Thank you to Net Galley and Random House Publishing for an ARC of this novel, it was stunning, to say the least. I opened this book up on my kindle today and expected to only read a chapter or so. I stayed in bed all day to read the entire thing. I think it was the humor that really caught my attention when I was first reading and the strange way that Ari and Josh connected with one another over the years. I just had to know how they went from sleeping with the same person to falling in love, it seemed almost impossible until i kept reading. I was met with one of the most endearing love stories i’ve read in a while and there is something so right about Ari and Josh being together. They truly are the hotter, modern version of Harry and Sally from When Harry Met Sally. New year’s day is officially carved out for those two couples to live on forever and ever. This book was heart wrenching and sexy and funny and the characters really bare their souls to us in ways that are endearing and scary at the same time. I honestly couldn’t recommend a novel more. Congrats to Kate Goldbeck, you have a winner. It was stunning, every moment of it.

You, Again is a modern day spin on When Harry Met Sally, and I loved it.

After a series of run-ins, months/years apart, Ari and Josh develop an unexpected friendship as they both navigate break ups, and figuring out their careers. I enjoyed this one a lot, it took a slow approach to developing the characters and it genuinely felt like you were on their journey with them. Some parts of this story were so dang sweet, I didn’t know what to do with myself. I’m a huge fan of friends to lovers because I think the relationships are always so sweet and real. There were a lot of raw emotions in this story, and because of the character build, I found myself a little misty-eyed for the characters at certain points. I was rooting for them individually, but also together.

There’s a note from the author at the end that I absolutely loved, and further convinced me that I'm going to be a forever fan. You, Again comes out 9/12/2023 which is perfect timing because to me this book just screams fall in nyc. So grab a warm drink and make sure you pick this up when it’s out!

Thank you Random House and Dial Press for a e-arc!

In full disclosure, 𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘔𝘦𝘵 𝘚𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 is one of my go to comfort, sick-day movies. So when I read Ali Hazelwood's blurb "𝘍𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘩, 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘶𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘺 𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘤, 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘭𝘺 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘰𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘧 𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘔𝘦𝘵 𝘚𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘐 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘦𝘥." this book immediately went on my priority TBR.

You, Again (Pub 09.12) is a captivating, unconventional, sex positive contemporary romance debut. It is friends to lovers perfection. Josh and Ari's story unfolds over the course of a decade as they keep running into each other. They become friends as they grow into better versions of themselves and develop emotional intimacy while also acknowledging their bubbling attraction with trepidation. I couldn't read it fast enough.

What to Know:
- cinematic writing
- bisexual representation
- Jewish representation
- swoony & angsty
- slow burn
- snarky, smart and equally matched banter
- dual POV with emotionally complex characters
- He is the hopeless romantic. She is the jaded one.
- You do not need to know about WHMS to enjoy

I would consume any media that’s inspired by When Harry Met Sally, my favorite romcom of all times. So when I saw the description for this book, I <i>knew</i> I had to read it. I enjoyed this well-written, heartfelt slow burn queer romance between a commitment-phobe and a hopeless romantic even though it’s rather long for a romance (by the end of the book I felt like we could have done without a few chapters). The nods to WHMS weren't obvious beyond the fact that the story is set in NYC, the MCs are dealing with mental health and neuroses that prevent them from acting like rational adults at times, and the basis of most of the dialogue is banter. It was a smooth read, witty and funny, with interesting side characters. I had trouble warming up to the main characters because some of their actions made them rather unlikable, but overall it was an enjoyable read that I would recommend to fans of angsty romcoms and Ali Hazelwood's romances!

I LOVED this book.

Ari and Josh met because they were both sleeping with the same woman. They hated each other. They met again, and hated each other even more. Two more meet-hates later, they become friends after they both start debilitating breakups. And then... they become more.

This book is obviously an homage to When Harry Met Sally, but it manages to so beautifully walk that line between just pure retelling and being original, updated and unique. WHMS is one of my favorite films - I could probably quote it to you - so believe me when I say that I was astonished at how well the author used my knowledge of the plot of the film against me at various points. I thought it was going to go one way, and then it went a completely different - and wonderful! - direction instead. I was kept guessing the whole time.

Also, as someone who regularly does improv, the comedy scene jokes were just hilarious and so, so accurate. I was dying the entire time. (Fun fact, I used to work with an improv theaterthat did corporate improv and it is EXACTLY how she says it is.)

Also apparently this is yet another book that was formerly a Reylo fanfic?? I also would like to thank our patron saint, Rian Johnson for his continued inspiration to so many talented authors.

Read this book. It was romantic and funny and modern and classic all at the same time.

5/5 stars.

If <u>When Harry Met Sally</u> and <u>Broad City</u> had a queer, interracial baby, this would be it.

Because the release date isn't until September, I won't spoil anything one way or another except to say I enjoyed it thoroughly! But I would caution people that it lacks just a touch of originality. But if you're into WHMS, you will not have a single problem with that. If you're into Broad City, New York City, millennial banter, enemies-to-friends-to-lovers, sex positivity, finding your person, you will LOVE it. It did all these things flawlessly.

