For a YA book, this one absolutely stole my heart!

Sydney and Marcus have their token meet cute, in a Dunkin’ Donuts no less- a high schooler’s dream, right (at least it was mine)?! They spend the day together and, after both having recently experienced loss, realize that maybe life can be good again. However, after their perfect day comes to a close, they wake up to do it...all over again.

*cue Groundhog Day music*

I thought this was such a sweet story about exploring difficult feelings as a teen and learning to love life again (and fall in love!) after loss. Perfectly written for the teen demographic (and I obviously enjoyed it being a *bit* older 😉)! Marcus and Sydney set an excellent example for how to navigate the tough stuff, and I thought they were both “real” characters with a really nice growth throughout the story.

It was written dual POV and I did have some difficulty differentiating from the two at times, but did not distract from my enjoyment here at all. Short chapters, easy to read, brilliant message.

Thank you to Scholastic and NetGalley for the eARC!

Beautifully written YA love story for the ages!!! This book nails it when depicting grief and navigating life in the early adult years when everything seems so fragile. Loved the characters, their development and feeling my own heart break and the heal with them.

I absolutely loved this book from start to finish! You feel the character’s emotions and the struggles they are facing. As someone who has lost family members recently, I appreciated how the topic is handled. Grief is never easy and I hope this book helps so many young adults through tough times and realize they aren’t alone.

I thoroughly enjoyed the storyline, but I felt it was a bit too lengthy. I would prefer a replay of the same day for 10-15 days instead of the current 30-day duration.

This story explores the process of grieving the loss of a loved one, not in a romantic sense, but as a familial member. The repeated day that Marcus and Sydney experience is thought-provoking. We’ve all wondered if things were different, would the outcome would be the same. But what if we’re supposed to go through what we go through? How do we come to terms with the results? Reading this book made me feel seen and allowed me to embrace and express my emotions about losing my mother, grandmother, and father. The ending-I didn’t see it coming. I truly appreciated it though. I would recommend this book, especially if your struggling with grief of losing a loved one.

"Sometimes, the universe give us exactly who we need, for as long as we need-- but rarely is it as long as we would like."

Marcus and Sydney will forever have a special place in my heart. I will start by saying the groundhog's day storyline is never one of my favorites, but Charlene did it so well that I couldn't help but continue reading the story. This is a YA story but there is so much depth and emotion that I easily forget they were in high school. This book was such a delight to read. I can't wait to get a copy to add to my shelves. I do have one piece of advice while you are reading this book, make sure you have some snacks because they way these 2 eat their way through this book, makes you want to try all the things lol.

From the very first page, this book draws you into its world with engaging prose, well-developed characters, and a compelling narrative. The author's storytelling is confident and immersive, weaving together themes that resonate long after the final chapter.

Thank you NetGalley and Scholastic for this ARC! It’s one thing to meet the love of your life, it’s another to be stuck with them living the same day for over 30 days. It drew me in so intensely to watch them help each other get through grief and reach their true potential. I love that they brought out the best in each other. Finding out that after they fixed the loop that they forgot each other, but found each other a year later broke me a little. It was also interesting that this is the third time they’ve met because of a Dunkin receipt issue. It makes me wonder how many time loops they’ve lived through together, how many tough times they helped each other through, yet they never remember. It makes me wonder if without those situations would they still be each other’s person

ARC REVIEW, thank you so much to Charlene Thomas, Scholastic, and NetGalley for this ARC. My review is not influenced by receiving an ARC. This is an honest review!

5 stars

A Black young adult romance about fate, self-discovery, grief, and love. We follow two seventeen-year-olds, Sydney and Marcus. They meet at a Dunkin's, they decide to skip out on their responsibilities for the rest of the day and hang out with each other. Only the night ends without warning and they wake up on the same day again. 

I absolutely adore this book! I read this in one sitting! It is one of those books that while reading it I knew it was a five star read and that it would stay with me forever. Multiple times while reading this it made me cry, which is rare for me. The characters were so lovable and relatable. I love the trope of being trapped in time or time issues/travel in general. This book handled it PERFECTLY. I enjoyed watching Sydney and Marcus go on their personal journeys and explore their emotions.

