I think a lot of what Cochrun did here was really strong, and it takes a lot of work to make a romcom about death work, but the beginning of this was a real slog for me. There's a difference between showing characters stagnating and making the book itself stagnate, and I think the first quarter of this went in the wrong direction. I was tempted to give up reading.

That said, the next three quarters were so good! Cochrun is such a talent, and I'll continue being a devoted reader.

* I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this book. All thoughts are my own.

Starting off I loved Joe very much and really liked Rosemary. I found Logan to be a bit annoying for my taste, but I do think she grows on you as the story continues. There is a lot of humor in this book which I really enjoyed. I didn’t like the multiple times that Logan compared Rosemary’s pursed lips to a cat butthole (once was enough) and I didn’t love the exclamation they used which was a famous person’s first name then “fucking” and then their last name. Nothing wrong with it, but it just wasn’t my thing.

Overall, a good story that will probably make you cry! Would recommend.

Book Review
Here We Go Again by Alice Cochran

Tropes
Queer love
Found family
Personal journey and growth
Coming out
Forging your own path
Mental Health
Neurodivergent
Childhood trauma

Characters
Rosie- love her, her hyper fixation on organization and need to control are coping mechanisms I recognize in myself

Logan- love her straightforward sassiness, her ability to own her sexuality , she fronts a carefree attitude to hide the fact that cares soo much

Joe- teacher, mentor, father figure; he changed Rosie and Logan’s lives
I immediately became attached and invested in him , I knew he was going to die but I couldnt stop myself

Odie - cause every death road trip needs a furry sidekick

Thoughts
📚Cried at the end😭 have your Kleenex handy
📚Cochrans writing of childhood trauma, inevitable death and many more complex issues was expertly executed with compassion and kindness
📚 the cover suggests a light hearted read, but it is anything but
📚 the witty banter and chemistry, the use of jokes and sex to deflect from intimacy, the utter exhaustion at always being in flight response, it all felt soo real- I was emotionally tapped at the end of this book
📚this book is screaming for a playlist (every road trip needs one) - the music references , the songs🎶 APT
📚Easily my favourite book from this author!

Quote
“Love is finding someone who helps you rewrite the story of yourself”

Thank you to @netgalley @atriabooks for my digital ARC in return for an honest review. Opinions expressed are my own

Logan and Rosemary started out as the best of friends in middle school. But after an incident the two have been bitter enemies, even into adulthood as they are both teaching at their small-town high school. When the former friends find out their beloved high school English teacher is dying of cancer, he guilts them into taking him on a cross-country road trip to the location where he wants to die.

As the former friends are forced to be in close contact for such a long period of time, secrets of the past can't stay in the dark. A beautiful Queer mix of falling in love and the heartache of loss. This is a truly lovely mix of humor and sadness and a fantastic new read from Alison Cochrun.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I want to take a moment to express my gratitude to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Alison Cochrun for providing me with an eARC of 'Here We Go Again' for review.

As someone who considers The Charm Offensive as one of my favorite books of all time, I was more than excited to dive into this one. Though it started off slow, I was soon enamoured by the heartwarming road trip adventure and the endearing characters. The book is an emotional rollercoaster, with moments of laughter and sadness, and a beautiful exploration of the meaning and purpose of life, as well as a celebration of life itself.

However, I must advise you to check the content warnings before diving in. Overall, 'Here We Go Again' is a must-read for anyone seeking an engaging and emotional journey that will leave you feeling uplifted and fulfilled.

I loved Here We Go Again so much. It was a heartbreaking and heartwarming read that left me crying at 1 am through the last 20% or so. It's also very funny, from the dialogue to the sometimes wild ride of a road trip. Leads Logan and Rosemary are childhood friends turned enemies who try to mend things enough to bring their beloved mentor Joe on a cross-country road trip before he passes away from cancer. Too-casual Logan and uptight Rosemary have been fighting for years, unable to see their similarities or remember how to be friends (or that they both wanted to be more). Joe is done fighting cancer and wants to have one last adventure before he dies, and he brings a stubborn humor, and sometimes wisdom, to his relationship with both women.

Alison Cochrun delves into so much here, though I was most moved by her explorations of grief, neurodivergence and mental health, and demisexuality. Her writing about dying and grief was so moving, both in the details of dying (such as the depictions of end-of-life care) and the emotional elements (from Logan and Rosemary grappling with the impending loss differently to the arc of Joe being reunited for a goodbye with his former lover). There are a few quirks of Cochrun's writing here that bothered me, but I let them go with this story being so affecting otherwise.

