading. (I kept trying to reason with myself, like maybe after this section... or when I reach this part... or hey it's past 4 a.m. and you have work. Me @ myself: but I need to see what happens to Ari and Josh! I can't stop here because it's not resolved yet.)

On that note, Goldbeck really nailed the beautiful messiness of the main characters and made me care about them from pretty much the beginning. I was like these are my adopted children, Ari and Josh, at the first chapter haha. From the get-go, Ari is so funny and witty, just trying to make it as a comedian in the big city of New York, paying rent with the many jobs she takes. You also quickly learn that she's afraid of Feelings and being rejected and only does casual sex (though she doesn't admit it, she yearns to be loved and she feels lots of things but shoves them down) and doesn't believe in soulmates-in great contrast to Josh, who's truly a hopeless romantic that wants to find his person (all of his little observations! I kept highlighting them), but is also insecure, yet arrogant and entitled and loves cooking fancy dishes as a chef (and takes great pride in doing so), is very particular about lots of things, and is estranged from his father. It's clear from very early on in Josh's POV sections that much of his childhood was tied to his father's deli, so there's going to be lots of emotional baggage to untangle on that front.

Ari and Josh do not get along initially, with Ari immediately nicknaming Josh Tall Sweater Nightmare Man (a nickname that made me cackle because I knew the stranger had to be Josh) when he rudely ignores her as she collects donations for one of her part time jobs. They run into each other later that day (a fact that brought me great joy and made me go !!!!!! hehe all at once), and even as strangers, their back and forth banter is so fun and so funny-they really made me chuckle. The way Josh is annoyed by Ari but lets her use his cleaver when he doesn't let other people touch his knives? You know, in true romcom fashion, that there's something there even at the beginning. The chemistry is immediate and powerful Ari's observation about Josh's face: "Handsome from some angles, harsh from others. The sort of person you meet once in passing but remember five years later." (Call it premature, but I was already squealing over these observations haha.) The last word Ari got in before she left made me laugh. The way they both know how to pick at each other's insecurities right from the beginning was kind of perfect (in an ouch, they're both finding their soft spots kind of way).

Their second meeting is just as brief but similarly charged and explosive. Three years later, Josh and Ari are at different points in their careers, but despite having not seen each other in all that time, they still clearly remember each other (a fact that had me all !!!!!!). Josh, upon seeing Ari:
"It's her speaking voice that gives her away--the specific, slightly throaty timbre that lodged in his head three years ago. There's no reason for it other than the simple truth that we remember horribly awkward incidents more than clearly pleasant encounters." (Sure, Josh, it's just because it was awkward. ;)) Their banter is as hilarious as ever, with Ari's quips and intentional button pushing to get a reaction out of Josh a constant.
Ari's observation about Josh I also highlighted: "There's a slight coldness in his eyes now, different from the needy, searching quality of two (three?) years ago." The things they notice about each other that have changed over time just get me, ugh. I love this kind of stuff, something you can only get with a large enough amount of time passing over the course of the story. Goldbeck does this beautifully throughout the book. It leaves you as the reader wondering what happened to each of them in the time they were apart and wanting to know more about the people they've become at each new meeting. They do a little catching up, and this time, Ari finds herself wanting to tell Josh about her accomplishment in her career (the number of lines I highlighted ahhh). The way this meeting caps off with a splash keeps upping the ante, where you wonder just how they're going to get to the point where they--as promised in the description--wind up becoming friends.

Two years later, at their third meeting, Josh is still with the Sophie of three years ago, but he's still yearning for that passionate relationship with his other half. Ari, on the other hand, has surprisingly gotten married (to a pretentious snob, imo, who I really didn't like based on the things Ari mentioned Cass having said...). She still recognizes him in her drug-fueled haze, and Josh finally hears her calling him Tall Nightmare Sweater Man to his face (a moment that brought me great joy and Josh great confusion). Their conversation/check-in of how things are going in each other's lives is once again full of them remembering details from their past conversations years and years ago (another constant throughout the book that makes things so good!). The chemistry between them is as strong as ever, and they pass the New Year's countdown together with an almost-kiss moment (a TEASE for this reader, okay), then leave off with one last hilarious exchange.

Another three years later (if you're like me, you add up the years to see what year it is now, and since the book started in 2014, by now, this is 2022), we find Josh and Ari each at their lowest points. Josh, with the failure of both his attempt at his own culinary venture within his dad's old deli and his relationship, and Ari, with the end of her marriage and her recently developed fear of performing and failing at standup, which once brought her so much joy.

