When she was younger, Maggie made a marriage pact to get married to a friend/longtime crush if they were both single at 35. However, she made two separate packs with two different men at different stages of her life. Now she’s 35, single, and both men have shown up in her life. Garrett, a hedge fund manager and aspiring rock star, comes to her birthday party ready to kiss her. He’s the one who got away and they could never get their timing right, however, he’s engaged to someone else. Then Asher shows up. He is her first boyfriend from summer camp who has grown up to be a famous actor. As both these men make a reappearance in her life, Maggie also gets a life changing opportunity in her career. With so many decisions to make, Maggie also finds it’s hard to separate her future from her past.

This book really hit me in all the feels and will stick with me for a while. I loved this twist on a second chance romance and seeing Maggie get that opportunity to reconnect with two men from her past. It was interesting to read because I found myself not being sure which man I was hoping she would end up with and my thoughts kept changing as I read. This story was messy, full of tension, heartbreaking at times, but most of all full of hope. There is some mention of sexual assault and other trauma, however, I felt those topics were handled with the care they deserve.

I switched between audiobook and ebook and really enjoyed the audio narration by Katherine Littrell.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley for the advance copies.

Maybe Once, Maybe Twice felt like going on a rollercoaster. As a reader, I sometimes hit the fast ups and downs of excitement/pacing. But, there were times (especially at the end of the novel) where everything felt like it was going in a slow circle. While I wanted to care about Alison Roe Grreenberg's characters and connect, I didn't see a point in where the story was going. I wish there was more clarity with the characters and less of a "will she or won't she" plot structure.

I hope to read another by Greenberg in the future however; this one wasn't a hit for me.

Maybe Once, Maybe Twice will definitely make my top romances of the year! Maggie Vine was a fun character to root for and Garrett and Asher are two of the kindest, most generous male characters I’ve read about in a while. This book was full of angst and I couldn’t wait to find out who Maggie ended up with. I don’t often feel like I can’t put romances down, but in this case, I couldn’t stop turning the pages. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the early copy to read and review!

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press & Alison Rose Greenberg for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

This is my first book by this author but it absolutely won't be my last! I loved these characters and as a 90s baby, I loved all of the 90s music references! Cannot wait to dig into Greenberg's backlist!

Solid 4 star read for me!

This book was so emotional and heart-wrenching. The dual timelines between past and present were well-written and kept me hooked. I could not put it down until I finished it! My only problem that I had with the book was the ending. The entire book was such an emotional ride, building up to the last part... and then it fell flat. I loved the book up until that point, but it felt very rushed. Someone else might like the ending but it wasn't for me.

I didn’t know this was a love triangle, which I now realize is stupid of me because it kinda indicated it as such in the book cover. In my defense, I thought it was the same guy who just dyed his hair and grew a beard 😭. I don’t like live triangles, they’re annoying. I avoid them when I can. But I’ll read/watch them anyways. This annoyed me a little. Since because I didn’t know this was a love triangle, the first 50% of the book I was so confused on who really is the MMC. I didn’t know there was two of them! Also confused my feelings because I didn’t know who I want Maggie to end up with. Maggie and Garett were like Harry Burns and Sally Albright from “When Harry Met Sally.” And Maggie and Asher were like Alex Stewart and Rosie Dunne in “Love, Rosie.” Both great romcoms, both my favourites, so I kinda got the best of both worlds. But at what cost?! The emotional pain my god. To be honest, the ending felt rushed. I needed more from Asher than the “let’s get together again.” Did he get help??? Therapy??? My girl Maggie deserves better ok. I wouldn’t call this a romance novel, but a contemporary fiction. I’m so happy it all worked out for Maggie.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I think this is a case of it's not you, it's me.
I like the storyline, the characters, and all of the pop culture references...but I never felt a connection and it began to feel like a chore just to finish.

So many elements that I love...second chance romance, a love triangle, and past/present timelines. But again...I just felt like there were too many timelines going on. Teens, twenties, early thirties, mid thirties, flip flopping back and forth and all around.

Even though this one fell short of my expectations, I appreciate the fact that it felt different and wasn't predictable. I'll definitely give this author one more shot. 3.5 stars

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Griffin & NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I don't normally go for books that feature love triangles but something about the premise of this book just really drew me in.

When we meet the protagonist, 35 year old Maggie Vine, she is pursuing two of her biggest dreams, becoming a successful musician and becoming a mother. She unfortunately isn't having much luck with either though and feels like her life is passing her by. Maggie's life soon takes an unexpected turn when two men from her past re-emerge. What Asher, a childhood friend of Maggie's, and Garrett, a friend she has had feelings for for a few years now, have in common is that at different points in her life, Maggie made the same marriage pact with each of them: "If we are still single when we’re 35, we should get married."

Maggie is genuinely torn about which of these men, if either, would be the best choice for her at this point in her life. I love how the author has the story unfold, mostly through a series of flashbacks where Maggie reminisces about meeting Asher and Garrett for the first time and how their relationships developed over the years. It also offers Maggie the opportunity to explore many key moments, both good and bad, from her life that have shaped her into the person she is today. Through those flashbacks, we can also see that both Asher and Garrett are pretty great so it's easy to see why Maggie is so conflicted about who to choose.

