This book. I went in reading thinking by the description that there would be angst but this book was truly deeper than I thought it would be.

Maggie Vine was a complex character. A creative musical talent with a lot of independence and fire. I also believe she was so many current women today. The writing in this book was so much better than I anticipated but at times it did feel a bit over the top and contrived and bordering on pretentious but it did feel lyrical and beautiful and that I appreciated. A few times I said out loud, "Wow great line, or That blew me away." while smiling.

Short version I adored this book. Long version, Garrett. Garret why? Garrett had me intrigued. He was written beautifully with depth and a bit of hidden pain buried deep in that generous giving soul. Garrett had so many chances to just tell her how he felt and make a move but he did not. Instead, he stayed with a girlfriend, throughout many times in the story but later told Maggie he would have left any of them for her. I felt the story put too much burden on Maggie to make a move which of course was quite a bit of the arc for the story but for two people who longed for each other and because the story is written in first person we felt Maggie's pining of Garrett to almost obsession of him. Obviously I have a lot to say about this story but a review should only be so long and simply put for me this is a high recommend.

Garrett's voice first attracted Maggie to Garrett and he was a soulful singer. They connected on so many levels but it wasn't their timing in the book it was their hesitation. But wow within that hesitation such great lines and moments. It made me love this story. As time went on Maggie learned to live without Garrett in her life and it opened up a place for Asher. Asher was a great character also but by then as a reader my heart was in it for Garrett. The author did a spectacular job feeling the chemistry between those two and the love between them. Feeling this thing between them that almost became tangible but never absorbed. Great scenes, great lines, and great moments in the story.

What a great clever story. It's not the same ol same ol and it is beautifully written. It's not even a love triangle it's a story that feels real and that many of us need the time to grow and deal with our stuff before we settle into our future. This story will stay with me.

I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review Maybe Once, Maybe Twice by Alison Rose Greenberg.

Maybe Once, Maybe Twice is a contemporary romance that follows Maggie Vine, a musician who is turning thirty five soon and made a marriage pact-the classic “if we are both still single at 35, we should just marry each other”-with no one person but two. Garrett and Asher both represent different parts of Maggie’s life but who would be a better partner for her?

This book feels very Taylor Swift coded with the beautiful writing style, the references, and the angst but there are parts of it that just didn’t work for me. I feel like this is one of the most difficult books I have had to read and review in awhile because half of it worked so well and half of it did not.

The biggest issue I had with this book is the confusing use of time jumps. I have read a lot of books that utilize time jumps but the ones in this book were just odd choices and very hard to keep up with. Maggie wasn’t a very likeable character to me so it really detracted from the story as a whole. None of her reasoning for things made a lot of sense to me. Some of the humor used in this didn’t quite hit right.

I did really life both love interests. They were very different and cared about Maggie in different ways which was interesting to read. Asher came off as a little too perfect sometimes but being in Maggie’s POV, that makes sense. Summer was definitely a standout character for me.

I feel like this would have been a perfect book for me if it didn’t have so many things trying to work together at once. It was just a lot to process all the time through this whole book. That being said, I did enjoy the writing a lot and I’m very interested in reading more from this author.

What a great love story. I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about Maggie having two love interests but I loved them both and enjoyed the ending with the various time jumps throughout her life.

When I read the synopsis for this book I was intrigued but a little on the fence as to whether I would enjoy it being that there are two main love interests. I am surprised at how much I ended up liking it. Hearts are broken, hearts are mended and songs are written. This book was funny, romantic and delightful with some sadness throughout, just what I want in every rom-com.

This was so frustrating to read!
Oh my goodness girl, make up your mind😅
But I did love all the song/lyric references.

I personally don’t think this book is a good fit for me, but I know many others will enjoy it!

Thanks to NetGalley I received an advanced electronic copy of the book to read and provide a review.

I liked the story and found it compelling. There are parts that felt rushed and other parts that dragged. I mostly just wish it didn’t feel like I was reading a 2003 Livejournal entry. There was a lot of over-the-top flowery language and exaggerated descriptions that took me out of the story at times. To give the author credit, it felt on brand for the singer/songwriter character who emoted her way to the very end.

Side note: worst smell of a main male character has to be Asher as a “rebellious cowboy who took refuge in Connecticut.”