Josh, upon seeing Ari:
"Images flash through his mind, like someone flipping through a stack of half-developed Polaroids. Huge chunks of the past eight years are completely wiped from his brain, but every tiny interaction he's had with this woman is burned into his memory. He's never been able to overwrite them."
I, of course, immediately highlighted that whole paragraph. The significance of each of these run-ins in their minds :') keeps my romantic heart going, honestly.

This fourth meeting is the one that sticks, with Josh and Ari both being so lonely and reaching out for connection from each other, a person they only really know in passing, yet have this kind of connection to, this way of mutually seeing beyond the surface of.

Another one of my million highlights:
"The look on Josh's face is hard to parse, like he's both offended and pleased. When their eyes meet, it's as if he sees behind the tight smile she's been plastering on her face." I don't know what else to say except this is so them. asfdkl;jadks

Probably in part because they're both feeling so low, but the way they open up to each other and admit things they find humiliating and would not say to other people is so heartwarming and leads Ari and Josh into the start of a beautiful friendship. I adore the friends-to-lovers arc, which, after their start on the wrong foot, really brings so much color to the whole book and to their lives. The chemistry is always there--has been from their first meeting, through every single one of their meetings thereafter--but it takes a backseat to the support they provide to each other, the comfort they find in having someone they can talk to about anything and hang out with and wallow with and laugh with and feel a little more alive with.

Okay, another highlight because I have so many more (and I'd love to throw them all in here but this review is already getting out of hand; I feel like I'm writing an essay because I have so many feelings about these two and realistically this review might just be like a journal entry for me lmao):
"She stops in front of him once they reach the red light at the corner. They're standing close enough that she has to tilt her head up and... Fuck, he misses having another person focus all their attention on him. They look at each other for a beat too long. The WALK sign flashes. People with dog leashes and overstuffed backpacks and knockoff Louis Vuitton handbags brush past them. Everyone has somewhere to be.
They don't."

And and and:
"The left side of her mouth curves into a tiny smile, forming a dimple. He hadn't noticed before that she has the kind of hazel eyes that seem to change color depending on the time of day. Josh finds himself taking new mental snapshots to augment the ones that have stubbornly refused to fade."

Okay one more:
"It earns him a full-throated, head-tilted-back laugh. It feels a little thrilling. A minor victory. He's never been so confused by a woman in his life." (This is so Josh, I can't deal. I love him. His confusion over his attraction to Ari is so endearing!)

I freaking adore Josh and Ari's comfort around each other. Their friendship starting off with getting drinks together, then pizza, then watching movies together (over the phone), to just hanging out with each other and being a steady presence for the other, it's everything.
Another highlight from their IKEA trip, where Ari asked Josh to come with her to IKEA to get furniture but is reluctant to buy anything, and Josh presses her to admit why she asked Josh to accompany her:
"'I guess... I like being with you more than I like being by myself.' She takes a deep breath and glances up. Josh has this way of focusing on her face. There's a potency to it. 'Why did you come?'
'The meatballs.' A stranger would say his face appears blank, but Ari can tell he's pleased. 'Obviously.'"
I just--Ari being able to understand Josh's facial expressions when they've only been friends for a little while, all the little moments of each of them reading the other's body language !!! This is the kind of stuff I absorb into my being. The inside jokes they build up (the hairbrush!!), the nicknames (Josh as Dust Daddy and Biggest Boy alsk;fdja;fsld), and even then, the moments throughout their friendship where you realize both Ari and Josh are having their own confused-about-their-feelings-for-their-supposedly-platonic-friend moments. It adds to the tension and the desire for them to take that next leap past friendship (seriously, I highlighted so may things).

Here's another, about Josh telling Ari he'd watched some of her stand-up clips and complimenting her, then the POV narration:
"...the videos had provided a glimpse of an alternate version of Ari--someone with their defense shields up at sixty percent, rather than ninety." Josh having been impressed by it because he liked seeing more of the real, a little more vulnerable Ari *crying*

There are so many little moments like this where we see Josh or Ari try to bring up comedy or cooking, where they admit to what's got them stuck. They don't fix each other's problems, but they're there for each other in such a special way that each of these lonely souls needs.
As Ari tells it later on:
"He just got me. He saw me in this way that other people never do. We're really different, but I could talk to him about anything--all the stuff I tried really hard to hide from everyone else because I felt so ashamed of how much I was hurting. Even though I was at my lowest point, he just accepted me."

