FIVE 🗣️ FUCKING 🗣️ STARS 🗣️

my god, this was so beautiful and the fact that it’s a debut novel makes it even more incredible because WHAT DO YOU MEAN it’s Joss’ first book??? just wow.

I cried so many times and I don’t even understand why, it just made me very emotional for some reason. not all of it was sad, it just affected me very deeply.

June and Adam’s love story was so beautiful. roommates to friends to strangers back to friends to lovers I mean… is there anything more organic? I’m discovering that I really love friends to lovers trope, it’s very relatable for me.

the longing, the tension, knowing someone so deeply, loving them so hard you’re scared to risk it because you don’t wanna lose it, what if it doesn’t work out?

the found family, Adam’s incredible parents, the New York setting, I’m such a sucker for it. the musical background, Adam as a chef, fall in New York, west village brownstone. this is what dreams are made of 🥹

this was one of the best romance novels I’ve read in a while. can’t wait to see what else the author will come up with 🥹

I couldnt put it down. definitely a must read for this fall. I’ll be screaming from the rooftops to all my friends 🗣️

It’s Different This Time is an emotional second chance romance between a chef and an actress who randomly become roommates in NYC. I loved the autumn in New York vibes and how the author made the city feel so romantic. June and Adam’s relationship was really well developed - they were just friends for years but had so much chemistry and the yearning was so clearly there. The dual timeline was the perfect way to explain their history and had me riveted the whole time.

Their relationship was definitely a journey and I was honestly yelling at my kindle at times. June and Adam weren’t perfect by any means; they made bad decisions and struggled with communication, but the outcome was absolutely worth it. There were also some beautiful moments involving friends/family and just getting through life. This was a really great debut and I’m looking forward to reading more from the author!

Thank you to Dell/Ballantine & NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 ⭐️ arc review - It’s Different This Time by Joss Richard

I really enjoyed majority of this one, but the last 20ish% just fell flat for me and I honestly struggled to finish it. The miscommunication was so frustrating and hard for me to look past and I honestly just wanted to scream at both of them. Overall it was a cute story and for a debut novel, it wasn’t bad I just personally didn’t fall in love with it.

Tropes:
Second Chance
Friends to Lovers
Forced Proximity
Chef MMC

Read This Book If…you’re craving a Nora Ephron type of romance!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5
It’s Different This Time by Joss Richard

Genre: romance
Setting: NYC
POV: single, 1st person, present tense
Spice Level: 3/5🌶, 1-2 explicit scenes
Tropes: friends to strangers to lovers, forced proximity, found family, dual timeline

My Thoughts:
The yearning in this one was so strong, I thought it was a second chance romance for the first 25%! But no, it’s the most intense friends-to-strangers-to-lovers I think I’ve ever read!

You can expect lots of self-sabotage and heartbreak in this one, but the journey is worth it! The dual timeline was perfectly done, the past informing the present in an excruciating way.

Memorable Quote: “It’s a strange feeling being happy for someone and at the same time knowing they got all they wanted the minute you left their life.”

Thank you to the publisher for my advance copy! Available everywhere September 30!

I really enjoyed how this author wrote this story. The layout of it put all the pieces together wonderfully to tell the story of the FMC & MMC. It was a cute story and the spice level id say was a medium! If you like broadway, cozy, a setting in New York you will enjoy this one! I will be recommending to my friends who all enjoy reading!!

This was such an incredible book. I love a friends-to-lovers and this one certainly delivers. It was heartwarming, heartbreaking, and full of love, hope, life, and dreams.

Adam and June are destined to be together, and we see that play out over the years through the past and present timelines. I loved how they developed throughout and loved one another.

One thing I loved was that even when all their dreams came true, they weren’t complete without the other.

I also loved New York as the background; it was so well described and added so much to the story.

This was just so good, I loved every second.

