The summary of It's Different This Time promises an emotional second-chance romance, and I suppose it did capture that. I found the atmosphere very well-established, that kind of sweeping autumn romance, but this wasn't quite a second-chance romance, in that June and Adam were never officially together. At best, they were in a situationship but honestly it's more like they were roommates for like six years until they reached a breaking point and are just now reuniting.

I did enjoy the tension between June and Adam in the present, but I felt that it wasn't really built up enough in the flashback chapters so that made the actual pay-off of the present-day tension less impactful. Still, this was a solid debut! I liked the characters and the romance otherwise. If you're looking for a (somewhat) second-chance romance with lots of tension amidst the backdrop of New York City, you should pick this book up!

🍂 roommates to lovers with a lot in between
🌆 dual timeline
🍂 first person single POV
🌆 actress & chef
🍂 autumn in New York
🌆 second chance
🍂 forced proximity
🌆 found family
🍂 “it’s always been you”
🌆 Broadway references

Joss Richard’s debut novel, It’s Different This Time, is a beautiful story of love, loss, coming into one’s own, and finding your way back home. I found the writing style to be warm and inviting while building characters with rich backstories and personalities, and settings that I couldn’t help but to picture in my mind as I read. I’m not typically a person who visualizes a book as she reads it, but I could actually see this book play out in front of me like a film. It would make a brilliant movie. I appreciated that each of the side characters were every bit as developed as the main ones, not merely thrown in as an afterthought. It gave the story such depth and kept my interest peaked.

Being able to watch June and Adam skirt around their mutual attraction, see everything fall apart, and to witness them ultimately fall in love (again) felt like a privilege, like I was granted access to someone’s real life and I got to see it all from the sidelines in the best way. I couldn’t help but to smile so many times while reading. Theirs is the sweetest love story, although a bit rocky in the middle, and an absolute joy to read.

“For the first time, I finally know what it feels like to be wanted, to be loved… and it’s the best feeling in the world.”

“It feels like we're two kids back on the fire escape, looking over New York. The concept of love and happiness is something that would solve everything. Here we are, almost a decade later, and that sentiment still rings true.”

“It’s a moment in time that looks just like ones years before, but it’s not. It’s different this time.”

Trigger warnings for cancer and Alzheimer’s

Thank you to Netgalley and Dell/Ballantine for the early copy of this book! 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you Netgalley & Random House for this advanced copy! I had a really fun time reading this and finished it in one day.
This book is for lovers of second-chance romances, cooking, classic rom-coms, slow burn friends to lovers—it's for theater kids, people who didn't have a loving home, found families, 20-somethings who are working towards their goals & 30-somethings who still haven't figured it out.

It's Different This Time felt like a love letter to chasing your dreams. It will forever hold a place in my heart, and I think it's the perfect debut novel. Joss Richard does a beautiful job of writing a heart-wrenchingly, beautiful and timeless love story.

I loved the dual timeline! It helps add tension through the novel and builds their dynamic, while revealing details naturally about their past without feeling like an information dump. It makes you fall in love with June and Adam, and want to root for them to give their relationship a chance. I normally like a dual POV for a second-chance romance, but Richard does such a great job at making Adam's feelings and thoughts clear through June's perspective. It's the missing piece that a lot of romance novels don't have.

I loved that the book didn't end with them just getting together, but showing June finally succeeding and getting everything she wanted. I really appreciate when authors give romance books focus on other aspects of the characters life—it makes it feel realistic. I can't express how much it meant to me that June's favorite musical was Les Mis. I saw myself in her: a young girl full of dreams listening to the soundtrack on repeat, belting On My Own dreaming of being able to be apart of that world.

I also post my reviews on my Instagram: @alavenderlibrary I can't wait for release day so everyone else will get to experience the beauty of this book!

I absolutely ADORED this book. (I know it's summer time, but the autumn vibes were making me teary-eyed a bit).

Here, we follow a second-chance romance between June and Adam, who were previously roommates and are now left with some unresolved feelings. I really, really enjoyed the writing and think Richards handled the time jumps really well (which can sometimes take me out of the story), but this was done perfectly.

highly, highly recommend this one when pub day rolls around! I will be purchasing a physical copy!

