My apologies for not reading this when I got an eARC so many moons ago. I have gone through the emotional rollercoaster along with Maggie of reliving every relationship and the what ifs and if only. Apologies to my husband for absolutely ignoring him when I was listening to the last few pages.

This won't be everyone. Relationships are hard. Grief is hard. Glad I already had a copy on my shelves, otherwise I'd have to go out and get one.

This one has big “what if” energy in the best way. Maggie is a singer-songwriter who made two separate marriage pacts—one with a summer camp crush, the other with a guy she had a sweet little almost-thing with years ago. Fast forward, she’s 35, they both randomly show up again, and suddenly it’s a whole thing.

It’s funny and a little messy, in that very relatable “figuring life out in your 30s” kind of way. Maggie is chasing her music dreams, trying to sort out her feelings, and maybe finally learning how to choose herself first. I loved the voice in this—it felt sharp, warm, and very real.

This book was written for you if:
1. You love second-chance vibes and "what could’ve been" energy.
2. You’re into women-in-music stories with a little romantic chaos.
3. You’ve ever wondered what might happen if an old pact actually came true.

**3-Star Review of *Maybe Once, Maybe Twice* by Alison Rose Greenberg**

*Maybe Once, Maybe Twice* by Alison Rose Greenberg is a sweet, contemporary romance that follows the journey of two people navigating love, second chances, and timing. The story centers on a couple whose relationship faces unexpected challenges, and the novel explores the complexities of reconnecting with a past love and figuring out whether they’re meant to be together.

The writing is engaging and easy to read, and Greenberg does a solid job of creating relatable characters with their own flaws and growth arcs. The romance is cute, but the plot feels a bit predictable, with familiar tropes that readers of the genre will recognize. While the chemistry between the leads is evident, the pacing sometimes drags, especially in the middle, and there were moments where the emotional stakes didn’t feel as high as they could have.

Though the central relationship is enjoyable to follow, I found myself wanting more depth in the character development and the overall storyline. Some secondary characters felt underutilized, and there were moments when the story felt like it was treading water instead of moving forward.

Overall, *Maybe Once, Maybe Twice* is a pleasant, easy read for fans of romance, but it doesn't fully stand out in a crowded genre. It’s perfect for a light weekend read but may not offer the emotional resonance or originality that some readers are looking for.

Thank you NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book is about Maggie who makes a pact with two different men at two different stages in her life and they both show up.

This book was a DNF. This book seemed very interesting to me, but within the first chapter, I was not vibing with the writing style and it really was not what I was expecting. I think it was a matter my personal taste in books and not the author's fault at all.

I love Alison Rose Greenberg's writing and this unique chance romance did not disappoint. It had humor and heart and the slow burn one-who-got-away tension is just perfection.

PS - I need a playlist for this book! The music references were amazing.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press for the copy to review

I was given this book for an honest review.

I've had this on my shelf for a while. I've picked it up and put it down a few times because it was never the right time. I highly enjoyed the premise of this story. Where two friends agree to get married if they are both single by 35. I had a similar pact with my best friend yesrs ago, so i lived that idea in a book. I didn't like both characters. One was too annoying for me, but the writing was good and the plot was okay.

The premise of this book genuinely sounded interesting, and the first 25% or so I was hooked. And then truthfully it just kept going down and down for me. The back and forth, the kissing engaged men, even the time jumps, all just became frustrating and a bit repetitive. I wanted to smack Maggie more than once for her choices. The final closure with Garrett felt too easy. And the end was so unsatisfying. In the last like 7% there was a breakup, a time jump, a baby, and a reconciliation and I found it wholly frustrating and unsatisfying.

I think the love triangle trope is a tricky one to write successfully. Sometimes it can get frustrating with characters having to choose between love interests. However, I think Greenberg did it successfully. She was able to write two equally interesting love interests that I genuinely found it difficult to decide who I was rooting for. Of course, both are not without their flaws.

