Rules for Second Chances is a heartfelt and humorous exploration of love, growth, and the power of second chances. Maggie North has crafted a story that is not only entertaining but also thought-provoking. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a romantic journey filled with laughter, introspection, and the undeniable magic of second chances!

Thank you Netgalley for the chance to review. 4 stars from me
Content warning: this deals heavily with autism and divorce, two very dense topics. And at times, this book feels almost similarly dense: Liz, feeling lost in her marriage to Tobin, takes a step away to focus on herself and a pitch competition for work and an improv class. Tobin, in order to reconnect with his wife, suggests they follow "The Rules for Second Chances", a book created by the improv teacher (and his best friend) as a form of relationship therapy.
I struggled a bit to get into this but once I was in, I was IN. As someone who can border on autistic tendencies, I felt for Liz right away and her jumbled emotions. I loved that the things that drove them apart were never quite black and white. I loved the slight pop culture references in each of their prompts, the way Tobin spoke and acted towards his wife (he really is just wonderful in this whole thing), the career struggles, the self struggles: this is a HEAVY book but it really did give this beautiful narrative into finding love again.
A really unique spin on second chance romance.

Rules for Second Chances is a super sweet second chance romance filled with lots of heart.

I honestly wasn't sure how I would feel about this book during the first few chapters. I didn't totally understand Liz's reasoning for wanting to leave her marriage with Tobin in the first place. I got her need to want to find herself in her job, but just felt she could have done it with her husband by her side. Especially since she pretty much does it anyway by dating her husband throughout their split. I loved Tobin's love for Liz. How he wasn't afraid to look like a fool for her ((the merman scene...swoon and laughs)), but also how he was willing to step aside for Liz to grow. I also loved the autism representation as well.

This was a really good debut by author Maggie North. I look forward to reading more books by her in the future.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for this free eArc in exchange for my honest review.

The start of this book and the middle were very slow for me. The end was better. I don’t feel as though there was much in the way of romance. Liz seemed to ignore Tobin and that bothered me. I liked Tobin’s character. Because it was a struggle to get through, I am giving this one 3 stars. Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Rules for Second Chances is the story of Liz and Tobin, a young married couple who have seemingly drifted apart. A bit of an opposites attract situation, Tobin is the life of the party while Liz hates a crowd. They work together at a luxury expedition company, Tobin a beloved employee and Liz is barely noticed. Because of this (and other things), Liz decides to leave/take a break from Tobin out of the blue, and moves in with her sister and niece just a few doors down. In an attempt to get noticed at work, Liz signs up for the annual pitch competition and joins an improv class at the suggestion of her boss.
The book is average. The plot, which I only partially outlined, seems a bit all of the place. I guess it just doesn’t feel believable. There is nothing bad about the book but also nothing outstanding. It just is.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for access to this ARC.

I enjoyed this book. I would please like to marry Tobin. Or McHuge if he's available. The characters all jumped off the page. The beginning of the story was a little slow and muddled with overthinking, but then it took off and really got good. This is written from the perspective of a neurodivergent character and the way she thinks and behaves through her adult life. Kind of made me wonder if we are all have a smidgen of the spectrum in us, like what is neurotypical anyway. This is a very readable and relatable book and I recommend it.

This was a fun read. I liked the theme of love and second chances.
I liked watching these characters try new things and fall back into love. Some of it was really funny and some of it was sweet to see how much love Tobin still has for Liz.
I liked watching Liz reconnect with herself and with Tobin.
A sweet romance with fun and laughs throughout.

Aww. I love second chances in love! This book has more to it than meets the eye. I was surprised that not a lot is talking about it but the love story was deep, very relatable and mature in a good sense of way. The location description was vivid that it pleasantly gave backcountry adventures, laid back relaxed feel. Truly sweet and heartfelt romance between two individuals that needed the love more than ever. Just heart-meltingly lovely, with the right amount of giddiness and also humor for those funny chuckle worthy moments. The rom-com perfect book for serious grownups!

Thank you to @netgalley and @Stmartinspress for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to @macmillian.audio for a free download of the audiobook.

Rules for Second Chances by Maggie North is a heartwarming and engaging second-chance romance that beautifully captures the complexities of rekindled love. This novel follows Liz and Tobin, who find themselves back in each other’s lives after years apart, navigating old wounds and new beginnings.

What I Loved:
Character Development: North excels at creating multi-dimensional characters. The protagonists’ personal growth and the gradual unfolding of their past make their reunion feel authentic and deeply moving.
Second-Chance Romance: As a fan of second-chance romances, this book hit all the right notes. The chemistry between the characters is palpable, and their journey from estrangement to reconciliation is both compelling and satisfying.
Emotional Depth: The story delves into themes of forgiveness, healing, and the enduring power of love. North’s writing captures the emotional nuances of the characters’ experiences, making their journey resonate on a deeper level.

Audiobook Experience:
Narration: The audiobook, narrated by Gail Shalan, adds an extra layer of depth to the story. The narrator’s ability to convey the characters’ emotions and personalities enhances the listening experience, making it easy to get lost in the story.
Overall, Rules for Second Chances is a beautifully written and emotionally resonant romance that will appeal to fans of second-chance love stories. Maggie North delivers a story full of love, heartache, and redemption, making it a perfect read (or listen) for anyone who enjoys a deeply emotional romance.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

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I've never read Maggie North before. I really enjoyed this sweet romance.Super cute and easy to follow along. I also think this would make a great audiobook. Perfect for just coming off a thriller or intense book. A palet cleanser!!

