It's Different This Time

by Joss Richard

In this sweeping, second-chance romance, a twist of fate forces two former roommates to move back into their beloved New York City brownstone and face the events that led to their estrangement—and confront their unresolved feelings for each other.

Subject 74 Perry Street

So begins the email that turns June Wood’s entire world on its head. Five years ago, she lived on Perry Street with her former best friend Adam Harper. But why is the management company reaching out to her about it now? 

Still smarting from the news of her hit TV show being canceled, June has nothing else to lose. She boards a plane from Los Angeles to New York City to find out more about the mysterious email and the promised opportunity it alludes to. It turns out that, thanks to an unbelievable legal loophole, if she and Adam can live together in the stunning West Village brownstone for a month, it’s theirs. Any true New Yorker knows you don’t pass up prime city real estate, and that fall in the city is magical—so what’s there to think about?

And yet, though most things have changed in the time since they last spoke, one thing hasn’ June and Adam have unfinished business. They didn’t exactly end on good terms when they each went off to chase their dreams. Now, confronted with the consequences of their choices, they must navigate the minefield of their past the best way they know together.

Every day they move closer to owning Perry Street reveals misunderstandings, long-term resentments, and long-buried feelings . . . which are suddenly feeling very, very not so buried. But they’ve already lost their friendship once before, devastating them both. Can they risk losing it again for something a little different this time?

Genres: Romance, Friends To Lovers, Contemporary Romance, Second Chance, Contemporary, Fiction, Adult

432 pages, Paperback

Expected publication September 30, 2025

Reviews

[maria (catching up) · Rating 1 out of 5]

this is what I get for having high expectations.

I 😉 have 😉 never 😉 read 😉 a 😉 fmc 😉 this 😉 insufferable 😉
⤷ {you’ll understand if you saw my updates LMAO}

Anyways, this was actually awful, like I thought I could give this a least 3 stars but not even the ending could save it😔 this ranking lowkey hurts me, I really wanted to love this book but oh god there were so many things that I hated in it

rtc

________________

┆ ⤿ 🍁 ༝ pre-read:

I know I’m going to love this cause second chance + set in nyc = perfection for me🤭

One of my most anticipated reads of this year, hopefully it doesn’t let me down🤞🏻🤞🏻

[TheConnieFox · Rating 4 out of 5]

♥ My Overall Thoughts ♥

This contemporary romance novel was so adorable and addicting! I absolutely loved it! The cover of the book is so cute too! This story had balanced perspectives on the main characters, a clear thesis and was easy to follow. I feel like the minor characters stood out as well in this book. I really like that these characters felt real and were a little bit of a mess, to say the least. I also enjoyed the dual timelines, because it gave me insight into how they came together. This is for the broadway lovers that like to read about a second chance romance. This book is at the medium spicy level. One thing I found a little frustrating was the miscommunication trope between the main characters. I really liked the beautiful setting of the story. It is set in New York, during the fall season. That’s one of my favorite seasons! This book had effective visuals and I found it to be a cozy, medium paced read. It is also very emotional and uplifting!

♥ Synopsis (no spoilers) ♥

“It's Different This Time” is a book that is about a woman named June and a guy named Adam. These two used to be roommates and friends, where things happened between them. However, it left them both with unresolved feelings for one another. This ultimately left their friendship not on good terms at all. June starts off living in LA, then ends up moving back to New York City brownstone. After five years of June and Adam not speaking together, they are now forced to. June and Adam end up with a multi million dollar property, thanks to the former owner’s will. While they have to wait a month to get all the paperwork done, they are forced to talk to one another. A bond between them starts resurfacing, the more they speak to each other. Will this end up being a happily ever after second chance romance or will this second chance romance ultimately come to an end? Be sure to check the content warnings. This book is spicy! Overall. I rate this book a 4.5 out of 5 stars!

♥ Thank You ♥

Thank you to NetGalley, author Joss Richard and Ballantine | Dell for this digital advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

♥ Publication Date ♥

This book is set to be published on September 30, 2025!

♥ Quick Review ♥

💝 Contemporary Romance Novel
✔️ Forced Proximity
💝 Dual POV’s and Timelines
✔️ Second Chance Romance
💝 Friends to Lovers
✔️ New York City Fall vibes
💝 For the Broadway Lovers
✔️ Medium Spicy Level

》* 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ * 。° 。 • ˚《

❥ ୨⎯ Connie ⎯୧ ❥

ツ౨ৎ

[Sarah Moran · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️

I don’t have it in me to even write a recap or summary for this book. But I do want to make one thing clear: I did not hate this book. I just didn’t like it. Before I tackle the negatives, let me start off with some positivity.

