Thank you so much to Atria Books + NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Where do I even begin? Here We Go Again is a beautiful story about death and love, and how happiness and grief can coexist. But it's also about learning to let go and allowing people to love you, flaws and all.

Logan and Rosemary are best friends turned enemies, but their former English teacher, Joe, is dying — and he enlists their help to drive him across the country, on what he refers to as a 'death trip,' so he can pass peacefully in his cottage by the sea in Maine. What unfolds is a wild adventure filled with rewarding detours, feeling emotions too big to fit in human bodies, making up for lost time, and wandering down paths once abandoned because living with regrets is no way to live.

There is something so special about second chance romance, about two people who fall out of touch, who may even grow to dislike each other, but find their way back to exactly where they're meant to be. Bearing witness to Logan and Rosemary learning to love themselves and each other was such a gift, but what was especially beautiful was their decision that any pain caused by the other person was worth it — and for the right person, it always will be.

This was my first title by Alison Cochrun and it will not be my last. Alison did such a lovely job of juggling tragedy, comedy, and romance, and I only wish I could read this book again for the first time.

Demi F***ing Lovato* …. This book was not for me. I adored the author’s Kiss Her Once For Me but these characters were unbearable. Rude, corny, prideful and judgmental. I will continue to check out Allison Cochran’s novels in hopes of another gem like Kiss Her Once.

**Every time the main character swears, she uses a female queer celebrity ….. Kristen F***ing Stewart"

I need to start this off by saying Alison Cochrun is by far not my favorite author. I DNF'ed kiss her once for me so I was a little worried about this one when it was sent out to me. But wow was I shocked. I love the second chance romance and friends to lover's trope. But this is done in a way I've never seen it done before, especially because they hate each other. Their only thing in common is their dying teach who starts off the trip by telling them this is not a learning experience it's just them getting to Maine. But it becomes a learning experience for all involved.

This book was absolutely beautiful. I literally felt every emotion as the characters were feeling them. I laughed, I cried, I gasped. This is about found families, neurodivergent kids, and finding your way in those teen years when you feel the most lost. This is why we need openly queer teachers and why it kills me some states want to shut it down. This book is about learning we don't have control of anything in life so at the end of the day it's worth to lose the control.

Very rarely has a book touched me this much so believe me when I say go read this book.

I was gifted this book by Net Galley and Atria in exchange for an honest review as always, all words are my own.

An emotional, laugh-out-loud, second chance, end of life, Sapphic road trip romance between two former high school best friends turned teachers and their dying gay mentor whose last wish is to have them drive him across country before he dies.

Full of heart with amazing neurodiversity rep (both women have ADHD that presents and is treated differently). This is sure to have you laughing and crying in equal measure as the women find their way back to one another, learn how to take a chance on love and say good bye to their dying friend.

AMAZING on audio narrated by Natalie Naudus and Jeremy Carlisle Parker. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @simon.audio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!!

Steam level: open door

I am such a fan of Alison Cochrun's work, her books always take romance themes, wrap them in a warm blanket of queer and loving inclusion, and make me, as the kids say, have all the feels. Her work is filled with the expected big moments in a romance (a meet cute, chemistry moments, a first kiss, a barrier to a relationship) but it is the smaller moments in between, and the individual character development, that really sing and make her work special. Here We Go Again is for me the one that tugged at the heart strings the most, perhaps because here the characters aren't meeting for the first time as adults but have a shared history and a complex set of feelings from the past merging with a beloved forced proximity road trip trope. I loved the little details, the detour, the laminator, the binder, and I valued the role of a loving mentor asking for one last wish and how that became the trip that made all the difference. Tissues and chocolate for the last part of the book!

Wistful and yearning, a tad bittersweet, and filled with the kind of wet eye moments that make this my favorite from Cochrun yet (and I am a big fan of the Charm Offensive).

∞☆ / 5☆

“Life is the prickly pear. It’s always going to be a combination of beauty and hurt, no matter how hard you try to protect yourself from the hard parts.”

Here We Go Again is one of the most special books I’ve read in awhile! There’s so much queer love, familial love, and found family love wrapped up in the pages of this book. As soon as I realized this was a road trip romance centered on Logan & Rosemary taking their mentor on his dying wish road trip, I knew this book was going to hurt. A lot. And it did. It’s a good thing my Kindle is waterproof because it was covered in my tears as I read the last like 15% of the book.

