Readers are taken on an emotional journey through the tumultuous life of psychology professor Nancy Jewel. Fed up with failed marriages, disappointing dates, and the scars left by her emotionally abusive mother, Nancy has become disillusioned with the idea of love and commitment. However, when she receives news of her father's terminal illness, she's forced to confront her past and her strained family relationships.

As Nancy navigates the complexities of her father's illness and her reconnection with her estranged mother, she grapples with the ghosts of her toxic childhood and her own feelings of inadequacy. Lucas skillfully captures Nancy's inner turmoil and her struggle to find self-worth amidst the chaos of her past.

The novel offers solace and understanding to readers who have experienced similar challenges with narcissistic parents and strained family dynamics. Nancy's journey towards self-acceptance and healing is both relatable and inspiring, as she learns to confront her fears and embrace the possibility of staying instead of running away.

While the storyline may feel familiar at times, Lucas's honest portrayal of Nancy's struggles and her heartfelt exploration of the power of choice and self-discovery add depth to the narrative. The book's easy readability and quick pace make it a compelling and engaging read, with moments of emotional resonance that will leave readers reflecting on their own relationships and experiences.

Overall, "Maybe She'll Stay" is a touching and thought-provoking novel that offers a message of hope and resilience. Nancy's journey reminds us that true family is not defined by blood but by the bonds we choose to nurture and the love we choose to embrace. This book is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the transformative power of self-love and acceptance.

The story was good, but I hated how Nancy treated people. If she had been a better person, I think I would have enjoyed it more.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an eARC in exchange for my honest review!

This book has solidified me as a Robyn Lucas fan! What a great follow up to Paper Doll Lina. I enjoy how she pushes the boundaries and can provoke so many emotions. Heavy on the 'Read Your Triggers'! This one includes a narcissistic mother and I feel like narc is putting it lightly! The overall message that 'Love conquers All' had me bawling my eyes out at the end.

Maybe She’ll Stay

After three failed marriages and an extremely toxic relationship with her mother Nancy is unsurprisingly a bit of a commitment phobe, but when she hears that her beloved father is dying from cancer she starts to revaluate.

Unfortunately I just couldn’t warm to Nancy and her treatment of the people who try to love her was pretty awful, in fact if she had been a male character he would have certainly been the villain of the story rather than the heroine we’re meant to believe Nancy is. Her actions baffled me throughout and while the writing was decent I failed to connect

This book is truly comforting read. The pace is fast, and the heartbreaking plot showcases the harsh treatment the protagonist endures. I couldn't help but feel sorry for her. The story flows smoothly, keeping you engaged and eager to discover what unfolds next.

Nancy was a hot mess and had many issues. i did enjoy seeing her self discovery and resolving some of these issues.
Many thanks to Lake Union Publishing and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I enjoyed this book. Nancy’s emotions were realistic and relatable. It was fast paced and could be quickly read in a day. I really enjoyed it and I honestly want to listen to the audiobook eventually.

Thank you for NetGalley for allowing me to read this as an ARC.
This was a good fast paced book. I finished this in one day. I was able to feel the characters pain as we went through all the trauma.
Our main character has a fear of commitment because of the three previous divorces. She never had luck in that department since she was little. The character growth in this book is amazing.

The beginning was a little slow for me personally. I think I was thrown off that Nancy had been married and divorced so many times because I thought this was more of a love story and she didn't seem like a committed person. Once I got to know her better it was more understandable. I hadn't read Paper Doll Lina, and didn't know about it til after I read this. I think it wasn't necessary to read, but would have helped a little bit with seeing Lina and understanding her story and how it did also affect Nancy. Overall this was an interesting read about when and when not to run from things in life and what is ultimately worth sticking around for.

