A type A, straight passing lesbian and a very chaotic and colorful lesbian used to be best friends, until that one pool party in their teens when they kissed. Now at 32, they're both teachers at the same school and mortal enemies. Their former English teacher, a gay man named Joe, finds out he has less than 3 months to live and asked them to take him on a cross country road trip to a cabin he owns in Maine. So two lesbians that hate each other, a dying gay man, and a 90 lb dog set out to spend summer break on a roadtrip in an old van with "queer cuddle mobile" painted on the side.
This is a sweet book with surprising depth, as each of these characters end a phase of their lives, and help Joe to his ending. Laugh out loud funny at some points, poignant and heart wrenching at others, I read this book in one sitting and loved every minute of it. Plus, not only is the enemies to lovers trope strong, but you know there are points where there is only one bed.

No one is more surprised about my rating for this than me. I absolutely adored both of Cochrun's previous novels, and when I saw the synopsis--a childhood enemies to lovers, queer, road-trip romance? With a subplot about being caregivers for their dying beloved high school teacher? I was sold. Unfortunately, I don't think this is Cochrun's strongest book.

WHAT I LIKED

To start on a positive note, I have a deep appreciation for how Cochrun writes flawed characters. She isn't afraid to make them unlikeable, and I find that really refreshing. All of the characters, but Logan in particular, are complicated characters with complicated pasts and aren't always likable, but for me, that makes me root for them more to grow and change.

Quite possibly my favorite scene in the book was Logan and Rosemary's argument in the rain that turned into their first kiss since high school. The entire scene--the dialogue, the descriptions, the emotion--all worked so well; I could really picture that moment in my head, and I absolutely adored it.

This entire story is a beautiful testament to the impact good teachers can have on us. I saw some of my own teachers in Joe, and it goes to show how even small acts of kindness from teachers can leave such a lasting impact on us.

With Joe's diagnosis, I appreciated that Cochrun didn't shy away from the difficulties of watching someone you love die. I was able to connect my own experiences of caretaking for someone I loved who passed from cancer, and I think that's something a lot of people will be able to connect with.

WHAT COULD BE IMPROVED

Speaking of Joe's diagnosis, while I appreciate that Cochrun didn't shy away from those difficult moments, I was surprised that this book didn't make me cry, especially since it's something I connect with so much. I think what I was missing was more emotion--more description to help the reader feel really rooted in those scenes and feel those difficult emotions alongside the characters.

If I had one word to describe what I needed from this book, it would be "more." More emotion, more conflict, stronger writing to match what I know Cochrun is capable of. In this case, I think Cochrun's track record worked against her. I've seen what she's capable of and loved it, and this book didn't meet those expectations.

On smaller notes, there were a lot of exclamation points. And we all know how I feel about those--they should be used sparingly. It took me out of the story a few times when every line of dialogue in a scene ended with an exclamation point.

There are also a lot of pop culture references, which can be a risky move to take. Speaking for myself, those can often take me out of the story as well. The biggest occurrence of this was when Logan swore, she had a tendency to name queer icons as expletives: "Shay fucking Mitchell," "Hayley fucking Kiyoko," etc.

Finally, when it came to the conflicts, especially Logan's internal conflict, it felt a bit repetitive. Just as Logan would start to improve her character flaws, when the story needed conflict, she would regress to her old ways of being a self-proclaimed "fuckboy." It was frustrating to see that regression then lead to very repetitive arguments between Rosemary and Logan; I would've loved to see some more variety in the book's conflict.

I do think this story is worth reading--it has an important message, and it is a beautiful testament to honoring the life of someone you love. But I would say go into it with measured expectations, as I don't think this is Cochrun's strongest novel.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I wasn’t sure about this about this one in the beginning because the two main characters seemed so extreme, but I ended relating to both of them. I don’t know if enemies to lovers really fits here but definitely at least rivals to lovers and I really enjoyed that dynamic. I think the best part of this book was Joe and I could really see why these women loved this man so much. The author really made such a beautiful tribute to teachers and showed what a lasting impact they can have on our lives. I was having a grand old time with this book and then I sobbed pretty much for the entire last 15%. You know what you’re getting from the description of this book, but I still thought the execution was devastating and beautiful.

Just to get this right out the gate: this book nearly made me cry. There were tears forming, followed by a great deal of rapid blinking. I never expected a romance novel to make me cry, but oh boy does this book hit you where it hurts.

Overall, this was such a good read--my first Alison Cochrun, and one I knew I had to read as soon as I saw that the title was an ABBA reference. It's not without pacing issues, as some sections did drag for me. And, as has been mentioned in other reviews, the use of celebrity names as part of swears gets old really fast.

But this was a great second chance romance, and Joe is hands down the best part of the book. He and Remy could use a book of their own. It was sweet, and sad, and ends on a hopeful note despite the sadness. Highly recommend.

