This will be one of my top romance reads of the year, and I’m shocked it is a debut! I loved the dual timelines and the tension/yearning was top tier. I felt an emotional connection to the characters and story although at times June’s choices drove me crazy!

Add this to your TBR now!!!

This book had me at second chance romance set in the fall in New York City. The setting is a dream!

June Wood is trying to make it in LA but things aren’t going as smooth as she’d hoped for. The show she stared in has been cancelled, there are no immediate job prospects. So after a strange call that makes her take a trip back to NYC and an offer to try out for Broadway once again, June can’t resist. Only now she has to face the past she left behind 5 years ago.

IT’S DIFFERENT THIS TIME is author’s debut novel and let me tell you, I cannot wait to see what she does next! This is such a beautiful, achingly tender romance alongside a love letter to New York City. It is an absolute delight!!

Here’s what to expect:
🍁 strangers to roommates to best friends
🍁 second chances
🍁 he’s down bad for her
🍁 complex family dynamics
🍁 emotional connection
🍁 beautiful friendship
🍁 dual timeline.

I love this book so much and I cannot wait for other readers to dive into it!

Thank you @netgalley, @dellromance and @joss.richard for the early e-copy of this gem!

If you know anything about me, I LOVE A GOOD SECOND CHANCE ROMANCE. But, when you have a second chance story that’s friends to lovers and set in NYC?? I’m sat. It’s Different This Time is Joss's debut novel, and the emotional rollercoaster she puts you through…let’s just say it’s worth it in the end. The dual timeline adds so much to the story, and I love that we get to explore these characters while they’re older. Watching their interactions when they’re silly, goofy people in their 20s to having spent years apart, GROWN, and have more life experience under their belt, I enjoyed just being able to relate to them and see how much life can actually change people. I will say there are some parts that make you want to scream, BUT!! I think that just adds more to how relatable some aspects of the story are. From being friends to lovers, I think it’s so common to experience some hesitation with whatever is going on between two friends, in hopes of not ruining whatever you have with someone. And, I think Joss showcases that so well through this story.

Our MCs?? I love them both so much. For June, I felt for her. Being scared, the idea of feeling alone, not enough?? It’s a lot and, in some aspects, I understand her completely. But, it was so nice to see her growth and perseverance through it all. For Adam, he’s such a soft MMC 🥹. While we don’t get his POV in the story, we get glimpses of how much he loves June, and even if it’s a quiet kinda love, it’s so so heartwarming to see. Plus, he puts June on such a high pedestal to admire that UGH !!!! UGH !!!!!! Just read it when it’s out LMAO

This story was so beautifully written and a lot of emotions were evoked. But, if you love a good second chance romance, friends to lovers, a man who’s been down bad since day one, and self growth, then this book is for you. I don't think I have any more words I could potentially write that showcases how much I adore these two.

Thank you to the author and Dell for the eARC. It’s Different This Time is out on 9/30/25 (so I will be getting a copy) I love sharing my opinions with others, and if you read this one, I hope to read your thoughts too!

Oh my goodness my heart is so full after reading this novel!! I really can’t wrap my mind around the fact that this is a debut novel… Imagine writing your first book and it’s this good???!!! The plot and underlying themes are executed so beautifully, and it reads like the work of a seasoned author.

It’s been five years since June and Adam parted ways, until a mysterious email from their old brownstone management company forces them back under the same roof.

It was so beautiful to watch June and Adam’s love story unfold. Their relationship evolves from strangers to roommates to friends, back to strangers, then friends again, and finally lovers. With a dual timeline, there’s such a dynamic push-and-pull between their internal thoughts, miscommunications, and unspoken feelings. The characters struggle with the idea of knowing someone so deeply and loving them so intensely that they’re terrified to risk it all in fear of losing one another.

I love Adam so much. He’s a chef that owns his own restaurant. He’s so gentle, thoughtful, and has this little habit of leaning on things. And June - sweet, sweet June. She’s so relatable in the way she struggles with talking about her feelings out of fear of burdening others. I wanted to step in the book and beg her to stop overthinking and to just let someone in. But more than anything, I wanted to wrap her in the biggest teddy bear hug and tell her that everything would be okay.

Everything about this book is perfect. Autumn in NYC, musical theatre, a chef, found family, friends to lovers, forced proximity, and second chance romance!

