Scan barcode
wordinessa's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I cannot say enough good things about Alison Cochrun. Every one of her books does that thing where it reaches in and grabs me by the heart.
Cochrun has described "Here We Go Again" as her "sapphic road trip rom-com about death", and that's exactly what this is. Logan and Rosemary are polar opposites who were friends when they were kids, but had a falling out when they were about fourteen and now have nothing good to say to each other. But they still have something in common - Joe, their beloved high school English teacher. Joe's dying wish is to have the girls take him from their hometown in the Pacific Northwest to a small home he owns in Bar Harbor, Maine, so he can die staring out at the Atlantic. While both Logan and Rosemary worry they won't survive a trip like that in each other's presence, they can't refuse - it's for Joe. As with any good road trip, the journey is full of mishaps, detours, and self-discovery.
The characters absolutely leap off the page. Logan is a self-described "fuckboy" who can't let herself get too attached. Rosemary creates an extensive and efficient itinerary and panics when things start to go awry. And Joe, Joe is sassy and sweet and vulnerable and everything you want in a mentor - he wants what's best for Logan and Rosemary, and he wants an epic death trip, and yet he also comes to realize that there's more for him to learn. Each of them grows so much over the course of the story, and so many of their realizations had me on the brink of tears right with them.
"Here We Go Again" is a road trip of life and death and all of the love that you find in the span between the two - for yourself, for family, for mentors, for one another. It's beautiful and funny and heartbreaking and heart-mending. I feel so fortunate to have received this arc - thank you NetGalley, Simon & Schuster Canada, and Atria Books for this experience.
Cochrun has described "Here We Go Again" as her "sapphic road trip rom-com about death", and that's exactly what this is. Logan and Rosemary are polar opposites who were friends when they were kids, but had a falling out when they were about fourteen and now have nothing good to say to each other. But they still have something in common - Joe, their beloved high school English teacher. Joe's dying wish is to have the girls take him from their hometown in the Pacific Northwest to a small home he owns in Bar Harbor, Maine, so he can die staring out at the Atlantic. While both Logan and Rosemary worry they won't survive a trip like that in each other's presence, they can't refuse - it's for Joe. As with any good road trip, the journey is full of mishaps, detours, and self-discovery.
The characters absolutely leap off the page. Logan is a self-described "fuckboy" who can't let herself get too attached. Rosemary creates an extensive and efficient itinerary and panics when things start to go awry. And Joe, Joe is sassy and sweet and vulnerable and everything you want in a mentor - he wants what's best for Logan and Rosemary, and he wants an epic death trip, and yet he also comes to realize that there's more for him to learn. Each of them grows so much over the course of the story, and so many of their realizations had me on the brink of tears right with them.
"Here We Go Again" is a road trip of life and death and all of the love that you find in the span between the two - for yourself, for family, for mentors, for one another. It's beautiful and funny and heartbreaking and heart-mending. I feel so fortunate to have received this arc - thank you NetGalley, Simon & Schuster Canada, and Atria Books for this experience.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Terminal illness, Death, and Cancer
Moderate: Alcohol, Homophobia, Vomit, Alcoholism, Abandonment, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Transphobia
dananana's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
If I had to pick one word to describe this book, it’d be… devastating.
Devastating as in: I was absolutely wrecked by the romance. Devastating as in: I was SOBBING while reading the last few chapters of the book (and really, on and off throughout the entire thing). Devastating as in: I think I busted a rib from laughing so hard at points because yes, this book is the perfect mix of deep emotions and romcom hilarity.
This romance follows Logan and Rosemary, two women with a complicated past. At one point best friends, they had a falling out that led to resentment and dislike throughout their high school years. Now, they have both found themselves back at the same high school they grew up in, but this time as teachers. And again, they find themselves at odds. When their mentor and old English teacher, Joe, tells the two women that his dying wish is a road trip to Maine with them, Rosemary and Logan must confront their difficult emotions for each other as they drive across the country.
So. I’m three for three on absolutely loving Alison Cochrun’s books. She just understands the assignment, ya know? And a big part of my love for this book is, of course, our main characters. Rosemary – uptight and in need of control – was pretty relatable to me. Logan, seemingly confident but not-to-secretly terrified of dealing with Real Emotions was endlessly compelling. And Joe – oh man. I want Joe to be my gay uncle figure.
And the romances…! (Yes, plural!) Beautiful, heartbreaking, sexy, and so, so funny. My heart was swelling and I was crying at how much I loved these characters and their relationships.
In conclusion… pick up this book if you like reading about any of the following: Longing. Repression of feelings. Complex dynamics. Learning how to face your mental health. Mamma Mia. Epic, decades-spanning romances. Journeys and odysseys. Asexuality. And yes, frequent references to Jane Austen’s most underrated work, Persuasion, which just works way too well with this story.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for an advanced copy in exchanged for an honest review
Devastating as in: I was absolutely wrecked by the romance. Devastating as in: I was SOBBING while reading the last few chapters of the book (and really, on and off throughout the entire thing). Devastating as in: I think I busted a rib from laughing so hard at points because yes, this book is the perfect mix of deep emotions and romcom hilarity.
This romance follows Logan and Rosemary, two women with a complicated past. At one point best friends, they had a falling out that led to resentment and dislike throughout their high school years. Now, they have both found themselves back at the same high school they grew up in, but this time as teachers. And again, they find themselves at odds. When their mentor and old English teacher, Joe, tells the two women that his dying wish is a road trip to Maine with them, Rosemary and Logan must confront their difficult emotions for each other as they drive across the country.
So. I’m three for three on absolutely loving Alison Cochrun’s books. She just understands the assignment, ya know? And a big part of my love for this book is, of course, our main characters. Rosemary – uptight and in need of control – was pretty relatable to me. Logan, seemingly confident but not-to-secretly terrified of dealing with Real Emotions was endlessly compelling. And Joe – oh man. I want Joe to be my gay uncle figure.
And the romances…! (Yes, plural!) Beautiful, heartbreaking, sexy, and so, so funny. My heart was swelling and I was crying at how much I loved these characters and their relationships.
In conclusion… pick up this book if you like reading about any of the following: Longing. Repression of feelings. Complex dynamics. Learning how to face your mental health. Mamma Mia. Epic, decades-spanning romances. Journeys and odysseys. Asexuality. And yes, frequent references to Jane Austen’s most underrated work, Persuasion, which just works way too well with this story.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for an advanced copy in exchanged for an honest review
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Sexual content, Grief, Medical content, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, and Alcoholism
Minor: Vomit and Excrement
daryn's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Medical content, and Death
Moderate: Sexual content, Alcoholism, and Death of parent
Minor: Homophobia
More...