Name: Again Again
ISBN: 9780385744799

E. Lockhart

From the New York Times bestselling author of We Were Liars and Genuine Fraud comes a complex novel about acceptance, forgiveness, self-discovery, and possibility, as a teenage girl attempts to regain some sense of normalcy in her life after a family crisis and a broken heart. If you could live your life again, what would you do differently? After a near-fatal family catastrophe and an unexpected romantic upheaval, Adelaide Buchwald finds herself catapulted into a summer of wild possibility, during which she will fall in and out of love a thousand times--while finally confronting the secrets she keeps, her ideas about love, and the weird grandiosity of the human mind. A raw, funny story that will surprise you over and over, Again Again gives us an indelible heroine grappling with the terrible and wonderful problem of loving other people.

Again Again

Beatriz Pereira

It was a nice story but it didn't touch me in any way...

Sabrina

Writing style was just not my cup of tea and you have to be very careful not to get the two worlds confused at first. Would much rather have it be one story. Confused when Oscar became the lover too. Not for me

It was okay not all that great, personally did not like it but I got through it.

Prisha Bhanushali

Anna

A refreshing story that seemed nearly too real to be fiction. In some strange sense I found this novel to promote an encouraging philosophy.

Jen Estrella

"I wasn't happy."
"You weren't? You seemed happy."
"I thought I was happy."
"Isn't that the same thing? [...]"
"You can think you're happy and not be happy."

4.5/5 - Well, it looks like someone wrote the story of my life four months ago. This was soooo good and so right up my alley. I can understand the 3.25 average rating, but oh man, I'd like more books like this for me please!! 

I didn't really like the trippy, trying-to-be poetic writing (It was distracting), but everything else was great. E. Lockhart does this thing where she gives readers hope and then crushes it in the end but in a very good way? I think I'm sad but also really pleased? But I'm also really sad? I mean I cried for a bit near the end, thinking nooo how could you?! Why would you do that?! and then ok yes I get it. That was necessary. I get it but also some band aid, please :( Bittersweet is the right word, I think. I really liked it. 

This was deep and reflective and unlike most young adult contemporary novels I've read. It reminds me of Normal People by Sally Rooney, but focused on the MC and her family as opposed to the MC and her love interest/s. The take on addiction is an important one and certainly not one that you often see in YA; there's a lot on depression and anxiety, I think, but addiction is still so highly stigmatized. 

I don't know what else to say other than if you are like me, and you like reading stories that are emotional, reflective, complex, and bittersweet, then there's a good chance that you will like this book.

Also, I just can't move on from how she described herself, because I feel so seen:

  People befriend me because they think I'm happy. I'm not even sure why they think I'm happy, but they do. I get distracted, and I laugh, and I turn something on in myself that makes me, maybe, fun to be with. And I'm just - I want you to know up front that I'm false advertising.
 
:( I don't know what to do with my emotions :(

In this novel full of surprises from the New York Times bestselling author of WE WERE LIARS and GENUINE FRAUD, E. Lockhart ups the ante with an inventive and romantic story about human connection, forgiveness, self discovery and possibility. When Adelaide Buchman's younger brother succumbs to a drug overdose, she saves his life. In the aftermath, looking for distraction, she becomes a stylish, bright charmer who blows off school and falls madly in love - even though her heart is shattered. Adelaide is catapulted into a summer of wild possibility, during which she will fall in and out of love a thousand times while finally confronting her brother, their history, and her own strength. A raw and funny story that will surprise you over and over, Adelaide is an indelible heroine grappling with the terrible and wonderful problem of loving other people.

Giulia Pianta

2021 ‘tis the damn season readathon
  

Album: Fearless
Song: Fifteen
Prompt: Read a YA book


  Adelaide wanted to be rescued and she wanted independence. She was inclined to laziness, curiosity, and magical thinking. She was all charm and yet deeply miserable. She was a liar and she hated liars. She loved both truly and wrongheadedly. She appreciated beauty.

It’s taken me so long to decide on a rating for this.
Maybe because this quote could easily describe me (minus the magical thinking part).

