✨ Review ✨ Here We Go Again by Alison Cochrun

Thanks to Atria and #netgalley for the gifted advanced copy/ies of this book!

Alison Cochrun can do no wrong!!! She nails it again with this home run of a road trip book that celebrates queer love and found family in the messiest and most beautiful of ways.

Logan Maletis and Rosemary Hale were bffs from age 11 to 14 when suddenly they became mortal enemies after Maletis kissed Hale at a pool party. They're reunited as adults when they both become English teachers at their high school. When their favorite HS teacher and mentor shares that he's dying and wants these two to help him go on one last adventure, back to his cabin in Maine (from their West Coast homes), the two begrudgingly agree.

What results is this incredible mix of romance and familial love and adventure and death trip wisdom as the three cross the country. We witness beauty and chaos and messiness and love and regret and sadness and grief and joy and so much more as the journey takes us around the country in the gayest of vans. my gosh there's just so much to love here.

I don't want to spoil any of the moments of this book, but I wanted to shout out to the drag moment later in the book as being one of my favorites.

This book has all the joy of a queer rom com with all of the bittersweet feels of watching their beloved mentor and friend's life come to a close. This was a really beautifully written story, and I wish I could go back and read it again for the first time!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: f/f romance + road trip and found family elements
Setting: from West to East coast and everything in between
Pub Date: April 2, 2024

Read this if you like:
⭕️ queer rom com + found family
⭕️ road trips
⭕️ English teachers
⭕️ crying
⭕️ food across the country

Here we go again? More like Alison Cochrun does it again with a phenomenal book about love, found family, and grief that tore my heart out. I found myself laughing as much as I found myself crying and sniffling, enjoying every page as I read. This was a great read and I look forward to purchasing it and reading more books by Alison Cochrun in the future--she is now an instant buy author for me!

OMG this booook. First, it broke my heart and built it back up again over and over and over - it is so uniquely, beautifully bittersweet. It was about grief and loss, but so much more it was about love and living and being exactly who you want to be. The romance between Rosemary and Logan as they find their way back to their friendship and then even more is a lovely journey of figuring out how to be honest, how to show up, how to meet someone exactly where they are. And then there's Joe - a true king. Read with tissues and give yourself the space to laugh, to cry, to cheer!

Once the closest of friends, Logan Maletis and Rosemary Hale have hated each other since the summer before their first year of high school. Each would have been happy to never see the other one again. But after ten years of not speaking, they both find themselves teachers in their former high school, despising each other as strongly as ever. When Joe, their mutual favorite teacher, lets Logan and Rosemary know he has a few months to live and he wants to use that time to take a cross-country road trip with both of them, they each want to say no. But they can't bring themselves to deny Joe his dying wish. The three embark on a summer road trip where they discover that despite their commitments to leave the past in the past, they each may have unfinished business that will put them on a new, unexpected path.

This was a moving, well-written story about first love, loss, and learning to accept yourself.

Highly recommended.

*thank you to the Atria and NetGalley for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Alison Cochrun’s writing will always be a hit for me! While this wasn’t my favorite of her books, it was still such a fun read and an easy 4 ⭐️

I absolutely adored the romance in this book, but I loved how the plot of Rosemary and Logan’s roadtrip with their former teacher was the star. It’s a much heavier book than the cover implies, so know going in that this book does cover some harder topics of a parental figure dying and grief.

Joe was by far my favorite character. He helps bring the story to life through the wisdom he imparts on Rosemary and Logan & his jokes/banter with them. This is me asking Alison to write a book just for Joe, bc I need to know him more and find out what he was like when he was younger.

There were lots of pop culture references, so if that’s not your thing, just know that going in.

Overall, I will read anything and everything Alison writes. I can’t wait to see what fun stories she writes for us in the future!

Read if you like:
👩🏻‍🤝‍👩🏼 friends to lovers
🏳️‍🌈 LGBTQ+ representation
🧠 mental health representation
🚗 road trips
🗣️ witty banger
👥 dual POV

A sapphic road trip romance about childhood friends who shared a spin the bottle kiss in grade school but not realizing they were both leaning towards liking girls, harming their friendship before one moved to another city… just to move back years later and start teaching at their old school, but the ruined friendship was still there.

A mentor who was there for each of them as they came out, since neither had a great family life, is sick and his dying wish is for the girls to drive him across the country to a home he has so he can live out his time there. He’s hoping they’ll repair their relationship on the road, when confined to a car for days, and have to speak to each other.

