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It's Different This Time
In this sweeping, second-chance romance, a twist of fate forces two former roommates to move back into their beloved New York City brownstone and face the events that led to their estrangement—and confront their unresolved feelings for each other.
Subject 74 Perry Street
So begins the email that turns June Wood’s entire world on its head. Five years ago, she lived on Perry Street with her former best friend Adam Harper. But why is the management company reaching out to her about it now?
Still smarting from the news of her hit TV show being canceled, June has nothing else to lose. She boards a plane from Los Angeles to New York City to find out more about the mysterious email and the promised opportunity it alludes to. It turns out that, thanks to an unbelievable legal loophole, if she and Adam can live together in the stunning West Village brownstone for a month, it’s theirs. Any true New Yorker knows you don’t pass up prime city real estate, and that fall in the city is magical—so what’s there to think about?
And yet, though most things have changed in the time since they last spoke, one thing hasn’ June and Adam have unfinished business. They didn’t exactly end on good terms when they each went off to chase their dreams. Now, confronted with the consequences of their choices, they must navigate the minefield of their past the best way they know together.
Every day they move closer to owning Perry Street reveals misunderstandings, long-term resentments, and long-buried feelings . . . which are suddenly feeling very, very not so buried. But they’ve already lost their friendship once before, devastating them both. Can they risk losing it again for something a little different this time?
Subject 74 Perry Street
So begins the email that turns June Wood’s entire world on its head. Five years ago, she lived on Perry Street with her former best friend Adam Harper. But why is the management company reaching out to her about it now?
Still smarting from the news of her hit TV show being canceled, June has nothing else to lose. She boards a plane from Los Angeles to New York City to find out more about the mysterious email and the promised opportunity it alludes to. It turns out that, thanks to an unbelievable legal loophole, if she and Adam can live together in the stunning West Village brownstone for a month, it’s theirs. Any true New Yorker knows you don’t pass up prime city real estate, and that fall in the city is magical—so what’s there to think about?
And yet, though most things have changed in the time since they last spoke, one thing hasn’ June and Adam have unfinished business. They didn’t exactly end on good terms when they each went off to chase their dreams. Now, confronted with the consequences of their choices, they must navigate the minefield of their past the best way they know together.
Every day they move closer to owning Perry Street reveals misunderstandings, long-term resentments, and long-buried feelings . . . which are suddenly feeling very, very not so buried. But they’ve already lost their friendship once before, devastating them both. Can they risk losing it again for something a little different this time?
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First published September 30, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 4,033 reviews
December 22, 2025
i’m sorry but HOW is this book this authors DEBUT!?????? some people are just born talented and it’s very unfair for the rest of us mere mortals.
September 20, 2025
this is what I get for having high expectations.
I 😉 have 😉 never 😉 read 😉 a 😉 fmc 😉 this 😉 insufferable 😉
⤷ {you’ll understand if you saw my updates LMAO}
Anyways, this was actually awful, like I thought I could give this a least 3 stars but not even the ending could save it😔 this ranking lowkey hurts me, I really wanted to love this book but oh god there were so many things that I hated in it
rtc
________________
┆ ⤿ 🍁 ༝ pre-read:
I know I’m going to love this cause second chance + set in nyc = perfection for me🤭
One of my most anticipated reads of this year, hopefully it doesn’t let me down🤞🏻🤞🏻
I 😉 have 😉 never 😉 read 😉 a 😉 fmc 😉 this 😉 insufferable 😉
⤷ {you’ll understand if you saw my updates LMAO}
Anyways, this was actually awful, like I thought I could give this a least 3 stars but not even the ending could save it😔 this ranking lowkey hurts me, I really wanted to love this book but oh god there were so many things that I hated in it
rtc
________________
┆ ⤿ 🍁 ༝ pre-read:
I know I’m going to love this cause second chance + set in nyc = perfection for me🤭
One of my most anticipated reads of this year, hopefully it doesn’t let me down🤞🏻🤞🏻
November 24, 2025
Rating: 4.5 stars.
Oh my god, this book was everything, literally everything. I still can’t believe it sat on my TBR for even a single second. When I tell you to drop whatever you’re reading and pick this up ASAP, I mean it. This was such an emotional, beautiful, unbelievably good read that I’m actually struggling to speak like a normal human being right now.
What shocks me the most? This book held my heart so gently and never broke it, not once. After hunting for the right romance, I finally found one that delivered exactly what it promised: a delightful, magical, fantastically written story.
And, get this… I finished it in ONE DAY. I literally stayed in bed, devoured it cover to cover, completely unbothered by the world around me.
Okay, enough rambling. Let’s get into the book because trust me, I have so much to say.
── .✦
ˋ°•*⁀➷ Read this, if you enjoy:
⟢ Second-Chance Romance.
⟢ Slow-Burn Chemistry.
⟢ Emotional Depth.
⟢ Heartfelt & Addictive.
⟢ Balanced Drama & Comfort.
It’s the kind of story that feels like autumn in NYC wrapped around a slow-burn, second-chance love.
…
This story had me hooked from the very first page. I swear, I can’t point to a single thing I didn’t vibe with because wow, I loved everything, the setting, the characters, the drama, the romance, the secrets, the tension… all of it fed my soul. The New York fall atmosphere? The cozy townhouse? The warm, “eat pasta with your favourite person” energy? I was devouring it like comfort food.
And the best part? It felt so real. So warm. So intimate. Like I was right there with them, sitting on the couch, listening to them talk and watching all those unresolved feelings spark back to life. They might just be characters on paper, but to me? They’re absolutely real, and I refuse to be convinced otherwise.
── .✦
After her TV show is canceled, June Wood gets a mysterious email about 74 Perry Street, the NYC apartment she once shared with her ex–best friend Adam. When she returns to New York, she discovers a legal loophole: if she and Adam live together there for one month, the apartment becomes theirs.
Forced back under the same roof after five years of silence, June and Adam must face old wounds, unresolved tension, and feelings that never fully faded. As they get closer to claiming the apartment, they may also discover that what they lost once could become something more the second time around.
── .✦
Okay, now let’s get into the characters, because oh my god, I didn’t just love them, I adored them. Like, fully, wholeheartedly adored.
°˖➴June:
Starting with June. She’s a woman who pours her entire heart into chasing her dreams and building the life she wants, but emotionally? She’s a mess in the most painfully relatable way. Her unresolved feelings for her old roommate have twisted her self-confidence so badly that she genuinely believes she’s not enough for him, not even a possibility. And it broke my heart watching her spiral into those negative thoughts over and over.
Her communication? I’m sorry, but I hated it. She was so trapped in her fears that she kept convincing herself her feelings were one-sided and that he’d never, ever see her that way. But at the same time, she was terrified of losing him completely, so she clung to their friendship as the safest option. And honestly? I get her. When someone matters that much, friendship can feel safer than the risk of ruining everything.
But let’s be real, I don’t believe two people with that much history, that much emotional intimacy, and that many years behind them can actually stay “just friends.” That tension always finds a crack to slip through.
June did frustrate me, though. One minute she’d decide she was finally ready to face her feelings, ready to be brave,and literally two seconds later she’d shut down, deny everything, and run like hell. Girl, please. I was rooting for her, but I also wanted to shake her sometimes.
°˖➴Adam:
Now, on the other hand, we have the sweetest, most heart-melting, kindest man I’ve ever read about. And yes, I know I’m making him sound larger than life, but bear with me, because I truly fell for him.
Some books leave you wishing desperately for a dual POV just to get inside the hero’s head… but this one? It honestly didn’t need it. The emotions, the tension, the banter, they were already so full and alive that his feelings were clear without a single chapter from his perspective.
Would I have loved a dual POV? Oh, absolutely. But the way this was written made it even more powerful.
And the fact that he’s a chef? What a perfect way to waltz straight into my heart and set up permanent residence. I adored how he cared for her so deeply, how he made her feel safe and seen in her own skin, especially when her own family failed to. The way he appreciated her, celebrated her, and quietly supported her… yeah, my heart absolutely skipped a beat.
And don’t even get me started on his family. The warmth. The instant acceptance. The way they welcomed her like she already belonged with them? I was gone. Completely gone.
── .✦
I absolutely loved their dynamic together. Even though I’m usually allergic to miscommunication, it honestly didn’t bother me here because it was tied so perfectly to the second-chance trope, and you know I’m a total sucker for that. The back-and-forth between the past and present was actually so satisfying. It felt intentional, layered, and meaningful, instead of dragging the story down like it does in so many other romance books.
Everything eventually came together in such a full, thoughtful way that I genuinely appreciated how it all unfolded. It was calming, a little messy, and completely perfect for their story.
── .✦
The Slow Burn That Actually Burns:
This book doesn’t rush anything, and that’s why it feels so deliciously real. And I've been waiting for ages, AGESSS, but here we are finally after too many failures. This one has finally made my heart at peace.
⟢ No insta-lust. ZERO:
It’s honestly shocking for a romance, they don’t look at each other and immediately think “I want to devour you.” They’re too busy being annoyed, competitive, and low-key intimidated by each other’s talent. And you’re there like: God, just wait until you two realize you’re obsessed. Like YESSS ABSOLUTELY YESSS. THAT'S WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT.
⟢ Their connection builds through tiny moments.
￫ Little comments.
￫ Little glances.
￫ Little shared frustrations.
￫ Little victories.
￫ Those slow, subtle shifts from rivalry → reluctant respect → genuine care… You feel every inch of it.
⟢ They become friends first, accidentally.
￫ That “we’re not friends, we just… happen to talk all the time” kind of vibe.
￫ The good tension.
￫ You see them open up without realizing it.
￫ You see the walls starting to crack.
And suddenly their banter isn’t just banter, it’s flirting in disguise.
⟢ When the feelings hit… they hit HARD.
Because they’ve spent chapters building trust, understanding each other’s fears, supporting each other’s careers, so the moment you see the shift, it’s like: Oh. Oh no. They’re gone. They’re so gone and they don’t even know it yet.
⟢ The payoff is actually worth it.
Some slow burns make you wait for nothing, this one makes you wait, but the emotional build-up makes the romantic payoff feel earned, intense, and sweet as hell. I am not judging but I am just saying.
── .✦
Also, I honestly didn’t even realize this was a debut novel until I looked up the author’s name, and it wasn’t familiar to me at all. But yep… turns out it was her first! And wow, she has officially become my new favorite romance author. If she keeps delivering at this level with her future books… OH. MY. GOD. I won’t survive. I’ll never be the same.
