Begin Again by Emma Lord: Review

This book took hold of me from the very first page, which I find is something rare and wonderful. You are immediately plunged into a world of fresh starts and endless potential. It’s an exciting world, and from the very beginning this book is nothing if not a page-turner. Everyday life pauses while you’re reading, as Lord teleports you right into the protagonist’s shoes, wishes you luck, and sends you off on one hell of a rocky journey. After all, what would life be without blows when you least expect them? 

The protagonist Andie Rose is an optimist and an extrovert, sometimes painfully so. However, her confidence and hope is refreshing in such a difficult world. Begin Again allows you to dive deep into not just Andie Rose’s mind, but also the minds of her whole friend group. I found this book very engaging as the different dynamics between the characters and the several plot lines really kept me interested. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, this is not a book that you would ever be inclined to put down. There is always something unfolding … for better or for worse. 

Begin Again is a beach read, a sleepless-nights read, a park-bench, bus-seat, anywhere-in-the-world read. If you want to dive into the unknown hand-in-hand with characters who have much to learn (and this won’t be accomplished the easy way), then I would highly recommend this book. It contains a blend of light-heartedness while not shying away from deeper themes and emotions. Begin Again is a book that will stay in your mind for a long time, in the best way.

Emma Picovici, 16