I loved this! It was fun and sexy and unexpectedly moved me to tears a couple of times. It felt like a perfect modern adaptation of When Harry Met Sally. I was so so excited that these characters had lives and friends outside of each other. Even the side characters were richly developed and I loved them all.

Thanks to Random House and NetGalley for the ARC! This was a sassy, fun, and cozy enemies-to-lovers/ grumpy/sunshine romance. The characters felt very real, flaws and all, and Josh gave me MAJOR Carmy from The Bear vibes. I thought it was justttt a bit too long, but overall I loved reading it and the ending had me squealing.

[arc review]
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
You, Again releases September 12, 2023

5+!! This changed my DNA.

<i>“Better to be the one who walks away than the person who gets left behind.”</I>

<i>You, Again</I> is such an incredibly refreshing read. I’m in awe that this is a debut novel!
It was funny, but also hurt, and felt <u>so fucking real</u>.
The really niche culinary details spoke to me as a love language in literature.
I was entirely not expecting this book to have such a visceral impact on me… I could physically feel the book hangover and lasting impression it was leaving on me before I even got halfway through.
Kate Goldbeck has definitely secured a place as a new favourite author.

This story spans many years, is set in NYC, and has the most three dimensional characters with so much personality.
From the get go, there was such an easy and natural flow of conversation. Goldbeck utilized dual pov extremely well, where it alternated quite frequently between both main character’s pov’s within a singular chapter without ever stilting the dialogue, which made the scenes feel so well-rounded (I attribute her background in screenplay as the driving force to having such an immersive and fluid read where it truly feels like you’ve landed in a movie).

Ari is an aspiring improv comedian and a serial non-monogamist, and Josh is a chef searching for his one true soulmate — but in the midst of him looking for something so perfect, he’s likely been missing out on so much spontaneity and just overall passion within a relationship.
On paper, Ari and Josh should not work together, but that’s part of what makes this so fun and enticing — seeing the push and pull in real time, with the build up of angst and opposition over literal years — because what are the odds of running into the same person time and time again in a city as bustling as NYC? Quite high, apparently.

The duality between Josh and Ari was so good, I couldn’t get enough. Even with the large gaps of time between their brief encounters, it felt like there was only seconds that passed from when they last interacted.

Ari and Josh first meet in 2014 when she tries to get the attention of the man walking by with an expensive coffee to give her a donation in order to meet her quota for an organization supporting bobcats. Later that same day, it’s revealed that Josh is the boyfriend of Ari’s current roommate, and they share a heated discussion as Josh prepares dinner for Natalie (whom Ari just so happens to be casually intimate with on occasion) — this mic drop statement leaves Josh flustered but has me as a reader, on the edge of my seat!

A couple years later, they meet again as Josh is the head chef where Ari’s current roommate Radhya works, and tensions rise as events lead to Josh firing Radhya, and Ari throwing a drink in his face.

Two years after that, Ari and Josh cross paths at a NYE party, only this time Ari happens to be married. Shocker!

Finally, with one more time jump three years later, we settle down for the long haul.
Josh has moved into a new place and is trying to get his life back on track after a failed business venture, a recent end to a long distance relationship, and the loss of his father.
Ari is also going through a transitional phase and is getting divorced.
When they stumble across each other and catch up, they become open to being friends, which is a real moment of growth for the both of them.
But in the vein of <I>When Harry Met Sally</I>: can a man and woman ever truly keep things strictly platonic?

Honestly, I think the appeal of Ari and Josh’s dynamic was that they could unapologetically wallow in their misery together. There’s something so freeing about it, where they really don’t have to stress about walking on eggshells to constantly impress the other person; they could just… be.
Their interactions were hilarious (standing ovation for that improvised emergency date/cheating on my wife scene), and I loved all of the text messages scattered throughout the book too, because I could really get a sense for their personalities, dry wit, and banter.
Nothing felt forced, and they had the time to naturally progress as friends to something more, where there wasn’t one particular calendar day that changed things, but rather a slow shift over time from little moments that added up.

Something that I loved throughout the book was how they brought up little things that were previously mentioned, either from a conversation in passing from a few days ago, or even years ago from when they first met because it showed how much they valued the other person and cared, by listening and retaining pieces of information.
I was so unwell when Josh gifted her the singular bowl with the blue rim and dragon design!! The amount of meaning speaks volumes.
<i>“The gift is so perfectly casual yet evocative of a specific time and place that’s only meaningful to them.”</I>

Ari and Josh’s intimacy had me crying (literally). It was so tender, but always had a sprinkle of humour (sometimes dirty humour) to offset the really tough emotions.

