Here I Go Again

A Novel

By: Jen Lancaster

Narrated by: Jen Lancaster

Length: 9 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's Summary

The second novel from the New York Times best-selling author of If You Were Here takes us back to the hair metal '80's.

Twenty years after ruling the halls of her suburban Chicago high school, Lissy Ryder doesn't understand why her glory days ended. Back then, she was worshipped...beloved...feared. Present day, not so much. She's been pink-slipped from her high-paying job, dumped by her husband and kicked out of her condo. Now, at 37, she's struggling to start a business out of her parents' garage and sleeping under the hair-band posters in her old bedroom.

Lissy finally realizes karma is the only bitch bigger than she was. Her present is miserable because of her past. But it's not like she can go back in time and change who she was...or can she?

©2013 Jen Lancaster (P)2013 Penguin Audio

Critic Reviews

"Turns out Jen Lancaster, who was already a master of memoir, is a genius at fiction." (Beth Harbison, New York Times best-selling author of Shoe Addicts Anonymous)

"Jen Lancaster has the kind of scathing wit that makes you wish she was your best friend but thankful she’s not your new neighbor." (Carrie Ryan, New York Times best-selling author of the Forest of Hands and Teeth Series) 

Love Jen... but please, please don't narrate

What did you like best about Here I Go Again? What did you like least?

Maybe it is a good story, maybe not... unless I buy the print version I will never really know as I couldn't listen to you Jen.
Maybe it is because the narrator of your other books was good, maybe it was you were only bad in comparison.

Hey, I have always liked your writing in the past. Maybe just spend the bucks and get a good narrator.

For die hard Jen fans

I got this despite some negative reviews since this is Jen L's first foray into fiction (I believe). I confess, it is kind of rough for her first effort, but if you like Jen's memoir's there may be enough to reel you in here. The story has been done before, but this is her take on it, which is fine.

I disagree with those saying she shouldn't read her own books. I enjoy Jen's voice and cadence.

It's sort of like C to C+ level Jen. Don't let this be the first Jen book you read, but if you are a fan you'll enjoy it.

Only for Lancaster Fans

Would you listen to Here I Go Again again? Why?

Probably. I love Jen Lancaster's spunk and I always get a kick out of how her snarky commentary comes through her characters.

Have you listened to any of Jen Lancaster’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Her non-fiction and personal stories are way better. They're much more snappy and often make me laugh aloud when listening to them.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

It was a silly, lighthearted plot that was fun to listen to when I had an entire floor to tile. It was easy to follow, and I enjoyed myself. I would read this again on a rainy day for sure.

Any additional comments?

Think of this book like a made-for-tv movie: don't watch an ABC Family movie if you're looking for an A-List epic. It's got that teenage John Hughes / It's a Wonderful Life thing going on which is great if, like me, you love those random movies on the Disney Channel.

So Disappointed

What would have made Here I Go Again better?

I love Jen Lancaster and have enjoyed all her books until this one. The story line isn't exciting and nothing happens to keep your attention. I was so looking forward to this book coming out so I am really disappointed that I didn't enjoy it. I hope Jen goes back to writing books based on her life because those were great!

Entertaining Read

I really enjoyed this book. I've been a fan of Ms. Lancaster since the beginning, but her fiction books have always been a bit lacking. I found this story light and enjoyable. My only "complaint" is that there wasn't a epilogue to bring some loose ends together. But, that leaves it open for a sequel!

I listened to this on Audible and I did struggle with the performance. It was read by the author, but I swear they altered her voice. I've listened to her podcasts, I watch her Instagram stories and I listened to the audio book of "Stories I Told In Bars". This was NOT her regular voice - and it really bothered me for the first few chapters!

Audio is strange

I enjoyed the book but the audio quality is odd. Her voice sounds deeper and slower than it should and speeding it up didn't help.

Fascinating!

I absolutely LOVED this book! It is so interesting and very hard to put down! I think it's her best book yet!!

Terrible sound quality

What would have made Here I Go Again better?

Something went wrong with the file. I love the story and I think the narrator did a great job, but the voice had been electronically slowed without modulating so it got artificially deep and warped. I tried playing with the playback speed but it didn't fix the problem.

Have you listened to any of Jen Lancaster’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Hard to say. I suspect she did a great job as she did with Jeneration X, but some technical problem screwed it up.

Any additional comments?

I am hoping for a fix here because I don't want to return the book. I don't blame the author/narrator here because I don't think she did anything wrong.

Phew!

I had to make it through the early part - a main character I could despise, then learn to love. It is a good story and Jen is humorous as always. thanks for making me laugh.

Slightly Annoying

I received this book from the publishing company's table at SCIBA (10/2012) and it sat on the shelf with the other ARC's. So let me say "Thank You" to the host of The Clean Sweep ARC Challenge for helping me get motivated to read a few of the books in the stack.
Now to the book.
Lissy Ryder is a grown, self centered, selfish, narcissistic, grown woman who is only concerned with what people will think about her at her high school class reunion. In the beginning of the book, Lissy Ryder loses her job, her marriage and kicked out only to end up in her parents house. A complete opposite of the mean girl everyone feared and emulated in high school. I really hoped to like Lissy but...dang!! How long in the book do I have to invest in the main character's bad behavior and self centered actions before they have their Ah Ha! moment. In this book you will have to read to the last three chapters before her eyes are really opened and she gets to see that her ways where not the "end all be all" she thought they were. Personally, I think that is too late in the book.
I have 50/50 thoughts on this read. Pro, it was funny. Con, there were way to many f-bombs. Pros, I liked a few of the supporting characters. Cons, I didn't like Lissy. Pro, good ending.
To help me get though this book at a quicker pace, I bought the audiobook to listen to while I was doing my commute and the narrator for me was a Con. The author narrated the audiobook and I have to say that the voice did not match the blond, starving for a burger Lissy that I imaged. AT ALL! The author has a rougher voice that sounded deep (not high pitched) and older. I imaged Lissy Ryder's voice to be closer to Reese Witherspoon in Legally Blonde. I think the author might have had her in mind too. Just saying...based off of her description. I think authors really know their material really well but actors and narrators know the craft of acting and not just reading the book to the listeners.
This book is very typical of a rich, shallow Caucasian woman figuring out life at the last minute. There was the brunette dowdy friend with kids and a mini-van. The over barring mother that caused her to be just like her. The father lacking a bad bone. And last but not least the enlighten one who helps her to be better. Husbands, boyfriends and small dog are also included.
And by the way why do we have to keep saying her full name though out the whole book. Slightly annoying.