What I most enjoy about Cochrun's writing is the nuanced portrayal of relationships and the authenticity of her character's experiences. "Here We Go Again" finds former best friends Logan and Rosemary on the trip of a lifetime while both celebrating and coming to terms with the life and death of their mentor and teacher, Joe. The duo are in charge of making Joe's dying wish come true: to road trip across the United States and return to his vacation home in Maine.

Rosemary and Logan are complex characters each dealing with their own traumas and neurodiversity, which Cochrun handles with grace and nuance. Their unconventional romance - from friends to enemies to lovers - helps to cement the theme of the preciousness of life and of found family. I appreciate a sapphic romance that is not stemmed in queer trauma; while it's mentioned, that kind of trauma is less the center of the story and more about the characterization of Logan and Rosemary. I found myself really falling for these characters by the end and openly weeping at several points.

Alison Cochrun is now an automatic read for me. Here We Go Again was such a fun and wonderful story!

It's a lesbian romance with a different spin. Two teachers who "hate" each other taking a cross-country trip with their dying former teacher may seem like a downer, but it's not. There are crazy hijinks, a large dog and, of course, falling in love.
Also apparent are liberal doses of trope-ness, but enough feels fresh, such as the reality of end-of-life care, and that adds to the usual pattern of fight, fall in love, fight, HEA. I also enjoyed the descriptions of the different U.S. regions (and their food!).
This is a nice read--more than just a cotton candy romance, but lighter than a literary work. You'll appreciate the humor and quirky, but loveable characters, as well as, possibly making plans for your own cross-country trip. The message is obvious--take chances and try not to have any regrets!
#NetGalley

Literally almost hit the screaming-crying-throwing up trifecta while reading this bc i was so emotionally invested (screamed, cried, gagged a little from crying)! I LOVED the characters in this. I really appreciate AC's constant inclusion of ace- and aro-spec characters (MC is somewhere in the ace-side-of-demisexual and demiromantic range, though doesn't id with any specific labels)--ESPECIALLY aro-spec MCs. I think a lot about what an aro-spec-friendly romance novel would look like, and, for me, it wouldn't be this, but i think for someone on the demi- side it might be exactly this!

Also, no heterosexual main characters, one heterosexual but gender-expectations-bendy side character. That's a good ratio for me!

4.5 stars rounded down.

Alison Cochrun manages, once again, to balance a romance with such an intensely human story.

I resonated so much with Hale in this book- even down to her relationship with the teaching profession. Mental health, familial struggle, and queer identity were all handled here with grace, as well as a really intense (really glad the author handled it in a foreword) insight into the ugliness of cancer and terminal illness.

I did have to ask several times “…their former TEACHER asked this of them?!” because that felt really odd to me- but it did make for a really interesting story 🤷🏼‍♀️

I always want to start the new year off on the right foot by reading a 5 star book. After much consideration, I realized there was only one right choice: Alison Cochrun's new book, which I've been so highly anticipating, and which I was so sure would be a 5 star read for me. And it absolutely, 100% was!

This sapphic roadtrip book is somewhat unconventional for a romance, considering how dying is one of its main themes and a large focus of the plot. Our two main characters were childhood best friends who fell out and went years without talking. Then they ended up working as teachers at the same school, along with their English teacher, who's something of a parental figure for both of them. This English teacher, Joe, is dying of cancer, and his last wish is to go on a roadtrip and visit his house in Maine.

In a lot of ways, this was the perfect book to start a new year with, because it really cements how precious life is, and how you should LIVE, go after what you want, and be conscious of the things that matter. This is much easier said than done, and it's a great reminder for the new year.

It's a really emotional read, and I ended up reading this in one sitting, because I absolutely couldn't put it down. It never feels like a particularly heavy book, though. The sadness in this book feels more cathartic than heavy, and that makes it comforting in a way. I think the book, with its love and humour, took away a lot of society's general discomfort about death and dying, and showed it as a natural part of life that shouldn't be hidden away. There are so many emotional moments, like I said, but also so many funny moments that take the edge off, which has also always been my own way of dealing with difficult things.

But this book is not just about Joe. It's very much also about Logan and Rosemary going on their own journeys and finding their way towards each other throughout those. I loved how they're so similar in so many ways - both English teachers, both lesbians, both ADHD - but they experience those things in vastly different ways. They don't start out as the most likeable characters, even if I did always find them loveable, but they slowly worm their way into your heart.

A long time ago, Logan Maletis and Rosemary Hale used to be friends. They spent their childhood summers running through the woods, rebelling against their conservative small town, and dreaming of escaping. But then an incident the summer before high school turned them into bitter rivals. After graduation, they went ten years without speaking. Now in their thirties, Logan and Rosemary find they aren’t quite living the lives of adventure they imagined for themselves. Still in their small town and working as teachers at their alma mater, they’re both stuck in old patterns.