Joss Richard is an amazing writer. There were a lot of sentences that I liked, and the writing was really immersive and descriptive, with some prose and figurative language that made this bearable to read. Whoever designed the cover needs a raise because gosh dang it’s cute! 😍 It’s what drew me in to request this arc. I also liked the side characters like June’s bff and Adam’s family, and the situation that brings them together was quite interesting. There were also cute moments June and Adam had together. But that is the end of what I liked about the book. Let’s get to the negatives, shall we?

Oh, where do I begin? Let me start with Adam. Look, he was tolerable, and I found it really attractive that he was a chef and a really, really good friend to June. I honestly felt bad for him because of June’s insecurities and mind games. Like, girl, stop! He doesn’t need your defensiveness and indecisiveness! He’s got better things to do than to go along with you and your immaturity! Move on, dude! 😭🙏🏼 However, what I didn’t like about Adam was that he leaned and winked way too much. Sounds trivial, I know, but when you read it, you’ll understand. I get it–winking is cute and can make a girl’s stomach flutter, but with how often he was winking, you’d think he had a constant nervous twitch in his eye, probably from the stress of dealing with June (which I get). Sir, no. Please stop. You’re already attractive enough. Stop trying to be sly. It isn’t working.

And then there’s June.
June, June, June. It is criminal how you treated Adam and your friends just because you were uncomfortable with the basic adult responsibility of what we like to call ✨communication✨ and ✨problem solving✨. Like, there was no reason for her to be so indecisive about what she wanted when she KNOWS what makes her happy and it’s all working out for her. It’s not that hard. Stop playing games! Stop trying to create drama and problems out of thin air because it’s “too good to be true”! It’s okay to be happy, you know. There’s no need to sabotage your life and relationships because you can’t handle hard times and speed bumps that are supposed to build character. There were reasons why June is the way she is, but I feel like there could have been more depth and lore into that, so I can at least sympathize with her.

Ugh, the book should have ended at chapter 30! I didn’t need the six chapters after that, which only infuriated me and ruined the ending for me in the process. And the way she was with Adam was unbelievable because of her fear of losing him and not deserving him (which he never alluded to, ever), and that is coming from someone who is very insecure. I swear, June was so clueless. It’s okay to feel things for your best friend, who is clearly into you and yearning for you! Do you not see it? I mean, what have you got to lose? Life is full of disappointments, failures, and relationships that don’t work out, but you won’t know unless you go for it. And this is what kinda ticks me off about the friends-to-lovers tropes. The characters are scared of ruining the friendship if they allow their feelings to develop, but if it’s reciprocated and your relationship has a chance to only get better, what’s the problem? It doesn’t matter if you feel nothing for your bff or they don’t feel the same way about you because life moves on, but if there is attraction and you don’t try to be a couple, you are going to drift apart anyway if you both end up in relationships. That is just how life goes.

Goodness me, I don’t think I have ever been this mad at a character before. I’m sure I would have enjoyed the book more if June weren’t June. I don’t hate her, but she annoyed me beyond comprehension. This was so disappointing. I was hoping that I would love this book, but as you can see, I clearly did not. However, if you choose to read this book, I hope you enjoy it! Maybe I’m wrong about June, and it’s just me being in my logical, critical state of mind again, or what I like to call “my villain era.” Well, I’ve said my piece. I’m going to go watch a cute rom-com or something to remove the memory of this book from my brain. 😭

Thank you to Ballantine and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own.

❗Content Warnings❗
Loss of a parent & grief
Swearing: Yes
Spice: Yes (🌶🌶🌶/5)

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes love is inheriting a six million dollar west village brownstone with your former friend and love of your life who looks a little bit like David Corenswet (niche people understand). That’s exactly where Joss Richard’s debut, It’s Different This Time begins. Two former best friends, Adam and June, are reunited after six years apart when they learn they've inherited their former apartment building after the death of the owner, their former landlord. Sell or keep, they'll have to spend a month together before they can sign away ownership but that means facing what drove them to separate sides of the country six years ago. Ensuing your classic dual timelines where the past is flung wide, Joss Richard builds a friends to lovers saga where an aspiring chef and theatre actress/part time bookseller agreed to be roommates, but ended up becoming the best of friends. Adam and June really are that classic romance novel couple. Unlikely friends they may be, the friendship between them is unmistakable as is the support they lend each other across the years. Richard knows how to plot out an electrifying slow burn and with an entire decade since their first meeting, June and Adam are ripe for that angst and tension I need from my romances. It’s Different This Time feels like a When Harry Met Sally style story, both narratively, and in the relationship between June and Adam. Where the fall feels like a separate character—as does the city of New York. I love a dash of miscommunication in my fiction (for good health) and boy do we get that here. Really I expected nothing less from these two, but Richard grounds it in their individual pasts so it never feels overwrought, only typical of two people scared of change and scared to reach for what they want. It’s Different This Time is an impressive, nuanced love story between two people at first scared to try and then brave to start all over again. That it’s enough that it is different this time to hold onto a second chance with both hands.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing the advance review copy.