The cover is gorgeous and matches the content of the book so well! I will buy a physical copy of this when it is out and I can financially. This is one of my favorite books of all time. I will also read any book that Charlene Thomas has published or will publish in the future. 

There were some editing mistakes, like the POV marker that shows when it is switching POVs didn't show up and I had to reread some parts and use context clues for which POV I was in. This is completely okay and should deter no one from picking this book up because I received an ARC and  this will almost definitely be fixed before publication.

4.5/5 stars - Thank you so much to the author and Scholastic Press for this e-ARC! I went into this expecting to read about YA romance with elements of magical realism, but it is a much deeper story than that. It's a story about grief, feeling "stuck" after a devasting loss, and finding a way to move forward in life.

Syndey and Marcus are adorable! I really loved their dynamic and how he always saw the best in her. Marcus and Sydney's journey through grief was also very emotional. I also really liked the writing style! It isn't over the top, but so many quotes made me pause and reflect. Even though this is an emotional read, there were plenty of funny moments!

I do wish there were more clear markers of when the POV switched between Marcus and Sydney, as well as when there were time jumps within the chapters. I'm hoping those issues will be resolved in the finished copies. Overall, this was a great read, and I recommend it to anyone looking to read a heartfelt book. Read if you enjoy:

-YA romances set in NYC
-Magical realism
-Books with a lot of emotion and deeper themes

Grief
Bonding
Relationships
Fate
This left me speechless! Still recovering as I write this. Two teenagers, Sydney and Marcus, are stuck on the same day. Is it a blessing or a curse? Is fate having them learn something? Learning about these two, from their lives to their grief was so interesting. They start as strangers who seem to bond & start healing as time goes on. You find out why Syd doesn’t like precalc and why Marcus doesn’t want to go through the day. Don’t get me started on the ending!
I would say that last quarter of this book had me in constant tears! The confession from Sydney to Marcus doing what he should have that day. Their words, their feelings, you navigate with them. I won’t spoil but the ending will have you looking at the book with a different view. This book had me laugh, had me cry, and smile. I wasn’t sure what to expect with the same day repeating. For majority of the book it didn’t feel repetitive. Of course there’s a brief part where it does but then that kicker starts that I mentioned. Getting to the point where they finally allow themselves to feel, accept, and work through their grief is emotional. Why wouldn’t it be? But it comforted me and I like to think it’ll comfort other readers who are going through something similar. if you need that nudge and acceptance, this is for you.

Thank you to the author and publisher for allowing me to read an EArc for her newest release.
This novel was very cute, fun, and reflective. I loved how the author incorporated Dunkin’. lol it’s my fave coffee shop and after seeing it Mentioned in chapter 1, I was excited to keep reading. In this novel we get to follow two characters that are facing challenges that forces them to grieve and self blame. The two meet and realize that things happen and though they may have been present, they are not at fault. The fun part about the novel is how time is stuck until they realize they have been put in each other’s lives for a reason.

After getting about 40% in, i realized while the premise was good, the execution of the novel was for a target audience and im
not that target audience. I absolutely love YA novels and read them often. But with this one, I think it was meant specifically for that audience.

I would recommend this book to someone in high school because it still has valuable lessons that the group can take something away from. I would also suggest checking triggers before reading this one. The author does talk about death throughout the entire book.

This is a beautiful, very readable book about self discovery, grief and living your life authentically. I loved both of the main characters and was very invested in their story. Any more details would be a spoiler but I found both of their journeys to be authentic and I did not really have an idea of where things were going, which I enjoyed. I felt that the ending was somewhat rushed but that also spoke to the fact that I was invested in the story and wanted more details about the characters’ stories.

Thank you so much don’t be publisher and author for the chance to read this beautiful ARC!

To relive the same day over and over again, and not know has to be overwhelming. Reminds me of the movie 50 First Dates.

This book takes through the day of two teens who accidentally receives the same order number while getting breakfast. Sydney and Marcus spends a lovely day together and both feel the worries of their lives can coexist with the good parts. But when the day ends, well actually…. when they are abruptly ripped apart Sydney wakes up wondering why is this happening. This story was amazing as it touched on grief, accountability, moving forward, and having courage. We get to see the struggle of grief and the guilt that comes with it. We learn that the encounters you have with others can shape your future in ways you never expect. The ending will leave you hanging a bit and wanting more but the wrap up was good.

