Enemies to lovers romance is a popular trope and one you can easily get wrapped up in. I enjoy reading this trope for the most part. Obviously, it depends on how it’s written.
In this upcoming release, we dive into a long-standing relationship. I’m always on the look out for that happily ever after! Read my thoughts and review below.
You, Again by Kate GoldbeckPublisher: Dial Press Trade Paperback (September 12, 2023)
ISBN-13: 978-0593448120
ASIN: B0BRMNGD2V
SYNOPSIS:
When Ari and Josh first meet, the wrong kind of sparks fly. They hate each other. Instantly.
A free-spirited, struggling comedian who likes to keep things casual, Ari sublets, takes gigs, and she never sleeps over after hooking up. Born-and-bred Manhattanite Josh has ambitious plans: Take the culinary world by storm, find The One, and make her breakfast in his spotless kitchen. They have absolutely nothing in common . . . except that they happen to be sleeping with the same woman.
Ari and Josh never expect their paths to cross again. But years later, as they’re both reeling from ego-bruising breakups, a chance encounter leads to a surprising connection: friendship. Turns out, spending time with your former nemesis is fun when you’re too sad to hate each other—and too sad for hate sex.
As friends-without-benefits, they find comfort in late-night Netflix binges, swiping through each other’s online dating profiles, and bickering across boroughs. It’s better than romance. Until one night, the unspoken boundaries of their platonic relationship begin to blur. . . .
You, Again by Kate Goldbeck Review
I love a great enemies to lovers romance. The love-hate dynamic is usually a fine line and it’s fun to see the characters tiptoeing across a line that sometimes becomes a great divide. That is especially evident in this book.
The author developed a unique dynamic between her main characters in that their enemy era did truly last a long time. This book is written over years of time, and with that aspect, it was a long journey for them to come to grips with the reality of their feelings.
There’s a huge dynamic in this book where most everything is built on his and her failures in life. It’s a long story of some success, and then crushing defeat. It’s a story of good friends who continually support you. But the author also dives into an extreme inability to believe in yourself or find yourself worthy of one single thing.
In many aspects, this book was exhausting. The female lead seemed to be so incapable of functioning in simple conversation, and sharing herself that at some points it was difficult to read. There were points where I just shook my head and wondered how someone could hate their life and themself as much as they do. Shallow friendships and shallow continual hookups were better than having a relationship with someone she really loved but couldn’t admit it to herself or him.
And speaking of him, after a crushing blow with his arrogance and failed business, he, too, hid himself from the world. Afraid to put himself out there again because of the ridicule. But at least he was willing to try for her affection, cared for, and supported her emotionally more than it was worth. He seriously had to work hard to try to have any kind of relationship with her and that too was exhausting. I kept thinking I hope she was worth it in the end.
But that is not to say there is not lightness too. Goldbeck added wit and plenty of humor with snarky comebacks and banter that keeps the story light and very funny. Ari is a comedian after all. But you can also feel the hurt and the pain that keep these characters from moving forward and getting out of their bad phases.
This book reminded me a lot of some of the past popular young adult novels that were built only on conversation, arguing, and spinning of their wheels continually.
While the author finally brought it together for a happily ever after, it took a lot of time, hurt feelings, and broken hearts to mend. I truly commend Josh for not catapulting immediately, because honestly, having to emotionally support someone that broken is definitely something one should question if they handle it in the long run.
I know my review and thoughts will be an unpopular opinion because many (most) of you are going to absolutely love this book. The author seriously has mad writing skills. You, Again is an interesting dynamic. Romantic, but for me, it failed to give me that heartwarming excitement that we should feel when two people fall in love and have a beautiful relationship at the end. With the passage of so much time in the story, it took on a whole other realm that lost me along the way.
3 STARS!
Disclaimer: Chris has personally reviewed the product listed above. She has not received any monetary compensation for her review but did receive a free ebook so she could evaluate and use it for this post. Her thoughts & opinions in this review are unbiased & honest and your opinions may differ.
Hi! I’m Chris! Just a Midlife Wife sharing about life’s journey; screaming and kicking through it while supposedly aging gracefully…
Focusing on healthy living, low carb & keto, things I am loving right now, and life in general.