Bookstagram | Blog

[jenny reads a lot · Rating 4 out of 5]

An adorable friends-to-lovers, second-chance romance between two roommates who are thrust back together when they inherit a brownstone in the West Village.

This book starts with such a fun and absurd chance of fate, but hey I’ve known some really eccentric old guys in the West Village (I’m thinking of you Chuck) — so really anything is possible. I thought the concept was spectacular and while dual timeline isn’t always my favorite this one was pretty compelling.

I liked a lot about this book, and in the end I do think it’s an excellent read but I have some thoughts.

This leans heavily towards women’s fiction. This is definitely more an Emily Henry kind of romance, than an Abby Jimenez romance… It is single POV, which I don’t usually mind but in this case I felt like it really could have benefited from a peek inside the MMCs head.

This book is much more about the FMCs self-discovery journey, her finding out the right path and accepting mistakes she’s made in the past, than about the romance between the two. We do not get nearly enough time with both of them on page.

What we do get in terms of romance is excellent. The tension is top notch, the banter is fabulous, and the spice is perfectly steamy and well placed. There just isn’t ENOUGH of it. I found myself desperate to get through the scenes where the FMC is working on her career or herself so I could get MORE of the couple together.

Marketed as a women’s fiction, or even “for fans of Emily Henry,” I would say this book is a knockout. But as a Romance it misses the mark just a bit. If you dive into this book with tempered expectations I’m confident you’ll enjoy this one!

🌶️ - Open Door. Only one full scene, but a little something in other chapters too (Ch 18, 23, 26). Very mildly explicit imho.

4.25⭐️| TikTok | IG |

Thank you Ballantine/Dell for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.

[jasmine ☆₊⁺🦢🪽₊⁺★ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️
╰► 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄!

❰𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐠𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐜 𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰!❱

lıllılı.ıllı.ılılıılıı.lllııılı.
Now Playing:
[Strange - Celeste]
0:26 ———♡——— 3:31
◁◁▐▐ ▷▷

“𝑴𝒂𝒚𝒃𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕'𝒔 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒊𝒔—𝒘𝒆 𝒅𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒊𝒕'𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒅𝒆𝒄𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒘𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆'𝒔 𝒏𝒐 𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒇 𝒘𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒊𝒄𝒆. 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆'𝒔 𝒏𝒐 𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝒈𝒂𝒖𝒈𝒆 𝒊𝒇 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒐𝒇 𝒊𝒕'𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒉- 𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝒐𝒓 𝒊𝒇 𝒊𝒕'𝒔 𝒔𝒐 𝒘𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈.”

₊˚ʚ ➼➻❥𝙨𝙮𝙣𝙤𝙥𝙨𝙞𝙨📋
╰┈➤ when a twist of fate reunites estranged former roommates june and adam in their shared new york city brownstone, they're forced to confront the unresolved past that drove them apart five years ago. with just four weeks until they finalize ownership, the pair must navigate lingering feelings, old wounds, and the possibility of a second chance. as autumn settles over the city, june and adam discover that maybe love—and forgiveness—deserve a do-over.

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷𝙢𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨💭
╰┈➤ i am in absolute disbelief that this was a debut book. the writing style was just so good and easy to follow. this usually wouldn’t be a book that i’d typically go for, but the cover and the description intrigued me. i don’t read a lot of second chance romances, but MY GOD—this book was amazing.

₊˚ʚ ➼➻❥𝙟𝙪𝙣𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙤𝙙 + 𝙖𝙙𝙖𝙢 𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙥𝙚𝙧💌
╰┈➤ usually, i’d do a separate analysis of the two main characters, but in this case, it just makes sense that i do an analysis of june and adam as a whole. first of all, i loved june and adam’s story. i feel like dual ownership of a house as the plot for a book seems plain, but this author made it to where it was so interesting, that you couldn’t help but want to be more invested into the lives of adam and june. for me personally, i don’t enjoy dual timelines because each one i’ve read, i didn’t like as much as i’d hoped. however, i loved it in this book because you really got to see the foundation of what june and adam’s relationship was built upon. there was a lot of miscommunication involved in the story, but it was so relevant to the plot. i feel like usually, when there’s a fallout between the characters in a book, the author makes it a big deal, and then once the reason behind the fallout is revealed, i’m just like… oh…okay….but not with this book… no no no… i felt like the reason behind their fallout was valid and interesting, and the way june and adam ended up communicating the problem was mature (kind of). in general, adam and june were just such a good pair for eachother and they worked so well. they went from strangers to friends, to bestfriends, to strangers again, to friends again, and then to lovers. this book was a roller coaster and it’s one of the best that i’ve ever been on.

