This book was really cute! To avoid spoiling anything, I’ll just say that I absolutely loved watching not only the main relationship develop, but also the friends’ relationship!
This book juggled both Andie’s lasting grief and her feelings of worth with her developing romance and friendships! I think anyone who has lost a piece of their heart can find themselves in Andie’s journey.
I also really wish that my college had the bizarre and fun traditions of Blue Ridge State!

Emma Lord has a skill for writing YA that will draw in all ages. This book is full of friendships, crushes, and laughs, but also tackles self-discovery and dealing with the loss of a parent. I found myself picturing my own college campus throughout reading this book, so it was a nice little trip down memory lane. My only minor frustration was with Andie believing she always knew what was best for everyone and could solve every problem before even beginning her psychology classes. I never felt like she was really humbled in this story. Milo was likeable all along, and I’m glad we also got to see into his life and struggles to understand him better. I don’t read YA very often, but Emma Lord is always an exception. This book is a cute read with mostly loveable characters, though also tackles some difficult subjects.

2.5 stars // This was a cute little romance set on a university campus. Girl goes to school because of her mom’s legacy on campus and doesn’t feel like she’s living up to it. Her boyfriend that she’s known since childhood is at a different school and feeling rocky. Falls for her goofy RA and everything is happily ever after (as always!).

Not my favorite but not bad either.

I feel so blessed to have gotten another of Lords Arcs. These books never fail to leave me feeling warm on the inside. If you love radio/podcasts in books this one is for you!! The friendships and family dynamics are always amazing.

5/5 ⭐
0/5 🌶️

Emma Lord never ceases to amaze me with her stories. Begin Again was a beautiful coming of age, young adult romance that had me laughing, crying and cheering Andie, Milo, Shay and Val on from beginning to end.

Andie is a planner and has had her dreams laid out since she was a kid. One hiccup won't stop her as evidenced by finally joining her boyfriend at Blue Ridge College as the only mid-year transfer student. However when she arrives she discovers that Connor transferred back to their local community college as they both tried to surprise one another. From there she has to brave this new world alone while trying to carve her own path from her mom's shadow. But what she finds is a set of forever friends and her way back to her dad.

I really loved this cast of characters. They were so easy to love and I couldn't help but get invested in their individual stories. Watching Milo and Andie fall for each other after a mutual friend-zoning was so cute and fun, the angst was perfect for a ya novel. I really loved watching Andie and her dad rediscover their relationship too, it had me in tears watching them open up and reminisce about her mom. There's a little twist in this one that I had an inkling of, but it still hit me hard when Andie discovered it.... But the way her friends rallied for her was so awesome.

I can't wait to see what Emma brings to us next.

Emma Lord writes the cutest YA romances and this one is no exception.
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Andie is heading off to the same college her parents attended. She has set high expectations and is feeling the pressure she’s placed on herself. Andie is a “fixer” and tries to help everyone around her all while trying to resolve her own past hurts. This coming of age book has it all; boyfriend drama, family drama, and friend drama. I personally would have preferred a bit more romance. 🥰
Although a sweet read, this book still covers heavy topics.

Thank you to netgalley and Wednesday books for the opportunity to read this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the ARC!

I adored this one. All of Emma Lord’s books are adorable but this is by far my favorite so far.

Andie was relatable, trying to do everything for everyone else instead of herself. Her new friends, Shay and Valeria were some of my favorite characters, and of course lovable, grumpy RA Milo and his coffee addiction spoke to my soul.

This story made me laugh and cry, and I haven’t gotten that from a YA book in a while. Highly recommend!

Begin Again is a story about Andie, a college freshman, attempting to meet the expectations she's. set for herself by following in her mother's footsteps while desperately needing to find out more about who she is on her own. Her journey of making friends at a new school while trying to accomplish her goals is so heartfelt and full of fun. It really did take me back to being in college and felt so authentic to how friendships can be formed there. I loved this cast of characters so much! This was a great read and I highly recommend it!

I absolutely Love Emma lord. This novel is no exception. I was so happy to receive this ARC🎉. It is just as good as her other books.

This book really pulls on your heartstrings. I couldn't help but feel for Andie who is following in her mothers foot steps. Or trying to. I was rooting for her to succeeded. She may have a few setbacks but can she accomplish all she needs to?

It's a lot to juggle, academia ribbons and friends. Not to mention her stint on the podcast. How can she do it all?

I really enjoyed seeing how Andie will bounce back from the set backs she encounters. I enjoyed going with her on her adventures and meeting new friends. Where will her relationship with Connor take her?

You must read this book if you want a feel good story! Thank you to netgalley and St martins press for this ARc

Okay, yes, it’s absolutely a Just Kiss Already! romance. Haha. I was waiting for it for what felt like ages– in a good way. I loved the close knit group of friends that forms around Andie and the way they need each other and see through each other’s masks. Also, I liked the relationship between Andie and her dad and how that unfolded. I probably cried more in those scenes than anywhere else.

There was a good balance between Andie’s past, her connections at home, and the things going on with her in the present as she formed new connections at college. Some of the big scenes didn’t surprise me at all, but I never picked up this book expecting big surprises, so I was totally okay with that.

