Oof. You know the emoji of a person looking through their fingers second hand embarrassment? Yeah I felt that here. Don’t do it girl it’s not worth it.

Cute story but also nooooo.

Usually, I enjoy a book with several timelines. I didn’t enjoy it so much in this book’s case. I felt like the fleeting timeline was a poor excuse for an underdeveloped plot. The reality is, I didn’t see very much of a plot to begin with. The synopsis will tell you most of what you need to know.

This would have been a great book between a guy named Asher and a girl named Maggie who makes a pact to get married if they aren’t by the age of 35. The back and forth timeline would have made a perfect romance book for the both of them. Sadly, that isn’t how this book played out, nor was it the plot.

The plot of this one is a promise of marriage by 35 is made to two different guys, at two different points in Maggie’s life. They both come back to fulfill that promise. What gets me is Garrett. Garrett, Garrett, Garrett. He shouldn’t have been included in this book. The only thing I’m gonna say is he found her to fulfill the marriage by 35 promise and he was ENGAGED. Like wtf, that was enough to make me dnf all together honestly.

If you take all the parts about Garrett out, I believe it’s a great book between Asher and Maggie :)

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! This was the perfect read on the couch on a rainy day. I attempted the audio a few times, but the emotional depth of this one just made me want to hold the pages of the book and really fall into this one.

This story follows singer Maggie Vine. She’s still pursuing her dreams of hitting the big time but she’s also at a point in her life where she wants other things like a relationship and motherhood.

The chapters alternate timelines from Maggie’s present 35 year old self and her earlier years. The importance of the past timelines comes from Maggie having made a promise with two different men to get married at 35 if they were both single. We follow her relationship with both Garret and Asher over the years and into the present where the past unfolds.

Listening to it on audiobooks with a few breaks in between because I mainly listen in the car, it did take me just a little while to get used to what timeline we were in again.
If you’re a music fan then I’m sure you’d enjoy the references to both the real music world and the references to the characters’ own music. I listened to this on audiobook - which surprisingly did involve a little singing!

Thank you to @netgalley and the publishers for an ARC of this title.

4.5 Stars.

This was a fun rom-com, easy read/listen. Maggie has made two marriage pacts, one with Asher and one with Garrett. Now she's reached the age of 35 (the age the pacts specified) and her life looks nothing like she thought it would. When Asher comes back on the scene with a career and life changing opportunity, sparks are reignited but Maggie also thinks she still loves Garrett, who is now engaged to be married.

The story jumps back and forth between Maggie at different ages. It took me a little bit to sort out the two different storylines (Garrett and Asher), but once I did - I very much enjoyed this story. It was heart breaking and funny at the same time. If you're looking for a great rom-com or just some really good chick-lit - grab this book!

The audio narration was excellent, the characters well developed and the whole book was just a good time!

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ARC audio of this book in exchange for my honest review.

3.5⭐️

I thought this was an enjoyable and heartwarming second chance romance that I paired the book and audio. I enjoyed the narration, and have really come around to this romance trope.

Maggie Vine has two potential love interests that are from different stages in her life.

WHAT TO EXPECT
-second chance
-self discovery
-love triangle
-90s nostalgia

*many thanks to st martins press, Macmillan audio, and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review

It took me months to consider picking this one back up again and while I did enjoy elements of it, I also don't think it will stay with me.

Alison Greenberg is such a talented writer! Even though love triangle isn’t my favorite trope, I thought it was done so well and the “marriage pact” concept was entertaining to read about. I also thought the relationships felt messy and real and really made you care about the characters and what they’re going through. I do wish I felt more angst and tension between the love interests, but overall it was an entertaining read delivers way more than just a love triangle romance!

[ thank you @smpromance for the complimentary copy. All opinions are my own]

I got about 40% into this book, and I cannot tell you anything that has happened. I feel like there is two different plot lines happening at the same time, and it is too confusing for me pea brain. We started with the "right person, wrong time friend" except he's not the right person and it was never going to happen, and now we're on childhood best friend. All of this, and it's only 40% finished, should at least be like 60% for a plot twist like that.

“Maybe Once, Maybe Twice” by Alison Rose Greenberg is a captivating novel that weaves together romance, second chances, and the unpredictable twists of life. Set against a shifting timeline spanning two decades, the story follows Maggie Vine as she navigates love, music, and family. The characters are beautifully developed, and the emotional depth resonates throughout the pages. Greenberg’s writing is both poetic and heartfelt, leaving readers with a lovely reminder that timing truly matters in life.

"Maybe Once, Maybe Twice" by Alice Rose Greenberg is a charming and relatable novel that explores the complexities of love, self-discovery, and the pursuit of dreams. I love a good marriage pact based on still being single at a certain age, so I couldn't wait to dive into this one.

