This was my 3rd, yes 3rd book in a row about a romance author main character and I loved it! This book has great characters, great plot, and fun romance. Rowan is an English teacher self-conscious about her scars that are predominantly on her face and neck. Jack is a recluse writer that she moves next door to. After Rowan’s flubbed answer to a public marriage proposal from her teacher boyfriend, she is questioning a lot of things in her life while moving ahead with her cute little house she bought independently. Her new neighbors are obnoxiously nice and take her in immediately.

In this book:
Dual POV
Small town
Slow burn
grumpy/sunshine
Past trauma
Found family

Thank you NetGalley and Jessica Sherry for a digital copy of this book.

Thank you to the Author and Netgalley for the ARC. I absolutely 💯 loved this book 📖. Five Stars for Rowan and Jack.. I laughed and cried while reading 📚 this book.

Rowan is a high school teacher, who is a bottle of sweet sunshine to her students. She has facial scars and although she tries nor to show it, her confidence level towards men actually wanting to be with her for her and not because they pity her. She has a safe, nice boyfriend and fellow teacher named Dean who proposes and after she's momentarily decisive, he leave her for the summer to pursue his acting career. Rowan moves into a house.

Next door to Rowan lives Jack, a successful romance writer who comes across to Rowan at their first meeting as testy. Jack's experience with past relationships is rocky and he admits he's never truly been in love. He's noticed Rowan before and watched her on a disastrous date. Hes curious about his attractive new neighbors. He talks to the image of his brother who died when he needs support.

Rowan and Jack grow closer and Jack trusts her enough to be a beta reader for his newest novel, while admitting he drew inspiration from Rowan for his characters.. Rowan starts fostering a teenage girl who at first takes Roman's generosity for granted.

This story definitely was well paced and kept me interested. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a great romance with elements of humor and a will they or won't they tug of the heart.


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3.5 stars rounded to 4

This story was deeper than I anticipated based off of the cover and blurb. It was a emotional story with heavy women's lit themes throughout. It wasn't my favorite romance of the year but it was a good read with lots of drama.

This book was a trainwreck not quite sure in which way though. The story was cute but if I'm honest I skimmed a majority of the book wanting to only read about the MC’s relationship with the two male characters. I feel there was a lot of rambling that I couldn't stand. I found myself skipping huge chunks. Ultimately, I finished it, though.

Thank you to NetGalley and Jessica Sherry for the early copy. All opinions above are my own.

Just finished "Yes No Maybe" by Jessica Sherry and I’m absolutely smitten! 🌟 This enemies-to-lovers gem takes you on an emotional rollercoaster that’s as sweet as it is heart-wrenching.

Rowan Mackey’s journey from a public proposal gone wrong to finding unexpected love next door is captivating. Wounded by her past and disillusioned with romance, Rowan’s new neighbor, the charismatic Jack Graham, shakes up her world in ways she never anticipated. Jack, the brooding romance writer, and Rowan, the wary but hopeful heroine, spark off each other with electric tension and heartfelt moments.

Their interactions are pure magic—awkward, funny, and deeply moving. Sherry masterfully blends humor with poignant moments, making it impossible to put the book down. The chemistry between Rowan and Jack is undeniable, and watching them navigate their feelings and personal boundaries is both entertaining and touching.

If you’re into a slow-burn romance with all the feels, this is a must-read. I laughed, I cried (the good kind of crying), and I fell in love with every page. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This was a very well-written, emotionally intense romance. I wish that it had come with some content warnings, which I’ve added at the end of my review. While the two main characters are well-written, the writing that impressed me the most was of the side characters, especially the teens that Rowan teaches. Some of the neighbors are a bit flat as characters, and had such potential!

CW: Graphic: Physical abuse, Medical trauma, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Child abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Cursing, Cancer, and Child death
Minor: Stalking

3.75 ⭐️

Yes No Maybe was really enjoyable. English teacher Rowan gets a surprise public proposal to which she answers “Yes. No. Maybe.” and then her would-be fiancé ditches her for 3 months to pursue his acting dreams because he’s very petty and self-centered. She decides to buy a house and become a foster mom to a teenager while Dean is gone, and ends up living next to romance author Jack and a very nosey but lovable bunch of other neighbors. Jack helps Rowan come out of her shell, accept herself and the burn scars covering half of her face, and makes her realize that Dean is in fact not the nice guy she’s always thought he is. In return, Rowan allows Jack to use her as a muse for his next book, which he’s struggled to write for 2 years.

I loved Jack and Rowan’s relationship, which truly went through the friendship stage before becoming more and felt like the right pace for them. But I have to take off a star for the majority of the book being a cheating trope, since technically Rowan said she was engaged to Dean the whole time he was gone and Jack was there. I didn’t like Dean from the beginning and don’t think he deserved the time of day from Rowan, but that doesn’t change the fact that they were still together.

