I am such a sucker for a second chance romance and this book did not disappoint. The characters are created with such care and I felt so connected to Liz. A beautiful book by a debut author.

Liz and Tobin separate to work on their marriage, but still work together. loved the characters and the setting, enjoyed the book very much.

Rules for Second Chances follows Liz and Tobin, a couple who separate at the beginning of the story. As they arrange to work on their marriage; they do this through the second chances handbook authored by Tobin’s friend. And coincidentally, Liz's improve teacher. They use this handbook, based around improv, to work through their separation. At the same time, Liz utilizes improv to help her compete for a promotion at her company.

Maggie North has written a book that is so real, not simply in the story being told, but it’s so smart in its applicability to everyday life - relationships and work. I thought the approach of rebuilding a relationship via the use of improv was so unique. I highlighted so many pieces of the snippets taken from the second chances handbook that I thought were really good and applicable to use for myself.

Liz and Tobin have a beautiful story of being brought back together and Liz’s personal journal is well developed from beginning to end.

I’m not sure what it was, but this was a book I had to push through to finish. I’m glad I did; it was not a book that I wanted to abandon but it wasn’t an immediate hook at the beginning or at any turning point in the story. That being said, I am looking forward to checking out future titles from Maggie North!

Maggie North provides content warnings on her website. Thank you to St. Martin's Press for offering this ARC as a Read Now in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

This book is fantastic. It is well written and unique. The characters and setting were amazing. I loved this book. Definitely would recommend.

When Liz gets mistaken for a cater waiter at her own 30th birthday party, she knows something in her life needs to change. She's never been one to stand out, not in her family, not in her job, not even in her marriage to the life of the party, Tobin. After that night, she decides she needs a break from being in Tobin's shadow and moves in with her sister. Meanwhile, when she attempts for a promotion at work, she's directed to take an improv class to improve her people skills. Though she's trying to keep some distance between herself and her husband, he's the only one who can practice with her.

I was originally drawn to this book because it is plugged by Annabel Monaghan. I enjoyed the PNW setting. As for the story, it was definitely more about Liz's realization and acceptance of her neurodivergence than about a second chance between spouses. This was still a solid debut novel, but it also felt a lot like repeatedly pressing on a bruise while reading it. Liz and Tobin just went over the same issues time after time.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the advanced copy of this manuscript.

This is a beautiful book. As someone who has ADHD I felt immediately connected to Liz, her thoughts were so relatable. There were so many beautiful moments between Liz and Tobin, beautiful moments where she discovered more of herself and fun moments that kept me coming back for more.

Maggie North has a wonderful way of writing that made me truly feel every feeling conveyed. Second chance romances are usually hard for me to get through but i highly recommend this one and cannot wait to see what her next book brings us!

The main character and her healing was the best part of this book. I think it was through that the second chance romance feels possible and meaningful. I particularly love the way her understanding of herself changed and gave her the boldness in her relationships, romantic, platonic, and professional.

I absolutely loved this story! Marriage in crisis is one of my fav tropes, and this story was written so well! Liz's perspective here was written so well, as you see how she feels so isolated and lonely while surrounded by so many people who claim (and I believe do) love her. And as the story progresses and Liz finds ways to become more happy within herself, she's able to see and accept that love from her husband and family, while also explaining to them how they haven't been showing their love to her in the best way. I absolutely adored Tobin. It is clear right from the beginning how much he loves his wife, and will do anything and everything he can to save their relationship. Moreover, I love the way he's able to also speak up for his hurts and wants and that this whole "saving of the marriage" is put on both Liz and Tobin (not just one of them) because I believe that's how it actually has to work. It's clear Liz and Tobin love each other so much, and I loved reading them reconnect in their relationship so that they are both happy and fulfilled. One of my fav books! thank you for the ARC!!!!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for a free ARC of Rules for Second Chances. This was a book about a couple learning to fall in love with each other again after a rough patch.

Rules for Second Chances delved into the complexities of familial and romantic relationships. In this way, it was more of a women’s fiction book rather than a romance. We also don’t get much of the male main character’s perspective. At times, he seemed flat and almost too perfect.

There were things I liked about this book, particularly the way the author wrote two neurodivergent characters in a truthful and sensitive way, but it lacked the magic that makes a good book into an amazing one.

Each reader’s experience is unique and so I’m sure this will hit all the right notes for the right audience, but whereas I enjoyed this book I didn’t love it.

I recently read "Rules for Second Chances" by Maggie North and I absolutely loved it! The story follows Liz Lewis, an introverted woman who has always felt like a minor character in her own life, especially in comparison to her adventurous and outgoing husband Tobin Renner-Lewis. After getting mistaken for a server at her own birthday party and realizing the toxicity of her marriage, Liz decides to take a crash course in confidence through improv comedy classes.

