Begin Again was originally published in German, but I'm delighted they decided to translate it! The night I started this, I could not put it down. I kept telling myself "one more chapter," because you know how that is, but the story was on my mind even when I wasn't reading it. It wouldn't take long before I was engrossed in the pages again, housework be damned.

Obviously, we know Kaden's rules are doomed to fail, and it was so fun watching them crumble. He's a hypocrite when it comes to his rules, too. He even admits that he can break them when he wants to because they're his. Kaden has freely admitted to being an asshole from the beginning, but we can see how he uses that as a shield against the world. He has demons to deal with, but so does Allie.

Allie is forced to confront her problems a lot sooner than she would have liked because her mother is psychotic. If I were Allie, I would have disconnected my phone service long before arriving in Woodshill. She may have been her mother, but that woman was not motherly. I don't care how much money someone throws at you, your child should always come first. I can't even think about Allie's parents without throwing up in my mouth.

The scenery for this book is beautiful. I love it when Allie and Kaden go hiking (some of my favorite moments happen off the trail), and it makes me want to grab my boots and go climb a mountain. I feel like this is where the two of them really connected. There were no distractions, just them and nature.

I want to be best friends with the secondary characters! They were all so wonderful and such good people. Kaden and Allie both needed those friendships, and I hope to see more of these characters in the future.

I do have one tiny issue with this book... I didn't like how Kaden's past was revealed and explained. I feel like we were given bits and pieces of information throughout the book, but then we're smothered with it at the end. I would have enjoyed it more had it felt natural instead of rushed. Allie has to deal with her issues the entire book, but we only get a few chapters of Kaden being confronted with his.

Overall, it's a captivating story that I could not read fast enough!

Side note: I loved the tattoos and the music!

Allie is a freshman searching for an apartment in a small college town. She hasn’t exactly “run away” from home but has started this journey against her parents wishes. She is determined to leave her troubled past and start over with a new name, new friends and positive outlook for the future she is creating. As door after door closes, panic sets in along with idea of having to sleep in her car. On the last look of the day, the guy that stands in front of Allie takes her breath away. He is beautiful, tattoos lining his muscular arms and a smile that could stop traffic. Kaden is rude, snappy and instantly tells her no way. Allie wheedles in for a quick tour, trying hard not to seem desperate, knowing that she most certainly is. And so begins the romance between Allie and Kaden. The discovery of real friendship and past secrets that could tear them apart. Does this sound corny enough for you? Bad boy, sweet girl fall in love against the odds, etc etc It may be picking up a book at the right moment or a memory that startles your senses but I read this seemingly teen romance, translated from German, in one straight sitting. The conversation flowed and the pages turned and before I knew it I was taken away if only for the day. Highly recommend and enjoyed this quick break from reality. Interestingly, this is a trilogy but it seems only this first one has been brought to the US.

n Again I was super excited to get stuck in, I had read amazing reviews on both Goodreads and Amazon so I couldn’t believe my luck when I was given the opportunity to give it a read! Alas, it wasn’t meant to be and I found that I just couldn’t connect with the writing or the characters.

Personally, I felt like the story lacked originality and easily fell into the typical tropes you find in most NA books. I wanted to enjoy the main character and her witty remarks but honestly found more enjoyment from the supporting characters. The love interest was the macho man who doesn't stand for anything, his walls were soon broken down by Allie and they quickly fell in love. I would've like to have seen a different outcome at the end of the book, the happily ever after is wearing thin on me, its just a bit mediocre!

If you're looking for a quick read with a bit of fire then I'd definitely recommend you give this one a go, but if you want something that’s a bit more engaging this may not be the book for you.

First time reading from this author, I was given an ARC from netgalley for honest review.

I loved it. I enjoyed the characters, Allie known as Crystal wants to live her own life, not by her parents rule.
She moves to another state/town so she can be away, and make a life of her own, but it's hard when college is starting and you need a place to stay.

Finally, she finds someone that will make it difficult with his own rules, but can she handle him.

Kaden has his own demons, but he's good with his friends, unless something or someone hurts him, and he's afraid of getting hurt again. But he needs a roommate, and his own rules. Can she follow them?

Well with a lot of tension, but he does like her, she makes him happy, within times, rules are made to be broken. And are they?

Definitely a good book to read, I could not put this book down. Definitely keep you going.

2.5-3 stars
*some spoilers*

Oh man... where do I start with this review.

