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A review by stephstbr
Begin Again by Emma Lord
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Begin Again is another immensely enjoyable YA romance from Emma Lord.
Tropes:
-Friends-to-Lovers
-Opposites-Attract
-Found Family
-Fresh Start
CW: Andie’s mom’s passing is mentioned in the book description but it’s worth noting that a lot of her personal journey is tied up in how she has/hasn’t grieved that loss.
Plot at a glance: Andie Rose has her heart set on becoming a beloved self-help figure. The first big step toward making that happen is transferring from community college to highly competitive Blue Ridge State. This should help revive her long-distance relationship with her boyfriend, but he ended up transferring to the community college to be closer to her. Unable to find a quick fix for her boyfriend, Andie tries to channel her problem-solving nature into helping her roommate Shay and their R.A. Milo with their respective problems. But spending more time with Milo stirs up all kinds of feelings Andie isn’t ready to deal with yet.
Review: Once again Emma Lord crafts relatable and endearing characters. I found myself wishing I could be part of Andie’s newfound friend group. I loved Milo – the grumpy, over-caffeinated cynic with a big heart – and adored Andie’s grandmothers.
Emma Lord also did an incredible job capturing the jitters of starting over, the struggles of letting go of the past, and the uncertainty of finding your place in the world. There were so many moments where my heart ached for Andie. I also loved the exploration of relationships. Through Andie and her friends, readers experience the many ups and downs of friendly, romantic and familial relationships.
Overall, I highly recommend Begin Again for anyone seeking YA romances featuring thoughtful personal journeys for the MCs.
Do yourself a favor and add Emma Lord to your list of auto-buy authors, you won’t be disappointed!
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press (Wednesday Books) for the chance to read this digital ARC.
Tropes:
-Friends-to-Lovers
-Opposites-Attract
-Found Family
-Fresh Start
CW: Andie’s mom’s passing is mentioned in the book description but it’s worth noting that a lot of her personal journey is tied up in how she has/hasn’t grieved that loss.
Plot at a glance: Andie Rose has her heart set on becoming a beloved self-help figure. The first big step toward making that happen is transferring from community college to highly competitive Blue Ridge State. This should help revive her long-distance relationship with her boyfriend, but he ended up transferring to the community college to be closer to her. Unable to find a quick fix for her boyfriend, Andie tries to channel her problem-solving nature into helping her roommate Shay and their R.A. Milo with their respective problems. But spending more time with Milo stirs up all kinds of feelings Andie isn’t ready to deal with yet.
Review: Once again Emma Lord crafts relatable and endearing characters. I found myself wishing I could be part of Andie’s newfound friend group. I loved Milo – the grumpy, over-caffeinated cynic with a big heart – and adored Andie’s grandmothers.
Emma Lord also did an incredible job capturing the jitters of starting over, the struggles of letting go of the past, and the uncertainty of finding your place in the world. There were so many moments where my heart ached for Andie. I also loved the exploration of relationships. Through Andie and her friends, readers experience the many ups and downs of friendly, romantic and familial relationships.
Overall, I highly recommend Begin Again for anyone seeking YA romances featuring thoughtful personal journeys for the MCs.
Do yourself a favor and add Emma Lord to your list of auto-buy authors, you won’t be disappointed!
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press (Wednesday Books) for the chance to read this digital ARC.