There’s ABBA and Mamma Mia and a record player and vintage music and a vintage van and a queer English teacher who took the next generation under his wing for life. There’s a cross country trip binder and a travel laminator and wireless printer. There’s a spontaneous detour from the northern half of the country to the Grand Canyon and another detour to the Gulf coast of Mississippi. There’s traditional southern food and Whataburger and Dunkin’ runs. There’s a love of the natural world and books and love itself.

There are a million things I love about this book and this story. But there’s one thing I know for certain: this book is going to stick with me for a long time.

Big thank you to Alison Cochrun for writing the road trip romance book I needed and to Atria Books and NetGalley for sending me an early copy of the book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advanced electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Logan is known as being a player, here for a good time but not a long time, leaving before she can be left. Rosemary is guarded and a perfectionist, pouring all of herself into everything she does. They were best friends as kids, then hated each other, lost touch for 10 years, and then became coworkers. They are now tasked with driving their former high school English teacher and father figure, who is dying, on a road trip across the country so that he can die in his cottage by the water. Except... they hate each other, right?

Some parts of the story were frustrating (Logan sometimes), but so much more of it was incredibly well done. There's lots of queer rep, some rep on the Ace spectrum, neurodiverse rep, talk of addictions and mommy/daddy issues. The characters as a whole and their journey is emotional and complex, but I loved being on the adventure with them. It's like a hug.

CW: cursing, death of a father figure, mentions of cancer, sexual content, grief, illness, strained parental relationships

I can't help but think this book came into my life at precisely the right time. My first year as a HS musical choreographer is almost over & we are "aptly" performing "Mamma Mia."

"Here We Go Again" by Alison Cochrun is a deeply touching and powerful story. When I tell you I ugly cried reading this book, I mean my glasses were so fogged and my nose was running so badly I needed to take a break before I could continue reading. I am utterly in love with the story Alison Cochrun has told here.

The heartfelt portrayal of Logan Maletis and Rosemary Hale's complex relationship, filled with years of unresolved tension and missed opportunities, resonated with me on a profound level. Cochrun's ability to evoke such intense emotions through her storytelling is remarkable, as evidenced by the ugly crying I previously described.

The themes of friendship, forgiveness, and second chances are beautifully woven into the narrative, making it a poignant and memorable read. The cross-country road trip embarked on by Logan and Rosemary, under the guidance of their beloved teacher and mentor, Joe, promises a journey of self-discovery and reconciliation that is bound to leave a lasting impact. "Here We Go Again" is a captivating and emotionally resonant novel that showcases Cochrun's talent for crafting compelling and heartfelt stories.

This pub date really crept up on me, and I wasn't sure I'd actually be able to finish it by pub day, but the great news is it's a super engaging and quick read! I read it in spurts over one day of pet sitting and thoroughly enjoyed my time. I, too, have lost a beloved English teacher to cancer, so the emotional notes absolutely resonated with me. And I enjoyed the relationship journey our two grumpy sad girls went on alongside their road trip in the gayest van the world has ever seen. The dialogue was snappy and fun, the location descriptions were beautiful, and obviously I cried through the last 20% of the book.

Alison Cochrun will forever be an auto buy author for me. Whether it’s a Bachelor-like reality show, a snowed in Portland or a death road trip - I will read anything she writes.

And this was the road trip to end all road trips.

This book will stay with me for a long time. The way it portrays grief and the process leading up to grief when someone you love is dying is done so well.

I saw myself in both Rosemary and Logan and recognized that I’ve felt and acted like both of them before. As if, they reflect two different sides of my personality.

@alisoncochrun has another winner here. So grab that box of tissues you’ll need them for this trip.

Special thanks to @atriabooks for the ARC.

Romance tropes abound here but there are so many other amazing themes to keep you entertained in between all the romance. This is a friends to lovers to enemies to lovers, road trip novel, but it also a novel that explores grief, individuality, finding freedom in being yourself, and freedom to love others. I loved Joe- what a wise, amazing man! I loved the course of the novel being his terminal illness- it’s comforting to know what the end of a story will be and we’re just along for the ride. I still cried, though!
Overall, while not a big romance fan. I enjoyed most of this novel and think most other readers who enjoy rom-coms will enjoy it too!

