LOVED Begin Again!

Andie is great at solving other people's problems; not the best her own relationships.

I never went away to college and Begin Again really made me wish that I had.

Loved all the bagel and cream cheese flavors; to be a college student again and have an endless availability of bagels. Those were the days!

I've had some books by Emma Lord on my "to be read" list, once again I thank NetGalley for introducing me to an author that is "new to me".

I'll be track down and finally get to some of Emma Lord's previously published novels.

I especially love the last paragraph of Chapter 32!

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to review the advance read copy of Begin Again in exchange for an honest review. Also may thanks to Emma Lord the author and St. Martin's Publishing Group. Publication date is Jan 24, 2023.

Ugh I LOVED this book and all of the Taylor Swift in it!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I always enjoy reading Emma Lord's work, partly because she's such a strong writer, able to blend humour with sweet romances and big, heartfelt personal character arcs, but also because she writes the kinds of characters I could never write: bubbly, extroverted, energetic optimists who walk into new scenarios where they instantly make friends and draw the attention of charming love interests. I can't personally get into the head-space of characters who are so socially adept, but Emma Lord sure as hell can, and it's such fun to join her characters on their journeys. The prose in this one leans heavily into internal monologue, making the tone distinctly reflective as the heroine comes to new realizations about how to let go of the many rules she made for herself and embrace life's unpredictability. Teen readers especially will likely connect with the somewhat cyclical thought processes, the deep questioning of when and how to let go of one's expectations and learn to begin again. The slow-burn romance is adorable, though complicated by a long term boyfriend who's largely off-screen and functions mostly as a symbol, and I really enjoyed the ways the tight friendship group developed. A sweet, triumphant coming-of age story that will appeal to all of Lord's fans, and no doubt garner new ones as well.

This is a YA novel but takes place in the first year of college. Andie is a go-getter, super organized and the like. Except for boys? She was a mess :P The emotional cheating was there. The line was toyed. She was with her boyfriend for far too long I think. The Andie-Milo slow burn was very slow burn, but to be expected with YA.

TAYLOR SWIFT.
is everywhere in this book. and well, I'm here for it.

Solid book. Reading it just before all the students go back to university in September made me a bit nostalgic for my first year of university :(

✨The one where I was like omg please just cheat already 😭 (they didn’t but my conscience would’ve been clean if they had 💅**)✨

YA is my comfort genre because of books like these. Milo was so cute I want to dunk him in my coffee. I loved the semi-forbidden RA vibes. I REALLY loved her found friend group and they really made the book all warm and cozy. Andie had her flaws and blind spots, but I really loved her as a main character.

Andie was a mess (same) and this book kissed the line of emotional cheating but the correct vibes and teenage drama were there so I can’t complain. Her boyfriend lasted too long for comfort in my book, but it was nice to see her shift away from him and grow. I was also hoping that it would end like it did because I loved a saucy little number.

I think I wanted a bit more from Andie and Milo at the end, because it was SO slow burn. This is usually the case in YA, as most times they don’t get together at all until the end, unlike adult where they’re smoochin all over the place (at least the romance I like to read).

Overall, Taylor Swift is strong in this one. I highlighted multiple song titles and need to reread because I’ll inevitably pick out more. I’m a big fan of Emma’s writing and I’m so thrilled that I really liked this one. My college experience was pretty different than Andie’s, which is both good and bad. Good because I never had to take stats. Bad because I never met a Milo. Now that I think of it, the no stats thing is worth a lot.

**sometimes it works like you KNOW I wanted them to get in AWN in Leap Year…I am who I am and what I am is a hypocrite, yes, but it’s fine

Thanks to the publisher via NetGalley for an eARC. All opinions are honest and my own.

CWs: parent death (mother)(cancer), parent death (father)(car accident), cheating, failing tests (I didn’t know this was triggering until I got way too stressed about her grades omg)

This was cute, but missed the mark for me in some places. I'm not sure if I'm kinda in a reading slump or if I was just missing emotional investment in the story or characters, because I don't think it was bad (besides Andie using "Frosted Flakes" and "Snickerdoodle" as swear words.... eek). I can definitely see this clicking better with other people. That being said, there are things to love about this. If you're looking for a cute romance, first year of college, working through grief and parent issues, and a tight group of friends, then it might be worth picking up!

Andie's roommate, Shay, was a particular highlight for me and I like how she had her own little story alongside Andie's main arc.

Andie has her whole future mapped out, starting with attending her dream school with her first love. When things don’t turn out according to plan, Andie has to let go of what she thought was fated and find what’s right for her.

I loved how this book captured the college experience of finding your friend group, struggling with difficult classes, and finding balance between your social and academic needs. Bonus points for the realistic portrayal of finding a decent work study!

I adored the friendship that Andie and Milo formed and how they helped each other heal from bad relationships. The storyline with Andie’s dad was difficult, but I think it was handled well. It was particularly satisfying to watch Andie learn that she didn’t have to be perfect just to keep people around.

