I loved reading the story of Maggie Vine and the two marriage pacts that she made with two different men. Her love stories were realistic in their beauty and heartache, and the story line kept me guessing and engaged until the last page. I was a bit confused in the beginning with the alternating timelines, but I soon caught on and devoured this book!

I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

Phew, this book packed an emotional punch. There were so many deep and raw relationships here -- Between Maggie and Garrett, Maggie and Summer, Maggie and Asher -- the feelings were practically rippling off the pages.

This book jumps all around in a timeline as we learn how Maggie made the "if we aren't married by 35" promise to BOTH of the loves of her life -- her first boyfriend Asher and her Mr. Right but Mr. Wrong Timing, Garrett Scholl. Both of these men were dreamy AF so lucky Maggie to have options.

Maggie is an aspiring songwriter who still hasn't "made it" at 35 -- and as we watch these relationships unfold we learn how timing is everything in life. The song lyrics were beautiful and it felt like where was a moment that was ripping my heart out on every other page. Definitely not a lighthearted summer romance but loved it nonetheless.

Maybe Once, Maybe Twice was a rollercoaster of a book! Throughout the story, we follow singer-songwriter Maggie as she navigates a life in the music industry while also dealing with the ramifications of two separate marriage pacts she made with two different men: Asher and Garrett. Told from different points in Maggie's life, this book has it all: love, grief, friendships, chasing your dreams, and awesome original lyrics and songs.

(Content warnings: mentions of the death of a parent, suicide, anxiety, panic attacks, attempted rape, cheating, infertility, and absentee parenting. Please use care when reading this book <3)

Surprisingly, my favorite part of the book was not the romance but Maggie's friendship with Summer. Have you ever read a book where the main character's friendships felt forced? Well, that's not the case in this book. Maggie and Summer's friendship is literal goals. Summer is funny, supportive, loyal, and deep. She is there for Maggie all the time, and it was amazing to see that. I loved how Summer got her own storyline, too. She was a fully developed character and I hope she gets her own book some day!

At times, this book was difficult to get through, just because it was so heavy. I often had to put it down and come back to it after a while. The writing was very lyrical, but I also thought there was an overabundance of metaphors. (That could just be personal preference, though!) Maggie was a great narrator, but she felt everything very deeply, so it took me awhile to get used to her constant thoughts and emotions.

Finally, the romances were good. Without spoiling anything, I'll say that I often questioned why Maggie was pursuing one of these men. However, Asher and Garett each brought out a different beautiful side of Maggie, and it was interesting to see the way she loved and interacted with both of them throughout different moments in her life. (FYI, both romances are open-door.)

Maybe Once, Maybe Twice surprised me with how good it was! Thanks, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, for the Digital ARC!

I adored every single moment of this story! I stayed up late to read it, found breaks in my day to sneak a chapter in here or there, might consider it in my top 5 books of this year so far....it is that good.
This is especially good if you've ever been in love where the timing was JUST not right. This felt like reading a page out of my college diary with just the tiniest bit of spice. Couple that with a perfect love triangle (who is your soulmate?), a B story line on friendship that was really engrossing, and balance with a musician career growth arc that actually felt believable: just chefs kiss!
I will say: I would not have picked the guy Mags picks in the end, BUT, it was still ridiculously satisfying. That says somthing about the strength of the relationships in this story: you can not agree but still totally love the ending.
5 out of 5 stars and I will go pick up all of Greenberg's back catalog immediately.

Unputdownable with a capital U-need-2-read-this.

ARG took me on a journey that is a little Daisy Jones in the sense of an incredible singer songwriter chasing her dreams and also the classic tale of being in love with two different men from two different eras of her life. Taylor Swift ain’t got nothing on Maggie Vine.

And in true ARG fashion - our protagonist is not one to compromise who she is for any man and the ending left me with a tear streaked face and a heart full of joy.

It's been difficult to get this book out of my head. Maybe Once, Maybe Twice follows the love life and music career of Maggie Vine. At two very different stages of her life, she makes a pact with a different man regarding her 35th birthday.

There is serious angst and chemistry with one of these men. You feel his pain and longing in every scene he's in. He's well-formed as a character, and he gets under your skin. There are several moments with him from this book that have haunted me for the last two days. I can SEE and FEEL his anguish.

