"Rules for Second Chances" is a beautifully crafted novel that explores the hardest relationship question of all: Can true love happen twice with the same person? Author Maggie North weaves a tale of vulnerability, growth, and second chances that will leave you rooting for Liz and Tobin.

In the boisterous world of wilderness expeditions, Liz Lewis has always felt like a minor character in her own life. Her marriage to popular adventure guide Tobin Renner-Lewis is drowning in toxic positivity, where she's the only one saying no. But when Liz gets mistaken for a server at her own thirtieth birthday party, she decides it's time to rewrite her story.

Enter improv comedy, it’s the crash course in confidence that Liz embarks upon. The catch? She's terrible at it, and the only person willing to practice with her is Tobin, the extroverted wilderness guide who seems dead set on saving their marriage. As they reconnect, Liz confronts the reasons their relationship didn't work the first time, all while battling her own social awkwardness.

The characters leap off the page, their quirks and struggles making them feel like old friends. Liz's journey from self-doubt to self-discovery is both achingly tender and hilariously relatable. And Tobin? Well, he's the kind of hero who'll make your heart skip a beat. Their chemistry crackles, and their banter is pure gold.

North's writing is a delightful blend of wit and warmth. She captures the essence of improv, aka the "Yes, and" philosophy, perfectly. As Liz learns to embrace life's unexpected twists, we're reminded that sometimes the best moments happen when we let go of our carefully scripted plans.

The Canadian wilderness serves as a breathtaking backdrop, adding an extra layer of magic to the story. North's descriptions transport you to misty forests, rugged trails, and starlit nights. It’s a sensory experience that lingers long after you've turned the last page. Trust me, I’m a Canadian.

"Rules for Second Chances" is more than a romance; it's a celebration of resilience, vulnerability, and the messy beauty of love. Whether you're a fan of contemporary romance or simply crave a heartwarming read, this book is a must-add to your TBR pile. Prepare to laugh, cry, and fall in love as Liz and Tobin navigate life's unexpected twists. North has crafted a gem that will stay with you, whispering its wisdom long after you've closed the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a temporary e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Heartfelt second chance story! I read this well into the night last night so by the time I was done I felt like maybe I was a little delirious and didn’t retain as much as I could have but I couldn’t put it down! This will be a re-read for me in the future!

2.65⭐️


Buena idea, pobre desarrollo.

Las escenas de cuando eran de novios fueron bonitas y se puede ver que todos sus problemas iniciaron cuando se casaron.

Durante 3 años Liz supo que su matrimonio estaba en crisis e intentó hablar muchas veces con su esposo para ir a terapia, pero él no la escuchó.


Tobin tiene mamitis, cuida más los sentimientos de su mamá que los de Liz.

Me sorprendió la cantidad de reseñas en donde sólo se critica a Liz, pero no mencionan todas las veces que Tobin la abandonó por estar con su mamá, y luego se preguntan porque Liz está tan insegura.

Liz no es santa y también contribuyó a que su matrimonio esté pasado una crisis, pero también fue consecuencia de los actos de su esposo, por ejemplo, si los papás de Tobin se peleaban, el se la pasaba compensando a su mamá, entonces si Liz quería hacer algo, pero la mamá quería lo contrario se hacía lo que la señora quería y con el paso del tiempo Liz dejó de dar su opinión y eso la fue carcomiendo hasta el punto de sentirse que no era valorada.


No se para que agregar más drama en la parte final y hacer que Torin se ofendiera porque Liz quisiera ser vista y tratada como una persona individual y no como la acompañante de su marido.

¿Qué fue esa tontería de que Marijke terminó ayudando a la amante de su esposo???


Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for and honest review.

This one hit pretty close to home for me and I frequently avoided reading because of it. It was quite different having a story of two people already in a relationship and almost felt like it was a whole other subgenre of romance. I don't think I've experienced so many similarities to characters before so while the book was hard to read it also ended up having a bit of a self help effect on me. The characters were all interesting and I actually could have had more from the side characters which is something I never say. The Handbook quotes spattered throughout were honestly really motivating and helpful, I think having that detail was what helped me get out of my own sadness and see the light.

