The second chance these two needed. Kit and Andie dated in college 10 years ago for 4 months. Kit left unexpectedly without giving an explanation to Andie. Now Annie needs money for her bridal dress business and Kit wants to make his mom happy by finding a partner. Signing up to reality show and getting married to a stranger is just what they need. Except at the altar they find each other again after 10 years. Kit loves Annie and will do everything to make their second chance work, while Andie is still hurt and is working on overdrive to make her business succeed. Both have unresolved feelings for the other, need to help themselves before they are ready to make their relationship work. Enjoyed the audiobook, was very entertaining and engaging. The author did great work on making the characters feel realistic and lovable.

Not You Again is an easy flowing, fun, cute, heartbreaking, sexy, second chance romance. I love the concept of TV show romances and this one delivered perfectly. I liked how the author made the show play out, how it evolved and how their relationship grew.

The characters were very refreshing, they were so relatable, they had real flaws, real life problems which made me connect with them even more. I was rooting for them so hard. They had amazing chemistry and the tension between these two was palpable. There's so much unresolved feelings and emotions between them, the growth in their relationship was beautiful to see. It was a little frustrating sometimes but totally worth it.

I really loved the author's writing, it really kept me engaged. I really loved the storyline, it felt like watching a reality tv show and I was here for it. This book really surprised me !

🎧 The narration by Kelsey Navarro Foster & John William Maddux was really good. I loved them together. Their voices fit perfectly. They portrayed the characters, feelings and emotions perfectly ! Truly felt like a movie and I loved that !

✨️Thank you to @netgalley, @dreamscapemedia & @ingridpierce for my gifted ALC in exchange for an honest review.

In Ingrid Pierce’s new rom-com, Not You Again, we all get to live vicariously through a couple whose relationship crashed and burned in college, who get reunited by chance in their 30’s on a game show. We all get to not only feel like we’re contestants on that well-known social experiment show, where the contestants are strangers who wed in the first few episodes, but also to play that “what if” game in our hearts and heads about “the one that got away.”

Andie Dresser, legit does just that: she dresses brides. She is a burgeoning bridal couturier, who beads her own gowns, and makes her brides shine. She applies to show at Fashion Week during the same year that she also applies to be on the marriage show, hoping that she can take advantage of a loophole in the contract for the show that could help pave her way for her business.

Her paired groom is Kit Watson, an architect who is a total workaholic, and a former flame. Back in the day, they broke up because of telenovela-worthy misunderstandings, but neither knew about the other’s point of view.

Will they forgive each other and be able to learn whether or not they are even compatible as the independent adults that they’ve become? Can they find any spark now, much less fall in love?

This novel is super scorchy steamy at times, so watch out for your eyes and fingertips!

I could not put this book down when I started it, and I doubt that you will be able to either!

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this fabulous audio ARC!! I loved it so much!!

This book was an absolute surprise for me. I went in thinking this was going to be a cute and fun read, but it was so much more.

It was funny, emotional, heartbreaking, and beautiful all at once.

I generally listen to spicier books, but this one will be something I recommend to everyone.

Married at First Sight is one of my guilty pleasure shows. When Not You Again was described as MAFS meets The Ex Talk your girl was there. This is your typical RomCom but with a great plot. It has you hooked from the beginning. I enjoyed that each chapter was like an episode of the show they were on with the producers asking questions at the end. It was a nice touch.

By fate Andie and Kitt have their chance at getting their love right the second time around by being matched up to be married. I enjoyed their chemistry together but for the love of all that is holy COMMUNICATION! I hate third act breakups that could have been avoided with simple talking. Sometimes I just wanted Andie to just choose herself because Kitt never really changed from his 21 year old self… but… as someone who has also dealt with a parent having the big C and having to make decisions related to that I could sympathize with him just a little bit.

Both of the narrators were entertaining and kept me engaged in the story. I thought they did a really nice job.
It’s a 3.75 for me I just hate the miscommunication trope. Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the advanced audio copy.

Married at First Sight meets The Ex Talk in this heartfelt yet sexy second-chance romance debut in which one couple must decide if they can overcome their past for a chance at happily ever after, perfect for fans of One to Watch.

I'm a sucker for a second chance romance and this one was really sweet! I also love romance novels that take place within a reality show! They are quite enjoyable! I really loved both characters as individuals as they come to terms with who they are and what they want. The chemistry between our main characters was also really sweet.

