2.5 ⭐

The book started out really promising! I was really enjoying the main character. but then at about 40% in it started feeling a bit bland. The dual time lines for the audiobook were not really properly say when they switched so it was hard to keep when and which love interest we were reading about.

as for the romance it fell flat, it wasn't really enough pinning or connection between any of them.

the ending made the entire book feel kinda pointless, I understand the message the book is trying to show but its pitched as a romance book so I would expect it to have more romantic elements in it.

I'm disappointed, the blurb made it sound like a book I would have loved but unfortunately it was a miss for me.

as always thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review!

I loved this cute marriage pact x2 story!! The main character Maggie made a pact with two different men that they would get married later in life if they were still single at 35 and to her surprise, they both showed up. Maggie was such an interesting character, but it bothered me how wishy washy she was and how willing she was to flirt and be with a guy who was engaged or dating someone else just because of the pact. I did feel like this story went on forever and it could have been trimmed down a good bit, but I still really enjoyed it.

I finished this and I’m really surprised I did. It jumped around a lot and I was never 100$ sure where I was on the timeline. I didn’t like any of the characters and the story was slow in spots. I did enjoy following her career but that was about it.

Maybe Once, Maybe Twice by Alison Rose Greenberg

If we are still single when we are 35, we should get married. X2. Maggie makes this pact with 2 different men at two very different points in her life, and they both show up.

I really enjoyed the concept of this book, I loved the characters and really related to Maggie. I liked how she really dug deep into how different points of her life shaped her as a person, and how different people fit in your life over the years. I specifically loved her best friend Summer. Maggie is a singer and I loved the addition of her song lyrics throughout the book.

My complaint with this one was the setup. It felt really jumbled and jumped around between stories so much that I often got confused about which guy she was talking about and what age she was. Almost like it was two different disjointed books. So I would definitely recommend the physical rather than the audio.

Still, since I loved Bad Luck Bridesmaid, and the storyline of this one, I definitely think this author is an auto buy from now on. Her writing is unexpected and heartfelt and incredibly witty.

Thank you to @stmartinspress and @dreamscape_media for my copies! This is out on October 3rd.

This story has many different unexpected turns. I laughed and cried and really enjoyed the ride. I was frustrated for the couples, their timing and was wondering about the what ifs right along with the characters. The ending has just as much drama. I was exhausted but smiling by the end. Really enjoyed it.

Wow I REALLY enjoyed this book! Big thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the advanced copy of the audiobook because this otherwise wouldn’t have been on my radar and I would’ve 100% been missing out.

I really don’t know where to start with this review because there was just so much I liked. The premise as a whole really hooked me because that alone made want to see how the story played out (I mean, who doesn’t love a love triangle??), but then add in Maggie - our main character - and I was extra sold. She was spunky and lovable and just a little bit chaotic which made her perfect in my eyes for a story like this.

All in all, I definitely recommend grabbing this when it drops on October 3!

Thank you @dreamscape_media @netgalley for a copy of this book. I love how real Maggie's journey felt and how relatable it is. I love all the music references and that Maggie never wavered from her dream to make music. I am not a fan of love triangle and this was done so well and not really a triangle but more Maggie's relationship with Garrett and Asher. Katherine Littrell did a great job with all the voices and bringing the story to life.

This book and narration immediately transported me into the story. Katherine Littrell gave an outstanding performance and her singing was impeccable. This is one of the narrations I’ve listened to this year. What an exceptional audiobook! Thank you for the opportunity to listen!

3.5/4 stars
Asher and Maggie are interesting, relatable, entertaining characters. I enjoyed these characters and their journey to happiness. Their romance fit these characters. The secondary characters, especially Summer add to my enjoyment of this book and the fabric of the story. Summer is a breath of fresh air for a story that gets heavy at times. There are aspects of this story that I wasn’t fond of and others that I truly loved. The ending felt too rushed for me – I wanted more for this couple and the time I invested in the story.

I listened to the audio version of this book and enjoyed it.

