It’s Different This Time by Joss Richard

When June and her old roommate are set to inherit the New York City brownstone they once lived in five years prior, old feelings (and problems) begin to resurface. It’s Different This Time by Joss Richard is a second-chance love story, set during an autumn in NYC! A nice fall read.

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IF YOU HAVEN’T READ THE BOOK, STOP READING! SPOILERS AHEAD

To get to the point of the drama with the brownstone, we have to go back to the beginning (like the book does, in its flashbacks):

June, working multiple jobs to make ends meet, tours a dream apartment in a West Village brownstone. Despite being cheap for the area, she still can’t afford it on her own. When making conversation to a hot and tall customer who is also apartment shopping, she mentions the unit. Later that day, when trying to drop off her application, HE (who she learns is Adam) is dropping off HIS. June and Adam decide to be roommates since they both want the place and need to save on rent. One condition, though: nothing can ever happen between them.

It’s obvious right away that something did, because June runs away from Adam at the official “signing over the brownstone” meeting.

Coming in town from LA, June ends up crashing at the old place to save on hotels for a month, and even books some auditions for Broadway. Adam decides to move in with her for the four week period before the house is legally theirs.

It’s once again obvious what will happen: they’re going to fall back in love, but work out this time.

The big mystery of the book is what happened five years ago that led June to leave Adam and the brownstone behind. The reveal was a bit meh for me. I expected more than the whole “he seemed happy, I had to go” thing that we ended up receiving. However, the ultimate HEA was worth my disappointment in this area.

I love Adam. He is seemingly faultless, always doing and saying the right thing. June, however… she annoys me to no end multiple times throughout the book, most of all during “the reveal” scene. Insecure, at times insufferable. I wish the relationship, or lack thereof, with her mother was explored more. But I did grow to like her, as she gained confidence and took control of her life.

I think this was a super fun and easy read. I think the author is wonderful. I loved the prose of the writing, even for a light rom-com type of novel. I look forward to reading more from her in the future!

Roses:

• very easy to read (did it in two hours)
• light and cute, which is needed for me right now
• love the MMC

Thorns:

• obvs predictable, I knew the ending from the first page
• FMC is not likable in parts

Four stars for a fun read!!!!