“You, Again” by Kate Goldbeck is a delightfully prickly enemies-to-friends-to-lovers romance set in New York City.
Well, maybe not quite “enemies” — Ari and Josh start off mutually annoyed with each other, and don’t expect ever to cross paths again after a meet-not-so-cute where Ari is hassling Josh to sign a petition and make a donation for an environmental cause while he’s leaving a grocery store. As their paths continue to cross, they drift from sniping to playful bickering to long nights watching movies together over the phone while nursing their separate heartbreaks, and their relationship becomes the one constant touchstone in their swirling, chaotic lives.
I enjoyed the banter between the characters, and the Manhattan setting: the book includes a nice guide to Ari and Josh’s New York City, and I plan to put it to use the next time I visit the Big Apple. The writing is tight, and the grand gesture scene — on New Year’s Eve at (or a bit after) the stroke of midnight — pays off in a way that’s equal parts goofy and heartfelt.
I see that there’s a new Goldbeck book out, “Daddy Issues,” and I expect it to make an appearance on my 2026 reading list.
