marriage in crisis is a really hard trope for me to love but this one was done really well. its a new take on the wallflower trope, liz is already in a relationship but she still struggles to be the lead in her own story. it was nice to see her grow to be a full person who lives her life to the fullest, it was also nice to see what happens when to opposite social types are in a relationship. i am a homebody so the "life of the party" would scare me in a relationship but this worked really well. like i said this isn't my favorite trope but the writing was sweet and i'm interested to see what other books this author has!

4.5 stars
This is a fun, entertaining read. Tobin and Liz are intriguing, complex, relatable, complicated, wounded, strong, interesting, entertaining, captivating characters. The path to their HEA is full of twists and turns and entertaining to read. I love how North, while not writing from Tobin’s POV manages to let the reader get to know Tobin and not solely the version of him the heroine or others have. It added that little bit extra to the reading experience for me. These two are fun to spend time with, even though their story take you on a roller coaster ride. The secondary characters added to the fabric of the story and my enjoyment. I found the story got more powerful the more I read – the more we get to know these characters and come to realizations as they do. The story is easy to read and get into.

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

This was a promising premise but falls short in execution. Liz’s journey toward reclaiming her identity through an improv class and the rekindling of her marriage to Tobin feels thin, with physical connection being the mode of connection, rather than working through their disagreements. Hard pass. The outdoor, mountain setting is charming, but not enough to keep me engaged.

Sincere thanks to NetGalley and St Martins Press for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was a bit mixed on this one. While I could relate to Maggie’s need to find herself, there were a lot of times I felt she was a bit too much.

I typically love second chance romances but this one was different. The whole improv bit wasn’t my favorite and was a bit cringeworthy at times.

Overall I think this one will sit different with each and every reader. While I don’t think it was for me, someone else might love the journey that Maggie and Tobin took in their journey back into a happy relationship.

It's really cute, but the narrator and the pace make it a little tough to get through. The heavier tropes weigh down the feeling of the book at times, but I think they fit well within the story.

The second-chance was adorable, Tobin and Liz were a great couple that I rooted for.

Full disclosure: I DNFed at 27%.

I was excited to read this book because it features some of my favorite themes: second chances combined with marriage in crisis, and neurodivergent representation. Unfortunately, it fell flat for me. The narrative was confusing and seemed all over the place. I felt no chemistry between the two main characters. The inclusion of improv skits only added to the awkwardness, coming off as cringey and detracting from the overall story.

That said, I might still give North another chance, as this is her debut. My thanks to St. Martin's Press, NetGalley and the author for my copy. All opinions are honest and my own.

I got a free copy of this thanks to @netgalley and @stmartinspress. This was a cute premise - a couple finds their way back to one another through improv! A unique idea. It was a good book, adorable in parts. My biggest complaint is what they name their child that made me want to scream. If you like second chance and silly scenarios, this could be up your alley.

•Second chance romance
•Slow burn
•Neurodivergent rep
•Mental health rep

This one was different. I wish the pace were a little quicker but overall I did enjoy it. 3.5 stars.

There were so many things I loved about this book. The combination of marriage in trouble, improv classes, backcountry exploration company, and neurodivergent main character made a uniquely entertaining and heartfelt read. The infused humor and relatability that I personally had to the FMC really pulled me in and made me root not just for the couple, but for her specifically. This is a book I will remember for a long time!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

"Rules for Second Chances" delicately explores the challenges of a marriage in trouble while offering profound insights into self-acceptance and personal growth. Maggie North skillfully portrays Liz’s realization of her neurodivergence, creating a deeply relatable experience for readers. The story beautifully emphasizes the importance of pushing past self-doubt and societal expectations to embrace one’s authentic self. North’s writing is sparkling and engaging, making Rules for Second Chances a delightful and thought-provoking read, with the promise of more great books from this author.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

I have really conflicted feelings on this one. The writing itself was lovely, and I absolutely loved Tobin. But for most of the book I really couldn’t stand Liz. Her decisions made me crazy, and I hated the way that she treated Tobin. Their way back to each other was poignant and heartfelt, but most of the time I just couldn’t shake the feeling that he deserved better. It was hard for me to root for them.

