Even though it’s only halfway through 2023 as I’m writing this, I can confidently say that You, Again by Kate Goldbeck is my favorite contemporary romance book of the year. Maybe even romance book in general.

Ari and Josh meet in a number of, let’s say uncomfortable situations, throughout the years in New York City. Their relationship goes from strangers to kind of frenemies to unlikely best friends over an 8 or 9 year period. Polar opposites, Ari is an all over the place comedian/waitress/dog walker/app speech writer and Josh is a professional chef/perfectionist. In no world should they have crossed paths, let alone become friends.

Oh my goodness! This book made me feel all the things. Truly, I haven’t laughed out loud or giggled or squealed this much at a book in ages. This is why I am a reader. If you’ve ever seen the movie Like Crazy (starring Felicity Jones and Anton Yelchin), the realism of their relationship and the struggles and RAW EMOTIONS really remind me of this book. I think it’s one of the reasons that You, Again resonated with me so well.

This is a modern day take on When Harry Met Sally, so it is very slow burn and will they/won’t they. If you have a problem with miscommunication, this may grate you, as it usually does for me. But it really worked for me here because of who Josh and Ari are as people.

Kate Goldbeck has such an engaging voice as a writer. Sooo many lines are highlighted in my kindle, and I’m not afraid to admit that I wish I’d wrote them myself—they’re just that good.

This book was such a beautiful nod to reylo, but if you’re not a fan of the pairing or even familiar with it, don’t let that put you off. You, Again is very separated from its inspirational material and is very much its own story. But Rian Johnson still got a nod in the acknowledgments, iykyk.

500 ⭐️ for me! I’ll be devouring anything and everything Kate Goldbeck writes and I suggest you do the same.

“She’s watching him the way contestants on The Great British Bake Off watch their ovens.”

Title: A Touching Tale of Love and Second Chances: "You, Again" by Katie Goldbeck

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review:

"You, Again" by Katie Goldbeck is a heartwarming and enchanting story that explores the transformative power of love and the beauty of second chances. This delightful romance novel kept me engrossed from start to finish, as it effortlessly weaves together past and present in a seamless narrative.

Goldbeck's writing style is engaging and filled with genuine emotion. The characters are relatable and wonderfully fleshed out, with their flaws and vulnerabilities making them all the more endearing. I found myself rooting for their happiness, eagerly turning the pages to discover their destinies.

The novel's central theme of rekindled love is executed with skill and tenderness. The chemistry between the main characters is palpable, drawing me into their world and allowing me to experience the intensity of their emotions. The author captures the intricacies of their relationship with authenticity, making their journey one that tugs at the heartstrings.

While "You, Again" delivers an emotionally satisfying story, I felt that some plot developments could have been further expanded upon. Nonetheless, the overall narrative flow and pacing were well-maintained, keeping me invested in the characters' lives and eager to see how their story unfolded.

Goldbeck's portrayal of second chances is both relatable and inspiring. The novel serves as a reminder that love has the power to heal and transform, even when faced with past mistakes and heartache. It emphasizes the importance of self-discovery and personal growth, making it a meaningful and uplifting read.

I would recommend "You, Again" to fans of contemporary romance novels who appreciate stories of love, forgiveness, and the enduring power of the human heart. Katie Goldbeck's storytelling prowess shines through in this enchanting tale, leaving readers with a sense of hope and warmth.

Note: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author and publisher for this opportunity.

#BookReview #YouAgain #KatieGoldbeck #RomanceReads #SecondChances #netgalley #netgalleyarc

Wow I really enjoyed this one! It's a story you fall into quickly and it just zooms by.

I thought the ending conflict worked really well for these characters. The author mentioned in her author's note? or the interview thing that was in the back? that she wanted the conflict to be internal and themselves are standing in the way of their being together. Which lowkey was a tad frustrating to read and I could've done with a bit more explanation/reflection but that is a minor critique.

Where this book shines is the banter between the characters. From their meeting to their friendship to them get together I was just grinning reading their dialogue. Ari and Josh get each other and it's so apparent from the jump.

Thanks so much Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley.

