This book was a very fun read and I absolutely loved the roadtrip vibes. It touched on many subjects that people can relate to such as grief, career plateauing, relationships, etc. This was my first queer romance book and as a queer woman myself, I could really connect to the characters and to some of the references throughout the book. Alison Cochrun’s writing is easy to read and also quite effortlessly funny, which I love in a book. I did feel like the story was a bit dragged on at times hence why I rated it a 3 stars, but I would still recommend it to people who want a fun summer read that also has unique plot elements.

In Here We Go Again, Alison masterfully balances grief and hope, new love and loss of a dear loved one, humor and sadness. I laughed out loud and cried the last two hours I was reading. This is a book that I know will stay with me for many years and be a regular reread.

The story focuses on two ex-best friends who are lovingly coerced into driving their dying former high school teacher across the US to his cabin in Maine where he wants to pass. Grief is a key theme in this book and handled so beautifully. As the story progresses, you fall in love with Joe just as Logan and Rosemary have. I loved how Alison wrote Joe to both be the teacher some of us were lucky to have, but also a surrogate to the teacher so many should have had. What Joe tells Rosemary and Logan through out their trip is so heartfelt but is for the reader as much as the two MCs.

This is one of my top books of 2024 and I highly recommend it to everyone!

Two words: Joe Delgado.

I will never recover.
I SOBBED SO HARD, I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN. IT WAS WORTH IT.

This is the second book I have read by Alison Cochran. The first being her novel "Kiss Her Once for Me," which I enjoyed as well. However, I loved this one more. Alison crafts a heartwarming queer rom-com full of friendship, angst, forgiveness, and self-discovery.

At the center of the story are Logan Maletis and Rosemary Hale, childhood best friends turned bitter rivals due to a past incident. Now in their thirties, they find themselves stuck in mundane lives in their small town, far from the adventurous futures they once envisioned. Enter Joe Delgado, their former English teacher, and beloved mentor to both of them, who also is gay. Joe is dying. Like really dying. He only has a few months left, and he wants to spend it on a cross-country road trip with Logan, Rosemary, and his cancer dog Odie. This wouldn't be so bad if Logan and Rosemary didn't hate each other and weren't complete opposites. Logan is carefree, messy, loud, sticky, wild in all the ways. Rosemary is a thinker, she plans everything out in her head and on paper, she is clean and manicured down to the T, and she wears heels every day BY CHOICE. These two couldn't be any different if they tried. Their dynamic is both humorous and poignant, filled with unresolved tension and genuine affection. While I struggled at times to feel the romantic connection between the two, I could see they genuinely do care for one another, and felt as though they did have chemistry.

Because they both love Joe, they embark on a journey of rediscovery, love, and acceptance. I found myself feeling everything they were feeling, laughing and crying with them at every mile marker. The trio navigates both the physical and emotional landscapes of America, confronting their pasts and envisioning their futures.

Then there is Joe. Despite his terminal prognosis, Joe remains the heart of this novel. His love shines through in his character with authenticity and passion for what life he has yet to live. Joe inspires those around him by living in the moment and creating his own joy. Joe was my favorite character to read about, and while others may disagree, I don't think this novel is about Logan or Rosemary at all. I think it is about Joe and his journey of accepting his death. Through his connections with his loved ones, Joe is able to find solace in mourning his own life and is able to have the courage to embrace the beauty of what it is to just be human.

Joe's legacy lives on not only through the memories of Logan and Rosemary but also in the hearts of readers who are touched by his wisdom and compassion. I am one of those readers.

The reason this book was a 5-star for me was because of how much emotion it made me feel while reading it, and that is my favorite thing about a book. If it makes me feel raw emotion, that is a 5-star for me. This book is a must-read and is out next month.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Atria Books for early access into this beautiful story.
I'm going to go listen to Van Morrison now and find the nearest place that sells shrimp.

