It took me a second to get into this book (not because it started slow but I wasn't so sure I liked the FMC) but I actually enjoyed this story once I got into it! It was fun and reminded me a lot of a movie I seen that I really liked.

I really loved the premise of You, Again, gave off When Harry Met Sally vibes, but I did struggle to get into it to begin with. Both MMCs are kinda annoying and I didn't like them much in the beginning, but they (and the book) grew on me

Slower start, but ended up loving this book! Well written with great banter. This may be one of my favorite books of 2023.

This is When Harry Met Sally for the modern age. Both Ari and Josh can be a bit obnoxious and obtuse, but then again, so can Harry and Sally. The story made me desperately want to visit New York.

DNF at 15%.

I couldn’t connect to the characters and found both of their personalities unappealing. I did like how they ran into each other throughout the years at the before anything happens.

this is a perfect 2023 NYC book, perfectly of its time. The sarcasm, the toughness, the humor, the wit, the candor, the very New York moments - perfection. Pop culture references are top notch. Of course there is romance and 🌶️ and very messy people and an amazing side cast. And it will rip your heart out before it puts it back together.

I absolutely loved this book. I read it in two days because I got sucked in and never wanted to leave. I can’t wait until I can actually buy a copy and highlight so many passages.

Obviously, this story starts as a modern take on When Harry Met Sally, the author took that concept and made it so endearing and spicy. Ari and Josh are such well thought out characters and their friendship/ relationship development was just so beautifully done.

I love how they both are working through their vulnerabilities and dealing with their lives while also continuing to pop up in each other lives. The supporting characters were great too. I genuinely just loved this book. As a female line cook/ sous chef for over 10 years I also really appreciated all the chef/ restaurant references and the representation.

I wish I had some negative commentary but I don’t, the story just worked really well for me. I felt so many emotions and tension, I laughed(and cried) and I loved the smut.

Even though it’s only halfway through 2023 as I’m writing this, I can confidently say that You, Again by Kate Goldbeck is my favorite contemporary romance book of the year. Maybe even romance book in general.

Ari and Josh meet in a number of, let’s say uncomfortable situations, throughout the years in New York City. Their relationship goes from strangers to kind of frenemies to unlikely best friends over an 8 or 9 year period. Polar opposites, Ari is an all over the place comedian/waitress/dog walker/app speech writer and Josh is a professional chef/perfectionist. In no world should they have crossed paths, let alone become friends.

Oh my goodness! This book made me feel all the things. Truly, I haven’t laughed out loud or giggled or squealed this much at a book in ages. This is why I am a reader. If you’ve ever seen the movie Like Crazy (starring Felicity Jones and Anton Yelchin), the realism of their relationship and the struggles and RAW EMOTIONS really remind me of this book. I think it’s one of the reasons that You, Again resonated with me so well.

This is a modern day take on When Harry Met Sally, so it is very slow burn and will they/won’t they. If you have a problem with miscommunication, this may grate you, as it usually does for me. But it really worked for me here because of who Josh and Ari are as people.

Kate Goldbeck has such an engaging voice as a writer. Sooo many lines are highlighted in my kindle, and I’m not afraid to admit that I wish I’d wrote them myself—they’re just that good.

This book was such a beautiful nod to reylo, but if you’re not a fan of the pairing or even familiar with it, don’t let that put you off. You, Again is very separated from its inspirational material and is very much its own story. But Rian Johnson still got a nod in the acknowledgments, iykyk.

500 ⭐️ for me! I’ll be devouring anything and everything Kate Goldbeck writes and I suggest you do the same.

“She’s watching him the way contestants on The Great British Bake Off watch their ovens.”

Title: A Touching Tale of Love and Second Chances: "You, Again" by Katie Goldbeck

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review:

"You, Again" by Katie Goldbeck is a heartwarming and enchanting story that explores the transformative power of love and the beauty of second chances. This delightful romance novel kept me engrossed from start to finish, as it effortlessly weaves together past and present in a seamless narrative.

Goldbeck's writing style is engaging and filled with genuine emotion. The characters are relatable and wonderfully fleshed out, with their flaws and vulnerabilities making them all the more endearing. I found myself rooting for their happiness, eagerly turning the pages to discover their destinies.

The novel's central theme of rekindled love is executed with skill and tenderness. The chemistry between the main characters is palpable, drawing me into their world and allowing me to experience the intensity of their emotions. The author captures the intricacies of their relationship with authenticity, making their journey one that tugs at the heartstrings.

While "You, Again" delivers an emotionally satisfying story, I felt that some plot developments could have been further expanded upon. Nonetheless, the overall narrative flow and pacing were well-maintained, keeping me invested in the characters' lives and eager to see how their story unfolded.

Goldbeck's portrayal of second chances is both relatable and inspiring. The novel serves as a reminder that love has the power to heal and transform, even when faced with past mistakes and heartache. It emphasizes the importance of self-discovery and personal growth, making it a meaningful and uplifting read.