Trigger warning: discussion of loss of a family member, loss due to suicide.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Maggie Vine made a marriage pact for age 35 with two different men at two very different stages of her life... and they both showed up. Told in alternating chapters at different ages, we see her love stories unfold with Asher and Garrett, leaving you guessing who is the right choice until the very end.

I am not usually a fan of a love triangle so I don't think this book will be for everyone, but I really enjoyed this messy love story. Maggie feels like she still hasn't 'made it' in life (~relatable~), and the flashback chapters show us her years of pursuing a music career, evolution of her romantic relationships, and her desire to become a mother. I loved different elements of her two love interests which made it easy to root for Maggie in the story since she'd come out a winner either way.

While the romance is an element to the story, it's not your average romcom and instead is more of an adult coming of age story about coming to terms with where you are in life and not giving up on your dreams. There are some deep conversations and trauma, but also lighter moments and nostalgia.

I alternated between the ebook and audio and really enjoyed the narrator. You could feel the emotion behind Maggie and it added a nice element to the song lyrics incorporated throughout.

Did not finish at 28%. Couldn't get into it. Thanks to NetGalley & Dreamscape Media for an advance copy.

This was an ok second chance romance. I enjoyed the pop music references. Thanks for the chance to listen.

Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media and St.Martin’s Press for the audio ARC! Marketed as a romance but so much more than that, I loved Maybe Once, Maybe Twice. This novel has some big themes but my favorite is taking a chance on and believing in yourself. The MFC goes through an emotional period of self-growth as her career stalls and starts and she comes to terms with her love life and likelihood of having children. I loved the past and present portions, I appreciated the shorter chapters and a book that can make me like both love interests is a feat. I thoroughly enjoyed this one and will be picking up a copy for my shelves!

Everyone has a backup plan; an agreement where you pick an age at which you and a friend stop trying to find someone and get together. Maggie Vine made her backup plan early, with her summer camp love.....but then she also made one later in life, with a finance guy by day / musician by night lover. Now, reaching the agreed upon age of 35, they've both shown up and Maggie Vine has big decisions to make.

I absolutely loved everything about this book. Maggie's story with either guy could totally have been its own novel, so this book feels like a two for one deal if you love SCR.  This book is also has every other reference an Elder Millennial could ask for; Taylor Swift, Emo, Pop Punk, career struggles, life plan struggles, good sex, tough topics, it's all here. This book manages to walk a very fine line between sweet and serious and it did it beautifully.

I can't say enough good things about this book. 100% recommended for all romance readers, but especially if you love SCR. If you read it a lot, this one is deeper than 'Every Summer After' but not quite as gritty as 'Before We Were Strangers'. :)

Also, narrator was amazing!

Sophomore slump was no problem for this author!! I don't even have words to do justice to this INCREDIBLE love triangle romance between Maggie, a talented singer-songwriter with synesthesia, her summer camp crush, Asher and Garrett, the man she meets in her 20s and thinks is her music loving soulmate who never seem to get their timing right!

Fair warning, your head might get whiplash from the sudden jumps in time and place as this is a VERY nonlinear story that starts as Maggie is about to turn 35 and the two men she made marriage pacts with BOTH show up. Over the course of the book we learn about the roads that lead to this moment through a series of flashbacks.

I've never been a huge fan of the love triangle trope but Alison does it to PERFECTION in this book. I was rooting for both men and honestly didn't know who was going to be the final guy. It was almost unfair that Maggie gets to fall in love with two such swoony guys in her life. But the way the book ends actually turned out to be exactly what I wanted and I was 100% satisfied!

Getting to her HEA wasn't easy though, this is an extremely emotionally heavy story perfect for fans of authors like Emily Henry, Abby Jimenez, Carley Fortune or Sarah Ready. The book tackles grief, depression, sexual assault (off page), infertility (PCOS) but on the flip side, there are some of the most HILARIOUS scenes in this story too!! The miniature pony ride had me cackling in horrified glee and every scene with her no filter best friend was a refreshing delight!

All that is to say, I LOVED THIS BOOK!! You don't want to miss this one friends! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review! I listened to this twice back to back it was just THAT good!!

