Name: Begin Again
Rating: 4.035714285714286 (14 reviews)
ISBN: 9781035011711

Emma Lord

Filled with a friend group that feels like family, an empowering journey of finding your own way, and a Just Kiss Already! romance, Begin Again is an unforgettable novel of love and starting again. As usual, Andie Rose has a plan: transfer to the hyper competitive Blue Ridge State and chase her lifelong goal of becoming an iconic self-help figure. All it will take is ruthless organization, hard work, and her trademark unrelenting enthusiasm to pull it all together. But the moment Andie arrives, her plans go off the rails. Her rocky relationship with her boyfriend Connor only gets more complicated and she meets Milo who disrupts all her ideas about love and relationships. Sometimes, when all your plans are rubble at your feet, you find out what you're made of.

Begin Again

Sarah Campbell

See, when you have the "dead mom" card in your playing deck everything in your world is just a little bit tilted sideways. The kids you were close to growing up suddenly hesitate to talk about their own moms in front of you, or even the rest of their problems, like they're worried to bother you with them when they think it doesn't compare to yours. The adults in your small town are extra nice to you, sneaking you gumballs at the grocery store checkout line, showing up in full force whenever you host a car wash fundraiser. And eventually you get a little older and look around and realize that there's a mark on you that's followed you around, some shadow that's colored everything that's happened to you since. Marked you as an "other" with your friends, so you can never quite relate to them the same way you did. Given you little boosts with everyone else, like they could ever make up for the worst thing that ever happened to vou

I am taken back to how familiar he seemed when we first met. Maybe it wasn’t just that I knew his voice. There’s a specific kind of grief that comes with losing someone you love, the kind that is always skimming just under the surface; the kind so universal that you can’t help recognizing it in someone else, even if you don’t know what you’re seeing yet. 

Ashley Pennington

The author does a good job of making a story not just about teens, but giving something for everyone. While I am out of the age range for the characters in the book, this was still a relatable story. While listening to it I remembered my time in college and the life that was shaped by those days. 

The characters are the friends you want to have around in college and the days after and their adventures on campus are the best memories we will carry with us once we leave. 

This will make a great addition to your TBR.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

This was okay, but it was definitely mid for me.

The perfect way to describe this reading experience for me is that it is a perfect book to read during the work week: it isn't addicting, so I don't care that I have to go to work and stop reading. But also, it's good enough that I don't feel like I'm wasting my time.

This was okay, but it was definitely mid for me.

The perfect way to describe this reading experience for me is that it is a perfect book to read during the work week: it isn't addicting, so I don't care that I have to go to work and stop reading. But also, it's good enough that I don't feel like I'm wasting my time.

Going in, knew this book would be at least four stars for me because Emma Lord's books are always four-five stars. Begin Again was a lot of fun because you have those academic vibes, but it's light academia, not dark academia. Andie was such a sweet character, and I loved her a lot. The plot was interesting because you followed Andie on her quest for answers about her mom, and you saw her find love after a heartbreak. Emma Lord is a fantastic writer, and her style works perfect for the YA contemporary genre. There were a few romances in this book, Andie and Milo were sweet, and a fantastic couple. I also loved Shay and Val as romance. I recommend this to fans for the YA genre.

Steph L 

Andie Rose has finally gotten the transfer she had been waiting for to Blue Ridge State University where her boyfriend, Conner, has been in attendance for the entire first semester of the school year.  Hoping to surprise Conner, Andi doesn't know until she arrives is that he has also transferred to the community college where she attended the semester before.  Andie is heartbroken, but makes the best of the situation, knowing that her passion for fixing things for others will help her establish herself on campus, but her new RA, Milo and her roommate, Shay, as well as her tough classes make her realize that finding her place at Blue Ridge State may be more difficult than she thinks.

Begin Again is the YA equivalent of women's fiction with a focus on Andie who is trying to find her place in the world while juggling school and a load of baggage relating to her parents.  As with all Emma Lord novels, Begin Again immerses the reader into the life of the protagonist including her thoughts and feelings.  This book also adds some unique and fun aspects of college life, connecting to Andie's past that create layers in this well developed plot.  The only issue with the story is romance that seems almost like an after-thought.  Overall, however, Begin Again is an entertaining YA romantic drama that draws in the reader and doesn't let go until the very end.

Lynn Braden

Andie Rose has finally gotten the transfer she had been waiting for to Blue Ridge State University where her boyfriend, Conner, has been in attendance for the entire first semester of the school year.  Hoping to surprise Conner, Andi doesn't know until she arrives is that he has also transferred to the community college where she attended the semester before.  Andie is heartbroken, but makes the best of the situation, knowing that her passion for fixing things for others will help her establish herself on campus, but her new RA, Milo and her roommate, Shay, as well as her tough classes make her realize that finding her place at Blue Ridge State may be more difficult than she thinks.

Begin Again is the YA equivalent of women's fiction with a focus on Andie who is trying to find her place in the world while juggling school and a load of baggage relating to her parents.  As with all Emma Lord novels, Begin Again immerses the reader into the life of the protagonist including her thoughts and feelings.  This book also adds some unique and fun aspects of college life, connecting to Andie's past that create layers in this well developed plot.  The only issue with the story is romance that seems almost like an after-thought.  Overall, however, Begin Again is an entertaining YA romantic drama that draws in the reader and doesn't let go until the very end.

