I did not expect to love this book as much as I ended up doing. I basically inhale read this book. I tried to put it down several times and just simply couldn't. It was such an addicting read. There's just something about seeing these two people cross paths again, and again. Having some deep moments, even though they don't like each other. Until one day where their deep conversation actually turns into a friendship.
If you like a more angsty read this is for you. It's not full angst, but our two main characters are at rock bottom when they meet this time. So they have to go through a lot of shit to be abl to become better versions of themselves. I really liked that. Seeing them both struggle to stay above water while also falling for each other. I feel like that kept everything very real. Often times I don't like third act conflicts because they feel forced in because its a staple of the genre, however in this book it just felt natural and a thing these characters had a to face before being able to get togehter in a healthy way. Every aspect of this romance was so incredibly well done.
When it comes to the characters I really liked them. I mean, Josh was a bit of an ass in the beginning, but I do think this book does a great job at developing him and kind of understanding where that assholiness comes from without okaying that behaviour. Ari was a hot mess but it felt very realistic. I also really like the character developement throughout this book. The cast of side characters also added an extrra dimension through this book, and I really liked them as well. So yeah, I really ended up loving this book. Definitely recommend it!

Another book that had a good placement, but did poorly. I enjoy second chances and also disagreements, but there was so much narration and events that I got tired and with the feeling that there were too many things happening at the same time. Apart from the separation thing in the final stretch, the reconciliation was also tiring. I think that's the word that describes this book: tiring.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

I was so excited to read this book and it did not disappoint!!

Ari is a struggling comedian who only does one night stands. Josh is a chef, looking for “the one”. They both happen to be sleeping with the same woman.

I loved the chemistry these two had. Enemies to friends to lovers. This was such a realistic book and I enjoyed every second of it! It was really funny at times but also emotional. What an amazing debut novel from Kate Goldbeck! I can’t wait to read more from her!

📘: You, Again by Kate Goldbeck
🗓️: September 12, 2023

Thank you to NetGalley, Kate Goldbeck, and Random House Publishing Group for this ARC!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

*Reviewed on NetGalley and Goodreads.

I enjoyed this. It had a unique voice that I appreciated, with two characters who were messy but also turned out likable. I enjoyed that the guy was more reserved in this one and the one who took life more seriously, and that the FMC was the one who who needed to get her life together. I always like messy girl characters. The third person first point of view was a bit distracting at times, but I imagine that’s to convey more of the fanfiction feel from where the story stems. Some of the comedy aspects were a little slow, in the end.

I finished You, Again by Kate Goldbeck last week. I read it under 48 hours, and I’m so sad it’s over. Swoony moments + fall in NYC= the perfect autumn romance book. I highly, highly recommend this book. Major When Harry Met Sally vibes! Ahh! I love!

Ugh. This book was not for me. I’ve heard this book described as a cozy romance perfect for fall, compared to When Harry Met Sally. What I got was a long, drawn out saga about two completely unlikeable characters, their dysfunctional relationship and OMG their sex lives. 🙈🙉 From the first chapter, this book went on and on AND ON about sex. I was SO over it before I was 20% in. Honestly, I wish I had DNF’ed because this book had nothing redeeming for me.

You, Again gave me all the vibes with its cover - but sadly did not completely deliver. You, Again is a modern take of When Harry Met Sally. I found Ari extremely abrasive and annoying and basically tolerated Josh for the first half of the book. Fortunately, the book redeemed itself in the second half and I became more vested in their story and how it would end. I just don't think I am the target audience for this book, and that is OK.
Thank you to Kate Goldbeck, NetGalley, and Random House Publishing Group for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A cute enemies to lovers with some spice!

When Ari and Josh meet, it isn't love at first sight. It isn't even love at third sight. It is more like... "ugh, you again?" But when the two get to know one another, they become fast friends. As the months and years go by, readers are taken on a emotional rollercoaster of Josh and Ari's relationship, or lackthereof. Contains chef/cooking details that made me SO hungry while reading. And honestly, now I just want a chai black and white cookie.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Random House, Dial Press Trade Paperback and NetGalley for the eARC!

I came here for the When Harry Met Sally and I guess that's what I got - I mean the story beats are all there and you can see certain scenes from the movie being re-told here. But those are big shoes to fill and, ultimately, this just didn't click.

I like retellings, especially of movies that I love. I think it is a fun hook to a story. This could have worked but I think what made it fall short is the characters.

Ari and Josh are pretty insufferable for 80% of the book. Sure, characters do not have to be likable - but I struggled to root for them. And in a romance book, I want to root for my characters. Ari felt very performative - like the author was just trying really hard. Her character did not feel effortless or even real. She was over the top and hypersexual (I don't have a problem with someone in real life or fictional life being hypersexual, but Ari's character felt like a caricature. We are constantly reminded about how she has threesomes and is actively seeking out only married couples to sleep with in a way to keep herself removed and away from commitment). We get zero backstory on her - at least with Josh we get a glimpse into his family life. All we know about Ari is that she moved to NYC by herself. Why is she so afraid of commitment? Why is she so closed off? There has to be some sort of motivation there, but we get nothing except her divorce, which really only solidifies these thoughts and feelings in her, not create them.

