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A review by thepassingfancy
It's Different This Time by Joss Richard

emotional funny lighthearted reflective
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

 I was so charmed by this book! June and Adam, former roommates, have been estranged for years, but are thrown back together when they are surprised to discover that they've inherited the West Village brownstone they used to share. Through a dual timeline, we follow June and Adam's relationship, from burgeoning friendship to eventual separation. I loved that we got to spend so much time with these characters together -- from June's auditions and acting successes and failures, to Adam's years of culinary school and time in the kitchens of various restaurants -- that their relationship feels authentic and deep. There is so much attention paid to small, quotidien details of their life as roommates and friends that I felt like I could envision them in their charming brownstone, sharing meals, watching TV, or walking the paths of Central Park. (The years-of-friendship structure reminded me of Emily's Henry's "People We Meet on Vacation," which is high praise, as that's my favorite of EmHen's novels.)

The third act of the book did feel a bit rushed, and some of the motivations behind June and Adam's decisions were perhaps a bit underbaked, but because I cared so much about these characters, I didn't let that overcome my overall enjoyment of this delightful story.

I received this book as an advanced reader copy from NetGalley. The book is set to be published in September 2025, and is sure to be great for a cozy autumn-in-New York read.

Thanks for Ballentine/Dell and NetGalley for the ARC. 
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