>>> ──────── .✦
🤎ྀིྀི ☕︎ ᝰ.ᐟ Okey after reading the premise, I’m so intrigued. Former best friends, unfinished business, and a legal loophole forcing them to live together again in a gorgeous NYC brownstone?? That’s literally the recipe for tension, nostalgia, and emotional chaos, everything I love in a second-chance story. Honestly, this sounds like cozy fall vibes mixed with heartbreak, healing, and slow-burn romance. I’m hoping for banter, quiet longing, emotional messiness, and characters who are forced to grow up in the best (and worst) ways.
Let’s see if this one delivers, because it has so much potential.<𝟑 .ᐟ
Oh my god, this book was everything, literally everything. I still can’t believe it sat on my TBR for even a single second. When I tell you to drop whatever you’re reading and pick this up ASAP, I mean it. This was such an emotional, beautiful, unbelievably good read that I’m actually struggling to speak like a normal human being right now.
What shocks me the most? This book held my heart so gently and never broke it, not once. After hunting for the right romance, I finally found one that delivered exactly what it promised: a delightful, magical, fantastically written story.
And, get this… I finished it in ONE DAY. I literally stayed in bed, devoured it cover to cover, completely unbothered by the world around me.
Okay, enough rambling. Let’s get into the book because trust me, I have so much to say.
── .✦
ˋ°•*⁀➷ Read this, if you enjoy:
⟢ Second-Chance Romance.
⟢ Slow-Burn Chemistry.
⟢ Emotional Depth.
⟢ Heartfelt & Addictive.
⟢ Balanced Drama & Comfort.
It’s the kind of story that feels like autumn in NYC wrapped around a slow-burn, second-chance love.
…
This story had me hooked from the very first page. I swear, I can’t point to a single thing I didn’t vibe with because wow, I loved everything, the setting, the characters, the drama, the romance, the secrets, the tension… all of it fed my soul. The New York fall atmosphere? The cozy townhouse? The warm, “eat pasta with your favourite person” energy? I was devouring it like comfort food.
And the best part? It felt so real. So warm. So intimate. Like I was right there with them, sitting on the couch, listening to them talk and watching all those unresolved feelings spark back to life. They might just be characters on paper, but to me? They’re absolutely real, and I refuse to be convinced otherwise.
── .✦
After her TV show is canceled, June Wood gets a mysterious email about 74 Perry Street, the NYC apartment she once shared with her ex–best friend Adam. When she returns to New York, she discovers a legal loophole: if she and Adam live together there for one month, the apartment becomes theirs.
Forced back under the same roof after five years of silence, June and Adam must face old wounds, unresolved tension, and feelings that never fully faded. As they get closer to claiming the apartment, they may also discover that what they lost once could become something more the second time around.
── .✦
Okay, now let’s get into the characters, because oh my god, I didn’t just love them, I adored them. Like, fully, wholeheartedly adored.
°˖➴June:
Starting with June. She’s a woman who pours her entire heart into chasing her dreams and building the life she wants, but emotionally? She’s a mess in the most painfully relatable way. Her unresolved feelings for her old roommate have twisted her self-confidence so badly that she genuinely believes she’s not enough for him, not even a possibility. And it broke my heart watching her spiral into those negative thoughts over and over.
Her communication? I’m sorry, but I hated it. She was so trapped in her fears that she kept convincing herself her feelings were one-sided and that he’d never, ever see her that way. But at the same time, she was terrified of losing him completely, so she clung to their friendship as the safest option. And honestly? I get her. When someone matters that much, friendship can feel safer than the risk of ruining everything.
But let’s be real, I don’t believe two people with that much history, that much emotional intimacy, and that many years behind them can actually stay “just friends.” That tension always finds a crack to slip through.
June did frustrate me, though. One minute she’d decide she was finally ready to face her feelings, ready to be brave,and literally two seconds later she’d shut down, deny everything, and run like hell. Girl, please. I was rooting for her, but I also wanted to shake her sometimes.
°˖➴Adam:
Now, on the other hand, we have the sweetest, most heart-melting, kindest man I’ve ever read about. And yes, I know I’m making him sound larger than life, but bear with me, because I truly fell for him.
Some books leave you wishing desperately for a dual POV just to get inside the hero’s head… but this one? It honestly didn’t need it. The emotions, the tension, the banter, they were already so full and alive that his feelings were clear without a single chapter from his perspective.
Would I have loved a dual POV? Oh, absolutely. But the way this was written made it even more powerful.
And the fact that he’s a chef? What a perfect way to waltz straight into my heart and set up permanent residence. I adored how he cared for her so deeply, how he made her feel safe and seen in her own skin, especially when her own family failed to. The way he appreciated her, celebrated her, and quietly supported her… yeah, my heart absolutely skipped a beat.
And don’t even get me started on his family. The warmth. The instant acceptance. The way they welcomed her like she already belonged with them? I was gone. Completely gone.
── .✦
I absolutely loved their dynamic together. Even though I’m usually allergic to miscommunication, it honestly didn’t bother me here because it was tied so perfectly to the second-chance trope, and you know I’m a total sucker for that. The back-and-forth between the past and present was actually so satisfying. It felt intentional, layered, and meaningful, instead of dragging the story down like it does in so many other romance books.
Everything eventually came together in such a full, thoughtful way that I genuinely appreciated how it all unfolded. It was calming, a little messy, and completely perfect for their story.
── .✦
The Slow Burn That Actually Burns:
This book doesn’t rush anything, and that’s why it feels so deliciously real. And I've been waiting for ages, AGESSS, but here we are finally after too many failures. This one has finally made my heart at peace.
⟢ No insta-lust. ZERO:
It’s honestly shocking for a romance, they don’t look at each other and immediately think “I want to devour you.” They’re too busy being annoyed, competitive, and low-key intimidated by each other’s talent. And you’re there like: God, just wait until you two realize you’re obsessed. Like YESSS ABSOLUTELY YESSS. THAT'S WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT.
⟢ Their connection builds through tiny moments.
￫ Little comments.
￫ Little glances.
￫ Little shared frustrations.
￫ Little victories.
￫ Those slow, subtle shifts from rivalry → reluctant respect → genuine care… You feel every inch of it.
⟢ They become friends first, accidentally.
￫ That “we’re not friends, we just… happen to talk all the time” kind of vibe.
￫ The good tension.
￫ You see them open up without realizing it.
￫ You see the walls starting to crack.
And suddenly their banter isn’t just banter, it’s flirting in disguise.
⟢ When the feelings hit… they hit HARD.
Because they’ve spent chapters building trust, understanding each other’s fears, supporting each other’s careers, so the moment you see the shift, it’s like: Oh. Oh no. They’re gone. They’re so gone and they don’t even know it yet.
⟢ The payoff is actually worth it.
Some slow burns make you wait for nothing, this one makes you wait, but the emotional build-up makes the romantic payoff feel earned, intense, and sweet as hell. I am not judging but I am just saying.
── .✦
Also, I honestly didn’t even realize this was a debut novel until I looked up the author’s name, and it wasn’t familiar to me at all. But yep… turns out it was her first! And wow, she has officially become my new favorite romance author. If she keeps delivering at this level with her future books… OH. MY. GOD. I won’t survive. I’ll never be the same.
>>> ──────── .✦
🤎ྀིྀི ☕︎ ᝰ.ᐟ Okey after reading the premise, I’m so intrigued. Former best friends, unfinished business, and a legal loophole forcing them to live together again in a gorgeous NYC brownstone?? That’s literally the recipe for tension, nostalgia, and emotional chaos, everything I love in a second-chance story. Honestly, this sounds like cozy fall vibes mixed with heartbreak, healing, and slow-burn romance. I’m hoping for banter, quiet longing, emotional messiness, and characters who are forced to grow up in the best (and worst) ways.
Let’s see if this one delivers, because it has so much potential.<𝟑 .ᐟ
October 2, 2025
You all need to read this asap
October 23, 2025
2.5 ⭐️
I don’t have it in me to even write a recap or summary for this book. But I do want to make one thing clear: I did not hate this book. I just didn’t like it. Before I tackle the negatives, let me start off with some positivity.
Joss Richard is an amazing writer. There were a lot of sentences that I liked, and the writing was really immersive and descriptive, with some prose and figurative language that made this bearable to read. Whoever designed the cover needs a raise because gosh dang it’s cute! 😍 It’s what drew me in to request this arc. I also liked the side characters like June’s bff and Adam’s family, and the situation that brings them together was quite interesting. There were also cute moments June and Adam had together. But that is the end of what I liked about the book. Let’s get to the negatives, shall we?
Oh, where do I begin? Let me start with Adam. Look, he was tolerable, and I found it really attractive that he was a chef and a really, really good friend to June. I honestly felt bad for him because of June’s insecurities and mind games. Like, girl, stop! He doesn’t need your defensiveness and indecisiveness! He’s got better things to do than to go along with you and your immaturity! Move on, dude! 😭🙏🏼 However, what I didn’t like about Adam was that he leaned and winked way too much. Sounds trivial, I know, but when you read it, you’ll understand. I get it–winking is cute and can make a girl’s stomach flutter, but with how often he was winking, you’d think he had a constant nervous twitch in his eye, probably from the stress of dealing with June (which I get). Sir, no. Please stop. You’re already attractive enough. Stop trying to be sly. It isn’t working.
And then there’s June.
June, June, June. It is criminal how you treated Adam and your friends just because you were uncomfortable with the basic adult responsibility of what we like to call ✨communication✨ and ✨problem solving✨. Like, there was no reason for her to be so indecisive about what she wanted when she KNOWS what makes her happy and it’s all working out for her. It’s not that hard. Stop playing games! Stop trying to create drama and problems out of thin air because it’s “too good to be true”! It’s okay to be happy, you know. There’s no need to sabotage your life and relationships because you can’t handle hard times and speed bumps that are supposed to build character. There were reasons why June is the way she is, but I feel like there could have been more depth and lore into that, so I can at least sympathize with her.
Ugh, the book should have ended at chapter 30! I didn’t need the six chapters after that, which only infuriated me and ruined the ending for me in the process. And the way she was with Adam was unbelievable because of her fear of losing him and not deserving him (which he never alluded to, ever), and that is coming from someone who is very insecure. I swear, June was so clueless. It’s okay to feel things for your best friend, who is clearly into you and yearning for you! Do you not see it? I mean, what have you got to lose? Life is full of disappointments, failures, and relationships that don’t work out, but you won’t know unless you go for it. And this is what kinda ticks me off about the friends-to-lovers tropes. The characters are scared of ruining the friendship if they allow their feelings to develop, but if it’s reciprocated and your relationship has a chance to only get better, what’s the problem? It doesn’t matter if you feel nothing for your bff or they don’t feel the same way about you because life moves on, but if there is attraction and you don’t try to be a couple, you are going to drift apart anyway if you both end up in relationships. That is just how life goes.