I love second chance romances but not this one :( Both the writing style and the MMC didn’t resonate with me. I will pick up the author’s future works, however.

I absolutely loved this book. I can't say enough good things about it and I'm even sure where to start! I have such an affinity for established relationships in trouble and I was hooked within the first couple of pages.

Liz and Tobin have been married for almost ten years but have stopped seeing each other for who they are. A separation and improv are the vehicles on which they work together to figure out if they can make their marriage work. For Liz, improv becomes the way in which she tries to become more brave and Likable outside the shadow of her social butterfly husband.

I cried my way through the last third of this book. It left me hopeful and happy and I couldn't help but root for these two separately and together.

Thank you NetGalley and SMP for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I don’t typically pick up second chance as a rule because it’s hard to really nail the emotional aspect without making the separation too decisive to overcome. And I think Maggie North did a wonderful job when writing Liz’s journey of self discovery.

But I think that’s also my problem with the romance here: this is really about Liz and her journey, not so much her relationship with Tobin. I didn’t really feel any chemistry between them and I think I wanted more from the romance angle. Because I just didn’t find it a satisfying relationship dynamic.

I will say (and this is just personal preference!) that I strongly dislike mentions of TikTok or Booktok in my books because it feels so….well cringey sounds too harsh but I guess that’s the best way I know to put it? I could do without the TikTok references in my books permanently.

Altogether, this wasn’t *bad* or unenjoyable. I just don’t think it worked as a romance and would have done better as general fiction.

Thank you to SMP for an e-arc!

I don't think i've ever read a story like this before about a struggling married couple and to be honest it really resonated with me. Tobin and Liz, i loved how Liz set out to find herself and take charge in her own life and that she took an improv class. I'm not sure I would have the guts to do something like that!

Such a wonderful story very heartfelt and beyond a fluffy romantic book, Highly recommend!

Review witheld due to the SMP boycott. I will not be releasing a review until SMP makes a statement. Thank you.

I've fallen in love with this couple, and their commitment to the rules to salvage their marriage. Their role play was adorable, testing the boundaries of their comfort, forcing them to be open to each other. Rules for Second Chances is just that, its hope, healing and most of all love.

This second chance is an utterly unique love story.

North's prose are stunning. This book is emotional and an overall MUST READ!

Thank you, St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin

I really enjoyed the characters in this book but the storyline for their romance didn’t make a ton of sense to me. I didn’t really feel like a second chance romance, like she just left him for the sake of making this a second chance romance. There wasn’t really a conflict between them.

This book was so amazing I started it and stayed up late for hours because I couldn't put it down. I finished it in less than a day. The main character is Liz, a socially awkward operations person for a tour company in Canada. Her husband, Tobin, has always been the social butterfly, beloved by everyone around him while Liz feels like no one really sees her or understands her. So on her 30th birthday, Liz has had enough, and walks out of her home/relationship with Tobin, moves in with her sister and niece, and starts taking an improv comedy class to help her break out of her shell and get ideas for how to finally achieve her dreams of success at the tourism company where Tobin also works as a tour guide. When Tobin proposes that he become Liz's improv partner to help her practice developing those skills and attempt to repair their marriage in the process, angst and drama ensues. Liz has to grapple with becoming a new and improved version of herself while deciding if she can keep her career and her marriage intact.

Part of Liz's journey is realizing that some of her awkwardness and particularities are related to a potential autism diagnosis. Liz's niece, Eleanor, is also autistic. Liz's narrative voice was so funny and awkward I really loved her character. Tobin is just the sweetest I need someone like him. There was soooo much angst and emotion packed into these pages I felt like I was getting punched in the gut repeatedly. I will note for other readers that while this isn't closed door, the intimate scenes are limited and not super descriptive, so if you are looking for more of that in a romance, this is not the right book. But the romance is so real I loved it regardless.

