Again

by Lisa Burstein

[Angie]

Again was a very different kind of New Adult, and had a romance that I was very interested in! Kate just turned twenty-nine, but she's going back to college. She's not just going to night school or a community college. She's entering as a university freshman and saying she's nineteen. Her boss/boyfriend dumped and fired her for drunkenness, but instead of going to rehab, Kate decides to do something she thinks is more worthwhile. She's going to reinvent herself as a sober freshman and finally get her degree. Booze are boys are off the table, at least until she meets her resident adviser, Carter.

I loved how the whole older woman with a younger man played out! Carter was struggling with his attraction to Kate because he's a senior, and she's one of his freshman advisees. Meanwhile, Kate is reliving her youth, but also trying to use her life experience to be more mature. Of course, they both have secrets, which need to be discussed at some point. And I loved how those were handled as well! Kate and Carter were mature about it, came clean, talked, and realized that it doesn't affect how they feel for each other. I just wish there had been more sexy times! Like, the car scene not being cut short...

Again also deals with the serious issue of gang rape, in the context of pledging a fraternity. This is a huge issue! And I had recently read an article about one particularly horrible situation, so I was really interested in how the author would handled it. Carter was not the rapist, although that's what people around campus call him. It's what he's hiding from Kate, since he doesn't want her to judge him. However, Carter is the one judging himself, because he knows his involvement (or lack thereof as it were) was despicable. I liked that he owned up to his actions, and was doing his best to make it right. I especially liked the one scene of the girl involved, since she says some things to Carter that I found really powerful.

I also really liked how Again showed that maturity and age are not intricately linked. Kate is a mess despite being nearly thirty, and Carter actually seems like he has things together really well for being twenty-two. Kate is realizing that just because she's older, doesn't mean she's going to automatically make better decisions. She has to make a conscious effort to not fall into past cycles of destructive behavior in order to get to where she wants to be. And Carter is there to help her! He isn't trying to change her, but he's there to support her (in more ways than one!) in her efforts.

I just really liked Again. I loved this premise, although I was a bit worried in the beginning, since Kate's plan is ridiculous and there's no way it won't blow up in her face. It was handled in a way that I found realistic and satisfying without being a huge blow up. Lies are never the way to go!

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.