Goodness me, I don’t think I have ever been this mad at a character before. I’m sure I would have enjoyed the book more if June weren’t June. I don’t hate her, but she annoyed me beyond comprehension. This was so disappointing. I was hoping that I would love this book, but as you can see, I clearly did not. However, if you choose to read this book, I hope you enjoy it! Maybe I’m wrong about June, and it’s just me being in my logical, critical state of mind again, or what I like to call “my villain era.” Well, I’ve said my piece. I’m going to go watch a cute rom-com or something to remove the memory of this book from my brain. 😭
Thank you to Ballantine and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own.
❗Content Warnings❗
Loss of a parent & grief
Swearing: Yes
Spice: Yes (🌶🌶🌶/5)
I don’t have it in me to even write a recap or summary for this book. But I do want to make one thing clear: I did not hate this book. I just didn’t like it. Before I tackle the negatives, let me start off with some positivity.
Joss Richard is an amazing writer. There were a lot of sentences that I liked, and the writing was really immersive and descriptive, with some prose and figurative language that made this bearable to read. Whoever designed the cover needs a raise because gosh dang it’s cute! 😍 It’s what drew me in to request this arc. I also liked the side characters like June’s bff and Adam’s family, and the situation that brings them together was quite interesting. There were also cute moments June and Adam had together. But that is the end of what I liked about the book. Let’s get to the negatives, shall we?
Oh, where do I begin? Let me start with Adam. Look, he was tolerable, and I found it really attractive that he was a chef and a really, really good friend to June. I honestly felt bad for him because of June’s insecurities and mind games. Like, girl, stop! He doesn’t need your defensiveness and indecisiveness! He’s got better things to do than to go along with you and your immaturity! Move on, dude! 😭🙏🏼 However, what I didn’t like about Adam was that he leaned and winked way too much. Sounds trivial, I know, but when you read it, you’ll understand. I get it–winking is cute and can make a girl’s stomach flutter, but with how often he was winking, you’d think he had a constant nervous twitch in his eye, probably from the stress of dealing with June (which I get). Sir, no. Please stop. You’re already attractive enough. Stop trying to be sly. It isn’t working.
And then there’s June.
June, June, June. It is criminal how you treated Adam and your friends just because you were uncomfortable with the basic adult responsibility of what we like to call ✨communication✨ and ✨problem solving✨. Like, there was no reason for her to be so indecisive about what she wanted when she KNOWS what makes her happy and it’s all working out for her. It’s not that hard. Stop playing games! Stop trying to create drama and problems out of thin air because it’s “too good to be true”! It’s okay to be happy, you know. There’s no need to sabotage your life and relationships because you can’t handle hard times and speed bumps that are supposed to build character. There were reasons why June is the way she is, but I feel like there could have been more depth and lore into that, so I can at least sympathize with her.
Ugh, the book should have ended at chapter 30! I didn’t need the six chapters after that, which only infuriated me and ruined the ending for me in the process. And the way she was with Adam was unbelievable because of her fear of losing him and not deserving him (which he never alluded to, ever), and that is coming from someone who is very insecure. I swear, June was so clueless. It’s okay to feel things for your best friend, who is clearly into you and yearning for you! Do you not see it? I mean, what have you got to lose? Life is full of disappointments, failures, and relationships that don’t work out, but you won’t know unless you go for it. And this is what kinda ticks me off about the friends-to-lovers tropes. The characters are scared of ruining the friendship if they allow their feelings to develop, but if it’s reciprocated and your relationship has a chance to only get better, what’s the problem? It doesn’t matter if you feel nothing for your bff or they don’t feel the same way about you because life moves on, but if there is attraction and you don’t try to be a couple, you are going to drift apart anyway if you both end up in relationships. That is just how life goes.
Goodness me, I don’t think I have ever been this mad at a character before. I’m sure I would have enjoyed the book more if June weren’t June. I don’t hate her, but she annoyed me beyond comprehension. This was so disappointing. I was hoping that I would love this book, but as you can see, I clearly did not. However, if you choose to read this book, I hope you enjoy it! Maybe I’m wrong about June, and it’s just me being in my logical, critical state of mind again, or what I like to call “my villain era.” Well, I’ve said my piece. I’m going to go watch a cute rom-com or something to remove the memory of this book from my brain. 😭
Thank you to Ballantine and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own.
❗Content Warnings❗
Loss of a parent & grief
Swearing: Yes
Spice: Yes (🌶🌶🌶/5)
May 11, 2025
♥ My Overall Thoughts ♥
This contemporary romance novel was so adorable and addicting! I absolutely loved it! The cover of the book is so cute too! This story had balanced perspectives on the main characters, a clear thesis and was easy to follow. I feel like the minor characters stood out as well in this book. I really like that these characters felt real and were a little bit of a mess, to say the least. I also enjoyed the dual timelines, because it gave me insight into how they came together. This is for the broadway lovers that like to read about a second chance romance. This book is at the medium spicy level. One thing I found a little frustrating was the miscommunication trope between the main characters. I really liked the beautiful setting of the story. It is set in New York, during the fall season. That’s one of my favorite seasons! This book had effective visuals and I found it to be a cozy, medium paced read. It is also very emotional and uplifting!
♥ Synopsis (no spoilers) ♥
“It's Different This Time” is a book that is about a woman named June and a guy named Adam. These two used to be roommates and friends, where things happened between them. However, it left them both with unresolved feelings for one another. This ultimately left their friendship not on good terms at all. June starts off living in LA, then ends up moving back to New York City brownstone. After five years of June and Adam not speaking together, they are now forced to. June and Adam end up with a multi million dollar property, thanks to the former owner’s will. While they have to wait a month to get all the paperwork done, they are forced to talk to one another. A bond between them starts resurfacing, the more they speak to each other. Will this end up being a happily ever after second chance romance or will this second chance romance ultimately come to an end? Be sure to check the content warnings. This book is spicy! Overall. I rate this book a 4.5 out of 5 stars!
♥ Thank You ♥
Thank you to NetGalley, author Joss Richard and Ballantine | Dell for this digital advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
♥ Publication Date ♥
This book is set to be published on September 30, 2025!
♥ Quick Review ♥
💝 Contemporary Romance Novel
✔️ Forced Proximity
💝 Dual POV’s and Timelines
✔️ Second Chance Romance
💝 Friends to Lovers
✔️ New York City Fall vibes
💝 For the Broadway Lovers
✔️ Medium Spicy Level
》* 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ * 。° 。 • ˚《
❥ ୨⎯ Connie ⎯୧ ❥
ツ౨ৎ
This contemporary romance novel was so adorable and addicting! I absolutely loved it! The cover of the book is so cute too! This story had balanced perspectives on the main characters, a clear thesis and was easy to follow. I feel like the minor characters stood out as well in this book. I really like that these characters felt real and were a little bit of a mess, to say the least. I also enjoyed the dual timelines, because it gave me insight into how they came together. This is for the broadway lovers that like to read about a second chance romance. This book is at the medium spicy level. One thing I found a little frustrating was the miscommunication trope between the main characters. I really liked the beautiful setting of the story. It is set in New York, during the fall season. That’s one of my favorite seasons! This book had effective visuals and I found it to be a cozy, medium paced read. It is also very emotional and uplifting!
♥ Synopsis (no spoilers) ♥
“It's Different This Time” is a book that is about a woman named June and a guy named Adam. These two used to be roommates and friends, where things happened between them. However, it left them both with unresolved feelings for one another. This ultimately left their friendship not on good terms at all. June starts off living in LA, then ends up moving back to New York City brownstone. After five years of June and Adam not speaking together, they are now forced to. June and Adam end up with a multi million dollar property, thanks to the former owner’s will. While they have to wait a month to get all the paperwork done, they are forced to talk to one another. A bond between them starts resurfacing, the more they speak to each other. Will this end up being a happily ever after second chance romance or will this second chance romance ultimately come to an end? Be sure to check the content warnings. This book is spicy! Overall. I rate this book a 4.5 out of 5 stars!
♥ Thank You ♥
Thank you to NetGalley, author Joss Richard and Ballantine | Dell for this digital advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
♥ Publication Date ♥
This book is set to be published on September 30, 2025!
♥ Quick Review ♥
💝 Contemporary Romance Novel
✔️ Forced Proximity
💝 Dual POV’s and Timelines
✔️ Second Chance Romance
💝 Friends to Lovers
✔️ New York City Fall vibes
💝 For the Broadway Lovers
✔️ Medium Spicy Level
》* 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ * 。° 。 • ˚《
❥ ୨⎯ Connie ⎯୧ ❥
ツ౨ৎ
November 6, 2025
5💫
oh my gosh. im a sucker for second chance romances and this DID NOT DISAPPOINT. their story was so beautiful. wow.
i just absolutely adore june and adam. their chemistry was sooooo good and their relationship as friends and lovers was just SO PERFECT.
guys honestly i just want to keep telling you how much i love and adore and appreciate them. like just trust. this book is perfect.
the most atmospheric fall read- set in NYC!!!!! please pick this book up if you are a second chance lover like me
oh my gosh. im a sucker for second chance romances and this DID NOT DISAPPOINT. their story was so beautiful. wow.
i just absolutely adore june and adam. their chemistry was sooooo good and their relationship as friends and lovers was just SO PERFECT.
guys honestly i just want to keep telling you how much i love and adore and appreciate them. like just trust. this book is perfect.
the most atmospheric fall read- set in NYC!!!!! please pick this book up if you are a second chance lover like me
November 13, 2025
between 3-3.5 stars
┏━━━━━❂ what to expect ❂━━━━━┓
❥ second-chance romance
❥ dual timeline: past/present
❥ fmc’s pov
❥ New York setting during fall 🍂
❥ found family aspect
❥ pretty strong set of side characters
❥ fmc (June) is into broadway, theater, and acting
❥ mmc (Adam) is a chef
❥ friends-to-lovers
❥ forced proximity
┏━━━━━❂ what i loved ❂━━━━━┓
❥ Adam’s family
❥ any autumnal vibes
❥ the writing style!!
❥ the setting
❥ how the fmc and mmc were genuine best friends before anything and knew each other *so* well 🥺
❥ the past timeline was well done
┏━━━━━❂ so… why the 3 stars? ❂━━━━━┓
i was loving this until the third act breakup. when the second-chance became a third-chance romance, it was just too much.
sometimes books naturally have an ending point, and the ending point for this book was about 60 pages before the author decided to call it good.