Maybe Once, Maybe Twice by Alison Rose Greenberg is a captivating and poetic narrative that delves into the complexities of love, loss, and rediscovery. With a melodic backdrop, this novel takes readers on an emotional voyage, exploring themes of passion, desire, yearning, and staying true to one's artistic spirit.

The time jumps in this one were a lot. So many different storylines to keep track of, and repeat experiences. It’s like when we got a realization in current time, then we jump back X amount of years to experience the same sort of thing then. While the characters were decent and likable for the most part, they weren’t strong enough to carry the entire story. This had a lot of surface for me and lacked a lot of things that would make it a deep and meaningful read. Overall an okay book, but nothing astounding.

Thank you to the publisher for the gifted ARC.

It’s legit hot outside and I’m so sick of summer, except that Summer was quite possibly the best part of Maybe Once, Maybe Twice. The good news is that Summer is a character, not a season we now roast alive in. The bad news is that Summer is not the protagonist of this story, Maggie Vine is. And Maggie Vine doesn’t really do it for me-maybe because she doesn’t entirely know what she wants. Does she want a baby? Does she want Garrett? Does she want a successful music career? Does she want her first love Asher? The book swings through all these possibilities, and often back and forth throughout the story. Adding to my teeth gnashing was the fact that to “help” the reader understand the backstory of her various pursuits, romantic and otherwise, the story also goes back and forth in time, making reading the age that Maggie is at the start of each chapter more than a little bit important. It made the story hard to follow when I was already struggling to understand what the main point of the book was to begin with. Unfortunately these things overwhelmed two things I enjoyed about the book that didn’t get the attention they deserved, ironic in a book that felt really long. One was the filter free Summer realizes that her priorities in life aren’t unmoving, and that realizing something she thought about what she wanted had changed and was going to have a detrimental effect on her life. The other was Maggie dealing with a toxic relationship that had a major impact on her life. These are two really great emotional situations that deserve more attention and exploration - certainly more than a scene riding a miniature pony bareback without underwear on, which I’m sure was meant to be funny, but ended up being unnecessary and cringe-worthy instead. A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Maggie Vine, a 35-year-old singer-songwriter, continues her quest for the elusive big break while intricately navigating the landscape of love and family. The convergence of her two profound loves, both tied to separate marriage pacts made at distinct junctures, prompts a profound period of self-discovery.

"Maybe Once, Maybe Twice" masterfully weaves a tale of empowerment, entwining themes of love, loss, and the vibrant tapestry of life. Within its pages, readers encounter the tapestry of relationships that uplift and dishearten, evoking a range of emotions. At its core, the narrative champions the act of staking one's claim on desires, choosing the path less trodden over the easy and conventional. This is a testament to self-belief even amidst fear.

Alison Rose Greenberg crafts relationships of unparalleled resonance, particularly exemplified by the captivating character of Maggie's closest friend, Summer. The portrayal encapsulates the quintessential friend—one who anticipates needs without utterance and loves boundlessly.

The dichotomy between Team Asher and Team Garrett reverberates through the story, each pivotal figure leaving an indelible impact on Maggie's odyssey. Both serve as muses, champions, and loves at distinct junctures, each contributing seismic influence to her evolution. While my allegiance remains secret, the eventual outcome left me joyfully satisfied.

Yet, amidst the entanglement of relationships, it's Maggie's profound connection with herself that resonates most deeply. Her persona is one of confidence and vulnerability, embracing life's offerings while ardently demanding what she's owed. Rather than a passive observer, Maggie takes the stage, directing her own narrative even when the script is arduous. She epitomizes unabashed, vivacious living and loving, fearlessly amplifying her own voice.

Maggie Vine emerges as a radiant burst of color, a supernova that collides with the heart's core unapologetically. A heroine for the ages, she offers a lens through which life is a kaleidoscope—a medley of hope, joy, vulnerability, and complexity. The narrative serves as a poignant reminder to embrace the fleeting moments, endure the pain, and cherish love, for life's melody deserves to be danced to wholeheartedly. In a world with but one life, wasting it on lackluster endeavors becomes inconceivable.