Are you looking for a book to get you out of a slump, make you laugh and tear up? HERE WE GO AGAIN is a perfect story about queer found families & finding love when you need it most. Logan and Rosemary, both school teachers, take their beloved beloved gay high school teacher, Joe, on one last cross country trip to honor is last dying with

The story covers first loves and enemies to lovers wonderfully. We have Logan, who is well-known on the lesbian circuit for "liking" and then leaving girls. For Logan, whose mom left in her childhood, she fears forming any strong attachments. Rosemary is a wonderful and renowned teacher who has perfected hiding her anxiety from others. All the characters pop off the page--none more than Joe, an amazing gay teaching icon who has provided guidance and care for so many students (we all wish we had a Joe), but holds a special place in his heart for his "girls," both of whom needed a little extra care coming out in their small town. Joe helped motherless Logan find herself and mentored Rosemary's writing.

Once he convinced the two to join him on the trip from Washington to Maine, we get a story filled with humor & sadness, hi-jinx and pain. Along with Joe's lovable pup Odie, the trio sets forth across the country, encountering national monuments and flat tires alike. There is a bathtub scene that will make you swoon and a drag show moment that will make you cheer. The build up between Rosemary and Logan is amazing, but it's just as good watching the two of them learning from and about Joe.

This story touches so beautifully on anxiety, ADHD, found family, and the importance of teachers and gay adults in younger lives. There are some moments that made me laugh out loud and others that made me cry. I fell head over heels for these characters. AGAIN is crazy emotional for a variety of reasons yet funny and heartfelt without being schmaltzy. I cannot recommend this lovely book enough.

A sapphic, friends to enemies to lovers road trip story about two women that reconnect while driving their beloved and terminally ill former English teacher across the country as his dying wish. I laughed, I cried, my heart may never recover. There are a couple of really annoying things that the characters say or do that made me hardcore cringe but I’m choosing to forget them because I loved everything else about this so much!

I loves the cover, the writing and will read more from this author!

I love this book with the older family in it!!!! This author is so talented! The book has you hooked from page one!!!!

Thanks NetGalley for letting me read and review

Wow! I really liked Alison Cochrun’s previous two novels (The Charm Offensive & Kiss Her Once for Me), but this one blew me away…

The dual-POVs — from Logan & Rosemary — give us all the insight on their past as BFFs & their current reality as enemies.

But, Joe, their former high school English teacher, steals the show. Joe is dying — has been dying — from cancer. Now, he’s entrusted his two favorite students to drive him across the country to Bar Harbor, Maine, where he wishes to die.

The road trip, which was supposed to be a straight shot from Oregon to Maine, ends up being guided by Joe’s desire to confront his one regret.

It’s an emotional rollercoaster ride, as each of the characters comes to terms with what’s truly holding them back.

It’s been a while since a book actually made me cry and continue to sob… but Here We Go Again did it.

What I liked:
🚐 Joe & his pup Odysseus
🚐 neuro-divergent characters
🚐 cross-country road trip
🚐 all the road trip adventures
🚐 …every thing!!!

Thanks to Net Galley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book is out April 2!!

I loved getting into this one blind. I didn't know anything except for the cover and "Alison Cochrun" and that was enough for me.
I wasn't wrong. This was not an easy read, it had some hard hitting themes and I loved every second of it. I can't lie, I shed a few tears. I loved both the main characters and Joe and Remy and Odie. They were all so lifelike and I felt everything they felt.
Such a powerful book about queer love and found family with a good dose of romance. I was so invested in Joe's storyline and the whole road trip. I just really loved this.
Another book I've loved by Alison Cochrun, cannot wait for more.

Thank you Netgalley and Atria for the e-Arc. This is my favorite Alison Cochrun book so far. I'm loving the older found family members in books. It drives me wild when a character makes a decision for the other person. Alison is a talented story teller. Absolutely need a copy for my shelf.

Leave it to Alison to completely rip my heart out with another beautiful book! There's so much good stuff here, from the relatable characters to the heartwarming plot. I loved every second of reading this one (even the moments I was crying!)!