This book releases September 30! Mark your calendars, pre-order, and RUN to get this book! You’ll see me at the bookstore getting my physical copy to annotate as soon as it comes out <3

Thank you to NetGalley, Ballantine, and Dell for this arc!!

I can never resist a second chance romance! I love the New York City setting and the premise of inheriting some serious NYC real estate if they can just get along. I enjoyed the dual timeline and found the tension/banter to be absolutely brilliant! This book left me hopeful and is a fantastic debut novel. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my ARC.

It’s Different This Time is a heartwarming debut that combines the loved tropes of forced proximity, friends-to-lovers, and second chance romance against the backdrop of a crisp New York fall. When June Wood and Adam Harper, estranged former roommates and almost-lovers, inherit shared ownership of a West Village brownstone, they’re forced back into each other’s orbit after five years apart. And it’s clear that there’s still a lot of lingering feelings and unresolved history to work through.

This was such a strong debut. Joss’s writing style is smooth and easily to follow, and the premise is made interesting through the elements she has incorporated into the story. I don’t always like how dual timelines are handled, but I enjoyed seeing the foundation of their friendship and relationship alongside their more mature reconnection. The romance itself is warm, swoony, and filled with the kind of banter and tension that makes a second chance story unputdownable. Despite any messiness and miscommunication, you can’t help root for June and Adam.

Overall, this is a strong and promising debut. It’s warm, charming, and beautifully captures the complicated “will they or won’t they” of love lost and found again. Perfect for a cozy fall read!

this might just be the best debut novel i’ve read! This book was the perfect start to 2025’s fall season. it had everything one could ask for. Romance, roommates, New York City, cozy vibes, and so much fun. i loved the flashback aspects and the connections to current scenes.

the romance here was perfect. there was a miscommunication trope which honestly was done really well!! i was so emotional when reading!

this is definitely one of my top reads of the year!

Ugh I loved this one so much. I laughed and cried. Its the perfect cozy fall book set in NYC with the best second chance romance. I will 100% be purchasing this once its out.

I really enjoyed this debut romance from Joss Richard! It's a second chance romance told on two timelines which is one of my very favorite tropes. The story centers on June and Adam who spent six years as roommates in NYC, had a falling out, and six years later find themselves as joint owners of the same brownstone they lived in when the owner passes away and leaves them the place in his will.

This book sucked me in immediately especially with its New York in fall vibes, the musical theater references, and the coziness of the brownstone. I couldn't put the book down as we get to both know Adam and June's history as well as see their relationship reconnect in the present day timeline. The banter is great and both characters have a lot of depth. My biggest complaint with the book was the reason for their falling out which honestly seemed out of character for the story. Overall I'd still give this one a 4.5 star rating and I look forward to reading more from this promising debut author!

I voluntarily read a gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Second chance romance set in NYC fall? Sadly, this one wasn’t for me. I struggled to finish.

I did love the idea of this one. Two previous roommates are reunited when the owner of the brownstone they lived in passes away and left it to the last full time tenets forcing them to reunite. But most of the story was off for me.

I felt the writing style was almost too abrupt. The changes between current scenes and with the flashbacks didn’t have the right flow. It was a struggle to read the flashbacks and then piece them together with the current scenes because there were so many of them and they were so short. Every scene to me felt cut off and almost as if we were dropped in the middle of our FMC’s thoughts. Some people may love this, but it just didn’t work for me. We also didn’t get any POV from the MMC and with a second chance romance, I think that is necessary to be able to see both sides of the story and understand the characters. Not everyone’s preference but definitely mine.

Besides the writing style, I struggled reading the FMC’s inner monologue. I could not find any common ground with her and felt how she communicated was abrupt and rude.

I understand this is a debut book but the flow and character style was not my favorite and I just couldn’t get through it.

I loved the writing in this debut novel. The backdrop of New York was so vibrant, as were the characters. I also loved the fall setting and the found family aspect of the story and watching June and Adam’s story unfold.

It’s the best when you start a book and are immediately like “YES!” You know it’s going to a great one.

It’s Different This Time is Joss Richard’s first book, which is amazing. A book this good by a debut author!

This is a dual-timeline, friends-to-lovers, second chance romance set during autumn in NYC. It doesn’t get much better than that.