Steam level: fade to black/closed door

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an audio ARC of this book. This book missed the mark for me. I found myself spacing out and not caring about the story. This caused me to not know what was going on in the multiple story lines. Maybe the physical book is better, but the audiobook wasn't for me.

This captivating story beautifully weaves together the worlds of music, success, and personal fulfillment. It revolves around a 35-year-old successful woman who has achieved fame and popularity as a rockstar but yearns for something more meaningful in her life.

The protagonist's character is richly developed, with a super emotional past that adds depth and vulnerability to her journey. As readers, we are drawn into her world, empathizing with her struggles and celebrating her triumphs.

The narrative skillfully explores themes of ambition, love, and self-discovery as the protagonist embarks on a transformative journey. Her past, shrouded in mystery and pain, slowly unravels, revealing secrets that keep the reader hooked throughout the story.

The present-day setting is alluring and filled with intrigue, especially as the protagonist navigates the complexities of her personal and professional life. The introduction of an attractive presence adds an exciting element to the story, creating a dynamic and engaging plotline.

Without giving away too much, the story offers a satisfying conclusion that sees the main character not only achieving success and popularity but also finding the deeper fulfillment she longs for. It's a tale of self-discovery, resilience, and the pursuit of happiness that will resonate with readers from all walks of life.

In summary, this story is a must-read for rockstar enthusiasts and anyone who appreciates a story of personal growth and redemption. With its well-crafted characters and emotionally charged narrative, it's a journey worth taking, leaving readers feeling both inspired and entertained.

The first 25% was so good. The rest was just okay. The ending felt very rushed. I liked how in this love triangle, you could root for both the men. They were both good people. I left like the “closure” with the one of them wasn’t actually closure and that felt rushed. Overall, I really liked the premise of the story. A bit of the pacing at times felt a little off. I really liked how each chapter was a different age, it was like pieces of the puzzle coming together.. 3.5⭐️ rounded up for me.

Thank you NetGalley for ALC in exchange for an honest review.

4 stars!

I was enthralled with "Maybe Once, Maybe Twice" from start to finish. Alison Rose Greenberg's writing is incredible and evocative... she really made me feel every single emotion while reading this book. The characters go through so much here, and readers can feel the anguish, the pining, the rage, the connection, the heartbreak, the lust, the love, the nostalgia, the yearning deep within their bones... at least I could. Greenberg certainly broke my heart over and over and over again while reading this! I really liked Maggie Vine as the main character despite her baggage and drama. She is still trying to figure out her life and what she wants to do, even when she's 30 and 35. This felt so authentic and realistic to me. So many people my age have no freaking clue what they want to do... it's really an epidemic! I loved the musical element of this story. I loved her talent and her drive, her belief in herself even when she was panicky or nervous about an opportunity. One thing Maggie always is and won't apologize for is being herself through and through, the mess and the fantastic, the vulnerable and the strong, the good and the bad. I also adored Summer, Maggie's best friend since they were college roommates. I loved their friendship so, so much. My heart broke for Summer just as much as it broke for Maggie but for different reasons. In terms of love interests, I think I fell for both Garrett AND Asher a little bit, at different times, for different reasons, just like Maggie. The lightning-strike chemistry between Garrett and Maggie was much stronger than the deep, undying connection between her and Asher. My chief complaint is that the story seems to run out of steam in the last act. I am not sure about the ending... I think it will take me at least one more read to come to grips with it. I'm not *mad* about it, but I'm not *not* mad about it. It just felt a little contrived and thrown together at the last minute. I think a lot of readers will be thrown off by the rapid and frequent timeline changes... it did get to be a little bit grating after a while as I struggled to keep it all straight. Still, I loved this book quite a bit. I will definitely be buying it because it made me feel things few authors this year have made me feel. I also adored the voiceover narration by Katherine Littrell. She is such a fantastic voiceover artist!

Thank you to NetGalley, Alison Rose Greenberg, St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Griffin, and Dreamscape Media for the complimentary ARC/ALC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.