4.5 stars


YA is super hit or miss for me nowadays, and this novel absolutely devastated me in the best way possible. I really enjoyed the spec fic elements (super subtle & made you second-guess yourself through the entire story), & the way grief and love were described made my heart hurt and feel so seen all at once.

I absolutely adored this book, and I very much plan to pre-order for myself and request an order for my library.

5 out of 5 stars

Rep: Gay main character, South Asian side characters, Korean side character, Black side character, nonbinary side character

Content warnings: Past death of a teenager in a car accident, grief, graphic vomiting, overbearing parents, blackmail, friendship breakups, mentions of marijuana, brief mentions of homophobia

This is easily the best book I've read so far this year. From the fantastic characters to the humor (I love that a story about grief also includes so many genuinely funny quips) to the emotion, it pulled me in so quickly that I read it in one sitting.

I went in expecting just a romance, and while there IS some, it ended up being more about platonic affection, with some mystery thrown in. And I liked that even better! "Friendship stories are just as, if not more, important than love stories" is a hill on which I will gladly die. The love the main cast grows to feel for each other makes me so soft and I want to give all of them the biggest hugs. Especially River -- it's been quite some time since I've adored a YA protagonist this much.

Books about death are tricky for me because of my own mental illnesses, so I was a tad worried it would overwhelm me. But Robbie Couch blew me away! It wasn't heavy (at least to me) while still being poignant. I imagine it takes a lot of talent to write a story that's just the right amount of emotional, particularly when you attempt to infuse hope and humor in it too. This was my first Robbie Couch, but certainly won't be my last. As soon as I publish this review, I'll be preordering a physical copy of this masterpiece.

TL;DR: It made me, a Scorpio who's famously out of touch with my emotions, cry a lot. And if that's not a glowing recommendation in itself, I don't know what is.

**HUGE thank you to Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers for granting me an eARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!**

Thanks to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel.

I wanted to love this book. And there are wonderful moments in it, it is accessible, and the writing is generally good. Unfortunately there are significant plot points I just couldn't really get past. The stakes that set up the key plot mechanism that brings all the students together makes no real sense, unfortunately, and the "twist" at the end felt both too predictable and too far fetched for the emotional outcome to feel earned. While I largely love where the characters ended up, and give 2.5 (rounded up to 3) stars largely on that basis, the road getting there often took difficult detours for me

With each book he releases, Robbie Couch continues to cement himself as one of the greatest voices in YA literature right now.

This is his most ambitious book to date. His last novel explored speculative fiction, and he continues that streak here. It’s innovative, it takes risks, and it’s filled to the brim with so much emotion.

At the heart of the book is the concept of grief. What does it look like for different people? How do we cope with it? Do we ever really heal? Another First Chance does an incredible job exploring survivor’s guilt, the chronic “what-if?'s’” that accompany grief, and the confusion that ensues in the aftermath of devastating loss.

One of Robbie Couch's strengths is that he focuses on both plot AND characters. It’s not just characters who exist, and events happen to them. It’s well-developed, lovable characters who have meaningful experiences happen to them. River Lang is Robbie’s strongest, most emotionally-complex protagonist yet — and I truly felt his emotions and pain as I read the book.

The first Robbie Couch book with dual POV’s — and he has a natural ability at it. Getting Dylan’s perspective of the story added a whole other layer of substance to the reading experience and now that I’ve finished the book, I see how much different it would’ve been if Dylan’s POV had been excluded.

What I love most is Robbie’s ability to make unlikeable characters redeemable and in the end, likable. Jacob and Goldie were the bane of my existence during the first two-thirds of the book … but I finished the book truly appreciating both of them.

And then -- wow. We get a third act that is genuinely tear-jerking and heart-wrenching — a true gut punch. It’s been a while since a YA book has truly made me cry, but Another First Chance took me there. And it’s stuck with me ever since finishing the book a few days ago.

Robbie will always be an auto-buy author. Another First Chance is what happens when he’s at the top of his writing game. So happy I got to read this ahead of release so I can recommend that all my friends add it to their TBR!

Big thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy of the book in exchange for a review!

I will read anything Robbie Couch writes, omg.

I did not go into this book expecting everything that went down during the trials, and boy was I caught so off guard. That being said, I loved it. I loved River, Dylan, not you Nora, every aspect of this book. It was such a fresh take on a story, like nothing I've read before.

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for the e-arc!

Another First Chance by Robbie Couch

*deep sigh* okay so.

While mourning the loss of his best friend Dylan, River is blackmailed into signing up for a study for socially distant teens about friendship and human connection. Locked away for a week in his high school with four groups of teens, hinky things start happening. In a dual time line, we see Dylan, who is driving around town, having revelations and trying to accomplish a few tasks.

