Having been a teen during the time of John Hughes movies I am always on the look out for a little teen romance with a smattering of angst and a dash of the discovery of self worth. Be you 50 or 15 this story will make your heart sing and skip a beat. The back and forth he said - she said chapter format gives a more well rounded story. And what a wonderful story it is, two hearts beating to a rich and melodic rythm created by the immensley tatented and modest Luke. Vada is his muse and she loves that he "gets her" when no one other than her Mom's boyfriend Phil. Phil is the father that Vada should have had, but as he says, the drummer never gets the girl, or at least he didn't at first. At first it was Marcus, who doesn't deserve to have Vada for a daughter and you'll learn why as you read the book. Vada has the uncanny ability to sum up the level of talent that a band posesses after listening to them. She keeps a blog and aspires to be in the music business writing for Rolling Stone. She gets into UCLA and is working her plan. Her plan did not include Luke Greenly(although she has fallen for him so hard over the last three years that she falls asleep listening to his podcast) but plans can change, can't they? Luke is the son of a 90's British punk rocker and a mum who teaches liberal studies and fraternal twin brother of an extrovert with a point guard boyfriend who is also luke's best friend Zack. Luke knows that Vada is the one girl who understands the brilliance that is Adam Duritz, after all he has been following her blog and insta accounts for three years. What's a little lurking between friends, right? Will they let fate take a hand or will they choose to write the lyrics themselves before their senior year is over. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and in the texting format of Vada I must say YouTube: UB40 "Can't Help Falling in Love" with this book!

Erin Hahn has absolutely been cemented as one of my favorite authors with her latest release, More Than Maybe. This book was another contemporary young adult/new adult, I don't know the classification romance. There's music, strong friendship, family dynamics, and what a setting. I loved this book almost as much as You'd Be Mine (I have a soft spot for country music).

More Than Maybe features Vada who is a music blogger who wants to go to Berkley and eventually become a music journalist. It also features Luke, who is a fraternal twin who is one half of a podcasting duo. Vada has all this ambition, whereas Luke is really into composing and has a real talent for music, but doesn't want the spotlight at all. Luke and Vada end up getting really close as Luke and his brother Cullen record their podcast at the club where Vada works.

I really can't delve too deep because I do not want to spoil. However, this is the one for you if you like slow burns, sweet characters, driven young women, and positive male father type figures (namely Phil). I ate this book up so quickly during the pandemic. More Than Maybe was a wonderful distraction. It's really a good read that'll lighten your mood - even during the serious parts.

Thank you Wednesday Books and Netgalley for a gifted copy of this ARC, all opinions are my own.

It's quite clear that Erin Hahn is a music buff and as a music lover myself, I loved this story and thought it was brilliant. Vada and Luke were so sweet and I was rooting for them the entire time. Once again, you get actual lyrics! Does Erin Hahn write songs on the side!? Anyways, It was cool to see characters from You'd Be Mine mentioned and I definitely YouTube a few songs Vada and Luke were discussing. I felt like I was watching a movie while reading the book - great writing with realistic characters and dialogues. Can't wait for her next book!

I loved this book! I adored all the music references and was completely swept up in the love story between these two. A cute boy sending love notes through music lyrics had my teenage self swooning 😍 The lacing was great and the writing was engaging. I would love to see this as a movie, even just to hear the music! The banter was great, the friendships were awesome and I loved the themes of growing up and learning to fight for what you believe in.

I would definitely recommend this one!

I absolutely loved the author's previous novel You'd Be Mine, so I was super excited to dive into this book. More Than Maybe was all I hoped it would be, and more! It was a great read, especially if you are a music fan. Vada and Luke didn't disappoint. They were both secretly pining for each other and too scared to admit their real feelings. The characters were so real and well written, with a natural chemistry that was so obvious to everyone around them, except each other. I love that we got to experience both sides of their unrequited love and the build up to the swoon-worthy relationship. They were totally meant to be. All of the music references were a great addition, and I found myself searching for the songs on YouTube to listen as I was reading.

