This was everything I wanted out of a second chance romance. I'm classically a sucker for this trope and I loved how this was done. This is a debut novel for this author and wow was I surprised it was her first! June and Adam were lovable cuties and I love the dual timelines we got from this story showing how close they were/are and you are unveiled why they stopped being friends. This made me cry, I'm in love.

Thank you Netgalley and Ballantine for the opportunity to read this ARC!

This charming contemporary romance pulled me in from the start with its irresistible setup. When June stumbles across her dream brownstone apartment in NYC, there’s just one catch—she needs someone to split the rent. That’s where Adam comes in, a charming culinary student also searching for a place to live. What begins as a simple roommate situation slowly transforms into something deeper. But now, in the present, they’re no longer speaking... and both receive a cryptic email tied to the apartment they once shared.

Told in a then-and-now format, the story keeps you flipping pages as it unravels what went wrong between June and Adam. Watching their connection shift from strangers to friends to something more was incredibly rewarding. The emotional tension felt genuine, and the supporting characters added warmth and humor throughout. I also loved how the book celebrates ambition—both June’s acting dreams and Adam’s culinary journey. If you're a fan of slow-burn romance, found family vibes, and NYC stories, this one is definitely worth picking up when it hits shelves in September. Bonus points if you read it while in the city—it made my experience even more special.

June & Adam were absolutely adorable! I love me a second-chance romance, and this one delivered. These two were once just young adults artists in NYC, struggling to find their way and now are adults who tackle challenges a bit differently.

The dual timeline let's us see how their relationship builds over time while keeping a bit of mystery about why it didn't work out for them the first time around. I felt compelled to keep reading to see how their relationship would unfold in both past and present. I loved that there was so much emotional depth to both characters and room for each of them to grow. I will say that the amount of miscommunication got a bit annoying, but I still enjoyed the book a lot despite it.

This would be an immaculate read for the Fall/early winter. Fall in NYC screams romance, and I love that the author chose this setting.

Thank you to Netgalley and Dell romance for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts!

The main characters share a past—for a long time, they rented the same apartment in New York and were very close friends. But something happened between them, and June moved to Los Angeles. They haven’t seen or spoken to each other in five years, until June finds out that the owner of that same apartment has died and left it to both her and Adam.

Let me start by saying I really enjoyed the first part of the book. June is a stage and film actress struggling with her career, and Adam is a well-known chef. Their past and present are intertwined, and from the very beginning, my heart was clenching as I waited to learn what had caused their falling out. This is a debut, but the author writes masterfully—I was so emotionally invested in the characters that I honestly wanted to throw my Kindle at the wall at times. I won’t spoil anything, but I’ll say the reason didn’t work for me. And later on, I got even more frustrated by some of the heroine’s actions—so unfortunately, I can’t give it a higher rating. Also, I was expecting a second-chance romance, but it didn’t quite feel like one.

The cover is beautiful, but don’t be misled—this isn’t a light romantic comedy. This story will make you feel deeply, get angry, and empathize with the characters.

𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬:
✓friends to lovers
✓dual timeline
✓forced proximity
✓found family

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine (Dell) for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This is a second-chance romance set in New York City with a dual timeline: past and present. We follow June, a struggling actress, and Adam, who’s now a successful chef and restaurateur. In the past, they meet in NYC, become roommates, and build a strong friendship. In the present, they’re forced back into each other’s lives, and those old feelings start to resurface.

Their chemistry is clear from the start, so it’s really satisfying when they finally give in to it. The NYC setting is super charming, with a cozy fall vibe, and there are a lot of cute, feel-good moments between them.

That said, the back and forth between timelines could get a little confusing. Also, the big reason they broke up the first time? It’s teased for most of the book, and when it’s finally revealed, it doesn’t feel like that big of a deal. Definitely not enough to end a relationship over. The third-act breakup felt like a repeat of the same issue, which was frustrating. It uses one of those romance tropes that feels tired at this point, and it kind of made it seem like the characters hadn’t really grown.

Overall, it doesn’t do anything super new for the genre, but if you love second-chance romances or anything set in NYC, it’s a fun read with plenty of heart.

This is a second-chance romance set in New York City with a dual timeline: past and present. We follow June, a struggling actress, and Adam, who’s now a successful chef and restaurateur. In the past, they meet in NYC, become roommates, and build a strong friendship. In the present, they’re forced back into each other’s lives, and those old feelings start to resurface.

