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4.41 AVERAGE
4.41 AVERAGE
a fantastic debut from Joss Richard! This was such a joy to read, a perfect romcom for the fall and winter. I’m a huge fan of MC couples who go through longggg yearning and pining stages, and this had plenty in TWO timelines! Sometimes the dual-timeline structure can feel jarring or forced, but Joss Richard flowed between the time periods seamlessly and truly made a cohesive, satisfying story. My favorite aspect of second-chance romances was also constant- the obvious love and care the MCs have for each other even when struggling or apart. I was rooting for them separately and together the whole time. Absolutely loved this story and am so excited to read more from this author
This was such a fun debut novel!
The NYC setting was great - perfect for fall reading (and what a gorgeous cover!). I was invested in all the characters, even the minor side ones; I'd definitely read spin-off/adjacent novels about Sarah, Chloe, Riley.
I thought the author handled the dual timelines really well, weaving everything together seamlessly. Generally I'm not a fan of dual timelines, because I forget details as I flip back and forth, but I didn't find that happening in this book. Similarly, I do not love second chance romances or the miscommunication trope, but these were both well done!
June and Adam's emotional connection was so raw & I loved how real & human they felt throughout the entire 12+ years of the book.
I look forward to reading what Joss Richard puts out next!
Thank you to NetGalley, Joss Richard, and Ballantine for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!
The NYC setting was great - perfect for fall reading (and what a gorgeous cover!). I was invested in all the characters, even the minor side ones; I'd definitely read spin-off/adjacent novels about Sarah, Chloe, Riley.
I thought the author handled the dual timelines really well, weaving everything together seamlessly. Generally I'm not a fan of dual timelines, because I forget details as I flip back and forth, but I didn't find that happening in this book. Similarly, I do not love second chance romances or the miscommunication trope, but these were both well done!
June and Adam's emotional connection was so raw & I loved how real & human they felt throughout the entire 12+ years of the book.
I look forward to reading what Joss Richard puts out next!
Thank you to NetGalley, Joss Richard, and Ballantine for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!
What debut!! I really liked this, I was so invested in this book and read it in a day.! I love a dual timeline, and this book did it so well! It really kept me turning the pages to find out what happened in the past that leads June and Adam to being where they are in the present.
The chemistry between our two MCs is palpable from the start, but it doesn't ever feel like instalust/love and it makes the slow burn of this both painful and satisfying. There's miscommunication in this book, but it feels realistic to things that would actually happen-- especially when you're unsure of where you stand in a relationship and are scared of being vulnerable.
I also appreciated Joss Richard's commentary on being multiracial through her FMC, it's nice to see this sort of representation just casually in a contemporary romance. It's not central to the plot but it does inform how we move about the world.
I do think there were some lines that felt weird to me, like internalized misogyny (a line about how good someone looks without an ounce of makeup, a line about a high-pitched voice being related to someone's intelligence or lack of) and there were two Harry Potter mentions (in the same conversation, so could count as one mention-- however that's one mention too many!! It's 2025!! I beg authors and publishers to not include HP references!!!)
Thank you Dell for the e-ARC!
The chemistry between our two MCs is palpable from the start, but it doesn't ever feel like instalust/love and it makes the slow burn of this both painful and satisfying. There's miscommunication in this book, but it feels realistic to things that would actually happen-- especially when you're unsure of where you stand in a relationship and are scared of being vulnerable.
I also appreciated Joss Richard's commentary on being multiracial through her FMC, it's nice to see this sort of representation just casually in a contemporary romance. It's not central to the plot but it does inform how we move about the world.
I do think there were some lines that felt weird to me, like internalized misogyny (a line about how good someone looks without an ounce of makeup, a line about a high-pitched voice being related to someone's intelligence or lack of) and there were two Harry Potter mentions (in the same conversation, so could count as one mention-- however that's one mention too many!! It's 2025!! I beg authors and publishers to not include HP references!!!)
Thank you Dell for the e-ARC!
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Star Rating
🌶️🌶️🌶️ Spice Rating
Review:
This book absolutely broke me in the best way. I fell hard for June and Adam — their chemistry, their flaws, their growth — everything felt honest, layered, and achingly human. I cried more than once over how bittersweet some of their moments were. The emotional pacing reminded me of The Last Five Years, but with a rhythm entirely its own.
Joss Richard crafted a romance that’s equal parts tender and devastating, with a deeply satisfying payoff. The ending left me full — not in a tied-up-with-a-bow way, but in the earned-it way. If you're looking for a romance that aches while it heals and gives you all the spice and the soul, this one's a must-read.
Content Warnings: grief, emotional trauma, relationship strain
🌶️🌶️🌶️ Spice Rating
Review:
This book absolutely broke me in the best way. I fell hard for June and Adam — their chemistry, their flaws, their growth — everything felt honest, layered, and achingly human. I cried more than once over how bittersweet some of their moments were. The emotional pacing reminded me of The Last Five Years, but with a rhythm entirely its own.
Joss Richard crafted a romance that’s equal parts tender and devastating, with a deeply satisfying payoff. The ending left me full — not in a tied-up-with-a-bow way, but in the earned-it way. If you're looking for a romance that aches while it heals and gives you all the spice and the soul, this one's a must-read.
