This book was really interesting, and although I didn't love it all the way through and I waffled between three and four stars, in the end I did find it moving and was glad I read it. Carmen and Ally are childhood best friends whose lives have taken them in very different directions. As they near their 40th birthdays, Carmen gets fired and has a surprise pregnancy, while Ally's relationship breaks down and she wonders what to do next. We follow them over the course of several months as they try to figure out what to do and how they are.

Summed up, this is a book about the pressure to have it all as a woman and to find a relationship and settle down. I loved all of Carmen's introspection about whether she wanted to go back to the workforce, if she could work and still be the mom she wanted to be, and all the ins and outs of wondering who she was decades into marriage and years into being a mom. It felt very real and honest, and echoed many things I've thought to myself before. I loved the relationship she had with her kids and her husband, and I was really rooting for her.

Ally's perspective wasn't as magical for me - there were times when her pity party became too much for me, and there was some insta love in there that was hard to swallow. I did appreciate her introspection about her life not turning out the way she thought it would and feeling the hopelessness and loneliness associated with not living the "typical" life, but sometimes it felt really shallow and pat. But I enjoyed the juxtaposition between her and Carmen, especially when their friendship had strife because it was so hard for them to understand each other's lives.

Overall, this one was an enjoyable, fast read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Rising Action Publishing Company for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review!

I gave Again, Only More Like You three ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Thank you Rising Action Publishing, Catalina Margulis and Net Galley for the ARC. These are my honest opinions.

I really liked the synopsis of this book, but could not get into the characters. I’m not sure which on was more aggravating, Carmen or Ally. There were times when I was invested in them, but then they would say or do something that had me rolling my eyes. Carmen is a married and pregnant mother of three, trying to hold on to a career that she doesn’t enjoy. Ally is single, but wants to be married, and having an affair with her boss. This sounds like very interesting characters. But, Carmen cannot sympathize with Ally at all when Ally needs support - she always turns the conversation back to herself. Ally is expecting her boss to “need” her - it’s an affair.

I think I would have enjoyed this more if the characters had been better.

This is a book about female friendship and how complicated it can be, especially when we hit middle age. As I am a woman of a certain age, there was a lot I could relate to between these pages, and I loved the premise, but the execution fell a tad short. The book follows two friends, Carmen and Ally, who are reaching middle age. One has a surprise pregnancy, and the other is escaping the backlash of an affair.

I loved how the book shows the little details of female friendship and the dynamic between the main characters. It showed their support of each other with humour, but it also showed the negative side and tensions. This shows that even the oldest friendships can be tested. As much as I enjoyed these aspects, the pacing was a little slow, and it made investing in the characters and their journeys difficult.

Even though I could relate to their problems and issues, the development of the ladies lacked any depth. Carmen's story had her losing it, but it was a tad too melodramatic for me. I understood Ally wanting to start over, but I wasn't sympathetic as she brought it on herself. The humorous parts were funny, but they cheapened the more serious issues.

Overall, the book was a relatable read of female friendship and midlife issues. I enjoyed reading about the complex relationship of the two leads as they look for fulfillment in their lives.

Margulis captures the plight of a harried mom better than most other books I've read on a similar topic. I loved seeing how the different choices played out across the friendship of the two main characters and I enjoyed the realness of the falling apart and back together in their friendship. A great book to remind you what's important and to make you think about where all your choices lead you in life.

This book wasn’t quite was I was expecting from the synopsis, but it did capture my attention.

Written in a duel POV we get to hear from best friends Carmen and Ally, who are living two very different lives at 40, but working through their own struggles.

I found myself relating a lot to Carmen, and I am sure others could see parts of themselves in either character. I really enjoyed watching her adjust her expectations and embrace the life that she had. This easily could have been a story of loss for what life could have been, but I appreciated acknowledging that loss and turning it on its head.

There were parts of them book I was slightly confused, like the emails Carmen sent to Ally, but they did eventually make sense and were explained a little bit better further on in the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Rising Action for providing me with a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Told through in dual POV, this books highlights the complexities of womanhood! Ally and Carmen offer the reader the warmth and truth of friendship while also creating relatable scenarios of the realities women face when moving closer to middle age. means and the different emotional layers that come into play.

If your a fan of strong women’s fiction with unique and interesting characters, this one’s for you!

This book just did not work for me. I loved the idea of it, but it felt forced. The characters were whiny and horrible. As a mom approaching 40, I thought I would be able to identify with this book a little more. Instead I questioned some of their choices, I did not find the friendship to be as respectful and supportive as it should be. It just wanted more for the story. I wanted to feel more for the characters and their experiences, but instead I felt annoyed by them, An awesome idea for a story, but the details just didn't play out well for me.