3.5 stars
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
I really enjoyed Alison Cochrun’s prior books, so I jumped at the chance to read her next book, Here We Go Again. I will note that this book does suffer from the pitfall that many romances have been dealing with, namely being given “romcom” branding when it’s much deeper. The book’s front matter makes it clear what you’re getting into for the most part, so I wasn’t blindsided, but I did wish the cover, for example, didn’t present such a chipper scene, when the story heavily revolves around death and grief.
That said, I really like how Cochrun approached it, and upon realizing how the story morphed from her initial flippant concept to how she used the real-life experiences with loss that happened around the same time, it really shows through. I really love Joe as an older former teacher, and I appreciated seeing how his wisdom really impacted both Logan and Rosemary. Their relationship with him was the highlight of the book, and I loved the way the two supported him in his final months.
But while I liked both Logan and Rosemary as characters and what they offered to Joe, I failed to see them as a romantic pairing. There is some catharsis for what happened in their past, but at times, it really felt like former friends (maybe more?) trying to get along on civil terms for this one final goal. It all really took a backseat to the journey with Joe, and once he had passed, I felt more for them reeling in the wake of it than wishing they’d bond romantically. That’s not to say that things couldn’t work out one day, but the ending felt like a huge question mark for me, not an HEA, or even an HFN.
While I have mixed feelings about this book, I appreciate what it’s trying to do. If you’re interested in a story that tackles the impact of grief and loss, especially within the queer community, with prominent romantic elements, I’d recommend checking it out.

Charm Offensive is one of my all time favorite romances and I liked Kiss Her Once for Me, so I was incredibly excited to pick up Alison Cochrun’s newest novel. Here We Go Again firmly solidifies her as an auto-buy author for me! I fell in love with the characters in this book and couldn’t put it down.

Here We Go Again was my favorite kind of romance novel in that the story wasn’t just about the romance. I loved the connection between Rosemary and Logan, but even moreso I loved the found family between them and Joe. He was probably my favorite character of the whole book. More than once I found myself giggling out loud, but by the end I was ugly crying into my coffee. You will truly feel all of the feelings while reading this book, your heart will break, and then get put back together by the end.

Read if you like
-Queer romance
-Second chance romance (fuck boy/type A)
-Friends to enemies to lovers
-Found family
-Mental health rep
-Road trips

Thank you SO much to Atria and NetGalley for a review copy. All of the stars! I already know I’ll read this one again.

Atria eARC
How dare Alison Cochrun write such a hilarious and heartbreaking novel that left me sobbing at the end. I fell instantly for Logan, Rosemary, and Joe, but Joe was my absolute favorite. The characters here were so richly fleshed out. I was invested in the friendships, relationships, mentorships, regrets, and of course the road trip. I appreciated seeing how ADHD presented differently in the characters. The self discovery on the parts of Rosemary and Logan were also so honest and messy and heartfelt. While this novel dealt with such a heavy topic like cancer Cochrun balanced it with such great humor. It had me laughing and crying. She’s one of my auto-buy authors and I

After a bitter incident in high school, childhood friends Logan and Rosemary haven’t spoken in ten years. Now, both are teachers stuck in their small town, their lives are far from the adventures they once envisioned. When their mentor reveals he has limited time left, they embark together on a cross-country road trip to fulfill his final wish. Will the journey change the trajectory of their lives?

Sometimes funny, sometimes heartbreaking, this is a beautiful story about letting go of past hurts and living life to the fullest. The characters are relatable, and the plot engaging from start to finish.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

I really loved Alison Cochrun's previous novels so I had high expectations of this one and it far exceeded them -- I loved it so much!

Logan has lived in the small town she was raised in her entire life. She teaches at the high school she attended, and she still lives with her father. Rosemary has recently returned to town and is also teaching at the high school. Logan and Rosemary had a very close friendship for a few years as teens, but are no longer on speaking terms. When their former-teacher and close friend Joe says he wants them to drive from the Pacific Northwest to Maine as his last road trip before he dies of cancer, Logan and Rosemary are forced to get over their grudges and get along.

