I think that this year, I am required to put You, Again by Kate Goldbeck on the list. I saw this one everywhere, and I am nothing if not easily influenced—and thank God, I was. I am a big Nora Ephron fan, so getting the chance to read a romance that reminded me of When Harry Met Sally pleased me. It was a serious ode to New York. It was funny and refreshing, even when Josh and Ari got on my nerves, which they did…frequently. They were so frustrating, Ari especially, but it only made me root for their happily ever after more. Actually, it even made me love Ari more, because I know what it’s like to be scared to put my heart on the line, especially when I’ve been alone for a long time or had my heart broken by someone that I thought that I could go the distance with. These two were messy and I loved it. It was wonderful to watch them grow up and develop a real friendship. The countless text messages. The scenes where they watched movies over the phone together (yes, that really did happen in When Harry Met Sally ). The Strand ’s guest appearance in the book. It all worked. It was a delicious little treat and I need Goldbeck to write something again soon.
"I think that this year, I am required to put You, Again by Kate Goldbeck on the list. I saw this one everywhere, and I am nothing if not easily influenced—and thank God, I was. I am a big Nora Ephron fan, so getting the chance to read a romance that reminded me of When Harry Met Sally pleased me. It was a serious ode to New York. It was funny and refreshing, even when Josh and Ari got on my nerves, which they did…frequently. They were so frustrating, Ari especially, but it only made me root for their happily ever after more. Actually, it even made me love Ari more, because I know what it’s like to be scared to put my heart on the line, especially when I’ve been alone for a long time or had my heart broken by someone that I thought that I could go the distance with. These two were messy and I loved it. It was wonderful to watch them grow up and develop a real friendship. The countless text messages. The scenes where they watched movies over the phone together (yes, that really did happen in When Harry Met Sally ). The Strand ’s guest appearance in the book. It all worked. It was a delicious little treat and I need Goldbeck to write something again soon."
"As Marie Kondo once said, “I’m so excited, because I love mess.” This gender-swapped When Harry Met Sally retelling (she’s the commitment phobe, he’s the hopeless romantic) is for anyone who craves romance novels with realistic and flawed characters. Ari and Josh circle each other for years in the kind of delicious, slow-burn tension that only comes from a well-executed enemies-to-friends-to-lovers arc. And while they make many mistakes (so many mistakes) on their journey to one another, you can’t help but enjoy every second of the ride."
