Transworld signs Goldbeck's 'offbeat' rom-com debut

Transworld has acquired You, Again, dubbed the “deliciously offbeat modern reimagining of ‘When Harry Met Sally’” from debut author Kate Goldbeck.   

Commissioning editor Alice Rodgers bought UK and Commonwealth rights from Rachel Kind, director of foreign rights, at Dial Press, a division of Penguin Random House US, for Transworld’s Bantam imprint. Dial Press acquired rights from Gaia Banks at Sheil Land Associates. It will be published in e-book in August 2023, and in paperback original and audiobook in September 2023. 

Transworld said: “Ari, a free-spirited struggling comedian, likes to keep things casual, and never sleeps over after hooking up. Josh, born and bred Manhattanite, has ambitious plans to take the culinary world by storm, to find ’The One’ and live happily ever after. After a confrontational first meeting at the apartment of the woman they are both sleeping with, Ari and Josh never expect their paths to cross again, but years later, as they’re both reeling from ego-bruising break-ups, a chance encounter leads to a surprising connection: friendship.  

“Turns out, spending time with your former nemesis can be fun when you’re both too sad and miserable to hate each other. And as odd as it seems, they become friends without benefits, finding comfort in late night Netflix binges, swiping through each other’s online dating profiles, and bickering endlessly on their phones across boroughs. It’s better than romance. Until one night, the unspoken boundaries of their platonic relationship begin to blur.” 

Goldbeck studied film and art history and then earned a master’s degree at an engineering school and has designed award-winning museum exhibits and immersive experiences all over the world.  

Rodgers said: “[Author] Ali Hazelwood has described You, Again as ‘the deliciously offbeat modern reimagining of ’When Harry Met Sally’ I never knew I needed’, and I think that sums up this amazing debut novel perfectly. Kate has utterly nailed the witty banter and enemies-to-best-friends-to-lovers dynamic that is so loved about ’When Harry Met Sally’. So much so that I read it in one sitting and was left wanting more, so I had to go away and watch the movie as well! I am so excited to publish Kate’s gorgeous love letter to the romance genre and to introduce UK readers to Ari and Josh.” 

Goldbeck said: “I’m absolutely delighted to be working with Alice and the Transworld team to bring a slice of New York romance to the UK.” 

Banks said: “Kate’s work is wonderfully fresh but also familiar in such a smart way. You, Again is one of the best rom-coms I’ve ever read, and I’m delighted that it has a brilliant home in the UK with Alice and the Transworld team.”