Content Warnings: grief, emotional trauma, relationship strain
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
June & Adam were absolutely adorable! I love me a second-chance romance, and this one delivered. These two were once just young adults artists in NYC, struggling to find their way and now are adults who tackle challenges a bit differently.
The dual timeline let's us see how their relationship builds over time while keeping a bit of mystery about why it didn't work out for them the first time around. I felt compelled to keep reading to see how their relationship would unfold in both past and present. I loved that there was so much emotional depth to both characters and room for each of them to grow. I will say that the amount of miscommunication got a bit annoying, but I still enjoyed the book a lot despite it.
This would be an immaculate read for the Fall/early winter. Fall in NYC screams romance, and I love that the author chose this setting.
Thank you to Netgalley and Dell romance for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts!
The dual timeline let's us see how their relationship builds over time while keeping a bit of mystery about why it didn't work out for them the first time around. I felt compelled to keep reading to see how their relationship would unfold in both past and present. I loved that there was so much emotional depth to both characters and room for each of them to grow. I will say that the amount of miscommunication got a bit annoying, but I still enjoyed the book a lot despite it.
This would be an immaculate read for the Fall/early winter. Fall in NYC screams romance, and I love that the author chose this setting.
Thank you to Netgalley and Dell romance for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts!
This is a second-chance romance set in New York City with a dual timeline: past and present. We follow June, a struggling actress, and Adam, who’s now a successful chef and restaurateur. In the past, they meet in NYC, become roommates, and build a strong friendship. In the present, they’re forced back into each other’s lives, and those old feelings start to resurface.
Their chemistry is clear from the start, so it’s really satisfying when they finally give in to it. The NYC setting is super charming, with a cozy fall vibe, and there are a lot of cute, feel-good moments between them.
That said, the back and forth between timelines could get a little confusing. Also, the big reason they broke up the first time? It’s teased for most of the book, and when it’s finally revealed, it doesn’t feel like that big of a deal. Definitely not enough to end a relationship over. The third-act breakup felt like a repeat of the same issue, which was frustrating. It uses one of those romance tropes that feels tired at this point, and it kind of made it seem like the characters hadn’t really grown.
Overall, it doesn’t do anything super new for the genre, but if you love second-chance romances or anything set in NYC, it’s a fun read with plenty of heart.
This book is the cutestttt fall romance. I haven’t read any romances that are so fall coded. It releases on September 30th so it’s the perfect book to add to your TBR this fall!! It’s a solid 4⭐️ from me!
What I liked:
🍁I loved the main characters jobs - the unknown of the acting world for the FMC and the chef for the MMC? Lovedddd
🍁the real deep friends to lovers and the tension was stronggg
🍁the cozy fall in New York vibes?? 👌
What I didn’t love:
🎃the ending was slightly confusing and I had to read it a couple times - some major questions still linger for me - maybe it was done on purpose to leave it up to the imagination, but I need answers! Especially in a romance
🎃the miscommunication was the main trope throughout the entire book - time after time - and it did get a little frustrating at times
Overall, it was a solid read! Especially because Joss Richard is a debut author! Definitely a cozy read to get you in the fall mood.
Thank you Net Galley and Random House Publishing for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
What I liked:
🍁I loved the main characters jobs - the unknown of the acting world for the FMC and the chef for the MMC? Lovedddd
🍁the real deep friends to lovers and the tension was stronggg
🍁the cozy fall in New York vibes?? 👌
What I didn’t love:
🎃the ending was slightly confusing and I had to read it a couple times - some major questions still linger for me - maybe it was done on purpose to leave it up to the imagination, but I need answers! Especially in a romance
🎃the miscommunication was the main trope throughout the entire book - time after time - and it did get a little frustrating at times
Overall, it was a solid read! Especially because Joss Richard is a debut author! Definitely a cozy read to get you in the fall mood.
Thank you Net Galley and Random House Publishing for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
Reeling from the cancellation of her hit TV show, June Wood has nothing left to lose when a mysterious email lures her back to the New York City brownstone she once called home before she moved to Los Angeles. Thanks to a clause in the former owner’s will, she and her old roommate, Adam Harper, now own the multimillion-dollar property—or at least they will in a month, once all the paperwork is signed. Four weeks, then June can return to her life in LA and forget about New York City and everything she left behind. Sure, the fact that June and Adam are estranged and haven’t even spoken in five years, and that their friendship didn’t exactly end on good terms might complicate matters, but this is an opportunity of a lifetime. As the autumn leaves fall around them, through shared meals and late-night conversations, old wounds and long-buried sparks resurface, and it becomes strikingly clear: June and Adam have unfinished business. Confronted with the consequences of their choices years before, they must now navigate the minefield of their past the best way they know how: together. Second chances are always a risk, but maybe, if they get it right and are finally honest with each other and with themselves, it could be different this time.
Thoughts
This was one of those books where you feel so immersed into it that you feel like you’re fighting for your life (love) with the characters. I love a second chance romance because the reward is always sweeter. This was a lot and it took a lot to get to the reward, but I enjoyed the ride.