Ok... after reading this book I just had to give myself some time to really think about this book and how I felt about.
I enjoyed this book in the beginning. Over looking a lot of Kaden’s personality. Because I wanted to see if he could win me over. I don’t usually like books with a lead like Kaden. Kaden was a big jerk! I was on the fence with him pretty much through the whole book. I hated everything about him. lol
He would act ok for a day or two. Then he would have these major meltdowns. And he would act so mean and say these really mean things to Allie. It was hard to move past all that.

Kaden’s mood swings were pretty much throughout the whole book. It was always his way or no way. It was very frustrating to read. Because most of the time Allie would just end up doing what he wanted.
Allie was a weak main character. She cried at the drop of a hat. She constantly forgave Kaden for everything he would do or say to her. It just wasn’t right. She needed to stand up for herself. And not forgive and forget.

I pretty much hated how Kaden would just leave for days without contacting Allie. When they both crossed a line with each other. I hated the things he would say too. Telling people that she smells. And not making it clear he hated how she smelled like candy because of her candles. I also hated how he was always demanding her to tell him what was bothering her. He was constantly invading her personal space.

Here are some examples of some of the things he did to her.

-Almost leaving her on the hiking trail because she wouldn’t tell him who had called her!
He got in his car and started to drive!

-Leaving her at the bar outside in the parking lot!
He did drive away! She had to walk home!

-Him kicking her out of his apartment!
Yup, after not seeing him for days... she comes home to him in her room packing her stuff and telling her in the coldest way possible to leave. That they never signed a lease agreement so she had to leave!!! And it was night time!

I haven’t even gotten to the ugly things he would say to her.
Once I was nearing the end of the book. I liked what Kaden was doing. He was trying super hard to redeem himself with Allie. But to be honest here. I think Allie should’ve just been friends with him. It would’ve been more believable. Because who in their right mind would forgive all of what Kaden did to them.
Yes, he was there for her. And yes, he helped her come out of her shell. But for me... that wasn’t enough.

I loved the friends in this book. I loved Scott and Dawn. I really want to read Dawn and Spencer’s book. (Hopefully there is one coming!!)

*So I looked this author up and it seem this is her only English book. There is book 2 & 3 in this series. But both books are in German. So I have no clue whether the other 2 books would be converted to English.*

I'm a sucker for romance and this didn't disappoint. This was the perfect mix of love, hate and friendships. Allie leaves her past behind her, or so she thought... but having left that past quite late in the semester, she has no option but to live with Kaden. Now Kaden is rude, full of himself, a womanizer. Yet he's not like this at all. Living together means you see more of the person, you see those bits that are supposed to be hidden.

Walls start crumbling, feelings start happening and they break the rules set at the very beginning. I really enjoyed this book and would definitely read more of them in another book. I'd quite like to see Spencer get with a certain someone!! Good college (university) drama!

**4.5 Stars**

I didn't know what to expect going into this book, but I found it to be very engaging and an overall great story. Kaden and Allie meet when she goes to look at the apartment that Kaden is renting out a room in. They both are somewhat complex characters with some secrets that they are hiding. Despite Kaden's upfront need to be friends only, the chemistry is there from the start. It was enjoyable reading about their budding relationship and the shift from roommates, to friends, to something just a little bit more. Kaden's character had moments of sheer stupidness, but he more than made up for it with his charming and romantic side. Allie's family was truly deplorable, but the friendships she found when starting her new life seemed to make up for it. I read this book in one sitting as I did not want to put it down.

Attraction can be a cruel thing when you know it can’t be good for either of you. And in this case, it was downright torture for Allie Harper and Kaden White.
Both came from troubled backgrounds that now trickled into their present lives. Causing havoc in their romantic lives. Making them act and say the craziest things at times.
Kaden needs to feel in total control at all times and had to keep all females at bay and his brash behavior was usually his way of accomplishing that. That was until he met, Allie. You see he never entertained having a girl roommate because he had fallen in love and been burned so all girls were evil.
But Allie was as brash and foul mouth as he was and that gave him pause and well he was desperate to find a roommate as she was to find a place to live. So, match made in heaven. Allie had moved from Nebraska, to get away from her rich controlling parents and ended up with a conceded controlling roommate, instead. Was okay with it anything to be able to get on the road to becoming a teacher. She wanted that and freedom so badly she could taste it.
Part way through not only does Kaden start to confuse and blur the lines for her with mixed signals, but her mother tracks her down like a dog. Messes with her head and makes her more insecure that when she got there. She tries to withdraw but Dawn and Scott her new and only friends ever try and help but it’s Kaden that pulls her through.
Yet, when he falls on hard times he turns his back on her making her question herself and them as friends and more.
This story was so fast and complex. Like an onion being peeled back quickly. The story was interesting with the subject matters and how they were handled. But also, how the couples and friends handled them all together. I give this 5 ++++ stars. Provided by netgalley.com. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com.

