This is such a beautiful love story. I was all for Liz and Tobin. I also liked how it took on heavy family dysfunctions and how to rebuild a marriage. It also centered attention on self acceptance and embracing a united partnership. My favorite part was definitely Liz and her self discovery. She found her voice and her worth.

5 stars from me!

Rules for Second Chances is a delightful and heartfelt historical romance that completely stole my heart! Maggie North delivers a charming story of second chances, unexpected love, and the courage to break free from societal expectations.

I adored the heroine’s journey—her wit, determination, and longing for something more made her incredibly relatable and easy to root for. The hero was just as wonderful, a perfect balance of reserved yet deeply caring, and watching their romance unfold was pure joy. The banter, the slow-burn tension, and the undeniable chemistry between them made every moment feel so rewarding.

Beyond the romance, I appreciated the deeper themes of growth, redemption, and forging one’s own path. The historical setting was rich and immersive, adding an extra layer of charm to the story.

Maggie North has crafted a beautiful, uplifting novel that left me smiling and completely satisfied. If you love sweet historical romances with engaging characters and a meaningful message, Rules for Second Chances is a must-read!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.

From debut author Maggie North comes a story about a marriage-in-crisis, but also about self-discovery. For those looking for a fun romance with deep themes, Rules for Second Chances is the romance book to add to your TBR!

What a wonderful debut novel! Part romance and part women’s fiction, this book packs a punch when it comes to humor and emotions, even if it is a bit lacking in the steam department.

While I did get frustrated in the beginning with some of Liz’s decisions and her reasonings behind trying to change herself, I ultimately grew to love her character growth and how she learned to be honest with those around her and herself.

I am also a sucker for a good marriage-in-crisis book so I definitely got a bit teary-eyed at the end of this book! The way that Liz and Tobin just loved each other and tried to support what the other one needed despite hitting a rough patch in their marriage was so heartwarming to read about.

I found the incorporation of improv into a version of couples counseling to be fascinating and thought that it was an interesting detail that made this book stand out from other marriage-in-crisis/second chance romance books I’ve read.

While I am not autistic, I really appreciated the autism rep in this book and the insight into what one person’s experiences pre-diagnosis was like. Seeing Liz try to embrace her quirks and differences and view her autism as an advantage in a neurotypical world was very inspiring to see.

If you’re looking for a debut book that has a lot of character development and autism rep, then I definitely recommend this one!

*I received an ARC from St. Martin’s Press in exchange for my honest opinion.

An enjoyable read with a heartwarming premise, though it didn’t fully capture my attention. The characters had potential, but some moments felt predictable. Still, it’s a solid choice if you’re looking for a light, feel-good story about growth and second chances.

Thank you to the publisher for the review copy! I just couldn't get in the mood for this one, but I do love this author!

This book was really sweet. I love that it took my mind into the story. I would love to read more from this author!

i liked the second chance romance aspect of this but the way this is written was so confusing for me. i really felt so lost. I felt like the focus of the book came too late & the character's development & explanations came too late. i just felt like this had so much potential but was poorly executed.

I love a second chance romance. The self work and mental health have this book a unique twist. I related heavily to the social awkwardness and how it was portrayed

I have no problem with a character finding their way, but Liz felt incapable of even know which way she was facing. I love second chance romances but this just didn't deliver. I liked Liz for the most part but Tobin didn't really seem fully fleshed out. It took me a few tries to get through this and though I like the story, I just couldn't get attached to the characters.

This book was sentimental and sweet in all the right ways. I’m usually not the biggest second chance romance person but this one did kept me hooked and I didn’t find myself frustrated by the reason they broke up in the first place.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC of this story.

I had a really hard time getting into this book. It was hard to connect with the character right away. But, once the story got started, it was pretty good.

Rating: 4/5
I received the eARC for my honest opinion.

I have become a sucker for second chance romances, but I do have to say that this felt a little bit short of being a second chance romance. It does have all the feelings, but it falls a bit flat for me, but that doesn’t take away from the great lessons you can learn from this book. I loved getting to know the characters more, and understanding why they act like they do, or how they handle situations differently. I liked that the readers would see how it is for socially awkward introverts, and to see how two opposites act/handle their relationship with each other and with each other. I found some characters easier to connect with but at the end I was able to say that I connected to both characters.