Then there's the other guy. He didn't feel as well-formed. The chemistry was lacking, and there's a particular scene near the end that seemed contrived and included just to add drama.

Part of the reason I give this book 3 stars instead of 4 is because of the second man I mentioned. He seems like an afterthought. It is a convenient way to make this a love triangle rather than a viable love interest. I felt no emotional ties to him, and that greatly affected my enjoyment of the story.

The second reason I gave it 3 stars is because the main character seems to hate men. It's kind of hard to get into a romance where the main character is supposedly in love with two men but also heavily dogs on men at every turn.

It's rare for me to have two such large issues with a book while still recommending it. I think the author is VERY talented and does a great job breaking your heart over and over again. If you have a few days to stare into the abyss while clutching your heart in pain, and let's face it - many of us LOVE books that make us feel like that - grab Maybe Once, Maybe Twice!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was the first novel that I have read by Greenberg and I was in for a delight. Her writing style is one that pulls you into the page and doesn't let you go. Her characters are well-developed and lovable. They are genuine and relatable, which makes the read even more enjoyable to me. There are some hard topics that emerge and the author portrayed them really well. I would definitely classify this as a rom-com.

4.5/5 stars

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!

Funny, Heart wrenching, beautiful, cute.

My only complaint was there was a lot of sex and I don’t need to hear about her grabbing men’s dingalings.

Alison Rose Greenberg's novel, Maybe Once, Maybe Twice, explores themes of romance and self-discovery over a span of two decades. With a captivating narrative structure and a sense of mounting tension, the book delves into the concept of second chances and forging one's own path.

The story revolves around Maggie Vine, who finds herself making a vow to marry two different individuals at different stages of her life.
As fate would have it, both of them resurface, throwing Maggie's life into turmoil. At 35, Maggie strives to pursue her dreams of becoming a singer and a mother, but faces setbacks in both areas. When Garrett Scholl, a charismatic aspiring rock singer, enters the scene, Maggie's life takes an unexpected turn. However, Garrett is engaged to someone else, and Maggie realizes she may not fit into his preconceived life plan. Enter Asher Reyes, Maggie's childhood sweetheart, now a successful and private actor. When an opportunity arises for Maggie after reconnecting with Asher, she believes that everything she desires—music, love, and family—will finally fall into place. But her past refuses to release its grip without a fight.
Throughout the novel, my heart ached as Maggie searched for love in the wrong places, particularly with the wrong person. The story captures those moments of lingering on the "what ifs" in life.

I easily empathized with Maggie's character, experiencing the forbidden desire for Garrett and the longing for Asher, her first love. Each intense moment resonated deeply, evoking both heartache and tears as Maggie navigated her journey as the leading character.

Maybe Once, Maybe Twice was such a lovely read! We all know by now, I'm a sucker for a great story that has music involved (looking at you, "The Happy Ever After Playlist" and "Daisy Jones and the Six"). The pacing is on the slower side throughout which I thought really works with the story (imo, it rarely dragged and was incredibly engaging). Because of the slower pace, it felt like the last few chapters were a little off and possibly wrapped up too quickly, but that would be my only complaint.
I am generally not a huge fan of love triangles, but it is done very well here and it's likely because the two men were not the main focus. Don't get me wrong, they were a huge part of the story, but I felt the main theme was Maggie and her love for music (ugh the music is so good, I made a playlist of all the existing music mentioned) among other themes. The marriage pacts seem like such a small part because Maggie was such a great MC and I love that we were on a journey with her to really find what she wanted out of life. I also loved that we were able to see so much of her friendship with Summer and how much of a positive impact she had on Maggie's life. Also, I want to mention that Garrett and Archer were both very different love interests from different times in Maggie's life, so it didn't seem like a redundant back and forth between the two men like it usually does with the love triangle trope.
The book is written with multiple timelines (I will also praise how this was done, it was so clear and concise. I have a tendency to get frustrated if I have to revert back to previous chapters to remember where we are, but the author chose perfectly here). I also thought the conflict built and resolved well without being dragged out. Between the lovely Maggie, the original (and existing) music, and Alison Rose Greenberg's beautiful writing and everything else mentioned, "Maybe Once, Maybe Twice" is easily one of my favorite books I've read this year. Definitely planning to read this again!

Absolutely loved Greenberg’s second novel! This story of love lost, found, lost, and found again was very heartfelt. I was conflicted as to how I would feel if either of the leading men were picked and everything ended up working out beautifully. There was a lot more spice in this novel and in Greenbergs debut, which, although unexpected, was still delighful.

