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novellina 's review for:
It's Different This Time
by Joss Richard
Thank you Net Galley and Random House Publishing Group for this ARC
5⭐️- Literally could not have asked for anything else. I wouldn’t change a THING. I loved this so much.
The short:
Told in dual timelines, June and Adam are left a beautiful brownstone they used to live in back in the West Village when the owner passes away. They have to wait 30 days to get the deed to the house and spend that time living in the brownstone, where old memories start to flood back.
-Single POV
-Dual timeline
Tropes:
-second chance
-friends to lovers
-chef x actor
-its always been you
-roommates
-diversity rep - fmc is filipina
-New York City!!! (This is a trope in my mind, there’s a FEELING)
Review:
I think there are times I just get a feeling up front - that a certain book is going to be a 5 star read for me. I could tell pretty early on that was the case for this book. It definitely checks all my boxes- I love second chances and I absolutely love friends to lovers. Add in a dual timeline with suspense due to not knowing all the details of the past - and I’m SAT.
I cannot believe this is Joss Richard’s debut novel. I am so impressed with the story and every single detail. The way the flashback chapters complemented the current day story was done SO well. The dynamic between our two MCs is so wonderful. There’s insane chemistry, friendship, love. It’s two people who couldn’t get it right despite them being soulmates in every sense of the word. It took them a few tries, but this time it’s different and they sure do learn a lot along the way.
The writing is stunning - there’s something to be said about how she writes the 5 senses in this book. When she’s describing the brownstone or the streets, I see New York. When she’s describing Adam’s cooking, I taste the food. When she talks about the seasonal coffee drinks, I smell the cinnamon and spices. The tension leading up to the spice - I felt it so viscerally.
I think it can be easy to be frustrated with the FMC and the choices she makes, but that’s why I love this story. She comes to realize the mistakes she made and there’s clear growth on her end. I don’t want perfect characters, I want them to mess up. And the redemption is so worth it. I couldn’t put the book down because I had to know what was tipping point of their relationship the first time. In my opinion, that’s the best way to do second chance. Keep me guessing and then hit me with the pain! The pacing of the story was top tier - all of the big moments crashed together in both timelines for a perfect ending.
At times I was giggling and kicking my feet because, excuse me - ADAM? What a man. But I also spent a good chunk of time actually sobbing. I love angst and I LOVE when a book can do both so effortlessly. It’s a rollercoaster of emotions and I never want to get off. It was the kind of crying that forced me to put my kindle down so I had two free hands to blow my nose.
I cannot wait to get a physical copy to proudly display on my shelves. The cover, the art, the title. I am so excited for everyone to read this story and I’m even more excited to see what else this author has in store!
5⭐️- Literally could not have asked for anything else. I wouldn’t change a THING. I loved this so much.
The short:
Told in dual timelines, June and Adam are left a beautiful brownstone they used to live in back in the West Village when the owner passes away. They have to wait 30 days to get the deed to the house and spend that time living in the brownstone, where old memories start to flood back.
-Single POV
-Dual timeline
Tropes:
-second chance
-friends to lovers
-chef x actor
-its always been you
-roommates
-diversity rep - fmc is filipina
-New York City!!! (This is a trope in my mind, there’s a FEELING)
Review:
I think there are times I just get a feeling up front - that a certain book is going to be a 5 star read for me. I could tell pretty early on that was the case for this book. It definitely checks all my boxes- I love second chances and I absolutely love friends to lovers. Add in a dual timeline with suspense due to not knowing all the details of the past - and I’m SAT.
I cannot believe this is Joss Richard’s debut novel. I am so impressed with the story and every single detail. The way the flashback chapters complemented the current day story was done SO well. The dynamic between our two MCs is so wonderful. There’s insane chemistry, friendship, love. It’s two people who couldn’t get it right despite them being soulmates in every sense of the word. It took them a few tries, but this time it’s different and they sure do learn a lot along the way.
The writing is stunning - there’s something to be said about how she writes the 5 senses in this book. When she’s describing the brownstone or the streets, I see New York. When she’s describing Adam’s cooking, I taste the food. When she talks about the seasonal coffee drinks, I smell the cinnamon and spices. The tension leading up to the spice - I felt it so viscerally.
I think it can be easy to be frustrated with the FMC and the choices she makes, but that’s why I love this story. She comes to realize the mistakes she made and there’s clear growth on her end. I don’t want perfect characters, I want them to mess up. And the redemption is so worth it. I couldn’t put the book down because I had to know what was tipping point of their relationship the first time. In my opinion, that’s the best way to do second chance. Keep me guessing and then hit me with the pain! The pacing of the story was top tier - all of the big moments crashed together in both timelines for a perfect ending.
At times I was giggling and kicking my feet because, excuse me - ADAM? What a man. But I also spent a good chunk of time actually sobbing. I love angst and I LOVE when a book can do both so effortlessly. It’s a rollercoaster of emotions and I never want to get off. It was the kind of crying that forced me to put my kindle down so I had two free hands to blow my nose.
I cannot wait to get a physical copy to proudly display on my shelves. The cover, the art, the title. I am so excited for everyone to read this story and I’m even more excited to see what else this author has in store!