This was fun and lighthearted but I felt like I got to know the main character a little more deeply than I typically do in rom com books. A tad predictable but that’s the point of these types of books. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I tried, but this wasn't for me.

I loved the premise of a YA romance set in a small college town. I'm a sucker for the grumpy-sunshine trope and thought the ribbon hunt was an interesting concept, but Begin Again just fell flat for me. There's fun tropey and predictable, and there's tired tropey and predictable, and Begin Again was, unfortunately, the latter. The story felt trite and formulaic in the worst of ways, and characters were gratingly clichéd. (The most interesting people were the two grandmas.) I don't quite know how to describe it, but I feel like Emma Lord tried too hard and not enough at the same time. She just used so many familiar tropes and storylines, that the story ended up feeling really one-dimensional and uninspired. It lacked the spark and originality I was looking for, and Begin Again was, unfortunately, a forgettable read for me. There are plenty of 4-5 star reviews out there, so this may be a case of "it's not you, it's me," (hi, I'm the problem, it's me.)

Emma Lord writes YA gold! She's so good at writing touching and heartfelt stories. This one doesn't disappoint. I loved following Andie's journey as she's finding her way into adulthood.

𝘉𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘯 𝘈𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯 follows Andie who's transferred to Blue Ridge State, mid- semester to be close to her mother in a sense but with the added benefit of being with her boyfriend. But what she finds there are friends in two grumpy, early morning haters of dormmates and a statistics tutor as well as what it means to start not from the scratch up but the mess that already is to form a new adventure.

- ~ -

It's excruciating to explain how such a good story was ruined a small technicality.

It was all going swimmingly well but the protagonist just had to have a boyfriend she was in a relationship with till nearly the 75% mark and was a bit hung up on him even though she claimed to have fallen for the love interest...smh.

But the Flynn clan with their chicken family and Shay and Milo with their morning abhorrence and caffeine addiction more or less made up for it.
Though to soothe some of my frustrations over, I'll provide a little bit of the story:

"𝘐 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵," 𝘐 𝘴𝘢𝘺. "𝘓𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘪𝘱𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘯. 𝘑𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘶𝘱 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘪𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘴. 𝘉𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯."

- ~ -

3.84 / 5✩

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘚𝘵. 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘯'𝘴 𝘗𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬, 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘐 𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 & 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸𝘦𝘥. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.

I really enjoyed this coming-of-age story about Andie's life as a college student. She and her high school boyfriend had the opposite of a meet-cute when they both transferred colleges to be with each other. Andie ends up finding herself in her new school, thanks to some unexpected friends and an underground radio show. Her story was heartfelt and relatable, even for someone a few decades out of college. What made this book for me was the fun cast of characters Andie met along the way.

This was such a cute novel. I really enjoyed the relationship twists and how Andie found herself through each interaction.

The ending wrapped up nicely in a traditional HEA, no complaints about it here.

Definitely a great read for anyone who loves coming of age, light romance, and college drama.

I am a big fan of Emma Lord's YA books and I was excited when I got approved for an advanced reader copy from Netgalley & St. Martin's Press/Wednesday Books.

This was probably one of least favorite of Lord's books. I liked the premise but thought some of the plot points (the ribbons) were kind of confusing and the book felt longer than necessary.

I thought the book did a great job of capturing thefeeling of finding your footing in undergrad - trying to make new friends, navigating classes, and growing up.

I typically am not a fan of YA but Emma Lord creates such great, relatable characters and her stories remind me of my youth in the best way. Begin Again is evenly paced with great characters and a satisfying conclusion. What more can you ask for? It was a sweet, refreshing read.

-andie’s journey of finding yourself again after so many years was really moving while remaining realistic, especially with her father
-she’s the ultimate you’re on your own, kid
-emma lord has a way of having such poignant moments of self reflection in otherwise silly experiences for the characters
-the writing was really great and the cast of characters were lovable
-i thought the pacing worked well even though there were some smaller time skips (which i’m normally not a fan of)
-really enjoyed the book as a whole, it was very charming

I thought this book was cute! There were definitely some parts where I felt like things were moving slow, but it definitely picked up towards the end. I loved both Andie and Milo’s characters, and am so glad that they got their happy ending together! I also find Andie and her ‘fix it’ personality to be super relatable. Overall I would definitely recommend this on if you’re looking for something easy and cute to read!
Thank you NetGalley for the arc!

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press/Wednesday Books for allowing me to read and review this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Begin Again is like listening to the lyrics of a Taylor Swift song: bittersweet and relatable. I thoroughly enjoyed this tender and sweet read. There is romance but it is not the sole focus of the story, which is always a nice change in YA Contemporary. The characters are well-developed and flawed. I loved the interactions, the banter, and sarcasm used. The story focused more on family issues and building up the courage to face the situations head on. I loved the development of Andie's friendships with Shay, Valeria, and Milo.