Maggie Vine, the protagonist, finds herself caught between two potential love interests from different stages of her life, each representing a distinct path forward. Greenberg's writing is engaging and genuine, capturing the emotional turmoil and self-doubt that often accompany pivotal life decisions.

Maggie's internal struggles and conflicting desires feel authentic, resonating with readers who have grappled with similar challenges in their own lives. Greenberg's storytelling is enhanced by her ability to inject humor and levity into even the most emotionally charged moments, providing a welcome reprieve from the narrative's weightier themes. The supporting cast of characters, including Garrett and Asher, are well-developed and contribute depth to the overall narrative.

"Maybe Once, Maybe Twice" was an enjoyable read that will appeal to fans of contemporary romantic fiction. Greenberg's exploration of second chances and self-discovery is both heartwarming and thought-provoking, making this novel a worthy addition to any summer reading list.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Second chances and finding your own way, filled with the romance and angst that defines the years you come to know yourself and with a shifting timeline covering two decades and ratcheting up the tension.”

I adore this book! There definitely were some tears.
A cute rom com about finding yourself and love at 35.

“I don’t know how to lose you, and I don’t know how to be with you”

🩷 Love triangle
🩷 Second chance romance
🩷 Mariage pact
🩷 music & film industry
🩷 summer camp
🩷 90s/00s nostalgia

The audio really was really well done and made the time transitions easier to follow.

“You know the moment you realize the person across from you could be the person who fills the blanks inside your soul? I’d felt this once before—but at fourteen I didn’t understand how rare it was. For the first time in nearly a decade, I was drunk on the possibility of someone else.”

This was a sweet romcom with a perfect second chance relating to right person, wrong time! I really enjoyed this one and thought the love triangle was executed well, even though it's not one of my favorite tropes. The audio was a good way to read this one and I think I enjoyed it more because of that.

Dnf after the first few chatpers. I just felt that this was not for me. It had all the tropes that I love but did not really feel that interesting. I wonder however whether it was because it was an audiobook that I found it less interesting than I could have.

Maybe Once, Maybe Twice by Alison Rose Greenberg, narrated by Katherine Littrell, is a charming exploration of love, second chances, and the unpredictable journey of self-discovery. The story revolves around Maggie Vine, a 35-year-old woman navigating the complexities of pursuing her dreams as a singer and a mother.

Greenberg's narrative is both heartwarming and relatable, capturing the essence of the struggles and triumphs that come with reaching the pivotal age of 35. Katherine Littrell's narration adds a wonderful dimension to the characters, bringing Maggie's journey to life with her expressive and engaging voice.

The plot unfolds as Maggie finds herself caught between two figures from her past who show up unexpectedly after a vow made at different stages of her life. Garrett Scholl, an electrifying aspiring rock singer, and Asher Reyes, her heartthrob actor ex-boyfriend from summer camp, bring twists that challenge Maggie's pursuit of love and her dreams.

The novel is a rollercoaster of emotions, filled with romance and angst, making it a perfect read for those who enjoy stories of second chances and self-discovery. Greenberg expertly weaves a tale that resonates with readers, exploring the themes of love, family, and the pursuit of one's passion.

Maybe Once, Maybe Twice is a delightful read reminiscent of authors like Josie Silver and Sophie Cousens. It beautifully captures the essence of finding one's own way in the midst of life's uncertainties. Greenberg's storytelling, coupled with Littrell's narration, creates an immersive experience that will leave readers reflecting on their own journeys of love and self-fulfillment.

Thank you to Dreamscape Media for the advanced audiobook copy to review via NetGalley!

Really cute, classic tropes, laugh out loud funny at times, great easy read. Would recommend this to friends and followers

The first chapter talked about how women lost most of their eggs by age 30 so this was a hard fucking no for me

OH THIS BOOK!!! WHAT A BOOK!!!

i absolutely love a right person, wrong time trope and you get it twice as much here.

with the synopsis of the book, you'd think you'd hate maggie but i loved her right from the get go. there are so many nuances about her the the author did such a wonderful job explaining about who she was, is and is going to be. i just found it really refreshing.

throughout the whole book i really was tugged in two different directions. as you read about her past experiences with these guys, you want to root for one or the other and by the end, one is chosen and all loose ends are tied up too.

i just thought this book was so well written for this love triangle adjacent trope. it's stuck with me and i probably will be rereading and buying my own copy.

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for sharing an arc in exchange for an honest review.

I received an advance audiobook of Maybe Once, Maybe Twice. I loved the narration which is honestly what made me like the book. It’s more than a romance and the complex storyline was a bit frustrating for me at times. Overall an enjoyable listen that I would recommend.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the advance copy.

Thank you to @netgalley and @Stmartinspress for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to @dreamscape_media for a free download of the audiobook.

Maggie makes a marriage pact…with two separate people, and they both show up when she turns 35. The men could not be any more different, and Maggie must choose between Garrett and Asher.

This was an enjoyable story that I would consider more romance than rom com.

4 stars

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