I can’t really talk about this book almost at all without spoiling it. So, I’m just going to make a few things clear.

1. I enjoyed the writing and the pacing of this book. I thought it was well written and paced and plotted very well, and if this were some kind of book where the plot was 100% about River just coming to terms with the loss of his best friend…. well, I still wouldn’t love this book, but it would be a lot more solid as a book.

2. This book teases the idea of being a medical thriller but is primarily queer lit fic, As such, the main plot line of this book just falls really flat for me. I have a number of qualms, of questions that the book never really answers, and just general confusion about certain things.

3. That’s right, you heard me. The secondary POV in this book is from Dylan, exactly a year ago, who we find out in the first chapter, died exactly a year ago. Dylan’s POV just brings up more questions than answers. Like Question 1: BUT WHY. ( Spoiler: I don’t feel like that question is ever answered.)

In short, whatever it is you think this book is, I think there’s a lot of books out there that do it better.

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for a copy of this ebook in exchange for a review.

I requested and received an eARC of Another First Chance by Robbie Couch via NetGalley. I’ve enjoyed some of Couch’s previous novels, so when I saw this title I was instantly interested in reading it. The novel opens with River, frustrated and sad, on the one year anniversary of his best friend’s death. He is angered by a billboard in town that uses Dylan’s image as a PSA against texting and driving, reducing his life and death to the effects of what is annoyingly termed drexting. Even though support is offered to him at nearly every turn, he feels alone with his grief which is tempered by guilt for the text message he sent Dylan that he believes caused his friend to crash. It would seem this is also how Mavis, Dylan’s girlfriend, feels. Since Dylan’s death she has kept River at a distance, refusing to answer his calls or acknowledge him at school. River is coerced into participating in the sketchy Affinity Trials, a study of teenagers who are struggling socially. During the study he is pushed into close proximity with Mavis, who is also participating. More alarmingly he meets someone new, Nash, a handsome jock with the football camp that the study participants are sharing space with. Nash sparks his interest and forces him to confront the feelings he has spent a year repressing.

Sprinkled throughout the novel are chapters written from Dylan’s perspective prior to his death. I was so happy to discover this especially after recently reading a somewhat similarly themed novel in which the character who dies isn’t provided much space to allow himself to be heard. This also allows the reader to develop a stronger attachment to his character, making River’s grief relatable. The Affinity Trials add an element of mystery and unease to the story, which elevates this book to something more than simply a story about grief.

Just as you think you have the story figured out, a last minute plot twist brings everything to light. It definitely hit like a gut punch. Upon reflection, I probably should have seen the ending coming, but it definitely took me by surprise and was quite effective. By striking a balance between melancholy and mystery this book was definitely a unique experience. Robbie Couch develops a wonderful cast of characters who are lovely (or not so lovely) for their own unique reasons. All of the elements of the novel come together nicely and this was definitely a heartwarming, even if at times difficult, reading journey. There were a few scenes toward the conclusion that incited actual tears, so it definitely carries an emotional impact.

Someone give these kids a hug, especially Brady. I really grew to love that character!

Thank you author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book!!

Woah… tears! I’m tearing up!

Firstly, this book had me reeled in right quick cause I read it in one go. There’s some sorta something woven into this story that just gets you hooked.

Side note I loved Mavis’s family. Even though there’s so many characters to enjoy from this book, they just brought me so much joy.

I swear I was questioning every thing from the beginning! Then I get to the end and I’m like huh.. so we just know what happened now… how can a wrapped up ending make me wish for a less reliable narrator. I don’t know maybe I still don’t know what happened…. But I had a good time lol

4.25 stars
This was my first book from Robbie Couch, and I will now be going back and reading the rest of his books.
Told in dual povs from River in the present and Dylan from the past.
I would say I really enjoyed the majority of the book until the night before the last day of the trial until the end the books. Didn't expect that twist. Overall, why didn't like the ending it wasn't enough to bring my star rating down too much and would still recommend.

this book is devastating and gripping and so well-written. the characters are complicated and the heavy topics are handled with sensitivity. you know early on something is amiss with the trials, but it’s not at all obvious how things will shake out (even in the final pages, i was on the edge of my seat). in other words, this book perfectly achieves what it set out to do. i don’t think i’ve ever read anything quite like it. anyway, bye, i have to go now so i can stare at the ceiling introspectively while being utterly heartbroken

I have read other books by Robbie Couch, so I was really looking forward to this one. Similar to If I See You Again Tomorrow, it's a bit sci-fi-y.

