A review by jillkaarlela
You, Again by Kate Goldbeck
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Taylor Swift songs: “you are in love (tv)”
-surprisingly this was a Swiftie book! I counted at least 4 Taylor references in the book!
Age rating: 18+ (2 spicy scenes, 1/5🌶️, but lots of raunchy/sexual humor throughout)
This was a delightfully messy queer, gender-bent “when Harry met Sally”. The FMC is pansexual, and she is more like Harry’s character, since she is a polyamorous relationship-phobe. It also has way more banter and raunchy humor than WHMS. I mean messy as in showing the messy sides of human nature and real life. The characters are so real, with real-world issues, fears, quirks, and insecurities. For example, they met when they found out they were both hooking up with the same girl. Like how funny and messy and real is that? I’ve seen a lot of criticisms of this book saying that the main characters are “unlikable” or “too messy”, but I disagree. Characters, like people, are not perfect, they’re messy, and they show and have the worst parts of ourselves. But I thought it was quite beautiful seeing these two flawed people find love, comfort, and acceptance in each other and growing in their connection to one another. Like the book says, love isn’t just being with the person that makes you happ,y, it’s about choosing a person you would want to be with you at your darkest times. This book really shows that.
All of these added elements really helped to modernize the story! Also, having it as a whole novel allowed for much deeper and further character explanation and development!
It is omniscient third person, and it switches back and forth between focusing on each character quite a bit. It makes it feel more like a movie! I saw the whole thing playing out in my head.
Overall, if you are a WHMS fan, you would LOVE this!
TW: lots of drug and alcohol use, divorce/grief, abandonment trauma, lots of explicit sexual references throughout
-surprisingly this was a Swiftie book! I counted at least 4 Taylor references in the book!
Age rating: 18+ (2 spicy scenes, 1/5🌶️, but lots of raunchy/sexual humor throughout)
This was a delightfully messy queer, gender-bent “when Harry met Sally”. The FMC is pansexual, and she is more like Harry’s character, since she is a polyamorous relationship-phobe. It also has way more banter and raunchy humor than WHMS. I mean messy as in showing the messy sides of human nature and real life. The characters are so real, with real-world issues, fears, quirks, and insecurities. For example, they met when they found out they were both hooking up with the same girl. Like how funny and messy and real is that? I’ve seen a lot of criticisms of this book saying that the main characters are “unlikable” or “too messy”, but I disagree. Characters, like people, are not perfect, they’re messy, and they show and have the worst parts of ourselves. But I thought it was quite beautiful seeing these two flawed people find love, comfort, and acceptance in each other and growing in their connection to one another. Like the book says, love isn’t just being with the person that makes you happ,y, it’s about choosing a person you would want to be with you at your darkest times. This book really shows that.
All of these added elements really helped to modernize the story! Also, having it as a whole novel allowed for much deeper and further character explanation and development!
It is omniscient third person, and it switches back and forth between focusing on each character quite a bit. It makes it feel more like a movie! I saw the whole thing playing out in my head.
Overall, if you are a WHMS fan, you would LOVE this!
TW: lots of drug and alcohol use, divorce/grief, abandonment trauma, lots of explicit sexual references throughout
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Sexual content, and Drug use
Minor: Abandonment