I loved this college YA style romance. It was a fun and quick read. Wholesome. Book focused a lot of friendship, family and grief. There were so many side characters that I also really enjoyed. There is romance, but its clear this book offers more than just that.

Nothing less than I would’ve expected from Emma! Truly a marvel. I laughed, I cried, I took breaks to have Taylor swift dance parties. (You know, the normal Emma Lord reading experience.) Gave me a small pang of missing college but an appreciation for the friend group I still bave! I love Milo and I am too similar to Andie to have an objective opinion.

4 stars!
Fun campus romcom read.

Relatable characters with emotional depth. Andie’s journey of self-discovery feels authentic, and the found-family dynamics make for a heartwarming read. The side characters, particularly her new friends at Blue Ridge, add so much charm to the story.

The only reason this isn’t a full five stars for me is that the pacing felt a bit uneven at times—certain conflicts resolved a little too quickly, and I wanted more depth in some relationships. Still, Begin Again is a delightful coming-of-age novel about growth, love, and learning that it’s okay to rewrite your own story. Fans of Emma Lord’s previous books (or anyone who loves sweet, uplifting YA contemporary novels) will definitely enjoy this one!

Begin Again by Emma Lord is a story about a girl that goes off to college and thinks her boyfriend will be there with her. But he isn't. She does end up learning more about her parents and herself though. This was a cute story, but not really one that I'll remember. Thanks to NetGalley for the free digital review copy. All opinions are my own.

I wanted to take some time to really mull over this book. This story has a little bit of everything. the main character Andie is in college. She goes through a lot, just like any of us. The way this book handles grief really struck me. We all handle grief differently and I really like how Andie used that grief to find herself and her calling. This is not my first Emma Lord book and it certainly will not be my last. Emma Lord's writing just keeps getting better and better with each new novel!

*Thanks to Netgalley for a chance to read and review this title. My opinions are my own*

Emma Lord has been an auto-read author for me for a few years now, and Begin Again did not disappoint. I loved the found family aspect of the friends Andie made once she got to Blue Ridge State, and I loved seeing the relationship with her Dad develop. Relationships are front and center in this story, and as always, Emma Lord wrote characters that were so charming and lovable. Watching Andie start to prioritize herself and her well-being was great, but I do think it went on a little too long, hence the 4 star review instead of 5 stars. Overall, a very sweet read with great characters that you come to love,

Thank you to St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the digital ARC.

I really enjoyed this one! I don't think Emma Lord knows how to write a bad book. I did find out the boyfriend twist early on, though which does not impact my rating, as I'm not the target audience. I really loved Milo, he felt like Jess from Gilmore Girls, a bit. I do think at times, Andie came across immature, and I'm not sure if it was due to the traumas of her life, or just the character, which was a bit difficult at times.

Begin Again by Emma Lord is an absolute delight, filled with heartwarming moments and relatable characters. Andie’s journey of self-discovery at Blue Ridge State is both inspiring and entertaining, with plenty of laughs along the way. The friendships she forms and the challenges she overcomes make this book a truly engaging read. If you’re looking for a feel-good story about new beginnings and finding your voice, this book is a must-read! 📚💖

I'm officially obsessed with everything Emma Lord writes. Not only does she make me crave ridiculous food combinations (I've never tried cookie dough cream cheese but now I want to!) but she creates this contemporary worlds I want to sink into. Can I go back to college and attend Blue Ridge state? I'm having nostalgia for a place I've never been. Her characters are always perfectly crafted and the romance swoon-worthy and sweet. I can't wait to read so much more from Emma.

This book was just fine for me. I have enjoy another book by the author so I was excited and maybe expecting a little more. I just was never able to get fully invested in the relationship or the story. It was just okay for me, I might recommend if you like others from Emma Lord.

Thank you NetGalley for the review copy of Begin Again by Emma Lord.

Emma Lord has been a go-to author for me for sweet YA romances since I read Tweet Cute. She knows how to write young people falling in love without focusing too heavily on the angst and instead on the complexities of emotions. I loved the characters created in Andi and Milo. I loved watching Andi discover herself outside her relationship.