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙘𝙡𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣🔒
there’s so much more i want to write about this book, but it’s more than i can type and i want to keep this review somewhat short. i loved these characters and i loved the passion inside this book—romance and dreams. my second 5 star of the year was an absolute banger!

━═━═━═━┤➴├━═━═━═━
𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱
𝗮𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗿𝗰! 𝘂𝘀𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆, 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱𝗻'𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝗮 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗶'𝗱 𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝘂𝘁, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗺𝘆 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗼 𝗶'𝗺 𝗴𝗹𝗮𝗱 𝗶 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗰😊 𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼, 𝗶𝘁'𝘀 𝗺𝘆 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝘆 𝟮𝟰 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲 😏

[Mira · Rating 3 out of 5]

The main characters share a past—for a long time, they rented the same apartment in New York and were very close friends. But something happened between them, and June moved to Los Angeles. They haven’t seen or spoken to each other in five years, until June finds out that the owner of that same apartment has died and left it to both her and Adam.

Let me start by saying I really enjoyed the first part of the book. June is a stage and film actress struggling with her career, and Adam is a well-known chef. Their past and present are intertwined, and from the very beginning, my heart was clenching as I waited to learn what had caused their falling out. This is a debut, but the author writes masterfully—I was so emotionally invested in the characters that I honestly wanted to throw my Kindle at the wall at times. I won’t spoil anything, but I’ll say the reason didn’t work for me. And later on, I got even more frustrated by some of the heroine’s actions—so unfortunately, I can’t give it a higher rating. Also, I was expecting a second-chance romance, but it didn’t quite feel like one.

The cover is beautiful, but don’t be misled—this isn’t a light romantic comedy. This story will make you feel deeply, get angry, and empathize with the characters.

𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬:
✓friends to lovers
✓dual timeline
✓forced proximity
✓found family

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine (Dell) for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[abby :) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.75/5

no one, and i mean no one, wants this to be a five star more than me...

there is something to be said about binge reading an anticipated release. even though i only hear of this book like three months ago, i have been over the moon with excitement waiting to read it. i saved the arc for close to release date because its the perfect fall book, i mean look at that cover, the foliage!! i read the first half in three hours last night and stayed up way to late, if i didn't have class this morning i would have stayed up and finished it and that would've made it a five stars... maybe.

something about this book felt like a warm hug, it genuinely was so fun to get into because i was hooked the second chapter one ended. adam and june had such good chemistry and you could feel the tension from the very beginning. i could feel their love for the house through the page and i just wanted to be there, in new york, experiencing the feeling of coming home with them. seeing their bond from the very start was lovely and the past chapters held so much angst and love, i was entranced by the writing. following adam and june in the present was just as rewarding. they are accomplishing so much, the restaurant and les mis, plus they're being the cutest couple there ever was.

truly nothing could have convinced me this wasn't going to be a five star when i went to bed last night. this book is still perfect, don't get it twisted. i just wasn't a huge fan of the miscommunication that we went through at the end, the one that separated them and their "third act breakup." i think adam's father said it best when he was being nosy, "you're going to lose it either way... you win, you lose, but you can't do either unless you take a chance."

joss richard should be incredibly proud of herself. she states at the end that this is the first book she's ever written an its spectacular!! the odds i look back at the end of the year and up this to a five are very high but it will be a favorite nonetheless!! i cannot recommend this enough for romance lovers everywhere!

*thank you netgalley and dell for the arc!*

[Madison (madinotmaddiereads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely nothing could have prepared me for the sucker punch this book would deal to my soul. There are only a few books in the world where the temptation exists to flip to the beginning immediately upon reading the last word and It’s Different This Time is one of those stories for me.

June & Adam are characters I will constantly think of as people I wish so fervently were real. Their love is so palpable through the pages; every word to each other filled with intention, every act, however subtle, a clear demonstration and it reads so beautifully, I literally grieved whenever I had to put the book down to return to real life. A story spanning across as many years with as much deeply rooted history as theirs calls forth a certain expectation of angst and yearning and these elements were conveyed and fleshed out so perfectly that I was physically impacted, my lungs burning due to every conscious thought being used to sear these scenes permanently into my memory. If I had to hold Adam next to anyone else in the romance genre, think a delicious cocktail of The Seven Year Slip’s Iwan Ashton, The Ex Vows’ Eli Mora and One Golden Summer’s Charlie Florek with a sprinkling of Beach Read’s Gus Everett. It’s thoroughly impossible not to love him.

