Reviews with content warning for Car accident - Maybe Next Time

Sometimes a "what if" story comes along that feels so relatable and sad and lovely all at once. Marriage and parenthood. Work/life balance. What would you do if you had the chance to SEE the things you missed the first time? The opportunity to love your partner the way they deserve? The chance to protect your kids? What if...

"I'm so glad you let me stumble into your life."
"All of this starts and ends with us..."
“I wanted to cuddle my husband and hold him close and appreciate how bloody lucky I was to live with my best friend, a really decent human.”

Content Warnings

seekatyread's review against another edition

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hopeful tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No

3.0

Content Warnings

what_heather_loves's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

"I had to try. I had been so close to giving up, so close to losing everything I loved. This was a chance to get things right.
...I'd been missing so many of these small, precious moments, not just in this loop but before too, leaping ahead on the To Do List in my head rather than pausing to look around, to feel, to taste, to smell: to live."

Working for a publisher in present day London, Emma has no time for beloved husband Dan and children Poppy and Max. A tragic accidents sees her reassessing her life. Groundhog day ensues for her as she tries to save Dan and ultimately be a better mum, wife and friend.

This is such a beautiful and poignant read about making life worth living by spending time with those you love. I enjoyed getting to know Emma and her relationship with Dan through her memories and through the letters he wrote every year on their first date anniversary (or dataversary as he called it). Her interactions with others were provided through mixed media - WhatsApp messages and voicemails, which also demonstrated to constant phone alerts interrupting her. My only criticism was how long it took people pleaser Emma to realise that she needed to invest time in her family and friends in order for both her and them to find peace, but equally it is sadly understandable with the pace of modern life! I cried reading Dan's last letter to her. Bittersweet and poignant, I'm glad I read this lovely novel for #TheBookTasterBookClub

Content Warnings