Two people who first hate each other, then become friends without benefits, and then what comes next? I struggled to get into the story, but it does pick up! The back and forth banter is great, but overall, this was not the book for me. I can see why others may like it though. It's a little too messy for me at times, but again, I loved the banter!

The premise of this book hooked me in so fast. A commitment phobe FMC and a MMC who wants a soulmate and they find out they are screwing the same woman

There are moments I enjoyed in this book, some of the banter, spice, bisexual and queerness to the FMC. How she doesn’t conform to society norms and is just herself. But I struggled with not seeing more to her. I wanted to understand more about why she functions the way she does and we just do not get that emotional depth with her.

The MMC I struggled with him around the 15% mark there is a situation that happens at work when he loses it on a Female side character who is a woman of color and he fired her for something that if he has listened to her would have never been an issue. This comes up in the book as an issue because she is best friends with Ari the FMC. How that was handled and resolved just left a bad taste in my mouth and I really never liked him after that moment.

The pacing is off with them as a couple or build to a relationship with them and the book really takes until the 70% mark to pick up and get interesting which made it also hard for me

CW: sexual content, drug use, alcohol, cheating by previous partner, misogyny, racism

4.5 stars rounded up for NetGalley

This was such a delicious read! I devoured it in under 48 hours. I had seen that Julie Soto and Ali Hazelwood recommended it and honestly, that was all I needed to know before running off to NetGalley. Per usual, they were not wrong!

You, Again was the perfect frenemies to friends to lovers, slow burn, tension-filled masterpiece. The banter was incredible. The ribbing was spectacular. The pacing was perfection. The spice was *chef's kiss*. I can always get behind spice for the sake of having spice, but this was so well done and helped drive the plot. At this point, I'll be reading anything Kate writes!

Ari & Josh are total opposites and it made watching them build their friendship and eventually fall for one another so so sweet! Their story spans several years. I've read books with expanded timelines in the past and had them feel too drawn out, but in this case, it helped to deepen the readers' connection with Ari & Josh. To the point where I was literally on the edge of my seat cheering for them as the ending unfolded. You'll have to read it to see why!


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Thank you NetGalley & Random House Publishing Group for this ARC. All opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Review will be posted to our blog/IG in the coming weeks & Amazon on publication date.

This book was cute and the angst and friendship were perfectly described. I loved the reverse roles of When Harry Met Sally and I loved that even in the end the main characters still had the same personality. The banter was amazing! I really liked the book, but it felt a little too long. I also think the side stories sometimes took away from the main story. This is a new author for me and I would be interested in seeing what else she writes.

Almost 35 years ago, moviegoers were asked to consider if men and women could be friends without sex getting in the way. In You, Again, a loving homage to When Harry Met Sally, debut author Kate Goldbeck updates the story to 2023, when "friends with benefits," "f*ck buddies," etc. blur the lines between friends and lovers.

Josh and Ari first meet in 2014, when she is soliciting charitable donations, and a grumpy man in a sweater rudely blows off her request. Surprisingly, Tall Sweater Nightmare Man appears that same evening at her apartment for a date with Ari's roommate Natalie, who is conspicuously absent. Josh and Ari engage in awkward conversation for a while, but the tentative ceasefire disintegrates when Ari admits she has already slept with Natalie.

The two New Yorkers encounter each other several times in the next few years, and the sparks that fly are predominantly the angry kind. Finally, when they cross paths in 2022, Ari and Josh are at personal and professional nadirs. Too depressed to consider screwing, they become friends who text, shop, and watch synced Netflix movies while on the phone with each other. Everything is fine until a fateful New Year's Eve kiss, which leaves Josh looking for a soul mate and Ari looking for a quick exit.

Neither Ari nor Josh are entirely likeable people. Ari is an aspiring comedian and improv actor who doesn't allow anyone to get close to her emotionally, including her friends. She's analogous to the Billy Crystal character, with a cynical view of love and a dating app that includes threesomes with married couples. Josh's father runs a famous Jewish deli, but he dreams of opening a hip, modern restaurant that eschews chopped liver and blintzes. He's the Meg Ryan-ish romantic of the duo, but he is also rather rigid and judgmental. Goldbeck creates such strong chemistry between the two that you'll root for their HEA, even if you're not completely sold on them as individuals.