359 pages of a contemporary romance is already borderline too long to begin with. we did not need a third-act breakup that late. i’m sorry, but very few romance novels need to be over 400 pages like this one. (i will die on this hill.)
the issues that arose during the third-act conflict could’ve been resolved in other ways throughout the book. like through proper adult communication, perhaps? scary, i know.
the fmc’s self-pity and terrible decision-making became a little overwhelming at times. i love emotional reads and characters with depth. i don’t mind characters being particularly unlikable or going through their own struggles. but GIRL!!! stop whining and please use your brain.
this is it beyond nit picky, i know, but the mmc winked entirely too much. excessive eyelid movements aren’t sexy. Adam made a few questionable decisions in this book, as well, but June definitely outnumbered him in that aspect.
i genuinely loved the writing style and the setting. New York in the fall and winter is such a vibe. if the characters and storyline had been a little more refined and edited down a bit, this would’ve been a banger.
┏━━━━━❂ what to expect ❂━━━━━┓
❥ second-chance romance
❥ dual timeline: past/present
❥ fmc’s pov
❥ New York setting during fall 🍂
❥ found family aspect
❥ pretty strong set of side characters
❥ fmc (June) is into broadway, theater, and acting
❥ mmc (Adam) is a chef
❥ friends-to-lovers
❥ forced proximity
┏━━━━━❂ what i loved ❂━━━━━┓
❥ Adam’s family
❥ any autumnal vibes
❥ the writing style!!
❥ the setting
❥ how the fmc and mmc were genuine best friends before anything and knew each other *so* well 🥺
❥ the past timeline was well done
┏━━━━━❂ so… why the 3 stars? ❂━━━━━┓
i was loving this until the third act breakup. when the second-chance became a third-chance romance, it was just too much.
sometimes books naturally have an ending point, and the ending point for this book was about 60 pages before the author decided to call it good.
359 pages of a contemporary romance is already borderline too long to begin with. we did not need a third-act breakup that late. i’m sorry, but very few romance novels need to be over 400 pages like this one. (i will die on this hill.)
the issues that arose during the third-act conflict could’ve been resolved in other ways throughout the book. like through proper adult communication, perhaps? scary, i know.
the fmc’s self-pity and terrible decision-making became a little overwhelming at times. i love emotional reads and characters with depth. i don’t mind characters being particularly unlikable or going through their own struggles. but GIRL!!! stop whining and please use your brain.
this is it beyond nit picky, i know, but the mmc winked entirely too much. excessive eyelid movements aren’t sexy. Adam made a few questionable decisions in this book, as well, but June definitely outnumbered him in that aspect.
i genuinely loved the writing style and the setting. New York in the fall and winter is such a vibe. if the characters and storyline had been a little more refined and edited down a bit, this would’ve been a banger.
October 1, 2025
The fact that I love Adam Harper so intensely even though he’s a Yankees fan should be enough proof of how talented Joss Richard is. I loved EVERYTHING about this book. It really set the standard for best friends to lovers, and the New York setting made me feel like I was in a Nora Ephron movie (god I wish). Truly a new fave, and the audiobook had spectacular narration.
October 27, 2025
✩ 4.5 stars ✩
What to Expect:
➼ Second Chance
➼ Forced Proximity
➼ Friends-to-Lovers
➼ Roommates
➼ Chef x Actress
➼ Slow Burn
➼ Set in NYC in the Fall
➼ Dual Timeline
➼ Narrated by Ferdelle Capistrano
➼ First Person Single POV
“Tell me when you wanted me,” I say.
“The moment I first saw you,” he says
Another near perfect Fall romance! I usually think of Fall standalone romances more like cozy palette cleansers, but the ones I’ve read this year have been phenomenal! As a former New Yorker, I’ll probably always have a soft spot for books set in New York, but I think I would loved this no matter where the characters lived. The MC’s were best friends and roommates for years, but neither of them ever came clean about their feelings. They were both so afraid of losing each other that they ended up doing exactly that. Part of me was frustrated by their lack or bravery, but there was something so relatable about their fears. Who hasn’t had a crush at some point in their lives that they were afraid to act on?
The story is told from the FMC’s point of view which allows the reader to really understand why she didn’t believe that her feelings were returned. He tried so hard to follow her directive that they could never be together since they were roommates, that I understood why she believed he didn’t have feelings for her. This story had a lot of emotional depth and portrayed both characters in a very positive light. Even though he was dating or hooking with lots of other people when they lived together, it was clear that many aspects of their relationship were unique and special to them. The strong connection she had with his family and the city also gave their relationship more credibility. She tried working in movies and television in LA, but Broadway clearly had her heart. It also seemed to be where her talents could really shine! Everything in her life was pulling her back to him and the city. I loved that it felt like coming back was the right move for her in every area of her life, not just romantically.
Such a beautiful book! The only reason I’m withholding half a star is because their miscommunication was so prolonged. Even if I did relate to it this time, miscommunication will never be a very welcome trope.
✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼
Pre-read: Alright… spending a New York minute on this cute little number before I dive into Alchemised! The ratings for this are promising and it’s giving Fall! 🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂
≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫
Connect with me on Instagram
What to Expect:
➼ Second Chance
➼ Forced Proximity
➼ Friends-to-Lovers
➼ Roommates
➼ Chef x Actress
➼ Slow Burn
➼ Set in NYC in the Fall
➼ Dual Timeline
➼ Narrated by Ferdelle Capistrano
➼ First Person Single POV
“Tell me when you wanted me,” I say.
“The moment I first saw you,” he says
Another near perfect Fall romance! I usually think of Fall standalone romances more like cozy palette cleansers, but the ones I’ve read this year have been phenomenal! As a former New Yorker, I’ll probably always have a soft spot for books set in New York, but I think I would loved this no matter where the characters lived. The MC’s were best friends and roommates for years, but neither of them ever came clean about their feelings. They were both so afraid of losing each other that they ended up doing exactly that. Part of me was frustrated by their lack or bravery, but there was something so relatable about their fears. Who hasn’t had a crush at some point in their lives that they were afraid to act on?
The story is told from the FMC’s point of view which allows the reader to really understand why she didn’t believe that her feelings were returned. He tried so hard to follow her directive that they could never be together since they were roommates, that I understood why she believed he didn’t have feelings for her. This story had a lot of emotional depth and portrayed both characters in a very positive light. Even though he was dating or hooking with lots of other people when they lived together, it was clear that many aspects of their relationship were unique and special to them. The strong connection she had with his family and the city also gave their relationship more credibility. She tried working in movies and television in LA, but Broadway clearly had her heart. It also seemed to be where her talents could really shine! Everything in her life was pulling her back to him and the city. I loved that it felt like coming back was the right move for her in every area of her life, not just romantically.
Such a beautiful book! The only reason I’m withholding half a star is because their miscommunication was so prolonged. Even if I did relate to it this time, miscommunication will never be a very welcome trope.
✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼
Pre-read: Alright… spending a New York minute on this cute little number before I dive into Alchemised! The ratings for this are promising and it’s giving Fall! 🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂
≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫
Connect with me on Instagram
Want to read
November 25, 2025I'm in the mood for another fall book and this one is second chance.
September 30, 2025
Sometimes love is inheriting a six million dollar west village brownstone with your former friend and love of your life who looks a little bit like David Corenswet (niche people understand). That’s exactly where Joss Richard’s debut, It’s Different This Time begins. Two former best friends, Adam and June, are reunited after six years apart when they learn they've inherited their former apartment building after the death of the owner, their former landlord. Sell or keep, they'll have to spend a month together before they can sign away ownership but that means facing what drove them to separate sides of the country six years ago.
Ensuing your classic dual timelines where the past is flung wide, Joss Richard builds a friends to lovers saga where an aspiring chef and theatre actress/part time bookseller agreed to be roommates, but ended up becoming the best of friends. Adam and June really are that classic romance novel couple. Unlikely friends they may be, the friendship between them is unmistakable as is the support they lend each other across the years. Richard knows how to plot out an electrifying slow burn and with an entire decade since their first meeting, June and Adam are ripe for that angst and tension I need from my romances. It’s Different This Time feels like a When Harry Met Sally style story, both narratively, and in the relationship between June and Adam. Where the fall feels like a separate character—as does the city of New York. I love a dash of miscommunication in my fiction (for good health) and boy do we get that here. Really I expected nothing less from these two, but Richard grounds it in their individual pasts so it never feels overwrought, only typical of two people scared of change and scared to reach for what they want. It’s Different This Time is an impressive, nuanced love story between two people at first scared to try and then brave to start all over again. That it’s enough that it is different this time to hold onto a second chance with both hands.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing the advance review copy.
Bookstagram | Blog
Ensuing your classic dual timelines where the past is flung wide, Joss Richard builds a friends to lovers saga where an aspiring chef and theatre actress/part time bookseller agreed to be roommates, but ended up becoming the best of friends. Adam and June really are that classic romance novel couple. Unlikely friends they may be, the friendship between them is unmistakable as is the support they lend each other across the years. Richard knows how to plot out an electrifying slow burn and with an entire decade since their first meeting, June and Adam are ripe for that angst and tension I need from my romances. It’s Different This Time feels like a When Harry Met Sally style story, both narratively, and in the relationship between June and Adam. Where the fall feels like a separate character—as does the city of New York. I love a dash of miscommunication in my fiction (for good health) and boy do we get that here. Really I expected nothing less from these two, but Richard grounds it in their individual pasts so it never feels overwrought, only typical of two people scared of change and scared to reach for what they want. It’s Different This Time is an impressive, nuanced love story between two people at first scared to try and then brave to start all over again. That it’s enough that it is different this time to hold onto a second chance with both hands.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing the advance review copy.
Bookstagram | Blog
October 5, 2025
i’ve never met a more insufferable fmc, the miscommunication trope will be the death of me.
November 5, 2025
An adorable friends-to-lovers, second-chance romance between two roommates who are thrust back together when they inherit a brownstone in the West Village.
This book starts with such a fun and absurd chance of fate, but hey I’ve known some really eccentric old guys in the West Village (I’m thinking of you Chuck) — so really anything is possible. I thought the concept was spectacular and while dual timeline isn’t always my favorite this one was pretty compelling.
I liked a lot about this book, and in the end I do think it’s an excellent read but I have some thoughts.
This leans heavily towards women’s fiction. This is definitely more an Emily Henry kind of romance, than an Abby Jimenez romance… It is single POV, which I don’t usually mind but in this case I felt like it really could have benefited from a peek inside the MMCs head.
This book is much more about the FMCs self-discovery journey, her finding out the right path and accepting mistakes she’s made in the past, than about the romance between the two. We do not get nearly enough time with both of them on page.
