Everything New Again

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Author(s)

Renee Watson

Publisher

Bloomsbury YA

Genre(s)

Age Range

13+

Release Date

October 13, 2026

ISBN

978-1547621668

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Bliss knows there's more to life than what she's experienced in her small town. She's ready to be the girl who isn't just waiting anymore, who can make something happen. Working in her family's funeral home, she can't help but ponder what it means to truly live and what it takes to leave a lasting legacy. Her existential questions have labeled her the weird “funeral home girl” to most of her peers, except for her best friend, Alex, and the new boy visiting from Portland for winter break.

Solomon isn't put off by Bliss's musings. He has questions of his own, like why his mother abandoned him and if she ever did--or ever will--love him. He has come to visit for answers, and to work at his mom's flower shop, where he meets Bliss on a delivery to the funeral home.

Their chance meeting changes everything. As they open up to each other, share their hearts and experience something real, something new, they find that even if a relationship has an end, love can last forever.

Powerful, moving, and inspiring, Everything New Again is a story of first love perfect for fans of Jandy Nelson and Nicola Yoon, about falling in love and finding who you are--all at the same time.

Editor review

1 review

Vacation romance with a twist

July 25, 2026 (Updated: July 26, 2026)

Overall rating

4.0

Plot

4.0

Characters

4.0

Writing Style

4.0

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

N/A

Bliss lives with her mother and father above the Mitchell family funeral home. As one of the few high school students of color in Larch Heights, Oregon, she often feels out of place, especially when mean girls like Natalie make fun of her. She does have a best friend, Alexandra, who is Mexican, and she doesn't mind her family's business at all. Simon lives in Portland with his father and step mother, but for winter break really wants to connect with his mother, whom he hasn't seen since he was eight. His father, who is Black, drops him off at the florist shop of his mother, who is white. It's awkward, but Simon is determined to make some sense of their relationship, especially since he hopes to go to Harvard or Cornell to study botany. When he delivers flowers to the funeral home, he and Bliss are taken with each other. Bliss decides to offer to take him around town, and the two enjoy each other's company. They realize that their time together is limited, but manage to savor tater tots at The Tot Spot, visit the marsh and the African American Heritage Center where Bliss volunteers, and watch Black romance movies for an assignment Simon must complete for his film class. They have a sweet romance with lots of kissing, but nothing else. They do spend some time apart; Simon finally has a heart-to-heart with his mother about why she hasn't seen him, and Bliss has to help out at the funeral home for several especially sad deaths. The two decide that it would be great for Simon to be able to show Bliss around Portland, and make plans to travel there on New Year's Eve. Simon's dad and stepmother are traveling, but his cousin Damon is at the house, so there would be supervision, but Bliss' mother thinks the driving is too dangerous. They set off on the trip anyway, with Alex providing a cover story, and have a great time in Portland. Will the two be able to continue their relationship after winter break is over?

Good Points

Vacation romances should be an entire genre. Go somewhere new, be a different person, find a sweet but short lived romance before going back to your regularly scheduled life. Bliss and Simon had a good time together and enjoyed getting to know one another. They each had their own problems, but helped each other through them. I loved that Simon wanted to share Portland with Bliss, and as in Watson's Some Places More Than Others, there is a lot of really interesting Black History. The funeral home and florist details were interesting, and Simon is able to make some peace with his mother. Bliss' parents are overprotective, but we find out why at the end of the book. Most of the book was rather pleasant and comforting.

This does have a really big twist at the end of the book that slapped me upside the head in the saddest way possible, although this is infinitely happier than All the Blues in the Sky.

This book would be appropriate for middle school, but is slower paced and more introspective than most middle grade romances. Reader who like the romance in Watson's Love is a Revolution will enjoy the first half of this, and those who love the star crossed lovers in Lurlene McDaniel's books will adore the end.