Maggie North should be so proud of this book. I was amazed by the sensitive, truthful, tale of a marriage in crisis and Liz's triumphant taking of center stage. This is the kind of story my heart sometime doesn't have enough room for as its such a beautiful journey for the reader. Overwhelmingly enjoyed!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.

my first by this author. Quick enjoyable read about second chances and finding one's self amongst the craziness of life etc. Couple of laugh out loud moments. I will definitely look for more from this author in the future.

I really really tried to enjoy this one but, for me, it felt dull, flat, awkward, and confusing. The storyline just didn’t draw me in and it felt like too much at times. While I love a good second chance romance, this one didn’t do it for me.

After a rough birthday and an end to a relationship, Liz decides she needs to start standing up for herself: to do this, she takes improv classes, and of course her ex is there. Can she get passed what happened before and find love again?

I enjoyed Rules for Second Chances by Maggie North. I liked the story of a marriage in trouble that the couple works on making things work.
Liz is different. She tries to fit in all the time, but it is very stressful and hard for her. She is married to Tobin, who is a very popular. This causes Liz to fall in the background and fade away.
I like the writing and how Liz and Tobin - who love each other -- work on getting back a relationship of love and marriage.

I loved how Liz was able to find a place to be and friends who accepted her as she is. Recommended

I have to admit that it took me a bit to get into this book. But once I did, it took off for me.

I can relate to many parts of Liz. Unseen, unheard, dismissed in many ways. You end up feeling that way in many areas of your life. One thing she is passionate about is work. So diving into something so far out of her comfort zone felt like something she had to do.

There are several areas in this story that I hated. Blowing up her marriage and all the issues surrounding that was hard for me to read. But when her hubby kept trying and being overly supportive to help her with her dreams and goals, it was then that I had hope for the ending.

North wrote all of the characters in such a way you had times of love and time of hate. Supporting characters are so important for the story and the growing reconnection between Liz and Tobin gives a rollercoaster of emotions. The 3rd act sucks the life out of you! The ending restores you.

Rules for Second Chances is full of second chances and a strong love that gives you hope to overcome and heal. Liz is not my favorite person at times and Tobin is so underrated! Overall, the story is awesome, diving into tough subjects and overcoming obstacles.

"Rules for Second Chances", by Maggie North, is centered around Liz, an introverted and awkward woman who doesn't know how to carry herself. While later she will be diagnosed to be on the autism spectrum, she doesn't yet know that. Liz is tired of being a background character in her own life. She seems to reserve her disdain mainly for her husband, an extroverted, "life of the party" type and is unhappy that everyone loves him but just ignores her. Because of this, she thinks they need to separate and that will give her time to discover herself. She tries to put herself in uncomfortable situations in order to change who she really is. She joins an improv class and it goes horribly. Liz is also trying to repair her relationships with her sister and her mother-in-law. There's just a lot going on in this book.

It was hard to root for Liz when she was pushing everyone away instead of relying on her loving, kind husband to help her through this difficult time. I wanted to like this more than I actually did. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

10*stars.
This was the book I needed to read, but didn't know it. I loved how these two characters grew individually and then found their HEA. I could so relate to these two and what they were going through. I look forward to the next book in this series.

Rules for Second Chances by Maggie North had a very promising storyline, with an incredibly beautiful setting. But those things weren't enough to keep me interested and invested throughout. I found the book to be confusing and I found Liz, one of the main characters, to be incredibly annoying in regards to her husband, Tobin. I never quite understood what her problem was with their marriage, as her husband seemed completely dedicated to her. I feel her issues were all with herself and she wasn't very nice to him in trying to work through it all. Honestly, this book took a long time to finish because I kept putting it down hoping I'd be more into it when I next picked it up.