What we do get in terms of romance is excellent. The tension is top notch, the banter is fabulous, and the spice is perfectly steamy and well placed. There just isn’t ENOUGH of it. I found myself desperate to get through the scenes where the FMC is working on her career or herself so I could get MORE of the couple together.
Marketed as a women’s fiction, or even “for fans of Emily Henry,” I would say this book is a knockout. But as a Romance it misses the mark just a bit. If you dive into this book with tempered expectations I’m confident you’ll enjoy this one!
🌶️ - Open Door. Only one full scene, but a little something in other chapters too (Ch 18, 23, 26). Very mildly explicit imho.
4.25⭐️| IG | TikTok |
Thank you Ballantine/Dell for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
This book starts with such a fun and absurd chance of fate, but hey I’ve known some really eccentric old guys in the West Village (I’m thinking of you Chuck) — so really anything is possible. I thought the concept was spectacular and while dual timeline isn’t always my favorite this one was pretty compelling.
I liked a lot about this book, and in the end I do think it’s an excellent read but I have some thoughts.
This leans heavily towards women’s fiction. This is definitely more an Emily Henry kind of romance, than an Abby Jimenez romance… It is single POV, which I don’t usually mind but in this case I felt like it really could have benefited from a peek inside the MMCs head.
This book is much more about the FMCs self-discovery journey, her finding out the right path and accepting mistakes she’s made in the past, than about the romance between the two. We do not get nearly enough time with both of them on page.
What we do get in terms of romance is excellent. The tension is top notch, the banter is fabulous, and the spice is perfectly steamy and well placed. There just isn’t ENOUGH of it. I found myself desperate to get through the scenes where the FMC is working on her career or herself so I could get MORE of the couple together.
Marketed as a women’s fiction, or even “for fans of Emily Henry,” I would say this book is a knockout. But as a Romance it misses the mark just a bit. If you dive into this book with tempered expectations I’m confident you’ll enjoy this one!
🌶️ - Open Door. Only one full scene, but a little something in other chapters too (Ch 18, 23, 26). Very mildly explicit imho.
4.25⭐️| IG | TikTok |
Thank you Ballantine/Dell for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
October 16, 2025
4/5
- Wow! This book was so beautiful and I love how it was such a layered story! The balance between familial struggles, navigating friendships & work while falling in love was exactly what I needed to read.
- If you feel like you don’t know what you’re doing in your 20’s, this is the book you need to pick up! Love that this book spans years at a time and we really got to grow with the characters!
- The tension and swoon worthy slow burn made this book everything that it is!! This just might be my favorite autumn read of the season!!
- Wow! This book was so beautiful and I love how it was such a layered story! The balance between familial struggles, navigating friendships & work while falling in love was exactly what I needed to read.
- If you feel like you don’t know what you’re doing in your 20’s, this is the book you need to pick up! Love that this book spans years at a time and we really got to grow with the characters!
- The tension and swoon worthy slow burn made this book everything that it is!! This just might be my favorite autumn read of the season!!
September 29, 2025
4.5 stars!!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
this one comes out tomorrow and omg if you’re looking for your next cozy fall romance, here it is! it’s friends to lovers in the past & second chance in the present, with so many warm fall vibes 🍁 new york city, shared meals, late night talks… I really felt the connection between June & Adam as they worked through their history. I also loved that they both go to therapy (thank god lol) and that the story leaned into their growth and accountability 🫶
the writing is super straightforward & solid. it is a teeny bit long for a romance and I felt like it could’ve been a bit tighter in moments, but honestly, other than that, I have nothing bad to say! yes, it’s predictable at times, but so is every romance, and that’s part of the charm 🤷♀️ it’s sweet, cozy, and heartwarming in all the best ways!
if you love nyc, musical theatre, found family, and maybe romanticizing your partner being a chef so you never have to cook again 😂 this one is for you. this book feels like if ‘the seven year slip’ and ‘people we meet on vacation’ had a baby & it was just such a cute read!
thank you to dell for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review! 💌
this one comes out tomorrow and omg if you’re looking for your next cozy fall romance, here it is! it’s friends to lovers in the past & second chance in the present, with so many warm fall vibes 🍁 new york city, shared meals, late night talks… I really felt the connection between June & Adam as they worked through their history. I also loved that they both go to therapy (thank god lol) and that the story leaned into their growth and accountability 🫶
the writing is super straightforward & solid. it is a teeny bit long for a romance and I felt like it could’ve been a bit tighter in moments, but honestly, other than that, I have nothing bad to say! yes, it’s predictable at times, but so is every romance, and that’s part of the charm 🤷♀️ it’s sweet, cozy, and heartwarming in all the best ways!
if you love nyc, musical theatre, found family, and maybe romanticizing your partner being a chef so you never have to cook again 😂 this one is for you. this book feels like if ‘the seven year slip’ and ‘people we meet on vacation’ had a baby & it was just such a cute read!
thank you to dell for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review! 💌
June 22, 2025
5⭐️
╰► 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄!
❰𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐠𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐜 𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰!❱
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0:26 ———♡——— 3:31
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“𝑴𝒂𝒚𝒃𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕'𝒔 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒊𝒔—𝒘𝒆 𝒅𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒊𝒕'𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒅𝒆𝒄𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒘𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆'𝒔 𝒏𝒐 𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒇 𝒘𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒊𝒄𝒆. 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆'𝒔 𝒏𝒐 𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝒈𝒂𝒖𝒈𝒆 𝒊𝒇 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒐𝒇 𝒊𝒕'𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒉- 𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝒐𝒓 𝒊𝒇 𝒊𝒕'𝒔 𝒔𝒐 𝒘𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈.”
₊˚ʚ ➼➻❥𝙨𝙮𝙣𝙤𝙥𝙨𝙞𝙨📋
╰┈➤ when a twist of fate reunites estranged former roommates june and adam in their shared new york city brownstone, they're forced to confront the unresolved past that drove them apart five years ago. with just four weeks until they finalize ownership, the pair must navigate lingering feelings, old wounds, and the possibility of a second chance. as autumn settles over the city, june and adam discover that maybe love—and forgiveness—deserve a do-over.
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷𝙢𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨💭
╰┈➤ i am in absolute disbelief that this was a debut book. the writing style was just so good and easy to follow. this usually wouldn’t be a book that i’d typically go for, but the cover and the description intrigued me. i don’t read a lot of second chance romances, but MY GOD—this book was amazing.
₊˚ʚ ➼➻❥𝙟𝙪𝙣𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙤𝙙 + 𝙖𝙙𝙖𝙢 𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙥𝙚𝙧💌
╰┈➤ usually, i’d do a separate analysis of the two main characters, but in this case, it just makes sense that i do an analysis of june and adam as a whole. first of all, i loved june and adam’s story. i feel like dual ownership of a house as the plot for a book seems plain, but this author made it to where it was so interesting, that you couldn’t help but want to be more invested into the lives of adam and june. for me personally, i don’t enjoy dual timelines because each one i’ve read, i didn’t like as much as i’d hoped. however, i loved it in this book because you really got to see the foundation of what june and adam’s relationship was built upon. there was a lot of miscommunication involved in the story, but it was so relevant to the plot. i feel like usually, when there’s a fallout between the characters in a book, the author makes it a big deal, and then once the reason behind the fallout is revealed, i’m just like… oh…okay….but not with this book… no no no… i felt like the reason behind their fallout was valid and interesting, and the way june and adam ended up communicating the problem was mature (kind of). in general, adam and june were just such a good pair for eachother and they worked so well. they went from strangers to friends, to bestfriends, to strangers again, to friends again, and then to lovers. this book was a roller coaster and it’s one of the best that i’ve ever been on.
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙘𝙡𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣🔒
there’s so much more i want to write about this book, but it’s more than i can type and i want to keep this review somewhat short. i loved these characters and i loved the passion inside this book—romance and dreams. my second 5 star of the year was an absolute banger!
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𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱
𝗮𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗿𝗰! 𝘂𝘀𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆, 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱𝗻'𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝗮 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗶'𝗱 𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝘂𝘁, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗺𝘆 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗼 𝗶'𝗺 𝗴𝗹𝗮𝗱 𝗶 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗰😊 𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼, 𝗶𝘁'𝘀 𝗺𝘆 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝘆 𝟮𝟰 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲 😏
╰► 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄!
❰𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐠𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐜 𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰!❱
lıllılı.ıllı.ılılıılıı.lllııılı.
Now Playing:
[Strange - Celeste]
0:26 ———♡——— 3:31
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“𝑴𝒂𝒚𝒃𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕'𝒔 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒊𝒔—𝒘𝒆 𝒅𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒊𝒕'𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒅𝒆𝒄𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒘𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆'𝒔 𝒏𝒐 𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒇 𝒘𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒊𝒄𝒆. 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆'𝒔 𝒏𝒐 𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝒈𝒂𝒖𝒈𝒆 𝒊𝒇 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒐𝒇 𝒊𝒕'𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒉- 𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝒐𝒓 𝒊𝒇 𝒊𝒕'𝒔 𝒔𝒐 𝒘𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈.”
₊˚ʚ ➼➻❥𝙨𝙮𝙣𝙤𝙥𝙨𝙞𝙨📋
╰┈➤ when a twist of fate reunites estranged former roommates june and adam in their shared new york city brownstone, they're forced to confront the unresolved past that drove them apart five years ago. with just four weeks until they finalize ownership, the pair must navigate lingering feelings, old wounds, and the possibility of a second chance. as autumn settles over the city, june and adam discover that maybe love—and forgiveness—deserve a do-over.
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷𝙢𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨💭
╰┈➤ i am in absolute disbelief that this was a debut book. the writing style was just so good and easy to follow. this usually wouldn’t be a book that i’d typically go for, but the cover and the description intrigued me. i don’t read a lot of second chance romances, but MY GOD—this book was amazing.
₊˚ʚ ➼➻❥𝙟𝙪𝙣𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙤𝙙 + 𝙖𝙙𝙖𝙢 𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙥𝙚𝙧💌
╰┈➤ usually, i’d do a separate analysis of the two main characters, but in this case, it just makes sense that i do an analysis of june and adam as a whole. first of all, i loved june and adam’s story. i feel like dual ownership of a house as the plot for a book seems plain, but this author made it to where it was so interesting, that you couldn’t help but want to be more invested into the lives of adam and june. for me personally, i don’t enjoy dual timelines because each one i’ve read, i didn’t like as much as i’d hoped. however, i loved it in this book because you really got to see the foundation of what june and adam’s relationship was built upon. there was a lot of miscommunication involved in the story, but it was so relevant to the plot. i feel like usually, when there’s a fallout between the characters in a book, the author makes it a big deal, and then once the reason behind the fallout is revealed, i’m just like… oh…okay….but not with this book… no no no… i felt like the reason behind their fallout was valid and interesting, and the way june and adam ended up communicating the problem was mature (kind of). in general, adam and june were just such a good pair for eachother and they worked so well. they went from strangers to friends, to bestfriends, to strangers again, to friends again, and then to lovers. this book was a roller coaster and it’s one of the best that i’ve ever been on.