I would recommend "You, Again" to fans of contemporary romance novels who appreciate stories of love, forgiveness, and the enduring power of the human heart. Katie Goldbeck's storytelling prowess shines through in this enchanting tale, leaving readers with a sense of hope and warmth.

Note: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author and publisher for this opportunity.

#BookReview #YouAgain #KatieGoldbeck #RomanceReads #SecondChances #netgalley #netgalleyarc

Wow I really enjoyed this one! It's a story you fall into quickly and it just zooms by.

I thought the ending conflict worked really well for these characters. The author mentioned in her author's note? or the interview thing that was in the back? that she wanted the conflict to be internal and themselves are standing in the way of their being together. Which lowkey was a tad frustrating to read and I could've done with a bit more explanation/reflection but that is a minor critique.

Where this book shines is the banter between the characters. From their meeting to their friendship to them get together I was just grinning reading their dialogue. Ari and Josh get each other and it's so apparent from the jump.

Thanks so much Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley.

Two people who first hate each other, then become friends without benefits, and then what comes next? I struggled to get into the story, but it does pick up! The back and forth banter is great, but overall, this was not the book for me. I can see why others may like it though. It's a little too messy for me at times, but again, I loved the banter!

The premise of this book hooked me in so fast. A commitment phobe FMC and a MMC who wants a soulmate and they find out they are screwing the same woman

There are moments I enjoyed in this book, some of the banter, spice, bisexual and queerness to the FMC. How she doesn’t conform to society norms and is just herself. But I struggled with not seeing more to her. I wanted to understand more about why she functions the way she does and we just do not get that emotional depth with her.

The MMC I struggled with him around the 15% mark there is a situation that happens at work when he loses it on a Female side character who is a woman of color and he fired her for something that if he has listened to her would have never been an issue. This comes up in the book as an issue because she is best friends with Ari the FMC. How that was handled and resolved just left a bad taste in my mouth and I really never liked him after that moment.

The pacing is off with them as a couple or build to a relationship with them and the book really takes until the 70% mark to pick up and get interesting which made it also hard for me

CW: sexual content, drug use, alcohol, cheating by previous partner, misogyny, racism

4.5 stars rounded up for NetGalley

This was such a delicious read! I devoured it in under 48 hours. I had seen that Julie Soto and Ali Hazelwood recommended it and honestly, that was all I needed to know before running off to NetGalley. Per usual, they were not wrong!

You, Again was the perfect frenemies to friends to lovers, slow burn, tension-filled masterpiece. The banter was incredible. The ribbing was spectacular. The pacing was perfection. The spice was *chef's kiss*. I can always get behind spice for the sake of having spice, but this was so well done and helped drive the plot. At this point, I'll be reading anything Kate writes!

Ari & Josh are total opposites and it made watching them build their friendship and eventually fall for one another so so sweet! Their story spans several years. I've read books with expanded timelines in the past and had them feel too drawn out, but in this case, it helped to deepen the readers' connection with Ari & Josh. To the point where I was literally on the edge of my seat cheering for them as the ending unfolded. You'll have to read it to see why!


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Thank you NetGalley & Random House Publishing Group for this ARC. All opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Review will be posted to our blog/IG in the coming weeks & Amazon on publication date.

This book was cute and the angst and friendship were perfectly described. I loved the reverse roles of When Harry Met Sally and I loved that even in the end the main characters still had the same personality. The banter was amazing! I really liked the book, but it felt a little too long. I also think the side stories sometimes took away from the main story. This is a new author for me and I would be interested in seeing what else she writes.

Almost 35 years ago, moviegoers were asked to consider if men and women could be friends without sex getting in the way. In You, Again, a loving homage to When Harry Met Sally, debut author Kate Goldbeck updates the story to 2023, when "friends with benefits," "f*ck buddies," etc. blur the lines between friends and lovers.

Josh and Ari first meet in 2014, when she is soliciting charitable donations, and a grumpy man in a sweater rudely blows off her request. Surprisingly, Tall Sweater Nightmare Man appears that same evening at her apartment for a date with Ari's roommate Natalie, who is conspicuously absent. Josh and Ari engage in awkward conversation for a while, but the tentative ceasefire disintegrates when Ari admits she has already slept with Natalie.

The two New Yorkers encounter each other several times in the next few years, and the sparks that fly are predominantly the angry kind. Finally, when they cross paths in 2022, Ari and Josh are at personal and professional nadirs. Too depressed to consider screwing, they become friends who text, shop, and watch synced Netflix movies while on the phone with each other. Everything is fine until a fateful New Year's Eve kiss, which leaves Josh looking for a soul mate and Ari looking for a quick exit.