Thank you to NetGalley and Dell for the ARC!

Wow, what a great debut!! The autumn New York City vibes were perfect, the characters had so much depth, the plot was intriguing, and the emotions were high. This was such a good second chance romance.

This story is told in dual timelines and I thought the flip from past to present was executed perfectly. The little bits and pieces of Adam and June's history were revealed to us at just the right time. I also really enjoyed getting to see the way their friendship developed in the past. We truly got to see how strong their foundation was and how in sync they were with each other and I don't usually care for friends to lovers, but it really was done so well. All of the subtle touches and how comfortable they are with their affection was everything!!! All of it made their years long distance in the present hurt that much more when you realize the gravity of what they gave up.

The whole plot of the inherited brownstone was such a perfect way to set up the second chance aspect and the forced proximity of it all. It made it impossible for Adam and June to ignore each other and was just what they needed to mend the broken parts of their history. I loved it.

June's career as an actor was so fun to read about, especially as someone who loves theater and musicals. I liked how it was integrated into the plot and how she found her love for acting during the progression of the story. It made me endlessly happy to see all of the support she got from Adam, her friends, and even Adam's family. The found family in this was one of my favorite parts, especially considering her nonexistent relationship with her parents. The moments with Adam's family made me so emotional!!

I LOVED Adam. It was so clear to me that he cared a great deal for June and it killed me to see him get hurt both in the past and present. All the little and big things he did for June showed just how devoted he was to her. And the cooking!! This man's love language was cooking for others and I loved every description we got of anything he made lol.

I will say that I was kinda confused at first because it wasn't clear to me whether or not Adam and June had dated in the past? For most of the book, I was under the impression that they did date and then it wasn't until probably past half way that I realized they had never actually dated. Maybe I misunderstood something in the beginning or missed something, but that threw me off a bit.

Also, while the inability to properly communicate was somewhat realistic, that didn't make it any less frustrating. I'm trying to learn to be more accepting of this though because it's human and if it were me, I'd probably behave just as frustrating lol but I'd be lying if I said it didn't make me want to throw my Kindle at a certain point.

Anyway, I really enjoyed this. I can't wait to see what else this author will do!

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Okayyyy Joss Richard, I see you! As her first book this one immediately means she’ll be a must read author of mine. Joss Richard really said messy love, second chances, and chaotic good decisions—and I ate it up. The chemistry? Electric. The drama? Delicious. The emotional damage? Worth it. Was it a little unhinged at times? Yes. Did I enjoy every bit of the ride? Also yes.
If you love banter, steam (easy to skip if you’re a closed door girlie like me!) and yelling “JUST TELL HIM HOW YOU FEEL,” this one’s for you. It is different this time 😜

5⭐

Well, finished this one in two days & really enjoyed it! The fall in New York vibes, the Then & Now timelines, the forced proximity in the coolest brownstone & then just the chef + actress part of it all - needless to say I really enjoyed this one. Adam is swoony & June is brave. Would highly recommend this one & can't wait to read whatever Joss Richard writes next!

*Edited: over a week later & I have not stopped thinking about this book. It was pure magic & so so good!!

I enjoyed this! The author did a good job of portraying the characters' emotions and also making me miss visiting New York, especially in the fall and around Christmas time. It's great if you like dual timeline, second chance, theater, watching characters work through tough situations and how to manage their careers, and feeling like the author has definitely spent time in the cities she writes about. And now I want to own a Brownstone. Thanks Netgalley for the ARC!

I'm super thankful to NetGalley, Ballantine and Joss Richard for an ARC of "It's Different This Time" in exchange for an honest review -- and I very much wish I had positive feedback to share. Unfortunately, despite my love for second chance romances, this book was not for me. The writing was painfully choppy, juvenile and one-dimensional, which translated to its characters, the setting and the overall storyline. Though sweet, the book was predictable, basic and cheesy -- right down to the Les Mis references. And this is coming from someone who LOVES Les Mis. Ultimately, this was a miss -- but I'm thankful for the opportunity to read it nonetheless.