This is a wonderful love story. It's translated from German. Kaden and Allie are two university students who have had a rough beginning in their lives. They fall in love and somehow must learn to trust again. Lovely.

I couldn't put my kindle down! This book got me curious, and i'm happy to have read it. Allie was a character i admired because she was strong and unlike other female main characters in other books she wasn't weak for a man. Inside maybe she had all these types of feelings ,but she held strong for an appropriate time to release them. I loved that because she got to know Kaden before falling in love so quickly.

Book Talk…12/15/17
Traci Kenworth

Begin Again by Mona Kasten. Oct. 20, 2017. Bastei Entertainment. Netgalley.

He makes the rules. She breaks them all.

A new start. It's the only thing keeping Allie Harper going, when she packs up her life and moves across the country to Woodshill, Oregon. She's about to start college, desperate to leave the ghosts of her past behind her. Even if that means never talking to her parents again.

Now the hard part - finding an apartment before classes start. Just when it seems she'll have to live out of her car, Allie visits one more place. It's beautiful. With one exception: can she stand being roommates with campus bad boy Kaden White? Sure, Kaden is sexy with his tattoos and careless attitude, but he's also an arrogant jerk. With nowhere else to go, Allie moves in.

The first thing Kaden does is make a set of rules. Either Allie obeys, or she's out:

1. Don't talk about your girl problems.
2. Keep your mouth shut if I bring someone home.
3. We will NEVER hook up.

Easy enough, thinks Allie. Who would want to get involved with a brute like Kaden? But the more she gets to know him, the more she sees beyond his gruff facade. He, too, is harboring some painful secrets. For Kaden and Allie, it gets harder and harder to ignore the sparks between them. And the lines between the rules start to blur-

Begin Again is a beautiful romance that shows us just how possible it is to start over. To find freedom in heartbreak and love in the most unlikely places.

After a heartbreaking move from her parents’ home, Allie finds herself taking a room with a guy who has all sorts of rules, including not to think they will ever hook up. Allie doesn’t see much of a problem with that as he’s a jerk, she thinks. However, as she moves in she starts to discover a different side to Kaden. A side that she might just be able to fall in love with.

These characters grab you from the get-go and pull you in. Allie and Kaden are so messed-up but together, they’re magic. As they move back-in-forth between his friends and her friends, sides get taken, lines get drawn, and the battle for love has just begun. I wish I could’ve read this in one setting, it was that good! It appears this is the first in the series on Amazon and Goodreads, so I’ll keep the author in mind for the next ones. LOVED!
*****

Cute! I needed a nice light read so that definitely fill my void :)

Didn’t know what to expect. It was a pretty good romance between two roomates. It’s definitely a young adult vibe. Allie tries to find herself and finds love with Kaden. Good book to read couldn’t put it down. Highly recommend it!

It has been awhile since I’ve read a YA book. Normally I find the characters shallow and whiny. This story was NOT like that. Kaden and Allie both had pasts to overcome that felt real and painful. Their story was happy and sad and loving. It was a pleasure to read this story.

Allie and Kaden had a great story and I loved reading this. I hope to read more from Mona Kasten in the future.

[I received a free advance review copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review]
For someone who generally enjoys new adult books, I found it surprising that I didn't like this novel all that much. Although it's got college romance, beautiful friendships and a good character transformation, a lot of other stuff were missing. I'm not sure if I'm supposed to take the fact that the book was translated into consideration while reviewing... But it felt like the writing was pretty rudimentary and the characters were one-dimensional and almost tedious.

I liked the book. I did struggle a little connecting to the characters.
I felt like some things were missing. It could have been that it was translated from a different language.

Absolutely love and devoured this in one sitting! Perfect for lovers of brooding alpha males with a hidden past that sucks you in. The plot was compelling and fast paced. Just the right amount of angst and emotions.

Finding love is difficult in the best of circumstances but when there is baggage that comes with it it's even harder. Allie and Kaden were like oil and water but they mixed really well once they got past their issues. Mona is a talented writer and I couldn't put the book down.

Begin Again by Mona Kasten was an enjoyable read. It is Allie and Kaden’s story of meeting as roommates and having love develop even though they may not want to admit it.

Allie is trying to “begin again” by moving far away from her parents and their demands and starting college. She just wants to make her life what she wants.

Kaden is trying to “begin again” by putting on a tough act to avoid being hurt by anyone in his life. He acts like a jerk and avoids relationships due to a painful relationship breakup in his past.

These two can and will “begin again” in this not typical romance between two college students.
Good story that I recommend reading!