Reviews with content warning for Death of parent - Maybe Next Time

"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

ecwalk's review against another edition

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mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Content Warnings

caseythereader's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Content Warnings

chloelj27's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

What I liked:

🧡 The yearly letters which showed their lives and progression of their relationship.

🧡 The range of emotions the book made me feel.

🧡 The lovable characters.

🧡 Dan & Emma being perfect for each other, but also showing their relationship wasn’t perfect.

🧡 The writing style.

If I had to sum Maybe Next Time up in three words they would be heartbreaking, powerful and beautiful. There were some really heartwarming moments, but some equally devastating ones. I loved Dan and Emma - they showed the hardships of relationships, but also the beauty. The letters throughout were so insightful to their relationship, and that last letter absolutely broke me! I honestly cannot say a bad word about this book and will certainly be buying a physical copy. Stunning!

Thank you Net Galley, Harper Collins and Cesca Major for accepting me as an ARC reader in exchange for an honest review.

Content Warnings

piperkitty's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective relaxing sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Maybe Next Time
by Cesca Major
Pub Date 30 Mar 2023
Publisher: HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction, HarperCollins
Genre: General Fiction (Adult) | Romance | Women's Fiction

Emma and Dan meet on a train. Years ago now, they were a couple with children. Emma's a high-fluting workaholic in publishing. One day, a tragic event happens, and Dan is now dead. Alas, Emma wakes up on the best day to an alive Dan and repeats the day repeatedly, trying to change his fate. I enjoyed reading Dan's letters to Emma through this book. Although tedious at times due to the similarities of the days as she goes through them herself, you can see how Emma adjusts every time, and you also get snippets into those around them.
That was a slight twist that I didn't expect. Hattie, oh, why are you going through all this? This book made me cry and is a 4. 5/5 for me. It's brilliant and makes you reflect on yourself and your relationships and not take them for granted.

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