After three disastrous marriages, a series of bad dates, and a tumultuous relationship with an emotionally abusive mother, psychology professor Nancy Jewel is through with love and commitment. Romantic or familial, the notion is a waste of her time. Content with being alone, she’s starting to feel normal-ish when she learns her father, incarcerated in Georgia, has been diagnosed with a terminal illness. Nancy is determined to get him a compassionate release, even if it means returning home and reaching out for help from the last attorney she wants to see: her recent ex.

Back in her estranged mother’s orbit, and dealing with the fear of losing her father, Nancy wrestles with the ghosts of her toxic childhood and her reconnection with a failed bid at love. When an unexpected career challenge pushes Nancy to the edge, her impulse is to run. What other choice does she have? Face life head-on, and maybe, for once, stay.

I felt seen when I read this book. I loved it. I will recommend this story to others.

Thank you so much for allowing me to read and review your titles. I really enjoy the opportunity!

I do appreciate it and continue to review books that I get the chance to read.
Thanks again!

This book was enjoyable, and the cover is beautiful as well.
The journey to finding love when you least expect it and finding love that makes you feel worthy of love is beautiful.

What I enjoyed.
- good character development
- authentic
- likable characters
- I related to Nancy
- Good ending
- an easy, light read

***Thank you to the author, publisher, and Net Galley for an ARC of this story***

A short and fun read, Nancy was a great character, and I really wanted her to succeed. The relationship she has with her parents is complicated.

Era uma vez, uma mulher todos os issues possíveis. Eram eles mommy, daddy, trust and commitment issues.

E eu acho que foi esse o problema do livro. A personagem principal sofre o tempo todo com tudo. Ela não tem um tempo de paz. Fora que ela projeta nas relações dos seus amigos a suas próprias angústias. Talvez a justificativa da autora seja... "queria que a minha personagem fosse o mais real possível" e eu fiquei "meu bem, nāo precisa fazer a sua prota sofrer o livro inteiro e ter todos os issues do mundo para tornar ela real", na verdade isso me fez ela parecer muito mais irreal.

Enfim, foi uma leitura blé para a quantidades de paginas que me fizeram ler. Mas de modo geral, eu fiquei aguardado o desfecho e queria dizer que para um pp que ensina psicologia, ela precisa de mais terapia.

Huge thanks again to NetGalley to the opportunity to read this eARC.

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing!

If you know you know.
You know the pain, the confusion, and insecurities that come with being raised by a narcissistic parent. You also know that it takes years to heal to find yourself and who are outside of that ever present voice that seems to loom above you.

Nancy's continuous struggles in just about every aspect of her life is so painfully relatable. This story is a story about growth, acceptance and unconditional love and all about achieving and finding those things. It's also about accepting those things and finding the belief that you are worthy of such things despite that ever present voice.

Maybe She'll stay is a journey of self love and self healing and a journey to find the truth.

I loved this story and found myself cheering Nancy on from page one to the very last. Highly highly recommend!

Maybe She'll Stay by Robyn Lucas is a captivating and emotional novel that explores the themes of love, loss, and self-discovery. The story follows the journey of a young woman named Olivia, who returns to her hometown after her mother's sudden death. The characters are well-developed and relatable, with complex relationships that add to the book's depth and impact. Lucas' writing style is engaging and emotive, with vivid descriptions that bring the story to life. The novel is a tribute to the power of community and the importance of family, as Olivia navigates her grief with the help of her friends and family. The themes of self-discovery and growth are also woven throughout the story, as Olivia learns to confront her past and find the courage to follow her dreams. Overall, Maybe She'll Stay is a beautiful and poignant novel that will resonate with anyone who has experienced loss or struggled with finding their place in the world.

Finished ✔️ Maybe She’ll Stay by Robyn Lucas

3 ⭐️.5 💫
Publish Day: February 28th, 2023
Kindle Unlimited: Yes
Daughter returns home
Daughter opening old wounds
Family, love, and emotional rescue
Reminds me kind of my family life drama which might be why I rated it so low.
Could be a great read for others.