It’s touted as a RomCom, but it’s quite emotional, especially as Logan and Rosemary work to return to a friendship so they don’t fight too much on the road in front of Joe. They have a schedule to keep, which Rosemary has planned out so she doesn’t have to spend any extra time with Logan, but they’re suddenly taking detours for Joe (like to the Grand Canyon, and to say goodbye to the love of his life, who he walked away from so many years ago). Rosemary also tries to deal with some side personal issues. A beautiful story but I failed to see the comedy anywhere.

It’s a very nice storyline, but I definitely preferred Cochrun’s two previous novels - but do still recommend it! It’s a good, but an emotional read with the plot and all of the character development.

I received an advance copy from NetGalley and Atria Books, and this is my honest feedback.

Here We Go Again is a book I want to read over and over and over -- and I don't remember ever re-reading a book outside of teaching it. I know this will be one of my top reads of the year! I fell head over heels in love with all of these characters -- Rosemary, Logan, and especially Joe. Joe was larger than life and yet felt so real, hilarious, and though the story was about him I kept wishing it was somehow more about him. In many ways even though Joe was the catalyst for everything, the story was mostly about Logan and Rosemary, especially since it was told from their perspectives. I guess I would have liked at least a few chapters from Joe's perspective too -- but I understand why we didn't get it. One of the things I love most about the romance genre, especially LGBTQ+ romance is the self-discovery involved and every character had this in spades. I loved getting to know these characters and seeing them get to know themselves. The adventurous road trip felt far-fetched at times and yet that's part of what made it so loveable. I adore a road trip particularly in story form and this one absolutely didn't disappoint. This book made me laugh and cry in equal measure and I savored every page, never wanting it to end -- and I'm not even being hyperbolic. Alison Cochrun secured her spot in my limited "auto-buy author list" since I've absolutely loved every book she's written -- but this is my favorite. You'll love it if you love romance, adventure, road trips, alternating perspectives, humor, books that make you feel, self-discovery, any of her other books, or really if you're someone who reads at all.

Thank you to Atria for the ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. This book will stay with me for a long time, and it will be available for everyone to enjoy on Tuesday!
Here We Go Again follows two English teachers taking their former teacher and mentor on his last-wish road trip across the country so that he can die in Maine instead of the beige of a hospital in rural Washington. While Rosemary has planned everything about the trip in a binder, it is clear from the first detour that they will not be following the direct route she expected. Joe’s first request is to stop at Vista House, a gorgeous rest stop which I visited last summer while visiting some waterfalls in the PNW. I haven’t been on a road trip in a long time, but reading this brought back memories from many trips I’ve taken including staying at an old-time motel in Idaho, seeing the Grand Canyon for the first time, and driving along the white sands of the Gulf coast.
From that first reference, I felt a special connection with this book. Perhaps due to being a high school teacher or due to my love of travel, I couldn’t read it fast enough. This is a sapphic romance, with plenty of tropes like enemies to lovers and only one bed, but there is a larger message, about learning to both accept and love yourself, while also being open to accepting and returning the love of others. 💕
While most of the book is lighthearted and includes some steamy scenes, I had to put down my kindle because I was sobbing so hard while reading - I tend to get emotionally invested in my reading, but this book made me cry much more than usual. I loved the relationships between the characters and how they helped each other handle the hard parts of life. I hope others will enjoy this too, but keep the tissues handy!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me with a digital ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review!

I really enjoyed Alison Cochrun's other sapphic novel, Kiss Her Once for Me, so I had high expectations going into this book. I liked that Kiss Her Once for Me was a hilarious and sweet rom-com that actually spent time touching on some deeper themes, as well. Here We Go Again absolutely exceeded my expectations - similarly, it balanced romance and serious topics, but it was like five times more intense (in the best way). It made me laugh, cry, and genuinely connect with each of the three main characters. I loved it so much!

The author refers to this book as a rom-com about death, and that's a fantastic description. The story follows Logan and Rosemary, who used to be best friends in middle school, but turned into enemies after an awkward incident when they were fourteen. Now 32 years-old, both women teach English at their old high school and still can't stand one another. The one thing they seem to have in common is Joe, their former teacher who has cemented himself as a gay father figure in both of their lives. When Joe is given only a few months to live, his dying wish is that Logan and Rosemary bury their feud and drive him (and his dog) from their town in Washington across the country to Bar Harbor, Maine. What starts out as a seemingly straightforward trip turns into a long adventure as they take detours, meet new people, and slowly repair their broken relationship along the way.

