Overview: Andie Rose is finally walking in her mother's footsteps transferring to Blue Ridge State halfway through freshman year. Her mom is a legend at the university, and after she passed, it felt like one of the few connections Andie still has left with her. But transitioning to Blue Ridge isn't without complications from blips in gathering ribbons to join a secret society to failing a stats exam to issues with her boyfriend, Andie is starting to doubt if her long held fantasy isn't all she built it up to be. Still, there's an epic roommate, an RA she's trying to deny sparks for, and an awesome student tutor that keeps her buoyed through the tumultuous times. Overall: 4.5

Characters: 5 I love everyone in this book. Andie is optimistic and sweet but also gets worn down by everything that college throws at you pretty easily. She has drive and determination, but she's also too willing to sacrifice herself and her happiness for others. She just exudes good person vibes in the least annoying way possible, and it's amazing to see her journey of learning that sometimes putting yourself first is the most important thing.

Then there's her family. After her mom passed when she was a kid, her two grandmas moved in to help raise her. There are so many cute scenes showing how her unconventional family has been so supportive and helpful, even in the face of a tragedy. Andie's dad is also an important part of the story, even thought they start the book barely speaking to each other. This storyline is handled so well as Andie and her dad start at an impasse of built up negative feelings and really work in a natural and honest way to resolve the hurt feelings in a healthy way. I feel like we don't get enough parent-child storylines like this, and I really connected to it.

Finally, there's the friends in Andie's like, most of who she meets at Blue Ridge. But before we get to them, I feel like her awful boyfriend, Connor, deserves a shout out. You can tell from the start that he sucks, but Andie's journey with moving on from that part of her childhood also feels very organic and realistic even though we know from the start that we shouldn't trust or like Connor. Then there's her friends that she makes along the way – Milo, Shay, and Valeria. Shay is her bookstagram famous roommate who has a super aesthetic half to the room and more books than you could imagine. Shay is supportive and can be tons of fun. Milo is the floor's RA, and it's clear from Andie's first meeting with him that there's undeniable chemistry there despite his cynical and sarcastic approach to life. Finally, there's Val who meets Andie when Andie needs a student stats tutor. She ends up blending into the friend group and having sparks with one of the friends. Each of the members of the friend group are so lovely and fully realized, having plots and journeys of their own that are equally weighted to Andie's.

Plot: 5 This is one of the most intricately plotted contemporary books I've read in a while. There are definitely moments were you can see the outline working and which moments are left as tells for what will happen later in the book. It means that by the end, all of the story threads perfectly stack together and snap into place to create a super satisfying ending where all the threads get tied together in a way you can't help smiling at. Andie starts the book with so much to figure out, and there's answers to every quest she begins (and yes, even though this is a contemporary novel, there is basically a quest). Also, Andie and Milo's slow burn love story is the first in a long time that's made me want to be in love like that.

Writing: 4 College YA is and has always been my soft spot, and this gave me the same joy and hope for my college experience (in admittedly a more PG way) as The Sex Lives of College Girls. Both the show and the book have such a comforting and hilarious feeling in their found family narratives and promise of community. Sadly, my college experience hasn't lead me to an idealized friend group, but I love seeing it in media about that time. The book does a great job capturing the trials and tribulations of that time of life from all angles. It feels very honest to the experience, and it was comforting to read as someone in the middle of her college experience but would also be a great primer for a high schooler looking ahead. It's been a while since I've read YA, and Begin Again was a good reminder of why I love these stories. Also, why do I love romance so much more when it's in YA stories?

http://www.readingwritingandme.com/2023/02/ya-book-review-begin-again-by-emma-lord.html

I discovered Emma Lord in the midst of the pandemic with her debut, Tweet Cute, which ended up being one my favorite reads of 2020, and since then i'm hooked, give me any book by her and i would devour it, and probably love it.

This one was no exception. Begin Again was a delightful read from beginning to end.

