Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collections
Publication
Transworld Digital (2023), 424 pages
Description
"When Ari and Josh meet the first time, the wrong kind of sparks fly. They hate each other. Instantly. A free-spirited, struggling comedian who likes to keep things casual, Ari sublets, takes gigs, and lives by a code that ensures her friends-with-benefits stay firmly in the friendzone. She doesn't believe in morning sex because she never sleeps over. Born-and-bred Manhattanite Josh has ambitious plans: he'll take the culinary world by storm, find The One, and make her breakfast in his spotless kitchen. They have absolutely nothing in common ... except that they happen to be sleeping with the same woman. After their disastrous first meeting, Ari and Josh never expect their paths to cross again. But years later, as they're both reeling from ego-bruising breakups, a chance encounter leads to a surprising connection: friendship. Turns out, spending time with your former nemesis is fun when you're too sad to hate each other--and too sad for hate sex. As friends-without-benefits, they find comfort in late night Netflix binges, swiping through each other's online dating profiles, and bickering across boroughs. It's better than romance. Until one night, the unspoken boundaries of their platonic relationship begin to blur ..."--… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member AmyM3317
When Ari and Josh first meet, the only connection they have is that they're sleeping with the same person. Being opposite in almost every way, they don't exactly leave a good impression on each other. Ari is a free-spirit who doesn't believe in "the one", working odd jobs while taking improvisation
For the next few years, Ari and Josh manage to continue to run into - and clash with - each other in various places and in various stages in their lives. During one such run-in, both Ari and Josh are dealing with a difficult breakup. Instead of pushing each other away, they form a bond over their shared misery, and slowly their former animosity turns to friendship. Soon it's apparent that there could be more there between them if they're willing to take the chance potentially altering the friendship they've built.
Kate Goldbeck's debut is such an interesting rumination on modern relationships and dating. I think a lot of people are going to say that about this book (or have said it) but it's honestly so true. Especially the fact that it's a kind of retelling of When Harry Met Sally.
I really like, though, that in that statement about being in the "modern" age, it's not commenting on the technology that we all utilize now (i.e. apps), but it's about who we're dating and who we're being friends with and how breaking those barriers between the two can be scary yet also so rewarding.
I'll admit I didn't necessarily like everything about Ari and Josh's characters. They were a little too unsettled for my personal liking. But I loved them together, the banter, the way they got in with each other and formed a bond and formed inside jokes and learned who each other was to their core. It was like they filled in those spaces that were missing in the other. You could feel the chemistry jumping off the page and you could feel the conflict when they want to go beyond friendship. Kate Goldbeck planned this perfectly.
At first, I felt like there was too much time spent on the build up. The initial snippets of time when they would run into each other did not give enough toward thinking they would later form a friendship. I was missing the spark between Ari and Josh that knew must eventually come. However, having finished the book and taking a step back and looking at the bigger picture, I feel like every instance was so meticulously planned out and just slowly and methodically pulling you in that it was almost like you, too, had suddenly found yourself in a friendship with a person you previously loathed. Everything just clicked and I really couldn't imagine things going any differently.
If this is what Kate Goldbeck has for us with her debut, I cannot even wait for what's to come. I hope that she continues to write such well thought out stories about relationships and romance.
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classes and trying to make it as a comedian. Josh is a hopeless romantic, waiting to find the other half of his cookie. His father owns a treasured New York City restaurant, but Josh is trying his hardest to leave his own mark on the culinary world - for better or worse. For the next few years, Ari and Josh manage to continue to run into - and clash with - each other in various places and in various stages in their lives. During one such run-in, both Ari and Josh are dealing with a difficult breakup. Instead of pushing each other away, they form a bond over their shared misery, and slowly their former animosity turns to friendship. Soon it's apparent that there could be more there between them if they're willing to take the chance potentially altering the friendship they've built.
Kate Goldbeck's debut is such an interesting rumination on modern relationships and dating. I think a lot of people are going to say that about this book (or have said it) but it's honestly so true. Especially the fact that it's a kind of retelling of When Harry Met Sally.
I really like, though, that in that statement about being in the "modern" age, it's not commenting on the technology that we all utilize now (i.e. apps), but it's about who we're dating and who we're being friends with and how breaking those barriers between the two can be scary yet also so rewarding.
I'll admit I didn't necessarily like everything about Ari and Josh's characters. They were a little too unsettled for my personal liking. But I loved them together, the banter, the way they got in with each other and formed a bond and formed inside jokes and learned who each other was to their core. It was like they filled in those spaces that were missing in the other. You could feel the chemistry jumping off the page and you could feel the conflict when they want to go beyond friendship. Kate Goldbeck planned this perfectly.