Absolutely loved this book! When it comes out, it will be our Book Club pick! Truly a great story of frenemies to more (no spoilers!), with great life lessons along the way. Remember, you don't have always to follow the itinerary, the best memories come from events that aren't planned. Readers will be able to see themselves in Logan and Rosemary with each of their strengths and faults. I appreciated the descriptions of the setting and how powerful each moment was.

Highly, highly recommend for a fun, emotional read!

4.5 ⭐️
I haven’t cried this hard about a book since I read Babel. Joe, Logan, and Rosemary are all very real, very flawed humans that don’t even necessarily value change but do change nonetheless. I loved the premise of a road trip rom com. I have always loved road trips and it was a news experience for me to hear about areas of the US I have never been to.

Joe is an icon and his influence on Logan and Rosemary reminded me of some of the great teachers I had in middle school and high school that believed in me before I knew how much potential I had. Plus I love a plotter, and Joe definitely had tricks up his sleeve.

Some of the metaphors in this book absolutely took me out and I WILL be using them when my friends need a pep talk on life.

The queer rep was so good and obnoxious in the most accurate way. If you’ve ever been in a queer friend group, that’s exactly what it felt like reading some of the references made in the book.

I also really enjoyed some of the historical contexts mentioned like their ethnic backgrounds and how the AIDS epidemic was discussed.

This was an incredibly beautiful, heartbreaking, and heart mending read. Rosemary and Logan are the ex-best friends that almost every queer woman remembers from her youth. But unlike so many, they reunite and are able to work through their past and reconnect all whilst taking care of a dying loved one.

The many settings of this book are described in such vivid detail, they made me feel like I was there and simultaneously like I’d never experienced such beauty before. Clearly Cochrun did her research and it’s much appreciated! Even the small detail of name dropping the right grocery stores in each region of the US.

This is very much so a book about dying and caring for a dying loved one. That is a difficult topic for me but I think it was handled with grace and I found it to overall be cathartic to read as Logan and Rosemary went through the pain or caretaking and grief. Overall a stunning, emotional, wonderfully queer read.

I am an emotional wreck after this book.

2 girls and their old teacher go on a death road trip. Poor Joe has terminal cancer and refuses to die in a hospital. He has this plan to go to Maine in his cabin and spend his final days. But to get there he entrusts his 2 favourite students who he has grown super close to over the years to drive him there together.
The only issue? They hate each other and bicker like an old married couple… how are they supposed to drive for days on end in a car together, with close proximity…and not kill each other.

This is such a beautiful story of growth, finding yourself, true love, found family, family trauma, the list goes on.

I was laughing, I was sad, I sobbed like a little baby.. this gave me all of the feels.

It did take me a bit to get into, but that’s more of a me problem. Once I got 40% in, I couldn’t put it down and I binged the rest of the book.

This book has LGBTQ, Found Family, Enemies to Lovers, One Bed, Close Proximity, terminal Illness, Neurodivergent Main Character, Drag Queen/Kings, the list goes on..
It covers so many important issues, and is just an incredible story. I would really recommend you read this book!

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in advanced in exchange for my honest opinion!

I’m SOBBING. This is for anyone who’s mentors and English teachers were their lifelines in high school. For anyone with ADHD and anyone who doesn’t know how to confront death. This is a love letter to road trips and literature and finding each other again. This may be the best book I read all year.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author forthe arc

Alison Cochrun has always been a beacon of fresh narratives and emotional depth in storytelling, which is why "Here We Go Again" comes as a bit of a surprise. Cochrun's exploration of grief in this novel is commendable, offering a nuanced take on loss and the complexities of dealing with it. This thematic exploration is a testament to Cochrun's ability to delve deep into the human condition, presenting a narrative that, at its core, is well-crafted and thoughtful.

However, the reliance on certain narrative tropes leaves a bit to be desired. The trope of miscommunication—or, more accurately, the lack thereof—serves as a significant plot device that feels a tad overused. The notion that two grown adults, Logan Maletis and Rosemary Hale, could not find it within themselves to have a meaningful conversation for the advancement of the plot strikes me as a missed opportunity for more profound character development. It's a device that often feels like a shortcut through more complex, engaging storytelling.

Logan's character, in particular, presented challenges. Her personality occasionally borders on caricature rather than a fleshed-out character navigating life's trials. Her backstory, meant to evoke sympathy, sometimes feels like a checklist of traits rather than a genuine exploration of her character. The dynamic between Logan, Rosemary, and their mentor, Joe, though central to the story, sometimes lacked the believability I craved. The long-standing love and complicated mentor-student relationship could have been fertile ground for deep emotional exploration but occasionally felt superficial.

