i think what <i>you, again</i> gets so right is the idea that there is no correct time to accept love. this comes up a lot with people who are depressed (in light of my personal experience and my experience reflecting on friendship dynamics throughout my life) because when you're in a low, it's hard to think that someone would want to stay through all that which makes for one hell of an emotional crux. i stayed up longer than i want to admit reading this if it's an indication of how much <i>you, again</i> wrecked me.

(if anything though, i would've loved more of a build up of the small intimacies that friendships often have, but this is a strong debut.)

Going into this book and expecting a traditional romance would be a mistake.

The best comps that I have for this are like - the movie Palm Springs (without the speculative element) meets Girls or something Greta Gerwig could have written and directed.

This isn't an overwrought romantic thing with your typical duo of aesthetically pleasing people making cow eyes at each other for three hundred pages until the big kiss at the end. This is about two people struggling through the curve balls that life has thrown at them - the sense of treading water that you get in your early twenties, when loving someone isn't enough to make them stay, trying to find your identity, the pressure to live out the dreams that your parents decide for you instead of the ones you have for yourself.

Everyone in this is MESSY, a commitment-phobic quippy comedian that barrels through her life as though she can physically ring what she wants out of it like water from a damp wash cloth. One day, she bumps into a guy on the street to harangue him into a financial donation for bobcats. And then, that same guy shows up at her apartment ready to make dinner for her roommate.

Over the years they encounter each other until finally they meet in a shared space of loneliness - Ari going through a painful divorce and Josh having made a great leap of faith to turn the legacy of his father's restaurant into something more for himself and being viciously ripped apart for it. Then they slowly begin to heal each other.

This felt very New York and it was witty and fast-talking, but didn't shy away from the everyday human tragedies of just trying to make it through. Felt like the fiction quivalent of "but if you try sometimes you just might find you get what you need."

Loved this.

I started You, Again without knowing too much about it. A few book friends have been raving about it on social media, so I figured I'd have to move it up on my tbr. Once I started this book I could not stop reading it!

What you can expect to find in You Again
-enemies to friends to lovers
-he's grumpy, she's slightly less grumpy
-bi rep
-fated mates (they run into each other every few years)
-disastrous meet cute
-swoony & angsty

When Josh discovers that his grilfriend's roommate - Ari - is occasionally sometimes a "friend with benefit"- when he comes over to make her dinner he immediately dislikes her. They bicker and fight the entire time Josh is making dinner.

Then starts their unfortunate run-ins with one another every few years. And their run ins eventually become a tentative friendship after both Josh and Ari are coming out of serious relationships. Ari is going through a divorce after her wife dumped her for someone else and Josh feels lost without someone to call his own.

There are so many things I loved about this book. The way Kate Goldbeck can make me laugh while also making my heart race in sweet/sexy/spicy scene. The way I connected with both characters and their group of friends. The fact that I felt the hurt, anger and loneliness in both Ari and Josh and yet I was SCREAMING for them to get together!

I have literal paragraphs highlighted because they resonated with me so profoundly. Obviously I can't put into words how much I loved this book.

If there's one book you need to add to your fall tbr, please let it be this one! I can't wait to read whatever Kate Goldbeck writes next.

I recommend this book to readers that enjoy friends to lovers rom-coms with a heavy dose of realistic romance and not bookish romance. Personally, this book should have been an instant hit with me as it has all of the tropes I immensely enjoy, however I spent most of the time waiting for a turning point that fell flat when it was delivered.

SPOILER-ISH: I do think this was influenced by the set up as our main characters do not start their romance until almost the very end.

With that. It is an enjoyable easy read. I think people that like second chances romance would really it.

I read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I can tell that a lot of people will like this book. Its full of angst and drama, but unfortunately, it went a bit overboard for me. There was quite a bit of time in between when the characters would see each other, and I sort of felt that Ari dominated Josh a bit. To me, it wasn't as sweet as When Harry met Sally.
I can why others would enjoy this though :)

This book was fantastic - it was such an interesting premise and the characters were very well developed. I loved that the two main characters were so flawed (for lack of a better term) - or rather, they were shown as being very, very human. It made the conclusion of the story that much more satisfying. I highly recommend this book, and will absolutely be looking for more from Kate Goldbeck in the future.

This book was so good! It was very emotional and realistic; the characters were extremely complex, and I really enjoyed watching them figure themselves out. The story was very well written, and I thought it was a really good debut! The dialogue and banter were fun, and I loved the dynamic between the two main characters. The time jumps were a really good idea, and I liked how the story spanned over quite a long time, rather than simply taking place in a short amount of time. Overall, I would definitely recommend this book!!