I loved Logan, Rosemary, Joe, and Remy. The more I learned about them the more I loved them -- and while there were definitely times I wanted to shake them for the choices they made, I could still see where they were coming from.

I loved all the road trip parts, all the side adventures and the vivid descriptions of the places they saw.

I think my favorite rom coms are ones that also deal with real life issues, and this one tackled so many in such a lovely way. Alison Cochrun writes about trauma and mental health in such a gentle way - I was very impressed by the way she handled all of it.

I would recommend this to anyone who wants a swoony love story that will also tug at your heartstrings. And you'll be singing Abba songs the whole time, which is a good thing in my opinion. I cannot wait to read what Alison Cochrun writes in the future!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an early copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the author's previous novels and this one started out well for me but just moved so slow in the middle.
One thing I really appreciate about this author is that she lists the triggers up front. I was hesitant going in and it did get a bit trigger-y for me. I really really appreciated her warning and ALL authors need to do this! I think those that like her books will love this one--it's just not the right time for me.

Here We Go Again is another total win from Alison Cochrun - full of heart, figuring yourself out and an epic cross-country road trip for the ages! In it we follow ex-friends Logan and Rosemary who are now stuck teaching at the same school and avoiding each other as much as possible. But when their beloved former English teacher and lifelong mentor tells them he has only a few months to live, they’re forced together once and for all to fulfill his last wish: a cross-country road trip. A road trip that will turn their lives around while forcing them to face some of their deepest fears and insecurities.

You need to read Here We Go Again asap if you adore:

- queer romances (with two lesbian main characters and an abundance of queer side characters <3)
- road trips! (that will change your life!)
- characters that are not perfect but work hard to be the best version of themselves (even when it's scary!)
- second chance romance trope (plus kinda a fuckboy x nerd dynamic hehe) and only one bed!

All in all, Here We Go Again is easily one of my favourite books of the year 2024 and I truly can't wait for my preorder to arrive! Alison Cochrun knows so well how to write heart-warming romances that make you question things about your own life, how to balance the sweetness and the angst! Just another Cochrun masterpiece!

Once inseparable childhood friends, Logan Maletis and Rosemary Hale’s bond shattered in high school, turning them into bitter foes for a decade. Fast forward to their thirties when they’re trapped in mundane lives as teachers in their small town, far from the adventurous futures they once dreamed of. Rosemary’s life revolves around order and stability, while Logan, a chaotic free spirit, shields herself with a nonchalant attitude.

Despite their efforts to avoid each other, fate keeps pushing them together—or rather crashing together, when Logan hits Rosemary’s car. The unexpected twist in their lives comes when their beloved former English teacher reveals he has only a few weeks left to live. To honour his last wish, they embark on a cross-country road trip. What starts as a trip to say goodbye to the most influential person in both their lives might just end with a reunion of kindred spirits.

A testament to the teachers who shaped us and made us feel safe? A road trip to grant someone their last dying wish that also confronts you with the woman that is sorta, kinda the one that got away AND there’s a dog thrown into the mix? Childhood friends to enemies to lovers?

In theory, Here We Go Again should have been a homerun for me. In reality, I had a hard time getting through it.

And that was in great part down to the fact that I just couldn’t connect to the characters. Logan was a thorn in my side from the very first time she insisted that Rosemary is straight and it didn’t really get better when she learned that Rosemary wasn’t, in fact straight. Logan is a deeply flawed character (and I absolutely adore how the author portrays flawed characters, huge points for that) and goes through a lot of growth in this, but the repetitive regressing to what is called the “fuckboy” vibes throughout the book made me want to tear my hair out. Again, this is a testament to the author’s writing talent because I did feel a lot of emotions for this book, I just wish there was a point where I actually liked or rooted for the couple.