River's best friend died a year ago. After being blackmailed for defacing a billboard, he enters a study researching teens that are struggling socially., which River definitely is. He's failed to maintain any relationship since his best friend died. Another person in the study is Mavis, Dylan's ex-girlfriend who River also used to be close with before Dylan's death. She's the last person that River wants to spend any time with, so the study isn't off to a great start, but things start looking up when River starts bonding with his new roommate, Nash, who's a football start, not involved in the study, but the younger brother of one of the researchers.

Absolutely compulsive read, that you will not be able to put down until you know everything. 'Another First Chance' is chock full of all the great hallmarks of a page turner; lovable ensemble cast, small town mystery, and creepy social scientists I wouldn't trust near plants, much less teenagers. It's a quick read, but emotionally complex as these teens are dealing with grief, stepping into adulthood, and making friends in an increasingly disconnected age.

The main plot takes part a year after a tragic car accident ended the life of Dylan Cooper, Teawood's golden boy, basketball hot shot, and River's best friend. River feels personally responsible for the event's that unfolded around Dylan's death, resulting in him finishing his high school senior year with no friends, a severe attitude, and absolutely ready to hit the road to college on the other side of the country. Yet, after getting caught defacing Dylan's memorial, he's forced into a social science study that transforms his familiar high school setting to a place where he can trust no one but his peers. And of course, those peers include, the small town influencer, the class weirdo, the rich white girl, and Dylan's girlfriend, who also happens to be River's ex-best friend. Nothing could go wrong, and all the dialogue goes right. Cherry on top? We get DYLAN'S POV as well to know what really led up to his death.

What Couch Does Right:
• Found Family that’s very diverse, River himself is openly gay and we’ve got representation from nonbinary and POC characters
• Mix of genres across mystery, young adult, little sci-fi, and a splash of romance
• Dual POV done right, I was gripped by both Dylan & River’s narratives- I wasn’t skipping one to get to another

Thank you NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing
2/5
“it's been difficult for me to imagine any future for myself without Dylan, let alone one filled with friendship.”
In all honesty, I was excited by the summary of the book but once I started to read it my excitement went away because of the pacing. It just felt so slow, even though I enjoyed the characters I felt like it took forever to finish.

Another First Chance is the new standard for YA books for me! A total ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars. River and Dylan. That’s it. This book is being compared to #TBDATE and #youvereachedsam but, it’s so much better—it’s so grounded and I truly loved every single character…well, except for one 😅 the perfect summer read and it comes out on 5/28.

Robbie Couch has never written a single bad book i fear soo glad netgalley and publisher let me have this arc because!!!!!! AAAAAA most enjoyable reading experience i’ve had in a while would give it 5 stars if i weren’t confused for a bit also if nora didn’t kinda sucj a little bit😔 BUT ANYWAY river mavis dylan triangle was insanely sad it broke my heart but also THE SCIENCE THE PATCHES everything about this book is gripping from beginning to end !!! and there’s closure too so there’s that. if you’re in doubt , you needn’t anymore this needs to be in your library!

Ever since his best friend Dylan died in a car accident, River has had to drive past the billboard that reminds people not to text and drive. River wants people to remember Dylan has more than just a lesson. So, when he's caught vandalizing the billboard, he's blackmailed into participating in the Affinity Trials--a study for teens struggling socially. But who is also there? His ex-best friend, Mavis.

During the trials, River finds company in Nash, a football player from the neighboring camp. As he gets closer to Nash, feelings from River's past start to come to the surface. But things also start to get wierd with the Trials, too. When they learn the real motivation, River has to decide what he would do for a chance at first love.

Thanks to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for an advanced copy of Another First Chance by Robbie Couch to review! Love that Couch is branching out into more speculative fiction, and this was so well done. It's definitely a deep dive into the grieving process, learning how to move forward after tragedy.

Couch is always great at writing strong characters, and we get that in both Dylan and River. There are two perspectives throughout, allowing us to see what Dylan was up to before his tragic car accident. I thoroughly enjoyed this format for the story, as it added layers to the story and honestly made River's story more interesting. Dylan was so interesting, and I would definitely read another book about him!

You know from the beginning that something is up from the Trials, but the way it unfolds is so well done. I didn't want to put this book down for the second half of the book. The way it's revealed what's actually happening is done so smoothly, and you'll definitely be hooked by that twist at the end.

While The Sky Blues has a special place in my heart, I think this might be Couch's best writing yet. He does such a good job of showing the complexity of emotions that come with grief, leaving with a bit of hope at the end. I can't wait to have a physical copy.

That was... wow.

Imma need a minute. And some tissues. Damn.

I'm struggling to solidify my thoughts on this heartbreakingly wonderful 5-star read. This one will live with me for a while.

