3.5 stars. Rules for Second Chances honestly gives me such mixed feelings. I loved seeing the work each put in for their relationship and themselves. The idea of being seen and heard really resonated. The details of the improv and situations? Ehh kinda pulled me out of it with some cringe, but maybe that's just me and secondhand embarrassment.

Narrators were good, although sometimes for the FMC I couldn't tell when she was speaking in her head vs voicing.

Women's fiction focusing on an offbeat introvert woman trying to repair her falling marriage and "become magic" after turning 30 wouldn't usually appeal to me. However, when I heard "autistic", I jumped on it and started reading.

For years, Liz feels invisible at work and her marriage at home is falling apart. Turning 30 was her breaking point. In quick succession, she moves out and finally makes active steps in her promotion. Soon, she finds her way into the world of improv and character acting in more ways than one, discovering more than she hoped. In a way, this is a quarter life crisis book, as Liz discovers why she’s not as put together in her life as she hoped by this point. She’s figuring out how to do it throughout the book, even if she doesn’t get it right the first try, and I like that determination from her. Liz also happens to explore more about herself and her world in new ways, especially as she’s figuring out this world is not built for her.

I do like that her and her husband, Tobin, take time to at least talk things out. Tobin’s the outgoing one and despite what Liz thinks of him as the perfect guy that’s gone sour over the years, he has his own issues to work with. The second chance romance progression felt natural, and it didn’t feel like there was some type of artificial road block put in for drama’s sake, it felt in character. And to have two contrasting personalities was a great choice, as they played off each other. And it’s not just each other they have to navigate: they have to tackle work and extended family dysfunctions. I do like that this has an earned happy ending in more ways than one.

The other characters were really interesting, with Eleanor and McHuge being the two that stick out to me the most.

The setting was rural Canada, which I’ve never been, but I could feel the bitter cold spring and the mountain air of the region. The pacing was good, things mainly didn’t drag out for too long and overstay their welcome, or rush through too fast.

I laughed quite a few times throughout, especially during the playacting skits that the book they read makes them do. Also, there’s some inside jokes that I think some people might not like, but I thought it was too true in some aspects. I wouldn’t say this is a comedy book, but it was a definite welcome among the heavier stuff.

Gail Shalan did a fantastic job in narrating, and was a great fit for Liz’s character, and I loved her range of voices, especially for some of the guys.

This does have plenty of sexual innuendo and some explicit sex (chapter 16), so it’s not for kids. There’s a list of content considerations and warnings on Maggie North’s website if you are interested. But if you’re interested in a Women’s Fiction book in rural Canada featuring a woman on a personal development journey and figuring out her autistic traits and reinventing herself, this is a good pick.

I really loved this book. Liz and Tobin's journeys are both so lovely and satisfying individually and also as a couple. Their relationship was romantic and emotional and really just SWOONY. The improv angle was fresh and fun and interesting. I truly loved reading it.

I was so excited for this because I love romances where the couple is already married, and because it’s all about eco tourism. But I don’t know, it was just awkward and flat for me. Like the descriptions of things were odd and I never felt connected to Tobin or Liz or even the beautiful setting. Not my favorite read unfortunately :(

I like the narrator in general, but when they were doing Tobin’s voice it was abysmal.

Liz works in the world of wilderness adventures and has tried everything to be the person people need her to be. She's married to the handsome and popular wilderness guide and when he throws her a birthday party where she's mistaken for a server she decides it's time to take back control of her life.

I typically love a second chance romance and was excited for the wilderness tours aspect, but it was business focused instead of out in the wilderness and Liz and Tobin just didn't do it for me. Tobin wasn't likeable. The opening party wasn't Liz's style at all and I cheered when she broke things off, and was anticipating the second chance may be an old flame as Tobin just seemed off in his own world.

Liz prioritized her confidence and making herself a priority participating in improve classes with the goal of getting a promotion at work.