Thank you Netgalley and Ballantine for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
This book started out promising (I love a good friends to lovers), but it ultimately fell flat. I found the characters to be very one-dimensional to the point where I didn't really care what happened to them in the end. The initial conflict 5 years ago and the second conflict were both things that could've been solved with a simple conversation, and I felt like I was reading about teenagers communicating when the characters are in their 30s.
The New York part of the book also felt a bit too hallmark-y? It all felt very unrealistic and too cheesy.
There were also some typos, mostly missing quotation marks, enough of them that it was hard to overlook.

This was one of the best books I’ve read this year! After I finished, I was left staring at the wall, and it’s one I will be thinking about forever!

The romance in this was beautiful! I could really feel the deep love and care that Adam and June had for each other. I really appreciated how their relationship had strong foundations, was rooted in friendship, and developed over time!! I also really loved how they supported each other in their lives and careers (actress and chef 😉).

This story is told through a dual timeline, and I thought that contributed to the story well! You get to follow the past and the present simultaneously to its climax. I loved getting to understand the history between the characters!

The setting in NYC is perfect!! There’s something magical about NYC in the fall, and I loved how that played a role in the story. The best part of the setting is the brownstone Adam and June share. It feels like its own character, and the memories it held had me feeling so nostalgic!!

This book had me laughing and crying, and I could not put it down! This should be at the top of everyone’s fall TBR!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine | Dell for the eARC!

The fact this is a debut is insane. It’s so very well written, the characters are incredibly fun and seem so very real. I love the actress x chef, I haven’t seen if before but as an actress with a foodie heart I was thrilled! The actual premise that brings the two together is also one I’ve never seen before!

It’s so very fun!!!

This was such an amazing debut from Joss Richard! Everything about this book was spectacular. I'm a sucker for NYC romances and this was probably one of the best ones that I've read. It was fun for me to recognize the places that June and Adam went to (i.e. Chelsea Market my beloved and Dortoni bakery which is right by where I work). I instantly fell in love with June and Adam and the rest of the characters. This book had really great found family vibes. I didn't want this book to end but the ending was so satisfying. If you like People We Meet On Vacation by Emily Henry (both plot and formatting wise), you will absolutely love this book. Also, if you like the Red album by Taylor Swift, you will love this book. This is going to be one of the must read books of 2025 so make sure you add it to your TBR!!

Thank you Dell for the advanced copy of this book! All opinions are my own.

What a great debut novel! If you’re a fan of second chance romances then this is definitely the story for you!

June and Adam’s story honestly had me interested from the beginning! These two have an insane history with each other and I loved the dual timeline that we were given in order to see the past they had with each other. The flashbacks to their past really brought the story to life!

The third act really had my heart racing. There was a lot of emotions there and I found myself really rooting for these two so that really shows me how much I enjoyed this story! Seeing them get their HEA had me a little teary eyed!

I definitely enjoyed this and would definitely read another book from this author when she writes more in the future!

Thanks so much to Joss Richard, Dell and Net Galley for this ARC for an honest review!

I love a second-chance romance and having it along with fall vibes was just incredible! This would be such a good read for the fall time

💛It’s Different This Time by Joss Richard💛

I’ve read a lot of debuts and this was hands down the best one I’ve ever read. This book was so incredible and the detail and depth of the story was so captivating.
I enjoyed this read so much, I absolutely devoured it in 24hours haha! Getting to know June, and Adam through June, was so so amazing. The companionship and just plain understanding between the two of them was so nice to read. Their banter and the quips throughout this book had me kicking my feet and giggling. The dual timeline and getting to walk alongside them through their story was so fun and satisfying even through the bumps haha.
I had tears in my eyes during the last few chapters. Everything was wrapped up so incredibly and I felt like it was a true ending to their story.
Joss Richard, you’re amazing and I cannot wait to read what comes next!

