I absolutely adored this book! Right from the start I was seriously hooked and found myself sneaking off to read a a few chapters whenever I could.

I loved how the story unfolded, travelling through memories and back to the present showing how Maggie ended up where she was now and who she was as a person. I loved the idea of looking back and thinking what if and wondering what would have been while in the end realizing she needed to be fully in the moment and what is. I was really torn on which one I was hoping she would end up with in the end. Both had something that made you want to root for them but in the end I was happy with who she chose.

The music throughout was also amazing. As someone who knew all the songs and could sing along in my head, it helped to fully shape the moment the author was trying to create. I also love that I found a playlist on Spotify (that I think the author made) with all the songs in mostly the order they occur in the book. The music brought a real cinematic feel to the book that I loved and anyone that picks Fiona Apple to be in their playlist is all right in opinion.

All of the characters felt vivid and complicated just like they would be in real life. The chemistry she has with Garrett is electric and you can feel the tension between them in each almost moment. Asher and Maggie share something more tender and real but also very hot. Seeing love through teenage eyes and how they both came into each other’s lives exactly when they needed to was beautiful too.

In the end, I laughed, I cried and felt like I had been through the wringer with Maggie but I loved it and would definitely read it again and anything else this author writes.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, St. Martin Press for the advanced reader digital copy. I very easily can say I loved this book and will buy a copy for my bookshelf so I can go back and visit it again in the future.

4.5/5 - Maggie made a marriage pact with not one, but two different guys. If we aren't married by the time we are 35, we will get married. She made one when she was 17 and the other when she was 30. Both of those times, that guy was the perfect guy for her. Now, at 35, they have both showed up. Both are incredibly different, and have different things to offer her life. Now she must figure out who she is and if either of these men are who will make her the best she can be.

This book was heartbreaking, but beautiful. It is a reminder that even though things don't always happen how you think they should, not to give up and go for what you want. Both of the men in Maggie's life contribute to Maggie's journey and are there for her at different, pivotal moments throughout her life. Though this is dubbed as a romance, I will say that it is Maggie's relationship with herself and figuring herself out that left me turning pages. Alison Rose Greenberg wrote so many scenes perfectly, and I found myself, at points, with tears in my eyes.

I did find some of the book a bit confusion, as you bounce around in Maggie's life with current (35 years old) and the years between 14 and 35. I found myself having to remind myself at what point of Maggie's life we were in, as it was not presented in a linear manner. It is through these flashbacks (and even the bouncing) that who Maggie is and how she has been shaped becomes clearer to us.

Maggie refused to compromise and I finished this book with a tear stained face, both in joy and sorrow. If you want an emotional read, this book would be perfect for you. Please note there are some heavy topics discussed in this book. If you need, please check for content warnings. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a copy of this book. All opinions are 100% mine.

Alison Rose Greensburg tells a story of not losing yourself to other people’s expectations. Of staying true to yourself even when it means losing parts of you that you hoped would be forever. Of not settling for less than the life you’ve dreamed of.

It’s a great reminder to choose ourselves and everything that’s meant to be will fall into the right place. There will be grieving and loss, but also joy as we come into ourselves. All of these themes are weaves beautifully through the book. The romance however was not it for me. Maggie’s relationship with Garrett frustrated me, even with the flashbacks (which sometimes were a lot especially in the beginning of the book) I felt like if they had wanted to make it work sooner they could have? Or should have? (also he had so many red flags omg I was reading this like GIRL). Maggie and Asher’s flashbacks were much sweeter but even they seemed very surface level and I just wanted more from their story.

The ending wasn’t what I expected I spent most of the book thinking she’d end up with the wrong person. But I felt the 3rd act break up was unnecessary. Maggie was going through it to find her man for most of the book and they still couldn’t get it together once she got him (tragic).

Maggie’s friendship with Summer was my favorite part of the book. I loved their connection, the way they pushed each other towards a life they deserved and held onto each other when they had to make difficult decisions because life wasn’t reflecting what they wanted.

Overall there are a lot of great lessons in this book. Most importantly to stay true to yourself. The life you want, the life of your dreams will come just be patient and don’t hold yourself back from it. Also there will be drawbacks throughout it all, just keep getting back up and try again.

I received this ARC through netgalley. Thank you!

I’d recommend this book if you like: second chance romance, strong fmc, music, great friendship, right person wrong time.

And please there are some heavy topics in this book so check TW.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's press for the digital review copy!

What I Liked

I love the premise of this book, having people actually follow through on a marriage pact. What a fun setup for a love triangle situation.