DNF. Unfortunately I could not get into this one. It does have a cute premise and usually something I would enjoy. I do think a lot of people will enjoy this, especially fans of second chance romances.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this eARC.

Maggie North’s debut novel is filled with self-discovery, heart, and heat. The female main character, Liz, is introverted, socially awkward and tired of being invisible. Struggling with taking a backseat to her outgoing and well-loved wilderness guide husband, Tobin, being passed up for work promotions and mistaken for a server at her 30th birthday party, she decides it’s time for a change. At this crossroads in her personal life and marriage, Liz turns to improv to find herself, sparkle and attain her dream promotion.

Struggling to find a partner to practice her improv tasks, she pairs up with Tobin. Although I was initially skeptical about how this would play out, I enjoyed the way North worked through the multitude of complex topics and developed Liz as a neurodivergent character. The connection between the two main characters, despite their differences, had me rooting for them to the end.

Overall, I liked North’s writing style and perspective and look forward to reading more of her books in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher St. Martin’s Press/St. Martin’s Griffin for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book was a little slow for me. I love the 'second chance' trope however I thought this one, the characters were wrong for each other and didn't really need a second chance. Thank you for the opportunity to read this novel! I will be following the author to read others written by Maggie North.

This book was not for me. I could not get into the story at all - DNF. It sounded interesting but wasn't flowing for me. I know that there are a lot of high ratings and the story just wasn't for me.

DNF: I got this book on a whim and I’ve really got to stop doing that. The synopsis sounded interesting but once I started it i realized it was not for me.
From Goodreads:

Liz Lewis has tried everything to be what people want, but she's always been labeled different in the boisterous world of wilderness expeditions. Her marriage to popular adventure guide Tobin Renner-Lewis is a sinkhole of toxic positivity where she's the only one saying no. When she gets mistaken for a server at her own thirtieth birthday party, Liz vows to stop playing a minor character in her own life. The (incredibly well-researched and scientific) plan? A crash course in confidence... via an improv comedy class. The catch? She's terrible at it, and the only person willing to practice with her is a certain extroverted wilderness guide who seems dead set on saving their marriage. But as Liz and Tobin get closer again, she's forced to confront all the reasons they didn't work the first time, along with her growing suspicion that her social awkwardness might mean something deeper. Liz must learn improv's most important lesson-"Yes, and"—or she'll have to choose between the love she always wanted and the dreams that got away.
Brimming with heart and heat, Rules for Second Chances explores the hardest relationship question of all: can true love happen twice ... With the same person?
I found myself getting viscerally angry while listening to this for no explicable reason. I have never had this reaction to a book before and when I realized my anger was starting to affect how I conducted myself around my family I knew I had to put this down and walk far, far away from it.
I felt like there wasn’t any motivation behind Liz’s actions and I was just as lost as Tobin was when Liz demanded a divorce. I didn’t get very far in, but I was far enough in that I knew I hated every character.
Even though this book wasn’t a good fit for me, I greatly appreciate the publisher emailing me a free copy of it. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for the advanced copy. This hit the shelves on June 25th.

I was very intrigued to read this book being part of the neurodiverse community. I immediately had a connection to Liz. I loved the representation that is not often found in books. Even though stories with struggling marriages aren’t what gravitate towards, I did end up enjoying their story.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed this book. I have so many introverted people in my life that as someone who is not an introvert, have had to learn how adjust to their needs and not just plow forward with my own.

The main character Liz is an introvert and her husband is not. She basically blows up her marriage as she feels like he no longer sees her. She also feels unseen in her job, with her sister and mother-in-law.

I was proud of Liz for doing the hard work to try to come out of her shell and working on her marriage with her husband.

marriage in crisis is a really hard trope for me to love but this one was done really well. its a new take on the wallflower trope, liz is already in a relationship but she still struggles to be the lead in her own story. it was nice to see her grow to be a full person who lives her life to the fullest, it was also nice to see what happens when to opposite social types are in a relationship. i am a homebody so the "life of the party" would scare me in a relationship but this worked really well. like i said this isn't my favorite trope but the writing was sweet and i'm interested to see what other books this author has!

4.5 stars
This is a fun, entertaining read. Tobin and Liz are intriguing, complex, relatable, complicated, wounded, strong, interesting, entertaining, captivating characters. The path to their HEA is full of twists and turns and entertaining to read. I love how North, while not writing from Tobin’s POV manages to let the reader get to know Tobin and not solely the version of him the heroine or others have. It added that little bit extra to the reading experience for me. These two are fun to spend time with, even though their story take you on a roller coaster ride. The secondary characters added to the fabric of the story and my enjoyment. I found the story got more powerful the more I read – the more we get to know these characters and come to realizations as they do. The story is easy to read and get into.

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

This was a promising premise but falls short in execution. Liz’s journey toward reclaiming her identity through an improv class and the rekindling of her marriage to Tobin feels thin, with physical connection being the mode of connection, rather than working through their disagreements. Hard pass. The outdoor, mountain setting is charming, but not enough to keep me engaged.

Sincere thanks to NetGalley and St Martins Press for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.