A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this eARC!

I really don’t know what to say other than this is one of my favorite romance books I have read this year! I loved the plot, the characters, you name it, I was completely invested the entire time. Once I started this book I could barely put it down long enough to eat. Second chance romance is one of my favorite tropes and it was done so beautifully in this book.

I was shocked when I saw this was a debut novel! If I didn’t know any better I would have suspected it was from an author who has been writing forever.

Will definitely be picking up a physical copy for my bookshelf!

So good. Reminded me of Emily Henry and Carley fortune reads. I absolutely loved Adam and the backdrop of New York in the fall was a cozy dream. I wish there were more pages!

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for the ARC!

This book had all the elements of a typical rom-com with the addition of some less than realistic elements. It is split between two timelines, the present and the past so there is an opportunity to explore June and Adam's relationship from two different eras of their lives. From the beginning, we learn that June doesn't want to see Adam - but has to anyways since they now own a crazy nice brownstone together. This becomes the main question that the chapters about the past are supposed to answer: what happened between the two of them to cause such a rift? And while this was a fascinating, albeit not unique, concept, I found myself disappointed with the answer when it finally came into fruition. Frankly, if they would have expanded more on June's motivation and internal struggles then it would have been far more satisfying and clarifying.
Now for the silly unrealistic things: 1. That brownstone should've been crazy expensive to rent and the property taxes to inherit it would be sky high 2. for someone with "no money" June sure did go shopping a lot when she moved back to NYC 3. they find wildly rare success in both their fields at a young age which realistically doesn't happen that easily in creative and freelance professions 4. the ending/glimpse into the future made no sense at all and went against everything the book had built (see end of review for clarification <SPOILER!>)

Overall, it was a cute romance book with well written spicy scenes and a decently paced plot. It brought some NYC magic and made me smile (no matter how unrealistic some of the parts got). The characters are relatable and a bit messy with the mvp definitely being June's agent.

<SPOILER/ elaboration on point 4>: The entire book is about how June is falling back in love with theater and New York City and how she discovers that LA and TV/film isn't really for her so why would she just give that up and move back to California? Also there is no way they would give up the brownstone either. It just doesn't match Adam and June's personality to do such a thing.

I don’t think a book could cater to my tastes any more than this did! You have a second-chance romance, a glorious setting of New York City in autumn, and a female main character who loves Broadway. It’s a match made in heaven for me.

It’s Different This Time centers around two friends in their early 30s, June and Adam, who lost contact five years ago for unknown reasons. June is a TV/Broadway actress down on her luck, finding out she and her ex-roommate/friend, Adam, are set to inherit an insanely valuable Brownstone in NYC. The only catch - they have to live in the house for 30 days while paperwork gets sorted, all while trying to move past whatever drove them apart five years ago.

If you didn’t tell me this was a debut novel, I would have absolutely no idea. The way the characters are fleshed out and how vividly the setting is conveyed rival well-established authors. I absolutely love dual-timeline stories, so getting to see how the timelines eventually intersect is a real treat. I loved June and Adam’s dynamic and how much love and respect they had for one another during their friendship <spoiler>and eventual romance.</spoiler>

<spoiler>Adam being June’s number one cheerleader is SO sweet, and his whole spirit warmed my heart. He truly is everything she deserves and fits her perfectly, especially after learning more about her troubling family dynamics. The found family aspect in this story also pulled my heartstrings so much. As someone with a similar dynamic with my mother as June does with hers, her being able to find such belonging with Adam’s family is beautiful. </spoiler>

I could write a whole separate novel on how much I loved this book, but I’ll leave it at knowing full well that Joss Richard will be an auto-buy for me from now on.

Thank you to Ballentine/Dell and NetGalley for the eARC!

I love a second chance romance and this did not disappoint! I liked the flow on the book, and the characters, but I did feel like the end was a lot more rushed than the first 75 percent of the book?

I was so charmed by this book! June and Adam, former roommates, have been estranged for years, but are thrown back together when they are surprised to discover that they've inherited the West Village brownstone they used to share. Through a dual timeline, we follow June and Adam's relationship, from burgeoning friendship to eventual separation. I loved that we got to spend so much time with these characters together -- from June's auditions and acting successes and failures, to Adam's years of culinary school and time in the kitchens of various restaurants -- that their relationship feels authentic and deep. There is so much attention paid to small, quotidien details of their life as roommates and friends that I felt like I could envision them in their charming brownstone, sharing meals, watching TV, or walking the paths of Central Park. (The years-of-friendship structure reminded me of Emily's Henry's "People We Meet on Vacation," which is high praise, as that's my favorite of EmHen's novels.)