Goldbeck doesn't stick too closely to the WHMS plot, but there is a last-minute "epiphany leads to airport run" that is milked for all of the drama and comedy feelz. From its autumnal-colored cover to the sweet epilogue, You, Again is a delightful homage to one of the most celebrated American romcoms.

What an intelligent, hilarious read. The banter alone between Ari and Josh is worth the read. The book takes place in New York City and lets just say, that is the perfect setting for every good enemies to lovers. And boy is this book that. I found myself cackling out loud at Ari's quick wit and sassy attitude. the plot is interesting and the pacing is even, which made it very easy for me to burn right through this book in one sitting. I will likely return to this many times. definitely a new fave.

You, Again is an acrimonious strangers to unlikely friends to cautiously hopeful lovers romance heavily inspired by When Harry Met Sally. It follows Ari, an aspiring comedian with an allergy to commitment and Josh, a grumpy, pretentious chef on the hunt for his soulmate, over the course of many years from their initial meet disaster, to a few slightly less disastrous run ins, to their eventual friendship and more. By the time they become friends, their love feels inevitable and that made it all the more fun to read. I started feeling nostalgic for Josh and Ari’s relationship before I even finished the book because of the way it sprawled out over the years. It reminded me of meeting my wife in college and all the dumb mistakes we made along the way to where we are now and left me feeling ever so grateful that we continue to choose each other every day so I don’t have to try my hand at dating again.

Witty banter is an important aspect of any good love story and this one had me cackling on so many occasions. The dynamic between Ari and Josh in the beginning is so funny and has a crackling tension to it despite how much they clearly bother each other. As an aspiring comedian and improv performer, it makes sense that Ari’s character is funny, but she’s also unpredictable and smart and very much without a filter. I never knew what would come out of her mouth and was consistently delighted by what did.

Because of the initial nature of their relationship, there are no pretenses between Josh and Ari as fate continues to throw them together. They see each other at their worst and become each other’s lifelines, forming a friendship based in unabashed honesty. I’m not sure that it’s fair to say that Josh realized they were more than friends first or not, but he’s definitely the one that pushes for it first. Despite feeling the same pull, Ari is absolutely terrified of doing anything that could ruin their friendship and is still reeling a bit from the abrupt end of her first marriage. When they do finally hook up, it’s equal parts pent up passion and soul baring tenderness between them. The third act breakup felt appropriate and inevitable to the point where I couldn’t even be mad about it. Their eventual reunion had me in tears and I highlighted huge chunks of the last few chapters.

You, Again is a really modern take on a classic story and is definitely a favorite for me this year. It’s not out until September but it’s well worth the wait. Kate, I cannot thank you enough for sending me an early copy of this one to gush over.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dial Press for a chance to read and review an advanced copy of this book!

Ari and Josh are absolute opposites that coincidentally run into each other multiple times over the span of a few years. Their run-ins are during what is supposed to be the peak of their careers/lives until life throws them both for a loop. They’re thrown together, once again, when they hit rock bottom, and form a friendship as they commiserate how things have gone so wrong in their lives.

I’m a sucker for messy, multidimensional, unapologetic characters, and Kate Goldbeck delivers! I thoroughly enjoyed the book concert to cover!!

What do you call the opposite of a meet cute? Meet flop? Submit the patent on it now. This book was like the flip of One Day, and I loved it. A great way to build tension, and make it all worth it in the end. Right from the testimonial from Ali Hazelwood on the front cover - I knew I was going to like it.

It was funny, it had good pace, it had enough going on, it had a sexually liberated bisexual badass main character. Alternating points of view but in a clear way, and same goes for the time jumps. Overall I really enjoyed it cover to cover.

YOU, AGAIN is the modern day, genderswapped When Harry Met Sally that I have been searching for my entire life. Ari and Josh are in their 20s, living vastly different lives, when the universe shoves them toward one another and instead of insta-love, it's insta-hate. And then they meet again. And again.
They are both a Hot Mess!! and maybe a little toxic and clearly not ready to be in a relationship, but they do need a friend and that is what they become, but the lingering tension could be cut with a butter knife (that Josh would complain about because he is a chef who has better knives than I'll ever own).
I did not agree with half of the things these two said and did, I wanted to yell at them for their stubbornness, but the whole time I was rooting for their own individual growth and the happiness I knew they could find together.
The stakes are higher than in most romances I read today, and the tension is even sweeter because of it. These two feel REAL to me, they are not perfect but they are in love, and in the universe of Nora Ephron, that feels like enough to make it through.

