ARC Review

First off, this book was exactly what I needed. I selected this book personally because of the cover, but the writing and story within were just as fun, Now, in previous books I have read, I have struggled with dual timelines throughout a contemporary romance novel. Not because it’s difficult, but because I just want the story to move on. However, this was done fantastically. Next, the characters, June and Adam, felt true. Felt real. Their dynamic wasn’t forced, it was natural and I loved that Joe’s Richard used a dual ownership for a house to bring them together back from the past. I really enjoyed this and I can’t wait to see what else this author has in store because this being their debut novel is excellent!!!

Tropes:
Contemporary Romance
Dual POVs and Timelines
Second Chance Romance

Thank you to NetGalley, Joss Richard, and Ballantine for this chance to read this novel

This novel releases September 30, 2025

My review is posted on Goodreads, with a link below because it has some mild spoilers. I gave it a 2.5 out of 5 stars (rounded down) on both here and in Goodreads. I want to preface by saying I didn't hate the book, the romance just wasn't my cup of tea. I go way more in depth as to why this is the case in my Goodreads review, so if you'd like to read it with the spoilers the link is available. I'd be interested in checking out future works depending on what she writes next, but this book wasn't for me. "It's Different this Time" could be the perfect second chance romance for you to kick off the fall season with, though, so I'd recommend checking it out if it peaks your interest!

Link:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7888220310

3.5 or 4 Stars can’t decide!

NYC Setting
Friends to Lovers
SLOW BURN
Found Family
He’s a chef she’s an actress

I will definitely be reading more from this author, this being a debut is honestly insane.


🌶️
Bit spicy at parts but skippable. Ch. 23 and maybe one more can’t remember.

𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 4.75

𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗟𝗶𝗸𝗲:

☆ Romance
☆ Dual Timelines
☆ Forced Proximity
☆ Slow Burn
☆ Friends to Lovers

𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀:

First of all, I am absolutely floored that this is Joss Richard’s debut novel. The writing style is easy to follow while also being full of raw emotion and witty banter. The pacing flows beautifully, the New York City setting is absolutely spectacular, and I felt emotionally attached to all the characters that the story stayed on my mind even when I wasn’t reading.
The tension, yearning, and angst were all top tier for me. The only reason this wasn’t a full five-star read is because of the miscommunication trope. I personally despise that trope. Don't get me wrong, I completely understood why it was necessary for the plot, but it still made me want to smash my Kindle into a brick wall.
If you are looking for a romance with autumnal vibes, I highly recommend picking this one up.

✨️ Thank you so much to NetGalley, Ballenttine, and Dell for the advanced copy of this heartfelt book in exchange for an honest review.

𝗙𝗮𝘃𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗤𝘂𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀:

-The quotes referenced are from an advanced reader's copy and may not reflect the final version. Please refer to the finished copy for accuracy.-

"But wishing things were different is no use - people leave and people disappoint you. It's those who have yet to realize that whom I feel bad for."

"Blood doesn't mean you're family."

"There's no way to preserve anything forever. Trust me, I know. You win, you lose ... but you can't do either unless you take a chance."

"We're all just people looking for love and doing the best we can."

I’m so impressed that this was Joss Richard’s first book. It was amazing, and I rated it 4.5 stars, which rounded to 5 on Goodreads. This book gave me all of the emotions, and I couldn’t stop reading it. This was the perfect fall read, and thank you so much to Net Galley & Ballantine for this ebook ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! Review posted on my Goodreads account on 9/24/25 and link is attached!

Wow. Now THIS was a 6 star read for me. THIS was a second chance romance DONE RIGHT. A super slow burn friends to lovers.

Miss Joss Richard?! This was a debut novel masterpiece!

Their chemistry was so strongly felt throughout. But 12+ years of history?! Their history alone tied me in, had me in so deep trying to figure out what went wrong, when, how, why. I also know if we ever get Adam’s POV through the years, we would feel that man YEARNING (I need it).

The dual timeline simultaneously broke my heart and put it back together. I would be kicking my feet giddy but then also had to physically hold my chest because my heart ached.

