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Since her incredibly, well … cute … and fun debut, Tweet Cute, I’ve read every one of Emma Lord’s new books. I admit I’ve hoped each would be as hugely entertaining as that first one, but I’ve been a bit disappointed. That’s not to say each hasn’t been a good book on its own merits, but it’s hard not to compare. This latest young adult book (really a new adult book, with its college freshmen and sophomores) is the same: a fine story with depth and good characters but just not quite as full of the charm and chuckles as TC.
In Begin Again, Andie has managed to transfer to her dream college in the middle of her freshman year. She is surprising her longtime best friend and boyfriend from her small hometown, who has been there since the beginning of the school year. The school is also where her parents met and her late mother was the first host of its underground radio show, “The Knights’ Watch.” Being here is a way for Andie to feel closer to her mom, who died when she was 11. Since then, she’s been raised primarily by her two grandmothers. Her father took a job out of town and only visited. The grief they both have felt at their loss has not drawn them together; rather, it’s kept them at a distance.
Now is where her meticulous and thorough plans for her life will really take off, too. Andie will get her psychology degree to help advise other people, as she has been doing in a column for her high school paper. She’ll eventually marry Connor. They will collect ribbons at the famous activities held for freshmen throughout the year for the secret groups they can be part of during their whole college experience.
It’s all coming together.
But then Connor isn’t there: he’s transferred back to their town’s community college, where Andie went for a semester (to surprise her!). School is hard, particularly statistics. And Andie keeps bumping up against some painful truths she’s been able to kind of suppress. Plus, her hall’s RA becomes a good friend — and has the potential to become something more. But there’s Connor to think about back home.
Begin Again follows a young adult who is trying to find out who she really is and what she really wants, much as most people her age. Andie has the added concerns of her distant father to deal with and grief for a mother she lost young — and expectations she’s set for herself based on those gaps in her life. As she makes new friends and slowly faces her fears, Andie begins intentionally creating a life that truly fits her. It is a young adult romance book on its face, but it’s fully a lovely story of blossoming into adulthood.
Rated: High, for profanity. Includes 15 uses of strong language, about 40 instances of moderate profanity, about 20 uses of mild language, and about 10 instances of the name of Deity in vain. There is one scene of longer kissing and a few other brief kisses but nothing further. There are a few scenes and mentions of underage college students drinking.
*I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
