3.25 stars

I came for the new college-life experience and stayed for the Bookstagram references. There were parts that were a bit over the top (like Andie choosing strange snack choices as swear words and a race to collect ribbons that I didn’t fully understand), but I enjoyed the character growth that Andie went through and watching her relationship with her dad as they worked through past hurts.

Read if you like:
Campus life
Coming of age stories
Flawed characters
Stories featuring Bookstagram
Female empowerment

Thank you Wednesday Books for a digital ARC through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Emma Lord does it again. I can always count on a quick enjoyable read when I pick up one of her books. Andie and Milo’s story was no different. Strong female friendships are also something I’ve come to expect with her books and this one did not disappoint.

DNF @15%
This book is just too ridiculous for me. I might have been able to get past the main character replacing cus words with food, but that on top of everything else was too much for me. This felt really childish for a book set in college.

Emma Lord’s books never seem to disappoint. The setting on a college campus, the characters who were each grappling with their own pasts and challenges pulled me in right away. Loved this gem and could see a sequel with these characters as a wonderful treat!

I stayed up way too late trying to finish this book because I fell in love with all of the characters. Emma Lord has a way of sucking you into the lives of her characters that is truly impressive. She created a world I wanted to be part of (sign me up for that school—I’m going back to university). Though there were some serious themes that were explored, they felt realistic. I’m going to go back and make sure I add the rest of Lord’s books to my TBR pile.

What didn’t work for me

The naivety of the MC: The only thing that bothered me about this story is that the main character, Andie, is a little more naive than she needs to be to move the plot along. She uses her favourite snacks instead of swearing, like “Oh, Froot Loops,” which is just too much when you’re in college. She also is a bit clueless about her relationships—and has really messed up priorities—and though she doesn’t officially cheat, she doesn’t not cheat, and I wouldn’t say I liked that.

The YA-ness of the ending: I phrased it this way because this isn’t really Lord’s fault, but I don’t love that we have this whole story, a slow burn, leading up to these characters getting together (I don’t think that’s a spoiler) and we don’t really see them together much. I wish we could have seen Andie and Milo together a little more.

What I liked

Everything else: I love everything else about this book—the secondary characters are so much fun, including Milo’s family, Andie’s grandmothers and basically everyone at the school. The plot moves at a nice place, and there was a twist that I didn’t see coming that I enjoyed because I wasn’t expecting it. I don’t want to enter spoiler territory, so I will keep it at that. But I wish Bagelopolis was a real place because I would go there every day. I love a funky bagel.

If you enjoy Emma Lord’s books or college-aged YA, this one won’t disappoint you. If you’re on the fence about whether you can read YA as an adult, I recommend trying Begin Again because the characters are a bit older than they are typically in the genre. If you love some hidden Taylor Swift references (beyond just the title), you’ll have fun trying to find them throughout the story.

4.5 STARS

was a bit disappointed by this one. I’m not sure if I had too high of expectations for it or if I just loved her previous books too much, but this fell flat for me. It just felt very juvenile for someone who was supposed to be in her first year of college. This felt like a freshmen in high school with her maturity. I really, really enjoyed the side characters though. Milo and Shay were the best parts for me. Andie was too naive and immature. She didn’t give great advice half the time, and her declaration of love ? I just don’t buy it .. 🙈 The overall story itself was much better written about 50% of the way through. I loved the concept of it, but some parts just really didn’t sit with me.

⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 3.5 stars rounded up to a 4.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this eArc.

"Anything worth doing starts with a mess."

Emma Lord is pretty much becoming the queen of sweet YA/NA books. I first discovered her with Tweet Cute, which was lovely, and then last year's When You Get the Chance was an absolute delight (I still need to get You Have a Match off my bookshelf and read it).

Lord brings that charm again in the upcoming Begin Again, which follows Andie Rose as she navigates life at her dream college while also living with the shadow of her late mother, who was also an alum of Blue Ridge State. Andie has a boyfriend back home who, in a hilarious if not exactly believable opening plot twist, has transferred from Blue Ridge to the hometown community college where Andie had spent her first semester. Yes, the two switched schools and neither had any idea the other was planning it. So, not the best relationship from a communication standpoint.

Soon, Andie is struggling in classes because she is obsessed with a school tradition involving the collection of colored ribbons and secret societies. She also gets involved with the college's underground radio program with her roommate Shay and RA Milo. Shay is probably my favorite character and I demand that she have her own book. Milo is grumpy, deeply caffeinated, has the biggest heart. And he's way better for Andie than the deadbeat boyfriend back home. By the end, Andie has found a place where she belongs, and the epilogue is sweet and is the perfect ending to this feel-good story. I highly recommend this one to anyone who needs their spirits lifted by a heartfelt tale with adorable characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and to Wednesday Books for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Get ready for campus-wide scavenger hunts, trivia nights, snowball fights, pirate radio stations, and dreamy bagel & cream cheese combos!