I loved this book and would absolutely recommend it to my music or romance lovers.

Note: I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Luke and Vada spread the love of music and the weights of community expectations. I a little bit wished for even more romance, but the book was still an enjoyable read. Romances are a huge hit with our library patrons right now, and I think the musicality of More Than Maybe sets it apart from others in the genre.

**Review will be posted to my blog on July 1st, 2020**

**3.5 STARS**

Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for giving me a chance to read this eARC.

More Than Maybe is a cute young adult romance novel and it has a playlist also, which makes it even more fun to read.

Luke Greenly, is popular because of his dad who used to be a part of a famous band back in the day. Now Luke and how twin Cullen have a podcast that has gained them some fans. But that’s not the only thing, Luke also secretly makes music and he has a big crush on a blogger named Vada.

Vada is a music review blogger and is trying to accomplish all her goals when Luke happens into her life. Music brings these two characters together and helps them stay together when things threaten to tear them apart.

Likes:
*I like the cutesy, quirky things Vada and Luke would do like send each other links to their favorite music. They both love music and it’s the way to their hearts, but yes…so cute to watch their crush, turn into friendship, then turn again into something more.

*The music that is mentioned…at least some of them because a few of them I was like…??🤔 I’m too old for some of these newer bands maybe? But yes I was a freshman in high school when Nirvana made it big, so those bands they mentioned are definitely from my youth. And Colorblind by Counting Crows…ahhh memories! Heartaching, heartbreaking memories and goosebumps. So it was that way this book pulled on my heart strings at times.

*I really enjoyed their growing friendship while they crushed on each other. They were becoming best friends and music tied them together, which is a beautiful thing. It’s cute how Luke is so crazy about Vada.
When Luke describes what love is like…I was like…awwwwww. 😍

Things That Made Me Go Hmm:
*I had a hard time connecting to the characters and I don’t know why. It took me awhile to get into the story – they did grow on me eventually when Luke and Vada started spending so much time together.

*It’s a slow burn, maybe too slow at times for me but perfect for people who like a easy going romance story like this. There isn’t much angst (I need some angst haha), and the drama in the end is totally fixable and predictable but again, very grand sweet gesture on Luke’s part.

*Triggers: active shooter drill – it was an “oh wow moment” to me that I was not expecting but such a real thing kids face today.

Final Thoughts:
Overall, this was a cute read and would be perfect for music lovers out there! The mentions of some songs brought back so many feelings and memories for me but in a good way, it made me feel young again. 😅 If you like a slow burn romance between two teens who love music, then you will definitely enjoy this one.

This was just what I needed. High stress times, and this was fun and uplifting. Luke and Vada are both wonderful and Cullen and Zach equally so. This was a little Empire Records and a little classic YA love story. Strong characters, fun story and be sure to have a streaming service up so you can listen to the songs along the way to get the full effect!

Do you love music? Do you love really great music journalism? This is the book for you. Ok, now let me back up and tell you just what I loved so much about this book. First off, the writing is fantastic. Maybe it's because I live in a college town that is known for its iconic music scene (shoutout to Athens, Georgia, home of REM, the B-52s and many more!), but everything about this book, from its somewhat grungy home-away-from-home bar that gives local music a place to thrive run, to Phil, owner of the aforementioned bar that maybe could've made it big in the music industry but chose to stick around and throw his heart into his community, to Vada, who just wants to escape her small town and writes about the power of music in such a way that it hits you down in your bones, struck me as so vivid and true to life. Hahn's writing has its own kind of musicality to it, which makes sense since she clearly is skilled at writing about music and even dabbles in songwriting in this book.

I won't delve too much into the plot, but yes, there is also a very swoony romance in this that I, of course, loved very much. This was a definite 5 star (or eye-closers as Vada would put it) read for me and I can't wait to read more of Hahn's books in the future!

