First time author, Joss Richard knocked it out of the park with It's Different This Time!!!!!!! This fall love story, a friends to lovers trope, was a beautiful piece of fiction. This book is set in two different time periods, when two close friends come back together because they were both left a SOHO brownstone to share. June, a Broadway and tv actress and Adam a chef and restaurant owner are left their old building on Perry Street. But when this happens the two best friends have not spoken in over 5 years and we don't know why. We follow their original journey as well as their second chance journey and both are fantastic! I am a huge fan of friends to lovers and also Broadway and NYC. SO this book was a delight to read! I can't wait to see what Joss Richard writes next!

I finished this book a few weeks ago and then reread it and I’ve been waiting to post about it because tbh, it is hard to come up a review that expresses just how much I fell in love with this book.

It’s Different This Time completely captivated me with its slow-burn, second chance romance that still felt cozy.

June and Adam are messy, make plenty of mistakes and will rip your heart out. They felt incredibly real and I wanted to both shake them while yelling ‘what are you doing???’ And simultaneously give them a hug. Their chemistry leaps off the page.

This story is extremely intimate and the weaving of the past and present was done phenomenally. I cannot believe this is Joss's debut.

It’s Different This Time is a thoughtful and engaging debut that blends emotional vulnerability with a truly irresistible premise. When June receives a mysterious email about her old New York apartment—one she once shared with her estranged best friend, Adam—she’s pulled back into a past she never quite let go of. What follows is a tender, slow-burn reunion filled with nostalgia, tension, and the possibility of something new.

June and Adam’s journey is told through a compelling mix of present-day reconnection and flashbacks that slowly unpack the weight of their shared past. The pacing is especially strong—never dragging, but giving you just enough space to sit with the tension, the longing, and the healing. Their emotional arc felt earned, and the setting (autumn in NYC!) gave the story a cozy, cinematic feel.

What stood out most was the balance between nostalgia and growth. This wasn’t just a second-chance romance—it was a story about timing, forgiveness, and learning to trust again. While the miscommunication trope plays a role, it feels organic, especially given June’s complex emotional background.

There were a few minor continuity errors that I noticed throughout the ARC, but I’m hopeful those will be addressed before publication. They didn’t take away from the overall experience.

All in all, this is a charming, bittersweet, and ultimately uplifting story. I’ll absolutely be reading whatever Joss Richard writes next.

I loved this comfy, cozy read! It has me literally dreaming of the fall days to come. I received this as an electronic ARC & absolutely devoured it. There’s something so sweet about second-chance romances and this is a picturesque example. The premise of these two roommates who fell out returning to where it all began/end with this big city brownstone setting is chef’s kiss! You won’t regret reading how these two find their way back together and exploring what that journey looks like.

Wow. Just, wow. "It's Different This Time" is everything a true second-chance romance should be, and then some. This book genuinely made me swoon, and as soon as I finished, I immediately wanted to re-read it – a rare feat for me! I'll admit, I'm notoriously tough when it comes to Rom-Coms, but this one absolutely hit the sweet spot.

What truly sets this bi-coastal story apart is the incredible depth and authenticity. I connected with the main character on such a profound level, and the backstory for both protagonists felt so tied to reality. This is a crucial element that I find is often missed in so many modern romances, making the characters feel genuinely flawed yet incredibly genuine. It's been a long time since I've connected with a romance novel quite like this, but Joss has unequivocally hit it out of the park, crafting a beautiful and resonant love story. A definite 5-star read--and all the pumpkin spice autumn vibes.

Thank you Ballantine and Dell Books for this ARC! Ms. Richard---MORE!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 star / 🌶️
Friends to Lovers
New York in the Fall
Broadway

Joss Richard - you have one hell of a writing career ahead of you and I’m here for it!

It’s Different This Time was a story full of life. It had heart, love, friendship and dreams, each one crushed and each one healed.

Adam Harper and June Woods were brought together by 74 Perry Street in their early twenties. That same brownstone reunited them six years later.

I’ve never said this about a romance novel before - this story needs to be a movie. THIS is the story that will reignite the romcom movie era.