I also felt personally connected to it because I have had these exact interactions with people and Goldbeck captures the awkwardness and the misunderstandings well. Some reviews will tell you the FMC didn't have enough depth but I identified with the sex positivity fully, even if that was her whole personality. Some reviews will complain about the millennial language, but... ummmmm, respectfully, get with the times.

I rolled my eyes a time or two, but I can't even take points off for the things that made me roll my eyes - like Josh's entitlement - because that was part of his character development.

If you are in the mood for a feel-good, laugh-out-loud, modern retelling of WHMS, please give this a try.

Thank you to Netgalley and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

DNF First Chapter

I first picked up the book because I love me a good When Harry Met Sally storyline but I had to put the book down shortly afterwards. I wasn't a fan of both leading characters. The sexuality of the book was a little too much for me. There was a lot of line-crossing as far as relationship/friends-with-benefits/side people and I didn't like that. I may just be a little too old for this type of story.

I definitely think this book has an audience, it just wasn't for me.

This book immediately became a favorite of mine. In the book you can expect to find: enemies to lovers, friends to lovers, sex positivity and bi-representation, multiples meet cutes (the two main characters run into each other every few years), he falls first, dual POV. The story was not rushed, but it felt like a fast read. The writing for the characters is funny, sarcastic, witty and fast paced. Lastly, if you are a When Harry Met Sally fan you will definitely be a fan of this book.

You, Again was an enjoyable read. I had a bit of trouble connecting with characters but found myself rooting for them, nonetheless. A cute story with just enough spice. 3 Stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for this eARC.

This was both great and not really what I was expecting. I loved the update of the multiple meet cutes from When Harry Met Sally, and the non-sitcom New York. Ari (an aspiring comedian and gig worker) and Josh (a chef trying to update the family restaurant - The Bear vibes) are both pretty messy across all the times they meet, but just as in When Harry Met Sally, they're friends for a long time. This will make you want to go to New York (and from a sweltering Texas summer, all the chilly air and coats sounded pretty good).

Omg I loved everything about this book! The pacing was great, I loved the tropes and the sizzling chemistry was awesome! Plus I love a good meet-cute!! Friends-to-lovers is my favorite trope, so I had high expectations for this one and it did not let me down. I loved the push and pull of the will they or won't they with Ari not believing in love and pushing people away. Also this book was funny!!! Who dosen't love to have a good laugh while reading?! I look forward to reading more from this author!

You, Again by Kate Goldbeck was unlike anything I have ever read before. The writing style was so unique and in a sense made me connect to the character on another level and I absolutely LOVED the characters. Both Ari and Josh are so flawed but that’s what makes them feel so real. While I was reading this book I kept telling myself that I could picture them as a real life couple from the way they spoke and interacted. I LOVED THE BI REPRESENTATION. Usually in stories with bi main characters I feel as if it’s usually pushed to the side or not very well developed but that wasn’t the case here.

I wasn’t sure expecting to cry while reading this book but I did… multiple times. It felt like I knew and understood these characters on such a deep level that I felt their pain as well. Both Ari and Josh are dealing with some serious things and seeing how they navigated through it was painful.

I definitely recommend this book to people who love great banter and friends to lover! It’s amazing and i cant wait to read more from this author!

Thank you to Netgalley, Random House Publishing Group, and Dial Press Trade Paperback for the eARC of this book!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this ARC. I love a good enemies-to-friends-to-lovers book - especially one with bi representation and the commitment-phobe being the woman and the romantic being the man! I gave up on the romance genre for a couple years because it was so oversaturated with the 'woman wants a relationship and playboy man finally gives up his playboy lifestyle to be with her' type of stories. So it is so refreshing to read something different! I would definitely recommend to anyone in need of a good romance!

"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."

This might actually be my new favorite thing.

From Chapter 1, I was absolutely obsessed with Ari's and Josh's electric chemistry. And then- Oh. My. GOD!! The ways in which they blew into each others lives and left such lasting impressions!!

I was prepared for the enemies-to-friends-to-lovers situation but I was completely devastated (in the best possible way) by the 2nd chance aspect to their story! Ari and Josh are such real characters with all of the little neurosis that come along with it. There are moments where both of them act like complete idiots and I hated it but it made them that much more believable.

Their banter was off the charts, top-notch! I was literally laughing out loud at points.
The slow burn romance was so perfectly paced. I was GIDDY the moment they kissed for the first time.

My one, absolutely minor, criticism is that I WISH we had gotten the spicy scene after Chapter 29.

Here to tell you that @kategoldbeck is going on my list of auto buy romance authors (it's a very short list).

I devoured this debut novel like a black and white cookie in one afternoon. Ari is a struggling comedian who doesn't believe in commitment. Josh is a straight-laced chef who wants to own the New York culinary scene and find the perfect woman. They hate each other when they first meet, but several years and relationships later, they cross paths again and through the fog of heartbreak and depression, find a friendship neither of them expected.