Their chemistry is clear from the start, so it’s really satisfying when they finally give in to it. The NYC setting is super charming, with a cozy fall vibe, and there are a lot of cute, feel-good moments between them.

That said, the back and forth between timelines could get a little confusing. Also, the big reason they broke up the first time? It’s teased for most of the book, and when it’s finally revealed, it doesn’t feel like that big of a deal. Definitely not enough to end a relationship over. The third-act breakup felt like a repeat of the same issue, which was frustrating. It uses one of those romance tropes that feels tired at this point, and it kind of made it seem like the characters hadn’t really grown.

Overall, it doesn’t do anything super new for the genre, but if you love second-chance romances or anything set in NYC, it’s a fun read with plenty of heart.

I’m a big fan of this book. The book made me feel like I was in NYC in the fall. Had a Nora Ephron film quality to the story and location. I really enjoyed the character development and the two time settings. Overall, would recommend this book.

Wow, what an electric debut! A truly unique premise for a romance with yearning that drove me mad in the best way. Cannot recommend this one enough for some laughs, and maybe a few tears.

I was invited by the publisher to read and review this novel and finally decided that this was the weekend to pick it up- and it was everything I didn’t even know I needed in a rom com. I LOVED Adam and June and the structure of this novel really worked for me: alternating between the current timeline and working backwards through what happened with then 6+ years ago. I’m super impressed with this debut, and already look for wars to Joss Richard’s next novel (I’m already confident this will be well-received and there WILL be another novel!).

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

᪥ Wow! This book was such a sweet read. Thank you so much to Net Galley and Joss Richard for allowing me to read this arc copy before the book is released! I loved getting to follow along with June and Adam’s story. I thought it was so cool how this book used multiple timelines in a side-by-side comparison to show how things were in the past to how things are now in the present.

᪥ I loved the vibes of this book so much!! It was very cute and cozy, as the book takes place in Fall. It is set primarily in New York with a few scenes in LA and Connecticut. June is an aspiring actress, and Adam is an aspiring chef. It was beautiful to watch the two as they worked toward their dream careers, supporting each other along the way. It was also so precious to me that June was an actress who also worked at a bookstore for a lot of her life because that would be such a dream life for me 😭

᪥ I am so in awe that this is Joss Richard’s debut book?! Girl, you are an incredible writer, and I am so excited to see what you create next! Thank you so much for creating this beautiful story filled with found family, forced proximity, and the deeper meaning of what it means to be loved unconditionally. 🤍

An impressive debut contemporary romance novel - very excited to read whatever Joss Richard writes next.

It's Different This Time is a second chance romance / friends-to-lovers story of June, a broadway and eventual screen actress, and Adam, and chef turned restaurant owner. June and Adam first meet when June finds the perfect brownstone in NYC and needs a roommate to split the rent with her. 10 years later, June and Adam are no longer in touch but are brought back together when the brownstone's tenancy gets passed down to them. They must live together back in their dream brownstone for a month until all legalities are finalized. The novel goes back and forth chronologically between the current timeline and the original meeting and growing friendship between the two.

I'm chronically a non-emotional reader but this book almost got me to tears in a few different chapters!

Out September 30th, 2025
I picked up It’s Different This Time on a whim, and right from the first chapter I was hooked. Joss Richard crafts a story that feels both familiar and surprising, blending humor with moments that genuinely tug at your heart. The premise—a self-help podcaster who suddenly has to reckon with her own advice when her world unravels—genuinely flips expectations in the best way.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dell for this ARC!

This had everything I want in a New York-based romance - the idyllic fall vibes, a cozy brownstone, a main character trying to make it on Broadway, and a hero who’s a talented chef who’s love language is frequently whipping up elaborate meals for our main character. I really enjoyed the first half of this story, and getting to see their friendship grow and how effortlessly they fit themselves into each other’s lives. I was even tearing up for the entire second half of this book because I was so invested, but the ending reveal paired with the third act breakup ruined this for me. With miscommunication being the main reason for both, it didn’t feel like much was “different this time”.