Andie was a lovely character in the throes of self-discovery who wanted to feel closer to her dead mom. Milo was the perfect blend of mystery and sweetness. I loved how their friendship bloomed and that he supported Andie from the beginning, helping her adapt to college life, and obviously, how they ended up getting together. It felt very organic and satisfying.

Shay and Valeria were awesome, too. Loved their friendship with Andie, and especially how Valeria acted during the climax of the story.

Overall, I think this book was great. If you like slow-burn, they get together at the end-kind of romances set in college this is for you!

“Go make the most out of it, because every day is a chance to begin again.”

Begin Again - 3/5 ⭐️
📍Coming-of-age
📍Slow Burn
📍Young Adult

Begin Again was a adorably sweet, heartwarming story with plain character growth. The characters were entertaining and I found the romance to be very cute.
Even though it was difficult to get into, I really liked the message behind this book.
.
Thank you to to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the gifted copy!

In general, I’ve realized that I’ve outgrown most YA romcoms. Emma Lord is an exception to that. Her books are always full of charming characters and realistic conflicts. They’re decidedly teen-drama free. Emma writes characters that are easy to root for. I loved Miles in this story. I love the found family and friendships that Andie works so hard to develop. I love the secret society mystery and the cozy bagel shop and the welcoming warm hug that is Miles’ mother. I would love to read more stories from their family. My only mild complaint is that this book felt a big long and *almost* boring at times. It was cozy, but there were large stretches where not much was happening to progress the plot. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC to review.

(4.5 rounded up)
Emma Lord has once again written a masterpiece. I adore this book. I rally loved the YA college student feel of this book. I loved the characters and getting to know the found family that Andie had. Each person in their group was such a great addition. I really liked the friendship between her and Milo throughout the book and seeing them grow into something more was so fun. This book had me laughing out loud, smiling, giggling, and kicking my feet because of its cuteness. I also teared up in some spots. This book tackled grief in a way that felt very honest and real and i liked that. Emma Lord has written some of my all time favorite YA books and this is definitely being an addition to the list.

Emma Lord does it again! Begin Again is one of her best, full of heart, humor and a few cry-worthy moments. This follows Andie, a college freshman who is navigating a mid-year transfer to her late mom's alma mater. As someone whose college experience was cut short, this felt really needed. I was a hit with an intense wave of nostalgia. Also, an intense bagel craving.

The best part of this group is the friend group. I liked that finding people wasn't a struggle for Andie, and I hope that this will quell any anxiety teen readers have about this. Each member of the friend group was unique and so likable. It really did become a bit of a found family dynamic, although Andie has a really great real family. I loved the love interest Milo, and liked that he seemed like a real teenage boy. The way he was described made me like him more, because he felt like any number of boys I befriended in college. There's a great friends to lovers story in here, and I honestly got a little teary while reading parts of it. Andie and Milo just get each other!

Ultimately, I'm an Emma Lord fan for life. She does a great a job of balancing romance with real life stuff and humor. Also, she writes amazing descriptions of food. Her books just spread joy, and every teen library should include her work. I can not wait for whatever she does next.

I really really really liked this. This is my favorite kind of contemporary with romance, found family, a little heavy topics, and personal growth. It was overall the perfect YA college romance with the friends to lovers and grumpy x sunshine. I will read anything Emma Lord writes the writing was amazing.

TW: death of a parent

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Emma Lord writes the MOST adorable characters, I swear to god. I’d call her books tooth-rotting fluff, but there’s always an element of groundedness and deeper emotion that balances out all the sweetness. Needless to say, I loved this one.

I always enjoy a book set in college, because as the title implies, it’s a chance for characters to reevaluate their lives and start over. To cast off what was holding them back when they were in high school and finally grow into their own people. Andie’s journey into self-actualization and self-care was a delight to read, and I also loved how extroverted she was - a nice contrast from all the introverts I’ve been reading about lately.

Not me shouting "DUMP YOUR BOYFRIEND!” this whole book, but…I was. Milo was a perfect love interest, funny and sweet and a good friend before they even get together. And the other friends/found family Andie grows are a wonderful cast of characters as well. (Lovely shoutout to the bookstagram community there, Emma!)