So, why 4.5 stars? Guys- the 3rd act breakup was 😒. That’s all I will say about it. But it dropped this book from being a PERFECTION to 4.5 stars.

This was amazing and you should RUN to preorder it! Publication date is 9/30!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
🔥🔥🔥

Thought this book was perfect. With romcoms, I often find myself cringing at dialogue, but the banter was everything. I really loved the characterization of June.

It’s Different This Time by Joss Richard was such a joy to read! This book is the perfect cozy fall romance—warm, heartfelt, and brimming with charm. The second chance romance trope is done so well here, giving just the right balance of longing, spark, and emotional payoff.

I loved that the main characters have such creative, artsy careers—an actor and a chef—it added so much depth and atmosphere to their story. Their chemistry jumps off the page, and I found myself rooting for them every step of the way. The side characters were equally likable, adding richness to the world without ever stealing the spotlight.

Overall, it’s a very sweet, satisfying story that leaves you with a smile. A five-star read for sure, and one I’ll be recommending to anyone looking for a romantic, feel-good escape.

This book put me through an emotional ringer, and I feel like I need to decompress for a whole day. I was immediately invested in the story, it throws you right into the action which I appreciated. The tension and the chemistry and the yearning and the pining and the agony and the pain and the history between Adam and June was so good and so delicious delicious, it just proves to me again that second chance romance is the superior romance genre. Not to mention that it is also friends to lovers??? and also excellent fall vibes in New York City??? in the West village, my favorite part of New York City??? I thoroughly enjoyed it. I will say, the main female character does make some immature choices in this book that had me yelling at her, but it all worked out in the end as she realizes she’s being stupid 💀 but for a hot sec I was FUMING. I’m glad I preserved though because the ending was so lovely and sweet and I need an Adam Harper STAT. if you’re looking for a fun fall book, pls pick this up when it’s out on 9/30!

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for the advance copy to review!

-A second chance romance set in NYC by a debut author

This is definitely one of the best romances I’ve read all year! While there was a very slow burn and major miscommunication, which were brutal at times, I loved the overall story, setting and rooted for the characters.
A must read for romance fans.
Thank you NetGalley for the arc- due out this month!

First off, how can this be her debut novel?! It’s soooo good! I was lucky enough to receive an ARC copy of this and I’m so happy I did! This is now one of my favorite fall romances! Setting is Autumn in New York, already hooked me there haha Friends to lovers, second chance romance, forced proximity, some miscommunication, slow burn, tension, some spice 🌶️ overall this is exactly what I want in a romance novel and now I want a movie or a book 2! 🥰 it was an emotional ride with a lot of relatable life situations/circumstances. I also loved ALL the main characters! This comes out September 30th, go read it! I couldn’t put it down 🍂🤎 5 ⭐️!

I found this book on Goodreads after looking for some good fall romance recs to put me in the mood for my favorite season—and thankfully this one delivered! I really loved the fall New York setting; it was really transportive, and I think that will be a highlight for a lot of people. I enjoyed the dual timelines and the main characters. While I found June's lack of self-awareness and growth to be frustrating, I still liked the journey. There were a few continuity issues that hopefully got worked out between this draft and the published version (some people sometimes call Adam "Ad" but only like three times so it felt weird? There were a few timeline issues, etc.), but honestly, this is a really great debut. This is one of the few great, non-cheesy fall romances I've found. I'll definitely be checking out Joss Richard's next novel!

*Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this free ARC in exchange for an honest review. Pub date: September 30, 2025

Well this was as cozy as can be with the present day taking place during autumn in NYC! These ex-roommates/friends/crushes find themselves in some wild circumstances that have them living under the same roof again years later. Both at wildly different places in their lives/careers, navigating their new normal is a fun journey to follow them on. This is told in a dual timeline so the past events are revealed bit by bit until you can put all the puzzle pieces together.

Lots of yearning in this one, and I really appreciated how real these characters felt. Would definitely watch a movie of this romcom just to see all of Adam’s brooding looks!

FIVE!! STARS!!

I was obsessed with Adam and June from the very beginning, and this was such a heartwarming story. It was so well written and I seriously couldn’t put it down. Second chance romance is my JAM, and this one was no different!!

And the fact that this is a debut novel is actually insane to me!!! Like, what do you mean? Anyway, this was my first fall read of the season, and I’m excited to read more and I’m SO excited for the second book from Joss!!