Full of reminders for enneagram 2s, and everyone else who struggles to prioritize their own needs before giving all of themselves to help others.

I loved seeing the way Andie and her friends open up and bond over their loss of loved ones, betrayal, and heartbreak. We also see great examples of familial relationships being repaired, slowly, but moving in a healing direction.

Also—Andie’s roommate Shay is a bookstagramer. I mean, how amazing is that?!

Recommend if you enjoy YA coming of age stories, found families stories, and frequent mentions of bagels, sugary treats, and caffeinated beverages.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for this ARC.

Rating: 4/5
Release Date: Jan 23rd, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Synopsis: Begin Again follows the story of Andie Rose as she begins college at Blue Ridge State where she’s studying psychology in a competitive program/school. Andie is a planner but when her boyfriend who had gone to Blue Ridge State transfers back to her old school to surprise her, life gets messy. A ribbon hunt along with new friends and complicated challenges will make Andie question how much of life can really be planned.

*Review to be posted on Instagram sometime in the next couple days*

Pros:
-I really liked the main character Andie, she had such a wonderful personality and I was rooting for her the entire time
-the romance was so cute, true to Emma Lord fashion and did not disappoint, it was a very very slow burn romance and I just wanted the characters to get together from the very start
-the whole ribbon hunt plot was really fun and creative along with the radio show which in many ways helped to advance the plot
Cons:
-none!

Begin Again is a YA college romance staring Andie. She gets into her parents college in January and spends her time trying to qualify for a secret society and working for an underground radio show/podcast to live up to her mother's legacy.
I really liked the side characters in the story. I thought they were interesting and added to the story. I did not like the concept of the secret societies (especially after the reveal of what they actually were). I did not like that the characters felt immature at times (and not just freshmen in college immature). Why was Andie still writing a column for her high school newspaper? That's weird. Why did the college professor take away one of her belongings because she was late to class (also a professor probably couldn't lock the door to their lecture hall). Andie's substitute cursing as food was annoying and not cute. You could probably get away with that if she was 12.
It was a fairly quick read, although I think it did drag in the middle, but ultimately not a win for me.

DNF at 17%. Andie is a likable character on the cusp of a big chapter in her life- starting school at a major college. She seems smart and driven but she's super into these ribbons having to do with secret society's on campus and I just can't get into it. She has issues in her own life but instead of actually communicating with her so-called boyfriend she starts a quest to help her roommate find a major. I love the family support Andie has in her two grandmas, I love that she is striking out on her own, and I love that she is putting so much into building new friendships. I just don't have the desire to read anymore to find out how Andie's story unfolds.

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. Emma Lord always does a great job with YA romance. I love her balance of coming of age and romance. Starting college is never easy and I enjoyed how Andie found her tribe at the same time herself. Her friendships with the characters added depth to the story. Andie was a bit goody for me and I enjoyed seeing her growth.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy. This was a sweet little book about college, the ideas you go in with, and being open to new ideas and experiences. I thought this was well written and I really enjoyed it.

Begin Again by Emma Lord is the story of Andie who begins college at Blue Ridge State mid year. Her mom who passed when Andie was eleven attended and was very involved on campus. Emma is trying to figure out her future as she looks at her mom’s past. She has a boyfriend from high school and is becoming friends with her RA, Milo.

This is a very thoughtful story that handles grief in a beautiful way. I appreciated that the story did not gloss over the hurt someone feels when someone they love dies. The author walked each character through their grief and we were privileged to see them change. I loved seeing Andie be honest with herself, reach out to make new friends, and come to terms with who she was. Beautifully written. I enjoyed the humor woven through the story and it was fun to be in college once more. . I recommend the story.


Thank you to the publisher for a copy of the story. All thoughts are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an electronic copy to read in exchange for an honest review.

I love Emma Lord. Like, LOVE LOVE LOVE. I'm consistently blown away by how light each novel feels at the start, but how in depth the characters and scenarios really go. This book was no exception - it was phenomenal. I loved how Andie changed during the course of the novel - in relation to herself, her friends, and her family. In addition, the narrator was so easy to listen to!

YA romance are my jam and this one is *chef’s kiss* Emma Lord proves again why she is one of the reigning queens of the contemporary YA romance genre. Begin Again is hilariously witty and also surprisingly tender.

