Book Review of 'When They Met Again' by Leslie Gould

Happy Monday Bookworms!

I don’t know about your neck of the woods, but the majority of the US is experiencing weather whiplash, and I have been deep in it. From tornados, blizzards, and the craziest wind and cold/heat ratios as far as temperature variations, I have been glued to my computer studying it all. I hope everyone is staying safe!

When my eyes are not on the weather, they are glued to a novel to escape for a moment and getting my eyes focused on something less overwhelming. I hope you enjoy my thoughts on this Contemporary Amish Romance and don't forget to scroll to the bottom of this post and enter the amazing giveaway from JustRead Tours.

Welcome to the Blog Tour for When They Met Again by Leslie Gould, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: When They Met Again
Series: Letters from Lancaster County
Author: Leslie Gould
Publisher: Bethany House
Release Date: March 17, 2026
Genre: Fiction / Romance / Amish / Contemporary

A gently humorous just friends romance from Leslie Gould, threaded with heart-deep characters and the timeless traditions of simple Amish life.

It's love at first sight for Adam Slaybaugh, yet while Joanna Grebel finds him attractive and is intrigued when he declares his interest, she's less certain of the potential for a romantic future together. Instead, she proposes they be "just friends," but Adam's not willing to settle for anything less than a romantic relationship. In response, he leaves Lancaster County for Florida, and soon after, Joanna begins courting Jacob Byer--someone she deems a much more suitable match.

When Adam returns to Lancaster County years later to pursue a career in his grandparents' successful home renovation business, he finds Joanna suffering from a broken heart. Misunderstandings and matchmaking schemes begin a tender journey of healing and romance--but is Adam's love enough to finally win Joanna over?

For readers of Beverly Lewis, Wanda E. Brunstetter, and Shelley Shepard Gray, a sweet Amish romance with matchmaking grandmas and themes of enemies to lovers, he falls first, and love at first sight versus "just friends."

My Review

It has been a minute since I read the first book in the Letters from Lancaster County series, so it took me a minute to get my bearings, but once I got the characters situated in my mind, is when this novel really started speaking to me. It didn’t help that I was reading this novel while dealing with a migraine, but honestly, this helped keep my mind off my pain if only for a moment.

While the start was a bit rocky, once I really sat and savored this novel, I really started to enjoy it. The novel is very character-driven and gives us a clear picture of just who these characters are at their core. Both Adam and Joanna are genuinely good people, and I loved seeing them interact and work together and see their friendship blossom over time.

The side characters were a favorite of mine, and the close friendships, particularly with the letter-writing ladies, had my heart. Jacob gave me the ick and for good reason, and sadly, I’ve known a few Jacobs in my life. This “man” made my blood boil, and I hope to see a redemption for him in future installments.

The ending was so sweet and definitely earned. It was very satisfying to see this couple get their happily ever after, and it was the perfect ending to a wunderbaar story.

My Rating: ★★★★

More in This Series

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Be sure to check out my other reviews of books by Leslie Gould

About the Author

Leslie Gould is a Christy Award-winning and #1 bestselling author of more than fifty novels, including multiple Amish fiction series. She holds a bachelor's degree in history and an MFA in creative writing. She enjoys church history, research trips, and hiking in the Pacific Northwest. She and her husband live in Portland, Oregon, and have four adult children and two grandchildren. Learn more at LeslieGould.com.

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a $25 B&N gift card plus a copy of The Shop Down the Lane and When They Met Again!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight March 16, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on March 23, 2026. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!