First thing’s first: thank you Netgalley for the ALC of this book!
Rules for Second Chances was bittersweet. It follows Liz as she takes a step back from her marriage while she tries to find herself again and her husband tries to make her fall in love with him again.
This was okay. The FMC was sort of annoying but I guess she was probably supposed to be. This was kind of sad and a little hopeful at times. Reading the description made me think it would be more in the rom com camp, but it definitely wasn’t. I’m not a huge fan of sadder love stories so this wasn’t my favorite, but if you like that type of thing you’d probably have a better time.
3⭐️

Tropes:
Marriage in trouble
Second chance romance
Neurodivergent FMC
Charming, charismatic MMC
Opposites attract

This book was absolutely unexpected and I loved it SO. MUCH. Thank you NetGalley for the ALC. ❤️

5 stars!

This was such a clever story - using improv to save a marriage. Loved the book, loved the audio even more. I especially liked how the narrator voiced Tobin.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the chance to enjoy this audiobook in return for an honest review.

4.5

Maggie North took my heart on a JOURNEY with this marriage in trouble story that left my heart feeling tender but full of hope and tears welling up in my eyes. In most romance books, we get the beginning stages of a relationship, the butterflies and warm fuzzies that all lead to the HEA, but there aren’t many books that focus on the after. Sure we might get an epilogue, but this is a curated peek that doesn’t show the messiness and struggles of longterm partnerships. What I appreciate about a marriage in trouble/crisis story is how it dives into life following the HEA and explores the characters’ shared history, the hurt they’ve inflicted on each other, and the massive decision of whether they will fight to mend their hearts and relationship or whether loving the other means letting them go… these moments don’t show up on the highlight reel, BUT they are the moments so many of us can relate to. North does an exceptional work of bringing these emotions and threads together seamlessly that leave you holding your breath and turning the pages quickly because you have to find out what happens.

Liz and Tobin were incredibly relatable characters and there were countless times I personally felt seen in both their personal and relationship journey. My heart ACHED for them as they floundered in their efforts to communicate, listen to, and bare their souls, struggles, and desires with each other. Their story was heart wrenching and North didn't hold back in exploring the cracks that developed in their marriage, BUT she gave us incredible moments of beauty, bravery, and some laughter that left you with a renewed sense of hope. I also appreciate how the themes and discussions in the story are applicable to all forms of relationships - romantic, familial, friendship.

I really enjoyed the audiobook experience and found myself completely drawn in by Gail Shalan's narration and the incredible emotion delivered to every cast member. There were countless times where Shalan's delivery of Liz and Tobin's lines had me holding my breath as tears were streaming down my face. It was a very emotional and impactful experience.

This book is so very special and even though your heart will fracture into a million pieces along the journey, I promise that North will expertly piece it back together in the end. If you want a book that will reach right into your soul and leave an imprint on your heart, Rules for Second Chances is a must read. I cannot wait to read what North writes next!

A sweet second chance at fixing their marriage and Liz discovers more about herself. She discovers through an improv class that she could be on the Autism Spectrum. That could be why she didn’t feel like she had a voice or was seen at work.

I really enjoyed the narrator. A sweet story with a common theme.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for an ALC of this one via NetGalley - these are my honest thoughts!

I enjoyed this book a whole lot. I love a good marriage in trouble romance, but this one took it just a little bit further. Liz, our FMC, is extremely lost in her own life. She feels like her whole identity has been absorbed into her husband, her job, even her sister, and she's finally had enough. At her 30th birthday party, she snaps and decides she's done. She decides she wants to leave her husband, but her toxic masculinity riddled workplace (where her husband, Tobin, also works) is riddled with problems. She wants a promotion that she'll never be considered for because she doesn't have "the skills" her boss is looking for. He encourages her to do an improv class in order to learn "the skills," and it turns out Tobin's best friend is leading the class. And Tobin gets early access to the teacher's class, because he's actually a kind of famous improv psychologist who wrote a book on second chances for relationships utilizing improv. It's all very *on the nose* yet feels like therapy within the pages of the book.