This is a beautiful book! Alison Cochrun finds a perfect balance between the romance, all of the comedic moments, and the grief of Joe's impending death. This is definitely not a light romance; it has some graphic depictions of Joe's struggle with pancreatic cancer. So, I strongly urge folks to only pick this up if they're prepared to read a heavy story. However, I also really appreciated that it never felt overly melancholy - grief and death are portrayed authentically (and, don't get me wrong, I was crying pretty much straight through the last 20% of the book), but there is also so much joy, celebration of life and queer communities, and love that is just as present in the story as the sad moments. Here We Go Again is, at its heart, about the beauty and pain of loving other people. It does a wonderful job of showcasing both of those things.

I also appreciated that there was never much time spent on other trauma. Logan, Rosemary, and Joe all went through trauma in their lives before the road trip. Their backstories are explained, but the trauma is never the focus of the story. They don't encounter much homophobia on their road trip; the first half of the book almost feels cozy at times, because there are so many sweet moments throughout their journey. In my experience, a lot of books (particularly LGBTQ+ stories) spend time having the characters emotionally overcome all of their past hardships, and there can sometimes be too many dark topics for one book to tackle, so then each individual issue doesn't get the attention it deserves. That doesn't happen here. The author doesn't shy away from the struggles that shaped her characters, but she also does not make those topics a focal point. As a result, the plot feels very balanced between light and heavy moments, and it is easier to read about Joe's illness, because it is given the necessary amount of attention.

I loved Alison Cochrun's writing in this book. It's descriptive, but not overly detailed. She gave me just enough information that I felt like I truly understood each character. There are so many gorgeous little moments. The dialogue is great, too. There were many lines that the characters said that stopped me in my tracks and made me reflect on my own life. However, the dialogue also feels real. The characters and their actions and words are so genuine. The author wrote the characters in such a believable way - with all of the heart, humanity, and imperfections of actual people.

Speaking of the characters, I loved all of them! Typically, when reading books where the point of view shifts between two people, I usually have a preferred perspective. But I liked Logan and Rosemary equally. I could see small pieces of myself in both of them. I sympathized with both of their struggles, and I loved getting to see them grow throughout the story. It was interesting to read about how they both had ADHD that manifested very differently. I appreciated the honest and caring way that neurodivergence was portrayed (there's a moment where Logan tells Rosemary that her brain is an asset, rather than a liability, that just made me tear up instantly). Joe is such a fun addition to the group; he shines the brightest out of all of the characters. I also liked the side characters - Remy, Odie, and even Logan's dad are all so sweet.

I don't have much to critique with this one. It looks like some reviewers were annoyed by Logan's constant use of celebrity names in curse words, but that didn't bother me (pop culture references can be hit or miss for me, but I thought the random name drops of queer icons were kind of comical). The only critical comment I might make is that the romance built up a lot in the first half, but then kind of took a back seat in the second half of the story. That certainly made sense near the end, given everything going on with Joe as the story progressed. However, there was a time (around the 60-70% mark) when they all were happy and living in kind of a fever dream, and I wish the romance had the same momentum then as it did during the initial buildup... That is super minor, though, because I still feel the romance was well done throughout the story.

I would definitely recommend this to anyone who likes romance books! Even if romance isn't your typical genre, you might enjoy this if you're looking for a novel that will make you feel something. It's probably one of the top ten books that have made me cry the most in all my years reading. But I also chuckled out loud and grinned and got goose bumps and so much more! Here We Go Again is just so good. Plus, there's a cute dog and a road trip. What's not to love?

5 out of 5 stars.

OOF! This one dished up a whole lot more emotions than I was expecting!

Logan and Rosemary were childhood best friends until a kiss in junior high changed everything. They both teach now at the high school they went to, and seem to be enemies. However, they both have a deep love for Joe, their gay high school teacher who showed them both acceptance and helped them deal with all that life threw at them.

Joe is dying and has one last request. He wants a road trip to a home he has in Maine and wants to be able to live his last days there. And he wants both Logan and Rosemary to join him.

Logan is a love 'em and leave 'em gal. She picks up women, hooks up and goes on. No attachments. She is very close with her dad, but her mom left when she was a child and never looked back, which explains her attachment issues. Rosemary is superteacher, but has her own anxiety that she hides from the word by perfection.

They agree, reluctantly, to join him and off they go in an interesting van with Joe and his dog. Rosemary has the trip mapped out to the detail. But things don't work out quite to her plans. Remy was another wonderful character.

This book just touched my heart. Emotional, sad, sweet, romantic, found family. It just had it all!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Here We Go Again by Alison Cochrun
Release Date: 4/2/24
Format: ebook
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“This is love. Love is seeing perfection in every flaw. Seeing every flaw as a miracle because it belongs to the person you care about most. Love is saying, yes, still. Even after all these years.”

Alison Cochrun ripped me apart and put me back together with this beautiful story of grief and vulnerability disguised as a sapphic romance. It is a sapphic romance, but it is so much more.