Overall, this was a cute book, had a lot of love for reading/readers, and made me want to read all of Jack’s books even though they don’t actually exist.

Thanks to NetGalley and author Jessica Sherry for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I did not want the story to end I was absorbed in their world and now I long to live in a street like this and be surrounded by its people. I have given it 4 stars only because the language was abit to much for me, unnecessary amounts of swearing not required. Little bit of spice, realistic and not blown out of proportion to that could never happen territory. I want to read books and go to English class with Rowan what a cool concept,

I really enjoyed this book. I thought that the characters were engaging, funny, and three-dimensional. There was a good variety of humor, tension, and conflict that kept me thoroughly engaged throughout the book. I would definitely recommend this book to my fellow readers.

There were parts of this book that I did not enjoy as much. This is mostly because of the language used, a little too coarse and in-your-face for my liking. If I’ve reeled in a reader of this table thinking they are going to get a lot of active negative reactions on this book, I just admit that that was the sole one. If the tone was a little different, this would have been a five star read for me.

Both the characters in the story have their own time on the page, and it’s easy to like them both while simultaneously championing their happily-ever-after. Our leading lady is someone who is mentally and physically scarred. This has changed her approach to life. She has a lot of people who are extremely supportive and think she deserves more than she’s aiming for. On the other side we have a brooding writer with writer’s block. This soon changes when an involved English school teacher moves in next door.

I enjoyed the respect and depth that romance was a genre got during the interactions. They focus on the fact that regular people with troubles and actual issues can also find a happy ending – all with good writing and better characters.

Although this isn’t a book in a book format, it cuts close by driving into some of the novels that are the foundation for the relationship that builds.

I would highly recommend this to anyone who likes a good romance with banter ( the almost cheating aspect didn’t make me cringe as much as it could have, mostly because of the presentation)

I received an ARC thanks to Netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

3.5/5 stars! (arc) this was a cute & interesting story!! rowan being an english teacher and jack being a writer made the story so fun and bookish and the small town vibes were cute! i didnt connect to the characters as much and some things felt a bit off to me (unnecessary problems thrown here and there) but still good! will def read more from this author!!

Phenomenal writing, 3.5 stars. The author did a wonderful job of creating quirky, believable, lovable and relatable characters. Rowan has beautiful depth and Jack is raw and real. I loved their story as well as the fascinating supporting characters that were well-written and felt like truly real people. I would have rated this much higher had it not been 100-150 pages too long. This beautiful story got lost and veered my eyes away a few times. The writing was so wonderful but there was way too much of it to hold my attention. A lot of time could have been condensed and Dean could have been long gone by 20% of the book. There were times that felt like they drug on with nothing really happening and the two main characters didn't really come together until 80% of the book was finished. This author is incredibly talented but needs a team to condense her writing. This truly could have been a 5-star book! Looking forward to future books from this author, I will certainly be back to read more of her work.

Rowan Mackey is a high school teacher but also a go-to for the children who need help. On the night of the play, her so-called boyfriend at the end proposes to her on stage but gets the yes, no maybe. You see Rowan does not like to be in the spotlight, she likes being behind the scenes. You would think that her boyfriend would have known those things but he was only into himself especially when he took off for the summer and ghosted her. She, on the other hand, bought a house that came with a neighbor who did not want her there because he wanted to buy the house but never got around to it. Jack Graham and the rest of the neighbors do take a liking to her even though it takes Jack longer than the others. Rowan is also self-conscious because she has a burn scar on one side of her face, all of this adds to the story and makes for growth between the characters the further you get into the book. A wonderful story with excellent characters and very much worth the read.

"Yes No Maybe" is a captivating contemporary romance between neighbors, Rowan and Jack. Rowan, a dedicated teacher, immediately draws sympathy and admiration. Scarred by serious burns from her teenage years, her reserved nature and reluctance toward romance are both understandable and deeply poignant. Jack is a bestselling romance novelist struggling with writer's block and a has penchant for partying—attributes that contrast with Rowan’s desire for tranquility. Jack’s irritation at having a new neighbor quickly transforms into a creative boon, as his interactions with Rowan reignite his stalled writing career.
Their initial clashes are entertaining and set the tone for a classic enemies-to-lovers trope. The chemistry between Rowan and Jack is palpable and well-developed. Their evolving relationship, filled with witty banter and underlying tension, kept me engaged. Jack’s character growth, from a superficial playboy to someone capable of deep emotion and commitment, is both believable and satisfying. Similarly, Rowan’s journey towards accepting she deserves more is inspiring.