This book reads like poetry as evidenced by the music lyrics that Maggie creates which are indicative of the emotions swirling through her body. She speaks in color and taste and as a reader, it made myself feel that deeply. Sentences required thought and were identifiable such as in a relationship, there is a kite and a rock. Although Maggie went through it all in terms of her heartbreak with Garrett and Summer with Valeria, they refused to go through life as someone they were not. There is no compromise in terms of love and what the unifying factors should be. A strong woman will not out herself down. Just like jumping in the lake at camp with Asher, Maggie went all in. I appreciated the turn of events when she started focusing on what is versus what if. She no longer let the past dictate the present. That is why when she and Asher came together regardless of the 35 year old pact, that they were stronger and ready to be together forever. They knew they are soulmates. However, that is why Maggie stood her ground in terms of wanting Willa. At first, she thought the timing wasn't right. But at the end,they both realized that when you want something, you will give it your all. It is like stars falling through the night and fairy dust.

Somehow Greenberg does a great job of making me both laugh out loud and openly weep with her new novel.

Maybe Once, Maybe Twice by Alison Rose Greenberg

I went into this book blind. I loved the author's first book, Bad Luck Bridesmaid, and all I knew before starting this one was the genre: women's/relationship fiction. So, it may look like a romance novel, but it's good to know going in that it is not! 👌

This premise is fun: Maggie has made a marriage pact with two men from her past. First, with her teenage boyfriend and then with her long-time best friend. They promise that if neither of them are married on her 35th birthday they will find each other and get married. Well, both men show up! (Sort of 😉)

This book is women's/relationship fiction. So, it does not have to follow romance rules and I knew not to expect popular romance formulas, but I honestly felt like this was just too painful even with my expectations adjusted.

So much infidelity--both physical and very, very much emotional. It is almost impossible for me to root for any cheating MC. Chanting, "it's not a romance, it's not a romance, it's not a romance" actually didn't help! 😅 I still despised our heroine for loving Garrett for 12 years while also dating men, and he's dating other women, and they aren't even hiding it from each other that they'd rather be together. AND THEY COULD JUST BE TOGETHER. There were no valid reasons not to be together!!! And huuuuge lines are crossed. The wedding shower chapters were an absolutely awful reading experience for me.

Having said all that, if you don't feel this way about emotional and physical infidelity, then you might he able to accept these messy, but possibly realistic characters much more than I did. And you'll likely root for Maggie much more than I did.

Right person, wrong time is not typically a favorite trope for me, but it went worse than usual. I was not sure we had the right person in either scenario. Obviously Asher is the winner, but by the time we meet him, I have lost faith in Maggie's judgment.

Even while reminding myself that I knew it wasn't a romance novel, I was still so disappointed that the author chose to make Asher SO perfect. The "bat signal" on her 35th birthday?!?! I mean, why didn't you just write them a romance novel?!?! And then give them a truly happy ending? I was left unbearably disappointed with the ending.

Pretty big theme of one person wanting a child and the other one not wanting children. I suppose some readers will see themselves or their relationships reflected in this angst.

Reasons to read it:
• If you love messy characters and messy relationships.
• The music and song lyrics sections were my favorite part. I felt like you could really feel the author's love of music. There were specific songs and musicians mentioned and even some super subtle *only Swifties will catch it* ones, too!
• This book included really lovely lyrics that the main character wrote throughout the story. I was super impressed by these!
• Flashbacks to teen years with Asher is amazing!
• Some celebrity romance vibes! Asher was the sexiest man Alive?!
• I love it when the main character has a wonderful best friend. Summer is a fantastic side character!
• Awful men *do* get their comeuppance in the end 👏
• It reads fast with short chapters that jump around between age 14 and 39 (but mostly right around age 35).
• If you'd like a nontraditional, open ended HEA.

Thank you so much to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read an early copy of this one, out in October.

So many things going through my head after finishing this one.

I will start by saying I could relate to this so much. Being in my late thirties and not having a husband or children yet, it can be very hard to navigate life sometimes. Like you aren’t doing it right. And thats why i felt so connected to the main character, Maggie.

The whole book itself was a whirlwind. I found it to be too long and drawn out for most things. The back and forth with all her ages, the past and present, got to be a little confusing at times and i would have liked it better if it stayed in order.