While I adored the writing and the heartfelt teachings Emma Lord provides us, the story itself did have a predictable side. I could see the little twists of betrayal from a mile away. Even though it was predictable, I would still recommend Begin Again. I've been having a hard time finding the motivation to finish a book and Begin Again really helped me with my reading slump.

I do have a pet peeve and that is "cute cursing". Andie uses her favorite foods instead of saying a curse word. It is probably one of the most annoying things to read because the other characters in the book will say a curse but Andie will be like "unicorn cream cheese bagel", or some iteration of that.

I love Emma Lord's Tweet Cute and When You Get the Chance is super adorable. I'll need to go back and read You' Have a Match soon. I highly recommend checking out Emma Lord's style of writing as it keeps you engaged and invested in the characters and their story.

4.5 stars

⭐️Rating: 3/5
⚠️TW: Parent Death, Cheating
❣️Tropes: College Romance, Slow Burn
Would I recommend this book?: If you like chick-lit feeling books, yes!


Disclaimer: I received this book from Netgalley im exchange for an honest opinion. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!


Review:

Overall the writing is pretty good with a few parts I would consider really good. All the main players in the store are clearly and well established early on which I appreciate. There were a few sections that dragged a little and I had to step away to refresh interest.

The story definitely portrays a very charming version of the college experience which kept it lore lighthearted and fun (great for escapism!) though sometimes it felt more high school. However this sorta made sense given Andie is a freshman and therefore just out of high school. Andie herself is a bit corny, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing but should be noted. For example the whole “doesn’t curse, just says silly words” thing got old pretty quick. She’s definitely a bit Quirky(tm) in addition to being a “fix everything” type of character. Romance wise the slow development of the relationship between Andie and Milo was worth investing in. Throughout the book I was ultimately rooting for the two of them.

Adored the sweet tale. Couldn't get enough, almost wishing for more at the end of the story. Maybe an epilogue to fill us in on how they're doing?

Emma Lord’s books are the absolute epitome of charming, and Begin Again continues that trend.

This is a heartfelt coming of age story that follows college freshman Andie Rose as she navigates a new campus after transferring mid year. While she didn’t transfer specifically for her longtime boyfriend who goes to this school, it’s certainly a perk for them to finally stop being long distance…however, surprising him with the transfer backfires when she learns he transferred to her old school in order to be closer to her.

However, the romance aspect of this book is not really the focus. Instead, Lord uses this setup to dive deeply into Andie’s character. There’s a really realistic, thoughtful portrayal of what it’s like to lose a parent at a young age; Andie’s mom died when Andie was pretty young, and throughout the book it becomes clear how much this has shaped her as she attempts to find her own voice. There’s also a really great found family in the friend group Andie builds, and the side characters were all funny & enjoyable.

The book was a little predictable, but not in a bad way. I did sort of feel like the characters seemed too young/naive to be college freshmen; I kind of would have preferred this to be a high school boarding school setting instead.

Overall, this was a really fun read with lots of deeper introspection nicely embedded within. I definitely recommend it if you are in need of a light romance with a lot of depth.

Thank you to the author & publisher for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

*Begin Again by Emma Lord comes out January 24, 2023, and I highly recommend it. Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the digital copy of the ARC in exchange for my review.*

Andie Rose has been dreaming of Blue Ridge State since she was a baby. It was where her parents met, where her mom started a legacy, and where Andie knows she's meant to be. So when she doesn't get in originally, Andie is heartbroken--especially because her long-term boyfriend, Connor, does. After spending her first semester at community college, Andie shows up at Blue Ridge ready to surprise Connor with news of her transfer, only to find that he transferred too, back to their hometown to be with her.

Undeterred, Andie settles into her new dorm, quickly befriending her R.A., Milo, and her roommate, Shay. Her and Connor will just do another semester of long distance, and then he'll transfer back to Blue Ridge. It will be fine! But Andie quickly realizes that nothing is that easy. Second semester freshmen are the only ones allowed to compete for ribbons, a Blue Ridge tradition started when Andie's mom was a freshmen. All semester freshmen participate in challenges to earn ribbons--blue, yellow, and red--and at the end, students with enough ribbons can enter the secret society attached to each color. Of course, with Connor gone, Andie now has to collect enough ribbons for two.

Beyond the ribbons, Andie's also juggling new friends, living away from home, an absent (but trying) father, work-study, a brutal statistics class, and the gnawing feeling that her boyfriend isn't being entirely truthful.
In Connor's absence, Andie's new friends quickly fill the empty space. Shay, her book loving roommate who can't figure out a major; Valeria, her stats tutor with a complicated situationship; and Milo, her over-caffeinated, grumpy, lovable R.A. who just happens to be the Knight, the host of the underground radio station her mother started. As Andie's life becomes overwhelmed with her favorite pastime, fixing people, Milo constantly works to keep Andie grounded, and focused on what's most important. Yet Andie can't help but continue to spread herself too thin: she has to get enough ribbons for her and Connor, she has to find a major for Shay, she has to wean Milo off caffeine so he sleeps, she has to guide Valeria in her relationship, she has to answer emails sent to the Knight asking for advice, she has to pick up shifts at Bagelopolis, she has to, she has to, she has to.