I really liked the way the romance unfolded and the tension between Andie and Milo. I loved the bagel shop, Milo’s family, the chicken coops and outdoor tours and all of those background things that added so much to the story.

All in all, BEGIN AGAIN was a super fun read. I enjoyed the romance and the fresh, fun college campus radio show setting.

Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. This review will post to my blog on 1/25/23.

Just when I needed a reminder why I love YA, this book came along! It was my first Emma Lord and it won't be my last. It was super refreshing that the characters were in college, not high school. Begin Again is as much a romance as it is a found family, and I LOVE a good found family story. I saw a lot of my college friend group in Andie's which made it all the more nostalgic to read. Andie and Milo were so cute as they grew together and found themselves at college.

If you need a feel good, YA verging on NA rom-com, please pick this up! Thank you NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the opportunity to read this early.

This is my first Emma Lord book and I have no shame in saying this is the *perfect* YA read. I had started her last release, You Have a Match, but it was a little too close to home and I needed to put it down. I’m so glad I didn’t let that deter me from requesting this book!

This is a clean college romance with found family, healing, and friendship. The level of pining, insecurity, and ambition made me recall just how fragile those first few moments of the adult experience are; but also how sweet and tender they can be. Emma Lord did a masterful job of describing the freshman experience, taking us on that rollercoaster of a journey with some very loveable and relatable characters.

Summary:
Andie Rose has finally made it to Blue Ridge State as a freshman transfer student from her local community college. This has been The Plan, despite not being admitted the first time around. Once she arrives, she meets a colorful cast of students that quickly worm their way into her heart - and faces some painful truths from her past.

A huge Thank You to The author, The publisher and NetGalley for providing the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
This is the cutest romance EVER!
I fell in love from the very first page!

Begin Again is a moving coming of age story about a college age girl who is grappling with finding her own voice and identity in life, as she tries to walk in the footsteps of her late mother, always seeming to help others with their problems, always giving them sage advice, but somehow unable to help herself. The story captures her angst as she tries to let go of her past while trying to be her own person as well as learning to not only forgive others, but to forgive herself.

Andie Rose has worked very hard to transfer to Blue Ridge State College. Her boyfriend since she was a child goes there, but more important than that, her late mother graduated from there and certainly left her mark. But when she arrives, she discovers her boyfriend no longer there having transferred back to a college back home. With no friends, and the inability to do any type of math, she is at first frazzled. She also feels a sense of anxiety always trying to be the best at everything, feeling that is what her mother would expect. But even with her mother’s absence her life has been filled with love. She lives with both her grandmothers and her father is there for her as much as he can be, which sometimes Andie feels is not quite enough.

As she settles in meeting her new roommate, Shay and her RA, Milo she begins to feel as if she has found a home. And as always, she tries to fix everybody. But being the best at everything can be exhausting and add to that the pressure of work, sliding grades, an unhappy relationship, perhaps a crush and trying to be as good as her mother was, well, she finds herself in what seems like an unfixable situation.

Sometimes it really does take a village, but in order for that kind of help, you must accept what is given. In Andie’s case and with the assistance of her family and friends and a whole lot of love, she finds herself realizing its ok to let go of the past and begin again.

A heartwarming, funny, uplifting story of loss, love and finding one’s way through life’s most difficult struggles.

Thank you #NetGalley #WednesdayBooks #EmmaLord #BeginAgain for the advanced copy.

As an avid Emma Lord fan and current community college student majoring in Psychology, this book was an instant favorite from the first page. This book gives all the warm fuzzy slow-burn feelings, and wraps you up in a big hug. I felt myself rooting for all of the characters throughout the book (aside from one nasty boy who will not be named) and leaves you wanting more from them after the final page. There were so many unique and fun ideas, such as the ribbon scavenger hunt and outside work-study programs, that made me want to participate in them too!

I was able to see a lot of myself in Andie, and I appreciate the fact that her personality and quirks were celebrated, rather than other characters trying to change who she is. Our "fix-it" people need more positive recognition in books, and I think it's important that Andie was able to go through so much self-growth but didn't change who she is.

One of the only criticisms I have for this book is the faux cuss words. For me, it's hard to get behind food as swear words, as I find it more annoying than endearing. That being said, it is really the only issue I was able to find in this book, and it's more personal preference than an actual issue.

I am so ready to transfer to Blue Ridge State and get myself to Bagelopolis, because I need to drink a cup of Eternal Darkness!!

A huge thank you to Wednesday Books, Emma Lord, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Emma steals a little piece of my heart every time she write a book. This one kept that tradition alive! The setting, the characters, the story...this one has it all. Thank you for the opportunity to read this one.

I always enjoy Emma Lord’s books- that YA romance gets me every time. This was a sweet fast read, and who doesn’t love a love triangle. This book captures well the unsure college years when every decision seems life altering.