I didn’t really read the blurb before starting this one. I just knew I’d like it since Alison Cochrun wrote it. So I was a little surprised when Here We Go Again was less a story about romance and more a story of grief, regret, and acceptance.

No big deal, just me crying while sitting on a cabana at a beach vacation. It’s not tears…it’s salt spray from the ocean.

Logan and Rosemary were best friends until they were 14 and had a major break-up, and were apart until four years ago when Rosemary moved back and started teaching with Logan in their home town. Their beloved teacher is terminally ill, and wants them both to drive him across the country. At first, I wasn’t sure Logan and Rosemary would be able to put aside their differences—they bickered SO MUCH, some of it downright mean. But they eventually declare a truce and it’s like a switch flips, their relationship immediately turns back to romantic and sexual.

I felt like the progression of their relationship moved quickly, but they did basically have four years of banter and foreplay. And I have to admit, I was more interested in Joe and his journey than the two leads. I knew—I KNEW— that he couldn’t have a happily ever after, but I adored reading about his happily for now, and him facing his regrets and saying his goodbyes.

Here We Go Again was a beautiful and heartbreaking story. I both laughed and cried and ugh, my heart is happy and sad all over again. Thank you to Atria Books for the review copy.

My, my, Alison Cochrun. How can I resist you and your devastatingly beautiful stories?

Read if you 🩷:
❤️‍🔥 Childhood Friends to Enemies to Lovers
🧲 Opposites Attract
✏️ Keeping up with your Favorite Teacher
🚙 Last Minute Bucket List Road Trips

Logan and Rosemary, former childhood friends turned bitter enemies, find themselves stuck in their small-town lives as teachers. Both women are grappling with their identities and past relationships, with Logan embracing her chaotic nature and Rosemary clinging to stability. When their dying mentor's final request leads them on a cross-country road trip in a fabulously gay van, they're forced to confront their shared history, navigate their complex feelings, and maybe, just maybe, find love and self-acceptance along the way.

This hilariously heartbreaking novel makes one wonder: should the reader be laughing or sobbing at Logan, Rosemary, and Joe’s adventure? The answer is most definitely both; that old man wouldn’t want it any other way.

Yes, there is a steamy moment in this enemies-to-lovers romance, but the plot kept me there for all 368 pages. Cochrun’s detailed and well thought-out writing style spoils every other romance novel. It is so realistic and raw in a way that one would think they’re watching a film. She’s not afraid to be poignant with her prose describing the American landscape while still sneaking in a pun-filled jab during an argument.

It can be difficult to convince someone to pick up a novel where they know the most ultimate ending will eventually occur, but Cochrun has discovered the secret formula. “Here We Go Again” doesn’t break your heart with a story of death; it fills your soul with a journey through grief, second chances, and soulmates.

Thank you so much to @atriabooks for the complimentary copy of “Here We Go Again” in exchange for an honest review. (Even though you know my preordered copy is currently waiting for me.)

Firstly, I would like to express my gratitude to NetGalley and Atria Publishing for providing me with an advance reader's copy of "Here We Go Again" by Alison Cochrun.

"Here We Go Again" delves into the complex relationship between Logan Malteis and Rosemary Hale, former childhood friends turned enemies after a fateful summer night before high school. Over a decade of animosity ensues, but when their old high school English teacher, Joseph Delgado, discloses that he is dying from his long term cancer, he implores them to embark on a cross-country road trip from Washington to Maine. The journey becomes a test: can this 3000-plus-mile trip mend their fractured friendship or deepen their hatred?

Alison Cochrun astutely captures the essence of love, both lost and found, in this compelling narrative. While ex-childhood friends turned enemies turned lovers may seem like a worn trope, Cochrun infuses it with fresh vitality. The dynamic between Logan and Rosemary is richly nuanced; their animosity belies a deep-seated affection, lending authenticity to their journey of reconciliation.

Beyond the central relationship, Cochrun adeptly explores themes of grief, betrayal, and queerness, adding layers of depth to the narrative. The characters grapple with their past traumas and present desires, creating a poignant and relatable exploration of human emotions.

In conclusion, "Here We Go Again" is a captivating tale that resonates long after the final page. Alison Cochrun's masterful storytelling and nuanced character development make this novel a compelling read. I wholeheartedly recommend it to readers seeking an exploration of friendship, love, and redemption.