This book surprised in a way that I didn't think it was possible.. I like it in general and the trauma really hit me hard but there were parts when I really though it was a bit exaggerated, some of miscommunication.. But I liked Rowan and Jack, more adults, both broken and scared of a bigger connection, an romance writer who doesn't believe in love and a literature teacher who had be hurt in the past and has marks to prove it.

Yes No Maybe is a divinely sweet romance read that will have you gasping, crying, and begging for more. Jack and Rowan have a wonderful chemistry that leaps off the page. This one will have you wistfully wishing for more!

Yes No Maybe is an onion, there are many layers to this novel and its characters, and just like an onion, this novel is likely to make you cry.

Short version

Heartwarming, swoon-worthy, gut wrenching, break you down and build you back together again story, with found family, dual POV, flawed characters, and an epic love. Run don’t walk to read this now.

Official cry count = 17.

Yes, thats right, this book made me cry no less than 17 times. Including 1 cry during the author’s note and 2 cries hours after I finished (I call those aftershocks).

Before you let the number of potential tears scare you away you should know that while I expect everyone to enjoy and connect with this book, my tear count is probably outside of the bell curve. I connected deeply with these characters and their lives - I especially related to Rowan. If you feel connections with any of the following topics you might find your tear count also falls outside the norm, and can expect increased volume.
- assault - foster care - emotional abuse - physical scars - military parent - housing instability (moving a lot) - familial death - cancer-

But please do not let any of that shy you away either, Jessica Sherry does an absolutely phenomenal job of handling hard topics in a way that will leave your heart full by the end of the book.

——

I expected to have fun with this book, there is a cat on the cover and a tattooed grumpy romance writer for an MMC, what’s not to love? What I didn’t expect was to be absolutely blown away by this story. It feels like nothing I could write or say about this book would really do it justice, but alas, I shall try.

The main characters feel real, fully fleshed out, like I might bump into Rowan and Jack on my walk down Front Street (that’s a Wilmington reference 😉) or wait in line at Old Books for a chance at a signed copy of Jack’s new book. They are flawed, but self-aware (or at least they eventually become self-aware) and there trauma and past are handled in ways that cement the “real” feel but still provide you with a happily ever after. Our side characters have just the right about of depth and quirk and spirit without stealing the show - although some of them certainly try.

Jack and Rowan’s love story is epic, it will sweep you up and carry you away - think a stream that turns into a river that flows into rapids and finally takes you over the edge of a waterfall, but instead of a plummet toward your death you fall gently into a deep love built on mutual respect, openness, and understanding (and a little ravishing).

This book is absolutely breathtaking, incredibly well-written (and well edited) the pacing is absolute perfection and the story feels so real and authentic. I am flabbergasted that this is a self-published work and need Jessica Sherry to score the big book deal she deserves like yesterday.

PS you definitely should sign up for her emails and score yourself the bonus epilogue.

I’m off to hide in a hole and devour the rest of her books.

Thank you NetGalley and Jessica Sherry for sending this book (eARC) for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

This was the second book I’ve read by Jessica Sherry and I am very much looking forward to reading more from her! She has quickly become one of my favorite authors! Yes, No, Maybe was a light hearted and fun read! It was inspiring and written so beautifully! Rowan was a great FMC and Jack?? Holy moly! He couldn’t get any hotter if he tried. He won me over immediately by being a cat person! I love cats and I LOVE men who love cats! Rowan and Jack’s characters complimented each other perfectly! Definitely recommend this!

I received an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book from NetGalley. This review is honest, unbiased and completely my own.

An absolutely beautifully written journey. So many lines spoke to me, so much heart and understanding. You can’t help joining the quirky neighborhood of wonderful characters... I do want to hear what Vernon is going to say next.

Rowan has felt broken her whole life. She was involved in an accident with a boiling pan that has left her scarred from her face to right above her heart. She has felt her whole life that she has repulsed people and is going to settle when her fellow teacher, Dean, proposes to her. Except, she falters and answers with a yes, no, maybe. Dean leaves for the summer claiming he needs space from Rowan. Rowan had been looking at a house that cute and found one.
Jack is a moody writer type (romance author) who's experiencing some major writer's block. He has a cat named Harper Lee. Rowan is a high school English teacher and avid reader (everything but romance). She has a cat named Edgar Allen Poe. He's grumpy and she's sunshine. The two end up living next door to one another and their relationship is described as "cordially volatile."
This book was amazing. I cannot stop thinking about Rowan and Jack. This story is going to live with me for a while. It was heartwarming, hilarious, and deep all at the same time. There were some amazing quotes that I don't think I will ever forget. Jessica Sherry was able to write about traumatic and triggering events with care and tenderness that made me feel so seen and validated. This book made me both laugh out loud and shed some tears.
The book also has some great tropes:
- Opposites Attract
- Neighbors, Grumpy/Sunshine
- Overcoming Challenges