Liz and Tobin decide to work through their relationship challenges with a role playing/improve book. There are some incredibly funny, laugh out loud scenes, but I just didn't get the substance I was craving. I felt their relationship challenges were glossed over and replaced by improve practice. Challenges were brough up and Liz and Tobin quickly moved past them with out the resolution or compromise I was looking for.

I did love the narration. There were a lot of characters brought up throughout the book, it was clear who everyone was and an overall great narration.

Second chance romance is one of my favorite tropes. In this book however, it’s a bit different. There is not time apart.

Liz and Tobin are having issues in their marriage and they are working on it in a non traditional way. Even though this books is labeled as romance, it is more about the FMC’s journey to self discovery.

What to expect:
🪵Contemporary romance
🪵Neurodiversity
🪵Marriage In Crisis
🪵Single POV
🪵Complicated family
🪵MCs in their 30s

There were sweet moments between the MCs but overall, the plot was not for me. I think the book would have been better with Tobin’s POV. I couldn’t feel the yearning I was supposed to be feeling, ya know? 😂

The narrator did an excellent job in this audiobook!

Thank you @ & @Macmillan.Audio for the gifted advanced audio copy!

#netgalley #rulesforsecondchances #maggienorth

Marriage in crisis is hit or miss for me and sadly this was miss for me. The audiobook was well done though, thank you Macmillan audio!

3 stars.

"Rules for Second Chances" by Maggie North is a bit of a mixed bag for me. I loved the exploration of a complex adult relationship falling apart and coming back together. I appreciate how different this book felt from many other fluffy romances I have read. It felt grounded and mature, something for readers like me (people in their late 30s who are married and/or don't have kids). I liked the late-in-life neurodivergence representation; this really resonated with me! Unfortunately, I didn't love the main characters, Liz and Tobin. I didn't love how much stuff was going on in this novel. There are a lot of side plots in and around Liz and Tobin separating and Liz's attempt to find herself away from their marriage. I appreciate that Liz wanted to take the time to get to know herself and figure out who she was away from Tobin's looming, outgoing shadow. This being a story told only from Liz's point of view, I felt we only got to see the best and worst aspects of Tobin... and he's pretty one-dimensional and kind of a bore once you get to know him. There's a lack of depth there that felt sorely needed. There is SO much miscommunication in this book! It might have some of the most, and biggest, miscommunication I have ever read in a romance novel. Some of the improv content made me laugh, and some of it was pretty cheesy and awkward. I *I hated* the very last part of the book, which made me cringe out loud. When going to write my review for this book, I totally forgot I had read it. I didn't particularly love the audiobook narration, either. She was a bit distracting and spoke too fast a lot of the time.

Thank you to NetGalley, Maggie North, and Dreamscape Media for the complimentary ALC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

I quite literally got a headache from trying to understand this book and zoned out way too many times. I expected a light second chance romance but got a conflicted main character trying to make her self-discovery journey deeper than it really is. The book was way too long for something with storytelling this confusing. It pains me to write a negative review, but I genuinely don't see anything I can praise about the novel. The only thing that made the listen bearable was the narrator's awesome voice filled with emotion and expression.

Rules For Second Chances
Maggie North
Liz Lewis was a pleaser. She wanted to be what everyone wanted her to be. She was quiet, lack confidence, she never let her light shine. But something happened, at her thirtieth birthday party someone mistook her for a servant; that was Liz’s wake up call. She had to take charge of her own life. She was married to Tobin Renner-Lewis, well known professional adventure guide. She tells him she needs time to herself. She signs up for an improv comedy class that is supposed to reinforce self-confidence.
Tobin is deeply in love with his wife, and he wants to protect her, do things for her and hold her tight. He volunteers to be Liz’s partner for her class. He will do anything to save their marriage. As they work through the class they grow stronger but is that what Liz desires.
I didn’t care for this book. I liked Nick, he was willing to do anything to save their marriage. I did not like Liz. I think she was being ridiculous. I liked the marriage counseling/improv. On the whole I was disappointed.

