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sian_m's review against another edition
3.0
I did enjoy this book, but honestly, it’s not one that I have thought about since, so it has not stayed with me. I actually had to read the description of the book to remind myself what it was about. Don’t get me wrong, it is still written well, it just didn’t hit that space in me, where I remember and think about it afterwards.
whatnolareads's review
4.0
Readers are taken on an emotional journey through the tumultuous life of psychology professor Nancy Jewel. Fed up with failed marriages, disappointing dates, and the scars left by her emotionally abusive mother, Nancy has become disillusioned with the idea of love and commitment. However, when she receives news of her father's terminal illness, she's forced to confront her past and her strained family relationships.
As Nancy navigates the complexities of her father's illness and her reconnection with her estranged mother, she grapples with the ghosts of her toxic childhood and her own feelings of inadequacy. Lucas skillfully captures Nancy's inner turmoil and her struggle to find self-worth amidst the chaos of her past.
The novel offers solace and understanding to readers who have experienced similar challenges with narcissistic parents and strained family dynamics. Nancy's journey towards self-acceptance and healing is both relatable and inspiring, as she learns to confront her fears and embrace the possibility of staying instead of running away.
While the storyline may feel familiar at times, Lucas's honest portrayal of Nancy's struggles and her heartfelt exploration of the power of choice and self-discovery add depth to the narrative. The book's easy readability and quick pace make it a compelling and engaging read, with moments of emotional resonance that will leave readers reflecting on their own relationships and experiences.
Overall, "Maybe She'll Stay" is a touching and thought-provoking novel that offers a message of hope and resilience. Nancy's journey reminds us that true family is not defined by blood but by the bonds we choose to nurture and the love we choose to embrace. This book is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the transformative power of self-love and acceptance.
As Nancy navigates the complexities of her father's illness and her reconnection with her estranged mother, she grapples with the ghosts of her toxic childhood and her own feelings of inadequacy. Lucas skillfully captures Nancy's inner turmoil and her struggle to find self-worth amidst the chaos of her past.
The novel offers solace and understanding to readers who have experienced similar challenges with narcissistic parents and strained family dynamics. Nancy's journey towards self-acceptance and healing is both relatable and inspiring, as she learns to confront her fears and embrace the possibility of staying instead of running away.
While the storyline may feel familiar at times, Lucas's honest portrayal of Nancy's struggles and her heartfelt exploration of the power of choice and self-discovery add depth to the narrative. The book's easy readability and quick pace make it a compelling and engaging read, with moments of emotional resonance that will leave readers reflecting on their own relationships and experiences.
Overall, "Maybe She'll Stay" is a touching and thought-provoking novel that offers a message of hope and resilience. Nancy's journey reminds us that true family is not defined by blood but by the bonds we choose to nurture and the love we choose to embrace. This book is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the transformative power of self-love and acceptance.
bookishkenyannerd's review against another edition
4.0
Nancy struggled to feel loved while trying to maintain her boundaries with her narcissistic mother. It was a vicious cycle that made what seemed so obviously as love to be something else.
I loved her dad; Hank was so instrumental in showing her exactly how lovable she was. Ashish was patient with her, but ultimately she had to make the choice herself, in whether she wanted commitment or not. She had to have it out with Lina, her best friend, more than once but eventually they found common ground in the love they shared.
I absolutely loved her coming into herself, putting her emotional wellbeing first and recognizing what she could and couldn't fix. The sprinkle of romance was wonderful
I loved her dad; Hank was so instrumental in showing her exactly how lovable she was. Ashish was patient with her, but ultimately she had to make the choice herself, in whether she wanted commitment or not. She had to have it out with Lina, her best friend, more than once but eventually they found common ground in the love they shared.
I absolutely loved her coming into herself, putting her emotional wellbeing first and recognizing what she could and couldn't fix. The sprinkle of romance was wonderful
rachelholmer's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book - so much so that I finished it in one day as I simply couldn’t put it down. I really related to Nancy’s character & felt myself feeling all the emotions with her as I read through the book. I was cheering for her to find her way to love & so happy with how the book came to a close.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC - I’m thankful I was able to read it and highly suggest you do as well!
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC - I’m thankful I was able to read it and highly suggest you do as well!
confidentleeme's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
This book has solidified me as a Robyn Lucas fan! What a great follow up to Paper Doll Lina. I enjoy how she pushes the boundaries and can provoke so many emotions. Heavy on the 'Read Your Triggers'! This one includes a narcissistic mother and I feel like narc is putting it lightly! The overall message that 'Love conquers All' had me bawling my eyes out at the end.
kbonneville's review
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
vwannamaker's review
4.0
Thank you for NetGalley for allowing me to read this as an ARC.