With everything in the world as hectic and anxiety-inducing as it is, More Than Maybe was the contemporary romance that I needed to lift my spirits. Filled with heartwarming friendships, swoony British accents, and passion for music, this book had me invested from the first page.

Erin Hahn’s writing flows off the pages, and I only wish that I had a greater knowledge of music so that I could appreciate all the references more. Her characters were easy to love yet incredibly complex like most high schoolers, and my heart felt so content watching the story unfold.

Told in a dual perspective POV, More Than Maybe follows the lives of high school seniors, Vada Carsewell and Luke Greenly. Vada is a talented music blogger who dreams of becoming a music journalist, and in her spare time, she works at the Loud Lizard, a local bar and concert hall. Luke Greenly is the son of a former British rock singer, and when he’s not recording a podcast with his twin brother, he secretly writes his own music.

The romance in this story was exceptionally fun to watch unfold as we see Vada and Luke’s crush turn into friendship and then into something more. Their text conversations were so sweet, and I wish that I knew more about iconic music songs and artists to understand all the references.

Erin Hahn’s writing was SO FUN to read. In many ways, it made me nostalgic for my Wattpad days because of all the awkward teen moments and romantic angst. Parts of the story were a little predictable (such as the ending), but honestly, I didn’t mind it at all and enjoyed the sweet moments that we knew would come along.

Most notably, I really enjoyed reading about Vada’s relationship with Phil, the owner of the Loud Lizard and her mother’s boyfriend. We get to explore the contrasting relationships between him and her biological father, and I loved seeing a step-parent in YA be shown as someone who can provide emotional support and not as an evil villain.

Overall, More Than Maybe was an enjoyable read that I couldn’t help but get lost in. Erin Hahn has become one of my new favorite authors, and I can’t wait to see what she writes next!

I loved the author's previous novel You'd Be Mine so I was very excited to dive into this book.. More Than Maybe was a really fun read--especially if you are a music fan. And Vada and Luke didn't disappoint - despite the fact that they were both scared to admit their real feelings toward each other (and everyone around them knew it all along). All of the music references were a great addition--I found myself searching songs on youtube for my own background music as I was reading. Luke and Vada originally connect over their love of music--but it was great to see their relationship build as they both help each other deal with family issues and expectations. And all of the other characters in the book are a great addition too--loved Cullen, Zack, Meg, and Phil, Such a great ending too! Definitely worth a read!

I thought This book was okay. The characters were all kinda sucky and mean. I usually like books that follow the music scene but I didn’t really vibe with it. Thank you to net galley for sending it to me.

Where to even begin?

This story had me hooked from page one, an absolute delight!

Luke and Vada are the perfect ship. Sure it may take them awhile to set sail but once they do? Swoon!

I absolutley loved their dynamic! I adored how they both had crushes on each other from a far that blossomed into a true friendship. Their texting, their collaborating, their banter. All so adorable. They are the sweetest match!

Can I please get a Phil spin-off? He was a total rockstar and an amazing influence in Vada's life. Loved him! All the secondary characters were a hit! Meg, Vada's sparkly best friend? Give me a spinoff about her too! Cullen and Zack? Cuties. Ben? The lumbersexual? Needed. Just overall a GREAT cast of characters!

While I found the main conflict a tad underwhelming, I'll never complain about a GRAND FREAKING GESTURE! Luke you sweet, romantic, soulful boy. All the heart eyes!

Gah! I could gush all day! More Than Maybe is a book I want to play on repeat! Definitely worth a read or two!

My cheeks hurt the entire second half of this book from smiling so much! Vada and Luke are complex, witty, full of personality, and make this book shine! And the added music references give this novel a special touch. Thank you, Erin Hahn for sharing your characters and music with me!

“Anyway, this is my happy place. Sticky, sour-smelling loud, and crass. These weirdos are my people. We speak a common language of lyrics and chest-thumping beats.”

3.5/5 Stars

Seeing some of the music I love dearly getting shout-outs in the midst of such a great story was honestly a really fun experience. This book is filled with so many great moments and the love of music just fills every page, I consider this a must-read for the young music lover.