June & Adam were adorable and addicting from the beginning. I was rooting for their HEA from the start. Then once the ending came, I immediately missed them and immediately wanted to re-read. I need more June & Adam.

It's incredible that this is a debut novel! Joss, you’re brilliant!

Thank you to NetGalley for this absolutely emotional and heartwarming fall romance. Thank you, Joss, for creating my new favorite MMC!

If you enjoy the works of Emily Henry and Abby Jimenez, you will absolutely love this book. It features a found family, the roommates-to-best friends-to-lovers trope, a New York setting, and musicals. I connected deeply with the feelings and conflicts of the female main character; this story really resonated with me. And Adam, oh, Adam! Acts of service and the yearninggggg! Always perfect to see in a man who falls first and falls hard.

I highly recommend this read to everyone this fall. I can't wait to run to the bookstore as soon as it releases so I can reread it!

I’m still scratching my head at this one because I loved the premise but the switch between present day vs. past killed the timing and yearning this book needed.

The big reveal of why their relationship ended happened too close to the end for there to be any real mend to their relationship. While I felt like June had character (in more negative ways than positive) I can’t say I feel much of anything for Adam. Other than feeling sorry for Adam, I don’t remember anything interesting about him other than he is hot(?), a chef, and is dedicated to supporting June’s job/hobbies. It’s great we got to see his family but I felt like those moments were more between June and his parents versus all of them together.

Despite the flaws between the two main characters, it was hard to put down. I’m taking a work trip to NYC next week and this felt like the perfect way to get excited for fall and being back in the city. While I had my issues with this book, I think the tone/stylization of the book shows great potential for this author!!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review!

It's Different This Time:
My new hyper-fixation because I loved everything about this book! Second chance swoony romance set in fall in NYC, main characters are a Broadway actress and a chef, AND When Harry Met Sally vibes.
So, so good. I can't wait for this book to be out in the world because I know it's going to get so much love!

Thank you @netgalley @dellromance @joss.richard for the ARC!

If you are someone who loves a friends to lovers second chance, dual timeline story, this book will very likely be a big hit for you. I will be very honest and say that I struggle to fully enjoy dual timelines in second chance romance novels, which I wasn’t aware this had ahead of time. That’s on me, and I don’t want to take anything away from the writing just because the way the story is told isn’t my personal favorite. The writing is emotional and vivid, and the feelings of the characters, particularly June’s since it is single-POV, are palpable.

I will gladly defend June against people who say she’s ‘unlikable’. Has she made a lot of mistakes? Yes, absolutely. Is she the best at communicating or facing tough conversations/situations? Definitely not. But you know what? She’s human and so many of her choices are self-preservation for the little girl inside of her who wasn’t shown the love she deserved growing up. She may be selfish in her actions, but doesn’t act with maliciousness toward anyone, rather it’s in an effort to protect herself.

I don’t feel like I know Adam on a very deep level. That said, it’s impossible not to feel for him when it comes to how things played out in the past between him and June. I can defend June while also still saying that he deserved better, especially from a purely friendship standpoint. One thing that is very easy to say about him is that he was a good friend to her and didn’t get that in return at the point of their estrangement.

The present timeline was the more enjoyable reading experience for me. I prefer to see how and where the characters are going up from their lowest in a second chance rather than spending a lot of time revisiting the past (and past relationships) to get to that low.

This is a great debut and I do very much look forward to reading what more is to come from Joss Richard. Thank you to Dell for the eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
*Possible spoilers*
I don't know what to say about June & Adam. I loved their friendship. The dual timelines were great with not giving anything away. And then came the last third of the book. I look for the good (see the 4 stars). I'm generous. However, June got under my skin. As the third act came, I just waited for her to blow everything up.
Then with what seems to be the latest trend- the MMC saves it all (4 stars). I liked this book until I didn't and then there was some redemption. I wish it was dual POV at times. Adam & Chloe were the gems here.

6 👏🏽 Star 👏🏽 Read 👏🏽

It’s Different This Time was an engaging, romantic, and emotional read. The perfect fall romance for fans of Emily Henry and Tarah DeWitt or classic rom-coms like Sleepless in Seattle and You’ve Got Mail.