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙘𝙡𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣🔒
there’s so much more i want to write about this book, but it’s more than i can type and i want to keep this review somewhat short. i loved these characters and i loved the passion inside this book—romance and dreams. my second 5 star of the year was an absolute banger!
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𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱
𝗮𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗿𝗰! 𝘂𝘀𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆, 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱𝗻'𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝗮 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗶'𝗱 𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝘂𝘁, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗺𝘆 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗼 𝗶'𝗺 𝗴𝗹𝗮𝗱 𝗶 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗰😊 𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼, 𝗶𝘁'𝘀 𝗺𝘆 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝘆 𝟮𝟰 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲 😏
October 9, 2025
Oh June... She is the main reason why I couldn’t fully enjoy this book. She was so freaking annoying and hypocritical!! She had to be difficult and stubborn with every single thing. It was totally irrational and it made me want to just strangle her.
The male lead Adam was the saving grace for me. He was so sweet and kind and you could just tell how much he cared for June and how in love with her he was. However, June was constantly getting on my nerves and so I couldn’t fully ship them together. Adam deserved better. He had the patience of a saint to deal with June. I also hated how miscommunication was the reason for their broken friendship. It was so underwhelming.
Overall, this book had potential and I definitely would have loved it more if there was a better protagonist leading the story.
The male lead Adam was the saving grace for me. He was so sweet and kind and you could just tell how much he cared for June and how in love with her he was. However, June was constantly getting on my nerves and so I couldn’t fully ship them together. Adam deserved better. He had the patience of a saint to deal with June. I also hated how miscommunication was the reason for their broken friendship. It was so underwhelming.
Overall, this book had potential and I definitely would have loved it more if there was a better protagonist leading the story.
November 25, 2025
“I want you,” he says. “The years I spent with you were the happiest I’ve ever been. I chased that feeling and I couldn’t find it. So no, I don’t care about family and a marriage or any of those things I thought were important. I care about being with someone who makes me happy. In whatever way they want to be with me.” ❤️
I have mixed feelings about this book. The plot was interesting and the pacing was well done. The writing was descriptive, engaging and poetic. There were some fall vibes but I was hoping for more. I appreciated the mental health and anxiety representation, but the author could have explored it in more depth. For most of the book I was not a fan of June, she was very indecisive, annoying, inconsistent and didn’t think about the consequences of her decisions. At the end she developed a little bit she finally communicated about her feelings and made good decisions. I liked how she treated Adam’s family, she was friendly and thoughtful to them. I liked Adam, he was sweet, charming, talented, hardworking, but he didn’t communicate to June very well. I loved that Adam was a chef, he was talented and thoughtful. I adored the side characters especially Adam’s sister, mom and dad, Chloe, and Lucia. I loved the interactions between Adam’s family and June. The chemistry and tension between Adam and June was great. I did like that their relationship was slow burn but they didn’t communicate well at all and were inconsistent about their feelings. Also the development of their relationship was inconsistent, they were great friends to each other, then they were more and then they went back to being friends without a discussion. There were a few sweet romantic scenes between June and Adam. The ending was sweet and heartwarming. Overall this book was okay, but the main characters were inconsistent, the communication was lacking, and the relationship development was inconsistent.
I have mixed feelings about this book. The plot was interesting and the pacing was well done. The writing was descriptive, engaging and poetic. There were some fall vibes but I was hoping for more. I appreciated the mental health and anxiety representation, but the author could have explored it in more depth. For most of the book I was not a fan of June, she was very indecisive, annoying, inconsistent and didn’t think about the consequences of her decisions. At the end she developed a little bit she finally communicated about her feelings and made good decisions. I liked how she treated Adam’s family, she was friendly and thoughtful to them. I liked Adam, he was sweet, charming, talented, hardworking, but he didn’t communicate to June very well. I loved that Adam was a chef, he was talented and thoughtful. I adored the side characters especially Adam’s sister, mom and dad, Chloe, and Lucia. I loved the interactions between Adam’s family and June. The chemistry and tension between Adam and June was great. I did like that their relationship was slow burn but they didn’t communicate well at all and were inconsistent about their feelings. Also the development of their relationship was inconsistent, they were great friends to each other, then they were more and then they went back to being friends without a discussion. There were a few sweet romantic scenes between June and Adam. The ending was sweet and heartwarming. Overall this book was okay, but the main characters were inconsistent, the communication was lacking, and the relationship development was inconsistent.
October 7, 2025
you know what's different this time? i genuinely believe the fmc could win an award for a masterclass in how to consistently make absolutely worse choices.
November 26, 2025
Four weeks. One house. A decade of unresolved tension. It’s Different This Time is the perfect storm of heartache and heat, where every glance hurts as much as it thrills.
-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-
The story follows June, a thirty-something freelance actress who’s just lost her job and is struggling to stay afloat. She’s been dreaming of getting her own place, but with her bank account dwindling, she’s stuck living with friends… until an unexpected email pulls her back to New York. The message comes from an accounting firm tied to her old home, and before she knows it, she’s boarding a plane to face not just legal documents, but ghosts of her past.
That past? Adam . For six years, he wasn’t just her roommate. He was her confidant, her best friend, and eventually, something more. But time and distance pulled them apart. Now, with the passing of their old landlord, Adam and June discover that the brownstone they once shared has been left to them. The catch: they must wait a month before deciding whether to sell it or rent it out. Which means four weeks of living under the same roof. Four weeks of facing everything they left unresolved. (forced proximity?????? i think YES 🫡)
The book alternates beautifully between past and present. In the past, we get to see Adam and June’s friendship bloom slowly, tenderly, into love. It’s such a satisfying slow burn—roommates becoming friends, then something deeper—and I couldn’t stop smiling at their little moments together. (like cheek aching smiles and laughs. it was so cute) In the present,there is layer upon layer of tension, angst, and longing, showing two people cautiously relearning each other while trying to decide what their future looks like. (the way my heart kept beating so fast waiting for them to accept each other… it was absolute TORTURE 😭)
What I loved most was how real June and Adam’s dynamic felt. Their history made every glance, every near-touch, every argument carry weight. You can feel the ache of their unresolved feelings, but also the joy of watching them rediscover not only their love, but their friendship.
This book absolutely wrecked me in the best way. The push and pull, the heartbreak, the laughter, the quiet moments of reconnection… I literally couldn’t put it down. And by the end, I felt like I had lived every beat of their journey with them.
If you’re a fan of A Love Letter to Whiskey vibes, second-chance romance, slow burns, friends-to-lovers, and the delicious ache of unresolved tension finally snapping into something inevitable, It’s Different This Time will sweep you away.
-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-favorite quotes-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-
”Looking at Adam is like watching one of my favorite comfort movies—I already know every line like the back of my hand, so now I look for the smallest details I may have missed the first time around.”
⸻
"You are my person, Adam, my home.”
⸻
“June... Don't you know by now that it's you? It will always be you."
-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-
things to know about the book ↓
✨dual timeline
✨strangers->friends->lovers
✨second chance
✨forced proximity
✨single pov (hers)
A huge thank you to Netgalley, Ballantine, and Joss Richard for allowing me to read this arc. These are all my honest opinions in this review.
-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-
The story follows June, a thirty-something freelance actress who’s just lost her job and is struggling to stay afloat. She’s been dreaming of getting her own place, but with her bank account dwindling, she’s stuck living with friends… until an unexpected email pulls her back to New York. The message comes from an accounting firm tied to her old home, and before she knows it, she’s boarding a plane to face not just legal documents, but ghosts of her past.
That past? Adam . For six years, he wasn’t just her roommate. He was her confidant, her best friend, and eventually, something more. But time and distance pulled them apart. Now, with the passing of their old landlord, Adam and June discover that the brownstone they once shared has been left to them. The catch: they must wait a month before deciding whether to sell it or rent it out. Which means four weeks of living under the same roof. Four weeks of facing everything they left unresolved. (forced proximity?????? i think YES 🫡)
The book alternates beautifully between past and present. In the past, we get to see Adam and June’s friendship bloom slowly, tenderly, into love. It’s such a satisfying slow burn—roommates becoming friends, then something deeper—and I couldn’t stop smiling at their little moments together. (like cheek aching smiles and laughs. it was so cute) In the present,there is layer upon layer of tension, angst, and longing, showing two people cautiously relearning each other while trying to decide what their future looks like. (the way my heart kept beating so fast waiting for them to accept each other… it was absolute TORTURE 😭)
What I loved most was how real June and Adam’s dynamic felt. Their history made every glance, every near-touch, every argument carry weight. You can feel the ache of their unresolved feelings, but also the joy of watching them rediscover not only their love, but their friendship.
This book absolutely wrecked me in the best way. The push and pull, the heartbreak, the laughter, the quiet moments of reconnection… I literally couldn’t put it down. And by the end, I felt like I had lived every beat of their journey with them.
If you’re a fan of A Love Letter to Whiskey vibes, second-chance romance, slow burns, friends-to-lovers, and the delicious ache of unresolved tension finally snapping into something inevitable, It’s Different This Time will sweep you away.
-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-favorite quotes-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-
”Looking at Adam is like watching one of my favorite comfort movies—I already know every line like the back of my hand, so now I look for the smallest details I may have missed the first time around.”
⸻
"You are my person, Adam, my home.”
⸻
“June... Don't you know by now that it's you? It will always be you."
-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-
things to know about the book ↓
✨dual timeline
✨strangers->friends->lovers
✨second chance
✨forced proximity
✨single pov (hers)
A huge thank you to Netgalley, Ballantine, and Joss Richard for allowing me to read this arc. These are all my honest opinions in this review.
December 15, 2025
Two ex-roommates are thrust back into each other’s lives when the landlord of their former brownstone apartment leaves it to them in his will with one big caveat— the two must live together again for one month. But when old unresolved feelings threaten to resurface, June and Adam will have to decide just how much they are willing to risk for the chance at everything.
Almost immediately after starting this book, I knew I was going to end up loving it. As a major fan of the friends-to-lovers meets second chance (have you seen how many times I have read People We Meet on Vacation), I knew going in that I would enjoy this debut romance. But what I had not anticipated was the amazing cozy fall vibes, the characters you cannot help but love, a fun plot line that forces them back into their old apartment, and a love story it’s hard not to swoon over. Adam is easily a new favorite book boyfriend, in large part because of his profound love for June. I could not get enough of these two or this story. I will definitely be adding it to my reread list.