June’s voice was the perfect narrator for this story. She is someone I could relate to so much (whoa, scary!) but I felt so comforted in her character as she navigated her career challenges and wariness towards the pressure of decision making. We all at times carry a wariness of making the wrong choice and fear the potential weight of regretting the outcome. I feel like this book reads like a letter to anyone who’s ever felt that way and delivers a poignantly compelling reminder that every pivot in a journey contains purpose. Hope is a feeling that blossomed in my chest while reading and I will gratefully foster the warmth it created there.

The incorporation of my favorite musical Les Miserables, particularly the character Eponine, was such an unexpected but truthfully full circle experience for me. This character has been a closely knit part of my existence since seventh grade and “On My Own” continues to be one of my go-to karaoke songs (because nothing screams gifted burnout kid like performing broadway songs at a karaoke bar). This added so much depth to the story personally and solidified this as a new soul book.

For fans of Jessica Joyce, B.K. Borison and Carley Fortune, put this stunning debut to the TOP of your fall reading rosters. You’ll thank me later.

Themes:
- Second Chance
- Friends to Lovers
- Dual Timeline
- Slow Burn
- Forced Proximity
- Broadway Actress x Master Chef
- Fall in New York City

Content Warning:
Cancer & loss of a parent (on page).

Thank you to Dell Publishing for a gifted digital arc in exchange for my honest thoughts 💌

[tanvi patel ❀ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 ⭐️

This was a beautiful debut novel, and I absolutely loved reading about June and Adam's love story. Second-chance romance has always been one of my favorite tropes, and I knew this story would deliver the moment I realized it included flashbacks to their past relationship. Those flashbacks were beautifully placed, aligning so naturally with the present that it made their emotional journey feel all the more real. I especially loved the premise of them reconnecting through the apartment. It felt intimate and meaningful, the kind of setup that makes you believe love can find its way back when the timing is right. The emotional tension and the final turning point in their relationship truly pulled at my heartstrings. Yes, there’s miscommunication, but in this case, it made sense. It felt necessary for a female main character who had been shaped by a difficult and painful childhood. Her journey toward trust and vulnerability added so much depth, and watching her open up made the romance feel even more earned and powerful.

On a side note, the male main character reminded me of Iwan from The Seven Year Slip—make of that what you will. And no, it definitely was not just because I read this book directly after, and Adam also happens to be a chef (or maybe it is?).

Thank you to Netgalley and Dell Romance for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Dab · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the writing, I can’t believe it’s a debut!

But. It looks to me like this author read People We Meet on Vacation and thought to herself, “I can do it better!” She did do it better, but… it’s still People We Meet on Vacation.

So I spent a whole day reading this and I’m giving it four stars, but I also need to rant.

June and Adam used to be roommates, and much more, but they haven’t spoken in six years. We don’t know why and it takes excruciatingly long to find out.

This was a dual-timeline, friends-to-lovers, second-chance romance that was so well written that I enjoyed it despite all the issues I had with the story.

The heroine was a mess and I wanted to smack her over the head with my kindle. Multiple times. I felt really sorry for Adam. He wasn’t perfect, but he deserved better. She deserved for him to be married with kids by the time they met again.

I enjoyed their chemistry and easy banter and I absolutely adored their friends and Adam’s family. The romanticized New York setting was great too. I love books that take me places, and this one was written so vividly I could almost smell the autumn leaves, coffee and everything bagels. It felt like a Meg Ryan/Tom Hanks movie.

What I didn’t enjoy was the miscommunication and all the people June and Adam were dating. I don’t get that whole you’re-my-best-friend-so-we-can’t-be-dating philosophy. You’re telling me, you want a bf to sleep with, but plan to keep the best-friend-with-occasional-touching status with your roommate? That’s messed up and people older than 16 really shouldn’t embarrass themselves believing it would work.

That said, I will be absolutely looking forward to this author’s next book!

Thanks to Headline and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

[SJARR ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I completely adored every single second i spent reading this book!
This is engaging, romantic and so so sweet. It’s truly one of those books you pick up and can’t put down.
* Full review to be posted following the official publication of the title, as requested by the publisher!

[Anna (annasbookstacks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ★

[Lochi's Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

An outstanding debut.

When reading a romance novel, especially one with a dual timeline, the first thing I look for is how the author handles transitions. Are they abrupt? Do I feel strain in the tone? Well, listen up, Joss Richard has written a masterclass that was seamless. ‘It’s Different This Time’ blew me away, and I know readers are going to simply adore June and Adam. Two roommates become friends, but they fall in love while living in their New York brownstone (Perry, the brownstone, is a literary character in this novel). Throw in Alden (the glorious restaurant that I wish I could visit), the reality and struggles of being a working actor, and so much more.