The writing and vibes of the whole book from start to finish were immaculate. Set in NYC and told through a dual timeline, we follow June and Adam over the course of over a decade of friendship, being roommates, being more, falling out, and reconnecting. I was not prepared for how emotional their journey would be. The angst! The yearning! The history!

As characters, both June and Adam felt so complex, grounded, and real that I almost forgot I was reading a book about fictional characters. It truly felt like I was getting glimpses as they were living their lives. Their relationship felt as natural as breathing. It just was. No notes. I love them.

This is a debut novel from author Joss Richard and I am eagerly awaiting more books from her.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine | Dell for an advanced readers copy of this book.

In a nutshell - I really enjoyed this book. I would say it falls under "typical romance" but the back and forth memory flashbacks were a nice change of pace. The storyline was unique, which helps this book stand out in the sea of romance these days. The chemistry between our two main characters was palpable (even if their lack of communication was abhorrent.) I suppose overcoming parental trauma can do that to a person.

Definitely a great first run for a new author. I'd put her on my "always read list."

📚Trope(s): He falls first, MMC silent broody type, 3rd act "breakup" - trauma - whatever
What you get: 🎭🎶👨🏻‍🍳🗽🌃
⭐️Plot: 5/5
🔥Chemistry: 5/5
🌶️Spice: 3.5/5

Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine for a free copy of this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I picked this book after reading Drawn Together by Juliana Smith and I was craving another fall in NYC romance for feel good vibes. Unfortunately, unlike Drawn Together, I hated this book. I had to force myself through the last 30% and rolled my eyes so many times, so unfortunately this is not going to be a kind review. This dislike was for a variety of reasons, but most predominantly, it was because June was one of the most insufferable, childish, immature, and selfish characters I have ever read and that's saying something, because I have spent more than 1000 pages inside the head of Violet Sorrengail.

From the very beginning of the book, June is naive in a way that is not charming, it's just annoying, and this came through in the set up of the book as well. I liked the idea of them being left the house and the forced proximity there, but in the flashbacks, when they move into the house to begin with, I stopped being able to take this book seriously when June said she was looking for an apartment in NYC with a budget of $1300. It's so unrealistic it completely took me out of the story. This idea continued in the present day timeline with her talking constantly about not being able to afford rent, but somehow she's constantly going out to eat and buying clothing and now somehow needs to pay property taxes on a house when she doesn't have a job. This, combined with there being seemingly no reason for Adam to have to live in the house (June's reasoning at least made sense - she couldn't afford the flight back) gave the book such a shaky premise. The entire logistical setup was flawed in a way that made the story nearly impossible to enjoy.


*****MILD SPOILERS BELOW*****
(skip to end spoilers for rest of review)

From there, I thought maybe I could get behind the romance, but I could because of the pacing and once again because of June. We as the reader do not even know what happened between them before suddenly they're together again. It was so bad you move across the country and don't talk for 6 years but not so bad because after a week of living together you're about to have sex in his restaurant? (Don't even get me started on the sex scenes...I felt so viscerally uncomfortable). The first 40-50% was fine, but then suddenly they're together again, except we haven't seen any emotional work from June and there's no payoff to the moment. Then it seemed like the novel couldn't decide what June wanted, especially towards the end as we suddenly add back in her insecurities and the absolutely ridiculous third act "breakup". These characters are supposed to be in their THIRTIES. And the worst of it all was that other characters acknowledged how insane June was being, which means the author knows it too. Choosing to reserve the full explanation for the falling out until 80% into the book was, in my opinion, a terrible choice. It left the book feeling messy, the character arcs inconsistent, and to top it all off, the ending completely unsatisfying because the reason we waited 80% for was stupid.


******END SPOILERS*******

The only reason this gets 2 stars instead of 1 is because at the very least, I enjoyed SOME of the moments between Adam and June, particularly the ones with his family and a few of their bantering moments. All I gotta say though is that Adam, king, you deserve better. He was communicative and up front about his feelings and June waffled for reasons that didn't even seem to align with her character, it seemed more so like the author just needed conflict. It seemed, however, like the author couldn't decide what conflict to settle on to justify both June running away but also her being able to come back, and the book read like it. This needed a strong developmental edit, because some cringy dirty talk and a few cute family moments are not enough to carry the other 400 pages of logistical headache and irritating characters.