I enjoyed the unique plot of this one. I think trying to save a marriage via a book about second chances and improve was really fun. I would have been little annoyed by our FMC without reading the authors note at the beginning so I found that very important. I think Tobin was an amazing MMC. The way he cares for Liz is beautiful and the way they work through their issues together was special. The audio was good for this one although the narrator spoke very fast in some places, if that is how it was meant to be then I apologize. But overall a great second chance romance read!

I truly truly can’t believe this is a debut! Where and WHY has Maggie North been keeping these characters from us?!

I will admit that I’ve never met a marriage in crisis I didn’t like. I love those small intimacies that can only be shared between people who’ve known each other for a long time, and this book has those in spades (or rather, clovers)!

I am so freaking FOND of these characters! Every one of them from Liz and Tobin to Sharon and Bea are entirely lovable even in their imperfection.

Corporate competition is not my favorite flavor of conflict, but the improv antics were the perfect balance.

I enjoyed this narration, though I will concede she has a very unique tone and I would understand if it distracts some listeners.

Thank you for the ALC!

A very sweet “marriage in crisis” romance. There was much more depth to the characters and story than I was expecting, but not totally surprising given that the characters were so relatable. It’s not a perfect book, though. There were an unbelievable number of high stakes road blocks on Liz and Tobin’s journey. Like, it was almost unrealistic (improv showcase, job pitch, his father, her sister, family crisis - one thing right after another). If I were Liz and my life was that up in the air… I dunno. I think therapy would be my first step.

I wasn’t entirely sold on the narrator. She had almost a splashy “ess” sound, like the tongue flattens to the roof of the mouth and back teeth. I couldn’t tell if it was natural or a choice, but it distracted me enough that it took me out of the story. I ended up finishing the book by reading it, rather than audio.

Rules for Second Chances - 5⭐ 1.5🌶️ - SPOILERS AT THE END

I LOVED this book. I have very high standards for self-discovery romance because, to put it bluntly, I hate feeling like an author wants me to cry (I know, I've got a therapist 😝). When I tell you that I bawled my eyes out like my toddler for the last 2 chapters...okay, 5 chapters...OKAY, 10 CHAPTERS (so pushy!) of this book, I do not say that lightly.

The Brief Synopsis: Liz, the FMC, takes up improv at the sexist and ableist suggestion of her boss, and she uses the "Yes, and..." technique throughout her life to find her own "magic."

There were several points in this story where I was expecting it to fall short or become cliche. As each point passed and I loved how they were handled, I started to get anxious for ending. I was waiting for the author to oversimplify or unwittingly return the characters to an unchanged state, but that did not happen! Instead, what I got was a stunning, romantic, giggles, butterflies, and tear-filled ending that was everything I wanted it to be. God, I think I even learned things about myself! What is happening?!

SPOILERS - Some things worth mentioning: In the beginning, I felt like 90% of Liz's interactions were in her head, and it was really annoying. This gets addressed. I felt like Tobin was constantly doing so much for Liz and she *never* reciprocated. This gets addressed. I felt like her sister clearly had so much love for her and was NOT withholding info, but just couldn't bring herself to say what needed to be said. This gets addressed. Everything that felt wrong was righted.

I owe a massive thank you to NetGalley for providing me the ARC for this book. Truly, I'm honored to know this story and I'm excited to share it with others. #thespicymslove #bookreview #mnorthauthor

Liz Lewis aspires to get back to leading tours for the luxury alpine adventure company she works for–it’s where she met her charismatic husband, Tobin, but instead of growing together, they seem to have grown apart, with Tobin as a lead guide while Liz is relegated to logistics, on call. She never met a spreadsheet she didn’t like, but that isn’t her only skillset. Used to always being a naysayer and feeling herself diminishing in all aspects of her life and marriage, things come to a head when she is mistaken by a server at her own birthday party. Tired of not feeling seen, Liz calls for a break, and moves back to her childhood home where her older sister and niece reside. She decides to throw her hat in the ring for her company’s pitch competition, and a higher-up recommends she take an improv class. Liz leans into her discomfort zone to discover “yes, and.” The improv instructor is another guide with her company, AND an author of a relationship self-help book, based on improv concepts. When Tobin brings a galley edition to Liz and suggests this might be the blueprint for working on their marriage, she agrees. Will it be a key to undoing their bad habits and allow them to move forward and heal?