I do have one little gripe…what is with all these books/shows set in college and their obsession with radio? Were you all listening to your student-led radio programs in college? It seems such an outdated trope to me, but maybe I’m missing something.

I always anticipate the next Emma Lord and this one did not disappoint! It's a great coming-of-age young adult story with a great college setting, found family, and a friends to lovers/grumpy sunshine romance.

Emma Lord only ever seems to improve more and more with each book and I can easily see her becoming the Emily Henry of the YA/NA genre.

Her writing is so compulsively readable and engaging. Her pacing is always spectacular and not once did the story feel like it was dragging. Even if there’s nothing particularly thrilling or exciting happening, her writing has a way of making you wanting to keep going until you’ve reached the end.

I think a major driving force in this book was my desire to see Andie and Milo’s relationship develop. I have never been a big friends to lovers fan but I found myself genuinely excited about and warmed by the developing friendship between Milo and Andie. These are two characters who see and understand each other, from the very beginning, even when the person doesn’t fully know themselves yet. It’s clear that the two are destined to be more than friends and we get to see the beautiful journey they go on to get to that point. At only 17% into the book, I was getting emotional over the acts of affection they were showing each other. (He got her ribbon back!)

Speaking of friendship, that was another major theme in this book that I really loved. Shay, Andie, and Milo, and later Val, form a friendship fairly instantaneously but it never once feels disingenuous. You get to see the four of them create this little found family for themselves and it’s wonderful. A common motif in Emma Lord’s books is complex families and it’s one of the things I adore most about her work. Her family dynamics are always messy and raw but never without love and reflect the reality of complex family relationships in a way that most books don’t. That was the case again here and I loved seeing all of her families: her comfortable one with her Grandmas, the fractured one with her dad, the one she lost when her mom died, and the new but steady one with her friends.

Andie’s growth overall is what I think really made me love this book. I felt a connected to Andie so immediately. She’s just a young girl who’s spent her life being a people pleaser, someone who’s always trying to help people by fixing their problems because she feels like she owes it to everyone. I relayed to her on a deeply personal level and getting to see her slowly start to let go of the perfectionist she was and start to reinvent herself was extremely cathartic.

For the past few years, I’ve been on a mission to find a recently published YA book that made me feel the way Sarah Dessen books used to. I’ve come close once or twice but there was always something missing. I could tell from the very first chapter of this book that I’d finally found the book I’d been searching for. The combination of the easy yet compelling writing, rich and flawed characters, family and friendship dynamics, and swoony romance made this book such an utter delight to read.

I’d recommend this specifically to fans of Sarah Dessen (clearly), Deb Caletti, and K.L. Walther. But I also just highly recommend it in general to anybody!

Begin Again is a novel about finding yourself and no longer walking in the footsteps of a parent. The persistence Andie shows with her schooling, radio show, and love life is to be admired. Throw in a wrench here and a problem there and you have the perfect components for an "unputdownable" story. The characters are likeable friends you didn't know you needed. The warmth of true friendship that underlies this tale makes it the ideal book to pick up anytime you need a charming new read.

Another delightful Emma Lord romance! I was hooked from the beginning, seeing the mix-up between this couple making sacrifices for each other, and loved the family and friend dynamics throughout. Lord is an auto-purchase, and her new novel was just as lovely as the previous ones.

Another gem from Emma! As an adult, this book made me nostalgic for the days of being a college freshman and getting to Begin Again on a new campus away from home.
The story includes self-discovery, making new friends, and staying true to your roots. Highly recommend this to any person looking at going to college to nostalgic for their college days.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s press for this free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Begin Again was a mixed bag for me. There were lots that I loved...the college setting, the friends, the RA, the secret college radio show and the underground secret society activities. But there were things I definitely didn't like...the cutesy swearing that is really just saying various snack foods with an exclamation, the mix up that is reveled in the beginning that really just doesn't make sense, and the boyfriend and his family which I can't talk about without revealing too much.

