A Rewrite in New York

The New York Heartline #1

by Holly Lipovits

She wasn’t planning on seeing him again.
And she definitely wasn’t planning to fall for someone else.

Zoe is finally stepping into the future she’s worked so hard for. After years of quiet writing and heartbreak she doesn’t ever want to talk about, her short story lands her a feature in one of the country’s most prestigious literary magazines. An invitation to New York. A chance to be seen. To start again.

But life has a funny way of repeating its own plot twists.

On her way to New York, after too many unexpected run-ins, her past takes the seat beside her once again. James—her ex. The one who cheated on her, the one who broke her heart, and the one who never really let her go.

And then there’s Ben—the magazine’s acquisitions editor. Steady, soft-spoken, and unexpectedly charming. He believes in her work. He sees the version of Zoe she’s still learning to trust. And he’s everything James never was.

Caught between a love that once was and a connection that feels like it could be something more, Zoe must decide what parts of her story are worth rewriting—and what should be left behind for good.

A Rewrite in New York is a bittersweet, heart-tugging contemporary romance about letting go of what once was and daring to write a new kind of love story.

340 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 30, 2025

About the author

Holly Lipovits resides in Cleveland, Ohio, with her two boy cats, Alfie and Pretty Boy. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing and English from Southern New Hampshire University and works as an editorial assistant for a medical journal. A Rewrite in New York is her debut novel.

You can find her chronically on TikTok, @writerhollymarie, or visit her at www.authorhollymarie.com.

Reviews

[Nichole White · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was selected as an ARC reader for this first book from this author. 🤍

This was such a cute story. It was a second chance love story. It was about the main character finding herself, learning to let go and do what her heart desires. Letting go of the past and no longer letting it hold her down.

I loved the story, I love Zoe and Tish’s friendship, truly one of a kind. At first I thought this story was going to end one way and then it didn’t but I was so happy it didn’t.

I’m so glad I had the opportunity to be one of the first readers. 🤍

Favorite quotes from the book:

“Each spine feels like an invitation to dive into someone else’s world, to step into lives both familiar and thrillingly unknown. There’s something electric about this section—the stories of love, heartbreak, self-discovery, and transformation that resonate so deeply with anyone who’s ever searched for meaning in the chaos of modern life.”

Excerpt From
A Rewrite in New York
Holly Lipovits
This material may be protected by copyright.
Page 94

“Love, I realize, isn’t just about holding on—it’s about knowing when to let go and when to start again.”

Excerpt From
A Rewrite in New York
Holly Lipovits
This material may be protected by copyright.
Page 397

[Greta Cecilia · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️ !

I was honored to be able to ARC read “A Rewrite in New York”. Once I started reading, it was easy to get lost and want to read more.

Zoe was relatable all the way until the end of the book. I loved reading her dynamic with her best friend, Tish, too. I found myself a LOT in their friendship and who they are!

I went into it knowing the premise, so halfway through I was thinking, “sooo when are we meeting Ben!!?” And once we did, I wasn’t disappointed!

This second chance romance was truly so fun to read up until the very end. Once I started, I didn’t want to stop!

I hope to hear more about Ben soon 😉

[Ace · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️
I am so glad I was given an ARC of this book to review! It was such a fun book to read. I love any kind of “bookish” book, so a book about an aspiring author who might be having all of her dreams come true? Sign me up! The setting in New York was so much fun, and I loved the romance in the book, too!

[Haley · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5

I was so excited to receive on ARC of A Rewrite in New York! The story and its characters flowed so well amongst the plot which made me never want to put this book down! This was a beautiful book to end the summer season with, teaching you how to let go of your past in hopes of finding something even better on the other side of the unknown! 💓

[Gabrielle Mooney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was super cute and really taught some amazing lessons on sticking to the course and trying new things that may scare us. I received this as an ARC read and will definitely recommend to anyone who wants a cute romance story with powerful lessons!

[Emily Seel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cozy fall read

[Jordan Curlee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun read! Definitely reminded me of some good life lessons and proved that love and friendship can always help you reach your potential!!

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zoe was a main character I could get behind. She was so relatable and real! Her anxiety, overthinking, and self doubt made her someone you were rooting for. Waiting for her to realize she was so much more than the thoughts in her head.

The supporting characters were amazing too. (not you James, no one is talking about you). Tish was always IN her corner, even when Zoe couldn’t be in her own corner. I loved how encouraging she was and was always creating a safe space for Zoe to go back to. Ben was definitely a swoon worthy guy. I love a no green flag type of guy who can respect boundaries.

Now the elephant in the room. James. What a piece of work. Not once was I rooting for him to be the type of guy who “changed” and deserved a second chance because it was clear SHE DESERVED BETTER!! I’m so glad she didn’t believe his BS in the end. All his apologies? Yawn.

I would definitely recommend this book to others. Thank you to Holly for allowing me to be an ARC reader.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW

I was honored to receive an ARC of A Rewrite in New York and I loved it! I am already craving more of Zoe and Ben and want to know the next chapter of their story. I found Zoe to be extremely relatable throughout the entire book. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good Romance!