"If we're not married by the time we're [insert random age here] then we should just marry each other." Yes, it's silly. Does this actually happen? Well... I did make this agreement once with a guy friend, but I can genuinely say that neither of us were actually serious. So no, I don't think this actually happens. But there is something fascinating about the idea - what if? I like the way Greenberg explores this idea by bringing three very different characters together to see if this could actually work for two of them.

I truly enjoyed that this book went a bit deeper than just romance. It's nice to see a fully grown adult still trying to figure out who she is and what her place in the world is. I think we often feel this way and yet, we're supposed to have it all figured out by now. This novel really showcases the bravery of doing the unexpected and being true to yourself.

Be prepared for a rollercoaster of emotions. This book is touching, inspiring, and enjoyable. I really didn't expect to like this book as much as I did, but I easily devoured this one.

I love the concept of this book, and I will look forward to reading more from Alison Rose Greenberg.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me.

This was such a fun, drama-filled read! And I loved it! There was a lot going on within this novel for our main character, Maggie Vine with dreams of being a singer. However, at the age of 35, still single she’s realizing if she ever wants to be a mom she needs to act on it now. Not only does our Maggie struggle with the need of wanting to have kids, but she has also made not one, but two marriage packs with two different people throughout her life. And drama around both men comes as Maggie’s 35th birthday comes around.

We follow Maggie as she navigates adulthood, still attempting to figure out what exactly she wants in life as she tries to pursue her dreams. We bounce between various timelines as we see the current timeline and different stages of her life between the ages of 16 and 34, mostly revolving around her two love interests, Garrett and Asher.

While I didn’t love all of Maggie’s choices, I loved following her as she navigated life. Especially as she lived primarily unapologetically, striving to be a singer even if it meant occasionally dressing up as a Disney princess to sing at a child’s birthday party. Maggie knew she had to do her dues to get to where she wanted and she wasn’t going to give up on her dreams.

Also, with her concerns around the biological clock ticking on becoming a mother, seeing her character struggle with infertility really connected with me as it’s something I’ve been dealing with too. It just made her feel even more real and easier to relate with.

The romance and the drama around this one were also very entertaining to follow, giving off a who’s team are you on kind of vibe. Are you rooting for Garrett or Asher? We have Garrett who Maggie meets in her twenties, the two of them just always seem to have terrible timing to play into one another’s interest for the other. Then, we have Asher, Maggie’s first love from summer camp back when she was only 16. With all the back and forth in our timelines, it was hard to guess what Maggie would do or who she would pick to be with. Just when I was certain, we were given a new twist that made me second-guess everything I already knew. And the ending truly caught me by surprise!

I thoroughly enjoyed this one! I didn’t want to put it down. I experienced a rollercoaster of emotions with this. If you’re looking for a contemporary romance that will pull on your heartstrings but also make you smile, definitely pick this one up!

REVIEW: Maybe Once, Maybe Twice by Alison Rose Greenberg

Alison Rose Greenberg's Maybe Once, Maybe Twice is a sweet story about love, loss, and second chances. It follows Maggie Vine, a 35-year-old singer-songwriter, as she finds herself stuck in a love triangle with her childhood crush, Asher, and her longtime friend, Garrett.

The writing is super engaging, and the dual timeline adds depth to Maggie's journey. You can feel her struggles with her music dreams and personal growth, which makes her relatable. That said, the pacing can be all over the place—some parts drag on while others fly by too fast.

The characters are likable, but their motivations sometimes feel shaky. The love triangle is interesting, but it gets predictable. Plus, the ending might leave some readers wanting a bit more.

Overall, Maybe Once, Maybe Twice is an excellent read for anyone who loves romantic comedies with a sprinkle of nostalgia. It's a heartwarming tale about love and second chances!

Thank you, Netgalley and St. Martin's Press, for the free advanced copy for my honest review!

This was a great concept, and I wanted to like this book more. HOwever, I had issues with the writing at times. The scenes when the characters were 14 had dialogue that was very unrelalistic for teenagers, regardless of artistic talent. It was difficult to get into the story at these points.

