Release date: September 30, 2025
Publisher: Dell
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Synopsis:
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?
Review:
Joss Richard’s It’s Different This Time is an impressive and heartfelt debut that swept me away. At its core, this is a second chance, friends to lovers romance layered with emotional depth, heart, and a touch of melancholy. The premise is irresistible: June and Adam, once roommates in a beloved New York brownstone, are reunited years later after the building’s owner leaves it to them and they end up living there together for a month while the details are sorted out. Richard masterfully weaves the present with flashbacks of their past, unraveling what went wrong between them while setting the stage for a tender and hopeful reunion.
The fall NYC backdrop gives this story an irresistible charm. The brownstone itself becomes a character—warm, vibrant, and infused with nostalgia—while the autumn atmosphere wraps the entire book in cozy yet bittersweet vibes. Richard also explores deeper themes of grief, complicated family relationships, and the sacrifices that come with chasing big dreams. Adam, an aspiring chef, is not only swoony but a supportive, grounding presence for June, an actress striving to carve out her own path. Their dynamic felt real, layered, and deeply satisfying to watch unfold.
Beyond the romance, the supporting cast shines, adding richness and warmth that elevate the narrative. It’s rare for a debut to strike the perfect balance of heart, chemistry, and atmosphere, but Richard does exactly that. It’s Different This Time is equal parts tender, nostalgic, and romantic, a love story you’ll want to savor like your favorite fall comfort read.
Overall rating: 5/5
Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.
Novelgossip 