Despite being terrible at improv, Liz continues to practice with a certain extroverted wilderness guide who just happens to be her husband. As they spend more time together, Liz is forced to confront the reasons why their marriage didn't work the first time and the possibility that there is more to her social awkwardness than she realized. The book is incredibly well-researched and scientific, which makes the story all the more compelling.

Overall, I highly recommend "Rules for Second Chances" to anyone looking for a heartwarming and thought-provoking read about self-discovery, second chances, and the importance of saying "yes, and" to life's opportunities.

"Rules for Second Chances" by Maggie North invites readers into the world of Liz Lewis, a woman determined to break free from the confines of a toxic marriage and discover her own voice. The novel promises a journey of self-discovery, humor, and the transformative power of improv comedy.

The synopsis introduces Liz as a character who has struggled to fit into the vibrant world of wilderness expeditions, perpetually labeled as different. The toxic dynamics of her marriage to adventure guide Tobin Renner-Lewis become a central conflict, and readers can anticipate the exploration of themes related to identity and self-acceptance.

The unique approach of using improv comedy as a vehicle for Liz's personal growth adds an intriguing and fresh dimension to the narrative. Liz's decision to enroll in an improv class, despite her initial struggle, sets the stage for both humor and personal development. The involvement of an extroverted wilderness guide in Liz's journey creates an interesting dynamic, hinting at potential sparks and the possibility of healing.

The eight-week timeline introduces a sense of urgency and frames the story with a clear goal for Liz's transformation. The tension between choosing love and pursuing one's dreams adds an emotional layer to the narrative, creating anticipation for Liz's ultimate decision.

The novel seems poised to offer a blend of romance, self-discovery, and humor. The exploration of Liz's social awkwardness as more than meets the eye suggests a deeper, more nuanced portrayal of the character. The backdrop of a mountain resort town and the world of wilderness expeditions adds an element of adventure and excitement to the narrative.

"Rules for Second Chances" appears to be a promising read for those who enjoy stories of personal growth, second chances in love, and the transformative power of stepping outside one's comfort zone. The combination of relatable themes, humor, and a unique premise makes this novel an intriguing addition to the contemporary romance genre.

Liz is tired of being pigeonholed. Despite starting her career as a guide, she’s been relegated to numbers and spreadsheets at the wilderness excursion company she works at with her husband. She’s also tired of being barely seen by that husband, Tobin. When she gets mistaken for a cater waiter at her own birthday party, she decides it’s time to change. Change her career path. Change her personality. And change her relationship.

To break out of the box, she turns to an improv group where she can learn to be less of an anxious introvert. When she needs a scene partner for practice, her soon to be ex-husband agrees to help and work through a series of relationship improv scenarios.

This is a single-POV romance, which isn’t always my favorite. However, in this case, only seeing Liz’s perspective works, because we don’t get to see how Tobin struggles through his own issues. When Liz uncovers those, or when the pair are finally honest with each other, the payoff is a lot greater.

There are some challenging family dynamics at play here and they are hard to get through, though they feel necessary to the story. I’d also argue that the book could be a little bit shorter (some of the third act could be cut).

All told, however, this is a thoughtful, second chance romance with neurodiverse representation and a strong debut by North.

* Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. *

I didn't like the main character. Liz was just not someone I could relate to. If she wanted the relationship she had the option of working on it without all the emotional baggage. Good ending but the rest of the book dragged.

All the stars. This was my first book by this author and won’t be my last. So good. Will definitely re read.

This a story of an introvert who is married to an adventurer. She bothers me so much because she gives up on being herself to conform for love

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Maggie North’s debut is a delightful second chance romance with a perfect mix of love, lust, humor and angst. **Chef’s Kiss.**

If you’re looking for a story with an autistic heroine and a loving hero who’ve found themselves trapped in their own not so perfect life, with Liz trying to find herself and her way back to her love with Tobin with improv, pitch competitions, a not sex love improv manual and dates galore, this is for you.

I can’t wait to get my grabby hands on North’s next read.

Thanks Netgalley for this ARC but this was just not the book for me, try as I might, I just could not connect with the character. Liz was annoying and nothing she did made any sense; her reason for leaving her husband at the top of that list; which turned me off on the whole second chance of it all because I just.. didn't care. I wanted to feel the yearning, the want, the love but I honestly didn't feel anything. It was super lacking and Liz's voice just did not do it for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately this was a miss for me. Liz was a character I did not connect with. I didn't understand why she left Tobin, then seemingly changed her mind to get back together with him out of nowhere. I see what the author was going for, however, to me it didn't work.

This was SUCH A GOOD READ. It was exactly what I needed--I had a feeling I would fall in love with Maggie's characters, and I wasn't wrong. Please, please give it a read come June!

Liz and Tobin’s story isn’t a traditional second chances story, but moreso actively working on their marriage. Liz is struggling to find out who she is, especially outside of her husband. She takes improv classes, while doing a second chances handbook written by Tobins best friend / her improv teacher. It was cute enough but wordy - a lot could have been cut.