The underlying story of a young woman trying to live up to her dead mother’s legendary college status moves the story along. I was rooting for sweet college dorm RA- Milo. The clueless protagonist Connor is a master at gaslighting our leading lady- Andie. Andie vacillates between grounded thinking (“I don’t believe in fairy tales”) to the optimism of youth (“But I do believe in destiny”). Andie’s estranged relationship with her father adds emotional impact to the story as she navigates the day-to-day campus life.

Of the many scenes I enjoyed, I really loved the magical snowstorm- even Mother Nature was pulling for our couple. Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an advanced reader copy. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Happy Reading!

Andie always planned out what she is going to do, she transferred to another school where her mother was an alumni at that state college and where her boyfriend studies. But Connor (bf) transferred to her old school, it ended up in a long distance where the conflict grew with their relationship. While Andie is adjusting with college she made friends and pursued being part of a radio show where her mother is also part of it before. Milo is her resident advisor and anchor of the radio show and eventually a slow burn romance is developed.
I liked the character development of Andie but her wanting to try to solve other peoples problems is inappropriate but eventually she had a good friendship with them. Her feelings for Connor, making her think that she loves him is annoying while having feelings for Milo. Not a fan of slow burn romance, I wanted more of it and I expected much of their growth as a couple but overall it is a good read YA. The title Begin Again suits the plot, "How easily it can trust something that feels both certain and wild, something that was never part of the plan." My first Emma Lord read and I gave it 4 stars. Thank you, Netgalley for the ARC.

Ok this is genuinely the best book I’ve read in a while. Thank you so much to NetGalley, Wednesday Books, and Emma Lord for an e-ARC. Spoiler free as always!

First of all, I know Emma Lord is a huge Taylor Swift fan. There are SO MANY hidden (and not so hidden - hello Begin Again) references in this book, it’s incredible that she fit them all in so seamlessly. I fell off the TS bandwagon a bit ago, so I only caught some of them but Sabrina caught more in our unintentional buddy read. I appreciated that they fit so well into the story and didn’t detract from it.

There are so many layers to this book and I honestly saw so much of myself in Andie so many times throughout it that it almost physically hurt. Also a huge fan of her full name but I’ll let you learn that one the way I did because it is super fun.

We start off this book with learning that Andie has worked her butt off to get into her dream school and surprise her boyfriend from childhood, Connor, only to learn that Connor has transferred back to their community college two hours away to be with her.

We meet Milo, Andie’s RA, and right off the bat he has quite possibly one of the worst first impressions of any love interest I’ve ever met. We later learn that this is partially due to the fact that he has become overly addicted to caffeine and has a special blend he creates/sells at the local Bagelopolis. One of Andie’s first fix-its is to help him off this addiction. Grumpy, meet Sunshine.

As the story unfolds, we watch Andie spend the majority of her time fixing other people’s problems in an attempt to ignore her own. In the meantime, she’s such a light to everyone around her and creates friendships for people who previously just went about awkwardly ignoring each other. She slowly learns that facing your problems is the only way to deal with them, and it’s easier to do when you’ve created the family you missed out on growing up.

To be honest, my favorite thing about this book was its parallel to so much of my own life at that time. I saw so much of myself in Andie; I think it’s a pretty common response to childhood trauma to become a fixer upper for other people as you get older.

Watching the dynamics between Milo, Andie, Shay, and Valeria was so much fun. Truly a great found family. Valeria and Shay were really great characters and I loved that they were both huge bookworms.

Despite his inability to function without coffee (to start, obviously Andie helps to fix this as well), Milo is so much like my husband that I found myself swooning so hard. From the beginning, he believed in Andie 100% and never let her give up on herself in exchange for helping other people. Though a bit of a recluse, he has such a secret heart for other people’s well-being and is there for his friends through everything. The way he lifts up Andie and encourages her through her healing stepped him up in my mind.

When *person* tries to destroy everything Andie has done for herself and tells her that she doesn’t even fit in in this new school, Milo is right there to remind her exactly how strong she is and how many people she’s helped to become a better version of themselves along the way.

Y’all I think I could go on for a long time lol. I’ll stop here but

TLDR; I liked this book.

Emma Lord continues to write some of the most charming coming-of-age stories out there. With the characters in this one a little older than her usual high school seniors, we now join overachiever Andie Rose as she transfers mid-freshman school year to the university of her dreams in hopes of following the plans she's had half her life. The thing is that even the best-laid plans are not guaranteed to work out when one considers that life is messy and not everything can be planned, analyzed, and workshopped into perfection.
Andie is really likable and the people she's surrounded by are equally as entertaining and relatable. It's a story full of all the pressures one faces when enrolled in a competitive university with the added pressure of a long-distance relationship and trying to live up to the greatness of a parent that's no longer there.
The big reveal is obvious long before it's revealed simply because, of course, that's what happened (you'll know what I mean when you read it), but it's also a great motivator for Andie to finally face all she's been pushing down and distracting herself from. It also leads to some of the best character exploration I've ever read from a YA title, so extra kudos to Lord for that.
Overall, it's a quick, very charming, very enjoyable read that got me to care for every single character almost from the get-go and continued to give me reasons to love the story from beginning to end.

Many happy thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the charming early read!