Liz learns the yes, and mentality of improv and begins applying it in all of the spaces she exists. She learns so much about herself, and creates these spaces in her life that allow her to take deeper breaths and ask for what she needs in that moment. Being forced to move back into her parent's house, where her sister and niece currently live while her parents are snowbirding in Arizona, Liz has to confront all sorts of things she never realized about herself until she stepped away from it all (and doubled down on getting the promotion she's deserved forever). Through the improv class, she learns a lot about herself, she makes friends with other people (HER friends), AND she starts to see Tobin and her marriage in a different light.

I loved Liz's relationship with her improv friends and her niece! I thought those were important spotlights in this story that's a little on the heavier side, topics-wise.

The transformation for both Liz and Tobin went through in this story was incredibly realistic and uplifting. I loved the support of one and other that developed by the end. I loved how Liz felt like Tobin didn't know her, and yet Tobin showed he knew her all along. Sometimes we all get in our own ways, and Liz was a prime example of that!

This audiobook was great, but it wasn't love. I felt like the narrator did a great job with Liz, but her Tobin reminded me of a pack-a-day smoker and was unnecessarily gruff in her delivery at all times? If Tobin is the life of the party, I don't expect to picture him as a grumpy recluse in the mountains, and that's the vibe I got from her take on this character in particular.

Liz is so tired of not being seen in her life. Her husband is charismatic and lovely and she’s the quiet shadow in the background. Her family isn’t near as kind as they should be to her.

Tobin is baffled that things were actually bad. He thought they were just ok which isn’t good enough anymore. When they finally started talking to each other, you could really see both sides.

The thing I cannot forgive is improv class karaoke that was sung as a cat. I cannot do secondhand embarrassment.

I liked Gail Shalan as the narrator in this.. The nuances of her performance added to the book really well.

Thank you to Netgalley, Macmillan Audio, and St. Martin’s Press for a copy in advance.

I really wanted to love this one but I just couldn't get into it. It was confusing and the miscommunication was horrible. It just fell completely flat for me and I couldn't continue.

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

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/St. Martin’s Griffin for the eARC, and Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Story Rating: 4.5 Stars rounded up
Narration Rating: 5 Stars

Some of my favorite authors have hyped this book up so much, I was sold on it even though ‘marriage in trouble’ is not one of my go-to tropes to read. I’m grateful I listened to them because this book made me feel so many things and I very much enjoyed it.

Gail Shalan did a fantastic job with her narration. Her performance really brought Liz to life. I felt like she really captured her personality and her emotions. Her pitch/voice changes for each character were also well done, and it was easy to differentiate between the characters as the story continued. Listening in tandem with eyeball reading helped me feel even more immersed in the story rather than any part of her performance taking me out of it.

Liz was a character I had so much empathy for and also so much admiration for her bravery. No one could possibly say she handled everything in her marriage or how she confronted it ‘correctly’, but it was easy to understand where she was coming from and why she felt the way she did. It was also understandable that it was difficult for her to see where she was going wrong until it was almost too late. There is no discounting the effort that she put into what she thought was the right path for her though. As unconventional, scary, and out of her comfort zone it was for her to open up her world with improv and her approach to social situations, she went all in and really committed.

I didn’t feel as connected to Tobin until later on in the book when we started to see more of who he was beneath the perfect people pleaser exterior he tried so hard to project. Given that the book is entirely from Liz’s POV, this is to be expected. It was easy to feel her frustrations with him because we were experiencing her emotions alongside her. As Tobin’s character got to be explored more and he began facing the difficult conversations and outcomes to his relationships that he’d avoided in the past, it became easier to see the real man that he was and how he and Liz fit together.

The idea of improv as a way to reconnect with a partner when a relationship is struggling is not something I would have ever thought of, but it actually seemed to be fairly effective. I think what I liked most about it was the each time Liz and Tobin began a scenario, they would adopt their characters but eventually the ‘scene’ would inevitably shift to them talking authentically to each other. Some of the scenarios I didn’t entirely get and combined with the amount of time spent in the improv group scenes it did venture into a bit much for me, but I liked the originality of that part of the plot.