Neither Ari nor Josh are entirely likeable people. Ari is an aspiring comedian and improv actor who doesn't allow anyone to get close to her emotionally, including her friends. She's analogous to the Billy Crystal character, with a cynical view of love and a dating app that includes threesomes with married couples. Josh's father runs a famous Jewish deli, but he dreams of opening a hip, modern restaurant that eschews chopped liver and blintzes. He's the Meg Ryan-ish romantic of the duo, but he is also rather rigid and judgmental. Goldbeck creates such strong chemistry between the two that you'll root for their HEA, even if you're not completely sold on them as individuals.

Goldbeck doesn't stick too closely to the WHMS plot, but there is a last-minute "epiphany leads to airport run" that is milked for all of the drama and comedy feelz. From its autumnal-colored cover to the sweet epilogue, You, Again is a delightful homage to one of the most celebrated American romcoms.

What an intelligent, hilarious read. The banter alone between Ari and Josh is worth the read. The book takes place in New York City and lets just say, that is the perfect setting for every good enemies to lovers. And boy is this book that. I found myself cackling out loud at Ari's quick wit and sassy attitude. the plot is interesting and the pacing is even, which made it very easy for me to burn right through this book in one sitting. I will likely return to this many times. definitely a new fave.

You, Again is an acrimonious strangers to unlikely friends to cautiously hopeful lovers romance heavily inspired by When Harry Met Sally. It follows Ari, an aspiring comedian with an allergy to commitment and Josh, a grumpy, pretentious chef on the hunt for his soulmate, over the course of many years from their initial meet disaster, to a few slightly less disastrous run ins, to their eventual friendship and more. By the time they become friends, their love feels inevitable and that made it all the more fun to read. I started feeling nostalgic for Josh and Ari’s relationship before I even finished the book because of the way it sprawled out over the years. It reminded me of meeting my wife in college and all the dumb mistakes we made along the way to where we are now and left me feeling ever so grateful that we continue to choose each other every day so I don’t have to try my hand at dating again.

Witty banter is an important aspect of any good love story and this one had me cackling on so many occasions. The dynamic between Ari and Josh in the beginning is so funny and has a crackling tension to it despite how much they clearly bother each other. As an aspiring comedian and improv performer, it makes sense that Ari’s character is funny, but she’s also unpredictable and smart and very much without a filter. I never knew what would come out of her mouth and was consistently delighted by what did.

Because of the initial nature of their relationship, there are no pretenses between Josh and Ari as fate continues to throw them together. They see each other at their worst and become each other’s lifelines, forming a friendship based in unabashed honesty. I’m not sure that it’s fair to say that Josh realized they were more than friends first or not, but he’s definitely the one that pushes for it first. Despite feeling the same pull, Ari is absolutely terrified of doing anything that could ruin their friendship and is still reeling a bit from the abrupt end of her first marriage. When they do finally hook up, it’s equal parts pent up passion and soul baring tenderness between them. The third act breakup felt appropriate and inevitable to the point where I couldn’t even be mad about it. Their eventual reunion had me in tears and I highlighted huge chunks of the last few chapters.

You, Again is a really modern take on a classic story and is definitely a favorite for me this year. It’s not out until September but it’s well worth the wait. Kate, I cannot thank you enough for sending me an early copy of this one to gush over.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dial Press for a chance to read and review an advanced copy of this book!

Ari and Josh are absolute opposites that coincidentally run into each other multiple times over the span of a few years. Their run-ins are during what is supposed to be the peak of their careers/lives until life throws them both for a loop. They’re thrown together, once again, when they hit rock bottom, and form a friendship as they commiserate how things have gone so wrong in their lives.

I’m a sucker for messy, multidimensional, unapologetic characters, and Kate Goldbeck delivers! I thoroughly enjoyed the book concert to cover!!

What do you call the opposite of a meet cute? Meet flop? Submit the patent on it now. This book was like the flip of One Day, and I loved it. A great way to build tension, and make it all worth it in the end. Right from the testimonial from Ali Hazelwood on the front cover - I knew I was going to like it.

It was funny, it had good pace, it had enough going on, it had a sexually liberated bisexual badass main character. Alternating points of view but in a clear way, and same goes for the time jumps. Overall I really enjoyed it cover to cover.

YOU, AGAIN is the modern day, genderswapped When Harry Met Sally that I have been searching for my entire life. Ari and Josh are in their 20s, living vastly different lives, when the universe shoves them toward one another and instead of insta-love, it's insta-hate. And then they meet again. And again.
They are both a Hot Mess!! and maybe a little toxic and clearly not ready to be in a relationship, but they do need a friend and that is what they become, but the lingering tension could be cut with a butter knife (that Josh would complain about because he is a chef who has better knives than I'll ever own).
I did not agree with half of the things these two said and did, I wanted to yell at them for their stubbornness, but the whole time I was rooting for their own individual growth and the happiness I knew they could find together.
The stakes are higher than in most romances I read today, and the tension is even sweeter because of it. These two feel REAL to me, they are not perfect but they are in love, and in the universe of Nora Ephron, that feels like enough to make it through.