Overall it had its ups and downs for me but i didnt like the yes and no and then yes again with Asher at the end. It was too much. It was still a beautiful love story though with too many bumps in the road but i guess that’s the way it goes for some people.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. All the characters were very human and very relatable. The whole book flowed really well - I enjoyed how the book bounced back and forth from the present to the past. As Maggie is going through various stages of her life both the love interests are there for her in different ways. For a good portion of the book I couldn’t decide if I was Team Garrett or Team Asher. In the end I think she chose the right person. My only complaint with this book was how it ended - it just felt rushed and abrupt.

Our main character, Maggie, is a talented singer-song writer aspiring to make it big in show-biz and become a mother. At her 30th birthday party she ends up confessing her love to her 7 year long crush, Garrett. But not only does she admit she's in love with him, she also makes a promise that if both of them are still unmarried by her 35th birthday, she will show up on his doorstep to marry him. However, this isn't the first time Maggie has made a marriage pact. The first time was over a decade ago, to her first true love, Asher, who she hasn't seen since she was 17. By the time her 35th birthday rolls along, Maggie finds herself still single. Not only that, Garrett and Asher both show up. Things are a little complicated on all ends, though. With Maggie stuck in a bit of a love triangle, she tries to figure out if she is more in love with "the one who got away" or "her true soul mate"?

This story sucked me in from the start! With a shifting timeline between past and present, the making of Maggie's love for both characters is captured. Throughout the story I was unsure who I was rooting for because I was so in love with both Garrett and Asher! This story does also deal with some heavy topics such as sexual assault, fertility issues, death, grief, and mental illness. The only thing that I didn't love about the story, was I felt the ending got a little rushed. Oh, and the fact that I didn't want the story to end! Such a good contemporary romance read!

Romance with complex characters. I loved all the late 1990s and early 2000s music references. Sometimes it got a little confusing since there were multiple timelines.

I loved reading the story of Maggie and all of the real life struggles and trials that come with love. I loved that there wasn’t just one love story, but two. All of the past and present brought together to create a well rounded story that made you wonder who she would end up with. While reading, all I wanted was for Maggie to have everything she wanted in life. It was so easy to become intertwined in the characters and Maggie’s life.

This will be one of those books I wish I could read for the first time over and over again.

Thank you @alison.greenberg for this amazing book.

Thank you so much to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for allowing me to read and review this ARC.

The publish date is 10/03. Don’t miss out on this amazing story.

It’s rare that in a love triangle, a reader roots for all the parties, but that’s what happened in my case. Maggie is in love with two different people: Garrett who she has pined for for the last 12 years, and Asher her first love. The reader is introduced to Garrett first and while their relationship is far from perfect (I mean, Garrett is engaged to someone else!), it’s easy for the reader to feel their chemistry and want their love story to find a happy ending. Then we meet Asher, and we learn about their young love story. Asher is presented as such a good guy, it’s hard not to want them to have a happily ever after too. I became just as invested in Asher/Maggie as I was Garrett/Maggie.

This is where I think the author did a phenomenal job in forming the story. I couldn’t decide who I wanted Maggie to be with, and that’s what kept me devouring chapter after chapter. When her decision was made, part of me applauded it and part of me mourned the match that could have been, and I don’t think I’ve felt that way about any other love triangle story I’ve ever read. It’s that rarity in character formation that would have me recommend this book to anyone who would listen.

The ending was a bit rushed and a bit clumsy, especially after all the detail placed in the rest of the storytelling. It felt like it was a contrived twist to add drama where none was needed. At first I thought this would ruin the story for me, but the author fixes this mistake at the last moment. With that said, a few pages of messiness doesn’t take away from how great the rest of the story reads. If you are a fan of romance, you won’t go wrong picking up this book.

**A big thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own. I truly appreciate the opportunity!**

I absolutely loved this book. It took me a few chapters to embrace the secondary characters, but Maggie had my heart from the very beginning. I love the honest, raw view of friendships and heartache.

There were some completely (and hilariously) unhinged moments that had me laughing until my sides hurt, and I ended the book in sad/happy/wistful tears. The plot, and ending, of Maggie's story is so similar to real life: unfinished, not the answer you wanted, and sometimes incredibly gut-wrenching.

The main character Maggie is reminiscent of Taylor Swift - her song lyrics and writing process are so sweet and meaningful. I want to read Maggie's story forever!

I thoroughly enjoyed this story from beginning to end - I highlighted many quotes I want to look back on often. This book will put you in your feels and empower you to choose yourself, and fight for yourself.