Thank you netgalley for my advanced reader copy.

This book started off good and even sounded good but it lacked a lot of depth. I felt like I was reading about nothing at all in a bad way

i really liked this book. it wasnt shock horror or with a big bang waiting to happen. it was a story of a time in two womans lives. and i felt a bit unfair to them at first. as i felt i dint like some of their actions, how they acted to themselves or each other. but then i thought well we arent always great. we arent always kind. and there are points in life that if explored wouldnt look fab if read by an outsider haha. and this was simply a snippet in these womans lives, and a certain two woman it was being told about for that reason...because there was a story there. so i quickly pulled myself out of it. made sure i wasnt judging these two as all woman or all humans and from then on really enjoyed the story i was told.
it was detailed so i felt i could really feel how they were getting on in each moment. i felt they were relatable in their struggles.
its a novel about two woman, two friends. and how as 40 looms they arent exactly happy. or does 40 make them ask questions which cause them to feel unhappy. or perahaps think they shouldnt be happy! its a strange time when woman turn in on themselves. and often the turn on those closest. we live in a time where being a woman is so hard. be it for yourself or for the world thats forcing ideals on you every single second of the day. and i can only praise and live in awe of those i love and friends of mine. for ive seen their struggles and watched there inner and outer demons play out. and all i ever actually want, as soppy as it sounds is for the world to let woman go and stop holding them and shaming them to these forced ideals. its creates fracture in both themselves and how they feel of those around them, yes even freinds.
and these two womans tale made me think. made me think lots. and i really appreciated that. because i was also a step away from it being i was simply reading THEIR story. it wasnt to personal.
this book was really honest. and that isnt always your cushy romance novel. and happy ending can then actually be so much more meaningful if looking a little different for every individuals situation.

Thank you to Netgalley for this free ARC. All views and opinions in this review are my own.

“Again, Only More Like You” was an easy and relatable read for me. Just like the main characters, Carmen and Ally, I am 40 years old and a mother. I sometimes find myself longing for carefree days of the past, but also thinking a lot about the uncertainties of raising a child in today’s world.

The book doesn’t have anything groundbreaking or uniquely revealing in the story. However, the author does a great job expressing Carmen and Ally’s inner thoughts, doubts and fears. The characters felt so multi-faceted, I feel like I could be friends with these women in real life. It’s nice to read about characters who are not perfect but are just trying their best. It gives me hope that, in my own life, maybe everything will be okay.

It was quick, cute, easy read. I would have liked to see Ally and Carmen spend more time together, but I also appreciated how it showed a realistic friendship.

okay this book had an interesting synopsis that drew me in but, the story as a whole didn't do much for me. I do appreciate the emphasis on how hard mothers work and how selfless mothers can be but, i just found myself really uninterested on what came next. I will say I did enjoy getting to know the 2 main characters and appreciated their friendship with each other.

I had such high hopes for this one. Unfortunately, it fell flat for me. I really struggled to connect to the characters. The ending was disappointing. I liked it but I couldnt say I loved it.

This book was so heartwarming and fun! It really felt like Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants but all grown up. I loved these characters from the very first page.

While the premise was great I just could not get past how unlikeable the MC were. What should be a story about unexpected circumstances and changing friendship was overpowered by the fact that I found it hard to root for the MCs

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Two women who share a lifelong friendship both undergo difficult circumstances during their early 40s.

This was a Really good book! I loved the themes of friendship, being a woman, love, relationships, and growth. Even though this book had a lot of tough moments with some serious topics, it was like an enjoyable, and had a lot of funny and sweet moments.

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

I finished this book feeling unsure, there were parts I did not like- the two main characters were not kind to themselves or others. I did not always find the characters likable. But at the same time, I think this book is an important read because as women, we are not often kind to ourselves or others. Both main characters were not happy with where they were in life, enviable of each other while also being critical of each other.

What I really liked about the book was its honesty. Both being single and being married were portrayed as hard, enviable, and empowering. The portrayal of the mother being unsure of her life choices and overwhelmed with her children while still being in love with her husband and adoring her children was something I think many parent could relate to but do not realize other parents feel.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. The writing was well done in a way that makes for a quick read. The premise of life at 40 works well and I think that with a few minor tweaks, this would be great on a big screen.

Enjoyable read. Friendship, becoming adults and how relationships change and grow. A story for all women.