Again, circling back to how real this felt, with the third-act conflict: I actually loved how it wasn’t easy for them; how neither folded or dropped to their knees when the other said “I miss you”; how they actually <u>walked away</u>.
This takes a step in a direction that is so refreshing after reading countless of what feels like the same scripted romance books, to a place that normalizes adults falling off the face of the earth (for lack of better words) and not having their entire life together. Shit happens, and sometimes things are too much to handle and we inadvertently distance and sabotage the best things and/or friendships, but that doesn’t mean that we don’t care. Undoing years of shitty coping mechanisms and avoidances that are set in muscle memory is hard and takes time.
(I'm not saying it's healthy behaviour, but it's realistic).

Ari and Josh weren’t perfect, and I loved that.
This had a great, charming, full circle ending.

<i>“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.”</I>

Rep: bisexual fmc, Jewish mmc


“I refuse to fill my free time with something that reminds me of failure.” — the context of this quote hit me like a ton of bricks to the chest. I saw myself so much in Josh, especially in the culinary scene, when your passion ebbs and flows, and you reach a point where you don’t even want to cook at home as a hobby (look, I know, it’s way too niche, but Goldbeck understood the assignment with every layer and nuance in this book).

“Sometimes it’s not until she encounters parental affection that she recognizes the utter lack of it in her life. It hurts more to fill the cavity than to leave it empty.”

“She’s taken root in some deep, inaccessible place that can’t be edited or overwritten—just managed.”

“I built my entire life around not needing anyone. But I NEED you.”

Josh and Ari hate each other from the second they meet. Unfortunately for them, they keep running into each other. Finally they give in and become friends. They have vastly different views on marriage and relationships, and always seem to run into each other during relationship upheavals. As their friendship grows however, their feelings for each other do too.

Ok so I read this book on my kindle and I am in a kindle slump fiends. Do you ever have that where one way of reading just isn’t jiving with you? I am flying through physical books, and doing fine with audio, but for some reason right now kindle books are taking me days to get through. I know pendulum will swing the other way eventually, but it’s frustrating! I really enjoyed this book and it was driving me nuts that it took me so long to get through it! I loved the Harry Met Sally of it all! The banter was top notch, and the chemistry was off the charts! If you enjoyed Harry Met Sally and want a similar idea in book form look no further!

This one has all the When Harry Met Sally vibes with Ari and Josh having horribly awkward run-ins with each other over the years, then becoming friends, and then making things messy with all their feelings. There’s so many time-jumps in this book that it’s labeled with nine different parts, but it’s very clear where we are in everyone’s lives. If this turns into a movie, you’ll be able to tell what era you’re in based on Ari’s hairstyle and clothing. Ari is a stand-up comedian with all sorts of aversion to commitment and thinks Josh is an arrogant asshole (who is weirdly romantic and believes in soulmates). He’s actually a chef with big dreams and wanting to distance himself away from his famous deli-owning father. We get to see the evolution of both Ari and Josh separately in both their relationships and their careers. When they finally meet again and strike up a reluctant friendship, they’re both at all-time lows and miserable company is somehow comforting for them. They keep things totally platonic, but it’s clear they have some emotional dependence on each other, complete with late night telephone conversations while watching a movie together (separately in their own apartments). It all blows up when Josh pushes for more and Ari freaks out (as expected). We get to see both points of view in this story and the humor mixed with heartbreak hurts in a good way. I love how small little details early in the story get remembered and called back to later on, in the best sort of inside jokes between Ari and Josh. The supporting cast of friends and family rounded out the story and it was nice to see how everyone interacted with each other. An amazing book and I will definitely be reading anything in the future that Kate Goldbeck writes.

Ari Sloane and Josh Kestenberg are complete opposites. When they first meet, the only thing they have in common is the woman who is warming both of their beds. Aspiring comedian Ari is a free-spirited commitment phone. Chef Josh is exacting and looking for a relationship. Neither of them can stand the other and hope to never have to see each other again. But fate has different plans and over the next eight years, Ari and Josh have periodic run-ins as they go about their lives in New York City. Now they have met again when they are at the lowest points in their lives. Ari is going through a devastating divorce from her narcissistic wife. Josh’s career has crashed and burned and his long-term, long distance girlfriend has dumped him. Misery loves company and Josh and Ari start spending all their time together, sharing the thoughts and feelings they can’t tell anyone else and helping each other move forward. When Josh’s feelings start to deepen, their friendship takes a turn into something more. But Ari hasn’t healed from her past issues, sending their relationship into a tailspin. Will these star-crossed lovers ever get it right or will they continue to miss their chance at love?