This book was profoundly sad, but also sweet and hopeful. There were definitely some funny, lighthearted moments in this story, but I did not go into it prepared for the amount of ugly cry that would be involved. I flew through this one and was definitely invested in the story, but I have mixed feelings about it, and definitely waffled between a 3 and a 4 rating-wise.

While I enjoyed the story as a whole, it fell a bit flat for me as a romance. I was honestly a lot more interested in Joe and his journey than I was in Logan and Rosemary's relationship, which obviously isn't ideal when you're reading a love story. Third person POV isn't my favorite, especially with dual POV, and I think that had a lot to do with me not getting super invested in the romance aspect. There were a lot of elements to the story, and the style of story telling didn't lend itself to having the romance aspect being front and center.

That all said, I did enjoy this book, I just found Joe and his history, along with Logan and Rosemary's personal journeys more interesting than the romance.

I enjoyed The Charm Offensive and loved Kiss Her Once for Me, but Here We Go Again is Alison Cochrun's best book yet!

I loved so much about the story and cared deeply for both Logan and Rosemary. Joe reminded me of two high school teachers who are very special to me (my English teacher with whom I am connected on Facebook and my drama teacher, who sadly died from cancer before the pandemic hit), so this story felt even more personal.

The road trip sounded like a lot of fun, especially with the music choices and all the detours and sightseeing. It felt like an armchair adventure for me and I didn't mind not being outside in all the heat they were experiencing. However, there was even more heat in the bedroom scenes. Do not read this in a place where someone will see you blushing is all I'll say...

There is just so much love in this novel. I found myself laughing and getting teary-eyed many, many times.

My only concern is that I felt the parts where they were talking about diapers really took away Joe's dignity. I was aware that it went along with his terminal illness, but I wasn't comfortable with Logan and Rosemary talking about it so flippantly. I read an advanced copy, so I hope this was toned down for the final publication.

Overall, this is a must-read for anyone who loves a sweet and sexy sapphic romance!

(Trigger warnings below.)

Movie casting suggestions:
Logan: Brigette Lundy-Paine
Rosemary: Maddie Hasson
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TW: Death from terminal illness, mentions of addiction/alcoholism

I finished this book just this morning and omg 😭🧡🫶🚎 easiest 5 stars!!! Happy pub day!

GENRE: Romance/ Rom-Com
MY RATING: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 (5/5)
#gifted @atriabooks — tysm!

READ IF YOU LIKE:
▫️Road trips 🚎
▫️Tropes: Friends—> enemies—> lovers, Takes care of her when she’s sick, opposites attract
▫️ADHD rep
▫️Laugh-out-loud funny 😂
▫️Drag shows 🏳️‍🌈
▫️Found family
▫️Cute pups 🐶
▫️Education/ teaching ✏️
▫️Dual POV

MY THOUGHTS:
Halfway through this book, I knew this was going to be a five-star read. I was lol’ing while swooning over Logan & Rosemary’s complicated, yet lovable relationship. And surprisingly, I was an emotional mess by the end!!! 😭💕 There is something so special to me when an author can find the PERFECT balance between love & pain. @alisoncochrun does just that! 🫶 This story was full of adventure, belonging, past memories, laughs, & heartache. It is a must read for this summer! ☀️

RATING EXPLAINED:
I’ve always been a big Alison Cochrun fan! I enjoyed her first two books, but WOW this book is by far her best work. 😭 From the start, I was in love with the premise of this story— two exes set on a road trip across the country to fulfill a dying man’s last wish. So sentimental!! I wasn’t sure about Logan’s character at first… but her personal growth was so. well. done. ❤️‍🩹 She took care of herself first in order to fully love someone else & idk what gets better than that 🥹

DETAILS:
▫️Published: 4/2/24 (today!)
▫️Pages: 368
▫️Format: E-book

This book was perfect and I’m not okay after reading it. It’s about second chances and found family and rediscovering passions. It’s funny, it’s sad, it’s steamy… like I said it’s perfect. This made me want to hug my loved ones so tight!

4.5 rounded up. I love Alison Cochrun’s writing!!! This was so tender and sweet and funny. If you liked You With a View but wanted it to be gay, then this one’s for you. I related to both Logan and Rosemary and loved Joe and Odie. A beautiful cast of characters and found family and I may have shed a lil tear at the end even though I knew what was coming.

Once again, Alison Cochrun wrote an excellent book. I absolutely loved this enemies to lovers romance.