Have you tried using the Dialog Box in the bottom right? That is now better than the journal, you don't need to open anything. I just have that setting checked so nothing else comes into that box. That was the addition in the first official patch.
For true coop conversation when both of you are in the conversation, when it is your choice and your partner answered something, you need to scroll up on the window to see what they did and then read what currently is happening.