The ending was a bit rushed for me, but I really enjoyed my time with this book. I would recommend this book to anyone who would vibe with updated versions of 90s teen rom-coms I grew up loving.

3.5 Stars

Everything Emma Lord writes is amazing and yet again I loved this book and the characters and I can’t wait for more of her work!

Emma lord is one of my favorite YA authors. so I was super excited when I got an advanced copy of begin again. It was so cute and I enjoyed every minute of reading this.
Andie rose went through so much growth and that’s something I really like in ya books. When the characters are better people at the end. Her 2 grandmas were my characters. They should have been in the book more. They loved Ryan Reynolds’s and watched the proposal a lot, which I do too.

I didn't enjoy this at first. I found Andie annoying. Connor is a twat. He'd do really well on a modern dating app.

This is my first Emma Lord book, and I am very excited to read more! I love a good YA romance,and this was no exception! This is about a girl who transfers schools to be with her boyfriend - just for him to transfer out. This throws her into a journey of self discovery with new friends, and maybe a new romance as well! This made me miss college so much - which I was not expecting!

I was given an advanced reader's copy via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own

Where oh where to begin (again) when it comes to extolling my love for Emma Lord’s writing? This book walked a fine balance between the excitement and whimsical nature of going off to college and all the romanticized adventure it can entail, while also bringing in doses of reality that feel like they hit harder during vulnerable moments of change and instability. I felt like this was an optimistic, uplifting story about navigating the transition to young adulthood and learning to find your own path in a way that feels most true to yourself.

I am currently supporting the boycott against St. Martin’s Press until they respond to influencer’s concerns about safety, inequality, systemic issues at hand and also meet the demands of the boycott. I am looking forward to leaving an updated review for this book once the demands are met ❤️

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

"Welcome to The Knights' Watch, Squire."


Begin Again was so freaking cute with some predictable moments. In this, you will meet Andie. Now she is the type of person who puts other people's needs before hers. She's a helper and likes to fix things when she can. So, when she tries to surprise her boyfriend, Connor, by transferring to the school of her dreams (which is where he currently goes), she's surprised to find out that he's not exactly there anymore. No, he transferred to where she was going, which one would think is cute. Me? No, I thought it was dumb because why would he transfer to a community college when he knew that her dream was to go to Blue Ridge State.

The math was not mathing and I was highly suspicious of Connor.

Either the boy was clearly only in his world and never listened to her... or he flunked out badly.

Spoiler alert: He's definitely a selfish asshole, a cheater, and a liar.

Anyway, with his ass not in the picture (currently), Andie is finally getting to experience the college where her parents met one another. She starts to make friends and develops a little crush on the RA. I really did adore her friendship with Shay, Valerie, and Milo. They just seemed to make her time and transition to this school way easier. I also really liked how friendships started to develop into something a bit more.

Milo and Andie were completely adorable, and I loved them so much. They just got along with one another and always made each other do better and be better. They sort of leaned on each other to work through their own family problems. I also just really enjoyed when they were the knight and the squire.

In the end, I'm happy that they are happy, and Connor is completely out of the picture. I totally called the twist before it happened because it just felt so obvious. I don't feel bad for him one bit and feel like maybe, just maybe, if he comes back to this school, he will get kicked out once again because he doesn't deserve to be there.

Bye bye, Connor!

Emma Lord is one of my favorite YA authors for a reason. Her stories have everything I love- quirky characters, found families, heroines I can root for, and romance that is believable. In Begin Again, Andie Rose has spent her life with a plan- attend Blue Ridge State and become a self-help icon like her late mother. So far, her plan hasn't gone, well, according to plan, but she knows that with her organizational skills she will make it happen. First step- transfer in and meet up with her long-distance boyfriend, Connor. But, surprise- Connor transferred to the community college Andie just left. Now, Andie has to figure out what her next step is. I just loved this book. Andie finds the most amazing friends and makes surprising discoveries about herself along the way. I think this may be my new favorite book by Emma Lord and I can't wait to read more!

This made me so nostalgic for freshman year at college. Oh, the memories. Emma Lord just knows how to write YA books. This was so good and I enjoyed every minute.