This book is about chosen family, about self acceptance, about being flawed and messy and imperfect but wanting to be better for the people you love. It’s about accepting love even if you’re not sure you deserve it.

It is also fucking hilarious. I knew this book would wreck me when I realized what it was about (seriously I ugly cried most of the last 25%) but I almost forgot how witty and fun Cochrun’s writing is. David fucking Bowie, I just loved it!!

This book is out in just a few short days and you’d be doing yourself a disservice if you don’t pick it up immediately. This is one of the best books I’ve read in so long and I’m incredibly grateful for the advanced copy from @netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion. Forever an Alison Cochrun hype girlie, but this one just blew me away!

This book had me full on sobbing on a plane. I adore Cochrun’s world building. Her characters are so well-developed, the way she builds her romance will melt your heart, and she has no problem tackling real world, deep issues. The writing is so heartfelt and sincere, with a lot of fun built in. And this story will blow you away.

I’ve loved her other two books, but this one is by far my favorite. I grew deeply attached to everyone in this book and they are going to stay with me for a long time.

Thank you to Atria Books and Netgalley for this ARC. Here We Go Again is out this Tuesday, 4/2!

Finally! It took me three weeks to get through this book. After a glacially slow start, once I got to the 50% mark the story really took off! I’m not sure that its slow start is entirely the book’s fault; I had just finished a REALLY intense book that hijacked my brain for awhile after I finished it, so that book hangover may have affected my attention span. I absolutely loved the second half of this book, it even tried to make me cry there at the end, and almost succeeded- I got teary eyed for sure. It was a beautiful story about found family, dignity in death, forgiveness and being true to oneself. The LGBT+ and mental health representation was really lovely to see in this book. I saw it called a death rom-com somewhere and that really sums it up well. Whowouldathunk that that was a genre that could work.

Logan and Rosemary were best friends as tweens, enemies as teens, didn’t see each other for a decade, and now enemy co-workers teaching at the same high school they attended. They’re also complete opposites in personality and demeanor and are constantly antagonizing each other. They’re also both completely dedicated to their former teacher and mentor Joe who is dying of cancer. When Joe wants both girls to drive him across the country so that he can die in his remote cottage, they think it’s a terrible idea, but then give in because they both want to honor Joe’s wishes. And it’s pretty much an awful road trip, with arguing and detours and dodgy accommodations. But through this trip, everyone gets to deal with all of their past regrets and inner demons and actually communicate with each other. And while the death trip is sad and full of grief, we do get to see Logan and Rosemary reconcile and begin to understand each other better. Funny, heartbreaking, and so very delightful to read.

Here We Go Again is an emotional tale of two former friends turned enemies who reunite for a road trip with their mentor. The characters are messy but likable, and oh so relatable. The concept is good and relatively realistic, and the characters have good growth throughout the book. However, the pacing dragged a bit in the middle and the syntax can be off sometimes - one of the main characters has such an odd way of swearing that took me out of the story more than once. There are also way too many pop culture references.

This book was great but painful for me in some parts. The grief and the miscommunication.

I think the beauty in this book was how the two women were friends, went to the same school, had two different experiences and now get to heal. They assumed things about the other person and finally in this trip they get to talk about their issues and the things that separated them.

I thought this book was great, made me want to cry.

I got an e-arc of this book on NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is a very cute story that definitely has its ups and downs but ultimately ends on a great note. Some of the runnings gags got old and the back and forth emotions of the characters were frustrating at times, but overall this is an enjoyable read.

I loved Kiss her Once for me and enjoyed this one just as much! It was funny, sweet, heartwarming, spicy, and sad all at once. Definitely recommend!

How dare this book pull me in with its cute concept and have me violently sobbing by the end.

I came for the sapphic romance, stayed for the queer found family and philosophical heartwarming/heartbreaking narrative about making the most of your life while you’ve got it.

To be honest, I wasn’t obsessed with the romance between the main characters. I loved all of the characters individually, but I don’t see this couple standing the test of time. But for the glimpse we get at their story, I loved it. I also loved how there were queer characters in all these little random small towns across America - community can really be found anywhere!

Thank you to the publisher for granting me access to an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions remain my own.

Okay for real this time, TOP READ OF THE YEAR. Mamma Mia? CHECK. Enemies to lovers? CHECK. Only one bed. DOUBLE CHECK!!!! This book made me laugh and cry. As a queer teacher I hope I can make Joe’s impact for my students one day. AND THE ODYSSEY REFERENCE, IM GOOPED AND GAGGEDThis book is the physical manifestation of queer joy and solidarity. Every character goes on their own beautiful journey. While going on the most chaotic roadtrip through the USA.