Thank you to the publisher and the author for the ARC. This is my honest review:

I just finished You, Again and my feelings are still in my throat (in a good way!). The author's end note summed it up, which means Goldbeck achieved her goal: the beauty of this book is that her characters really grew and evolved as they fall in love and I felt every falter, misstep, triumph, and joy in their journey.

I waffled between a 4 and 5 (but this is solidly a 5) because when I started the book, I actually really didn't like either of the main characters: Josh is arrogant and privileged and sheltered, and Ari doesn't believe in love or commitment, for anyone and even, to some extent, to herself (the self loathing is off the charts in this book but it brings the angst). But in hindsight, this set the perfect stage for the characters to grow and the quick implosion is their individual lives that leads them to transition from hostile strangers to two lonely, miserable souls wallowing together for comfort after each of their lives implode.

Once the characters begin to meld, they quickly become endearing to both each other and the reader. The banter is delightful, and certain scenes and turns of phrase delightfully funny. The joy of this phase of the relationship made the pain train so hard I cried. And not just once, but multiple times, I cried buckets into my egg whites (but I love egg salad!)

The happy ending was so so well earned at every turn. The author and the characters never took the easy route, and as a reader I appreciate it so, so much, which is why my feelings are still in my throat, and my thoughts are still with them.

Oh, and I didn't even mention the f*n perfect playlist built into the scenes or the most atmospheric first kiss scene that ends with a literal bang. I'll definitely reread this one again and again!

RECEIVED AN ARC THROUGH NETGALLEY

This book was nice and enjoyable. It gave a unique spin on enemies to friends to lovers which I enjoyed. I also loved how it was queer. Im exited to read more by this author

Books with funny witty dialogue and dual pov's are some of my favorites and this book really delivered. I absolutely devoured this book and am was so excited to get approved for an arc. As soon as I heard this book was a modern retelling of When Harry Met Sally I knew it was a must read for me and it did not disappoint. This book is charming, funny, and has some spice. I think this book is going to be everywhere when it releases next year.

“Oh my God. You’re doing and airport run?”
This was SO good! And let me start by saying, I wasn’t really feeling it until chapter 5.

It was funny, witty, sexy, a such a sloooow buuurrrn. Enemies to friends to lovers. Such complex personalities, but boy how they complement each other so well and opposites attract so damn good!

There’s divorce, grief, cheating, depression, vulnerability, sex positivity, representation and some may call it a modern love tale. Just the right amount of dual POV.

I truly cannot believe this is a debut book. The cover is gorgeous. I’m so excited to read more by Kate Goldbeck! Thank you Dial Press and NetGalley for the ARC!

This book was perfect. It felt like a movie. It felt like an episode of Modern Love. Raw and intimate and heartbreaking and beautiful all at once. I really wasn’t expecting this to be as hard hitting as it was but… damn. I can’t believe how good it was.

Following the story of Josh, type-A to a fault chef with a serious case of belief in soulmates, and Ari, bisexual comedian who runs at the first sign of commitment, as they keep running into each other at the worst possible moments. From Josh dating Ari’s roommate to running into each other when Ari is already committed to her newly minted wife, nothing seems to go the right way for the two of them. Until they run into each other years later, Josh unemployed and drifting, Ari heartbroken and freshly divorced. So, they decide to become friends. They’re both sinking amidst the wreckage of their lives, so might as well do it together, right?

I absolutely loved how *real* this story was. At the beginning, neither Ari nor Josh are particularly likeable, especially to each other, but as the story unfolds they become so tangible and empathetic you couldn’t help but root for them. I’m taken aback by how well Goldbeck was able to go from layered, heart-wrenching conversations about belonging and vulnerability and taking chances to hilarious sex jokes and electric chemistry between the two MCs. The writing was a perfect mix between laugh out loud wit embellished with an almost “NYC as a character” type setting and slow burn, pulling my hair out with how badly I want them to be together romance.

This story is for anyone still figuring it out. Anyone who desperately wants to be seen and understood but is terrified of the vulnerability. If you ever wanted a mix between the depth of character and painfully sharp observations on the parts we try to keep hidden of Emily Henry’s books and the chaotic vulnerability and humour of Broad City, this is for you.

I finished this book literally 10 minutes ago and want to pick it up again. Seriously— it’s not to be missed.