The secondary characters added a lot of depth to the story and to Liz and Tobin’s characters, whether that was in a good way or a frustrating, infuriating way. There were a lot of players but they each served a purpose. That is something I always appreciate in a book and always try to highlight it when I feel it.

In my first instinct initial rating as I finished this book, I went with 4 stars, but as I’ve sat with it and worked through my thoughts while writing this review, I’m changing my mind to 4.5 stars rounded up. It is an incredibly impressive debut novel. I look forward to what Maggie North delivers next.

Rules for Second Chances
Maggie North
Pub: 6/25/24
4.5 ☆

This book was such a surprising read. Surprising in a good way. I’ll admit, I almost didn’t read it due to some of the reviews, and I am so glad I didn’t let them sway me.

Second chance romance is one of my favorites, but Rules for Second Chances was so much more. It was a unique and heartwarming story full of humor, hope, and healing. It was an open and vulnerable look at the messy sides of relationships/marriage we don’t always see in romance reads. I think anyone who’s been in a long-term relationship will relate. And maybe learn something from it.

North created some of the most realistic and beautiful characters in Liz and Tobin. I felt fully invested in their story and was routing for them every step of the way. I related so hard to Liz. I felt like I was constantly nodding in agreement and smiling while reading her struggles. I just saw so much of me in her. It was kind of eye opening. What a beautiful debut. I look forward to more from North.

What I adored;
✨ Second Chance Romance
✨ Marriage In Crisis
✨ Real/Relatable Characters
✨ Gorgeous Setting
✨ Yeti

I alternated between reading and listening (mostly listening) and although I enjoyed both, I think the audio is the way to go. Gail Shalan’s narration was so perfectly paired to tell this emotional story.

For the romantics out there who like feeling all the feels and truly believe in second chances, this book is for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review. .

This second chance romance features Liz and her husband Tobin. Their marriage is just not what it was. The spark is no longer there and although Tobin seems to shine and thrive, Liz does not feel she does the same. This marriage is in obvious crisis. Liz takes a break and moves in with her sister and her niece. In addition, Liz joins an improv group to practice with her husband and find each other once again. The improv added a funny undertone to a series subject.

I love the realistic storyline of a couple who loves one another slowly losing steam and the journey to find each other.

This was not my favorite, but I didn't hate it either. I have a hard time pinpointing what exactly didn't go well. Perhaps that it just felt like much of the marital issues had an easier solution and this storyline was a bit drug out.

The narrator for this story was enjoyable and successfully achieved the different emotions and tones of this storyline.

Thank you, Maggie North, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Enjoyed the narration of this book. Initially it took me a while to understand what was going on but eventually realized it fit with the character's point of view and her ability to share and express her thoughts in a clearer manner as the book went on. Tobin and Liz were sweet, it was nice to see them falling in love all over again. It was a nice take on a traditional romance. The saving of a marriage is not always the kind of meet cute we encounter but it was refreshing.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the advanced audio copy.

Thank you @macmillianaudio and @netgalley for the ALC of Rules for Second Chances by @mnorthauthor in exchange for an honest review.

🎧🎧 Book Review 🎧🎧 Liz Lewis is so many of us women, people-pleasing and trying to do whatever it takes to blend in and make life easy for those around her. After sitting in quiet desperation, the final straw is when a partygoer thinks she is the hired help at her own birthday party. Liz decides that this is her time to shine and finally put herself first. A beautiful journey that readers will delight in listening to. Rules for Second Chances is honest and captivating, Liz’s vulnerability is relatable and lends itself to the reader rooting for her the whole book! Maggie North creates endearing and real characters that are brought to life perfectly with the narrator!

4.5/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review is posted on Goodreads and the final review will be on Instagram ahead of the publication date.