It's a modern take on When Harry Met Sally (a favorite!) and I loved the banter and refresh of classic tropes. It has all the Fall in New York, New Year's Eve in Central Park, watching the nighttime city skyline while eating takeout vibes and now I'm going to go watch WHMS to keep the vibe going. It's funny, it's free (hello, meet cute at an adult store), and it's endearing.

Out September 12, I know this one is going to be a favorite this Fall. Thank you @penguinrandomhouse @thedialpress and @netgalley for my ARC!

Oof, yeah. No. I didn’t even make it past the first chapter. Both times! The writing is incredibly juvenile. I couldn’t bring myself to push through it…

I requested this solely on the recommendation of someone whose taste I trust, and pretty much just dove in. Happy to say I can keep trusting that person cause I loved this.

What I loved:
• Fantastic writing – it was able to transport me into the scene and it felt like I was watching it all unfold in front of me. I swear this would make a great movie. Goldbeck's writing style felt very cinematic.
• The banter, the dialogue, the one liners, the internal thoughts of the MCs... Just so smart and witty!
• The almost "fated mates" feel you get between Josh and Ari. I mean... Enemies who keep randomly bumping into each other every so many years until they finally become friends?! Yes, please.

There's a lot more but I'm going to leave it to my top 3 reasons you should read this book. I've got entire pages highlighted cause of not only how much they resonated with me, but how well they were written, too. Highly recommend!

Thank you for the ARC, Random House Publishing.

This was one of my most anticipated reads if the year. When Harry Met Sally, but in book form? Sign me up!

To be honest, I was not invested in the first 20% of the book. The main characters weren’t particularly likeable until they started to regularly interact after their run-in at CreamPot. It seems like chef is the new “hot” profession in romance books lately, and Josh went into too much detail about food in the first chunk of the book. Josh was very self-absorbed, and Ari came across like the grungy, druggie New York version of a Manic Pixie Dream girl. Once their friendship started to blossom I found them more likeable.

My other qualm was that there were some passages in the book that were confusing. For example, someone would walk into a different room and then all of a sudden they’d be part of the conversation again without ever saying they’d come back. Stuff like that.

Ending it in the CreamPot surrounded by certain items was a poetic but strange choice.

Overall, I did enjoy the story. It was two messy people trying to figure out their lives. They were flawed characters, which was refreshing in a way. I love the movie (500) Days of Summer, and their romance felt like Tom & Summer’s in many ways. I loved the friendship moments—late night texting, inside jokes, and just being there for each other. And I love the references sprinkled throughout for WHMS and related 80s/90s romcoms.

I think with a few improvements this could easily have been a five star read for me, but as it stands I will give it a 4.25.

This book has so much going for it. I absolutely loved it! If I were to describe it to you, it would be a contemporary story of “When Harry Met Sally”. Which is about a couple that didn’t like each other for a long time and met a previous points in their lives until they fall hopelessly in love with each other. The story of Ari and Josh is also similar and also set in New York. I’ve never been to New York, but I feel like the city is almost another character in this book.

Ari is a comedian that doesn’t believe in monogamy and is trying to make ends meet in New York doing odd jobs. Josh is an aspiring chef, who’s a little snobby and a hopeless romantic. The characters, although incredibly flawed, are super likable and we’re able to get into their heads due to the dual POV. The conversations between these characters are full of wit, and sarcasm that will keep you entertained throughout the book. Honestly, the deep conversations about love and life that these two have reminds me a lot of “Before Sunrise” (IMHP one of the most romantic movies out there). This book, although fun to read, has a lot of heart, it’s emotional when we see Josh and Ari work through their emotions and how they try to lift each other up. You, Again is a sweet, witty read with all the feels, a truly memorable story which I would not hesitate to read again.

Thank you to #Netgalley, Random House Publishing Group – Random House for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

You, Again has a Harry Met Sally situation going on and being a fan of the movie, this book appealed to me.
Unfortunately, I have been struggling with getting the depth of the FMC's character. While I understand that sexuality is a big part of a person's identity, here it seems like her sexuality is her <i>whole</i> personality. That, and her being a pothead. She's either high, or making pot brownies, or dealing pot, or is concerned about where her bong is. I get modern society and wokeness and whatnot, but I don't know what else she brings to the story. Maybe that changes further along the story, but at the 25% mark, I have already put down the book too many times for me to know that it's not going to be for me.
I'm also struggling with the interactions between the MMC and FMC. They're more jabs than banter.
And also, the many, many times I read the word "insist". These characters are always <i>insisting</i> whenever they proclaim anything and this reminds me of the time I read the word "giggle" around 75 times in a book.
You, Again was one of the books I was really looking forward to this year, sad that it didn't work out for me. Many reviewers are loving it though, so evidently it has found its audience.

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.