The side characters help to elevate the story in truly showcasing Josh and Ari as multifaceted characters both within the context of their friendship and outside of that, as these are the other people who know them in some capacity or another and care about them and are involved in their lives. Radhya and Ari's friendship is an important one in that few people know Ari as well as she does since Ari is very guarded around pretty much everyone and is afraid of being hurt. (She's a softie despite her blustering and fear of commitment.) It made me so hopeful for Ari and Josh when Ari wanted Josh to apologize to Radhya (because they have to at least get along if anything's going to happen between them in the future, since Radhya's Ari's best friend), and Josh texting Radhya during his spiraling made me laugh. It was also an important step for Josh in his character growth to apologize to her, as he admits to himself in one of the chapters that he's bad at apologizing. Baby steps for him and all.

Josh's interactions with his mom and sister show other sides of him; as much as he is closed off from people, his mom still knows his personality and understands the messiness of his unresolved relationship with his dad--how much Josh craved that validation and approval from his father and how both father and son were too stubborn to make amends. There's a scene with mother and son late in the book that made me cry (I'm tearing up again just thinking about it). His sister, Briar, brings some levity in most of her scenes, but she also believes in her brother's skills as a chef and tries to support him in the ways that she knows how. She's a big part of him getting back into the kitchen eventually, and that warms my heart. (The contrast between brother and sister's personalities here is also so funny.) They may not feature in a lot of scenes in the book, but all the ones they do show up in really add to the overall story. Can I also say that I adore the way Josh's mom immediately takes to Ari? That was precious. The whole New Year's Eve gala and the moment after are everything.

Part of the messiness involves Ari's emotional state concerning her ex-wife; given the things we learn about how Cass treated Ari and how Ari was around Cass, as well as what Radhya thought of Cass, it's not a surprise that that relationship had such a big impact on Ari. Ari feels things really deeply, though she often deflects and bottles things up to an unhealthy degree, as she's used to being on her own. I seriously wanted to yell at Cass on Ari's behalf; Ari became a shell of herself around Cass, really, with the way she was abandoned and made to feel like her relationship with Cass had never mattered to Cass at all. Ari deserved so much better!!! Which she does get with Josh, in the end. He treats her the way she deserves *crying*. The matzo ball soup he gave to her, him cooking for her, everything. (A quote from that part that I highlighted, naturally: "Josh watches her swallow another spoonful of soup. How is it possible to be so goddamn frustrated with someone, while also wanting her to close her eyes and rest her head on your shoulder?")

Josh has his own issues to work through; besides the baggage around his relationship with his father and Brodsky's, he also clings to the idea that love will fix everything. While I love that he's so head over heels for Ari by the latter half of the book, Ari is right that it's not right for him to put that kind of pressure on Ari--the sentiment of Ari being the only bright thing about his days is not healthy, and we get to see Josh admit to that later on (when they have another confrontation *cries*) as a conclusion he came to in therapy (yay therapy! I'm loving all the normalized depictions of therapy in romance lately).

Their HEA is so hard-earned and satisfying, the culmination of so much growth on each of their parts, much of which did have to come when they were apart (which was so painful. the ANGST). The number of times I cried in the after part of their friendship, ouch. Reading about their feelings and the way they missed each other made my heart hurt so much. (Hence me being unable to stop reading until the end!!! I had to get to their HEA.)

Ari's wake-up moment that leads to the grand gesture and that HEA, the callback to early on in her friendship with Josh had me crying:
"If you want to watch someone you love grow into the person you know they can be, that's when you get married." (I'm totally not crying again typing this. Not me. *sniffles*)
Also, I need to say that that grand gesture, the time of year, the place they end up at again, it's so perfect. I'm a sappy mess of feels. The airport run, all the references to their previous conversations ("It's basic cultural literacy!!"), and the modernized format of the declaration (I'm going to watch When Harry Met Sally tomorrow or something so I can actually know all the inspiration) via text. That love speech made me cry, and Josh's reaction to it alfsdkjafl;ksj;l ahhhhhhhhh I love these two dummies so much.