I think Rules for Second Chances is the first romance I’ve ever read about a couple trying to save their marriage!! It was so refreshing and unique!
Liz has consistently felt like no one sees her and because of that, she tends to hide behind her husband, Tobin. To me, this book showed a couple who got so used to being together, stopped communicating their problems, and just assumed everything was fine. Liz is portrayed as a neurodivergent person, and as a neurodivergent person, Maggie North, wrote her perfectly. Every neurodivergent person is very different but I think she truly took the times to handle this character with grace. I think everyone should read this book. It’s a fun romance and you’ll have some laughs but I thought there were great general life lessons in this book. Everyone could use a perspective change and to learn some improve. This will be one of my favorite romances for the year and will stick with me!

I received the audio book from NetGalley. The narrator was fantastic and brought both voices to life.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an arc of Rules for Second Chances!

I was so excited for this title, but sadly it fell short. I love a marriage in trouble, but our FMC's reasons for walking away from her relationship were incredibly cloudy to me. This was made more confusing by the book being in single POV. It would have soared if I could see what the heck was going on in this golden retriever man's brain. I had no idea what he saw in her when all we saw was her POV about how lackluster she was. And frankly, she kinda seemed lackluster! Would have been so great to see from his perspective why he wanted to make things work when it felt like there was nothing in their relationship to really build upon.

The premise is definitely interesting, though I found myself really questioning what the heck was going on from time to time.

Generally, the book was well written and I could see myself picking up a different title from this author in the future.

Thank you, NetGalley, MacMillan Audio, and St Martin's Press, for the opportunity to listen, read, and review this advanced copy.

Liz is trying to change her life and stop sitting in the wings, bending herself to fit what she thinks society wants from her. That includes working on getting her dream job and attempting a radical form of therapy to find her inner strength – improv!

Through an improv comedy class she needs to take for work, Liz makes friends and learns to champion her ideas. When her improv teacher writes a self-help book for couples, she attempts to take the same tools and apply them to her romance with Tobin.

Why I Liked It: Improv as therapy was a new concept for me but ended up being a clever hook. The scenarios Liz and Tobin acted out were quite comical, and Liz’s overall growth and self-assurance seemed to blossom with her newfound improv skills.

Thank you MacMillan for the review copy of Rules for Second Chances. I really valued this story that examined experiences, and awakenings, related to self and neurodiversity in adulthood, this kind of representation is increasingly important because each story offers the needed different perspectives on this identity.
I appreciated Maggie North's writing and the use of an improv class to help the MC explore and challenge herself, it was fun but also just right for how to explore facets of identity and neurodivergence (social cues, lack of predictability, trying to fit in and find a space, learning to open up... all things many of us work on!). The romance was sweet, if a little too heavy on miscommunication for me, and the story was a fun escape. The narration was perfect for capturing the nuances of the main character.

I really enjoyed our narrator in this story. She is a new one for me and I’ll have to keep my eyes out for more of her work. As for the story itself— This is a sweet second chance romance with wonderful neurodiversity representation. I also appreciate a romance with characters who are not 22 years old. The use of an improve class to both strengthen the FMC confidence but also used as a technique to help her marriage was a fresh take. I will say— I felt like the decision to leave her spouse was very rushed from the readers POV. The marriage collapse was due to a of lack of open communication. While that is a common problem in second chance romance I appreciated the refreshing twist this story had. I also felt like the character growth experienced by our FMC was reliable and consistent. Overall- a sweet story!

3,25 stars!

Thank you to SMP & Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to review the e-galley and audiobook of Rules for Second Chances. I really enjoyed reading this in both formats. The narrator did a fantastic job!

Overall, this story was sweet. I enjoyed it. I read it all in one sitting. I feel like Maggie North is an exceptional author. Her ability to draw you in from the start is a 10/10. She developed characters with depth that you just couldn't help rooting for. The reason this book is not a 4 or 5 star for me is because I felt like the conflict was something that could have been solved through communication. It felt like it took a huge backroad journey when the highway could have gotten you there way faster, ya know? I loved watching Lix and Tobin fix their relationship through improv. It was a fresh, new take on repairing a relationship so I enjoyed that.

I just felt like some parts of the book were a little redundant and unnecessary.