The third act of the book did feel a bit rushed, and some of the motivations behind June and Adam's decisions were perhaps a bit underbaked, but because I cared so much about these characters, I didn't let that overcome my overall enjoyment of this delightful story. This is sure to be great for a cozy autumn-in-New York read.

Although the writing in this book was really well done, the adult content in this book was not for me. But I’m sure it would be great for a lot of other readers so I did not finish this book.

I loved this book! A second chance romance told in the past in present, it captures all my favorite things - friends to lovers, the magic of New York, and chosen family. Highly recommend this book to everyone!

I love second chance romances, and I thought this one was wonderful. I loved the dual timeline, being able to experience June and Adam's relationship in both ways was powerful. I also loved that Richard gave us not only an HEA, but one in which both characters sacrifice for one another and get found a way to stay true to themselves and theie goals. Loved this story!

thank you for the arc, NG!! I seem to be an outlier but I was really excited for this one but I found it fell flat. I loved the back and forth timeline, but I wish there was more… substance? to June & Adam’s relationship. I wish there was more info from the years prior to show them falling in love, rather than just ~assuming~ idk and I hated that June made it seem like there was some huge, crazy betrayal, “how could he, I couldn’t stand seeing him ever again” to justify her up and leaving never to return only for it to something so silly?

This story completely stole my heart with its rich layers of nostalgia, second chances, and those aching “what if” moments that linger long after a friendship fades. The writing feels like a warm hug wrapped in bittersweet memories and hopeful beginnings. I loved how the author captured the complexity of old wounds and the tender, slow-burn chemistry that simmers beneath every interaction between June and Adam. The autumn setting added this perfect cozy, reflective vibe that made every shared meal and late-night talk feel deeply intimate. I definitely enjoyed reading it.

June and Adam have a long and eventful history together. After not seeing each other for five years, they are reunited over an event dealing with the old brownstone they shared. Big decisions have to be made in a month that June refuses to think about. But what is June to do when she becomes roommates with Adam again and old feelings creep back into the picture?

In life, we make decisions in the moment that feel right, but we won’t know if it was the right one until later. Unfortunately for June, I felt like she made immature decisions over and over. I was just waiting for her to stop making the same mistakes and overreacting to any information that fed her insecurity. She also refused to talk anything out, which was super frustrating. For the amount of time spent in this ‘friendship’, no growth was made until the very end when she received all the missing pieces she refused to collect along the way.

Overall, this book had potential but fell flat for me personally. I think for anyone who relates to June, it could be a good book for them. I just couldn’t connect with her, which impacted my reading experience.

I ended up rating this book 2.5 stars.

This is such a sweet second chance romance, definitely worth the read. Once it started getting more into June and Adam's past and present relationship, it was impossible to put down.

Rating 3.5/5 - Kind of a slow start but hard to put down in the second half

Thank you to NetGalley, author Joss Richard and Ballantine | Dell for this digital advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review.

Second chance romances can be tricky for me for some reason but this was excellently done! Joss Richard uses a dual timeline that is done so well you really feel transported back several years with the characters. I really look for growth in relationships if they are of the "second chance" trope, and June and Adam really did show growth individually and together. June had moments of immaturity stemming from her experiences with her childhood, and Adam had to navigate a death in the family. I usually despise when characters experience a lack of communication that leads to the ending of a relationship, but I think their break was necessary for the two characters to grow both personally and professionally. AND-they both get to live out their dreams without sacrificing their relationship in the end?? THANK YOU JOSS RICHARD! It's Different This Time is set to publish on September 30th, 2025 and I could not be more excited! I am so excited for all of my Goodreads and Fable friends to read this review and add this incredible book to their tbr! Thank you to NetGalley, Joss Richard, and Ballantine | Dell for this book <3

"It’s Different This Time" by Joss Richard is an emotional, beautifully written debut that hits all the right notes for fans of contemporary romance. I was immediately drawn into the story of Adam and June — roommates turned friends, turned something more — and the dual timeline structure made their journey even more impactful.