I was very much invested in her romantic journey, but her personal journey of growth really appealed to me as well. Maggie learns so much about herself throughout the course of this story and I just really enjoyed watching her grow and learn to trust herself more.

This book is an emotional ride for sure, but I really enjoyed it.

"Men under fifty stroll through dark parking garages the same way they approach their birthdays: without a second thought. They don't lose sleep over their place in the world--not until they find themselves inside a midlife crisis. Women don't have midlife crises, because we've spent our lives constantly in crisis."

Maybe Once, Maybe Twice is the story of musician Maggie Vine, told through her voice at different points in her life (ranging from 14 to 39 years old). This book tells not only her love story, but also the story of her career, her friendships, and her struggles. I approached this book thinking that it would be a typical romance novel (sunny, feel good, happiest of happy endings), but it was honestly so much more than that. This was a brilliant rumination on what it means to be a woman and how we fit ourselves, our wants, and our needs into the spaces that we're given.

This is in my top 5 books that I've read this year, and I wholeheartedly recommend it. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Rating: 4.5 Stars

After reading Greenberg's last book, Bad Luck Bridesmaid, I knew to expect a complicated main character, a fantastic female friendship, and a complex personal journey all wrapped up in some sort of big message. But, wow! Greenberg sure took me on an emotional ride, and I was holding my breath until the very end to see if Maggie would get her HEA.

I had been drawn in by the premise of this book. Two marriage pacts, made many years apart but with the same end date. One man had been a constant in her life for over a decade while the other was a memory from her teen years. Who knew both would remember and want to fulfill the pact?

I must admit, I had complicated feelings when it came to Garrett. It seemed like the universe was always looking to keep him and Maggie apart, but it was also some of the decisions Garrett made that thwarted their romantic chances. I was all heart-eyes for Asher, though, because I met him when he was a lovestruck teen, and grown-up Asher made a very good impression on me, too. Not to worry, he did something that made me doubt him as well.

The romantic aspect of this book was definitely one that kept me on edge. I felt like I went back and forth between Garrett and Asher as many times as Maggie did. She eventually made a declaration - one man was her soulmate, while the other was the one that got away. I anxiously awaited the reveal, biting my nails to the quick, and I will say, I was very happy for Maggie in the end.

Figuring out which man was her forever was quite a journey for Maggie. The story flipped back and forth between past and present as she examined important moments in her life and events in her past relationships that shaped her. Like I said, she was a complicated woman, and Greenberg did a fantastic job illuminating those important moments in Maggie's life while also allowing me to see her grow.

So, what was the big message in this book? I think this story was about timing, and you can see that theme in multiple threads of the story. Timing when it came to Maggie's career, to her romantic life, and even to her quest for motherhood. And, it played a role in some of the other characters' lives too.

Overall, this was a bit angstier than normal for me, but I found myself so invested in Maggie's personal journey. I simply could not put this one down. It was such an emotional and entertaining journey which paid off big for me.

I loved the character of Maggie Vine. She is unapologetically herself, no matter what the situation. Her career journey in the music industry has had a lot of ups and downs throughout the years. Somehow, she has managed to agree to marry two different men if they aren’t married by the age of thirty-five. She has known Asher since she was a teenager, Garrett more recently. The book does jump back and forth with Maggie’s life at different ages and her relationships with both men. This made it a little bit more difficult to keep track of, but the book was well worth it! I found myself rooting for both men at different times. Maggie’s beautiful songwriting was an added bonus. I’m so glad I read this book!

This is NOT a light, breezy rom com, but a more insightful, thought-out romance, which I enjoyed. The book covers some mature themes including infertility, depression, and sexual assault, so just know that before jumping straight in.

I love how this plot feels authentic and genuine, possibly based on experience. It's nothing like unrealistic romances we are accustomed to, with everything working out perfectly no matter the circumstances. Greenberg does an excellent job of highlighting the nuances of Maggie's (the MC) journey.

The narration is first POV past tense, alternating between different stages of Maggie's life. I started loving Maggie almost instantly, sympathizing with her on many levels. Yup, the blurb makes it sound filmy, with the 'marry me at this age' idea, but the execution is chef's kiss.

A constant theme for me was YOLO- and I understood it's full extent through this book. Following a compelling, self-empowered woman was a truly rejuvenating experience. The story is that of failure, love, pining, friendship, rejection, heartbreak, trauma, healing, introspection, and prioritizing yourself. There were times when I felt like my heart would burst with joy, times when I felt low with Maggie, and times when I cracked up at some scenes.

If you're worried about loose ends, don't worry coz it's all done amazingly well. I finished reading with a tiny gap in my heart, but a smile on my face. Maggie's choice doesn't disappoint either, and all the closure and perfect goodbyes were balm to my soul. Ten on ten recommend for everyone!

Many, many thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for this complimentary ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was an absolute rollercoaster read for my emotions, and I was 100% in for this ride!