This book is probably not as bad as I'm making it out to be, but my biggest pet peeve in reading is when I can see the author's hand behind the story, especially when, in my opinion, it is shoddily done. I feel bad I was so mean, but I cannot overstate how annoyed I was reading the last 40% of this book.

Thank you again to Netgalley and Ballantine for this e-arc.

What a wonderful debut novel! It's kind of long based on your average romance novel, but I enjoyed every single page!

This story set in New York is a second chance for two people who were roommates years ago. They were best friends with feelings for each other, but it all fell apart with crushed feelings on the part of both. Now they have ended up inheriting that house they used to share and staying for a while. The time is a gift--a beautiful gift that gives them the chance to make things right and get things right this time around.

This was such a great book. The story pulled me in and would not let go of me! The journey of these two characters coming together was truly a work of art. I hope I get the chance to read more by this author!

Thanks to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the digital copy. All thoughts are my own.

This book was everything you want in a romance. Plus all the nostalgia of New York in autumn and best friends wanting more gives ‘When Harry Met Sally’ feels. This was a beautifully written story where you want the characters to be together and live their lives. I was rooting for them from the start. June and Adam were meant for each other and I loved the past and present timeline. For a first time author, Joss Richards knew exactly what she was doing and I give it infinity stars. This will be an immediate add to my physical bookshelf purchase and I can’t wait to see what else she writes in the future.

Thank you to PRH audio, Ballantine and Dell for the gifted audiobook and ebook! All opinions are my own.

June is at a crossroads in her life when she gets an unexpected call that has her headed back to New York. She finds herself in the place she said she would never return and as a new owner of a brownstone with the person she thought she’d never see again.

I absolutely loved this book! I was immediately immersed in this story. This book is set in fall in New York, and you get both the theater and culinary experience through June and Adam’s careers, which I thought was so fun. Joss did an amazing job developing the connection and chemistry between June and Adam through dual timelines. It was so heartwarming to see their connection grow from roommates to friends to lovers. I just loved the found family and sweet moments! There was also an element of intrigue in the present timeline as to why June and Adam haven’t spoken in years. I loved seeing them reconnect and get a second chance. There is some miscommunication, but it felt genuine to the characters. This book gave me all the feels and I was so emotionally invested in these characters! I had a hard time putting it down!

I really enjoyed the narration by Ferdelle Capistrano. Things the first book I’ve listened to narrated by her and definitely will not be the last! I thought she brought great emotion and life to the characters.

Definitely recommend picking this one up!

This was such a good read. Usually I’m not a fan of second chance romances but this one worked well. The pacing was good and I was invested in all the characters. Both MC characters felt realistic and the love felt natural and sweet. I sorta didn’t want it to end. This is definitely a book that everyone should read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc

I absolutely loved this story about two friends who inherit a brownstone in New York City. June moved to the city with big dreams of being a theater star, and she was desperate for a roommate once she found her dream apartment. Adam, an aspiring chef, was also desperate for a place to live. The two become roommates and best friends, but it’s clear there could be more. Now brought back together years later, will they finally let their hearts lead them back to one another? Or not risk their friendship?

I love a friends to lovers romance. This one had great spice, and characters I was really rooting for. I loved the fall vibes!

Thank you to NetGalley and Dell Romance for a free digital copy of the book in exchange for my honest review!

2 ⭐️

This had a good concept but the execution fell flat for me. I wished we had dual POVS. Reading Adam’s perspective would have given the story so much more. It lacked depth. June was insufferable. She held herself back and ultimately was her own worst enemy. This could have all been resolved if they had an honest and open conversation years previous. She lacked maturity.


Slow burn
Friends to lovers
Miscommunication trope
Dual timelines past & present
Forced proximity



A massive thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read an arc of It’s Different this Time. All thoughts and opinions are my own.