Or maybe because this is the 4th book by E. Lockhart I read and I had mixed feelings on the previous ones. We were Liars was great, Genuine Fraud was very good but I read it at the wrong time, and Fly on the Wall was so strange.

Definitely Again Again is different from the previous ones. No mystery, no suspense, no magic. It was a love story with some glimpses into alternate universes and how it could have gone.

I would say, without the alternate universe segments, the story would have been just meh, nothing special really. I liked how the protagonist was making a diorama, but since I am a scientist with a creative sense dryer than a desert, I had no idea what it was and it was hard for me to imagine it. Still, it was different and cool and stood out.

The boy was unimpressive, and the relationship was not the best. (view spoiler)[He was also so disgusting, cheating on his girlfriend! And also really mean to Adelaide for no reason. The other boy was definitely much much nicer. (hide spoiler)]

I think the brother plotline was very sad. I never experienced anything like that, and I don’t have siblings, but I think it was really well done. The ex-boyfriend was an idiot and I quite hated him. The parents are ok, barely there. The dogs are cute.

I think I was hoping this to be more fun, and maybe a bit more enjoyable. There were good parts but I think I will settle for a rating of 3 stars.

Candyce Kirk

It's been a few days since I finished Again Again and to be honest I'm still not completely sure what it is that I read. How this book is told was definitely interesting. It took me a bit to really get into this story, but as soon I understood how it was set up I flew through this book. E. Lockhart had an interesting way to tell Adelaide's story and what could've happened in different possible universes.

I love how the author tackled the more difficult subjects of what can happen when a family member is addicted to drugs. It was really interesting to read how she felt about it and how her relationship with her brother changed and started to heal again. I think those were my favorite parts of the books. The romance kind of distracted me from that and didn't really fit the story for me.

I have a feeling Again Again will be a story I read again, because I'm sure I'll see different details than I did the first time around. Again Again really isn't like anything I've read before. I don't think I'll forget this one anytime soon.

Sarah Vorobets

this book... Wow. Not what I was expecting. The pacing was really weird and I just didn't get the storyline. The idea was cool just not executed greatly...

Jelke Lenaerts

I received a galley of this book through Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.  
This book has a content warning for drug addiction.

I don't really know why I, yet again, picked up an E. Lockhart book because I keep getting dissapointed by them time and time again. The concept of this one sounded really cool but it all ended up being a bit dissapointing. The story had such an unsatisfying ending. The writting also just didn't mash well with me. It attempted to be very poetic but instead just came off as very simple and quite annoying at times. With the previous two books I read by E. Lockhart I was also dissapointed by the story but the writting was amazing. In this book the writting was just lackluster. I actually found myself enjoying the story quite a bit until the ending. Even though I was enjoying the story for the most part it also wasn't anything new or special.

Victoria Grace

Alexis 

2.5/5 stars 

I don't have too much to say about this book. I just didn't see the point to it, I'm not sure if there was an underlying meaning that went over my head ( which is possible). I didn't care much for the characters or even the plot. It was kind of boring for me to be honest. Overall it was a very short and quick read, It unfortunately just wasn't for me.

Paige Green

Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher and netgalley. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: Again, Again

Author: E. Lockhart

Book Series: Standalone

Rating: 3.5/5

Recommended For...: romance lovers, second chance romance, and multi-verse storylines

Publication Date: June 2, 2020

Genre: YA Contemporary

Recommended Age: 16+ (romance, substance abuse TW, heartache, second chances)

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Pages: 288

Synopsis: If you could live your life again, what would you do differently?

After a near-fatal family catastrophe and an unexpected romantic upheaval, Adelaide Buchwald finds herself catapulted into a summer of wild possibility, during which she will fall in and out of love a thousand times—while finally confronting the secrets she keeps, her ideas about love, and the weird grandiosity of the human mind.

Review: For the most part I thought the book was well done. The story-telling is unique and I loved the attention to detail the author had when crafting the book. The character development for the most part was well done and the world building was amazingly well done. I also loved how thought provoking the book was and how much the book had me flipping back and forth between scenes!