This book is much more of a young adult styled chic lit and less a young adult romance. I almost feel like the book tried too hard at being chic lit thus making some of the things going on a bit much. I kinda wish the budding romance part was more center stage and maybe some of the things that didn't work so well had been cut.

***Advanced copy obtained from St Martin's Press via Netgalley***

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to review this book, All opinions strictly my own.

Begin Again is an wonderful YA (although I'm 38 and enjoyed it) book that seems rather realistic. Nothing in life goes as planned, but it doesn't mean you need to give up or change your goals. If you like romance novels novels with independent strong females, this is for you.

Begin Again was a very wholesome quirky read. Andie Rose transfers to her dream university to follow in her mother’s footsteps. She’s looking forward to being at the same school as her boyfriend Connor, but when she shows up on campus to surprise him, she finds out he actually transfers to her community college to surprise her. Life gets very complicated!

She’s on a journey to figure out who she is aside from being Connor’s girlfriend, living in her mother’s shadow, and attempting to navigate new friendships. Emma Lord always creates the most fun, quirky characters who love sugar and adventures. My favorite of her books, though, will always be “Tweet Cute.”

*ARC provided by NetGalley in return for an honest review*

I can see why people like Emma Lord, but it was not prevalent enough to resolve the issues I found in this novel.

The novel has a way of drawing you in and keeping you involved and the writing style is definitely enjoyable. However, the content.... ? Eh. Eh. Eh.

The book felt like it was trying to be "too cool for school" and "hip with the kids" and if you think that's cringey... just wait. The references to legally blonde totally missing the mark, the will-they-won't-they romance, etc. I don't know if I'm too old or too young when reading it... and I'm a '99'er (Just thinking about the fact it was a year ago I graduated with a masters makes me feel old now).

To conclude, I have a nice bottle of soju calling my name from the fridge and a date with "please leave me alone for the next hour as I cry while watching re-runs of Smallville."

I’ve read Emma Lord’s books in the past and loved them. However, this one kind of fell flat to me. It was one of those books where you finish and you’re like “what even happened?” There wasn’t some big twist or aha moment to the plot. It wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t good either. It was just a story about a girl who follows her mom’s footsteps to college and finds herself along the way.

Thank you to Netgalley for giving me a chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I am kind of a EmmaLord fan girl. Anything she writes is kind of an auto-read for me. I was so excited when I was given this ARC.

This story kind of hit a lot of “homes” for me. Andie is a girl entering her dream college as a freshman transfer. Her boyfriend already goes to this school. It’s no cake walk when she gets there. She struggles to keep up with her classes, school activities and social life. Admittedly, my 18-year-old self chose to go to the same university as my at the time boyfriend. It wasn’t the only reason, but it was apart of the decision. I completely failed my first quarter of school. I took on too much, thinking it would be similar to high school. I was the first one in my family to go to university, so I was not prepared for it. So reading about a character who had a similar experience out of gate was really relatable to me.

Emma Lord is the queen of “Just Kiss Already” romance. This book was no exception. You really want to smush two of the characters’ faces together and get them lip locking already. I really liked the way the romance unfolded and the tension between Andie and her love interest. I loved the bagel shop too. Reading so much about all the bagel stuff had me going out and buying my own bagels to eat while I read.

This book also does friendship / found family really well. It was great to read the developed friendships of Andie, her roomie and her tutor.

One of my favorite little easter eggs in Begin Again is that Big League Burger makes an appearance, which was founded by the parents of Pepper in Lord’s first book (Tweet Cute). The Emma Lord literary multiverse does exist, and I will be looking out for any other crossovers.

On the whole, however, Begin Again has pretty much everything you could want in a YA novel. There’s found family, some competition elements as Andie tries to collect ribbons, a fantastic romance, and even some cathartic discussions on grief and healing. Oh and lots of giggles from Andie using junk food as curse words!

I loved this book! The college setting was great, Andie was a great main character, and it made me nostalgic for my own college days!