[Katelynn Blevins · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Rewrite in New York is a sweet, uplifting romance about second chances and fresh starts. I loved Zoe,she is an instantly likable and relatable character. She comes across as both strong and vulnerable, carrying the weight of her past while still daring to hope for something better. What makes her stand out. Watching Zoe navigate love, personal growth, and the challenges of starting fresh makes her story compelling and easy to root for. Readers will connect with her determination to rewrite her own narrative and admire the balance between her resilience and tender heart. Ben is the kind of character who grows on you the more you get to know him. At first, he comes across as guarded, shaped by his own setbacks and hesitations, but beneath that exterior is a thoughtful and deeply caring person. His dynamic with Zoe is built on trust, patience, and genuine chemistry, and his character arc shows how love and second chances can help someone step out of their comfort zone.

I highly recommend this book to anyone!

[Alecia Webster · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Rewrite in New York features Zoe, who is grad student who just finished her degree and gets a feature in a magazine and has a surprise visit from her ex, James. Zoe goes thru a self discovery of who she is and who she wants to be while determining if James is really a changed man. While traveling to Andy to meet with the publisher, Zoe, has to make some life altering decisions. Does she stay with James, or give her hot new Editor a chance? Does she stay in Cleveland, or make the move to NY?

As a native to Cleveland, where the story starts, and being very familiar with New York, I was super excited to be picked as an ARC reader. Overall, I generally liked the story. It was slow in some parts, as the author provides a lot of descriptive information, that isn’t always necessary. Additionally, there are some timeline issues that bothered me but I frequently go back and forth between the two locations.

I would give this book a 3.5 if possible but for a debut novel, the author is one that I will be watching!

[Aly · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️

I felt this book was very slow and repetitive in the beginning. James just kept popping up everywhere so it wasn’t really a surprise to see him at the airport. He was also a douche and moved on pretty fast after confessing he was still in love with her..

The book picked up after she got to New York and we get the same details of what happened between the two. However, she finally realized he hasn’t truly changed. I mean, he literally wrote a book about their relationship ending but left out important details to make him seem better/not to necessarily blame.

Ben was so sweet. He showed up for her when she needed someone to talk to and I loved that for her. However, I felt their confession was rushed.

Overall it was a cute story. I loved Tish, she was a supportive queen.

This was an arc and my honest opinion.

[Marissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so fun to read, I just wanted to keep reading it!

The characters were so fun to learn their own personalities like Zoe wanting to follow her dreams of writing a book, to loving books. To getting hurt and moving past the hurt.
From her best friend Tish to always encouraging her to do what she loves, to wanting to kick someone’s butt who hurts her best friend. To always having her back.
From James to Ben.

I am glad I came crossed this book. It was really a fun read. I truly really liked the way it made me smile, laugh and just feel like awe! ❤️ I highly recommend if you like a girl who follows her dreams, to moving on from the past and becoming a better person and falling for someone(;

Now I need a book about Ben!(;

[Taylor Wall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Received as an ARC for an honest review.

We have a late twenties woman dealing with the hurt that her previous relationship did to her and her self recovery in learning to ‘pick herself first’.

I enjoyed the main premise of this book and her self recovery journey. I liked the character, other than James, what a jerk, especially her best friend Tish. We all need a Tish in our lives. Ben was of course dreamy and perfect.

I found the beginning of the book a bit slow and repetitive until James came in, and even then I wasn’t fully engrossed until the MC went to New York.

I enjoyed this book and would recommend if you’re looking for a female journey on self recovery of learning to choose herself first and dreamy romantic interest in New York.

[Tabrina Ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

"A Rewrite in New York"  is the first traditional romance novel I have read. Personally, I usually lean towards fantasy and sci-fi but this book had me in a choke hold! I absolutely loved Zoe and her quaril between her two love interests. She was so relatable and I resonated with the overthinking and second guessing that she displayed throughout the book. 

In an attempt to avoid spoilers for this still hot off the print book, I will avoid saying too much. But I was absolutely in love with the later introduced love interest.

I'm beyond ready for the sequel and look forward to reading more of Holly Lipovits novels in the future. 

This was a fantastic debut

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A big thank you to the author, Holly Lipovits, for letting me be an ARC reader for her debut novel!

To start off, there was so much that I really liked about this book. The characters were all written wonderfully but I have special place in my heart for strong female characters and I think that both Zoe and Tish embodied that.

I did like the dynamic of the second chance romance with a twist trope and I can safely say that you’ll want to read this if you’ve ever given someone a second chance and regretted it! Zoe isn’t just a book character, she represents the choices that many women face when trying to accept love back into their life.

Happy reading!

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️ 3.75 stars. This story takes place in New York city where Zoe navigates her previous toxic relationship, a new relationship, and her writing career. This book gives similar vibes to A Novel Summer. However, sections of this book were slow even though there were still a lot of laugh out loud moments.

Special shout out to the side character Tish, the best friend that every FMC needs. And thank you to the author for the ARC!

Tropes:
- Emotional healing
- Second chance

[Shelbi Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so sweet to ready. The man in character Zoe is trying to explore life and along the way keeps running into her toxic ex. But yet Ben her editor lingers in the back of her mind with a questionable glimmer of hope.