Some more of my favorite lines from this part (honestly I would totally highlight that entire love declaration):
"For once in his life, he doesn't care about typos."
"I get this Pavlovian smile response every single time I get a text from you, even if it's just one word, because you still make me a little nervous and excited."
"I want to wake up to your voice every morning and fall asleep to it every night."
"Maybe there's no such thing as soulmates, but I think you're my person. And I'm yours.
And I don't want to wait for it anymore.
I want to wake up with you tomorrow."

And you gotta read it to understand this:
"I don't think I'll ever be over this."

The FOREHEADS TOUCHING (that is my actual WEAKNESS, you don't even know).

The tenderness of this entire moment:
"He nods, stroking his thumb up and down her cheek. She moves her head against his hand, drinking in the feeling of being cared for." Ari's not used to having someone care for her so!!! UGH, it's perfect.

"...the corners of her mouth curving up into what is--objectively--the most beautiful smile in the world." Just look at Josh!!! His POV hits me right in the heart.
"She just looks at him with a soft little smile that he's certain he'll never get sick of seeing."

Their contact name changes at the end made me ridiculously happy. I'm such a sap. And that thank you text haha. I love them so much. Their banter is always on point.

"I will buy you an entire set of monogrammed cereal bowl, he promises silently." JOSH

"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."

"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."

"We don't need to do it again. Any of it. You were perfect for me the first time."

Thank you so much to Netgalley/Random House for the ARC! So excited for my preorder to arrive.

When I saw the description of this book, I knew I had to read it. When Harry Met Sally is one of my favorite movies and this book perfectly captures the feelings that movie brings me, but with a fresh/modern take. The characters were messy at times, but very real, and both of the protagonists had healthy growth as individuals. These two were real opposites attract; I found it hard to see how they would make it work initially, but their connection becomes more apparent as you move through the story. The writing was witty and the characters had undeniable chemistry. The third-act conflict was hard to read, but I felt like it was handled in a real way that didn’t feel forced for these characters. I don’t really have any notes for this one; I loved it. Overall, I highly recommend this charming story about finding your person!

CW: toxic relationships, grief, panic attacks

This is a modern reimagining of When Harry Met Sally. Ari and Josh have have several unfortunate meetings over the course of 8 years, until eventually, they meet when they’re both at rock bottom and strike up an unlikely friendship.

This was tough for me to get into initially, specifically, their first 3 meetings where they hate each other… I didn’t really like them either. So it took a bit for me to get on board with both of the main characters. However, they did grow on me, and more importantly, I think this book really successfully captures the feeling and relationship dynamic of the source material, which is really difficult to do.

This is 3.5 for me, but rounding up to 4 stars because they really got me by the end.

Thank you, NetGalley and Dial Press for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review!

I feel like I'm the anomaly when it comes to this book. It has raving reviews, the majority being 5 stars. However, I was unfortunately left a little underwhelmed by the execution of the novel. To start on a positive note, Goldbeck nailed the setting. It was very clear she's lived in New York for a while, since she was so detailed in her descriptions and places where Ari and Josh meet and go. I pictured each place vividly, whether it be tourist attractions like Times Square and Central Park, to dive bars and comedy clubs. The New York vibes were definitely present throughout.

I do think the pacing was a little off, as I found the novel only picked up around the 70% mark. I think the biggest obstacle for me was Ari as one of the protagonists. Until the near end, I found her almost insufferable. I like emotionally closed-off characters who use humour to mask their pain, but Ari's characterization didn't work for me. Her humour, quirkiness, and snarkiness were a little too "pick me" and too juvenile. I do think the sex-positive representation was great though. The Jewish rep within Josh is not something to be excited about unfortunately, as there are quick mentions of matzah ball soup, and Josh is consistently referred to as a white boy - which is untrue, since Judaism is an ehtnoreligion, and Jews are indigenous to the middle east. Josh's narrative was smoother and more enjoyable, but I really didn't feel much chemistry between the 2 until about 80% into the novel.

Overall, I think Goldbeck writes well, and though this novel didn't do it for me, I am interested in reading more from her.

THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY FOR SENDING ME AN ARC IN EXCHANGE FOR A REVIEW OF THIS BOOK!

You will devour this book just like I did. I don't even know where to start with this review. I loved this book a lot. The characters are messy and very relatable. I can't tell you how many times I went "yep. That's me." and highlighted a quote on my kindle.