Kate Goldbeck’s You, Again was an engrossing, deep dive into two very different people as their lives intertwine for almost a decade. I really loved snobby, persnickety Josh and his growth into a more humble, accepting person as he embraced the roots he had long tried to break away from. He was so supportive of Ari and her foibles. I had a harder time connecting with Ari. She gave off a strong manic pixie dream girl vibe, which I found a bit off putting. She finally clicked for me later in the book when she started to examine herself and her motives and actually fully interact with those around her, instead of flitting from experience to experience with no real depth of feeling. The characters grew and changed as the fell for each other. They brought out each other’s best. Josh gave Ari stability and understanding. Ari softened Josh’s hard edges. The characters and their love were grounded and realistic, with plenty of faults and flaws. All of the characters were diverse with all types being represented. The side characters were wonderfully funny and NYC itself was a supporting character. Goldbeck used the time jumps masterfully. They were a strong storytelling tool, showing the characters at various points in their lives as the universe kept pulling them together and paving the way for their present relationship. There was a good progression to the story, no flat or boring moments. Each piece interlocking with the next. You, Again is a compelling opposites attract, enemies to lovers love story with a big, bold, beautiful ending.

I was intrigued by this story as a When Harry Met Sally fan. However, I should have known that a story like that - drawn out over time - burning that slowly - would be a really tough sell to my greedy little romance loving brain.

On top of that, I struggled a bit with the 3rd person narration of the story. This voice is something I either connect with or I don't and there is no in between. I can't even put my finger on why it sometimes work and other times it doesn't but in this one - it didn't work. It made me feel outside of the story. That said, i do think it's well-written. The style just didn't vibe with me.

Finally, I really struggled with LIKING the characters. They didn't resonate with me and combined with my other issues - it ultimately resulted in a DNF.

I sincerely appreciate the opportunity to read and review. Unfortunately, this one just wasn't for me.

Witty and sharp, this will they or won‘t they, enemies to friends to . . . was a little infuriating and a little wonderful. I hung in there but it was touch and go-she was pretty crass and he was pretty awful that I nearly DNFed this one. I‘m glad I finished it, the pay off was worth it. Part of me wanted this to be more polished, but in the end, the messiness was part of its charm. Release date: 9/12/2

This book is if When Harry Met Sally and The Bear had a baby, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I wouldn't exactly call this a romcom; it was heavier than that. The characters are flawed, messy, and live with the consequences of their actions. But they're also likeable and grow into better people the more they're on the page. I could have used a little more scene setup in the first chapter, I feel like I got pushed in really quickly. But once you find the footing this book is really wonderful, and a great retelling of a Nora Ephron classic.

I was already familiar with the writer's work, and had been anticipating this book since she announced it. As a fan, I still felt a touch of cold feet, but this went beyond my expectations. Both leads felt real to me, and I loved Radhya too. The emotional hurdles were reasonable and handled appropriately; love the growth each of them gained by the final act.

I also knew from the jump, when the author mentioned Eastern Parkway and a tiny bedroom, that I was fully onboard. I'm so tired of Brooklyn-based novels with leads who live in Cobble Hill or Prospect Park. My beloved Strand Book Store having more than a cameo was also very cute. It's clear that this city holds a special place in the author's heart. I don't want to go on too long about time spent in different neighborhoods, but I am a fan!

Recommended for fans of Emily Henry and Kate Clayborn

“What would Nora Ephron write if she were telling this story in a world without paper rolodexes?” That is the question Kate Goldbeck set out to answer with You, Again and she does a damn good job at it. Despite living in a city of millions, Ari and Josh keep running into each other and having the opposite of meet cutes. Eventually, they run into each other at a sex shop and bond over the demise of their long term relationships. Neither one of them is at their best. Josh is judgmental, unemployed, and feeling sorry for himself. Ari is hiding from comedy, her friends, and her own emotions. Yet the two become friends. They learn to love each other (platonically?) at their worst and inspire each other to be their best. Ari and Josh are not perfect. They each frustrated me deeply at various points in the book but that is the point. People are flawed but that doesn’t make them unworthy of love. Humans are stubborn. We get depressed. We sabotage ourselves. We make rash judgments. We hide from the emotions that make us uncomfortable. But we also change. We grow. We find people who love us at worst and push us to be our best. Ari and Josh reflect all of that. Their flaws make them feel so real. Like you could walk past them in Central Park. That is what makes their love story so incredible.