Tidbits from McHuge’s fictional book and from the improv bible Truth in Comedy preface each chapter, hinting at the scene to follow. Liz is able to not only establish an identity for herself separate from Tobin, but also makes new friends, sets more boundaries, manages expectations, and starts to understand she herself may be as neurodivergent as her niece Eleanor. The romance and it’s challenges are real, raw, and wholly believeable with pain and heat and chemistry and forgiveness and baggage. The improv is also real, raw and wholly believable, and the interwoven themes of working with an romantic partner and improv partner are beautifully parallelled.

I read this a few months ago, then requested the audio. Gail Shalan’s narration is just perfect for the story, capturing Liz’s range of emotions, Tobin’s baritone, his parent’s Scandavian accent, Liz’s best friend Skellar’s voice, mentor Sharon’s no-nonsense nurturing, Amber’s big sisterly force, and Eleanor’s charm. The Canadian accent is subtle and spot on.

I received a free advance reader’s review copy of #RulesForSecondChances via #NetGalley, courtesy of #MacMillan.

Really not for me.

I didn’t buy the romance at all, so rooting for a second chance was basically impossible. I’m also not sure the neurodivergence angle works either. It’s a nice attempt and the Autism behavior analysis is interesting but it also doesn’t make sense and feels so forced.

Also, the audio is not great. The MMC voice is terribly done by the female narrator.

I received an advance audio and e-galley. All thoughts are my own.

Rules for second chances
Thank you Macmillan audio and St Martin’s Press for my gifted copies. All opinions are my own.

I’ve seen several friends rave about this and I couldn’t wait to pick it up. It was a unique mix of women’s fiction and romance.

Liz is struggling in her marriage and tired of not being seen because she’s different. She wants to be seen as an individual without her husband Tobin, and win her company’s pitch contest.
There is more romance as Liz gets further into her personal journey, but a lot of her is Liz finding herself. She makes new friends, participates in improve, and learns so much about herself. I loved her learn so much about herself. There was obviously love between her and Tobin and lots of chemistry, but they both stopped putting in the work. There aren’t a lot of marriage in trouble romances and I really appreciated this one.

The narration was well done by Gail Shalan.
I look forward to more books from Maggie North!

"Rules for Second Chances" by Maggie North is a book that delves into the life of Liz Lewis, a character facing several personal struggles. Liz has always felt different, often labeled as weird or strange. She finds herself in an unhappy marriage with Tobin, a popular adventure guide who happens to have the job she has always desired.

As Liz struggles with her identity, she also grapples with her failing marriage. In an attempt to regain her self-esteem and change the course of her life, she decides to take improv comedy classes. With her marriage and job hanging in the balance, the central question of the book becomes: Can Liz secure a second chance at happiness?

While I was eager to love this book, I felt that it fell short in certain aspects. Liz's character often comes across as someone who constantly complains and blames others for her misfortunes. This, unfortunately, made it challenging for me to connect with her character on an empathetic level.

Another factor that impacted my reading experience was the narration in the audiobook version. Gail Shalan's voice didn't align with my perception of the characters, which further detracted from my enjoyment.

In conclusion, while "Rules for Second Chances" presents an intriguing premise and a relatable protagonist, the execution didn't quite hit the mark for me. Nevertheless, I appreciate the opportunity given by Maggie North, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley to review this audiobook.

❤️ Happy Reading!!! ❤️

“The truest thing about me is how I’m so in love with you” says Liz to Tobin but also me to this book immediately after finishing it.

I loved it, as someone who is also very socially anxious and introverted I related a lot to the struggles that Liz has been and is going through. The sense that everyone around you has more instructions for every interaction, and knows all of the unwritten rules, not knowing how to fail joyfully, everything feels like an all or nothing situation. Maggie North did a fantastic job of depicting LIz’s struggles and showing her making mistakes and failing but still trying.