Rules for Second Chances was a beautiful story about healing and love. We get to see Liz’s journey learning to love herself and falling in love with her husband, Tobin, again. Because we only get Liz’s pov, I feel like the story is more about Liz and her personal experiences than about the romance between her and Tobin, even though their romance played an important part of the story as well. I thought the improv storyline was a surprising and unique aspect of the story. Overall, I enjoyed Rules for Second Chances and would recommend to anyone who likes second chance/marriage in crisis romance with a strong focus on self discovery.

Liz counts on her husband Tobin to help her navigate social situations.Everything was wonderful
whle they were dating, but both seem to be holding back in their marriage. Each will need to deal with
their insecurities to have a happy second chance.
#RulesforSecondChances #StMartins #NetGalley

I’m a big fan of second-chance romances, but I couldn’t get into this story. I didn’t like the writing style, and I wasn’t terribly compelled by Liz as a main character.

I had a ton of feelings about this book. Overall I loved the story. It was such a sweet and sad and beautiful story. Liz and Tobin fit so perfectly together because of how different they were and not in spite of it. I could feel how uncomfortable Liz was in certain situations and wanted so badly for people to see her for her. The premise of Rules for Second Chances was so smart and fresh and it was Liz’s self awareness gave me a better understanding of autism. Without spoiling the story I will say that I loved how improv was woven in. I don’t think I would have ever have made a connection but once the author connected improv to life and relationships it made perfect sense. There was writing in the book that seemed to skip around and was almost superfluous. These were mostly in the transitions in time or from one “scene to another”. The sections felt jumbled and clunky and I had to stop and skip the section. It was almost like a few parts were overly dense and led you away from where you wanted to be and that was with Liz and Tobin. I was rooting for Liz and Tobin from the start! I could feel how much they loved one another and how truly lost each one was in their own way. The road back to each other allowed them to learn more about themselves and it felt like an honor to be on the journey with them.

I enjoyed the writing style in this book, but overall it fell flat for me. I spent a lot of time confused, because I never felt I had a firm grasp on why Liz felt it was necessary to leave her marriage. I also never got what it was they saw in each other to begin with—she talked a lot about his looks and how great he was in bed, but I never saw why she fell in love with him, so it was hard to root for her to stay in love with him.
Overall, I got more women’s fiction vibes than romance from this. I’d definitely give the author another shot; this just wasn’t the book for me.

I really wanted to love this, but it just didn’t feel realistic. There was so much back and forth, such a lack of interest and effort. I also really didn't understand or see the point of the whole improv scenarios. It seemed very immature and could have easily been an adult conversation instead of acting out ridiculous things. I found the main female character to be very annoying, childish, and very selfish. Maybe that was the point? So we can see her growth, but from early on, I just couldn't get past my dislike for her. I wish we could have gotten a few points of view from Tobin. I never really knew where he was coming from and it just felt like their entire relationship was based on a lie that neither of them were be truthful and instead of making me love their growth, I just got mad and annoyed that you can be that lazy and selfish in your marriage for that long.

I gave this novel a three star rating. I found the ending to be rather predicable and with my annoyance of the characters prior to that, it just fell flat for me. It read more of a woman's fiction than a romance to me, and that could be where it lost me as well.

I really really wanted to like this book but I couldn’t connect with the characters or the improv aspect of the story. I liked that the main character was agreeing to give her marriage one more chance, but I thought the improv class was a little far fetched. I mean it’s fiction so that’s ok not to seem like something that could happen in the “ real world”. I did like how each chapter started with a paragraph or verse, some that were thought provoking and some inspiring. It’s not over until it’s over right?

This isn’t my style. Their jobs feel like a big part of the story, but I don’t get enough to really understand. I don’t find Liz likable. Tobin is the most likable, but we don’t get his pov.