A slow burn romance perfect for those who love grumps and angst! While this was clearly based on When Harry Met Sally, it also gave me some Reylo fanfic vibes with the main male character's similarity to Adam Driver. A great read and I highly recommend for any one who loves classic romance inspired by their favorite classic rom com movies (especially those from the '80s)!

I love a grumpy angsty slow-burn. He’s a grumpy chef she’s an aspiring stand up comedian.

When Harry meets Sally with a hint of Reylo fanfic

Stayed up way to late reading this, couldn’t put it down.

I want to thank netgalley and the publisher for the eArc in exchange for my honest review.

This book is outstanding on every level. The timeline so perfectly mirrors When Harry Met Sally but it's perfectly unique with original characters and a modern, sex positive, inclusive, irresistible love story. The writing is outstanding even on the line level. Seriously, the author crafted each sentence with intention. The Jewish rep was spot on. The love for and knowledge of New York City was apparent. I am astonished that this is a debut. And, please, if you are a fan of When Harry Met Sally, DEFINITELY read the acknowledgments.

You, Again surprised me in the best way! When Harry Met Sally definitely sets some high standards, but I think Kate Goldbeck did a great job using the structure from that near perfect movie and infusing it with something unique, new, and incredibly romantic. As Goldbeck mentions in the author’s note, Nora Ephron’s genius is in the way her characters fall in love just through a series of conversations, and Josh and Ari do the same in this book. Their chemistry is electric from the first page, and I was kicking my little feet every page over the dialogue. The book is just so much fun! I will say that the ending felt a bit rushed, skipping over a year in 30 or so pages after spending the bulk of the book focusing on a three or four month period, and there are some characters that felt like they could’ve been more fleshed out. But I cared about these characters so much through out their whole journey, and their romance was easy to root for. I found a lot of emotional depth among all the banter, and honestly I’m so happy I picked this book up. It probably won’t be my last time reading it.

When Harry Met Sally at his girlfriend's place as her lover...

𝘠𝘰𝘶, 𝘈𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯 follows Ari and Josh who met several times for bare minutes over the years but never got the chance to connect, until years later, when they finally form a tentative bond over the worst sort of heartbreaks.

- ~ -

The author did a great job of writing raw characters and not caricatures of every typical rom-com (don't get wrong, they're all loved equally) where the girl is sunshiney and the guy's grumpy and through the will of flowers and storm (exaggeration!) they get together.

Ari was, indeed, a little sunshiney and Josh, grumpy but above it all they were people with messy lives who didn't figure it out in the span of a few months, no that took months and multiple failures both in respect to their love lives and career.

Ari brought a little smile into Josh's life and he bought peace into hers. And their relationship built off friendship is the one that withstood the test of time despite the many many c̶̶u̶̶r̶̶v̶̶e̶ Matzo balls thrown against it.

- ~ -

4.01 / 5✩

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘙𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘮 𝘏𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘗𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬, 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘐 𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸𝘦𝘥. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.

The “When Harry Met Sally”-inspired witty banter, the tension, the personal growth - it was all perfect. What an amazing debut that absolutely lived up to the hype.

This book wasn’t for me. It has some aspects I don’t agree with personally. Which is my fault for requesting in the first place without checking the tags. Aside from that though.. I didn’t find either MC very likable. What was supposed to be banter often felt more like insults & jabs. Also, the length of time the story plays out over (years) just didn’t do it for me. It felt long and slow and I just didn’t enjoy it. But, I probably my have the unpopular opinion here. Definitely give it a try. We are all different and others have given this glowing reviews.

Thanks to NetGalley and Dial Press for the ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book.
Loved Josh. I really didn't like Ari for a lot of the book but she showed growth throughout the story. I thought this was too long and I lost interest in the middle but it redeemed itself in the end. Great ending. Wonderful debut. I'll watch for this author's' future work.

I wanted to read this one based on the Ali Hazelwood blurb. :) It took me a little longer than I expected to get into it - I wasn't convinced in the first half Ari would ever come around to being ready for a relationship. Second half picked up, and I enjoyed the story overall.