Andie Rose is a mid-freshman year transfer to her dream college, where her parents met and her mom was the beloved founder of the college’s pirate radio station. All she’s ever wanted in life was to become a radio psychologist like her mom, and once her mom got sick and passed away, it’s become something to she’s been hyper focused on - get into the same college, collect all the ribbons to get into the same secret society, get on the radio, then graduate with a degree that allows her to follow in her mom’s footsteps. But things get off to a rocky start - her RA Milo isn’t exactly fond of her, or really even awake most of the time, and her boyfriend transferred away from the college just as Andie transfers in. Believing that they’re end game, just like her parents, she doubles down on the ribbon race to get enough for both of them to get I. When he transfers back next semester. But at least her roommate is cool! But when the going gets tough and the ribbons begin to take priority over her grades, she’s left feeling adrift. That is, until she discovers the identity of The Knight, the pirate radio station’s broadcast host. As everything she thought she knew from her past gets jumbled up with her present, she begins to question what she wants from her future. And when she gets more involved with the radio station and giving advice to listeners, she starts to wonder why she’s chasing her mom’s legacy instead of creating her own.

This book was a fun YA contemporary read. I loved the realistic lesson of college on a big campus not living up to your expectations, and I feel that the characters learned a lot of lessons that the intended audience will benefit from. The lovable cast of side characters did a great job at normalizing diversity without seeming performative.

Read if you like:
• YA college coming of age
• grumpy - sunshine
• Sarcasm
• Characters in a serious relationship with coffee ( my kind of people)

Begin Again was a fast paced, easy read; although the story itself didn’t blow me away, it still kept my attention. The story was predominantly lighthearted (a lot of sarcasm which I loved) with a few emotional situations sprinkled throughout. I really loved the character growth of the main character, Andie. She comes into college trying to fit in by helping everyone else around her, all the while ignoring her own needs and problems. By the end she has learned healthy balance and has faced her own issues, resulting in her ability to “Begin Again”. Her personal growth is something, no matter what age, we can all learn from.

Andie’s roommate Shay and her RA, Milo, were such lovable side characters. They were full of sarcasm as well as helpful advice. Their little family was a wonderful example of a “chosen family” , that most people make in college, which was a breath of fresh air. I haven’t found many books where friends are around for the entirety of a book, but Shay & Milo were a constant for Andie.

As for the Romance… this was an interesting one for me, I’m not sure if it necessarily qualifies as friends to lovers, but I truly loved how Andie & Milo established a friendship throughout the book. Also, it’s subtle but I love when the guy falls first, bonus points that he’s a grump and she’s the brightest sunshine!

Overall, Begin Again this was a fun and enjoyable read.

Four and a Half Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭒
Begin Again by Emma Lord is a delightful Young Adult book about a young woman navigating her life as a transfer student in college. This book is delightful, and I loved it.

Story Recap:
Andie Rose is a planner. She is transferring from the community college to Blue Ridge State to their prestigious psychology program to fulfill her lifetime goal of becoming a self-help guru. It also helps that her boyfriend, Conner is also enrolled at Blue Ridge State.

Once she arrives, she finds out that her boyfriend, Conner has transferred back to the community college because of his grades. Her carefully laid plans are already in disarray as she works to navigate her life at the university as a transfer student.

However, she finds life at Blue Ridge State exciting. Her roommate Shay is welcoming, but not the resident advisor, Milo. Being a fixer, Andie is determined to help Shay find a major, but that becomes more difficult than she expected. Soon she finds herself part of the pirate radio program, The Knights Watch. And her grumpy RA is the Knight, and she eventually becomes The Squire. The radio show is a legacy that her mother was part of many years ago. Andie finds her place at Blue Ridge State and starts to settle in, and then everything goes wrong and she’s wondering about her new life, and her expectations.

My Thoughts:
Emma Lord is such a talented writer and she understands and communicates the angst and insecurities of young adults expertly. In Begin Again, we have, organized, and planner, Andie and sleep-deprived, grumpy Milo in a slow-burn romance that was just what I wanted.

The friend group of Andie, Milo, Shay, and Valeria was wonderful. They worked at a local bagel place called Bagelopolis, and during the very early mornings, produced and performed the pirate radio show, The Knights Watch.

This book tells the story of what it’s like to start in a new college and making friends and finding love.

Recommendation:
I highly recommend, Begin Again to anyone who enjoys young adult romances. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. Begin Again and another excellent book written by author Emma Lord. I have listened to all her books, and each one blows me away. Great storylines and excellent characters always leave you thinking.