I loved how relatable this book was. Zoe, damaged from the trauma of her last relationship, hesitant to give the good guy a chance. But he was calm and delicate with her.

I just loved this so much.

[jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the characters and the realness of it the conversations had between friends and herself. Not knowing what she wants or is right in front of her face? Sometimes people come back into your life for a reason. Maybe it’s fate or meant to be but worth the read. A lot of self worth and self reflection and what she wants out of her life.

[Joi' Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Rewrite in New York is a gorgeous autumn read for those who love Gilmore Girls and other cozy shows. Holly writes in a way that tickles the senses and comforts you as you explore a new chapter of life for Zoe, the main character. Zoe is lovable, witty, and relatable. As someone who has been finding her love for reading again this year, I’m happy to have picked this story up.

[Gammy_jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was really good.
There was a lull in the middle but then it turned right around and captured my interest all over again and now that it’s over I find myself wanting more.
Thank you for allowing me to read your wonderful book.

[Emily Dooley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was SO good, it really did depict what letting go of the past and looking forward to your future and opening yourself up to new things can really do for you. I loved the story line between Ben & Zoe. It was just PERFECT.

[Elizabeth Falenski · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is well written. It pulls you in from the very beginning with a down to earth main character who seems very relatable to many. It is a sweet romance that you want to happen but are unsure it’s going to happen. It’s not a book that I would have picked normally but I am glad I was given the opportunity to read it. It’s definitely a book I’d recommend.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would give this book 3.5 stars.
I was given the opportunity for an ARC read and enjoyed the book. It felt slow at moments but was an easy read and I would recommend to someone who is looking a a cute quick story.

[Rhonda Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a contemporary romance .Zoe is an upcoming book author who has self doubts after her boyfriend James who cheated on her suddenly appears in her life after several years. Ben is the handsome editor who teaches Zoe that she can do anything she sets her mind too. Tish is the best friend who listens and supports Zoe. I loved Holly Lipitor’s writing style it kept me hooked from the start.

[Becky Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arc review

This is a fun read. It starts slow but then you can't wait for what happens next I highly recommend this book

[Kenzie Mae · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (4.5/5)

I absolutely loved this book!! A Rewrite in New York pulled me in from the very first chapter and didn’t let go. The romantic connections had me on my toes the entire time. The tension, the unexpected run-ins, and the way her heart was pulled in two directions kept me hooked.

What really stood out to me, though, was the theme of self-discovery. Zoe’s journey felt so real—messy, emotional, and empowering all at once. Watching her learn to let go of what once was and step into a version of herself she could finally trust was incredibly moving. I found myself in Zoe and found her character very relatable!

This is such a heartfelt, bittersweet, and hopeful story about writing your own story. Highly recommend for anyone who loves contemporary romance with depth and emotional pull!

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book!

[Bookishwife · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Rewrite in New York is a heartfelt contemporary romance that follows Zoe as she faces the unexpected return of her toxic ex-boyfriend. He insists he’s changed and wants another chance, but Zoe is torn between the familiar comfort he once gave her and the fears that still linger from their past. At the same time, she must decide whether to hold on to what was, open her heart to something new, or take the leap to rewrite her own story.

What really stood out to me was how the author explores the different forms love can take. Sometimes it burns with passion but masks a relationship built on imbalance, where one partner only takes without truly seeing the harm they have caused. In contrast, there’s the quieter, understanding kind of love—the kind that listens, encourages, and feels like a warm, safe embrace.

I also love how the author wrote Zoe’s best friend, Tish, who absolutely stole my heart. She’s loyal, uplifting, and always in Zoe’s corner—the ultimate support system every girl deserves.

Beyond the romance, Holly Lipovits beautifully highlights the importance of self-love and the courage it takes to put yourself first—whether that means following your dreams, leaving behind a toxic past, reinventing who you are, or even allowing yourself to love again. ❤️

This isn’t just a love story—it’s a journey of growth, healing, friendship, and the reminder that the greatest rewrite is the one you give yourself.

✨ Thank you to Holly Lipovits for the opportunity to read this beautiful story early as an ARC.

[Carmen M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to author Holly Lipovits for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A Rewrite in New York was such heartfelt read. It’s emotional but not heavy, romantic but in a really grounded, believable way.

Zoe’s journey feels so real. She’s finally getting her big break, but of course life decides to toss her ex right into her path, the one who broke her heart and still kind of lingers in the background. Then she meets Ben, who’s basically the complete opposite: steady, kind, and the first person in a long time who really sees her. The whole love triangle is handled so naturally with no over the top drama, just honest emotions and tough choices.

I really liked how introspective this story was. It’s less about big romantic gestures and more about figuring out who you are after heartbreak, and what love looks like once you’ve grown a little. Plus, the New York setting adds such a nice touch of hope and new beginnings.

If you’re into second chances, soft romance, and stories about starting over (both in love and in life), this is the book for you!

4.25 Stars!

#ARewriteinNewYork #HollyLipovits #SecondChanceRomance #RomanceBooks