High school senior, River, lost his best friend Dylan a year ago, and he's not "grieving well." It doesn't help that Dylan has become the literal poster boy for the dangers of texting and driving, with his picture plastered on a billboard River drives past every day in his small town. On Dylan's "deathaversary," River defaces the billboard, leading to him being blackmailed to join the Affinity Trials. The trial has 20 "socially struggling" students locked inside their high school without any access to the outside world for a week.

What follows, without giving spoilers, is that the particpants bond with each other as they learn the trials aren't all they were promised. Along with lots and lots of processing of grief. Ugh. Author Robbie Couch handles the grief and loss so well. It's messy and heartwrenching and VERY REAL. As someone who has lost a dear friend, I feel like I connected with River on a cellular level.

Ultimately, the story was a tender and HOPEFUL tale of remembrance, couched in the speculative world of the Affinity Trials (in and of itself a fascinating concept). It split my heart open and stitched it back together.

nothing bad to say just this is the queer books kids, and young adults need for sure!! thank you for the arc :))

5 stars

Robbie Couch has done it again.

Dylan and River share perspectives in this layered YA contemporary, and this is fascinating because only one of these two best friends is alive in the novel's present day.

When readers meet River, he's driving past a horrible billboard featuring his deceased friend's face, some victim blaming, and a bizarre PSA. Losing a best friend, especially at such a young age, seems like a nightmare no matter what, but it's clear immediately that there are details in this scenario that make River's survival and life without Dylan even more horrifying than readers might at first guess.

Once the scene is set, the events move in a new direction that I had some reservations about at first but grew to find totally captivating. River becomes part of a study that is supposed to center on kids with social issues, among other characteristics. There's something fishy about this whole situation from the jump, but because I finished a docuseries about "therapy schools" for kids literally the day before I started this read, I think my impression of kids surrounded by secretive adults may have been even more negative than usual! That noted, there are still too many red flags to ignore. Something strange is afoot, and that reveal? Well. It's exceptional.

I enjoyed this read from cover to cover, but the ending is next level and enhanced my opinion of the book overall. Couch does a great job of unveiling some of the many complications connected to grief, guilt, and uncertainty, and while there's a lot of sadness at the center of this novel, it's not just a sad book. There's a lot of hope and growth here, too.

Every time this author has a new book out, I'm busy requesting it before I even look at the synopsis because I know I'm going to enjoy the writing, messaging, and noteworthy character development. This one really got me, and I can't wait to (1) recommend this to my students and (2) read whatever Couch puts out in the future.

But first, I need to go read that ending a few more times...

Thank you Netgalley and Simon & Schuster Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

"Another First Chance" by Robbie Couch is an emotional rollercoaster of a YA novel that tackles grief, friendship, and the complexities of moving on after loss. This book is absolutely beautiful, and before reading this book, I definitely recommend having a box of tissues next to you as well as a palate cleanser for when you’re done as this book may destroy you (in a good way), especially after the beautiful, heart-wrenching ending. I am going to continuously recommend this book for anyone who needs a book that will make them feel something, as I was definitely feeling a lot of things as I finished the last page.

From the very first beginning, Couch pulls you into the heart-wrenching journey of River, who is grappling with the devastating loss of his best friend, Dylan. The dual perspective, alternating between River's present-day struggles and Dylan's past experiences, adds depth to the story, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the characters' lives and emotions. I was sucked into the different perspectives immediately, and I found it difficult leaving the characters’ heads as I was so invested in their stories and the depth of their emotions.

Couch's writing shines as he delves into themes of grief, guilt, and the search for redemption. The central premise of the novel—a social experiment designed to help students struggling with social connections—adds an intriguing layer to the story. I have never read a book with this kind of concept before, and I absolutely love how this social experiment allowed for River to confront his own grief and the unresolved feelings he has for Dylan as he and his classmates navigate this social experiment. The characters are vividly drawn, each grappling with their own demons and insecurities, yet coming together to form a tight-knit group of friends who support each other through the darkest of times. The idea of togetherness that forms with this characters was absolutely beautiful, and I love how they supported one another throughout even when each character was dealing with their own struggles.

What truly sets "Another First Chance" apart is its ability to blend heart-wrenching emotion with moments of warmth, humor, and hope. While the book deals with heavy subject matter, Couch infuses the story with moments of genuine connection and joy, reminding you that even in the darkest of times, there is still light to be found. This was an absolutely inspiring message in the book and one that I will hold close to my heart long after I finish processing this book.

Overall, "Another First Chance" is a beautifully written and deeply affecting novel that will stay with you long after they turn the final page. Robbie Couch has once again proven himself to be a master storyteller, and this book is sure to resonate with lovers of YA literature.