This book is about Vada, who basically has her life planned out step-by-step. The job she needs, the internship she wants, the school she’ll attend after graduation, and her future job. All she wants to do is music journalism. She lives and breathes music. Then there’s Luke Greenly, of The Grass is Greenly podcast fame. A modest fame really, his retired punk rocker father is far more famous. He loves music too, specifically, writing it, with no desire to perform it. Ever. If it sounds like these two are perfect for each other, it’s because they are. And they have both been crushing on each other bad. So when they start to talk more for a school project, it’s music to their ears.

One of the cutest and simplest things about this book was the development of the romance. It’s a slow-burn, low drama, and major angst. The only reason this romance takes so long is that they’re just both too painfully nervous about saying anything about their feelings. And over course, fantastic misunderstandings along the way have slowed their progress a bit. It’s really cute and kinda refreshing to read a fairly drama free relationship forming. One that’s really sweet and based on a solid friendship first, and the music they send each other makes your heart flutter. It’s also got kind of frustrating at times, though? As fun as it is, I guess it didn’t always makes sense to me that they weren’t together faster given that they had so little in their way.

The characters themselves are really well developed. I liked the way they both love music and share music tastes, but express that love in different ways. Both writing music and writing about music were equally respected and the fact that they were both fans of one another first is awesome.

I guess my only compliant is kind of a weird one? It’s basically that both Vada and Luke seemed to have really easy access to this industry that is notoriously hard to break into. Like Luke’s complaining that it’s too easy for him to accidentally become a viral internet sensation due to his good looks and charming accent is kind- um- snobby? His feelings are valid and I did sympathize with him, but he’s complaining about how easy it is for him to be super successful at anything he wants is kind of soul-crushing to read when so many people work so hard for this kind of thing that he’s just handed because his dad is famous and has money and connections.

It’s sort of the same case for Vada, although I did appreciate her struggles a lot more. She struggles with money for college which was really relatable. But she is basically handed free tickets to concerts to write about. She gets to take over a significantly successful music blog on her own. And she is directly scouted for her dream job? Like- yes, she worked hard and is definitely talented enough to deserve it, but? Like, of course, she has her life planned out. Every opportunity she could ever want was handed to her by her step-dad. Vada has just benefited so much from connections that she has.

Maybe I just hate it because I have never been able to benefit from that kind of thing. My parents came to this the U.S with nothing and work really manual jobs. Like- I could maybe get a hook-up to be a truck driver, but a journalist for Rolling Stone, ya know?

Which is not to say that Luke and Vada are bad characters or entitled. But they both benefit from a lot of privilege that is really not acknowledged in the book at all. Like- I guess they know how lucky they are, but they don’t really act like it. They focused on their own struggles, which makes sense. Luke doesn’t have many, but I did really loved the progression of Vada’s relationship with her family.

I also really enjoyed the humor of the book as well as the fun plot stuff that kept the story rolling. I feel like this is the kind of book that would make for a really fun rom-com, set to an absolutely killer soundtrack. Truly, this book introduced me to so much new music and make me re-visit old favorites, which only made the whole experience that much more fun!

TL;DR: This book is a super sweet romance filled with so much music you’re ears need to hear! I fully recommend sitting back for a few hours, headphones on, and reading this book. It’s escapist, it’s quirky, it’s funny, and your ears will thank you!

This is the first book I read by this writer. I am really impressed by the amount of music knowledge of the author. The songs and the music theme really fit quite well. with the story. Music fans would love it. The characters are fun and sassy. I enjoyed it a lot. What a terrific book.