5 stars!! I wish I could give it more. I absolutely fell in love with Marcus and Sydney day one and prayed they would remember each other and was happy to know they did! This book took me through grief and happiness and I appreciate how well written it is. This amazing story reminds me of me and my husband who crossed each others paths and we went our own ways. Here we are 10 years later and married.

You meet people in your life and never know how big of an impact they may have in your future.

When I tell you I am obsessed with this book, I mean it! Sydney and Marcus end up repeating the same day over and over again. They are the only two who know what's going on. Both characters are also dealing with grief. They have an instant connection which grows deeper as they spend each September 24th together (the dates they have are so cute 🥹❤️). I'm so sad about the ending though! I almost cried. 😭 This was a great book and I definitely can see this as a movie!

As I get older, I'm increasingly grateful for the influx of Black YA romance novels like this – the kind of stories I desperately needed as a teen and young adult! This book was a delightful blend of sweet moments and laugh-out-loud humor, all while subtly acknowledging the undercurrent of grief. This is absolutely for you if you're a fan of Justin A. Reynolds and Danielle Parker (like me!). That ending nearly sent me into a rage, but now I can happily sing the author's praises instead of demanding she mend my broken heart!

Title: It's You Every Time   
Author: Charlene Thomas     
Genre: YA    
Rating: 4.5  

In a twist of fate, Sydney Michaels bumps into cute boy stranger Marcus Burke in the heart of midtown NYC during an impromptu trip to Dunkin’. But what had initially been an effort to soften the blow of failing her impending pre-calc exam, turns into a day-long, unforgettable adventure—when Marcus asks her to have breakfast with him instead. In just a few hours, Sydney's already starting to fall, and there's just something about Marcus that makes it feel like she's known him forever.

As the night comes to an end, Sydney can’t believe that after all the loss she’s faced in the past two years, "the good part" is finally here and this perfect day gets to be hers—until an accident at the end of the night, quite literally, leaves her stuck in it.

This did not end like I expected it to—but that isn’t a bad thing. I loved how Sydney and Marcus both learn and grow during their time loop. They truly become themselves, and that was fun to watch amidst their missteps and wobbles. I like both of these characters equally and wanted things to work out for them, so it was fun to watch everything unfold—over and over again.

Charlene Thomas is also a marketer. It’s You Every Time is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Scholastic in exchange for an honest review.)

(Blog link live 5/10).

Music Vibe is giving: this is what falling in love feels like by JVKE

✨✨ BOOK REVIEW ✨✨

RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

METHOD OF READING: Kindle (arc read)

THIS BOOK WILL HAVE YOU: Crying your eyes out! BRING ON THE KLEENEX!

✨REVIEW ✨:

Let’s play a game.
I bet you'll be hooked by the time you finish the first chapter. I bet this is one of those books you can’t put down until the very end. I bet you’ll experience an emotional rollercoaster 🎢 as you follow Syd and Marcus on their journey. When you hit the last 30% of the book, I bet you’ll feel this overwhelming urge to scream into the void right along with the characters—and then immediately reach for a Kleenex 🤧 because, yes, you WILL shed some tears 😭. And I bet you'll agree with me that, while this book is marketed as a YA romance, it’s SO MUCH MORE.

If I’m wrong, give me your worst book, and I’ll add it to my TBR.

But honestly? I don’t think that’ll happen.

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I WOULD RECOMMEND THE BOOK TO 📚: Ages 13+, Anyone struggling with grief, YA Readers.

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CRITERIA MARKS:

Plot- ⭐️

Storyline- ⭐️

World Building-✅

Conventions-✅

Organization/Fluency-✅

Character Dimension- ⭐️

#bookreview #booksbooksbooks #bookstagram #bookrecommendations #naughtybookworm #arc #youngadultbooks #yabooks #yaromance #romance #booksbooksbooks #arcreview #indiebooks #indieromance

Now what in the world was that ending? It's a really cute ya romance and I had a good time. Marcus and Syd are adorable and I wanted to see the, actually together. The ending has actually upset me.

I received an arc through netgalley.