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4.41 AVERAGE
4.41 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you Netgalley & Random House for this advanced copy! I had a really fun time reading this and finished it in one day.
This book is for lovers of second-chance romances, cooking, classic rom-coms, slow burn friends to lovers—it's for theater kids, people who didn't have a loving home, found families, 20-somethings who are working towards their goals & 30-somethings who still haven't figured it out.
It's Different This Time felt like a love letter to chasing your dreams. It will forever hold a place in my heart, and I think it's the perfect debut novel. Joss Richard does a beautiful job of writing a heart-wrenchingly, beautiful and timeless love story.
I loved the dual timeline! It helps add tension through the novel and builds their dynamic, while revealing details naturally about their past without feeling like an information dump. It makes you fall in love with June and Adam, and want to root for them to give their relationship a chance. I normally like a dual POV for a second-chance romance, but Richard does such a great job at making Adam's feelings and thoughts clear through June's perspective. It's the missing piece that a lot of romance novels don't have.
I loved that the book didn't end with them just getting together, but showing June finally succeeding and getting everything she wanted. I really appreciate when authors give romance books focus on other aspects of the characters life—it makes it feel realistic. I can't express how much it meant to me that June's favorite musical was Les Mis. I saw myself in her: a young girl full of dreams listening to the soundtrack on repeat, belting On My Own dreaming of being able to be apart of that world.
I also post my reviews on my Instagram: @alavenderlibrary where this one will be up very soon. I can't wait for release day so everyone else will get to experience the beauty of this book!
This book is for lovers of second-chance romances, cooking, classic rom-coms, slow burn friends to lovers—it's for theater kids, people who didn't have a loving home, found families, 20-somethings who are working towards their goals & 30-somethings who still haven't figured it out.
It's Different This Time felt like a love letter to chasing your dreams. It will forever hold a place in my heart, and I think it's the perfect debut novel. Joss Richard does a beautiful job of writing a heart-wrenchingly, beautiful and timeless love story.
I loved the dual timeline! It helps add tension through the novel and builds their dynamic, while revealing details naturally about their past without feeling like an information dump. It makes you fall in love with June and Adam, and want to root for them to give their relationship a chance. I normally like a dual POV for a second-chance romance, but Richard does such a great job at making Adam's feelings and thoughts clear through June's perspective. It's the missing piece that a lot of romance novels don't have.
I loved that the book didn't end with them just getting together, but showing June finally succeeding and getting everything she wanted. I really appreciate when authors give romance books focus on other aspects of the characters life—it makes it feel realistic. I can't express how much it meant to me that June's favorite musical was Les Mis. I saw myself in her: a young girl full of dreams listening to the soundtrack on repeat, belting On My Own dreaming of being able to be apart of that world.
I also post my reviews on my Instagram: @alavenderlibrary where this one will be up very soon. I can't wait for release day so everyone else will get to experience the beauty of this book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Terminal illness, Death of parent, Abandonment
Moderate: Grief
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
rep: biracial (Filipino, white) protagonist, sapphic side character
cw: death of a loved one (mother) from cancer
cw: death of a loved one (mother) from cancer
**I received an ARC from the publisher. These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.**
The summary of It's Different This Time promises an emotional second-chance romance, and I suppose it did capture that. I found the atmosphere very well-established, that kind of sweeping autumn romance, but this wasn't quite a second-chance romance, in that June and Adam were never officially together. At best, they were in a situationship but honestly it's more like they were roommates for like six years until they reached a breaking point and are just now reuniting.
I did enjoy the tension between June and Adam in the present, but I felt that it wasn't really built up enough in the flashback chapters so that made the actual pay-off of the present-day tension less impactful. Still, this was a solid debut! I liked the characters and the romance otherwise. If you're looking for a (somewhat) second-chance romance with lots of tension amidst the backdrop of New York City, you should pick this book up!
original review:
solid romance debut! not quite a second chance romance (more like they were always basically dating platonically) but I enjoyed the tension of them reuniting after so many years apart.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death of parent