This was a good fast paced book. I finished this in one day. I was able to feel the characters pain as we went through all the trauma.
Our main character has a fear of commitment because of the three previous divorces. She never had luck in that department since she was little. The character growth in this book is amazing.
This was a good fast paced book. I finished this in one day. I was able to feel the characters pain as we went through all the trauma.
Our main character has a fear of commitment because of the three previous divorces. She never had luck in that department since she was little. The character growth in this book is amazing.
kookie9200's review
2.0
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this book.
I'm going to be honest, this was nearly a DNF for me. I told myself I'd give it to 20% to keep me invested enough to keep going, and it barely did. The book is about Nancy Jewel, a woman with a great house, a nice job, and a single and loving lifestyle. Except all of it is built on lies. She has a narcissistic mother, an absentee brother, and a father in prison. She lies to everyone about her family and pretends she is happy-go-lucky. She isn't. She's stuck in an endless loop of meaningless hook ups and one night stands with strangeres as well as her ex husband.. When she's confronted with the fact her father is gravely ill, she has to find a way to help him.
The main reason I feel that I didn't like this book was Nancy. She's a psychology professor yet she is an absolute mess. Now, I'm not saying that just because she's in the field doesn't mean she can't have mental health problems at all, but wow. At some point, she should have had least realized she needed therapy. Instead, she comes off as completely whiny and unlikeable. there were so many times I wanted to shake her and tell her that she was playing into being a victim. The moments meant to make the reader feel bad for her never clicked for me because there wasn't enough substance to the character to build a bond. I just didn't like her. She was judgemental, whiny, and almost childlike in how she handled things. In the moments where we see her as a take-charge woman, it barely reflects who she actually is. This book was basically a "feel sorry for me because I have trauma and crappy parents" fest and it annoyed me.
The so-called growth of Nancy never happened. She spends so much of the book feeling sorry for herself and pushing people away only to snap out of it near the end because someone says they love her. It isn't growth. She put no work into bettering herself or taking the steps to make changes in how she felt about HERSELF. It was like "Oh, okay, this person loves me so I'm loveable and can be happy." It honestly made me want to throw my kindle. If this book was truly about a flawed character that grows into someone who loves herself and realizes she doesn't need all the props she's put into place to make herself feel better, then I could appreciate her falling in love and learning to accept the relationship with flawed parents. That wasn't this book though.
I'm going to be honest, this was nearly a DNF for me. I told myself I'd give it to 20% to keep me invested enough to keep going, and it barely did. The book is about Nancy Jewel, a woman with a great house, a nice job, and a single and loving lifestyle. Except all of it is built on lies. She has a narcissistic mother, an absentee brother, and a father in prison. She lies to everyone about her family and pretends she is happy-go-lucky. She isn't. She's stuck in an endless loop of meaningless hook ups and one night stands with strangeres as well as her ex husband.. When she's confronted with the fact her father is gravely ill, she has to find a way to help him.
The main reason I feel that I didn't like this book was Nancy. She's a psychology professor yet she is an absolute mess. Now, I'm not saying that just because she's in the field doesn't mean she can't have mental health problems at all, but wow. At some point, she should have had least realized she needed therapy. Instead, she comes off as completely whiny and unlikeable. there were so many times I wanted to shake her and tell her that she was playing into being a victim. The moments meant to make the reader feel bad for her never clicked for me because there wasn't enough substance to the character to build a bond. I just didn't like her. She was judgemental, whiny, and almost childlike in how she handled things. In the moments where we see her as a take-charge woman, it barely reflects who she actually is. This book was basically a "feel sorry for me because I have trauma and crappy parents" fest and it annoyed me.
The so-called growth of Nancy never happened. She spends so much of the book feeling sorry for herself and pushing people away only to snap out of it near the end because someone says they love her. It isn't growth. She put no work into bettering herself or taking the steps to make changes in how she felt about HERSELF. It was like "Oh, okay, this person loves me so I'm loveable and can be happy." It honestly made me want to throw my kindle. If this book was truly about a flawed character that grows into someone who loves herself and realizes she doesn't need all the props she's put into place to make herself feel better, then I could appreciate her falling in love and learning to accept the relationship with flawed parents. That wasn't this book though.
kelsiandherbookshelf's review against another edition
5.0
Maybe She’ll Stay is the second book that I have read by Robyn and it was just as heart felt as her debut, Paper Doll Lina. I love when authors develop a character that was introduced in their previous work and that’s exactly what Robyn did with Nancy in Maybe She’ll Stay. Her journey to self love was beautifully written, inspiring, and definitely a tear jerker! It was also great to be reacquainted with the main characters from Paper Doll Lina; their growth and story lines fit seamlessly in this novel. I can’t wait to see what Robyn writes next!
tacoboutmari's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0