On the sentence level, I love Greensburg's writing. This is one of those books where I just itched to highlight profund, well written lines.

We love a female protagonist in her 30s. I appreciated how this book navigated the feeling of growing older and wondering if you're missed out on the chance to achieve your dreams.

I always have to applaud a book that makes me cry in the last 10%. So, cheers to the fact that I did get emotionally invested right at the end.

What I Didn't Like

Back to that premise. I felt like it was a bit of a bait and switch, for reasons I won't dig too deeply into to avoid spoilers. Suffice it to say, it isn't quite what the synopsis makes it sound like.

The pacing in general was awkward for this one. The chapters skip around to different ages in Maggie's life, which is fine in theory, but it felt pretty random at times. We spend a great amount of the beginning of the book painting the picture of Maggie's relationship with one guy, and the other guy doesn't even come into the story until well into the book. Some chapters are long and felt gratuitous, not really developing the plot or the characters in a meaningful way. I think some of this was to get the spice in for those who like a spicy book, but personally, those scenes always read as awkward to me, and I wasn't here for it.

Ultimately it was hard for me to invest in the love triangle. It became pretty clear which way things were going early on, and then I got bored with the back and forth.

The "biological clock" aspect of the story felt forced. There are random points in the story where Maggie feels panicked about her aging ovaries and her desire to have a kid, but to me, this didn't really feel like it fit with the rest of the character. She's so devoted to her music career and making it happen that the trip to the gyno to learn about her eggs felt much more like "all women in their mid-30s must worry about babies" than something that felt true to the character. We don't even see her interact with kids, even though as a birthday party singer there should have been opportunities to make this happen and perhaps lend a bit more depth to her desire to be a mother.

In all, I think I'd have liked this book more if it was a good bit shorter. I strongly considered a DNF on this one because I had trouble feeling invested in the story and the characters, and the middle section really felt like it was dragged out more than it needed to be. I'm ultimately glad I finished it because the last 20% of the book or so really grabbed me and made me feel invested, but I wish we'd gotten there sooner.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for this ARC!
This book was such a fun read! I really enjoyed how we got a then/now timeline throughout the story. I found the main character relatable and really realistic with real life problems. Overall a fun read!

Maybe Once, Maybe Twice is the story of the life of Maggie May from mainly teen years through age thirty-five. The story is full of emotions and life decisions that don’t always turn out to be for the best. Her best friend Summer is a solid rock for Maggie and helps her navigate through life’s trials.
I personally did not enjoy this book very much. The story goes back and forth between the past and present in a way I found distracting and at times past chapters seemed irrelevant. The ending is nice but very sudden and felt like a rush to meet deadline or something. I give this book 3 stars.
I received an advance copy of this book from the Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

Maybe Once, Maybe Twice by Alison Rose Greenberg

Second chance romance x two (there’s a lot going on in this story!). I was rooting for Maggie and Garrett AND Maggie and Asher 🫣

I enjoyed that the Maggie was still figuring her life out at 35. Relatable.

Maybe Once, Maybe Twice will be released on October 3rd- Keep your eye out!

Favorite Quotes:

“I had been promising for over three decades - like a drug that could work, but lacked federal funding.”

“Find one person in the audience who loves you no matter what. No matter if you’re great or good or just okay.”

“It occurred to me that he had abandoned his entire day in favor of mine.”

“Most of us are born with an instinct to safeguard against failure and rejection- to put ourselves in positions that win.”

After finishing this read I had to take a couple of days to really think about it and I just loved it. It was so different than a lot of romance reads and you fully expect our FMC to choose the wrong man but she doesn't disappoint.

Outside of the love interests this story was woven together amazingly well, including past and present and showing that other relationships can be just as important as romantic love and to never be afraid to be on yourself.

10 out of 10

Main character, Maggie wanted two things: a successful music career and a baby. Throughout her journey of making a name for herself, she met a handful of men all playing different roles in her successes and failures.

Asher: high school sweetheart, mutual interest in music/fame, promised to find each other at 35, didn’t want kids
Garrett: real life bestie, made a pact to get married at 35, engaged to a different woman
Drew: boyfriend for the meantime, wanted more but Maggie was too head over heels for Garrett
Cole: Satin himself, criminal, career ruiner, disgusting man

When I say I was Team Garrett, I was 100% Team Garrett. When someone can be your best friend AND lover, what more do you need?? Unfortunately for Garrett and Maggie, they kept crossing paths at the wrong times. They were so madly in love by the age of 30 but because of past experiences, Maggie was too scared to move forward and when she was ready, Garrett already moved on without her. These two truly crushed me to my core.