This was a delightful audiobook which was not only entertaining but it also gave this listener a chance to discover a new author who will be added to this reader’s TBR/Listened list.
Andie Dresser, a wedding dress designer, and architect Kit Watson were sweethearts 10 years ago when they were in college. But misunderstanding and tragedy splits them apart.
Fast forward to today, and Andie, in need of cash for her business signs up to be part of a reality show. She will marry a stranger and at the end, ask for a divorce , gaining the coveted $100,000. Easy.
Meanwhile, Kit’s mother, who is undergoing surgery and chemo, wants him to find someone special in his life, and signs him up for the reality show. He’ll do it for his Mom and also plans a divorce at the end of the show.
What neither expected was to be thrown back together after 10 years. Will this implode and create chaos? Will they do the show and divorce for the money and go their separate ways, or will they get a second chance at life and love?
Getting to the end, takes the listeners in a rollercoaster of feelings, heartbreaks, some funny moments as well as some not so funny ones.
The story was entertaining, engaging, and the imperfect characters, perfect.
A winner to be enjoyed.
Kelsey Navarro Foster and John WIlliam Maddux do an excellent narration, bringing the story to life.
I was entrusted a copy of this audiobook by Netgalley and Dreamscape. The opinions expressed are solely my own.

I loved this book! Having watched only the first season of a similar reality show, it was nice to see a behind-the-scenes take. What a great concept to explore in print! I loved the independence of both characters, their responses to trauma, and how they went against the grain to heal themselves no matter what. It was hard to put down!

3.25/5

With a tagline of Married at First Sight meets the Ex Talk, had me hooked. Every time I think, "How can a reality show set up work in a book?" I am always pleasantly surprised. Although, I will say that this being a second chance romance does count against it slightly. Not my favorite troupe but I am always willing to give it a chance. Andie and Kit do have great chemistry.

The narrators, Kelsey Navarro Foster and John William Maddux, did a wonderful job narrating each character's POVs. Dual POVs are always a boon for me.

The things that dragged the book out for me are common in romance novels (they are not my favorites, but if they are yours, I am happy you enjoy them). My number one complaint is the number of times Kit's thighs are mentioned. The third act break up that happens because of miscommunication. I can honestly say that I am 100% on Andie's side. And I kind of think she deserves better, or at least she deserves Kit going to therapy to work on his sacrifice and avoidant issues,

The plot of this story was such a cute concept and the execution was more perfect than I could have asked for. I love a good second chance romance, but when you make it a marriage of convenience and add in some banter and slow-burn molten spice, you have pure gold. It was also so refreshing that the characters had deeply rooted preconceptions and real flaws that they needed to overcome together to make their relationship work, the plot not simply relying on a miscommunication trope or surface level baggage to progress.
I loved the development of the characters and how obviously they loved each other, despite struggling with how to communicate those emotions. I loved that they seemed so relatable and down to Earth, having to learn to cope with their own ideas of how to navigate a relationship when their previous attempt had crashed and burned. When I got to the "I forgot my keys" part, my jaw hit the floor. Andie was so much fun to read about and I appreciated the fact that she was not above apologizing when she realized how she had misjudged Kits sudden disappearance in their college days. She also showed tremendous compassion for him, even as her heart was breaking. The miscommunication here was well thought out and presented in such a healthy way, showing fabulous character growth and really making me want to cheer both characters on. Kit took a bit longer to come around, but his revelation and the way that he handled everything afterwards made me so happy. I finished this book in one sitting because I couldn't even imagine looking away until I knew everything was going to work out. Andie and Kit gave me the warm and fuzzies and they deserve all the stars.

3.5 Stars Not You Again is a hidden gem and the perfect read for someone looking for both an easy read and something with emotional depth.

Strapped for cash, wedding dress designer Andie Dresser agrees to sign up for a reality tv show for the potential $100k prize. She desperately needs the money after the upfront costs for her full bridal line to be featured at Atlanta Fashion Week stretched her to the limit. All she needs to do is marry a stranger and opt for a divorce at the end of filming. It should be easy, except the man waiting for her at the end of the aisle is her ex-boyfriend, Kit Watson. Architect Kit has just returned to Atlanta and agreed to go on the show to lift the spirits of his mother, who is being treated for cancer. Kit cannot believe it when he's standing at the altar with Andie, the woman he left ten years ago without explanation. After tying the knot, the two must live together and be filmed for eight weeks. As the two reconnect, old wounds are revisited and the sparks that once died out are revived. With decision day looming, will Andie choose to stay married to Kit or pursue her dream?