It really comes down to personal preference though. While I’m sure that, for example, no one else is going to cringe the way I did every time Logan would swear by using famous women (e.g. “Janelle fucking Monet”), it just constantly reminded me that I was reading a story that wasn’t real and thus made me miss that escapist quality I usually adore about Cochrun’s writing.

Similarly, while everyone is probably going to say that Rosemary is whiny, I just felt incredibly sad for her. Throughout huge parts of the story, I kept flinching with the way everyone treated her unfairly, even after they were “kinder” towards her because of her anxiety. Yes, Rosemary also has flaws and secrets she keeps and is by no means infallible, but in the end, I just think that she deserved a whole lot better than she got in this book.

Even with Joe’s story, I felt so detached throughout it all. I guess in a way, what I was missing with this book was the heart of it all.

All that being said, Cochrun’s prose is still unparalleled and invites you to keep on turning the pages. And I’m sure that readers will feel just as heartbroken about Joe’s diagnosis and his last dying wish as I did. This really is a love letter to the teachers who shape us and become a huge part of who we want to grow up to be and for that, I applaud this story. Not to mention that the descriptions of the scenery and the reminiscing of old highlights in Joe’s lives absolutely draws you in on a regular basis. There are some shenanigans, some moments that will make you chuckle and a dramatic moment in the rain that will have you blasting Taylor Swift for the remainder of the day (you know which song I’m talking about).

So while this may have not been a new favourite for me, I still wholeheartedly believe that Cochrun’s writing is some of the best out there and am excited for what’s yet to come.

Buckle up and join two childhood-friends-turned-enemies-turned-reluctant-allies in Here We Go Again, a road trip adventure that honours the impact teachers can have on your whole life’s trajectory.

Logan and Rosemary used to be friends...until an incident the summer before high school turned them into rivals. They're adults now and even work for the same school but they don't talk. They're also connected through their former high school English teacher who helped to shape both of their lives - he's been ill with cancer for some time and Logan and Rosemary are the only people who have continued to show up and care for him. When Joe tells them he's dying and wants one last adventure, Logan and Rosemary eventually agree to drive him cross country to a beach house in Maine where he wants to die. The road trip starts out rough - Logan and Rosemary are incredibly different people who clash at every twist and turn. But along the way, they both gain a better understanding of the other and grieve the impending loss of their beloved teacher together.-

I binged this book in one evening and I'm so so glad I did. I truly could not put it down

This book...it's just incredible. It's heavy but yet also funny? I NEVER cry for books and if I do it's maybe a tear up at MOST. When I tell you I was full body sobbing from about 76% to the end of the book. Tears rolling down my face and everything. And despite this, despite it's heaviness, there's also so much humor (shoutout to the moment towards the end where I was simultaneously crying and laughing out loud - what an experience!

As a brand new hospice social worker...the death and dying process and anticipatory grief was so incredibly and meticulously well done. This book speaks to so many of the reasons I chose to take this step in my career and walk with families through this experience.

And YES this is undeniably a romance! With two flawed but beautiful people. The way Logan in particular begins to understand Rosemary more fully was absolutely beautiful to watch. And to see Logan begin to open up despite being abandoned in the past just made me want to give her the world's biggest hug. The neurodiversity rep was absolutely on point and there were so many quotes, particularly from Joe that I highlighted - including, "Your big feelings are one of the most beautiful things about you" and "I know you think your impulsivity is a flaw, but it's a gift" and "Your brain is an asset not a liability". These are things I just wish every person with neurodiversity could hear from their loved ones.

This book is just indescribably good and powerful and funny and heart wrenching. I couldn't say enough good things about it. Do take care picking this one up - it will certainly make you feel emotions and think about death, but in a really really beautiful way.

Thank you thank you to Atria and Netgalley for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

WOW! This book was breathtaking. Alison creates a story that is romantic, tender, sweet, laugh out loud funny, and also heartbreakingly meaningful. Her characters feel authentic and endearing. It was hard for me to put this one down. I felt so many emotions reading this and truly was blown away. I can't recommend enough.

Thank you Atria and Netgalley for my copy.