Pre-order It's Different This Time today and kick off your Fall reading with its release on September 30th.

June and Adam lived together for 6 years in a brownstone in New York City, before June moved to LA, leaving Broadway to pursue tv and film. Adam has continued to pursue the culinary arts. In a twist of fate, they're unknowingly brought together into the same place, same city, same deep connection, just a different time. And, it's different this time.
I truly loved these characters, the setting, and how well done their deep connection was across the flashbacks in the book. As a retired theater kid I also was so excited to learn that June was an actress and really enjoyed learning about her journey in that world as well. There's a well done aspect of found family too that's probably one of the more underlying plotlines but once again was beautifully done. And while I hate a 3rd act breakup, it didn't take away from tho story for me because it was centered around June deciding what to do for herself, which inherently leads her right back to her happy place.
June and Adam were so down bad for each other and their connection and real-feeling conversations left me not wanting to finish the book because of how much I enjoyed it! I highly recommend this book, especially to cozy up with during the fall.

Romance in New York is magical, especially when a top chef, Adam, and Broadway star, June, have a second chance at love in the backdrop of a West Village brownstone that gives SOTC vibes. While this story is everything anyone could want for a get swept up in the sparkle romance, there are minor details that are off. First, September in NYC is not cool. It's still hot. No one carves a Jack-o'-lantern until a few days before Halloween, or the pumpkin turns to a blackened pile of goo on your front steps. So, the story is solid, believable, and hits all the right romance notes, but it doesn't get the setting right, and it is throwing off the overall experience for me.

3.0 stars

very mixed feelings about this book.

writing: some of the prose was beautiful. it was easy to feel the vibes of being in New York during the fall.

characters: unfortunately, the protagonist, june was the most annoying person in this book. throughout the story, she acted immature, showing very little character growth and resorting back to the same behaviors she'd shown earlier. i don’t mind imperfect characters, but she was just so dumb and difficult to read about. she concocted this whole story in her head that she wasn’t important or good enough and it was so frustrating to read. her lack of communication skills were astounding for someone in her 30s. i really liked Adam, he was so sweet and caring and genuinely tried with june. poor guy went through so much because of her and honestly deserved way better. the supporting characters, including chloe and Adam’s family were the best and i loved their relationships with june and Adam. shoutout to chloe for being the most levelheaded person in this story and calling june out for her actions.

plot: i felt that there was a tad too much telling and not showing off how june and Adam’s friendship initially developed, and because of this it took me longer to get into the story. i also felt that the main conflict/secret was forgotten about for most of the story, and then just conveniently brought up toward the end to justify a third act breakup. the last 20% of the book was so unnecessary and i so wish that the characters had been more mature. i usually don’t mind the miscommunication trope but this was just too much.

overall, i think this is a decent debut about a cute friends to lovers story set in nyc. i’m looking forward to reading the author’s future works.

i received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher.

By chapter one I knew this would be a five stars for me.
The setting of New York in fall was so perfect and the characters were even better.
The two timelines is normally something I find difficult to follow along with, but it was so easy flowing in this book.
I didn’t have a hard time reading, it didn’t take me out of the story.
If anything it immediately connected me with the characters, I was head over heels for them. And more specifically Adam this mmc was perfect.
And don’t get me started on how much I related with June, she’s my girl and I love her dearly.

Overall this was a five star book. So beautifully well done, between the characters and the storyline and last but not least their emotional romance. (Second chance always gets me)
I’m so blown away by this debut. And I cannot wait for more!

Immediately buying this book (when it’s out) I need it in my hands and on my shelf I’d do anything. 🫠

Review is up on my goodreads and coming soon to Instagram!

What an amazing debut novel! This WILL be the romance of the Fall for sure! Joss Richard does an amazing job with the writing; the dual timelines, characters development, dialogue, storyline, ect. You can feel June & Adam’s chemistry from the very start. Dual timelines are always fun because it’s a bit of mystery… why are they no longer together, what happened?! But with all second chance romances, there’s a bit of miscommunication… it makes me want to bang their heads together & scream at them for wasting so much time! But that bit of miscommunication is forgotten bc the rest of the perfect story. I want to be in NY for the fall now! I want to watch Les Mis! Highly recommend! If you’re lovers of Every Summer After or Happy Place but want a fall spin, make sure you pick up this book on September 30th! Thank you to the publisher, author, & NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchanged for an honest review!