35 year old Maggie is an aspiring singer/songwriter and has just found out that she is in for a hard struggle to get pregnant. As if that's not enough for her, enter two lost loves from her past that she had made oaths to marry when she was 35.

I enjoyed the time hopping throughout the story that helps add a great depth to Maggie's past and present. Learning more about what formed her relationships with the two lost loves, Asher and Garrett, as well as how someone so opposite like Summer could be her best friend was so well written, it left nothing unanswered.

The story was so relatable. I appreciated that the author touched on characters who both wanted children and didn't want children; most will focus on only one side of that coin and I admire this author for diving into this as it spoke to me.

I can't say enough amazing things about this book or this author, and I will definitely recommend both to anyone who will listen.

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC of Maybe Once, Maybe Twice in exchange for my honest review!

This book started out great but about halfway through it started feeling a bit bland oddly enough. Due to this, it felt like the romance also fell flat. The ending was also so anticlimactic, it was resolved so quickly.

I.....look this book was fascinating for me.

I really liked how it was written. Writing style was nice. I liked the main character, flaws and all, and I loved the best friend. She was incredible and I wanted more of her.

The romances..... wow! Wow, I did not like either. There was the flashback scenes, of which I just wanted to stay in the present. Also my favorite part was how I knew how the "first" guys's story would end, and I was like "Well okay, so the book is over--- oh well the premise says two guys, but who is guy two OH THERE HE IS."

It felt really disjointed, and for so much I didn't want to be in the flashbacks. I didn't feel like I cared about either romance, even though I did very much like the second guy.

Also the last few chapters??? An entire book could've been about the last few chapters! So much happened at lightning speed that it felt like whiplash!

I really wanted to like this because there was so much going on, but my goodness, I really got super frustrated by this book by the end.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an early copy to read and review!

If you like contemporary romances, flashbacks, healing from trauma, and growing through failed relationship mishaps, this book if for you! It's a very very sweet and relatable love-in-your-mid-thirties contemporary romance novel.

I'm going to be honest here though. I struggled with the beginning. I didn't like the love interest. I didn't feel invested in the characters. It just fell flat to me. BUT then the flashback timeline shifted, and man was I invested and interested then!! Honestly, by the time I got to the ending (which is fantastic by the way), I didn't even remember why I struggled at the beginning! I definitely recommend this to anyone who loves contemporary romance, but especially those looking for contemporary romance novels featuring main characters in their 30s.

Content Warning: s*xual assault, explicit s*xual scenes (not as long as later Sarah J Maas books, but I skipped through them and can't say much more than that), strong language

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced reader copy. The thoughts and opinions contained in this review are my own.

Maggie Vine has dreams of making it big in the music business and she's worked her whole life to make it. Along the way, she's fallen deeply in love twice with men who didn't work out but who promised her that they'd marry her if they were still single when she turned 35. Imagine her surprise when they both turned up but with vastly different emotional roller coasters.
Maybe Once, Maybe Twice jumps back and forth along Maggie's life in a show of the moments that made her and got her where she is in the present. It's a great story full of emotional turmoil, success, failure, and timing just not being right. Greenberg's voice is fun and her characters feel relatable even when they're doing things that feel beyond aspirational or possible but still like something totally doable for them. It's a rollercoaster of emotions that doesn't pull you too far into the dark side while also getting several chuckles, the perfectly balanced rom-com that not many writers manage.
I wanted to rate this one higher because I enjoyed it yet I have to accept that it's a story that's been told a hundred times before, and this one doesn't bring anything particularly new to it. It's very enjoyable because Greenberg is a good writer and her characters practically breathe off the page, but that doesn't eliminate the fact that I constantly felt like I had read this book before.
It's a good and perfectly balanced emotional read that's a nice addition to the second-chance category.

Happy thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for the emotionally satisfying read!

A fun take on “if we are still single at 35, let’s get married”. Perfect for those who love a second chance romance for sure! This one does involve a love triangle, so if that isn’t your thing, then steer clear of this book. Otherwise, highly recommend!

This was such a unique and fresh read!
I loved how it covered a number of years and we were always jumping between years.
I also found the fact that she was torn between two men who were really important to her quite unique.
The musical aspect of it also gave Daisy Jones & Billy Dunne vibes which I'm definitely not mad about.

I wanted to like this one more than I did. Marriage pacts! Older characters! Other Goodreads reviews sang its praises, so I felt the need to request the ARC. This one didn't do it for me.

Maggie is turning 35, and two men pop into her life. Because she has a marriage pact with both of them. One is her friend Garrett, with whom she's had a bit of an on again, off again dynamic. But he's engaged. Their shenanigans through the rest of the book are a major ick for me and almost made me put the book down. Or, well, my laptop with the digital ARC.

Then there's Asher, the Hollywood big shot. She thinks he's forgotten all about the pact they made after breaking up in college, but he comes through in a big way. Like, with a job offer as well as a life offer.

Overall, I didn't *love* either of the men, and I liked how Maggie sort of ended up choosing herself and her own goals/dreams in the end. Although the actual end made me roll my eyes so freaking hard.

Thanks, NetGalley!