Not only does Joss Richard encapsulate the unspoken glimmer of New York during autumn. She infuses a love of Broadway (Les Mis lovers rise up!), the urgency of young people wanting to have purpose, and meaning in a relationship. Questions that linger: is this love or friendship? Can it be both? June and Adam are the most realistic romance characters I’ve read the entire year and I yearn for books like this.

Now the final act of this book? It had me teary-eyed (I had a lump in my throat, gah). The conversations in this book are so level-headed. It’s not ostentatious, but you simply live in the moments with June and Adam. If an author has the ability to recognize these moments and then build on them? That right there is beauty.

Joss Richard's debut novel is the start of something beautiful, and I can’t wait for whatever she writes next. Ain't it obvious? Honey, this is a 5-STAR READ.

Thank you so much Ballantine/Dell for the digital arc.

[Kelsey H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and author Joss Richard for the opportunity to read this ARC 💕

FMC - June: 5 🌟
MMC - Adam: 5 🌟
Spice: 🌶 🌶

Words cannot describe how much I loved this book! You know a book is really good when you start reading and lose track of time. I read the whole thing in half a day and almost missed dinner because I didn't want to put it down!

My heart was hurting through the whole story because of the intense longing between Adam and June. Both timelines were written so well, had me dreading the countdown to their falling out in the past, and had me so eager to see how things would work out in the present. They are so perfect for each other, and I just wanted to knock some sense into them for wasting all those years as "just friends".

Second chance romances are my favorite trope, and this didn't disappoint one bit. I'm already anxious to order a copy for my shelf and gladly experience the anguish and the pining all over again!

[Kimmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5!!!

This book was AMAZING!! I have recently become a huge fan of second chance romances and the stories they tell, and the emotion they hold! This book was no different, I was OBSESSED!!

June and Adam became roommates accidentally years ago. And after their long time friendship June leaves and doesn’t come back. This is the story of them reconnecting in the place they began to know each other best, and learning that maybe they aren’t so different all these years later.

I love the dual time periods in this second chance story, it helped show the characters growth and the progression of their chemistry in such a real way. The writing was so good and the story was quick and fun as well as deeply emotional.

I recommend so much, this is set in New York and the setting is enveloping.

4.5 stars and great debut!!

[Reading Rounds · Rating 5 out of 5]

“It’s Different This Time” is a gorgeously layered second-chance romance that made me forget I don’t usually like second-chance romances.

I picked it up because that cover is serving ‘90s romcom nostalgia.

Joss Richard tells the story of June, a Filipina American actress at a career crossroads who inherits half of a $6 million brownstone in NYC… the other half belonging to Adam, the former roommate she once loved and lost. He’s now a successful chef and entrepreneur, and when they’re thrown back together under one roof, the novel begins to unravel what went wrong before—and what might be possible now.

Told in alternating timelines, the book gives you the thrill of watching them fall in love for the first time and the slow-burn intensity of rekindling that connection as older, wiser versions of themselves. Miscommunication is often a tired trope, but here it feels heartbreakingly real. The emotional distance between them is never due to laziness in the writing; it’s woven into who they are—how they’ve been hurt, how they’ve learned to protect themselves.

June is a standout heroine. She’s complex: brave, terrified, ambitious, self-sabotaging, hopeful. I cheered for her even when I disagreed with her choices. And Adam? He’s the rare romantic lead who manages to be both soft and strong. He’s open to love without sacrificing his sense of self, and it’s so satisfying to watch him fight for connection without pushing past boundaries.

If you’re in the mood for a romance that’s rich with character development, cultural nuance, and emotional payoff, this one’s worth your time. Joss Richard is definitely an author to watch.

[Sarah (bookofsari) · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s Different This Time is a thoughtful and engaging debut that blends emotional vulnerability with a truly irresistible premise. When June receives a mysterious email about her old New York apartment—one she once shared with her estranged best friend, Adam—she’s pulled back into a past she never quite let go of. What follows is a tender, slow-burn reunion filled with nostalgia, tension, and the possibility of something new.

June and Adam’s journey is told through a compelling mix of present-day reconnection and flashbacks that slowly unpack the weight of their shared past. The pacing is especially strong—never dragging, but giving you just enough space to sit with the tension, the longing, and the healing. Their emotional arc felt earned, and the setting (autumn in NYC!) gave the story a cozy, cinematic feel.

What stood out most was the balance between nostalgia and growth. This wasn’t just a second-chance romance—it was a story about timing, forgiveness, and learning to trust again. While the miscommunication trope plays a role, it feels organic, especially given June’s complex emotional background.

There were a few minor continuity errors that I noticed throughout the ARC, but I’m hopeful those will be addressed before publication. They didn’t take away from the overall experience.