I flew through this book- I thought it was such a fun, cozy read filled with second-chance and friends-to-lovers romance that I couldn't put it down. Bonus that it was set in NYC with a brownstone backdrop! I thought the timeline was woven in perfectly and I just loved reading about their relationship from start to now and what led them to end things the first time. This will be a re-read for me over the fall- I just connected with these characters and loved rooting for them! Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

3⭐

LIKED:
- As a lot of people have mentioned, the fall vibes were really nice. I honestly could have done with more, but I know that it will be a lot of what people are looking for.
- The duality of the two different parental situations was well done. June has a pretty estranged relationship with her parents and then Adam and his family are very close knit and June relies on that for a lot of the past timeline chapters. I just found that to be a really successful facet of the book.
- Theo rules. I love Theo. Agent’s can be presented as super scummy in a lot of media (for good reason a lot of the time), so I was glad to see that June had such a good relationship with her and that she really had June’s best interests at heart.
- I’m so glad that Riley was represented the way that she was. It could have been so easy to have written her as petty, bitter, etc., etc., but she was just a good person. I liked that.
- I like the cover. The book is all about the Brownstone and it takes place in fall. It’s cute. Adam’s crossed leg looks weird but eh.

LAMENTED:
- This book felt like a Ship of Theseus of existing rom-com conversations, plot-lines, archetypes, etc. Especially re: Nora Ephron. Like, I get it, she’s a master, but also…don’t just lift full on conversations from her work and act like it’s an homage. It felt really lazy. They have the whole “men and women can’t be friends if there’s any attraction’ conversation, ffs. There are a lot of examples and reliance on tropes that really aggravated me. Especially because the bones of the book are good, and there are things I do like.
- Why wasn’t Stanley on the page more. It was really odd that he’s supposed to bequeath this building to them but then we don’t get to see their relationship more than their introduction? He’s there, they talk about going to see him off-the-page. It’s just such a missed opportunity for emotional impact.
- I did not like June. I thought there was a lot about her that was fundamentally appealing: being a musical theatre actress, being Philippina (and in an industry were that is a severely underrepresented demographic), her relationships with those around her. But oh my god was she so frustratingly immature. She’s like 31 and she’s acting like she’s 20. It’s also tough because the differences between her past self and her present self are not stark enough for the lines to not repeatedly blur. I just wanted her to use her brain, like, 50% more that she did.
- Listen, I was a theatre student, in New York, so there’s a little bit of just the knowing a bit too much here, but the musicals and June’s job trajectory just irked the hell out of me. She calls out Adam for saying his favorite musical is Wicked because it’s an easy answer but her favorite is LES MIS?? Come on. Also, all of the musicals mentioned are just big name blockbuster musicals. I’m not saying we need minor musicals mentioned or anything, but there is more than Wicked, Rent, and Les Mis. And then June just goes from nothing to everything in the span of like a few months and THEN she leaves it all and THEN she comes back and it’s all just WAITING for her? There’s only so much disbelief that I can suspend.
- The Miscommunication of it all is some of the most egregious I’ve ever seen. ESPECIALLY their past transgressions. It’s, honestly, unbelievable. Like yes, people don’t talk or share feelings, but this just feels so forced to me.
- I can forgive the “tiny girl, big man” trope unless we as readers are CONSTANTLY being reminded of it. We get it. He’s huge. Congratulations. Who cares. But also, at one point it’s mentioned that he’s THIRTEEN INCHES TALLER than her. And yet she is supposed to be able to be chest height? I mean, I guess your sternum is your chest but also that is very much not what was being said. I just found it exhausting. Especially since we’re also just reminded over and over again about how hot everyone thinks Adam is. Like, sure, he can be hot, that’s fine, it’s romance. But we don’t need that many opportunities for people to remind June and us, frankly.
- The Epilogue? What was that. <spoiler> WHY WOULD THEY LEAVE?? Why are they going to LA?? Does she even LIKE it there??? I get that he opens a restaurant, but WHAT?? And omg of course she won a Tony. Like, yeah, I know romances are fantasies, but I would love some realism. </spoiler>
- Is it different this time? Because it really feels like it’s more or less the same.

LONGED FOR:
- June to make adult decisions.
- These two to talk to each other.
- Stanley? Where was Stanley?


(How Long) Do I Think They’ll Stay Together? : Eh. Honestly? I don’t know. The Epilogue is weird and these characters’ feelings for each other feel so superficial to me. They’ll stay together and live a boring upper-class life.