At first, I didn’t like/was not able to connect with Liz at the start, I found her bluntness and her move that she made for the relationship to be off putting. I didn’t like that, I felt as though she didn’t even give him a chance to talk about things before. Then I think about it from her POV, and I would like to be able to understand where she is coming from. I liked that the break wasn’t just about their relationship but also a chance for Liz to figure out who she was without Tobin. I loved that Tobin was understanding even though he didn’t know the whole situation and he knew that the outcome could lead to something that he didn’t want. When he asks if they can follow a book that was written by his friend, and the improv class teacher, she agrees because she is already doing improv to help her break out of her shell.

I do have to say that a few times I couldn’t stop laughing with the improv class and even the things that Liz and Tobin were trying. I am happy that I didn’t give up on this book and I continued to read it because I found a lot of great lessons learned; always be open and honest about your emotions, talk to each other even about the ugly things, learning to love yourself and having self-improvement, learning how to communicate, and family dysfunctions.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys realistic romcom, self-development, great rep on neurodivergent traits and with February being Neurodivergent rep month in the health world I think this was a great book to end January with.

I want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin Press for the opportunity to review this book.

I thought this book started slow at first, but then it definitely picked up, and I ended up really enjoying it!
It was a really sweet second chance romance.
I really liked Liz but wasn't a huge fan of Tobin.
I just felt like he had a hard time accepting what Liz wanted for herself.
I really liked Liz!
I really liked that this book was based in Canada!
I liked all the side characters in this book, and I'm really looking forward to reading the next in the series!

The novel was good. It just had a slower pace than what I enjoy. I usually can devour a book in a couple of days. This one took me two weeks to complete. The ending was good. It just took its time to get there.

Rules for Second Chances by Maggie North is a heartwarming and witty exploration of love, self-discovery, and the complicated process of rebuilding a relationship. Liz Lewis has always been the quiet one, trying to meet the expectations of others, especially in her marriage to Tobin Renner-Lewis, a charismatic adventure guide. When Liz’s life reaches a tipping point—marked by a humiliating moment at her thirtieth birthday party—she decides to take control of her own story, starting with an unlikely step: an improv comedy class.

The novel’s charm lies in Liz’s journey of self-empowerment and the unexpected way she reconnects with Tobin. As she dives into the world of improv, she struggles with the spontaneity and uncertainty it requires, but finds herself reluctantly practicing with Tobin, who seems determined to help her—and perhaps their marriage—by diving headfirst into one absurd improv scene after another.

North skillfully blends humor with heartfelt emotion, creating a story that’s both funny and relatable. As Liz faces her past, she must grapple with the tough questions about her marriage: Can she ever truly reconnect with the man she married, or is the distance between them too vast to bridge? The novel’s pacing is perfect, offering a balance of laughter and reflection, with a message that true love requires more than just chemistry—it demands honesty, growth, and the willingness to embrace change.

Rules for Second Chances is a delightful and thoughtful read, perfect for anyone who has ever questioned what it takes to start over, whether in love or in life. North’s exploration of vulnerability, love, and self-acceptance is both charming and inspiring.

Thank you for the opportunity to review this new novel.

I expected a romance which I got but it was too messy for me. Confusing.

Liz feels stuck and decides to take an improv class that begins to help her re-evaluate her relationship and life.

Liz’s story unfolds beautifully, blending humor, heartache, and hope. Liz is portrayed with care and depth, making her an immensely relatable and compelling character.


Liz’s improv classmates and their antics provide countless laugh-out-loud moments and serve as a touching backdrop to her transformation. The improvisational exercises also double as an unconventional form of couples therapy for Liz and Tobin, bringing them together in surprising ways and revealing the complexity of their relationship.

This book is a heartwarming and hilarious romcom that doesn’t shy away from exploring the challenges of marriage and self-growth. It will have you laughing, cringing, swooning, and tearing up as Liz and Tobin work to repair what they’ve lost and rediscovers what truly matters. An absolute must-read!

Liz is tired of being overlooked and unseen. Now she isn't sure if her husband Tobin even really sees her anymore. She is tired of being in Tobin's shadow LIz decides to shake up her world. Improv might save her career and her marriage. I received a free copy of this ebook from the publisher through Netgalley. This is my honest and voluntarily given review. I like how Liz learned to deal with putting herself, trying different ways, and being willing to fail. I especially liked how she had to see how she contributed to issues with work and Tobin.

I loved this romance book! It checked so many boxes for me – a neurodivergent MC, self discovery and growth alongside a love story, a theater connection! I was fully sucked in and it provided the perfect escape this week.

I was so excited to read this one. As a socially awkward introvert myself, I had hoped I would connect with Liz and fall in love with her journey. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case for me. I just never felt a connection to Liz or Tobin, so in turn, I wasn't invested in their reconnection. The improv was definitely a unique way to approach the story and I did appreciate that!