Ugghhhhhh where to begin! I had already preordered this book to have a physical copy a while ago and was sooo excited to receive the e-arc from netgalley (thanks you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Dial Press Trade Paperback 🤍)


This was truly such a fun read where I was dragging it out cause I didn’t want it to end. The humor. The banter. The “soundtrack”. It felt like a watching a mini movie! There were so many times where I was like with 👀 excited in reading a moment where it was like being on the edge of my seat. Don’t dream it’s over will now be forever correlated with Josh and Ari to me. I will truly miss these characters and I love seeing them in every universe (iyk 🦋).




I would recommend this a 100 times over! There was so many lines I loved and highlighted and so many times when both Josh and Ari felt relatable. I loved the double pov. I loved their many encounters and just again cannot say enough good things about this one! TRULY! and the ending just 😭 love them sooo much! I just wish I could have more of them 🤣


I cannot wait to have my physical copy in my hands to fall in love with them all over again. I’m gonna say Kate Goldbeck will be an autobuy writer from here on out ☺️


10/10

I thoroughly enjoyed this rom-com! I’m a sucker for a grumpy-sunshine trope with funny banter, and You Again did not disappoint. Highly recommend!

Katie Goldbeck's "You, Again" has a distinctive voice, is uniquely crafted, and is a visceral emotional experience. This is a 2023 highlight.

NetGalley provided the review copy, opinion is my own.

You, Again by Kate Goldbeck is a smart, sassy, emotional story of two people who have a few awful meetings before they become friends and then fall in love. It is at its core, a retelling of When Harry Met Sally with the gender roles reversed: Ari Sloane as Harry and Josh Kestenberg as Sally, but Goldbeck really does a wonderful job of reimagining this for the modern world, offering a new interpretation with some of the larger beats still intact.

Things I Loved:
-I adore one queer, sexually secure and polyamorous heroine by the name of Ari Sloane. Her brashness, snappy humor, and chaotic brand were a highlight for me and played well against Josh's serious side. She and Josh both fall in the category of 'are they grumpy, are they sunshine', and honestly, I'm thrilled to say: both.
-I want to hug one romantic, earnest, smothering Josh Kestenberg with all my heart. Truly no real or fictional couple should be forced to have children, but in my head, they have at least one, so Josh can spoil both Ari and their precocious child, because this fictional man was born to have someone he could take care of.
-Complexity of main and side characters. I love how quickly their hangups are stated and hinted at in their first meeting, and how it continues and is built on throughout the story. I love their friends and how they also evolve over the course of the novel as well.
-NYC. I love the way it features heavily in the novel as its own character, an integral, living breathing thing.
-The honesty with which these situations and conversations occurred. Like the movie, there are bits of dialogue that exist with no clear indication of where or why these characters are doing this, and we have a true sense of what it means for two people to bring the vulnerability and professional lows to create an earnest bond. Their careers, hangups, breakups, and neurosis were believable and fun to watch mature as they matured and the friendship progress.
-The build of the romance. There was no insta-love, but also no overwhelming hate on sight. It was a proper mix of jealousy, justified frustration, etc. And all throughout their friendship, these hints of what they were becoming to each other were dotted in, leaving the audience with a true sense of 'Okay, so when will THEY figure it out?', which made it fun. Goldbeck tells us who they are as people in those first few meetings, and it's not simply about shuttling us from point A to B, but giving us the real framework for the romance.
-Modern retelling, but not 'dated'. Goldbeck had a way of dropping this story in a time and place, but not dating it with odd references. No need to be chronically online or have a running knowledge of one slang reference from 2013, or a meme--which kept it fresh and moving forward.
Music references. Don't get me started on "Don't Dream It's Over"...I literally have had that stuck in my head for DAYS. It's always been a perfect song, and I will die on that hill and buried with this book, I guess, because I loved it.
-Open Door Sex!! It was hot as hell, and I loved that it was such a complicated tangle of emotions for them both as they both sought different things from the encounter.
-The moments of suspense. My heart pounded, and I had to stop myself from flying down the page to consume certain parts.
-That COVER by Nicole Rifkin. Gorgeous. Her peering out, him looking at her. It suits them so well.

One Thing I Wanted More Of:
-That middle gray area of their realizations and desires for each other beginning to turn on right before they share a kiss on New Year's Eve. Maybe an almost kiss or touch, and this is being so completely ridiculously nitpicky. I think I wanted more time to see that particular progression grow, perhaps. It took nothing away from that moment in the park though. The kiss, the build of that scene was BEAUTIFUL, and Josh answering her panicked questions will stay with me. (I think I just want MORE of them, because I loved them so much!)