I really loved the relationship dynamic with her husband Tobin, it is clear how they've gotten to the place they're at even though both of them is trying to be what they think each other needs/wants. It felt very rewarding to be along side them on their journey of learning how to be better partners, and I really liked the role that improv played. I also really liked how present both of their families were in the story and how those relationships played into their struggles as a couple.

I also loved Gail Shalan’s performance in the audiobook, she was phenomenal and I will be seeking out more of her work.

Title: Rules for Second Chances
Author: Maggie North
Genre: Romance
Rating: 4.00
Pub Date: June 25, 2024

I received complimentary eARC and ALC copies from St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted

T H R E E • W O R D S

Refershing • Introspective • Bittersweet

📖 S Y N O P S I S

Liz Lewis has tried everything to be what people want. But she’s always been labeled different from everyone else in the boisterous world of wilderness expeditions—that is, if anyone notices her at all. Her marriage to popular adventure guide Tobin Renner-Lewis is a sinkhole of toxic positivity where she’s the only one saying no. In a mountain resort town built around excitement, introverted Liz gets…spreadsheets.

When she gets mistaken for a server at her own thirtieth birthday party and her last line of communication with Tobin finally snaps, Liz vows to stop playing a minor character in her own life. The (incredibly well-researched and scientific) plan? A crash course in confidence…via improv comedy class.

The catch? She’s terrible at it, and the only person willing to practice with her is a certain extroverted wilderness guide who seems dead set on saving their marriage one bonkers improv scenario at a time. But as Liz and Tobin get closer (again), she’s forced to confront all the reasons they didn’t work the first time, along with her growing suspicion that there might be more to her social awkwardness than anyone realized. Liz has just eight weeks to learn improv’s most important lesson—"yes, and"—or she’ll have to choose between the love she always wanted and the dreams that got away.

💭 T H O U G H T S

I always love discovering new authors, and it's always a bonus when the happen to be Canadian. I requested this book on a whim based solely on the cover while browsing upcoming releases on NetGalley. I did expect the wilderness and the setting to play a bigger role based on the cover, yet that may have been an overlook on my part.

Rules for Second Chances is a creative and unique narrative of a marriage in trouble set amongst the Canadian wilderness. While the first half is centered around Liz's self-discovery, it is the romance which is the star of the second half. Liz's complexity and how she learns to find her own voice after so many years of falling into the shadows and being walked over was an absolute breath of fresh air. Her dialogue did get a bit repetitive at times, yet I found her highly relatable and I think the miscommunication trope is justified here.

The improv aspect was the ideal tool to utilize as a metaphor for telling this story. Honestly, it was pure genius! There are so many laugh out loud moments during some of the scenes and it just added another layer to the story and showcased how Liz came to understand herself, her boundaries, and Tobin's needs.

A couple of things I really wish would have been done differently include, the author giving the readers Tobin's POV in addition to Liz's. There isn't a real explanation of Tobin's insecurities until around the two thirds mark. His perspective would have helped get this explanation sooner. Additionally, I really wish the tourism would have played an even larger role. Maybe they could have went on some adventures together. Maybe there could have been more tours. I simply love travel and adventure, so there definitely could have been more.

Gail Shalan does a wonderful job narrating the audiobook. Her performance was engaging and I thought her voice was a good match for Liz's character. She was also able to transform into the other characters smoothly offering distinct voices for each. Highly recommend!

Overall, Rules for Second Chances is a solid own voices debut novel. I can safely say I have never read a romance that utilized such unique elements. Seeing introverted characters in books always makes my heart happy. I will be keeping my eye on Maggie North's future projects as I am sure her writing will continue to mature the more she writes.

📚 R E A D • I F • Y O U • L I K E
• marriage in trouble trope
• neurodiverse MCs
• improv

⚠️ CW: sexism, misogyny, ableism, sexual content, toxic familial relationship, childhood neglect, abandonment

🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S

"Love is about making your own rules, and so is life."