This has easily become one of my favorite books. The only thing I am bummed about is that it's Joss Richards first novel and I can't binge read everything she's written. In it's different this time we fall for June, a struggling actress and former broadway delight , and Adam, an accomplished chef and Junes former roommate( plus more?). When a once in a chance inheritance brings them back into the same room for the first time in 6 years they're forced to face the past, and possibly forge a future. The characters were likeable even when their actions weren't. The tension was hot, the spice even hotter. The story will have you screaming, crying, heartbroken, turned on, happy, cheerful, all of the emotions! 5 stars. Looking forward to more that Joss has in store for us!

A strong debut novel by Joss Richard centered on friends-to-lovers and second(+) chances. June and Adam were best friends and roommates for 6 years before something happened that irreparably damaged their friendship. I could really feel the pain from both Adam and June on the loss of their friendship, despite having only June's POV, and how deep their feelings ran, even years later. What seemed like a natural progression of their initial friendship turned into a huge mess that leads to unresolved heartbreak on both sides.

From the very beginning, it's clear that June and Adam belong together - the chemistry is there and there's already attraction/tension between them that is initially suppressed due to the roommate situation. The anticipation of what happened between them that led to their rift continues on for most of the book, but for me, it was ultimately kind of a let down as it leaned heavily on the miscommunication trope, which is one of my least favorite tropes. Even throughout the book (in the past and present timelines that the book bounces between), communication seems to be and continues to be their weak point, and it was definitely frustrating as a reader, when all I wanted was for them to sit down and have an honest conversation with each other. However, I did really like the characters, and my desire to see them come together allowed me to push through to the end.

Hold on.... I think I just read one of my favorite books this year?! I want to let you know I was NOT prepared for how quickly and deeply this book hooked me from the very beginning. I'm so grateful I was given the opportunity to read this book early and I went in completely blind not knowing the of beautiul love story I was going to follow. The tension, the yearning, the chemistry... it’s all so palpable and real. It’s the kind of book that reminds you why you fell in love with reading romance in the first place.

Joss Richard had me gushing and spiraling at all the tiny, tender moments—his hand on her back, a lingering gaze across the room, a casual leg bump under the table. Those small, intimate details made my heart ache and flutter as I was trying to cram in and read as much as possible into very late hours I should have been sleeping. I really wasn't expecting the rollercoaster of emotions I felt while reading this. I felt like I knew the characters personally as they felt so alive and real to me. Bravo to Joss Richard! Thank you for the gift of an incredible second chance romance and for June and Adam, whose story will remain with me forever.

3.25/⭐

hey, so when do I get to go to new york???

My favorite thing about this story was the setting. The hole in the wall stores and restaurants, the theaters, the atmosphere- so lush. And the writing????? OH MY WORD. I highlighted so many quotes it's not even funny. The fact that this is the author's debut is INSANE- look out for Joss Richard guys because she is going places. The way that she describes conflicting emotions, settings, and the mundane-ness of life was stunning. I loved the friendships and support system the FMC had as well- the fact that they had known each other for ages made the whole thing feel deeper and the topics hit harder. I think the author did a great job of describing the way that you can grow apart from people you love but you still love and care about each other.

But unfortunately this book just didn't do it for me- which brings us to the not so gushy portion of our review:
My least favorite part was the characters. They were immensely juvenile in their conflict. Like I get not wanting to take a way a possibly better future from someone you love but to just up and leave for NO REASON???? and then get mad because the dude moved on? like, honey you dumped him- it's your own fault. And he was no walk in the park either- they both got mad at each other for being uncertain of life, and neither of them could communicate despite being in their 30s. Guys, please. They made me so incredibly mad.

I also didn't like how the past chapters jumped from strangers to lovers- I wouldn't say there was a 'friend' era in there at all and I wanted to see them getting to know each other in a deeper way in the past instead of skipping through the months like the book did. The theater portions were also not my favorite- now I am a theater girly. I adore being on stage and musicals and all that jazz (see what I did there) but this felt like it was written in for a plot but not because the author adores theater other than movie musicals. All the name drops were very stereotypical theater shows- which is fine but the FMC was on a date and the guy said his favorite musical was Wicked to which the FMC goes (paraphrased) "Ugh exactly what a person who didn't know anything about musicals would say" and proceeds to tell us her fav show is Les Mis which I would argue is right up there with Wicked in popularity. And I wish there were more moments of the FMC doing acting- whether it was filming an audition or being on stage or filming on set. When I read a book I liked to be immersed in the characters lives and not just their friendships/romance. This is a romance/friendship/emotional book with some hastily thrown in 'life' and I really wanted that to be more prevalent.

*** note that there is a few spice scenes in this story***

I don't know how much of my thoughts are because I really just don't like second chance but I did enjoy this one and I'm curious to see what Richard comes out with next!!

A big thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group, and Dell Romance for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

IT’S DIFFERENT THIS TIME is drenched in the best kind of fall vibes (I could hear the leaves crunching and taste the pumpkin spice latte as I read this book). Richard’s love for New York Ciry is evident on every page, and as someone who works in entertainment, I was thrilled to see that this was an actor FMC written by an author familiar with Hollywood. This is a strong debut that should appeal to lovers of a dual timeline second chance romance with a good dose of angst. And I mean he’s a CHEF, what’s not to love?

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!

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!