And Josh. I get the brooding, angry, grumpy love interest. It does work. But normally it works because you do eventually see a fun, caring side from them. I didn't feel or see that with Josh. He is even rude to his mom and sister who do nothing but try to help him. He is closed off the entire story, but we are supposed to believe that he opened up with Ari because we get maybe a handle of scenes where he makes a joke?

The pacing is also weird. Ari and Josh meet a few times and hate each other, then they meet when they are both going through breakups and they bond. The bonding/friendship is so quick and then suddenly they are making out and then having sex and then they are separated for several chapters with several time jumps. Okay, they had to work on themselves before they could be together. Sure, that's fine. But I didn't feel like either actually improved. We needed to see more of their connection and more of them actually growing.

There was potential here and that is what made it more aggravating to not enjoy this story.

And I'm so annoyed I was duped again into reading another former Reylo fanfiction.

This is some solid enemies to lovers for your fall season. Granted Ari was a little much for me at times, but otherwise I really loved this.

This was a really well-written, witty book!

I was obsessed with how the setting, characterization, and even the characters pasts came alive. These characters felt like real people, and I though there love story was s well developed.

The only thing I wasn't a fan of was how much of a slow burn it was? I was getting frustrated with the characters and their reasons for not being together.

This is a story of two very different people meeting, becoming instant antagonists, only to meet up again years later and becoming such close friends that it leads to something more. I read the afterword that it's an homage to a classic New York film and it clicked why I enjoyed it so much. It expertly takes the spirit of the original and makes a perfect, modern spin on complicated relationships.
Free-spirited, but full-of-baggage comedian Ari lives a very unorganized life in hopes of achieving her dream of being a comedian. She's completely against relationships or anything permanent, or so she tells herself and anyone who will listen. Josh is a chef, the son of the owner of a New York staple deli, and the only thing bigger than the chip on his shoulder is his desire for a relationship. Both have awful experiences in love and careers behind them from the moment they first clash to the moment they discover that being miserable together is better than being miserable alone.
It's a tough read at times with how low both Ari and Josh get, but it's also so inspiring in how they both face the things that they find scary and keep them from what they truly want. There are as many moments that are truly funny as heartfelt, and the way the relationship develops as they each push the other's buttons while pushing back on themselves makes for an excellently emotional read.
It's a story about messy people living a messy life full of emotional messiness. It's perfect.

Very happy thanks to NetGalley and Dial Press Trade Paperback for the great read!

I liked this one, but I didn't love it as much as I thought I would. I thought the author's writing was lovely and that she really captured the "When Harry Met Sally" vibe, but it just took me a long time to warm up to either of the main characters. Once I finally did, I really enjoyed the rest of the story, but I almost gave up on it since I need to connect with main characters before I feel fully invested in a story. That's totally a me thing though, and I think this book would be great for anyone who enjoys a slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers romance with fall vibes.

3 1/2 stars rounded up to 4

Enjoyed the writing style and main characters. I loved the representation within the relationship and the vibes it gave! Perfect read for fall!

This was an ok read for me. I was expecting more from it as it was a BOTM pick as well. For me the romance fell a little short and I didn't love the characters. Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

An exceptional novel about two messy people whose lives keep intersecting until they finally choose to stay together. In a lesser author’s hands, it wouldn’t have worked. This is an author to watch.

I ADORE THESE TWO CHARACTERS SO DAMN MUCH!! It’s been a minute since I fell in love with BOTH MCs in a book but I couldn’t help but love Ari and Josh. Their banter was some of the funniest I’ve ever read it felt like two real people. I absolutely adored their individual personalities! I think their individual struggles were relatable and realistic. I like how instead of a meet cute we get like 4 and they’re all a disaster. This book was funny, hot and REFRESHING!

Highly recommend!

Ultimately this book didn’t do it for me, but I know I’m in the minority here! I think I might love the movie too much to be open to a reimagination of it. I did love the gender-swapped concept of the characters, but for most of the book they both melded into different versions of Harry. I needed Josh to do something besides wallow in his fancy loft with his family’s money. He gets there eventually, but it takes a LONG time. I would have enjoyed seeing more of the secondary characters, Briar in particular had a lot of untapped potential and what felt like a slapdash edited-in relationship at the end of the book that was disappointing (although the empty running gray sweatpants logo as a personality was a really great line!)

It was nice and real but it lacked the romantic feelings and swoons. It would recommend it to people who are into Rom-coms like Friends with benefits. I had to DNF when it got pretty good but its just not completely for me.

If you love a tension-filled, angsty love story, oh boy, you'll love this. I sure did.
Definitely for When Harry Met Sally lovers.


There were a lot of time jumps and seeing the dynamic change over time was very thrilling. The banter was incredible and added so much tension to the story. What I wasn't anticipating was getting emotional reading this but when a declaration of love makes you cry well, I have to give it 5 stars.