Thank you so much to St. Martin’s, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

Cool Ranch Doritos, I needed this book!!! (Couldn’t help myself.) Emma Lord’s BEGIN AGAIN is THE YA must-read of the year. Maybe even the decade.

A freshman in college, Andie’s relentlessly optimistic, self-assured and quick to help others — the first person eager to rush to the rescue, fixing all the problems of anyone in need, which she does for the people around her and literal strangers, as an anonymous advice columnist. Of course, Andie gets so caught up in fixing other people’s problems that she often bypasses dealing with her own — whether that’s her grief over growing up without her mom, her deteriorating long-distance relationship with Connor, her high-school boyfriend, her tanking grade in statistics, her inability to communicate with her dad, or her still relatively newfound fear of her childhood dream. No matter how much she might ignore them, however, Andie’s problems simmer below the surface, and they just might sink her if she’s not careful. Luckily, she’s surrounded by good people who help keep her afloat. Like her hilarious, loving grandmas who stepped in to raise her, or Shay, her loyal, literature-loving roommate, plus a few others who help make her college experience quintessentially so. And then there’s Milo — dorm RA, friend, co-conspirator…and maybe something more.

I loved everything about this book. It made me laugh and cry (and crave junk food like nobody’s business). Reading it felt like the sweetest escape — but one that actually means something. You walk away from this ready to take on all the big things you’ve been putting off, eager to follow your heart and brave enough to embrace the things that scare you most. (I needed this right now.) So thank you, Emma, for putting this beauty out into the world for the rest of us to connect to.

I can see how this is classified as a YA romance, but I don’t think that’s the real focus here. This book also isn’t solely about the bonds of friendship, the layers of forgiveness between family or the way we deal with grief. BEGIN AGAIN is all of that and more. It’s an ode to the seasons of life we go through, and grow through. It’s a tribute to the way our carefully scripted plans often fall messily, terrifyingly and beautifully apart. BEGIN AGAIN is a coming-of-age story if I’ve ever read one — and in that, it’s absolute perfection.

*Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC in exchange for a review!*

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley. Big fan of Emma Lord, and this book did not disappoint! Her books are just so sweet and fun to read! I thoroughly enjoyed this read!

This is not my Emma Lord's favorite book. For me it's not too much a YA since the romance is really secondary in the book. It is all a question, for all the characters, of finding themselves, knowing what they want to become, knowing what they believe in, their dreams and their hopes for the future. I find that some passages were sometimes too repetitive, and I would have liked the relationship between Andie and Milo to be more developed. I loved the characters, especially Shay the roommate, and Andie's family story

Emma Lord has done it again! I never tire of reading an Emma Lord book, and BEGIN AGAIN was no exception to Lord's repertoire of laugh-out-loud funny romances.

BEGIN AGAIN has such a beautiful message of finding yourself, self love, and realizing self worth--a major lesson learned for most college students. This book definitely helps (slowly but surely) fill the college-YA void we readers desperately yearn for. Through Andie's eyes, we're able to explore a whole new world: from managing school work, to being involved with campus activities to find passions, to venturing in work-study positions. This book delicately and expertly addresses handling grief, and at the same time, building a support system. The found family in this book is off the charts amazing.

I found Milo to be absolutely adorable, and Andie's developing friendship with him to be so captivating from page one. AND THAT PLOT TWIST?!?! JAW. DROPPED.

Lord has a special way of making the mundane so incredibly fun. The cast is so loveable--as always with a Lord book--and I simply cannot wait until 2023 when the whole world can fall in love with this book. Plus, there's no shortage of baked goods references. Never complain about too many baked goods references.

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

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, from St. Martin's Press and #NetGalley. Thank you for the opportunity to preview and review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.


Adorable, sweet, fun, cute, all the feels to make you feel just right. grab a cuppa, a blanket, snack and settle in. You're gonna adore this one.

This was so cute and as sweet as a bagel with unicorn cream cheese. I love college-themed books and this one was adorable. I liked Andie's family connection and learning that she can forge her own path that's right for her. The only thing I found annoying was that instead of swearing, Andie would say food themed things instead. I think it was supposed to be charming but it just made me roll my eyes.

Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Each Emma Lord book is cure for all of your troubles, sadnesses, pains, dark moods! Their promising, heartfelt plots provide pure happiness, joy, positive energy! You get healed after reading a few chapters!

I think I loved this book more than her previous works! I enjoyed to read the fresh perspective to the college life! There were no regular cliches in this book. Characters are flawed, making mistakes, dealing with their own baggages and all of them are so much likable.

Ribbon scavenger hunts, trivia nights, vampire games, pirate radio station honoring the new host a.k.a new Knight, snow fights, dreamy bagel combinations…I loved each of them! I just wished to teleport to the past to enjoy this kind of fabulous college experience!

Andie is high achiever heroine, a fixer who focuses other people’s problem : she has an anonymous column giving advises to people to solve their problems. But this is a kind of mechanism to avoid her own problems: her resentment to her father, her yearning for mother, her rocky relationship with her boyfriend.

She worked hard and transferred to the college her parents graduated! The same college her boyfriend Connor attends: lately they get estranged because of long distance but now they can have their fresh start! Or not! Because Connor also gets transferred to the community college at their hometown where Andie previously attended!