Will I read the next one? : Maybe.


Books with Similar Vibes :
- 'Lease on Love' by Falon Ballard
- 'Passion Project' by London Sperry
- 'What Happens in Amsterdam' By Rachel Lynn Solomon
- 'You, Again' by Kate Goldbeck
- 'The Seven Year Slip' by Ashley Poston
- 'Give Me a Reason' by Jayci Lee
- 'People We Meet on Vacation' by Emily Henry
- 'This Summer Will Be Different' by Carley Fortune

As a debut, excuse me…I am speechless.

This made my second chance loving, When Harry Met Sally, Nora Ephron, fall in NYC soul very happy. June & Adam felt heartbreakingly real and their story brought me to tears, multiple times. I think I may recommend this book forever.

What made this reading experience even more special was the opportunity to read (and simultaneously lose our mind over) the arc with my friends as a spontaneous buddy read this week. So thank you to Ballantine and NetGalley for approving all of our requests and for the opportunity to give my candid feedback. Much love! 💕

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballentine/ Dell for this ARC.

Absolutely loved this book! Cozy Fall vibes and an NYC brownstone, set the perfect tone for this story. What I didn’t expect was the emotional reaction I would have to this book. June was such a relatable character and Joss Richard’s really built the story between June and Adam perfectly.

I will definitely be recommending this books!

This book had the perfect set up to be a great second chance, friends to lovers romance. Unfortunately, the execution just wasn't there for me.

I really did love the premise of this book. A second chance romance where ex-roommates are thrust back into each other's lives when they inherit their old house together. This was a great idea for a romance book, and I've never read anything else quite like it.

I'm sad to say that I didn't really enjoy anything else about it. I found the prose to be rambling and simplistic, and the dialogue felt unnatural. The main characters spent more time talking to the side characters than each other. Both main characters were very bland, and at the 70% mark I still felt like I didn't know much of anything about them or why they liked each other. They never fought for each other, and it was only because of a random occurrence they ended up together in the end. I didn't feel any emotion for them or from them.

I think the plot of this book might be enough for some readers to enjoy it, but I just needed more emotional depth.

5/5 stars

I will shout it from the rooftops, this book was INCREDIBLE! I don't know how this is a debut novel, it was that good!! This book checks all the boxes for me, romance, fall vibes, NYC, setting as a character, amazing side characters and second chance romance.

Small synopsis from Goodreads: In this sweeping, second-chance romance, a twist of fate forces two former roommates to move back into their beloved New York City brownstone and face the events that led to their estrangement—and confront their unresolved feelings for each other.

The writing was perfection and kept me so engaged in the story. The dual timeline was so well done and didn't leave me confused at all. Second chance romance is my favorite troupe and this one was so well done and their lives/stories were believable. June and Adam each have some qualities that made me love them. I loved Adam as a chef and watching his career unfold. His family melts my heart and I want a book where his sister is the main character. June is so talented and watching her career progress was so beautiful. This book melted my heart and I was definitely like to buy a copy and annotate it. And the ending! I just wanted to hug this book when I finished it!

Read this book if you like:
-second chance romance
-Fall in NYC
-Chef MMC and actress FMC
-dual timelines
-spicy books

It's Different This Time is soooooo stinking cute! I ate this one up! Typically, I am not the biggest fan of second chance romances, so when I read one that I love, it's a big deal. Joss Richard has crafted two incredible characters with June and Adam. Their chemistry was delightful. I couldn't put this book down.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for providing me with eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this book. I read it in a day because I could simply not put it down. It has been a while since a contemporary romance caught my attention this way and I found myself so immersed in the story that I just couldn’t stop. It gave me alllll of the vibes and mushy feelings that I needed.

I am a softy for a second chance romance and dual timelines, so I ate this up. The author did an incredible job on her transitions from one timeline to the other. It was the perfect mix of both and I really appreciated that.

June and Adam were incredibly lovable and the side characters were so much fun and brought a lot of depth into the story. Theo’s phone calls and side conversations with her kids were so relatable as a parent that has to often be on call while in the presence of my kids.