You, Again is the most quotable book you will ever read. Stock up on sticky tabs. Buy two copies - one to collect and the other to highlight. Add the digital copy to cart so you can copy/paste to your IG posts. I can't stop thinking about the snarky, sophisticated, synchronized banter between Josh & Ari.

You, Again explores more than just romantic love. It tackles friendship, dating, friends-with-benefits, marriage, as well as breakups, divorce, and family tensions. And it does it through text threads, phone calls, brunch dates, Ikea trips, pretentious NYE parties, and even classic walks through the park. Every page is so grounded in real life - just two characters going about their everyday lives and falling in love without even realizing it.

Josh & Ari are precious disasters of their own unique flavors. Josh is precise in his words and actions. He demands perfection from his work output. And in relationships, there is no point to them unless the end game is love, marriage, and stability. Whereas Ari is a chaotic, feral, dreamer who wants love but not if it comes with the potential to hurt. Hence, she has one platonic friend and the rest all come with benefits.

Their collision-couse-meet-cute spans years. They grow as very separate characters, only meeting for brief cosmic happen chances. But those moments include words that cut and scar. Ari sees Josh self-sabatoge by setting such high standards for a partner and cornering himself into such narrow definitions of love. Josh calls out Ari as immature and flighty. He questions the realness of her attachments if they're never meant to be permanent in the first place.

Their antagonistic rival/emeny status though crashes when they both have relationships burn at the time of their latest colision. Too tired to fight, they build an unlikely friendship. Completely platonic. Definitely. Maybe. But once their friendship starts to resemble dating, is the next step a romantic relationship?

You'll enjoy You, Again for its character driven story, dialogue intensive scenes, and sharp observational humor. Its a romantic comedy sure, but I also cried. There were words that dredged up deep feelings in me as if my own beliefs were challenged. I can't really get over how amazing a read this is. I've read it twice now before posting my review.

Wait. A. Minute. Can I scream about the cover real quick?!?! I seriously had That Josh and That Ari and That Plaid Coat in my head the whole time I was reading. Not a fancast. Not a 'I replace all characters with my personal bias' visuals. Even though 'Adam' and 'driver' were about a paragraph apart early in the book, but that was the only time I had him in my head. Other than that! No one else. Only the cover. They. Its going face out of my shelf. I'll look at it forever.

Okay, now I'm done. All the stars. It will be in my Best of 2023 list. I'll always have a copy in my bedside stack of emotional support books. And it may be wishful thinking, but maybe my review would inspire your own, 'I'll have what she's having.' Happy reading.

Thank you Netgalley & Random House Publishing, Dial Press for this advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Oh my goodness.

I had plenty of thoughts while reading this. I thought... two people couldn't be more wrong for each other. A few times I was like is it these two?

But eventually things started moving. Its a slow burn for sure. I enjoy a slow burn. These two were having some real life problems. Life was not being kind to either.

Ari definitely had a lot of growing to do. Like, a lot, a lot. Josh just needed to find his way back.

I enjoyed Josh's mom and sister. And Ari's best friend.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dial Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

CW: depression, death of a parent, grief, self-medication, divorce, cheating, anxiety

I would recommend if you're looking for (SPOILERS)

-m/f contemporary romance
-frenemies to friends to lovers
-things suck so I guess let's be friends
-we're both banging the same girl
-banter
-bi and Jewish rep
-slow burrrrn
-When Harry Met Sally retelling
-opposites attract

This book is my latest obsession. Just everything about it. The pacing, the banging premise, the just amazing friends to lovers vibes. Ari and Josh have the opposite of a meet cute when they both realize they're banging the same girl, and keep running into each other over the years until the both hit lows in their personal and professional lives. So what else do you do but *shrug* lean on the other because the only person who might be able to understand a low is a fellow person going through a low. Neither was really looking for a friend, but they fall into it through texting, watching movies, good food, and just needing someone to be there.

