Andie Rose's mother passed away when she was young, and her two amazing grandmothers moved in to help raise her while her dad was on the road for work. Now, after months of hard work, she is entering Blue Ridge State as a mid-year freshman transfer student. The plan was for her and boyfriend Connor to attend together, and this is her big winter surprise for him. I'll let you imagine how that turns out, but Andie's persistent and it's not long before the whole dorm, new roommate Shay and even RA Milo are rooting for her as she tries to collect ribbons for an eventual society membership. I really liked the way Blue Ridge State was described and Shay and Andie's awesome off campus work study jobs at Bagelopolis sounded great. It seems natural when she falls into the inner workings of the underground radio show The Knight's Watch, which was one her mother had a hand in creating. ( )

Emma Lord has become a Household Name in my household (aka my brain.) Her books are always delightful and come with a side of encouragement and "pursue your own dreams"-ness, as well as characters worth rooting for. ( )

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

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

Plans are all well and good, but that annoying thing called life tends to interfere. Andie has a perfect plan: transfer to the college her late mom and estranged father attended, resume the relationship she has been working via long distance with Connor, and get going on her career in psychology. No sooner does she arrive on campus, than she discovers her boyfriend transferred back to the community college she just left...So much for communication. Add in the ghost of her mother looming in the background, thanks to having been the first pirate radio announcer on campus, and you have the start of a messy, but delightful YA romance/coming of age. It's very satisfying to watch her navigate feelings of being overwhelmed, second-guessing her life plan, and figuring out how to deal with her dad and boyfriend, all while getting more attached to Milo, her resident assistant who has his own baggage. ( )

Starting over, campus romance, set in my home state, written by a trusted author? Yes, please and thank you! Meet Andie Rose. She’s an unheard of mid-year transfer student to her dream university. She’s got a long term plan, big dreams. But first she’s got to locate her longtime boyfriend on campus and surprise him. There’s just one problem, he’s transferred to her school! While this sounds romantic as we get to know more about their relationship dynamic…maybe not. Enter a spoiler in Andie’s RA. While she feels torn in her feelings he serves more as a mirror for Andie to examine her existing relationships.
This is my favorite Emma Lord book. The book is set at a fictional university in Virginia, where I’m originally from. The school shares similarities to several Virginia universities, a mashup. It was such a fun read with all the Easter eggs, like a trip home. It made me very hungry for my all time favorite bagel shop! The secret societies was very on-brand, but I loved how the author took a different twist on membership! I was rooting for Andie from the start and loved her arc. I felt her growth was so satisfying. She gets self determination and romance, she finds her own path.
I recommend for fans of Emma Lord’s previous books, YA campus settings, LGBTQ inclusion, and feel good romance.
Thank you to Wednesday Books, Emma Lord, and Netgalley for the advance reader copy. ( )