I thought this concept was so unique and the characters had so much potential, but something about the writing style felt very difficult to follow throughout. I’m hoping some editing for the final version may improve on what was such a solid foundation! I related so much to the social anxiety/autism of the main character and loved that the couple found themselves as individuals and together. I do think Tobin’s perspective could have brought some valuable insight and pushed the story along in a meaningful way! Overall I liked this one.

This was such a good book and I thought that the story line was great. I really liked Liz's character and I could totally see this being made into a hallmark movie and I would watch it on repeat. This book is going in my to keep pile! 5 star read.
I just reviewed Rules for Second Chances by Maggie North. #NetGalley
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I was drawn to this title and cover. As I started the book I really appreciated the representation in it. However, in practice I really struggled to fully connect with the storyline, and ended up not finishing the story. Thank you for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I dnf’ed at 20%. I honestly loved the concept of the book, I’m a sucker for second chance romances. I think I just couldn’t get into the book because the writing style wasn’t something I loved. Not necessarily bad just not something I enjoyed.

This book was exactly what I needed. In RULES FOR SECOND CHANCES we meet Liz and Tobin. Liz is a yes-woman. She tries to be everything everyone and be exactly who everyone needs her to be instead of being who she is. This has a profound effect on her self-esteem and her marriage. When she sets off on a journey of self-discovery she will make you want to set off on your own. This book was a great lesson in you needing to love yourself before you can love anyone else and when you do wonderful things can happen.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC!

I had a love/dislike while reading this book. I love premise, the second chance love and fmc self discovery journey. But disliked that this wasn't dual pov, I thinking getting Tobins pov would made this book so much better. I also dislike some of sub plot/side stories that added nothing to the story and was a bit annoying at times. That being said, I would still rate this book 3.5 stars

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book in exchange for a honest review.

Really enjoyed Maggie North's writing style but to be honest the storyline didn't quite resonate with me. It just wasn't as enjoyable to me as I'd hoped.

This is a slow burn, second chance romance with neurodiverse representation. If that sounds like your type of book, you will like this one!

A solid debut - I enjoyed the neurodivergent representation, the secondary characters, and using improv as a tool for marriage counselling. I will say I missed having Tobin's perspective, but I tend to prefer dual POV stories. If you like marriage in trouble romances, I would definitely check this out.

NETGALLEY ARC:


I went through waves of being really into the book to then not reading as much, but overall it was an enjoyable read.

Maggie North is a new favorite at our library. I am thrilled for this book to be released so we can purchase it for our patrons.

Hi SMP, you’ll get my review when you respond to readers for accountability.

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I could not possibly have loved this book more. I was sobbing in the opening scene. A stunningly written and beyond moving marriage in trouble romance that follows the enormously sympathetic and lovable Liz and Tobin as they struggle to find their way back to each other, this is a romance that I will never forget. Liz's journey meant so much to me, and Tobin's steadfast love is truly the stuff of dreams. I can't put into words how much I adored this novel!

Liz Lewis and Tobin Renner seem to be a happily married couple as the story opens on the celebration of Liz's 30th birthday. And yet, there's so much more going on beneath the surface that emerges as the story progresses. Both Liz and Tobin work for an wilderness outfitter and back country travel company in the Canadian northwest. In fact, the company's name is West by North. Tobin is the charismatic guide whom everyone loves. Liz is the behind-the-scenes operations person who makes sure everything happens as it should, even though she started as one of the guides herself. And as the only woman in the company, she is often overlooked and taken for granted. Add in toxic family on both sides and unacknowledged neurodiversity issues, and it's no wonder Liz wants something major to change. As part of that effort, she signs up for an improv class that also echoes ways to strengthen relationships. Since Liz walked out on Tobin, to think things over, following the disastrous birthday party ,both of them are really struggling. Yet they are both deeply in love with each other. How they work to get back together in a stronger, healthier way makes for a very satisfying story. Add in interesting secondary characters and smoking hot chemistry between Liz and Tobin and you have a story that starts out seemingly happy, but grows into something much more real, and truly happy.

I really wanted to love Rules for Second Chances because I love me some neurospicy main characters, but this just didn't hook me the way I hoped it would and I never really found myself invested in Liz & Tobin's relationship.

DNF at 10%. Honestly, I was just bored and not invested in the MCs at all. And I didn't like the writing style at all.

I like the fact that Rules for Second Chances follows a neurodivergent woman who wants to make changes in her life that reflect who she is and what she wants. It kind of felt like there was too much going on though. She doesn’t want to just be the spreadsheet person at work, so she signs up for improv to gain confidence to pitch an idea that could earn her a promotion. She’s fighting with her husband Tobin because she feels like he doesn’t see her and listen. She’s frustrated with everyone else because they all view her as Tobin’s sidekick. She’s also having relationship issues with her sister Amber. With her boss and with her sister Liz is on point. They’re perfectly willing to box her into a role they’ve designated for her whether it’s what makes her happy or not. In the case of Tobin, they’ve both made mistakes in their relationship, but Liz compounds the situation by expecting Tobin to adapt to her relationship expectations without also learning from him where he has struggles and where she’s creating conflicts. When the two pair up for their own improv, the scenes feel confusing and cringey. They’re role playing but also trying to sort out their relationship issues, but it’s hard to sort out and it feels like they’re going in circles without really making progress. The high point to me is the relationships she forms in the improv class and her willingness to try that gradually allows her to feel more comfortable and confident in herself. I know that when someone makes life changes it affects more than one part of their life, but I wish that this had been more heavily emphasized with the relationships with her husband and sister being more secondary storylines. There definitely need to be more stories about neurodivergent characters, especially when they’re written by neurodivergent authors, but this one had a little too much going on for me to enjoy it as much as I could have.

Second chance romances are usually hit or miss for me! I thought this one had a unique storyline but I ended up just feeling a bit medium on the book overall. The own voices rep was so lovely and handled with care. And that cover? Oh my, it’s beautiful!

A beautifully crafted marriage-in-trouble romance that tugs at the heartstrings. This novel explores the delicate balance between love, self discovery, and the power of improv.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Slightly spicy contemporary romance that centers on a marriage in crisis . I was hooked right away by the female lead's situation (feeling invisible and misunderstood). It was an emotional rollercoaster but I enjoyed the ride. I was surprised by the lack of detail in the few bedroom scenes because the couple's chemistry sizzled. The story dragged a bit here and there (surprisingly improv is a major theme) but, overall, a fun read.