Maybe Once, Maybe Twice is an easy-going beach read. I enjoyed most of the book, but the ending went by really fast and seemed rushed.

Thank you, NetGalley, for this ARC.

''You know that old saying, “if we are still single when we’re 35, we should get married?” Well, Maggie Vine made that vow with two different people, at two very different stages of her life.

And they both showed up.

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.''

This book is relatable. Not just the overall theme, but the little details. I also loved that we get a kickass moment of women handling their own issue that other books tend to write with a male (or female) saviour running in to save the day. (Minimal details as I'm not to spoil this scene).

I could sing this books praises all day and will certainly be recommending it to anyone and everyone.Oh, two delicious men and one huge dilemma!!! A wonderful little romance novel abounds here that is not too schmaltzy to read...even I was not sure who I would choose. (Most people I imagine would go for the potential billionaire unless they want to be in magazines with the Hollywood star and become semi-famous themselves. A great storyline means I will recommend this to my lovers of love books and chick-lit far and wide.


ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis (from Netgalley, the provider of the book for me to review.)
******************************************************
Filled with the romance and angst that defines the years you come to know yourself, with a shifting timeline covering two decades and ratcheting up the tension, Maybe Once, Maybe Twice is a novel of second chances and finding your own way.
You know that old saying, “If we are still single when we’re 35, we should get married?” Well, Maggie Vine made that vow with two different people, at two very different stages of her life.
And they both showed up.
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 a 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.

Oh, two delicious men and one huge dilemma!!! A wonderful little romance novel abounds here that is not too schmaltzy to read...even I was not sure who I would choose. (Most people I imagine would go for the potential billionaire unless they want to be in magazines with the Hollywood star and become semi-famous themselves. A great storyline means I will recommend this to my lovers of love books and chick-lit far and wide.
#shortbutsweetreviews

I enjoyed the characters in this story, but felt that the boom drug. There was too much hopping back and forth with the timeline. Drug in parts and then rushed to tie up quickly.

4.25. There's a lot going on in this book - most of which I really enjoyed. I loved the back and forth chapters in the age of the Maggie the main character - it was a great development of character to see her at 14, 17, 29, 35, etc. and to flip back and forth. This book is about all the time in the world you think you have when you're 20 . . . and then all of a sudden you're 35 and your dreams and expectations didn't pan out then what?

Maggie has two forever loves in her life at different moments in time - I liked that the author made both of these men good people - and I was rooting for both of them at different times. Maggie is a song writer/singer and I absolutely loved how the author uses music as metaphors to life and moments in time. Music and art are very important to this book and I loved how the author incorporated the need for art.

Some harder topics in this book emerge as well and I think the author did a great job of identifying those hard topics and going thru the topics as well as suggesting therapy for some really hard things/thoughts. Very pro-mental health and its importance.

There are also some pretty darn funny scenes that I was giggling at and I appreciated the funnier moments in this book.

All in all a very fun good book that I really enjoyed. Thank you to NetGalley, Alison Rose Greenberg and St. Martin's Press for the ARC and the ability to read this great romcom book.

An ARC in exchange for an honest review.
“You stole my soul, and that’s a pain I could do without.”
We have Maggie our main character, Garrett the man she thought was her forever person, and then there’s Asher her childhood sweetheart.
This has a love triangle troupe, and I am not the biggest fan of those, but I understood that going into this book. The way the love triangle was executed is what made me dock it down to four stars instead of a five star rating. I didn’t 100% agree with who Maggie chose, but I won’t spoil that ending for you guys.
My heart ached throughout the entire novel. Maggie is chasing love in all the wrong places and more specifically with the wrong person.
We all linger on those “what if” type of moments.
I found myself diving straight into Maggie’s shoes as a character, and all I could feel was the forbidden desire for Garrett and those dangerous flirty blue eyes of his. Then the other half of my heart was longing for Asher the first love of Maggie’s life.
Every single intense moment made my heart ache and cry with Maggie as our leading lady.
I would totally recommend this book for anyone’s that’s looking for a romance book that will make you ugly cry but in a good way!

“‘Find someone who makes you laugh’ was a line I had always heard. But finding someone who made me see the world in psychedelic colors was equally intoxicating.” 
 
