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HERE WE GO AGAIN BY ALISON COCHRUN | PUBLICATION: APRIL 2, 2024 ATRIA | GENRE: ROMCOM RATING: ★★★★ |
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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. Uptight Rosemary chooses security and stability over all else, working constantly, and her most stable relationship is with her label maker. Chaotic and impulsive Logan has a long list of misguided ex-lovers and an apathetic shrug she uses to protect herself from anything real. And as hard as they try to avoid each other—and their complicated past—they keep crashing into each other. Including with their cars.
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 wish: 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.
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. Uptight Rosemary chooses security and stability over all else, working constantly, and her most stable relationship is with her label maker. Chaotic and impulsive Logan has a long list of misguided ex-lovers and an apathetic shrug she uses to protect herself from anything real. And as hard as they try to avoid each other—and their complicated past—they keep crashing into each other. Including with their cars.
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 wish: 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.
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A Journey of Love, Loss, and Self-Discovery
HERE WE GO AGAIN is a journey that delves deep into the heart of what it means to be family, to love, and to grow. It's a tale that resonates with the struggles of coming out, the complexities of relationships, and the beauty of found families.
The narrative follows Logan and Rosemary, two former childhood friends whose paths diverge only to converge again under the most poignant of circumstances. They are brought together by Joe, their beloved high school teacher who is battling cancer. Joe, a beacon of guidance and support for his students, especially those grappling with their identities in a small town, has a special bond with Logan and Rosemary. He has been their mentor, their support system, and now, as his life draws to a close, he becomes the reason for their reunion.
As the trio embarks on a cross-country trip from Washington to Maine, the readers are taken on an emotional rollercoaster. The story masterfully balances humor with grief, creating a narrative that is as much about the joy of living as it is about the inevitability of loss. The characters are vividly drawn, with Logan's fear of attachment stemming from her mother's abandonment, and Rosemary's hidden anxiety juxtaposed against her reputation as a stellar teacher.
The journey is peppered with moments that are both tender and tumultuous. From a swoon-worthy bathtub scene to a triumphant drag show, the story captures the essence of life's unpredictable nature. The slow burn romance between Logan and Rosemary is crafted with care, allowing readers to invest in their relationship and root for their happiness.
HERE WE GO AGAIN has the power of storytelling in addressing issues like anxiety, ADHD, and the significance of role models in the LGBTQ+ community. It's a story that makes you laugh, cry, and most importantly, FEEL. It's a reminder that sometimes, the family we find is just as important as the one we're born into.
This book is a celebration of the human spirit, of the courage to face one's fears, and of the enduring impact that teachers and mentors can have on our lives. It's a story that stays with you, long after the last page is turned, reminding us that in the face of adversity, love and friendship can carry us through. Here's to the journey, the lessons learned, and the love found along the way. Here we go again, indeed.
HERE WE GO AGAIN is a journey that delves deep into the heart of what it means to be family, to love, and to grow. It's a tale that resonates with the struggles of coming out, the complexities of relationships, and the beauty of found families.
The narrative follows Logan and Rosemary, two former childhood friends whose paths diverge only to converge again under the most poignant of circumstances. They are brought together by Joe, their beloved high school teacher who is battling cancer. Joe, a beacon of guidance and support for his students, especially those grappling with their identities in a small town, has a special bond with Logan and Rosemary. He has been their mentor, their support system, and now, as his life draws to a close, he becomes the reason for their reunion.
As the trio embarks on a cross-country trip from Washington to Maine, the readers are taken on an emotional rollercoaster. The story masterfully balances humor with grief, creating a narrative that is as much about the joy of living as it is about the inevitability of loss. The characters are vividly drawn, with Logan's fear of attachment stemming from her mother's abandonment, and Rosemary's hidden anxiety juxtaposed against her reputation as a stellar teacher.
The journey is peppered with moments that are both tender and tumultuous. From a swoon-worthy bathtub scene to a triumphant drag show, the story captures the essence of life's unpredictable nature. The slow burn romance between Logan and Rosemary is crafted with care, allowing readers to invest in their relationship and root for their happiness.
HERE WE GO AGAIN has the power of storytelling in addressing issues like anxiety, ADHD, and the significance of role models in the LGBTQ+ community. It's a story that makes you laugh, cry, and most importantly, FEEL. It's a reminder that sometimes, the family we find is just as important as the one we're born into.
This book is a celebration of the human spirit, of the courage to face one's fears, and of the enduring impact that teachers and mentors can have on our lives. It's a story that stays with you, long after the last page is turned, reminding us that in the face of adversity, love and friendship can carry us through. Here's to the journey, the lessons learned, and the love found along the way. Here we go again, indeed.
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About the Author:
Alison Cochrun is a former high school English teacher and a current writer of queer love stories, including The Charm Offensive and Kiss Her Once for Me. She lives outside of Portland, Oregon, with two giant dogs, her small wife, and too many books. You can find her online at AlisonCochrun.com or on Instagram as @AlisonCochrun. Hayley Downing-Fairless
*Thanks to Simon & Schuster CA / Atria for the egalley in exchange for this unbiased review.
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