For two people who were so intertwined, they never figured out how to have an honest, transparent conversation about their feelings and what they wanted out of life or from each other. I don’t know if I would have been able to forgive June if I was Adam, and in the end, I was left wanting more of a conversation, grovelling, a gesture, therapy - something from June's end to prove that she was taking steps to finally make a firm decision and be an actual partner to Adam.

i went into this book really wanting to love it bc it’s sold as second chance in new york for broadway lovers but the characters, the dialogue, the romance all fell flat which is so sad to say. i felt like i didn’t fully know june or adam. i knew their occupations and their aspirations but they felt very one dimensional. i had a hard time connecting to them or being invested in their story. I felt like all of the characters had a very similar voice, so it was hard to differentiate who was talking.

june and adam have been friends for 7 years and we’re shown their connection in the flashbacks but even that fell short. almost every other chapter is a flashback but the scenes felt insignificant and didn’t feel like they propelled the story forward. in fact the amount of flashbacks were kind of confusing bc we switched so often i had a hard time telling if we were in the past or present. i couldn’t pinpoint how close june and adam were and i didn’t feel invested in their friendship. even the relationship they’re trying to build now felt so rushed. i felt like i was missing chapters bc of how fast the relationship was moving.

we finally got some much needed answers to questions i had but it was almost 65% into the book and the answers i got pissed me off. this book felt kind of stiff and boring and repetitive. the first 20% or so had potential but overall i couldn’t wait for it to be over.

i think if you want a quick romance read you could potentially like this! i loved the nyc setting, it made me want to visit in autumn and felt so romantic. i really wish i liked this more but there’s so many better second chance romances out there. if anything this book just made me want to watch les mis 🤷🏻‍♀️

thanks for netgalley and dell for an arc in exchange for an honest review!

Thoroughly enjoyed this second change romance. I found the characters to be likable and engaging.

Thank you to netgalley for an advanced copy. My options are my own.

Wow - what an amazing debut novel!!! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I cannot believe this is Joss’ first book. The writing, the pacing, the angst, the use of dual timelines - CHEF’S KISS (looking at you Adam). I love a second chance romance! Especially one where the reason it didn’t work out the first time is totally believable, yet not unforgivable. And the slow burn was burrrrrrning. The forced proximity was everything. There was even some super sweet found family going on that had me tearing up on several occasions.

While there is miscommunication and a 3rd act break up - it didn’t bother me at all. It felt necessary to the plot and their relationship.

I preordered this - and you should too 🩵

4.5 stars This was a very cute romance book! Switching between the past and present, when two former roommates are brought together again after years apart and their feelings they've always had for each other and reignited. The story of June and Adam's romance was believable, and well written. I love when a romance book is not cheesy and doesn't have over the top spice. This was the perfect read, and I highly recommend it!
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Absolutely wonderful. It was so hard to put this book down to do the things I needed to do over the past few days. I was drawn in immediately - Adam and June are incredible main characters and watching their parallel stories develop through the two timelines was so beautiful. Watching them both grow as individuals and together was such a fun journey to be brought on. I love this and can’t wait to see what else she puts out. No notes - an easy 5 stars.

Reeling from the cancellation of her hit TV show, June Wood has nothing left to lose when a mysterious email lures her back to the New York City brownstone she once called home before she moved to Los Angeles. Thanks to a clause in the former owner’s will, she and her old roommate, Adam Harper, now own the multimillion-dollar property—or at least they will in a month, once all the paperwork is signed. Four weeks, then June can return to her life in LA and forget about New York City and everything she left behind. Sure, the fact that June and Adam are estranged and haven’t even spoken in five years, and that their friendship didn’t exactly end on good terms might complicate matters, but this is an opportunity of a lifetime. As the autumn leaves fall around them, through shared meals and late-night conversations, old wounds and long-buried sparks resurface, and it becomes strikingly clear: June and Adam have unfinished business. Confronted with the consequences of their choices years before, they must now navigate the minefield of their past the best way they know how: together. Second chances are always a risk, but maybe, if they get it right and are finally honest with each other and with themselves, it could be different this time.

Thoughts
This was one of those books where you feel so immersed into it that you feel like you’re fighting for your life (love) with the characters. I love a second chance romance because the reward is always sweeter. This was a lot and it took a lot to get to the reward, but I enjoyed the ride.

Wow!! What a Gem of a book. Such a good use of second chance romance and friends to lovers. I was highly invested in this love story’. I can’t wait to check out more work by this author