I loved Asher and the idea of him and Maggie’s relationship. As teenage heartthrobs, they always connected right where they left off. Asher saw Maggie’s potential and always wanted what was best for her. Red flags came along though when he introduced her to her nemesis, a person who shall not be named….Cole. The epitome of *horse shit*. More red flags came when we found out he wasn’t keen on ever having kids.

There was a lot to unpack in this book but overall, it was a page turner! I would have loved to see a different outcome but I think it’s to each his/her own preference. I really enjoyed this book. Big thanks to @netgalley & @smpromance for this gifted ARC. Look for it October 3!

Maybe Once, Maybe Twice” by Alison Rose Greenberg is a captivating journey that blends romance and heartache over two decades in the life of Maggie Vine, a talented singer. The book beautifully explores the idea that timing is everything in love, keeping readers on their toes about Maggie’s choices.

The story switches between two timelines—’then’ and ‘now’—as Maggie’s romantic saga unfolds. Her first love, Asher Reyes, steals hearts during a summer camp, and their promise to marry if they’re both single at 35 adds an intriguing layer to the narrative.

As Maggie pursues her music career, she meets Garrett Scholl, another musician who ignites a passionate love story. However, life’s twists and turns put their love to the test, and those 35-year-old promises keep echoing.

When Asher and Garrett reenter Maggie’s life after her 35th birthday, the story takes a turn. Maggie’s facing crucial life decisions, having dealt with a traumatic past. Asher’s unexpected business proposal adds to the mix. Will Maggie find what she’s seeking to make her life whole again?

Alison Rose Greenberg crafts characters with depth, making you care deeply about their journey. The exploration of fame’s glitzy side enriches the narrative, creating a story that’s both immersive and thought-provoking.

Emotions run high in “Maybe Once, Maybe Twice,” making it a touching and memorable read. Each page is packed with feelings that tug at your heartstrings. I thoroughly enjoyed the rollercoaster of emotions, and I’m eagerly anticipating more from this talented author.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher, but the thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.

4.5 stars (rounded up to 5).

I loved everything about this book! I felt like it was written for me specifically, a millennial Swiftie against the patriarchy. I laughed out loud so many times, but the more important topics like mental health were also written to be incredibly relatable. The multiple timelines really contributed to the question of who Maggie would end up with and there were quite a few times I was second guessing myself about who it would be, but by the end I was so happy with who it was. Summer was a firework of a character and probably my favorite of all. I actually did not want this story to end, I wanted to live in Maggie’s world forever. I’m incredibly eager to read more by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Griffin, and the author for this ARC!
Publication date 10/3/2023

Typically I am not drawn to romance/rom-com books but this one just looked so interesting! I'm glad I read this book -- the premise did not disappoint and prefer novels that go back and forth in time, so this was a great read for me. I enjoyed the characters as well, and the creativeness of the songs and telling of the life/struggles of a musician were very entertaining. However, in my opinion there was a little too much cursing for me in the book (I just don't like when there's multiple f-bombs page after page), and the pony scene was weird. Overall, in the balance of what I did like versus what I didn't like, I would recommend this book because it was a good read!

3.5 stars rounded up.
This book was just what I needed. This August I've been bouncing around domestic thrillers and romances. Though this had romance elements to it, it was still an adult coming of age story wrapped around the trope of "If we aren't married by 35, we get married."

And this is where our heroine, Maggie finds herself. Except it's two men whom she made promises to in very different stages of her lives. Her best friend Garrett, whom she's been in love with for almost 12 years. And, Asher, her first love from arts camp. The catch? Garrett is freshly engaged to his girlfriend of almost four years. Asher is an up and coming famous actor turned director whose next project is a film musical based on a book Maggie loves. Maggie's dreams of a budding music career were thwarted, but this may be a chance for her to reclaim her power, follow her dreams, but will her heart get in the way?

This book was angsty, and even though the teenage romance rekindling after all these years is such a delicate trope to get right, that wasn't the focus of the book. Thank you to St. Martin's press for the ARC for my honest review.