4.5 ⭐️, 2🌶️
🍂roommates
🍂second chance romance
🍂chef x actor
🍂new york city
🍂slow burn

This was such a cute fall romance- I absolutely loved it! As someone who lives in NYC, it was so much fun recognizing all the places the characters visited. It made the story feel super real and familiar. I also really enjoyed the dual timeline; it was fun watching June and Adam’s relationship grow from each timeline. Their chemistry was adorable, and the fall vibes were chefs kiss (pun intended).

The cover and the premise of this book being a second chance romance was enough to hook me in instantly. The characters were so relatable and I loved the setting of New York in the fall. What a delightful fall romance!

What an absolute 5 star read. I was so pleasantly surprised. I fell in love with June and Adam. This is how you do a debut novel! I cannot wait to see what else Richard has in store. She has become an automatic read for me!

Thanks to NetGalley, Joss Richard, and Dell Publishing for the eARC of It’s Different This Time in exchange for an honest review.

This slow burn second chance romance was absolutely delicious. Richard does a fabulous job at giving us the glimpses we need from our male love interest, Adam Harper, and his desire (and frustration) towards June, our female main character and rising star. I personally love a friends-to-lovers trope, so if that is your jam, this will definitely give you satisfaction. The New York-y=ness of it is also a character unto itself, but it didn't reach the obnoxious level that some books do, though there is definitely that 'love letter to New York' thing going on here.
This is like a warm autumn hug with some definite heartache and pining pulling you through.
Thanks so much for the ARC. Great read.

I loved this story. It has total 90’s/‘00s romcom vibes. I mean it’s set during fall in New York, what’s more iconic than that? This is such a great friends to lovers. There’s definitely some miscommunication, but it’s great anyway. It’s a wonderful debut and I love it.

I devoured this book. I loved it. I'm obsessed.

It's giving modern When Harry Met Sally, with the most perfect fall, NYC vibes - complete with brownstones, theater, and delicious eats. I absolutely adored this friends to lovers book. It was perfectly paced - I was truly invested the whole time in their friendship, their situationship, their demise, and their eventual reunion. I loved that both characters had their own arcs, complete stories, and goals - they felt like fully realized characters - but together they were so much stronger. I truly cannot believe this is a debut. The romance itself was so tender and caring - but the steamy scenes were steaming (especially the one in the kitchen!).

I truly have nothing critical to say - I loved the theater component of the story. Seeing our main character reflect on her career choices and ultimately get her dream role? Iconic. Our MMC? He was so perfectly caring and everything you want in a man - masculine, but in touch with his emotions and outwardly caring towards his partner.

I just loved it all and cannot wait to gush about this book closer to it's publication date!

This is a New York City romance between an actress and a chef. Tropes include friends-to-lovers, second chance romance, and forced proximity. Main characters were certainly nice to get to know and it was refreshing to read about a person within their entertainment profession that isn't an undeniable star; the male main character is, however, at the top of his game, owning an exclusive restaurant. It was also noticeably enjoyable to read about New York in the fall. This is a good addition to the exploding modern romance genre. I'm a harsh critic; three stars for not being a standout and for a bit of a rushed and frustrating ending.

Not a huge fan of dual timelines, this worked and didn't at the same time. It was nice to get how they friendship/relationship developed and yet crumbled but it also took away the current timeline developed.
Adam was amazing, a great book boyfriend. June I had a little hard time connecting with. All in all, still a good debut book, I look forward to reading more.

3.75 stars

I am a fan of second chance romances, and this book did not disappoint. When a broken-up couple inherits a brownstone in New York, June and Adam are forced to confront their past. While Joni’s actions were frustrating at times, I enjoyed learning about their past and seeing how they reconnect. I recommend this fun and easy summer read.