Both Ari and Josh (yes I have found another Josh to be obsessed with) are opposites sides of the chaos coin. Ari is trying to be a stand up comediaining and her zingers had me straight up cackling. She does not believe in love and pushes everyone away as far as she can. Josh is the uncuddliest hopeless romantic I'd ever seen but he still somehow wears his heart on his sleeve as he just earnestly tries. They are opposites who attract I love them both and I will protect them from this cruel world.

This book is just friends to lovers gold. You watch as these to fall into a deep friendship, deep emotional intimacy, that they both need and become so afraid to lose, ruin it with their clear sexual attraction that's just cackling from the beginning too. The can I risk this and lose my person? My heart. The banter, the intimacy. And gosh the steam. Some of the best use of sex scenes to further the emotional intimacy. These two are just fire on the page. The ending I just wanted to highlight, it was a scene out of a movie, it's perfect I don't have words. ruined me for other books.

Honestly if you loved Bend Toward The Sun I think you are going to love this one.

I will devour anything Kate Goldbeck writes next.

Steam: 3.5

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the advanced ARC.

You, Again takes a nod from the holy grail of romantic comedies “When Harry met Sally” and takes it for a modern spin. Set in NYC Josh and Ari meet when they just so happen to be seeing the same girl. Over many years and changing circumstances Ari and Josh’s paths continue to cross, we see two strangers turn to enemies to friends and then something more.

I really enjoyed reading both Ari and Josh’s POV — these are two very flawed and jaded but highly relatable people who at first were hard to root for but surely won me over. Their witty banter was a top highlight.

Overall romantic, fun and heartwarming this was standout debut by Kate Goldbeck!

this is such a wild ride of a book and I loved it to pieces!! I’m obsessed with how it was written and the movie but as a book vibes were spot on!!

Ari is a hilariously sassy main character who refuses to conform to society’s norms (slay) and is probably the most confident main character I’ve read in this genre. She’s very outspoken which is fitting for a comedian and yet her most vulnerable moments are where we truly see into Ari’s character. Ari is the definition of a rainbow whirlwind and the hurricane that Josh needs. I think my favorite part about Ari is how she’s unabashedly herself and fck anyone who tries to make her be different.

Josh, sweet stupid, definitely needs to be laid by someone as chaotic as Ari, Josh. I love a man who has such high expectations of themselves and others and then gets slapped in the face when their attitude and disregard for decency (in some cases). I loved his arc and how he slowly but surely and 100% because of the influence of Ari, changes and relaxes his personality (nothing wrong with having goals and ideas , but being 1000% dead set in how it’s gonna be completed is not very good for a man with his aspirations). Josh is the best compliment to Ari’s wild nature, while never trying to hold her back.

The writing in this book is truly wild. From the beginning it’s been chaotic. I loved the first meeting with Ari and Josh it was so random. Each encounter afterwards is just so chaotic and truly movie-esque as Josh and Ari become unlikely friends to lovers.

The spice was perfect to me, I loved the buildup and the way it was literally just so intimate and sweet but also passionate and raw. I wasn’t expecting two but boy oh boy did I freaking love it (not what happened after though, felt like Josh and had my heart stomped on for a bit)

This book had IMMACULATE vibes. As a rom-com lover I really enjoyed this book. I felt like the characters were flawed, but ultimately I was still rooting for them. I really enjoyed the writing style of this book and how the author effortlessly depicted a witty and charming book. I think what the author did really well is the build up—this book was developed well, in my opinion. I really think that it was thoughtfully laid out. It wasn’t overwhelmingly spicy and it was really a good read. If you like a slow burn, enemies-to-lovers romance with incredible banter—this is the read for you.

I've had the privilege to read You, Again in its various incarnations over the years and cannot recommend it more highly for anyone who loves rom coms, Nora Ephron, (someone is staring at you from) Personal Growth, and the epic yet mundane saga of two people finding each other, and themselves. Everything about this book is my favorite, but if I had to pick, I love Ari and Josh's relationship to and away from each other over the years, I love how fully drawn and important the relationships Ari and Josh have to their friends and families are, I love the Jewish deli rep and the N-YHS prominence and the New York City specificity, I loved loved loved the food jokes.