However, I did feel like the book pacing was a bit slow in spots and that the book could have done a bit better on some of the side characters developments. I wished that the book focused on the brother than our main characters love life as well, but it’s still well done.

Verdict: Amazing read! Definitely a must read!

Rising high school senior Adelaide Buchwald grapples with a family catastrophe and romantic upheaval while confronting secrets she keeps, her ideas about love, and the weird grandiosity of the human mind.

Lily Trueper

One thing I really admire about E. Lockhart is that she has developed such a unique and recognizable writing style. I consider her to be someone truly gifted when it comes to crafting her personal narrative. I would probably rate this 3.5 stars, as I definitely enjoyed reading it, and the imagery is so detailed and compelling. I didn’t like it quite as much as We Were Liars, but all in all, a lovely read!

Becca Futrell

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of Again Again in exchange for an honest review!

First off, since I am so behind on ARCs, I decided to listen to the final version of this book on audiobook & I 10/10 recommend doing it that way. The audiobook does an excellent job at transitioning between the different realities. 

You ever just wonder what could happen depending on what decision you make? Do you ever think of the possibilities one moment can lead to? Again Again explores these possibilities, taking our main character Adelaide on a journey through multiple romances, while she confronts all of her ideas on love. 

I thoroughly enjoyed Again Again; it was unique and special, and honestly, so dang relatable for teenagers. While reading this, I took a step back and placed myself into the mind-setting that I had in highschool & by the end, I just wish that I would have had this book at that time. 

It's beautifully well-written & I strongly recommend it to anyone looking for a good Contemporary read.

Leah Butler

Again Again is a fun, fast-paced, swoon worthy story and the perfect summer read. It follows Adelaide Buchwald, a part-time dog walker and full-time art student, and her coming to terms with a family catastrophe and a breakup which leaves her heart broken.

The way this book is written is very interesting. When I first started reading I was confused but I eventually understood how it was set up. I loved reading about all the different possibilities in all the different universes.

I really liked how the author wrote the more difficult subjects such as drug addiction, and seeing how Adelaide’s relationship with her brother changed and healed. I do feel like the romance side of this book didn’t really suit, as it kind of took away from that side of the story.

Yana Khalid

If you’re okay with random versions of different scenarios written into the plot, then you might be ok with his book. 
Adelaide was sometimes relatable but the writing was so confusing and BORING as hell. The story seemed to be going nowhere.

Jess Ostrander

3.5 stars
This is a heartbreaking and beautiful story of love in many forms, growth, and the concept of forgiveness. It's got a very interesting concept, with the story or snippets of it taking place in different multiverses. I was definitely unsure about the concept at first. But it made me feel a lot. The ending made me unsure of which storyline was the "true" story, but I really liked it. It's definitely about love, but I wouldn't call it a romance It feels more like an exploration of love in its different forms. We get romantic love, family love, and self-love. I really enjoyed the aspects of Adelaide discovering more about herself and working through what was going on in her head. She felt like a real, raw teenage girl going through a lot of hardship. My absolute favorite part of the story was her rebuilding the relationship with her brother. And while I'm still not sure which storyline is the real one, I did like the way it all turned out, and that her relationship with her brother was being worked on in all of them. I liked the layers of this story and how it's written. It's a mix of verse and I found that to work really well with the concept. I like how E. Lockhart explored grief and loss as it relates to both relationships and addiction. I think it was a great portrayal of how grief and loss affect everyone differently, and that grief doesn't only come after death. 
Overall, this was a really solid book. If you can handle the concept of a book told in multiverses and random breaks of verse, I think there are some great things here. It didn't leave me completely satisfied, and I had to sit with it for a while to decide if I actually enjoyed it or not. And while I came to the conclusion that I did, I definitely think this book will leave people with a lot of mixed feelings. So I'd say, if it intrigues you, go for it. There are some really good parts and valuable representations of grief and addiction, as well as a lot of heart.