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A review by sherwoodreads
Begin Again by Emma Lord
I read romances in the middle of the night when the insomnia won't let me sleep. I want banter and fluff and wit and a happy ending. Sometimes a romance will sneak in more serious subjects, which I appreciate when blended well.
That's the case here. I really admired Lord's skill in presenting a character that ordinarily would have irked the foo out of me--a twinkly go-getter who is hyper-super organized, and who pushes people into activities for their own good. But Andie, our heroine, is so appealing, so good-hearted in her fervent rush to overplan every aspect of her life as she tries to follow in her beloved (deceased) mother's footsteps as closely as she can. Even, though, as we slowly learn, they were two very, very different people.
Andie has been dating Connor since they were kids, and their lives are all planned out, right? Except Andie's one surprise--getting into the college that Connor is going to, mid-semester transfer--backfires when they contact each other on the first day to discover that his surprise was to transfer to the junior college she had been at.
At first Andie is overwhelmed, for in addition to a serious study load she has to do work-study to cover the high cost of tuition, but one by one she takes on these tasks, and makes friends while at it. Beginning with tall, lanky Milo, her dorm floor's RA, who is addicted to coffee.
Watching Andie get to know people, grow, and change, as her relationships evolve, was a quiet pleasure. This romantic novel maintained its delicate balance between romantic sweetness and some fairly serious subjects, including grief, with such skill. By the end I was totally in love with Andie--even if I would probably run the other way if I met her in real life!
That's the case here. I really admired Lord's skill in presenting a character that ordinarily would have irked the foo out of me--a twinkly go-getter who is hyper-super organized, and who pushes people into activities for their own good. But Andie, our heroine, is so appealing, so good-hearted in her fervent rush to overplan every aspect of her life as she tries to follow in her beloved (deceased) mother's footsteps as closely as she can. Even, though, as we slowly learn, they were two very, very different people.
Andie has been dating Connor since they were kids, and their lives are all planned out, right? Except Andie's one surprise--getting into the college that Connor is going to, mid-semester transfer--backfires when they contact each other on the first day to discover that his surprise was to transfer to the junior college she had been at.
At first Andie is overwhelmed, for in addition to a serious study load she has to do work-study to cover the high cost of tuition, but one by one she takes on these tasks, and makes friends while at it. Beginning with tall, lanky Milo, her dorm floor's RA, who is addicted to coffee.
Watching Andie get to know people, grow, and change, as her relationships evolve, was a quiet pleasure. This romantic novel maintained its delicate balance between romantic sweetness and some fairly serious subjects, including grief, with such skill. By the end I was totally in love with Andie--even if I would probably run the other way if I met her in real life!