Ari and Josh are both reeling from failed relationships, career problems, and just the general problem of trying to find out who exactly they are with these problems. Ari is wild, free and Josh...well...he's not. He's a bit uptight in the beginning. These two keep running into each other until finally, they become friends. Turns out they have a lot more in common that they originally thought and that's where our story really begins. We see them navigating through life, trying to figure things out or running from them. Yet their friendships remains an anchor for both of them.

The one thing I did really enjoy is that their problems didn't magically go away. Things don't just fall into place because these two are besties or when they become more. Also it's refreshing to see a woman struggle with not pushing someone away, not running away. That's something my younger self struggled with for a multitude of reasons but that's me revealing way too much in a arc review so we move on.

The secondary characters are great and really add to the story. Briar is the perfect annoying but loving little sister. Radhya kicks everyone's ass and says what needs to said. I'm pretty sure I was supposed to hate Cass because I did. If wasn't, well...I did anyway.

Also loved the frank discussions about sex, friendship, love, family, and career. This book is worth your time.

A modern take on ‘When Harry Met Sally’, — if you loved the movie, you’ll love this. And if you haven’t seen it or if it’s not your favorite (I’m more of a ‘You’ve Got Mail’ girl myself), still read this because it’s wonderful!

This was so well written - a beautiful mix of depth and witty banter - and though I struggled through the middle of this book (these two were… frustrating), I ended up really liking the story as a whole.

If you’re hoping for a lighthearted rom com to curl up with this Autumn, this isn’t it. Most of this book is slow and heavy. The characters are messy and dealing with a lot, but there’s humor and character growth to balance it out. And while I would’ve liked to see a little more growth from Ari (and some therapy, perhaps) I love that we get to watch these two become better versions of themselves as they fall in love.

Thanks to Random House Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC!

I am not the first and I won't be the last to compare this book to When Harry Met Sally. It definitely echoes the movie in some very adorable ways, but I want to make it clear that it tells it's own story. This isn't like a Pride and Prejudice retelling where you know exactly what is going to happen if you've seen the original. (And if you've watched and enjoyed Bear on Hulu, there are some similarities as two of the characters are chefs. Seeing "yes chef" just hits different after watching that show.)
You, Again was a funny, raunchy (in the best way), modern, and fast-paced story. There's a grumpy/sunshine dynamic and a "true love believer" with a "love is dead" trope, but the "love is dead" character is also the sunshine character, and the "true love" character is the grumpy character, which made for a really fun and unique dynamic. I usually read around 6-8 books at a time, but this one kept my attention and I finished it quickly!
I got a free e-book of this title through NetGalley, but when I saw that it was a selection through Book of the Month I also purchased a hardbound copy for myself. Can't wait to read more by this author.

Wow. This book deserves to be put on a pedestal. Highly romantic, realistic, unique & funny, this book captures every aspect of love in its various forms. And to be set in New York City is an added bonus.

Ari & Josh' chemistry was UNREAL. Their meet-cutes (yes, several of them) were AMUSING. The slowburn, angst & tension between them were UNBEARABLE.

While I loved the romance, I loved the character development even more. I loved the flawed characters & their individuality, their personality, their confidence & strength. I just admired the heck out of the MCs getting through with their day while a lot was going on around them.

I've read several opposites-attract romances, but I think by far, this might be the best. The several time jumps made the story even more realistic & authentic. I can't urge everyone enough to read this book.

<i>Thank you Netgalley & Publisher for the arc, in exchange for an honest review.<i>

I’m sad to say I’m part of the minority when it comes to this book.

There were so many things that just didn’t work for me but the biggest thing were the main characters, in an alternate universe I could see myself liking them, one where the characters actually grow up and mature overtime. This book spans over a period of 8 YEARS and but with the way things were it seemed like time hadn’t moved.

Despite everything I really enjoyed the writing so I will keep an eye out for the author’s next book.

I went into this book fairly blind, and honestly I really loved it. It’s got a lot of cute and romantic moments, but I wouldn’t call this a romcom. It deals with wrong timing, heart break, learning to be alone, and doesn’t shy away from all the unhappy emotions that go along with breakups.

I loved, loved, loved how much both the MC and FMC grew as separate individuals throughout the story. Their journey from being enemies to friends to lovers was so beautifully written and very believable. I also thought the passing of time was one of the best parts of this book. The timeline jumps months or years between the important parts of the story, but when you’re in each ‘era’ it feels cohesive and detailed.

Also, all the food descriptions in this book made me so hungry!!! Loved the hot chef vibes 😂

Overall I loved this and will definitely be reading more from this author!!