I listened to the audiobook and the narrators, Kelsey Navarro Foster and John William Maddux, did a great job with the dual narration. I think listening to this one made the experience even more fun. The premise of this one was interesting with the reality tv show aspect and I'm sure anyone who's a fan of Married at First Sight will enjoy it! Most of the conflict between Andie and Kit comes from miscommunication, which is not a trope I enjoy, though I do think it makes sense with this plot.

Thank you Dreamscape Media for the ALC 💗 Not You Again releases in paperback and audiobook on July 9th!

I love the show “Married at First Sight” so when I saw this book I knew it was gonna be good ! Interesting storyline and so many LOL moments. 😃

I am a self proclaimed reality tv junky and this made my little heart happy. Very much Married At First Sight vibes and I definitely recommend.
The narrators brought the characters to life and did a fantastic job.
This was a 4 star for me!

Quick Summary: A second chance to get it right

My Review: Not You Again by Ingrid Pierce is a women's fiction novel scheduled for release in July 2024.

About the Book: College sweethearts, Andie Dresser and Kit Watson, reunite in the oddest way after spending a decade apart. Amidst heavy professional and familial pressures, the two try to navigate the situation they now find themselves in. Cameras are rolling and it's anyone's guess as to what will become of this brokenhearted couple.

About the Characters and Conflict: Andie and Kit were so interesting as individuals and as a couple. They each lived their lives and made choices largely based on what they experienced in their upbringings. I loved the contrasts and the similarities that were presented. The mother angle was particularly noteworthy, as well.

The points of conflict presented in this story were pretty darn realistic. (I wish I could say more and really get into it, but if I go on, I will give too much away.)

My Favorite Scenes (coded, so as to avoid spoilers):

- You?!

- Can We Talk About It?

- The Thigh Master

- The Wager

- Putting It All Out There/Being All In

- What Do You Really Mean?

- Dress You Up in My Love

*** The scene that stole my heart concerned Kit's mom and Andie. When they had that heart to heart talk, I teared up so quickly. I wanted to hug them both.

About the Narration: This novel was narrated by Kelsey Navarro Foster and John William Maddux. I really enjoyed their interpretation of the characters. They communicated the story well, injecting just the right amount of emotional tension that I like.

My Final Say: This contemporary novel was a pleasant surprise. I quite liked it. While it wasn't an explosive story, it did prove to be a story with heart. It told of real feelings and experiences, it showed the tough lessons that come with loving someone, and it revealed a path toward true reconciliation in self and in relationships.

Rating: 4.45/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Re-read: Yes
Status/Level: 💖
Audiobook: Yes
Narration: +
Triggers: Death of a parent, Cancer

Sincere appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher (Dreamscape Media), and to NetGalley. Thank you for granting access to an ALC in exchange for an honest review. The words I have shared are my own and have been submitted voluntarily.

This was very sweet and emotional. And Andie and Kit's likeability was off the charts. I admittedly had some reservations about the initial plot device - not a huge fan of a tv show arranged marriage. I recognize that this is fictional romance, but two moderately successful, present day professionals willing to be on that show just didn't ring true. But the characters and storylines really overcame that. This was so heartfelt!

I requested this audiobook because I'm a fan of Kelsey Navarro Foster, who was amazing as usual. The male narrator was also solid. They both did a great job narrating and emoting their characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced audiobook copy!

Not You Again is a great romcom with a second chance trope with characters in their 30’s. Both characters are grounded in their adult lives, yet, come with preconceived notions developed from their childhoods and young adult lives. These hurdles make them unique and made the characters feel real.

I enjoyed the plot line centering on reality TV, and the challenges the characters faced in terms of their obligations. I also thought this element increased pressure on the relationship which made for a good storyline.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It is well crafted and held my attention.

I listened to the audiobook version of this story, which is narrated by two narrators who bring the characters to life. I listened at 2x speed (my normal audiobook listening speed is 1.75-2x speed).

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this advanced audiobook copy.

As a huge fan of married at first sight, I was a bit nervous when the description mentioned similar vibes. But it was spot on. Loved the swooning and romance.
Only downside to me was the miscommunication