Review: You, Again by Kate Goldbeck
Thank to The Dial Press for my copy of YOU, AGAIN. All Thoughts are my own!
When I first saw the cover for Kate Goldbeck’s debut novel, You, Again, I immediately added it to my TBR because the cover screams Fall. I knew it was an enemies to lovers, but I really didn’t know much more about it. And it immediately swept me up in the story. I LOVED this book. My initial thoughts were, “I LOVEDDDDD this book. oh my gosh so many thoughts but it is witty and fresh and HEARTBREAKING and woony and profound. incredible.”
After sitting with those thoughts for a day, I have to agree with them. If you enjoy Emily Henry’s People We Meet on Vacation but wanted a little more “oomf” to the story, I think you’ll really like this book. It made my chest ache and break but it also is SO funny. Ari, one of our main characters, reminded me a lot of Hazel from Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren. Her character works in comedy so it makes sense, but I loved how funny she was. The dialogue reads kind of like Gilmore Girls with how fast it goes.
All in all, I think this book perfectly balances everything people are looking for in Romances. It’s fun and sweet, but the connection between the characters is so deep and real. There’s spice that delivers but there’s also so much heart. It’s a winner for me, through and through.
Synopsis:
“When Ari and Josh first meet, the wrong kind of sparks fly. They hate each other. Instantly.
A free-spirited, struggling comedian who likes to keep things casual, Ari sublets, takes gigs, and she never sleeps over after hooking up. Born-and-bred Manhattanite Josh has ambitious plans: Take the culinary world by storm, find The One, and make her breakfast in his spotless kitchen. They have absolutely nothing in common . . . except that they happen to be sleeping with the same woman.
Ari and Josh never expect their paths to cross again. But years later, as they’re both reeling from ego-bruising breakups, a chance encounter leads to a surprising connection: friendship. Turns out, spending time with your former nemesis is fun when you’re too sad to hate each other—and too sad for hate sex.
As friends-without-benefits, they find comfort in late-night Netflix binges, swiping through each other’s online dating profiles, and bickering across boroughs. It’s better than romance. Until one night, the unspoken boundaries of their platonic relationship begin to blur. . . .
With sharp observations and sizzling chemistry, You, Again explores the dynamics of co-ed friendship in this sparkling romantic comedy of modern love in all its forms.” —NetGalley
What I Liked:
The Premise—It’s a take on the classic film, When Harry Met Sally! But it leans into the enemies to friends to lovers trope more heavily in my opinion. It also really raises the stakes are to what is keeping the main characters apart.
The Dialogue + Writing—I think this was my favorite part of the whole book (which is a good thing since it’s something you read lol) but it was SO GOOD. Everything flowed and it felt like every single word mattered.
The Feels—This book made me experience the entire ocean worth of feelings, from happy to sad to heartbroken to elated.
What Didn’t Work for Me:
The Third Person POV—I didn’t think this would ever come to bother me In Romance, but it is! I’m willing to look past it since I loved the book so much but I really prefer 1st POV lately!
Character Authenticity: 5/5 Spice Rating: 1.5/5 Overall Rating: 5/5
Content Warnings:
drug use, mental illness, toxic relationship, divorce, death of a parent