This one was a real pleasure to read, and I look forward to ordering a copy to own for my bookshelf!

Thank you to Netgalley and Dial Press/Random House for the opportunity to read this one in exchange for an honest review!

If you love the iconic movie "When Harry met Sally" and you have a crush on Carmy on show "The Bear" (aka me), then this book is made just for you! When Ari and Josh initially meet, it's hate-at-first-sight Ari, a carefree comedian, prefers casual relationships over any sort of commitment. On the other hand, Josh, a driven Manhattanite, has big plans for his culinary career and finding a committed partner who he can cook breakfast for every morning. Years later, following painful breakups and career failures, they unexpectedly reconnect and form an unlikely friendship. As they navigate their new platonic relationship, their boundaries become blurred, challenging the dynamics of their connection. This can be described as an "enemies-to-friends-to-lovers" trope with two flawed and real characters. I loved the banter and chemistry between the two characters and seeing them grow over the years as they keep reconnecting.

'You, Again' is a witty romantic comedy that made me laugh, cry and swoon! I can't believe this is a debut novel and am so excited to read more by Kate Goldbeck! Thank you to NetGalley, Dial Press Publishing and the author for providing me with a digital arc in return for an honest review. You, Again comes out September 12th!

Oh god, how do I even begin to write a review for this book and do it possibly do it justice 🥹 I feel horribly inadequate but I can't help but want to start it off by professing my immense gratitude to the literal gods (but actually Netgalley, Dial Press, and Kate Goldbeck) for the opportunity to read this masterpiece almost 3 months early.

- The rest of the review will be my true, albeit classic melodramatic Jeanna thoughts and opinions-

You, Again was perfection. Again and again and again.

For someone who has read their fair share of second chance and enemies to friends to lovers books (and the occasional second chance x friends to lovers), the bar wasn't high but Goldbeck's DEBUT (?!?!??) still managed to exceed it. My biggest qualm with second chance romances and sporadic timelines, I'm almost never convinced that the main characters have done the important self work off-page to deserve these second or third or even fourth chances. The main characters were so well-developed, multi-faceted in ways that anyone could see themselves in Ari or Josh- or in my case, both. Like holding up an obscure mirror.

But the absolutely BEST part about this book? The banter that had me full belly laughing at 3AM. This is the kind of book that plants itself deep in my amygdala. Please do yourself a favor and add this book to your TBR!

5 ⭐️ | 1.5 🌶️
- second chance romance, friends to lovers
- friends without benefits 🤭
- bisexual rep
- sex positivity

The book depression is coming. I can feel it.

This blew me away. I’m struggling with words. I think it’s a masterpiece beginning to end. Plotting, characters, the hate-to-love arc—everything is so beautiful constructed. And so masterfully written, I’m just in awe truly. The confidence of the writing really struck me. It’s so smart and fluent in the languages of these characters and their universe. If feels like the work of someone who has already had a great, long career, and it’s so hard to believe it’s a debut novel. And that compliment applies even though I know (maybe because I know) how this started and the things that inspired it. It’s a remarkable achievement. Anyone who loves romance should add this to their list. It feels like it’s pushing out the boundaries of what romance writing can be.

Ari is an improv comedian in NYC who struggles with commitment and loves to keep things casual. Josh is a chef who believes in soulmates and is looking for that special someone to cook breakfast for in the morning. The two first meet angrily in passing on the street, and then again that same day when they realize they are both interested in the same woman. With every future encounter over the next several years, they form worse and worse opinions of each other. That is until one day, they run into each other and discover they are in similar broken-hearted states. They form an unlikely friendship as they sort through their feelings for their former partners, try to figure out their disheveled careers, and also navigate their new feelings for each other.

My favorite movie is You’ve Got Mail, so when the author mentioned their love of Nora Ephron films, specifically When Harry Met Sally, I knew I had to read this. The banter between Ari and Josh, and also between their friend group, was excellent. I liked how the story jumps forward through time, so you really get to see Ari and Josh’s relationship develop from enemies to friends and eventually to lovers. I did have a hard time connecting with Ari’s character. I often felt that she cared for Josh only when he became unavailable, which was frustrating. I also wanted to see more personal growth for both characters. The novel takes place over several years, and I wasn’t convinced either significantly changed. If you are a Nora Ephron fan or just in the mood for a good romance, definitely pick this one up.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group, Dial Press, NetGalley, and the author Kate Goldbeck for an eARC of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.