At first, I felt like there was too much time spent on the build up. The initial snippets of time when they would run into each other did not give enough toward thinking they would later form a friendship. I was missing the spark between Ari and Josh that knew must eventually come. However, having finished the book and taking a step back and looking at the bigger picture, I feel like every instance was so meticulously planned out and just slowly and methodically pulling you in that it was almost like you, too, had suddenly found yourself in a friendship with a person you previously loathed. Everything just clicked and I really couldn't imagine things going any differently.
If this is what Kate Goldbeck has for us with her debut, I cannot even wait for what's to come. I hope that she continues to write such well thought out stories about relationships and romance.
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LibraryThing member KallieGrace
3.5 rounded up. Look, I watched when Harry met Sally once over a decade ago and I couldn't tell you anything that happens in that movie besides *that* scene. So this was basically all fresh to me, which I enjoyed. This feels much more real and messy than a lot of romcoms, tho I can't imagine being
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this messy of a person myself. That would give me too much anxiety. I felt like this was a little too long, but I enjoyed it more than I enjoy watching romcoms so that's something. Show Less
LibraryThing member Narshkite
A When Harry Met Sally 21st century redo with a bi-poly FMC and a chef with severe anxiety as the MMC. That seemed very promising. Though I ended up liking it, it was not without flaws.
This was so slow to start, so slow I considered a dnf at around p. 100, and it was longer than it should have
Also, you always win with me with a realistic love letter to NYC in all its rat-congested, line-sitting, illegal subletting glory.
This was so slow to start, so slow I considered a dnf at around p. 100, and it was longer than it should have
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been. Despite the slow start and the many many many senseless rejections of clearly communicated love, I was such a fan of the end it still goes to 3.5. Ari was such a bitch. I know it was because she was scarred, but it made her treat people (not just Josh) quite badly. It was hard to get past that, but I did. Josh was arrogant, but still not fully unlikable like Ari. Both characters were monumentally self-involved. You could not have convinced me that Goldbeck would get me to root for their HEA, but she did. In real life I know Ari would break Josh's heart again because she is too broken and selfish, but I am happy to hold on to the illusion.Also, you always win with me with a realistic love letter to NYC in all its rat-congested, line-sitting, illegal subletting glory.
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LibraryThing member BookConcierge
2.5**
This is a retelling of the very popular (and brilliant) film, When Harry Met Sally. Ari is a wannabe stand-up comic, making do writing bar mitzvah and father-of-the-bride speeches, serving at catered events, and gathering petition signatures. Josh is a chef from a wealthy family who
I really disliked these two characters. Ari, in particular, is a hot mess. Insecure, prickly to the point of being antagonistic, full of self-loathing and wallowing in pity, the front she portrays is what she thinks is an independent woman who loves to have meaningless sex with random strangers and who lives her life on HER terms. BUT … hot mess, remember?
Josh is kinda full of himself. He’s so concerned with making it HIS way that he runs roughshod over anyone who gets in his way. The result is that he also fails.
Well, you’ve seen the movie, so you know what’s coming. Do yourself a favor. Skip the book and re-watch the movie.
This is a retelling of the very popular (and brilliant) film, When Harry Met Sally. Ari is a wannabe stand-up comic, making do writing bar mitzvah and father-of-the-bride speeches, serving at catered events, and gathering petition signatures. Josh is a chef from a wealthy family who
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definitely does NOT want to follow in his father’s footsteps and take over the famous deli he runs. They meet when Ari is collecting signatures in the park. They meet again when Josh shows up at the apartment Ari shares with her friend Natalie, ready to cook a romantic dinner for two. They dislike each other. Three years later … etc.I really disliked these two characters. Ari, in particular, is a hot mess. Insecure, prickly to the point of being antagonistic, full of self-loathing and wallowing in pity, the front she portrays is what she thinks is an independent woman who loves to have meaningless sex with random strangers and who lives her life on HER terms. BUT … hot mess, remember?
Josh is kinda full of himself. He’s so concerned with making it HIS way that he runs roughshod over anyone who gets in his way. The result is that he also fails.
Well, you’ve seen the movie, so you know what’s coming. Do yourself a favor. Skip the book and re-watch the movie.
Show Less
Awards
NPR: Books We Love (2023)
Language
Local notes
A commitment-phobe and a hopeless romantic clash over and over again--until heartbreak and unexpected chemistry bring them together.