Anyways I could go on and on about this book because I am obsessed with it. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! I can’t believe this is a debut novel and cannot wait to see what else Joss Richard writes in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for the chance to read this book.

I absolutely adored everything about this book. It was the perfect second chance romance and the NYC setting in fall time made it even more cozy and romantic. June and Adam have been friends for many years; they have both always been open about how important each other is to the other but never quite cross the line of being all the way romantic. The chemistry between them is undeniable and you find yourself rooting for both of the characters. Their daily struggles with family, careers and friends are all very real and relatable.
When a kind stranger leaves his NYC home to the last tenants that lived there in his will and those two people happen to be June and Adam they are forced back together, and they not only have to figure out what they want to do about now owning a home together but also about their past and their feelings for each other. There is an alternating timeline of past and present, and it really helped to shape the story and gives the reader a glimpse into they why and how of their relationship. I enjoyed this book so much more than I thought I was going to. It kept me wanting to come back to it every time I had a free minute.

This debut swept me away. I loved following June and Adam’s second-chance romance, one of my all-time favorite tropes. When I realized the story used flashbacks to their past, I knew it was going to be something special. The way those moments were woven into the present timeline made their emotional journey feel layered, raw, and so believable.
I especially loved how their reconnection was framed through the apartment—it carried such intimacy and symbolism, the kind of setup that makes you believe love really can return when the timing is finally right. The tension between them, and that pivotal moment where everything shifts, tugged so hard at my heart.
Yes, there’s miscommunication, but here it felt true to the characters. June’s hesitation and guardedness grow out of her painful childhood, and her slow journey toward trust and vulnerability added real depth to the story. Watching her learn to open herself up made the romance not only satisfying but deeply moving.

This was such a fantastic debut. The writing pulled me in immediately, with a mix of deep yearning, sharp tension, and authentic emotion that made June and Adam’s connection feel alive on the page. Whether in the present or flashbacks, their chemistry was undeniable—I found myself frustrated with their missed opportunities while still rooting hard for them to figure it out. The dual timelines worked well here, giving weight to their history while keeping me invested in how they might finally come back together.

The NYC setting was another highlight. Having lived in the city myself, I loved how it captured the rhythm of fall in Manhattan—the brownstones, coffee shops, and street scenes that make the city feel both chaotic and intimate at once. It made me miss fall in the East Village and it gave the story a grounding that made the premise feel believable and added to the cozy, atmospheric vibe.

If I had one critique, it’s that I wanted even more time with June and Adam together. The miscommunication and detours into June’s personal journey sometimes slowed the momentum and left me wanting to shake her, but the payoff was still worth it. The tension, banter, and tenderness in the moments we do get are so strong, they left me both satisfied and wishing for more. For readers who enjoy second chance romances with depth, atmosphere, and a dash of perfect fall vibes, this is absolutely worth picking up.

Thank you NetGalley for this advanced reader copy! I absolutely loved “It’s Different This Time”. June and Adam are best friends and roommates, until one day, they are estranged and living on opposite sides of the country. Fast forward 5 years, and June lives in LA as an actress, and Adam in NYC as a chef. One day, June receives a call stating she needs to fly into NYC because she inherited a brownstone in West Village, she flies there and runs into Adam at the attorney’s office. They are told they are co- owners of the brownstone they were the last people to live there and the previous owner left it to them together. But, June can’t stand to be in the same room as Adam, and Adam wants to be close to June, close enough that he moves into the brownstone with her and old flames reignite. We have a dual time line to show us past and present June and Adam, and a beautiful fall setting in New York City. I loved reading this book, I truly felt like I was exploring the city, I loved the friendship and love that Adam and June had for one another, and I love the family that June finally found for herself.

I received a complimentary copy of It's Different this Time in exchange for an honest review. This was a wuick easy read with a nice story. Love Adam. He really made the story along wth the landlord. What aneat way to tie in a storyline. I would highly recommend.

I really enjoyed this book! I loved all of the autumnal vibes that this book had. It also is a second chance between former roommates.