I actually enjoyed this book a lot more than I thought I was going to. Watching Maggie navigate the love she had for her bestfriend and finding her love from when she was a teenager was like having my heartbroken just for it to be glued back together. I loved seeing Maggie come to terms with whom she loved the most and understanding that love can change and evolve for those in her life.

*I received a free ARC from NetGalley*

This book was one of the cutest summer camp romances I have read. Specially since I read it while camping and could definitely picture myself at summer camp following the dual timelines

Maybe Once, Maybe Twice by Alison Rose Greenberg
Publication date: October 3, 2023

Date read: July 12, 2023



Maggie Vine’s life is going extra-medium. At 35 she’s pursuing her dreams of being a singer and being a mother―though neither is successfully panning out. So when Garrett Scholl―stifled hedge fund manager by day but electrifying aspiring rock singer by night―comes to her 35th birthday party with the intention to kiss Maggie senseless, it feels like one piece might click into place. Except he’s engaged to someone else, and Maggie knows she won’t fit into the cookie-cutter life he’s building for himself. Enter Asher Reyes. Her first boyfriend from summer camp, turned into heartthrob actor, he’s lived a successful yet private life ever since he got famous. When a career-changing opportunity is presented to Maggie after her reconnection with Asher, it feels like everything―music, love, family―will fall into place. But her past won’t let her move on without a fight.

Romance books seem to be pretty hit or miss for me, although even the worst ones mostly have at least some redeeming parts to them. I'm not saying that this book was one of the worst ones, but while there was a good amount that I did enjoy about this one, there was just also a lot that I did not like. I'm sure that there are some readers who love the trope of the protagonist who is just in love with the absolute worst person and makes bad decisions along the way, and if that's you it's okay! And in that case, you might love this book. But the main character pining after the horrible douchebag who treats her like crap just doesn't do it for me.

In addition, this book was just too long. It came in at 336 (which isn't horrible for a romance novel), but it really should have been cut down to about 250 pages. There is a drawn out reveal of a past mistake that was compelling at first, but then just became annoying.

And I'm not saying the book is irredeemable, because most of the plot actually flows pretty well and is interesting. I liked the romance between Maggie and her childhood boyfriend, Asher. I also, at first, was not on board with the way that the book was ending, but it turned in a way that I ended up liking. I think that Maggie had some serious soul-searching to do after all of her life choices, and I liked the way it played out.

Overall, an okay romance, but there were too many bad decisions and drawn-out plot points for my taste. Fans of the trope of the girl falling for the wrong guy and having to find herself might like this one more than I did, but it really just wasn't for me.

Content warning: suicide, absent parent, consensual sex between teenagers, sexual assault

Rating: (a weak) 3/5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book

I really loved this book even though I did not always feel this way while reading it. I often questioned how quickly she could jump from one person to the other. But I really loved the timing jumps and how it felt a little disjointed at times. I loved her relationship with Summer and I was so happy with the ending!

Maybe Once, Maybe Twice is a bittersweet and emotional rom-com. Maggie Vine is a songwriter, and the book follows her as she navigates love and life over two decades. Torn between two men, Maggie’s journey touches on how relationships and feelings shift over time.

While the story has plenty of heart and humor, the pacing is a bit slow, and it took a while for me to really get into it. However, once it picks up, the depth of the characters and the exploration of timing, love, and second chances make it worth the read. If you enjoy romances that feel realistic and layered, with a touch of nostalgia and bittersweet moments, this one is worth checking out.

If you’re looking for an escape save this for a different day. Worth reading, but you have to be in the right mood!

The continual back and forth between past and present was confusing - especially in the beginning. I had no interest in the main character and was not invested at all in her story. I also grew impatient with the repetitive nature of the story.

Well, I’m going to have to be honest here. After all that is the point of this right? I found the main character came across very childish, almost in an unrealistic way. I did not appreciate the back and forth between her love interests. She felt she was with the wrong guy everytime she was with each of them. Throw in there the desperation for having a baby in there, I’m sorry, nope.

I had a difficult time getting into this book; the writing was very much back and forth between past and present time. The characters could be relatable but I had a difficult time relating to them myself.