A review by blissofalife
You, Again by Kate Goldbeck

funny sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

Listen. I am indeed a fanfiction reader and a Reylo shipper. I didn't know that's what this was originally going into it, but it quickly became obvious. That being said, I think if I had read this on Ao3 as a Reylo fanfic I would've really enjoyed it. You just have certain expectations about how characters are going to act and more suspension of disbelief when it comes to fanfiction. The characters in a fanfiction can be atrocious but you still love them because you loved them in their original stories, that's why you're reading the fanfiction to begin with. 

But starting a book with no background expectations or knowledge of characters is a very different experience. This as a published book? I'm conflicted. The characters were all pretty dislikable. Ari and Josh are depressed for nearly the entire book, and though they set clear boundaries and expectations of what their relationship is going to be (which I am personally a fan of, I love some good communication), when Josh's perspective is full of thoughts of Ari as more than a friend and his sexual desire for her it felt like he made no effort whatsoever to respect Ari's CLEARLY COMMUNICATED needs and wants. But later we're supposed to sympathize with him when she rejects him? And cheer for them to get together? No. I don't think so.

Everybody in this book needs therapy. It made for good storytelling for the first half of the book, but after that it became repetitive and hard to root for the characters. Toxic relationships abound. Everybody's mad all the time, nobody's happy ever, and that sucks. The ending felt forced and very rom-com-esque. I give 'em a year.
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