🎶I always pick a song for my books and this one has to be Spring into Summer by Lizzy McAlpine🎶

Thank you NetGalley & Random House for the chance to read this early in exchange for an honest review!

i can't believe this is a debut novel as richard has managed to tell both a story about love but a story about moving up in this world despite the countless setback life throws at us. besides the romance, i loved how layered the family dynamics were with june not having a relationship with her dad while still navigating possibly holding onto a relationship with a mom who resents her success. adam's loving family with parents who are soulmates in their own rite and a loving sister served as a perfect foil to june and i loved how each of them became family to each other over time. the discussion around a sick parent also added additional layers. i can't wait to see what richard gets up to next!

Tropes: Second-chance, longtime-friends, best-friends, friends-to-lovers, miscommunication, missed-connections, misunderstanding, beta-hero

3.5 total stars. I give it a 4.5 stars for the writing and 3 for the conflict.

This is Joss Richard's debut novel, and her writing is amazing! However, I don't know if it's a new trend to market women's literature as romance but this felt more women's lit for me. Yes, there was romance, but the feelings I got were more complex and confusing. I knew that it had a happy ending but things felt a bit iffy there in the middle.

This is the kind of book where you literally want to shake the heroine/MFC and shout in her face about being dense. She behaved immaturely and it pissed me off so bad. The Hero, on the other hand, was beta but super passive too. Like, hello? Get the words out, dude. Stop fucking around with other women if you love the MFC!!!! What else will she think when you are out each weekend with a different girl?

Also, from a struggling chef to a (apparently) Michelin-star restaurant owner in 5 (6?) years? It's make-belief, but come on. And why did the MFC run to LA? She could have moved out in NYC and kept working in Theatre?

Like I said, the plot and conflict was a mess. The writing and format was stellar. I wish the author had focused more on something tangible as the conflict because as a reader it was super frustrating to see all this time wasted on a non-issue.

It’s Different This Time by Joss Richard is the kind of debut that makes you stop and wonder, where has this author been all this time!

Set against the golden glow of New York City in the fall, this emotionally rich second-chance romance delivers everything I crave—sharp banter, aching vulnerability, undeniable chemistry, and the kind of love that feels lived-in and earned.

The story follows June, a Filipina American Broadway actress at a professional and personal crossroads, and Adam, a kind-hearted chef who wears his devotion like a second skin. Once inseparable friends, they haven’t spoken in five years—until a shared inheritance forces them under the same roof again. A multimillion-dollar brownstone becomes both battleground and bridge, where old wounds resurface, long-buried feelings stir, and the question lingers: is this reunion a second chance, or just history repeating itself?

Told in dual timelines and dual POVs, the structure beautifully captures the rise, fall, and potential rebirth of their connection. We see them grow from strangers to roommates to best friends, then watch that bond unravel—only to be rewoven thread by thread in the present day. It’s heart-wrenching, nostalgic, and oh-so-satisfying.

June is messy, ambitious, and raw in a way that makes you root for her even when she stumbles. Adam? He’s everything a romance lead should be: patient, grounded, quietly romantic, and so deeply attuned to her pain and joy. Their dynamic is electric, and their journey—filled with simmering tension, moments of levity, and devastating truths—feels heartbreakingly real.

There’s a lot to love here: a swoony friends-to-lovers arc, found family that tugs at your heart, a dreamlike New York backdrop that becomes a character in itself, and a sprinkle of spice for good measure. The themes of healing, identity, and returning to yourself are handled with a maturity.

If you love cozy fall reads add this one to your TBR immediately. P.S. You might need some tissues!

I absolutely loved it. I wasn't sure what to expect from this book; I knew nothing about it. But it was phenomenal. I loved June, and I loved Adam. Their friendship and the tension behind their history was excruciating in the best way. Chloe and Lucia were excellent side characters (but I'd love a whole story just about them, too). And the Harper family was a lovely aside. The will they/won't they vibe was excellent throughout, even to the end. I liked the back and forth between the before and the present. And all of the Broadway talk was perfect, especially since in my real life it was just Tony season and the second half of the Wicked movie is coming out this year and I'm full on in musical mode in my brain. This was just beautiful.