All in all, this is a charming, bittersweet, and ultimately uplifting story. I’ll absolutely be reading whatever Joss Richard writes next.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Meghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

You ever want to strangle fictional characters, lock them in a room and tell them to stop being idiots? Well I definitely thought about it while reading this book.

I could not put this book down the minute I picked it up and because of that I instantly fell in love with Adam and June. They both had heartbreaking situations in their life that was just so messy and raw, which made them feel real to me. I really liked how the setting was in New York, it just made it feel so magical with going through all of the seasons there. This had dual POV and different timelines as well, which I loved because it shows you how they came together and their story. I also have to mention that Chloe was without a doubt a real MVP and a true best friend. Not only was she there for June, but she was there for Adam as weIl. I honestly could go on and on how much I loved this book, but if you love second chance romances, friends to lovers, forced proximity, and a little spice, and cozy fall reads, then this is the book for you.

You also may need some tissues, don’t say I didn’t warn you..

*Thank you NetGalley, Ballantine | Dell and author Joss Richard for the ARC!*

[elise | bookingthroughlife · Rating 5 out of 5]

oh yeah i loved this so much 🥹🍂🤎💫

I ADORE THIS BOOK!!!!! the musical theater, roommates to best friends to lovers, new york city, second chance romance of my dreams!!!!!! i genuinely do not know how to adequately write how precious & swoony this book is !!! i am realizing that i am a roommates to lovers trope fanatic, because there is something so deliciously tender about living with someone and slowly but surely finding yourself helplessly in love with them. PLS!!!!

the yearning & just absolute LONGING between adam & june 🥹 across BOTH timelines !! oh my word these two love each other!! speaking of adam, i love him so much!! he's playful and flirty but also one of the most reliable men you've ever met. he will be there for you in whatever capacity you need, and that right there is a MAN. & he's a chef!!!! june's journey to feeling loved and cared for and enough was powerful. my heart broke for her time and time again, and i'm so glad she was able to find herself and let herself be loved the way she deserves.

i got lucky & read this RIGHT after visiting new york city & let me tell you, it enhanced my reading experience so much. i felt like i was THERE, but that's also a testament to how well joss richard wrote this book. if i didn't know this was her debut, i would never have known. it's written like a seasoned pro.

thank you so much Dell Romance for the arc! this is my honest review.

[monica ✨ romantasyreader · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best debuts I’ve read this year!!!!! (And I don’t even love friends to lovers)

Full rtc. Thank you Dell romance for the arc!!

[Klaudia · Rating 5 out of 5]

FIVE 🗣️ FUCKING 🗣️ STARS 🗣️

my god, this was so beautiful and the fact that it’s a debut novel makes it even more incredible because WHAT DO YOU MEAN it’s Joss’ first book??? just wow.

I cried so many times and I don’t even understand why, it just made me very emotional for some reason. not all of it was sad, it just affected me very deeply.

June and Adam’s love story was so beautiful. roommates to friends to strangers back to friends to lovers I mean… is there anything more organic? I’m discovering that I really love friends to lovers trope, it’s very relatable for me.

the longing, the tension, knowing someone so deeply, loving them so hard you’re scared to risk it because you don’t wanna lose it, what if it doesn’t work out?

the found family, Adam’s incredible parents, the New York setting, I’m such a sucker for it. the musical background, Adam as a chef, fall in New York, west village brownstone. this is what dreams are made of 🥹

this was one of the best romance novels I’ve read in a while. can’t wait to see what else the author will come up with 🥹

I couldnt put it down. definitely a must read for this fall. I’ll be screaming from the rooftops to all my friends 🗣️

[casey ⋆˚౨ৎ ⋆.˚ · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! what an amazing debut novel. i love a second chance when it has a dual timeline and getting to see both characters in the different time periods and their relationship. it allows the reader to experience it with them rather than being told what happened. i love both of the main characters, adam and june. it’s also set in nyc (one of my favs) and its during fall time (another fav). can we also discuss how adam is a chef and he cooks for june!!!!! i laughed, i cried, and i fell so in love with this book. it was truly beautiful and unforgettable.

five years ago, best friends, june and adam lived together on perry street in nyc. fast forward to present day, living in los angeles, june gets an email from her old residence that turns her entire world upside down. turns out, she and adam will now own the property if they can live together in the brownstone apartment they once did for a month. with her career going downhill, she has nothing left to lose. adam and june have unfinished business as they ended on bad terms and haven’t spoken since she left new york. everyday living together again, they have to navigate the misunderstandings, resentment, and buried feelings they had for one another.

in one timeline you said adam and june’s journey as friends to lovers whereas the other timeline you said them as now strangers and getting their second chance.