Maybe Once, Maybe Twice was just such a lovely read! Maggie Vine has made two marriage pacts that at 35 they’ll get married, only on her 35th birthday they both show up—Garrett comes to her birthday wanting to kiss her, only he’s engaged to someone else, and then there’s Asher, her first love turned heartthrob actor who comes with a career-changing opportunity. I actually really loved this book. I wasn’t expecting to but it is heartwarming and lyrically written and addicting to read. Maggie is so vulnerable and the dual timeline adds so much. Plus Maggie’s best friend Summer is incredible! I want to know everything about her. And I love how developed Maggie felt and how full her life is. It is more her story than a romance and I really loved how firm she was in her dreams. The dual timeline was interesting and the two men were so intricate. Garrett felt so complicated and interesting and Asher is just such a sweetheart. This story is emotional, full of love and growth and dreams, and it’s just a great read.

This is a second chance at romance book and I enjoyed how it was executed. We see the fmc with 2 different lives and in different timelines in past and present. It was an interesting take and I enjoyed it!!

A fun, but rather predictable read. Cute story line of two old friends with an age old promise to marry at 35. Definitely a light read.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS BOOK!!!! For me, it is one of those books that I will always remember. The story is told from Maggie Vine's POV, with a timeline covering two decades. It follows her journey in life, from her different relationships throughout her life to her career ups and down.

Maggie was relatable is so many different ways. Her journey, emotions, heartache, and happiness were so palpable to me. I cried so many times with her throughout the story. I loved the songs she wrote about her two greatest loves. I want someone to record these songs and bring the emotions to life. Her best friend Summer was the best and had me laughing out loud. I liked her jokes and how blunt she was because I am the same way with my friends. Garrett was great in his own ways but I fell in love with Asher. Anyone who reads this story will fall in love with him, it's hard not to.

Tropes:
- Marriage pact
- Second chance love
- Star-crossed lovers
- Soul mates
- Angst
- Heartbreak
- Bestie with no filter
- Music references
- Creative genius
- Adult & teenage love
- Emo heroine
- Singer/songwriter.

Trigger warnings:
- Impact of losing family member to suicide
- Infertility
- SA
- Disassociated parents.

I highly recommend this book, it's a beautiful story. I hope there will be an audiobook so I can enjoy this story again.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for sending this book for review consideration.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy of Maybe Once, Maybe Twice by Alison Rose Greenberg!

I really enjoyed this book. Maggie Vine is a wonderful main character! She is easy to relate to, and I loved following her on her journeys. In romance novels, it is important to me that the main character has different conflicts occurring aside from the romance aspect; it makes the character feel real, rather than two-dimensional. Alison Rose Greenberg created a female main character who is just that: REAL. She makes decisions for herself: she is determined to become a singer/songwriter, she wants to have a baby, and she also wants someone to love forever. She is a strong woman who stands up for herself! She is a good friend and has good friends surrounding her; I loved Summer and Maggie’s friendship. I was truly rooting for Maggie to get everything she wanted in life.

Not only did Greenberg create a wonderful female main character, the two male characters, Asher and Garret, were really great characters, as well. This is a love triangle romance, and I was on the edge of my seat while reading, waiting to see who Maggie ended up with in the end! I believe rooting for both characters is such a rare occurrence in love triangle romances! Both men are caring, likable, and, most importantly, swoon-worthy!!! They made the reading experience even more enjoyable.

My only criticism is the extreme time jumps that took place chapter-by-chapter. Sometimes I had difficulty discerning what was happening presently and in the past. Otherwise, this is a great read, and the author is incredibly talented! I highly recommend this book!

I love books that make amazing music references, and this book knocks it out of the park. Listening to the playlist along with reading makes you feel the heartache in your bones!
Maybe Once, Maybe Twice follows Maggie as she turns 35 and her life isn't what she thought it would be. She is still looking for her big break as a musician and is not where she hoped she'd be in her personal life, either. We get alternating timelines and see Maggie grow up and meet the two loves of her life, see them both show back up on her 35th birthday, and a lot of the inbetween.
I loved Maggie's determination, her steadfast friendship with Summer, and that she wasn't willing to compromise on her dreams in either her personal or professional lives.

I can't wait for my physical copy to arrive in October

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Maybe Once, Maybe Twice definitely exceeded my expectations - heartfelt, hilarious, and heart-wrenching at times - I loved this book. Jumping around to different key moments in Maggie's life and in her friendships/relationships with Asher and Garrett - you follow Maggie on a beautifully messy, and sometimes devastating journey - but the journey is so worth taking. And as Maggie learns - if you are going to live true to yourself, then you should do so unapologetically. Maggie and Summer both add so much humor to the book amongst all of the angst. And all of the music and song references were so crucial to the story and Maggie's growth and healing! She is an amazing character and this book is going to stay with me for a while. Definitely recommend. Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this novel.