• 
 
Maggie Vine is a 35-year-old singer songwriter, who is still looking for her big break while also trying to navigate what her future looks like in terms of love and family. so when the two great loves of her life both show up because of separate marriage pacts she made with them (at very different times), she’s got some things to figure out. 
 
"Maybe Once, Maybe Twice" is an empowering story of love and loss and life, full of uplifting relationships and heartbreaking disappointments. it’s a story about betting on yourself by going after what you want and not settling for what’s easy or what makes sense to other people. it’s a story about believing in yourself, even when you’re scared.  
 
Alison Rose Greenberg writes top-tier relationships that are impossible not to love. I absolutely adore Maggie’s best friend, Summer, who embodies the type of friendship we all deserve: a friend who will be there for you without you even telling them you need them, and a friend who loves you unconditionally. 
 
when it comes to the boys: whether you’re Team Asher or Team Garrett, it’s undeniable that both of them contribute to Maggie’s journey in seismic ways. at different times, each is her muse, champion, and love. no spoilers, but my favorite guy wins, and it makes me so happy! 
 
but above all, it’s Maggie’s relationship with herself that I value so much. she’s confident and vulnerable and open to what the world has to offer, while also demanding that it give her what she deserves. she doesn’t just let life happen to her; she jumps on the stage and directs the show, even when it’s hard. she lives and loves out loud, and she’s not ashamed to turn up the volume.  
 
Maggie Vine is a supernova of color that will come crashing into your heart full force without apologies. She’s a heroine for the ages, and she’ll make you look at life through a kaleidoscope of hope and joy and vulnerability and messiness that will encourage you to be present, embrace the moments, feel the hurt, and cherish the love. you’ve only got one life, so don’t waste it on things that don’t make your heart dance.  
 
• 
 
read if you like: 
♡ a kickass female lead 
♡ betting on yourself 
♡ synesthesia  
♡ Trader Joe’s smashing s’mores (literally my fave) 
♡ music (especially 90s/00s. think: fallout boy, blink-182, dmb, deana carter) 
♡ great love, bad timing  
♡ women supporting women 
♡ Jewish representation  
♡ running away from engagement parties 
♡ rebellious ponies  
♡ beautiful goodbyes  
♡ hopeless romantics  
♡ NYC 
♡ friends that are family  
♡ big breaks 
 
trigger warnings: 
☞ infertility / difficulty conceiving  
☞ suicide  
☞ loss of loved ones 
☞ grief 
☞ absentee parenting  
☞ fear of abandonment  
☞ sexual assault  
☞ survivor’s guilt  
 
• 
oh, and I would be doing a huge disservice if I didn't mention the magic of music within this story. it will be a riot for people of all ages, but it will be especially enjoyable for children of the 90s and 2000s. The nostalgia will gut punch you, and you’ll be left with a desire to lay on your bed with your five disc CD player circulating through all your mixed CDs.
•

thank you to the author for sending me an early copy for my honest review!

It was okay but I wasn't feeling the thing with the 2 love interests, definitely wasn't the vibe. This was just meh for me. Barely meets 3 stars.

Two very different loves in two very different parts of life, both given the same marriage pact: if we aren’t married by 35, show up at my door.
At 35, Maggie never expected to be unmarried, finding out she might not get to have a baby, have her career going stagnant, and watching someone she loves get engaged to someone else. But when an old love comes back into her life, he could turn it all around for her - if she can get over some parts of her past.

Much like Alison’s last book (Bad Luck Bridesmaid), I really enjoyed this book! It is not as much as a rom-com but I love that! It has parts where I was laughing and parts where things were serious and my heart was aching for Maggie. At its core it followed a similar presence to her last book; always stay true to you!

I really enjoyed Maggie as the MC, she was level-headed, determined, fun, but also didn’t take herself too seriously. One love interest I adored, the other I thought was not that great and couldn’t understand why Maggie loved him so much - but I guess that lends itself well to the story so I shouldn’t complain!
My only critique was that I found the bulk of the plot was amped up and resolved within the last 5-ish chapters. I personally like the build-up to be throughout the novel rather than lumped at the end, but that’s just me!

Alison continues to make herself a staple authour when it comes to rom-coms and I hope others join in and love her writing as much as I do!

Thanks to NerGalley and St.Martin’s Press (SMP Romance) for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and thoughts are my own