Despite these criticisms, "Here We Go Again" still showcases Cochrun's talent for storytelling and her ability to weave complex themes into her narratives. The road trip that Logan and Rosemary embark on with their mentor is filled with moments of genuine connection and growth, offering glimpses of what this book could have been with a bit more depth in character exploration and a reduction in reliance on tropes.

"Here We Go Again" is a journey with highs and lows, much like the road trip it depicts. It's a novel that might not have fully lived up to expectations but still provides a decent read for those who enjoy Cochrun's work. It's a reminder that even in stories we find lacking, there are always moments of beauty and insight.

Alison Cochrun can do no wrong. There is a heavy focus on grief and found family that encompasses everything, making it not something I would call a "light read". Loved this friends to enemies to lovers second-chance romance.

I really love all of Alison's books!
These characters--Logan Maletis and Rosemary Hale --were amazing.
I loved the road trip, the fighting, I was sad for their loss and thrilled for their reunion and their love.
and the stories and the food and the singing.
Loved it!
THANK YOU

Thank you Atria Books and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. A lovely story! Logan and Rosemary used to be friends when they were younger and then dram ensued and the friendship ended. Now they don’t get along. But when their old mentor and teacher Joe wants to travel to his vacation home while he’s still got the chance. When he asks them to go with him they have no choice but to go. Along the way can they regain their friendship? Will something more develop? This book will have you laughing at one moment and then bawling the next! Mix in some spiciness and it’s a perfect grief filled rom-com! If you enjoy slow burn rekindled relationships with lots of love, grief, and humor I highly recommend checking this one out!

I will come back and edit this review again when I have finished the book, but I wanted to get a quick review into the publisher about the misleading service dog information in chapter 7. There is no such thing as a license for service dogs. Some of this verbiage about service dogs perpetuates misinformation that is very harmful to disabled people with service dogs.

Aside from that, I am very much enjoying this book.

Here We Go Again 🛣️

This is one of my most anticipated reads of the year, because I have LOVED Alison Cochrun‘s past 2 novels. I didn’t even read the premise, just went for it. While the romance focuses on two former best friends turned enemies to lovers, the story also navigates the dying and death of their favorite teacher/mentor. Joe asks them to drive him from WA to Maine, so he can peacefully pass in his favorite place. However, Logan and Rosemary do not talk anymore, let alone cross-country road trip! But Joe means so so much to them both that they begrudgingly agree. Not only were the girls’ individual relationships with Joe such a nice part of the storyline, their compromise with each other to help grant his dying wish had me 🥲 While stuck in the Queer Cuddler van (just read it lol) they realize they’ve made a lot of assumptions about each other over the years and begin to truly understand the women they are today.

Both girls detail their ADHD but in different ways, which I thought was great. I especially liked the anxiety representation with Rosemary, and really related to how her brain and anxiety works and manifests itself. Overall this was another incredible queer romance from Cochran. You’ve gotta love an enemies to lovers, forced proximity, road trip romance!!

*one note is I will say that the content warning at the beginning of the book mentions death by cancer and death by overdose. The death/dying of cancer is a major plot line of the story, while the overdose is just a brief mention.

This was a cute, cozy, queer opposites-attract romance. It didn't quite suit my tastes but I'm sure others would really enjoy it. I often found myself losing focus following the storyline and I didn't really like the heavy usage of pop culture references.

Thank you Atria Books and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC.

Here We Go Again by Alison Cochrun
5 stars!
Releasing 4/2/24
This ARC was provided by Netgalley and Atria Books in exchange for a fair and honest review.
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All. The. Feels.
This book is a sapphic childhood friends to enemies to slow burn lovers. It was spicy and sweet and heartbreaking all at once.
This book follows the story of Rosemary and Logan, two high school teachers who end up making a truce to take their former teacher, Joe, on a cross country road trip to Maine.
This book has several trigger warnings such as the realities of loving someone with terminal cancer and coming to terms with death. Nevertheless, this book was poignant, funny and brought me a much renewed appreciation for the little things in life. It was a great reminder that living is not about the destination.
As always Alison Cochrun writes amazing books, and this one is no exception! I'm excited for everyone to get a chance to read this!
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*Received as a free ARC*
I'll start with the single negative: I could feel the third act (pseudo) breakup coming a mile away and it stressed me out greatly. But I loved Rosemary and Logan and Joe. Their story was delightful and funny, even as it covered some extremely difficult issues (death, parental abandonment, alcohol abuse). I liked that they were both ADHD in different ways. Alison Cochrun has done it again. Smash hit.