As usual, Andie Rose has a plan: Transfer from community college to the hyper competitive Blue Ridge State, major in psychology, and maintain her lifelong goal of becoming an iconic self-help figure despite the nerves that have recently thrown her for a loop. All it will take is ruthless organization, hard work, and her trademark unrelenting enthusiasm to pull it all together. But the moment Andie arrives, the rest of her plans go off the rails. Her rocky relationship with her boyfriend Connor only gets more complicated when she discovers he transferred out of Blue Ridge to her community college. Her roommate Shay needs a major, and despite Andie’s impressive track record of being The Fixer, she’s stumped on how to help. And Milo, her coffee-guzzling grump of an R.A. with seafoam green eyes, is somehow disrupting all her ideas about love and relationships one sleep-deprived wisecrack at a time. But sometimes, when all your plans are in rubble at your feet, you find out what you’re made of. And when Andie starts to find the power of her voice as the anonymous Squire on the school’s legendary pirate radio station–the same one her mom founded, years before she passed away–Andie learns that not all the best laid plans are necessarily the right ones. Filled with a friend group that feels like family, an empowering journey of finding your own way, and a Just Kiss Already! romance, Begin Again is an unforgettable novel of love and starting again.

 follows Andie Rose as she transfers to her dream college (in part to be with her boyfriend, Connor, and in part to follow in her deceased mother's footsteps). However, Connor transferred to Andie's community college to be with her. Andie finds herself struggling to keep her head above water, struggling with classes and her relationship. She does meet a solid group of friends, including love cynic and sleep-deprived Milo. As Andie finds herself growing closer to Milo, she has to reconsider her list of priorities and figure out how to navigate life for herself.

Not many contemporary stories can throw me a plot twist, but this one actually did. Some parts were predictable, of course, but I did find myself gasping at some points. Also for a romance book, this definitely has more of a romance subplot, in my opinion. The first 30% dragged for me, and I struggled to get into it, but once more action started happening, the easier it got.

I WANT A MILO. I did not get a Milo in my college experience. 

This is definitely YA, although with the ages of the characters it easily could've been NA, so it definitely bridges the gap for the older YA crowd who doesn't necessarily want NA content but wants an older protagonist/cast of characters. Speaking of:

Andie-I did not mind her. I think she had some unnecessary internal monologues that took up some page time, but I think she shows a lot of growth throughout the book. I wanted some more time with her and Milo, as the tension felt underdeveloped (granted, this does help avoid the cheating trope, which is always a plus). But because of that, the relationship with Connor dragged on. For someone occupying so much of her mental space, he barely plays a part until he causes problems. 

Milo-I think every person attracted to men deserves a Milo. Sarcastic, snarky, with a heart of gold? And some beautiful curls? Yes please. Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! A Milo after midnight. But I do feel like we were robbed of him, it seemed like his tension with Andie didn't really grow until it burst but was established, maintained, and then popped like a balloon. But I will excuse it because I adore him. 

Shay-Black lesbian reader who champions books by marginalized authors--a bit on the nose, but hey, she's amazing and has no clue what she wants to do--felt. Except I knew what I wanted to major in. We never find out though what she's going to major in?? I just realized that. Her relationship with Val was very cute!

Val-Deserves the world. A bi, Latina writer who's shy about her work? No wonder she and Shay fit together so well. She definitely had character growth and was a very sweet addition

In conclusion, the All-Knighters are precious, I want to join them, and I want to time travel and redo my college experience after reading this book.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me this e-arc in exchange for my honest review!:)

Holly

Begin Again follows Andie Rose as she transfers to her dream college (in part to be with her boyfriend, Connor, and in part to follow in her deceased mother's footsteps). However, Connor transferred to Andie's community college to be with her. Andie finds herself struggling to keep her head above water, struggling with classes and her relationship. She does meet a solid group of friends, including love cynic and sleep-deprived Milo. As Andie finds herself growing closer to Milo, she has to reconsider her list of priorities and figure out how to navigate life for herself.

Not many contemporary stories can throw me a plot twist, but this one actually did. Some parts were predictable, of course, but I did find myself gasping at some points. Also for a romance book, this definitely has more of a romance subplot, in my opinion. The first 30% dragged for me, and I struggled to get into it, but once more action started happening, the easier it got.

I WANT A MILO. I did not get a Milo in my college experience. 

This is definitely YA, although with the ages of the characters it easily could've been NA, so it definitely bridges the gap for the older YA crowd who doesn't necessarily want NA content but wants an older protagonist/cast of characters. Speaking of:

Andie-I did not mind her. I think she had some unnecessary internal monologues that took up some page time, but I think she shows a lot of growth throughout the book. I wanted some more time with her and Milo, as the tension felt underdeveloped (granted, this does help avoid the cheating trope, which is always a plus). But because of that, the relationship with Connor dragged on. For someone occupying so much of her mental space, he barely plays a part until he causes problems. 

Milo-I think every person attracted to men deserves a Milo. Sarcastic, snarky, with a heart of gold? And some beautiful curls? Yes please. Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! A Milo after midnight. But I do feel like we were robbed of him, it seemed like his tension with Andie didn't really grow until it burst but was established, maintained, and then popped like a balloon. But I will excuse it because I adore him. 

Shay-Black lesbian reader who champions books by marginalized authors--a bit on the nose, but hey, she's amazing and has no clue what she wants to do--felt. Except I knew what I wanted to major in. We never find out though what she's going to major in?? I just realized that. Her relationship with Val was very cute!

Val-Deserves the world. A bi, Latina writer who's shy about her work? No wonder she and Shay fit together so well. She definitely had character growth and was a very sweet addition

In conclusion, the All-Knighters are precious, I want to join them, and I want to time travel and redo my college experience after reading this book.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me this e-arc in exchange for my honest review!:)

Begin Again

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