This setback cannot break Andie’s enthusiasm to compete at scavenger hunts to collect more ribbons, honoring her mothers memory. She believes Connor will be back at next semester so she collects extra ribbons for him, too.

Her suspicions and insecurities to be part of the Blue Ridge community slowly diminish with the help of very supportive roommate Shay and their caffeine addict, charming RA Milo.

She even finds herself at college’s legendary pirate radio station accompanying legendary Knight as his squire: giving advises to the students who ask for her help!

Andie’s self growth, finding her true purpose, true love, making peace with her past are the best parts of the book.
Milo was spectacular hero! I have to admit at some parts I even loved him more than Andie! He was kind, mature, loyal, smart, playful.

I smiled and I also dabbed my tears! The book is genuine, heartwarming! I wanted to give long hugs to each character!

I highly absolutely extremely recommend it!
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/ Wednesday Books for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.

Well would you look at that. Emma Lord writes another book, and I end up with another favorite book. It almost like these two things go together. Hmmmm, what a coincidence.
Also, I’m hungry. Another coincidence? Definitely not.
Begin Again is the college-aged YA book we wanted, we needed, we received! The book follows Andie Rose after she transfers mid-year to Blue Ridge State College, the school her parents fell in love at and her boyfriend attends. She spends the semester trying to get into secret societies, help her friend Shay find a major, and end her RA Milo’s coffee addiction.
I adored everything about this book. From Gammy Nell and Grandma Maeve to bagels and cookie dough cream cheese to thundersnow storms. It has everything I love about Emma Lord’s writing, the charm, the beautifully fleshed out characters, enough wit and quips for days, romance you’ll fall for too, found family, heartfelt family drama, and SO MANY FOOD REFERENCES. Seriously, this book should at least come with a small snack.
You’ll fall for Andie and her fix-it nature, Milo and his enormous family, Shay and Valeria and their love of books, Gammy Nell and Grandma Maeve and THEIR love of Ryan Reynolds (I don’t care what anyone says, watching The Proposal 18 times a month is ABSOLUTELY a personality trait), and of course, Eternal Darkness and lots and lots of bagels.
No. I am most definitely not going to explain the last one. 😊
Thank you, 1000 times over, Wednesday Books for the eARC! You made my day!

I loved this book that took me right back to my college years. Andie felt relatable and easy to root for, even as she made mistakes as she found her way. The romance was sweet and gosh, I loved the slow burn. My favorite moment might have been her conversation with her dad, which felt like the one many of us long to have with our parents who have hurt us. Lots to love here, and the title was yet another thing this book had going for it. Such a wonderful way to spend my Saturday.

Emma Lord writes such great YA fiction! This is a great book to get kids excited about college. I also appreciate that the main character transferred in and didn't immediately have a ton of academic success. Very helpful for students and I look forward to reading more of Emma Lord!

Y'all, my crops are watered and my skin is cleared all because of this book. Emma Lord has become an insta-buy for me. The only reason this book didn't get a full five stars is because I was hoping the book tied into Taylor' Swift's song "Begin Again" and it didn't. BUT IT COULD HAVE. Missed opportunities, Emma Lord, missed opportunities.

This was an adorable read. Yes, it's tropey as hell, but Andie Rose is adorable. Her relationship with Milo (and her college) grows at a realistic pace. The minor characters are quirky but realistic and interesting. There's so much growth in this book.

Basically, everything about this book made me happy.

A terrific YA story. Andie wants to be a self-help figure. She transferred from community college to the competitive blue ridge state She is having problems with her bf, still missing her mom who died from cancer even after all those years.... A terrific story about love and starting all over again. Love the main characters and how they fall in love.... I love the whole cast of characters actually. They all make me laugh so much.

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

This is the third book I’ve read by Emma Lord and I have enough all of the books I’ve read by her! I was given an ARC of this book from Netgalley & St. Martins Press in exchange for an honest review. These thoughts are my own opinion. I really enjoyed this book!

We meet Andie she has a plan she is going to go to college for Psychology and become a self help figure. She transfers to her boyfriend Connor’s college so they can be together. But Connor has already switched to the college Andie was going to. They are both now going to separate schools but it’s only for a semester right? Andie fights through the ups and downs that life keeps throwing at her by being an anonymous voice on The Knight a secret radio show that talks about all the campus deets and Andie gives self help advice to the callers. Andie loves what she is doing but can’t stop feeling like she is only here because her mom who passed away was the student who started the Knight many years ago.

I absolutely loved the radio show aspect it reminded me of my favorite show on Disney Channel Radio Free Roscoe. I liked all the self help Andie gave but struggled to take her own advice because that’s normally how life works we are always willing to take advice from someone else not ourselves. I liked all the side characters because I was rooting for their growth just as much as I was for Andie! I really liked the forbidden romance trope between Andie and her RA Milo. This book had some pretty deep moments that talked about abandonment by a parent and family dynamics. I really hope that readers pick this up on January 24,23. You won’t be disappointed!