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 a cross-country road trip. Stuffed into the gayest van west of the Mississippi, the three embark on a life-changing summer trip—from Washington state to the Grand Canyon, from the Gulf Coast to coastal Maine—that will chart a new future and perhaps lead them back to one another.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ Anything Alison Cochrun writes, I will read. Her stories and her characters are gold. This was every bit a treat as I was expecting. I'm a sucker for sapphic romance. Give me a road trip, and I'll call shotgun! This was brilliant. I've always loved romances that deal with death and grief in their own way - let's face it, all of life is about one form of grief of another. This will tug at your heartstrings, make you feel things, and give you so much to think about and to love. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced digital reader's copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!

I could not have been more excited to be reading the newest Alison Cochrun. I love how her characters feel like real people and how the twists and tangles of the story are reasonable. Rosemary and Logan were super interesting characters and I loved seeing them interact with each other. They had a great push and pull. When I read the synopsis I was worried that this book could be a little too sad, but Cochrun balances the tone very well. A super fun read!

This book had me all in my feels. Joe (and Remy) were my absolute favorites and a prequel about them would be greatly appreciated. That being said, and perhaps an unpopular opinion, I didn’t really care for Logan and Rosemary as a romantic pair. I don’t think this book needed their romance and I actually think I would’ve enjoyed it more if it was about two best friends reconnecting through this journey rather than romance. I don’t feel their backstory was explored enough and in turn, I didn’t really buy how there was so much longing between them. I loved the road trip and everything it stood for so that bumps my rating significantly. I really did hate the need to curse by naming other lesbian women, though - got old after the first few times.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

As a future English teacher and current queer, I knew this book was going to mean something to me from the synopsis alone. This is a special book that is probably going to remain my favorite read of 2024 even though it’s not quite January yet. I can’t wait to reread this after I’ve been a teacher for a few years and have gotten to be both student and teacher, just like Logan and Rosemary.

This book is one of the most amazing and real books I have ever read. If I had to put it simply this book hurt to read but in a good way. The plot and the characters kept me hooked I needed to know what happened next and I fell in love with all the characters and felt like needed to know more about them from the very beginning. This is definitely one of my top books of the year, I highly recommend you read it!

Alison Cochrun is an artist of the highest caliber. I knew that Here We Go Again was going to tug at my heartstrings. But the way that I was heaving sobs by the end was truly unexpected. A queer person writing about serving as a death doula to a beloved queer high school English teacher is ripe with emotion, as we all know the pivotal role English teachers play as safe spaces for queer teens.

But my gods, Cochrun took it so much further. Here We Go Again was tender and sexy and emotional in every which way. I couldn't put it down, but at the same time I was positively terrified for it to end. Another 5 star read from Alison Cochrun -- one that requires a box of tissues from the start.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. I was disappointed in this. I loved Kiss Her Once for Me. I thought this was just ok. I didn’t really connect with any of the characters, except maybe Joe, and I never really bought the love story.

officially my new favorite book ever.
I need a subgenre of romcoms about death and dying with this as the leader.
I truly loved everything about this but here are some elements that really stood out to me;
the way there was a second love story so beautifully woven in to the story, Joe & Remy made my heart break in the best way.
the way we saw multiple types of love stories, rosemary & logan being the main romance, but also the love of a teacher turned mentor turned parental figure and the depths of that love. also a really beautiful father daughter relationship with Logan and Antonio.
the way we saw such incredible and vast grief representation, the grief of Joe getting ready to die, the grief the girls felt for the anticipation of losing him, the grief of their previous parental losses, their grief of losing time with each other, the way Joe’s grief during the AIDS epidemic impacted his relationship and life.
and one of my absolute favorite things, the way we got to see two drastically different versions of how ADHD might present and how both are valid with their own struggles and experiences.
honestly there was so much jam packed into this death road trip romance and I want to keep reading it over and over again.
I’m so grateful that this book exists.

What can I say about this book? It’s emotional, heartfelt, funny, beautiful… it was a very touching story. Former friends go on a roadtrip with their favorite teacher from high school as his dying wish.

Just as a warning, the book covers heavy topics including cancer, death, and abandonment issues. The author handles them so gracefully though.

Thanks as always to NetGalley for the ARC.

This book. WOW. An ABBA title was an incredible choice and it’s honestly only up from there.

I quite famously (to me) don’t like sad books. I read romance because I want the HEA and joyfulness that comes with it. The escapism. But I NEEDED this book. I needed this book because I was a queer kid with an English teacher who loved and believed in me. I needed this book because I laughed out loud. I needed this book, even as I blubbered like a BABY. Because we all need a book that so perfectly captures the beauty and pain of being alive.

Comedy and tragedy are arbitrary genre distinctions is correct and Here We Go Again is a masterpiece example of that. So yeah, I loved it.