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A review by judeinthestars
Here We Go Again by Alison Cochrun
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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? Yes
5.0
Life is messy. Feelings are messy. People are messy. They’re also beautiful. Maybe not people, but life and feelings are, even when they suck.
Here We Go Again could have been simply another romcom, but Alison Cochrun added an element that, with many other authors, would have turned this story into a tragedy. And while there is plenty of heartbreak, the overall tone and the feelings that stayed with me afterwards are heartwarming love and growth.
Rosemary was the first girl Logan kissed, and that kiss ruined everything. Years later, they teach at their old high school in Vista Summit, Washington, and can’t stand each other. But when their former teacher and mentor asks them both to drive him to Maine so he can die in peace, neither of them can say no.
I loved Kiss Her Once For Me so much that I was very excited to get an ARC for this book. And yet, when the time came for me to read it, I couldn’t make myself focus as much as I would have liked. I started reading, I loved what I read, but I wasn’t all in. The fault doesn’t lie with the book, however. Just before I started reading, I found out two of my most favourite narrators—Natalie Naudus and Jeremy Carlisle Parker, aka Quinn Riley—narrated the audiobook. And so, as I was reading, I couldn’t help but wonder if I was missing out on an even better experience. In the end, I went and got the audiobook so I wouldn’t waste my energy on regrets that would have been unfair to the book.
And wow, did this audiobook give me all the feels! I laughed aloud, I cried, I felt my chest squeeze from joy and in pain.
Maybe it’s the van, maybe it’s the Abba references, maybe it’s the tension of new beginnings and the fear of death, maybe it’s Joe, his wit, his flamboyance, his vulnerability, I don’t know exactly but I kept being reminded of The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, which has, for a very long time, been one of my favourite queer movies. Thirty years later, it’s still as powerful.
The stories are very different, though. There are actually two of them in this book. The most obvious is the childhood best friends-to-enemies-to-lovers, opposites-attract, kinda-second-chance romance. Adolescence is probably the hardest and intrinsically painful period of a person’s existence, which leads to overthinking, overreacting, overprotecting oneself against hurt and heartache. While driving cross country, Logan and Rosie also embark on a journey to leave their teenage wounded feelings and resentment behind, to remember what they loved about each other, how they felt in each other’s presence, how strong and okay the other’s love and support made them feel. There’s excellent neurodivergence representation (ADHD, anxiety…), highlighting the diversity of experiences. The only thing I didn’t love was the swearing with celebrities names, which was fun once then quickly got repetitive.
The second, almost as, if not more important arc is a love story as well. It’s an homage to the teachers who change lives and the queer adults who see us before we do. It’s bittersweet, full of regrets and lessons learned, but also unconditional love and respect and pride.
Since the author alternates POVs within chapters, so does the dual narration, with Natalie Naudus voicing Logan and Jeremy Carlisle Parker as Rosemary. Both are wonderful narrators, and both did a fantastic job once more, full of nuance and subtlety. Their styles complement each other, and I’m chuffed that I switched to audio. I’m sure I would have loved the book, but I certainly loved the audiobook even more. 4.5⭐️
I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Read all my reviews on my website (and please get your books from the affiliation links!): Jude in the Stars