But as the semester drags on, it becomes clear Andie can't handle everything. Will Connor finally prove himself a worthy boyfriend and help assuage her insecurities? Or will Andie's new friends at Blue Ridge be the ones to show Andie her worth?

I really enjoyed this book. As the jacket says, this is such a clear example of a Just Kiss Already! romance, and I was on the edge of my seat waiting for it from page 1. I love books in the new adult category, perhaps because I'm in college myself, and this book captured the essence of being in a new place without your family and safety nets for the first time. The cast of characters Lord created really sets this book apart from others--Shay, Milo, and Valeria are amazing friends, and Milo's entire family of a million siblings was a great running gag. Even Lord's imagery of Blue Ridge State was beautiful, and it made me want to visit the arboretum and walk the grounds, or go down the street to Bagelopolis for some Eternal Darkness.

Overall, this is a classic, new-adult rom-com. Lord hits all the tropes, mades the reader feel all the emotions, and, as I prefer, has an actual substantial storyline alongside the romance that makes you think about the plot and characters for days after you finish the book.

This book hit me in all the feels! It is the perfect college coming-of-age story with some tender themes I definitely related to from my college experience. Andie goes to college with a detailed, solid plan of what she wants to do through college and beyond, but plans often change, especially as she discovers new things about herself. (This was exactly me in college.)

This book also has wonderful friendship growth, family connection, learning how to navigate the academic curve, and a slow-burn adorable romance. The book is relatable in so many ways. I would say it focuses more on Andie's personal journey than romance, but it's still a lovely read that you won't want to put down.

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 4
Plot/Movement: 4
Character Development: 5
Overall: 4

Thank you, Wednesday Books and NetGalley, for the ARC.

Trigger/Content Warnings: cheating, parent cancer death (off page), parent car wreck death (off page), parent abandonment, kissing

Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary e-ARC. All opinions provided are my own.

Emma Lord’s YA books always get me right in the feels. Eminently readable, skillfully written, characters that navigate complicated situations with humanity & grace, these books are always winners for me.

Begin Again continues that trend for me, this time in a college setting as Andie Rose arrives at her dream school as a freshman transfer.

Despite the fact that Andie’s contending with a lot—including a long distance relationship with a longtime boyfriend, a somewhat fractured relationship with her dad, & the legacy of her mother—this book is hopeful & graceful & even helped me feel like my own life experience was somewhat relatable in its discussions of family grief.

The wrap up to one of the elements of this story could have used some more time & attention IMO but overall this is a sweet, sincere, & lovely story—interspersed with moments of humor (shout-out to the grandmas!) that I flipped through the pages quickly of.

4.5⭐️. Out 01/24.

CWs: Death of mom. Emotionally abandoned by dad. Cheating manipulative bf. The other lead was cheated on too.

[ID: an ebook sits on an open hardback on an orange ottoman. To the left is a string of turtles plant.]

3.5 stars rounded up. This was overall an enjoyable read and pleasantly nostalgic for those of us past our college days. I have mixed feelings on our protagonist Andie, who was in some ways very relatable and in others a caricature of a Trying Too Hard YA protagonist. The most disappointing part of the book was that a big piece of Andie's character development frustratingly came from external factors rather than her own personal maturation and decision-making. I did love the setting, the friendships, and the LI.

Begin Again is a perfect cozy feel good read. A romcom plot set in a quirky college town with the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains as a back drop. Main Character, Andie Rose, makes a plan to surprise her boyfriend by transferring mid year to the college he is attending. From their hyjinx ensue. If you are in college or spent some of your best years in college making friends that felt like family, this book will no doubt resonate with you. Nostalgic in the best way.

Despite its romcom cozy feel. This novel has emotionally tender moments when the protagonist is wrestling with figuring out where she belongs in the world and what she is meant to do. She likes to help solve everyone else’s problems, but will she be able to get the the root of her own?

This story of self discovery, intimate friendship, and the bond of family through thick and thin, will leave you smiling with a tear or two in your eyes.

Rating: 4.5/5

From the first chapter I was hooked, meeting Andie I knew I was in for some strong character development. I got that and more, Andie was leaving her hometown to pursue her studies in Blue Ridge State where she would find herself after being lost in her mother’s footsteps. Shay, Andie’s dorm roommate would love that bookstagram is an actual thing and the book community is thriving! Milo my favorite character he had some character development with Andie’s help. I knew when Milo brought Andie to his family house their crushes on each other would grow even more. I shipped it so much, they’re dynamic was chefs kiss. I always wanted one of them to just kiss each other and get out the friend zone. Of course, she couldn’t because Connor. I despise him, such a jerk. I enjoyed watching Andie grow and find her path, make her own choices and of course leave Connor. No boyfriend is worth your grades dropping so low just so they can go to the college of your dreams. Milo embraced and empowered her to find herself and focus on her instead of helping others all the time.

I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley!