Reviews with content warning for Terminal illness - Maybe Someday

I remember reading this when I was still in my late teens - maybe around nineteen going twenty; and I'm twenty-eight years old now. So that's almost a decade since I've first read this. I also know that I recommended this book to my friend when we swapped books to read during our summer internship. I know she sort of liked it and I know for sure that at that time, I did love this book. But after a decade and maybe being in my second relationship now, I can see how I had to lessen my rating.

[SPOILER BELOW: YOU ARE WARNED]
This book definitely has the cheating trope and I'm not even going to hide that fact because it's right there after a few chapters in. I know that they're both mature adults who tried their hardest to stop whatever they were feeling and as much as possible, not act out to their desires but the woman in me felt it for Maggie. The whole story really is revolving around that fact. They both know about it and really tried to be matured about it. But really though? Why not just let her move out? I'm trying to be where Maggie is at when she found out but I really can't because I definitely don't have a life-threatening illness. I tried imagine my position if my own boyfriend fell in love with someone while still being with me and I just can't imagine it because I'll be so heart-broken by it and that's just through imagining. I know they really tried to be mature about it and even I can see that but damn, it's just something that can be avoided. It was insta-love that is between Ridge and Sydney so it's kind of hard for me to defend their actions. But it was supposed to be done - Maggie needs to be independent while Ridge and Sydney needs to be together. It's as simple as that.

I just needed to re-read this story before I start reading Maybe Now. It's been years since I've bought the book but never actually tried reading it until now (since it was picked by my TBR jar).

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kenna92005's review against another edition

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hopeful lighthearted slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

I had a love/hate relationship with this book. I’ve honestly debated the star ratings because I was so back and forth. I think I’m finally settling on a 2.5 rating.

I’ll start with the things I did like. I enjoyed how there was representation of a minority group in this book (and a minority group that is not typically included). I liked the characters (except Sydney) I enjoyed the musical aspect and I enjoyed the character interactions.

Things I wish there were more of: I wish Brennan had played a more prominent role. I wish we had actually been able to read his first encounter with Sydney. I just feel like he had a lot to contribute. I also wish there were more interactions amongst the roommates and not just Sydney and Ridge. I think Bridgette could’ve been more fun and I think it would’ve been cool to see her fleshed out more.

What I did not like: Sydney. She was so emotional. Some of it was understandable, but she cried way too much. I get that there are people out there that cry at everything, but it got to the point where if the paragraph read tears welling up or sliding down her cheeks I just skimmed it or skipped it. I was so tired of reading about her crying. Maybe that makes me sound heartless, but she was just too emotional for me. I also didn’t really like how fast their attraction grew. I feel like there should’ve been more build up and getting to them one another.

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ksamaine95's review against another edition

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emotional funny inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Finally gave another CH series a chance. Not wowed but also not disappointed. Sweet, interesting, and unique?

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taraaleitz's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

This book was well written. There was super realistic commentary, the characters were more level-headed than much of what you see in drama romance books where emotional-attachment cheating is involved, and the characters are likable. Also, one of the characters is deaf, so it introduced a different dynamic than what I keep used to (which I liked)!

PROS:
•The characters are realistic—they don’t have extreme mood swings like you’ll find in a bunch of romance books.
•Only a little cheesy
•Though there is cheating involved, it’s mostly in the form of emotional attachment, so there was no spice up until the second to last chapter.
•This book presents different forms of intimacy outside of spice, which is actually really sweet.
•There were two points that caught me off guard and actually made me laugh out loud.

CONS:
•I don’t like the emotional cheating (and physical too, but on that end it was just a kiss compared to these characters being FULLY EMOTIONALLY CONNECTED on a VERY romantic level) that happens in this book.
•

I don’t know quite how realistic it is to move in with the guy across the courtyard that you’ve only have a few text conversations with and looked at across balconies… but I also understand that it’s a ROMANCE book and also Ridge is a very kind character.

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sarah_j90's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

The story follows Ridge and Sydney. They live in apartments opposite the court yard to each other, they unknowingly bond with each other, when, each evening they both sit on their balconies with Ridge playing his guitar and Sydney writing songs to go with it. Then Sydney finds herself homeless, boyfriendless and best friendless all on her birthday. Ridge invites her to move in with him and his flatmates Warren and Bridgette and his often visiting girlfriend, Maggie. What follows is a typical Colleen Hoover book of romance, forbidden love, stolen glances, heartbreak and big romantic gestures.
Some things I liked about this book
- Ridge is deaf and communicates with the world through writing and texting, so the whole of his and Sydney's relationship is in theory built up behind a computer, but in person.
- Colleen Hoover worked alongside Griffin Peterson to write and record the songs from the book into an actual album which you can get on Spotify, listening to them as you go through the book rather than just reading really puts you there in the place of the characters. That got it the extra star.

Bits I didn't like,
- Ridge got himself into the situation but then when it all crashed around him he blamed everyone but himself.
- I've read quite a few Colleen Hoover's books and they are all starting to feel very samey.
- Ridge treats Sydney like shit to be honest, but it's masked behind sweet words and a big romantic gesture at the end and she's in!!

I would really like to see Colleen Hoover write some books with a strong feminine lead, one who doesn't swoon for the hot, mean, troubled emotionally unavailable guy!! Think I'll be taking a break from Colleen Hoover books for a while!!

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eagerreader2022's review against another edition

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challenging emotional fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

I absolutely loved this book from start to finish - well almost finish. I understand what Colleen was doing with the scene she decided to end on, but for me it was a weird way to end. The ending was definitely different than most other romance plots. And this entire book was actually. I think that's why I liked it so much! The prologue is actually about events that happen within the timeline of the entire novel. Which - when I turned the page to chapter one and saw that it was 3 weeks earlier than the prologue I was a bit afraid that 350 pages were only going to occur in 3 weeks time. Colleen sure knows how to scare me!

The soundtrack that goes along with this novel is FANTASTIC - you should totally listen to the songs as they appear in the novel. This just brought in a whole new element to the story (and my reading) that I missed the acoustic guitar when I had to continue on. What I need is an acoustic version (no lyrics) of all those songs to play while I'm reading in the future!

Some of those twists in to create the 3rd act of the novel - my goodness Colleen how do you think of this stuff!

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samw0327's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny reflective sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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abi2xoxo's review against another edition

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emotional funny medium-paced

4.0

I liked this book a lot! I don’t like the cover with the guitar! But that’s neither here nor there! I enjoyed the characters! I was in tears! My dog passed away very recently and her name was Maggie so when that all happened you bet your ass I was crying!
I love Warren! Always will! I read maybe not before I read this one so I knew warrens story!!
I get why people didn’t finish this book because of the cheating but I don’t find it massively triggering even tho I’ve had personal experiences! If cheating is a trigger than this whole book is just not a book for you!
I am excited to read maybe now and finish this series!
I never thought I would read Colleen Hoover because her books just didn’t seem like something I would enjoy. Now I’ve tried her out I realise I do like her writing style!

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