tropes: second chance, friends to lovers, dual timeline, slow burn, forced proximity, nyc during fall
content warning: cancer and death of a parent

🍂🌆🚕🎭🍝

[Monica Hills · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's Different This Time is a second chance romance that will have you wanting to be a Broadway star while falling in love with an amazing chef. June and Adam randomly meet at a book store and end up renting a brown stone together in New York City. Both of them have huge plans in store for their future. June wants to be a famous actress and Adam wants to become a chef with his own restaurant. The two of them are extremely attracted to each other but somehow their relationship never actually takes the next step. June eventually moves to LA and Adam moves out of the brownstone. Fast-forward several years and they find out that they have inherited the brownstone. Now June must figure out what she is going to do and if things were really meant to be with Adam.

The book alternated between the present and the past. I really enjoyed June and Adam's romance in the past. These two characters were great to read about and I really enjoyed their story. My only complaint was that I was a little frustrated with the present timeline because I felt like it took forever to get to what happened to separate them in the past. Overall, I really did enjoy this romance. This was a debut novel and I look forward to reading more by this author. If you like romance novels this is a good one!

Thank you to Dell Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC.

[*ੈ✩‧₊˚ soph *ੈ✩‧₊˚ (sophmaereads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75⭐️

Wow. I absolutely adored this book. From the fall vibes to the achingly good romance to the quirky and fun characters, it was just so lovely!

This debut romance will 100% have everyone hooked this fall!! It is a feel good story that highlights the beauty of growing up, finding yourself, and having a second chance at love. I LOVED the combination of second chance, friends to lovers, and roommates… it was perfect!! It truly felt like I was reading a classic romantic comedy movie!!

I highly recommend fans of Jessica Joyce, Emily Henry, and Carley Fortune to check out this book when it releases September 30th!

Thank you so much Dell Romance and Netgalley for an arc in exchange for my honest opinion!

[Claudia G · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5🌟 A new favorite second chance romance for me! It’s a beautiful and captivating debut novel. This book makes me so happy. Within the first chapter I knew it was going to be a book I’d love. I was thinking about it for days.

I adore June and Adam. The love between them radiated through the pages. It felt real to me and the chemistry between them was undeniable. I loved reading their love story. It’s so special.

I highlighted so many quotes while reading. As soon as I finished this book all I thought about was wanting to read it again. Overall it was an amazing romance book that I will always recommend.

And the cover is perfect for fall🥹🍂

- second chance romance
- friends to lovers
- forced proximity

Highly recommend adding to your fall tbr!

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

OBSESSED. LOVE. 10/10. Review to come

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an incredible debut - I can't wait for Joss Richard's future books!

Read this if you like second chance romance, NYC, and roommates to friends to lovers

[Bre · Rating 5 out of 5]

A perfectly autumnal second-chance romance set against the backdrop of New York City, this debut novel follows Adam and June as they navigate love, loss, and timing with the kind of emotional depth that sneaks up on you.
Let’s start with Adam. He’s a chef. Yes, chef. He is every kind of swoonworthy I am personally weak for—thoughtful, attentive, the type of man who actually remembers details. Adam alone could’ve carried this story, but Richard builds something so much richer: dual timelines that weave together beautifully, pulling us through the ache of missed chances and the sweetness of rediscovery.
I’ll be honest, this book made me enjoy tropes I usually roll my eyes at (friends to lovers, I’m side-eyeing you). That’s how good the writing is. The atmosphere? Peak cozy-fall-New-York. The emotional beats? Sharp, tender, and devastating in all the right places.
Now, because I like to keep it real: I did have a couple of quibbles. Some dialogue dipped into the “you’re prettier without makeup/not like other girls” territory—which always makes me cringe a little. June occasionally grated on me too, though if I’m being fair, that might be because her struggles with self-worth hit too close to home. And while the resolution absolutely delivered the emotional punch I wanted, the execution felt just a touch rushed and overstuffed compared to the rest of the novel’s nearly flawless pacing.
But honestly? Those are nitpicks in what is otherwise an incredibly strong, beautifully written debut. The story stayed with me long after I closed the book, and I already want to revisit it when the leaves start turning again. If you like second-chance romance, New York in the fall, and men who can cook (and who notice things), you need this book.

Thank you NetGalley, Random House and Joss Richard for this arc in exchange for an honest review

[Mora]

Friends to lovers / second chance:

The MMC loves the FMC but still sleeps with other women throughout their six-year friendship as roommates!!! Then when they finally sleep together the FMC hurts him, so he disappears for weeks and comes back with a new woman—who he ends up getting engaged to. The FMC decides to walk away and they stay apart for 5 years.

I have no clue if the FMC was celibate during their entire friendship/the 5 year their separation!