🎧 I absolutely flew through this on audio, narrated by Ferdelle Capistrano. I am completely taken with her very immersive narration and cannot wait to listen to more from her in the not-so-distant future.
Read if you like:
▪️debut romance
▪️friends to lovers
▪️second chance
▪️ex-roommates
▪️dual timelines
▪️NYC setting
Check out my Bookstagram post here ♥
Thank you Dell Romance and PRH Audio for the gifted copies.
Almost immediately after starting this book, I knew I was going to end up loving it. As a major fan of the friends-to-lovers meets second chance (have you seen how many times I have read People We Meet on Vacation), I knew going in that I would enjoy this debut romance. But what I had not anticipated was the amazing cozy fall vibes, the characters you cannot help but love, a fun plot line that forces them back into their old apartment, and a love story it’s hard not to swoon over. Adam is easily a new favorite book boyfriend, in large part because of his profound love for June. I could not get enough of these two or this story. I will definitely be adding it to my reread list.
🎧 I absolutely flew through this on audio, narrated by Ferdelle Capistrano. I am completely taken with her very immersive narration and cannot wait to listen to more from her in the not-so-distant future.
Read if you like:
▪️debut romance
▪️friends to lovers
▪️second chance
▪️ex-roommates
▪️dual timelines
▪️NYC setting
Check out my Bookstagram post here ♥
Thank you Dell Romance and PRH Audio for the gifted copies.
September 30, 2025
[arc review] HAPPY PUB DATE!!!!!!
I’ve been looking for a really good autumn / fall read and I think I’ve found it.
it’s different this time is a second chance romance set in new york that follows in the point of view of june wood.
june is an actress who—five years ago—dropped her life in new york, her career on broadway, and moved across the country to LA.
she swore never to return but finds herself back in the city after inheriting half of a $6.2m brownstone—the other half belonging to former roommate and best friend, adam harper.
adam harper is far from the aspiring chef she once knew, and is now the owner of a popular restaurant in the centre of new york—everything he ever dreamed of.
they’re both thrown under the same roof again for the first time in five years, except now there’s animosity in the air and a lot of questions—that were once unanswered—that are now coming to the surface.
I’m not usually someone who enjoys a second chance romance because I struggle to feel engaged by them—but for this story it really worked! I really enjoyed this and loved the dual timeline.
with that being said—it’s different this time has to be one of my favourite reads of 2025 and I can’t wait to pick up my own copy when it’s published. I’ll literally be running to B&N when I arrive in LA next month!
the story was fleshed out between past and present, and you got to see firsthand the yearning from both characters as they navigate feeling more for each other.
even though this is all written in the pov of june, I could feel the yearning from adam reading through the eyes of june. there was a flirty banter between them—both past and present—that really had me smiling while reading because I just loved them as a pair.
june is a very complex character who—despite her best efforts to be a good person—is ultimately a product of her upbringing.
I’d probably go as far as saying she has an anxious avoidant attachment style.
because june never got to see what makes a good and healthy relationship from her primary caregiver(s), when she does find something good, she doesn’t want to change anything in hope it remains the same—and I totally get that and felt for her reading this!
both june and adam are equally flawed with insecurities and anxieties that—in an ideal world—if they just communicated, they wouldn’t be in the mess they are now.
but what works is that when they do come back together, all cards are on the table. they’ve aged 5 years, experienced more of the world, and it’s a real opportunity to see if what they felt all those years ago is still there.
I loved the ending—and without spoiling it—because it was a full circle moment. it was perfectly written in line with the characters we had just read 400 pages about.
overall this is a stellar debut and I can’t wait to read more from the author in the future!
“you know, despite being just friends, this is still the best date.” “why?” “because I know that whatever happens tonight, you’re still coming home with me.” !!!!!!!
I’ve been looking for a really good autumn / fall read and I think I’ve found it.
it’s different this time is a second chance romance set in new york that follows in the point of view of june wood.
june is an actress who—five years ago—dropped her life in new york, her career on broadway, and moved across the country to LA.
she swore never to return but finds herself back in the city after inheriting half of a $6.2m brownstone—the other half belonging to former roommate and best friend, adam harper.
adam harper is far from the aspiring chef she once knew, and is now the owner of a popular restaurant in the centre of new york—everything he ever dreamed of.
they’re both thrown under the same roof again for the first time in five years, except now there’s animosity in the air and a lot of questions—that were once unanswered—that are now coming to the surface.
I’m not usually someone who enjoys a second chance romance because I struggle to feel engaged by them—but for this story it really worked! I really enjoyed this and loved the dual timeline.
with that being said—it’s different this time has to be one of my favourite reads of 2025 and I can’t wait to pick up my own copy when it’s published. I’ll literally be running to B&N when I arrive in LA next month!
the story was fleshed out between past and present, and you got to see firsthand the yearning from both characters as they navigate feeling more for each other.
even though this is all written in the pov of june, I could feel the yearning from adam reading through the eyes of june. there was a flirty banter between them—both past and present—that really had me smiling while reading because I just loved them as a pair.
june is a very complex character who—despite her best efforts to be a good person—is ultimately a product of her upbringing.
I’d probably go as far as saying she has an anxious avoidant attachment style.
because june never got to see what makes a good and healthy relationship from her primary caregiver(s), when she does find something good, she doesn’t want to change anything in hope it remains the same—and I totally get that and felt for her reading this!
both june and adam are equally flawed with insecurities and anxieties that—in an ideal world—if they just communicated, they wouldn’t be in the mess they are now.
but what works is that when they do come back together, all cards are on the table. they’ve aged 5 years, experienced more of the world, and it’s a real opportunity to see if what they felt all those years ago is still there.
I loved the ending—and without spoiling it—because it was a full circle moment. it was perfectly written in line with the characters we had just read 400 pages about.
overall this is a stellar debut and I can’t wait to read more from the author in the future!
“you know, despite being just friends, this is still the best date.” “why?” “because I know that whatever happens tonight, you’re still coming home with me.” !!!!!!!
November 20, 2025
໑ ▸ 4.75 stars
౨ৎ my thought
i am in love with this book
you all need to read this asap
♡ pre-reading
start: 14/11/25
finish: ?/11/25
just saw the new larry video of readig fall books so i now i have to read this! it's like mandatory.
hope the vibes are great
౨ৎ my thought
i am in love with this book
you all need to read this asap
♡ pre-reading
start: 14/11/25
finish: ?/11/25
just saw the new larry video of readig fall books so i now i have to read this! it's like mandatory.
hope the vibes are great
September 23, 2025
I loved the writing, I can’t believe it’s a debut!
But. It looks to me like this author read People We Meet on Vacation and thought to herself, “I can do it better!” She did do it better, but… it’s still People We Meet on Vacation.
So I spent a whole day reading this and I’m giving it four stars, but I also need to rant.
June and Adam used to be roommates, and much more, but they haven’t spoken in six years. We don’t know why and it takes excruciatingly long to find out.
This was a dual-timeline, friends-to-lovers, second-chance romance that was so well written that I enjoyed it despite all the issues I had with the story.
The heroine was a mess and I wanted to smack her over the head with my kindle. Multiple times. I felt really sorry for Adam. He wasn’t perfect, but he deserved better. She deserved for him to be married with kids by the time they met again.
I enjoyed their chemistry and easy banter and I absolutely adored their friends and Adam’s family. The romanticized New York setting was great too. I love books that take me places, and this one was written so vividly I could almost smell the autumn leaves, coffee and everything bagels. It felt like a Meg Ryan/Tom Hanks movie.
What I didn’t enjoy was the miscommunication and all the people June and Adam were dating. I don’t get that whole you’re-my-best-friend-so-we-can’t-be-dating philosophy. You’re telling me, you want a bf to sleep with, but plan to keep the best-friend-with-occasional-touching status with your roommate? That’s messed up and people older than 16 really shouldn’t embarrass themselves believing it would work.
That said, I will be absolutely looking forward to this author’s next book!
Thanks to Headline and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
But. It looks to me like this author read People We Meet on Vacation and thought to herself, “I can do it better!” She did do it better, but… it’s still People We Meet on Vacation.
So I spent a whole day reading this and I’m giving it four stars, but I also need to rant.
June and Adam used to be roommates, and much more, but they haven’t spoken in six years. We don’t know why and it takes excruciatingly long to find out.
This was a dual-timeline, friends-to-lovers, second-chance romance that was so well written that I enjoyed it despite all the issues I had with the story.
The heroine was a mess and I wanted to smack her over the head with my kindle. Multiple times. I felt really sorry for Adam. He wasn’t perfect, but he deserved better. She deserved for him to be married with kids by the time they met again.
I enjoyed their chemistry and easy banter and I absolutely adored their friends and Adam’s family. The romanticized New York setting was great too. I love books that take me places, and this one was written so vividly I could almost smell the autumn leaves, coffee and everything bagels. It felt like a Meg Ryan/Tom Hanks movie.
What I didn’t enjoy was the miscommunication and all the people June and Adam were dating. I don’t get that whole you’re-my-best-friend-so-we-can’t-be-dating philosophy. You’re telling me, you want a bf to sleep with, but plan to keep the best-friend-with-occasional-touching status with your roommate? That’s messed up and people older than 16 really shouldn’t embarrass themselves believing it would work.
That said, I will be absolutely looking forward to this author’s next book!
Thanks to Headline and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
October 16, 2025
5⭐️
june and adam have officially stolen my heart, their romance was extremely swoon worthy and i loved reading about their friendship, both of them chasing their dreams and their time living in the brownstone. i am so impressed that this was joss richard's debut novel and to be honest, i can't wait to read more of her work in the future!
when june wood receives an e-mail regarding an old apartment she used to live in while in new york, she's startled because she left that place in the past; but it's non-negotiable and she has to fly out. when she gets there, she's faced with the one and only adam harper, her old roommate (with a bit of history). together, they find out that they have inherited the brownstone home they previously lived in. with all of the mixed emotions, they come to an agreement where they will both live there for the month before signing the paperwork.
i really enjoyed the two perspectives of the flashbacks and the present - learning more about adam and june's past made me feel much more connected to them. seeing their friendship bloom and seeing the yearning on both ends just had me swooning. i was seriously rooting for them the whole way through - even during the present time. no way they could be "just friends" with the incredible chemistry and the 11 years they've known each other. with adam in the culinary industry and june in acting (broadway/tv), new york was truly the perfect setting for this cozy fall romance.
read this if you like:
🤎 friends to lovers
🤎 men who yearn!!!