#DeesReading #DeesRecs #DeesBookRecommendations #BookNerds #BookNerdProblems #BookNerdsUnited #BookProblems101 BookProblems #BookNerds101 #Bookworms #BookwormProblems #BooksOfFacebook #DeeTheBookReviewer #BookReviewer #NewToMeAuthor #ReadOfTheDay #BookOfTheDay #NetGalley #RobynLucas #MaybeShellStay

Nancy prefers not to have any attachments. She keeps things at a distance. But when her incarcerated father gets diagnosed with cancer, she’s brought back into the life that she thought she had gotten away from.

This book will bring comfort to those who know what it’s like to deal with a narcissistic parent and have experience with strained family relationships. I felt for Nancy and the way she was mistreated by her narcissistic mother. You could see how it affected how she viewed herself— not knowing her own self-worth, fearing that she’s unlovable and can’t love others in return. Her relationship with her estranged brother also brought strain to an already tense situation. Nancy’s safe place throughout all of this is her father, him providing her with the reassurance and love that she needs to move forward through life.

The storyline was a bit too on the nose for me personally. Definitely had its moments of hitting me in the feels with its relatability. The readability and pace of the book was easy and quick. The title of the book is very fitting for Nancy as our main character. She’s used to running but maybe, just maybe, for once, she’ll stay.. And she’ll realize that blood doesn’t always mean family, but being able to choose who is does.

REVIEW
Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for this ARC
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I kinda liked this book because it was the first time I read about narcissistic parents. I felt sorry for Nancy, no child should deserves a parent like that, it's sad that such parents exist. I also liked it because I discovered a new word for friends with benefits, Frienifits
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For Nancy, she was kinda annoying. She always complains about people leaving her, but she's the one that does the leaving, so I don't know what she wanted. She even broke up with Ashish because he wanted their relationship to be formal. I also didn't like that she didn't visit her father in prison. It's complicated, but her father was there for her when he was not in prison and he was definitely better than her mum
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Nancy was really traumatized by her mother's actions, events that took place for more than forty years and yet she let go of all the trauma in a sudden recovery which was too fake for me. I felt like she needed to see a therapist, that kind of trauma is not one that you'll sleep, wake up and it's suddenly gone! And she's a Psychologist! She should have sought treatment earlier, but she never did.
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Anyway, I still liked the book although the FMC was annoying, so I'd recommend it. It had a HEA

I really felt this book…I could truly relate to Nancy and what she had gone through as a child. While my situation is very different, there are so many similarities! I always appreciate when an author brings difficult topics to light in their writing.

Nancy is a college professor who had a rough childhood. Her father spent a good part of her life in jail while her mother was narcissistic and seemed to blame her for everything. Because of this Nancy avoided love like the plague - she was married 3 times, engaged a few more times and she was a regular on Tinder. After two years of not speaking to either of her parents, she finds out that her father has Stage 4 Lung Cancer and her mom wants her help getting him out of jail for the remainder of his life.

Fortunately for Nancy, her ex(not)-boyfriend Ashish comes back into her life. He is a lawyer that helps with the process of getting her dad out of jail, which also causes them to spend a lot more time together. It is a lot of “one step closer, two steps back” with them. But it is her father who makes Nancy see that she is loved/loveable.

I especially loved the letter that her dad had written to her, it had me in tears. Hank may not have been the greatest of dad’s but his love for Nancy showed. While there were times that Nancy drove me crazy, I could totally understand why she was acting the way that she did. It was a heartbreaking, quick, relatable read! I just loved Ashish - what a great guy to stand by Nancy’s side even when she was pushing him away.

𝕎𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕪𝕠𝕦’𝕝𝕝 𝕗𝕚𝕟𝕕 𝕚𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕓𝕠𝕠𝕜:
Second chance romance
Sworn off relationships
Emotional scars
Family secrets
No self-worth

Thank you to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and Robyn Lucas for the Advanced Readers Copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!