Schöner Jugendroman (an der Grenze zu New Adult, 4,5 Sterne)

„More than maybe“ ist der erste Roman von Erin Hahn, den ich gelesen habe, und er wird sicherlich nicht der letzte sein. Denn das Buch war nicht nur sehr unterhaltsam, sondern dazu auch noch packend. Man merkt, dass die Charaktere mit viel Sorgfalt entworfen wurden, denn sie wirken echt. Von Anfang an war ich an dem interessiert, was in ihrem Leben vorging. Ihre Zweifel, ihre Pläne, ihre Emotionen usw. wirkten nicht konstruiert, sondern ganz natürlich und als müsste alles genau so sein, wie sie im Buch beschrieben wurden.

Die Liebesgeschichte entwickelt sich langsam und das Tempo hat perfekt zu den Charakteren gepasst. Es war schön mal wieder einen Roman zu lesen, in dem ein eher introvertierter Charakter sich selbst treu bleiben darf und sich alle Charaktere generell treu bleiben dürfen.

Klar gibt es im Buch auch ein paar Schwierigkeiten zwischen den Hauptcharakteren, die Überwunden werden wollen, aber für mich wirkte nichts aufgesetzt oder zu übertrieben. Gut gefallen hat mir auch, dass neben den beiden Hauptcharakteren auch die Nebencharaktere interessant waren. Sie waren mehr als bloße Statisten.

Da mir an dem Buch fast alles gefallen hat und ich beim Lesen eine sehr gute Zeit hatte, gebe ich ihm 4,5 Sterne

Well DANG that was good. One of my favorite ARCs yet. I completely devoured this one.

Strong intimate character writing, solid dynamics, a lovely slow burning big first love.

Fans of music will adore this.

It would be better if there were brown humans. and even more queer but the gay couple was super cute so that was Funnn:).

Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

You’ll want this one.

“A smorgasbord of goodness. This is the type of story, the type of writing that you long for in a book.”

Cecelia Beckman, Sheaf & Ink

My Thoughts
“Is it possible to never grow tired of talking to a person.”

Erin Hahn, More Than Maybe
May I counter with: is it possible to never grow tired of reading this book?

I’ll answer my own question. Absolutely not.

More Than Maybe is a soundtrack I never want to stop listening to. Hahn wrote her own lyrics so masterfully that each chapter is its own delicious song, waiting to be discovered and felt as music so often should be.

Hahn creates these very real, very personal moments that speak to readers. Both Vada and Luke have their own private demons. For Vada, her father, and for Luke, his father’s expectations.

But with music, these two connect on a plane of consciousness not everyone gets to experience. Vada and Luke happen upon each other as if by fate or destiny or chance where life wove their songs together in perfect harmony.

And it’s not only Vada and Luke’s story that you swoon over. It’s everything. The dialogue is charming and witty. The prose are as engaging as the musical references made between Vada and Luke. Plus, Dear Readers, every time those two dropped a song to the other via text message, I googled the lyrics to every. single. song.

I couldn’t help but fall in love with these two (and the story) a little bit more because of it. Hahn wraps up some of the best music over the past fifty years like a gift and makes each song relevant to these two incredible teenagers.

I’m so glad my own kids will have an opportunity to read this novel and discover Vada and Luke’s story. Because Vada Carsewell makes me want to obsess about music and Luke Greenly has me appreciating the beauty of falling in love.

Is it possible to have so many positive feels and not know what to do with them all? Except maybe hug this book and read it again. And again. And again. Because I’m crazy about More Than Maybe. After reading the opening line, I knew I was going to Love it!

Happy Reading ̴ Cece

This is the story of Vada and Luke together. That’s it. That’s everything. It’s the bits of Vada and Luke separately that would fit with each other, and then how they come together. The rest of the plot was just the backdrop for them establishing their relationship. Luke and Vada had crushes on each other for years before the events of this book, so there was mutual pining right off the bat and they skipped the meet cute stage, which I thought was different but a bonus, because it lacked the instalove aspect. And Vada and Luke just seemed to fit right together? Like, who other two people had this exact way of communicating through songs and gathering the message the other sent them from just that song exactly in the way the sender intended it? I hate the idea of “perfect for each other” but oof they definitely fit together in a very particular way.