🤎 nyc setting
🤎 second chance-ish
🤎 found family
🤎 musical theater
june and adam have officially stolen my heart, their romance was extremely swoon worthy and i loved reading about their friendship, both of them chasing their dreams and their time living in the brownstone. i am so impressed that this was joss richard's debut novel and to be honest, i can't wait to read more of her work in the future!
when june wood receives an e-mail regarding an old apartment she used to live in while in new york, she's startled because she left that place in the past; but it's non-negotiable and she has to fly out. when she gets there, she's faced with the one and only adam harper, her old roommate (with a bit of history). together, they find out that they have inherited the brownstone home they previously lived in. with all of the mixed emotions, they come to an agreement where they will both live there for the month before signing the paperwork.
i really enjoyed the two perspectives of the flashbacks and the present - learning more about adam and june's past made me feel much more connected to them. seeing their friendship bloom and seeing the yearning on both ends just had me swooning. i was seriously rooting for them the whole way through - even during the present time. no way they could be "just friends" with the incredible chemistry and the 11 years they've known each other. with adam in the culinary industry and june in acting (broadway/tv), new york was truly the perfect setting for this cozy fall romance.
read this if you like:
🤎 friends to lovers
🤎 men who yearn!!!
🤎 nyc setting
🤎 second chance-ish
🤎 found family
🤎 musical theater
July 14, 2025
The main characters share a past—for a long time, they rented the same apartment in New York and were very close friends. But something happened between them, and June moved to Los Angeles. They haven’t seen or spoken to each other in five years, until June finds out that the owner of that same apartment has died and left it to both her and Adam.
Let me start by saying I really enjoyed the first part of the book. June is a stage and film actress struggling with her career, and Adam is a well-known chef. Their past and present are intertwined, and from the very beginning, my heart was clenching as I waited to learn what had caused their falling out. This is a debut, but the author writes masterfully—I was so emotionally invested in the characters that I honestly wanted to throw my Kindle at the wall at times. I won’t spoil anything, but I’ll say the reason didn’t work for me. And later on, I got even more frustrated by some of the heroine’s actions—so unfortunately, I can’t give it a higher rating. Also, I was expecting a second-chance romance, but it didn’t quite feel like one.
The cover is beautiful, but don’t be misled—this isn’t a light romantic comedy. This story will make you feel deeply, get angry, and empathize with the characters.
𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬:
✓friends to lovers
✓dual timeline
✓forced proximity
✓found family
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine (Dell) for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Let me start by saying I really enjoyed the first part of the book. June is a stage and film actress struggling with her career, and Adam is a well-known chef. Their past and present are intertwined, and from the very beginning, my heart was clenching as I waited to learn what had caused their falling out. This is a debut, but the author writes masterfully—I was so emotionally invested in the characters that I honestly wanted to throw my Kindle at the wall at times. I won’t spoil anything, but I’ll say the reason didn’t work for me. And later on, I got even more frustrated by some of the heroine’s actions—so unfortunately, I can’t give it a higher rating. Also, I was expecting a second-chance romance, but it didn’t quite feel like one.
The cover is beautiful, but don’t be misled—this isn’t a light romantic comedy. This story will make you feel deeply, get angry, and empathize with the characters.
𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬:
✓friends to lovers
✓dual timeline
✓forced proximity
✓found family
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine (Dell) for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
December 14, 2025
It's Different This Time follows the story of June and Adam who were former roommates. By a twist of fate, they were forced to face the events that led to their estrangement years ago—and now they had to confront their unresolved feelings for each other.
June isn't a character who's particularly easy to like. She was full of insecurities and fears, and she believed that she was never good for anything or anyone. I just couldn't accept that she left a decade ago just like that. The author didn't convince me thoroughly. It was quite frustrating to know that because of her her deep-rooted fears, it led to so much time lost for her and Adam. But perhaps, that's also the beauty of a second chance love story. The chance to make everything right once again. And to do it differently this time.
Sad to sad that I love Adam's sister, Sarah, his mum Audrey and Chloe more than June. I wish we had more of Adam's family, especially his mum.
Adam on the other hand, was perfectly wonderful. Oh gosh, I love that scene at his restaurant. And that he went back to look for June when he was about to get married 🥺
👨🍳 The thing about lightning in a bottle is that it's a fleeting moment in time, a spark that's rare and special... but it's also impossible to re-create.
👨🍳 And I've always been most comfortable with you. Maybe I thought you'd feel the same way.
👨🍳 "I was scared that if I got close to you again..." My voice cracks. "I wouldn't be strong enough to leave this time."
👨🍳 To say you have a family is a privilege, a birthright. For the first time, I finally know what it feels like to be wanted, to be loved... and it's the best feeling in the world.
👨🍳 There's no way to preserve anything forever. Trust me, I know. You win, you lose... but you can't do either unless you take a chance."
June isn't a character who's particularly easy to like. She was full of insecurities and fears, and she believed that she was never good for anything or anyone. I just couldn't accept that she left a decade ago just like that. The author didn't convince me thoroughly. It was quite frustrating to know that because of her her deep-rooted fears, it led to so much time lost for her and Adam. But perhaps, that's also the beauty of a second chance love story. The chance to make everything right once again. And to do it differently this time.
Sad to sad that I love Adam's sister, Sarah, his mum Audrey and Chloe more than June. I wish we had more of Adam's family, especially his mum.
Adam on the other hand, was perfectly wonderful. Oh gosh, I love that scene at his restaurant. And that he went back to look for June when he was about to get married 🥺
👨🍳 The thing about lightning in a bottle is that it's a fleeting moment in time, a spark that's rare and special... but it's also impossible to re-create.
👨🍳 And I've always been most comfortable with you. Maybe I thought you'd feel the same way.
👨🍳 "I was scared that if I got close to you again..." My voice cracks. "I wouldn't be strong enough to leave this time."
👨🍳 To say you have a family is a privilege, a birthright. For the first time, I finally know what it feels like to be wanted, to be loved... and it's the best feeling in the world.
👨🍳 There's no way to preserve anything forever. Trust me, I know. You win, you lose... but you can't do either unless you take a chance."
October 7, 2025
I loved this book!
A beautiful love story.
Roommates, to best friends, to lovers.
A second chance romance.
Very emotional.
Told only by the FMC.
Two timelines: the present and 11 years ago when June and Adam first met.
A brownstone house: 74 Perry Street in West Village, New York.
June Woods (32) an actress, living in LA, lost her job, and is short of money.
Her father left when she was 2 years-old.
Her mother blames her for getting pregnant.
Has a best friend, Chloe and an amazing agent, Theo.
She's beautiful, works hard, but always sells herself short.
Adam Harper (34) a Chef, that not only works in the most talked about restaurant in town, Alden, but owns it too.
He's very close to his family, loving parents and a smart sister.
He's a handsome, athletic, tall, and charismatic man.
The owner of the house on Perry Street, now deceased, left it to both of them, and the CPA company taking care of that matter needs 30 days to process the paperwork.
June not having money to stay in a hotel or a flight home, accepts Adam's proposal to live in the house, with him, during that time, her agent trying to find something for her to work there.
And they're roommates again!
The interaction between the two is minimal.
June stays out of Adam's way and vice versa.
She's still deeply attracted to him, misses him, wants him.
In the past timeline, in the beginning, June and Adam rarely saw each other, her because of her acting classes and shifts at the bookstore, him because of the heavy schedule at the culinary school and working weekends.
But slowly they become the best of friends having a routine. He cooks, trying to create new recipes, they watch rom-com movies, talk about their day, about anything and everything.
June trusts Adam completely!
They both feel for each other more than just friendship but are unable and afraid to express out loud the love they're feeling for one another.
Bad decisions, insecurities, harsh words between them, Riley a woman he starts dating and brings home, just to change his working clothes, something that never happened in 6 years, and refering to June as his roommate, pushes her to leave with a one way ticket to LA, not even telling Adam she's not coming back and blocking him.
Now, together after five years, will they forgive each other the past mistakes, and not loose this second chance on love?
Because Adam loves no one else but June, and June loves no one else but Adam!
Prepare yourself to cry buckets reading this book!
A beautiful love story.
Roommates, to best friends, to lovers.
A second chance romance.
Very emotional.
Told only by the FMC.
Two timelines: the present and 11 years ago when June and Adam first met.
A brownstone house: 74 Perry Street in West Village, New York.
June Woods (32) an actress, living in LA, lost her job, and is short of money.
Her father left when she was 2 years-old.
Her mother blames her for getting pregnant.
Has a best friend, Chloe and an amazing agent, Theo.
She's beautiful, works hard, but always sells herself short.
Adam Harper (34) a Chef, that not only works in the most talked about restaurant in town, Alden, but owns it too.
He's very close to his family, loving parents and a smart sister.
He's a handsome, athletic, tall, and charismatic man.
The owner of the house on Perry Street, now deceased, left it to both of them, and the CPA company taking care of that matter needs 30 days to process the paperwork.
June not having money to stay in a hotel or a flight home, accepts Adam's proposal to live in the house, with him, during that time, her agent trying to find something for her to work there.
And they're roommates again!
The interaction between the two is minimal.
June stays out of Adam's way and vice versa.
She's still deeply attracted to him, misses him, wants him.
In the past timeline, in the beginning, June and Adam rarely saw each other, her because of her acting classes and shifts at the bookstore, him because of the heavy schedule at the culinary school and working weekends.
But slowly they become the best of friends having a routine. He cooks, trying to create new recipes, they watch rom-com movies, talk about their day, about anything and everything.
June trusts Adam completely!
They both feel for each other more than just friendship but are unable and afraid to express out loud the love they're feeling for one another.
Bad decisions, insecurities, harsh words between them, Riley a woman he starts dating and brings home, just to change his working clothes, something that never happened in 6 years, and refering to June as his roommate, pushes her to leave with a one way ticket to LA, not even telling Adam she's not coming back and blocking him.
Now, together after five years, will they forgive each other the past mistakes, and not loose this second chance on love?
Because Adam loves no one else but June, and June loves no one else but Adam!
Prepare yourself to cry buckets reading this book!
September 30, 2025
This truly felt like a nostalgic 90's rom-com, specifically When Harry Met Sally. It is a second chance romance where a twist of fate forces two former roommates back into their beloved New York City brownstone where they must confront the events that led to their estrangement. It's dual time line & in both I was begging & screaming for them to get together and JUST KISS ALREADYYYY.
It felt like finishing a favorite comfort TV Show that you just want to go back to time & time again. I will look forward to revisiting this every fall, I just know it.
I miss the characters and their story already.
It felt like finishing a favorite comfort TV Show that you just want to go back to time & time again. I will look forward to revisiting this every fall, I just know it.
I miss the characters and their story already.
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