This novel blends several of my favorite tropes: friends to lovers, second chance romance, and that nostalgic pull of reconnecting after time apart. The dual timelines were really well done, giving a clear picture of how strong Adam and June’s connection was in the past and how deeply it still runs when they reunite five years later after inheriting the NY house they once shared.

I’m not usually a fan of the miscommunication trope, but in this case, it actually made sense given the characters’ ages and the trauma the FMC had gone through. It felt believable and not just thrown in for the sake of drama. And when Adam and June do communicate? It’s honest, heartfelt, and full of emotional payoff.

I also loved how vividly Joss Richard described New York and how Adam’s family was portrayed — they added so much warmth and depth to the story. There were moments that made me smile, ache, and cheer for these characters. It’s the kind of book that leaves you with a full heart.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the e-ARC! I can’t wait to read whatever Joss Richard writes next.

ARC Review 4.25⭐️ 🍂🚕🎭🍝

It’s Different This Time by @joss.richard is a beautiful debut novel. The moment I saw “brownstone,” “broadway”, “NYC,” and “autumn,” I was already sold.

This book made me feel like I was walking through the West Village with a coffee in hand and my favorite playlist on. It made me miss home in every possible way. The friends to lovers, the way their history unfolds, a chef, a broadway star, and the second chance romance I devoured it.

Adam and June have the kind of chemistry that makes you want to scream into a pillow. Seriously at times I kept saying “omg please just say you like each other” and other times I was kicking my feet!!! Adam is a perfect fictional man. He always knew what and who he wanted. PLUS a chef he can cook for me anytime! June on the other hand I felt the honestly and self-doubt. I could relate on that and sometimes she made me want to shake her lol, but she got it right in the end. She’s fierce, flawed, and full of heart. I adored them.

Huge thank you to joss.richard , netgalley , and dellromance for the ARC. This gem comes out September 30 and it’s perfect for your fall TBR go request it now🗽🍁🍃

I LOVE second chance romances, and this book delivered all the pining, heartbreaking, will-they-won't-they vibes I look for. I feel so lucky to have gotten to read this early! I'm excited to share it with friends and family.

A New York City brownstone would probably be enough to bring any couple back together, but I appreciated the work June and Adam had to put into making sure their relationship would really, truly work this time around. So fun, thank you for opportunity to read It's Different This Time!

3.5⭐️! For this being a debut novel, I’m impressed! For anyone who loves theater and NYC, this is definitely up your alley. The reader is taken through a rollercoaster of emotions spanning over a decade when it comes to the relationship between June and Adam. While these characters are clearly flawed, I found the bond between them very endearing several times. I did find the miscommunication a bit tiring (it’s really not my trope). June also did get on my nerves with her reactions and behavior and I thought that they were both pretty immature at times despite both being grown.

On a higher note, the side characters definitely stood out to me and I found that they really carried the heart of the book at certain points.

I loved the back and forth between the past and present, giving us some insight into June and Adam’s history. If you’re looking for a cozy romance with friends-to-lovers/roommates tropes, and a hot chef MMC, I’d say give this a try!

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for this ARC!

Quite frankly, I don't even have the words to express just how much I loved this book.

This is an absolutely BRILLIANT debut romance from Joss Richard. From the first page, I fell in absolute love with June. As a half-Asian woman myself, it was like an instant connection to her character. At times, it felt like her internal narration was pulling from my own direct thoughts, and my heart shattered a million times.

The chemistry between June and Adam also LEAPS off the page. From the moment June sees him again, I was absolutely dying to know what had happened between them, and the sheer yearning and emotion kept me flipping through the pages. I ripped through this book like it was on fire. I was giggling and kicking my feet, then sobbing, then screaming, then sobbing again. The dual timelines wove together so seamlessly and it was incredible seeing how they ended up in this situation, and I found myself literally BEGGING them in both timelines to please, please, PLEASE be together. And when they finally did, I was ready to run the NYC marathon and I have never run a day in my life.

Even the side characters were so beautifully written and I fell in love with every single one of them; I want Adam's mom to also adopt me.

Overall, I genuinely cannot recommend this book enough. I could live in June and Adam's world (and 74 Perry St) forever and be thrilled about it.