I therefore liked the way their relationship developed and how all the other characters knew they were “dating” right from the beginning even when they themselves were pretending they didn’t have crushes on each other and didn’t know that the other had feelings for them and were in denial. I love Vada’s strong character and Luke’s relatable “i am a high-functioning introvert in a world of extroverts” vibe.

While Vada and Luke had different ways of expressing themselves, sometimes I wouldn’t realize who was narrating for a bit into a chapter and then get a jolt when it solidified, especially when it started out with their texts and then went into the narration. (Yes, the top of the chapter said it, but I kept not paying attention to that, sue me.) I will say that Vada had a stronger and more distinct voice than Luke.

I liked the supporting characters! They didn’t have an especial depth to them, since this was so fully focused on what was going on between Vada and Luke, but they were fun and interesting and, importantly, I could pick them apart from each other! I loved the Zack dynamic where he was one twin’s best friend and the other’s boyfriend and how Luke is both Zack and Cullen’s confidante. I also liked Zack and Cullen together a lot, and also Cullen and Luke together and their relationship as twins. Meg is such an interesting personality and I wish we got more of her. Kazi and Ben were also distinct, even as they were simply background figures.

I loved Phil and his role as Vada’s father even before he married her mother, and how he’s always been there even when Marcus wasn’t, and how Phil tried not to be too hard on Marcus for Vada’s sake and tried to keep Vada away from Marcus as much as possible. I LOVED the scene where Vada collapsed into tears and Phil made it as clear as possible that he wasn’t leaving because she was crying and that he in fact wanted to stay, and how this was such a stark contrast to Marcus.

The plot outside of Luke and Vada’s relationship seemed a little… background? Like, I wasn’t scared for the Loud Lizard; I knew Luke would do the singing gig as soon as (Not) Warren backed out; the showcase, despite being important at the beginning, was barely a blip; Vada’s Rolling Stone magazine thing was sure to work out, and it was focused on barely at all for how important it purportedly is to Vada. However, the book just had this feel to it where we knew this was about Luke and Vada in their own world together and it’s okay that everything else seems like a fuzzy little background dream; a watercolor backdrop for the soft, healthy love story that is Luke and Vada.

However, there were soft things within the tropes that were Different that I noticed appreciated. I liked how Luke stuck with his gut and knew himself and didn’t perform at the showcase because he didn’t want to, and was still uncomfortable with performing even after the Loud Lizard fundraiser, and refused to do anything with performing after that. He didn’t somehow magically “get over his fear” or whatever - he stuck to his convictions and didn’t. I also liked how Luke and Vada, after their tropey rom-com “falling-out” or whatever, just needed a night to cool down more or less but neither hated the other and they knew it was an accident and still loved each other. I also liked how both of them had an established knowledge of each other and crush on each other before the events of the book instead of an instalove meet-cute.

Also! Consent! We love to see it! Asking if you can kiss someone before you do it IS sexy, actually!

A small thing, but an important one, in my opinion: There was a chapter/scene that started with an active shooter drill, and the author somehow captured *exactly* the uncanny, specific feel that comes with an active shooter drill, and I legit had to stop reading and put the Kindle down and breathe for a moment because ugh. That’s how it feels and I feel like adults don’t understand that. They don’t understand how it is for kids and teens to go through that, what it does on our psyche.

Another small thing, but I liked Vada’s relationship to religion and Christianity and how it was just a normal thing for her to be questioning and playing with faith, and how her relationship with both her father and mother has influenced this, and how Meg is very religious and yet she and Vada are still best friends, and how Vada would like to believe but doesn’t quite know if she’s there yet. It was another thing I don’t usually see in books, especially YA contemporary, that are authentic parts of teens’ lives.

In summary: This was really an excellent book, especially if you want something soft and easy with a solid writing style that flows well and has a solid, well-written romance plot over the top but complicated knots of feelings (and well-written real-teenager feelings) underneath. I really enjoyed it for reasons I’m not even sure of.