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A review by lauren_soderberg
More Than Maybe by Erin Hahn
5.0
There are novels that come along that defy their genres. That tap into a feeling so primal and deep that you can’t help but become completely immersed. To me, Erin Hahn’s More Than Maybe is one of those novels.
Luke Greenly loves music, but doesn’t want to be in the spotlight. The son of a famous punk rocker, Luke has all his father’s talent, with none of his desire for fame. He prefers to create music in secret, with no intention of ever performing for others. He also has a secret crush on music blogger, Vada Carsewell, whose witty reviews and expansive musical knowledge speak to his soul. Vada has big plans for her future, and she’s on course to achieve them all. She also has a secret crush on the charmingly shy Luke. When Vada and Luke decide to team up on a school project, they realize that there might be a whole lot more depth to their feelings than either of them anticipated.
Above all, this is a story about soulmates in all their forms. And I mean “soulmate” in a way that defies a romantic description; rather, it’s finding the people whom your soul connects with, be it romantically, fraternally, or platonically. The dynamics between Vada/Luke, Cullen/Zack, Vada/Meg, Zack/Luke, and Luke/Cullen are just a few examples of how this idea permeates throughout the story. Every relationship in this book is fully actualized and feels wholly authentic. It’s also about how music (or whatever muse you follow) can also be a soulmate of sorts. Vada and Luke connect on almost a cellular level, and as their story unfolds, you feel present every step of the way. Hahn creates supporting characters whose lives also feel essential to the story, which is a testament to Hahn’s adept storytelling and world-building abilities.
More Than Maybe is beautiful, layered, and brilliantly plotted. It’s a novel that I plan on revisiting often, and should be on everyone’s TBR list for 2020.
**Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest (and, in this case, enthusiastic) review.**
Luke Greenly loves music, but doesn’t want to be in the spotlight. The son of a famous punk rocker, Luke has all his father’s talent, with none of his desire for fame. He prefers to create music in secret, with no intention of ever performing for others. He also has a secret crush on music blogger, Vada Carsewell, whose witty reviews and expansive musical knowledge speak to his soul. Vada has big plans for her future, and she’s on course to achieve them all. She also has a secret crush on the charmingly shy Luke. When Vada and Luke decide to team up on a school project, they realize that there might be a whole lot more depth to their feelings than either of them anticipated.
Above all, this is a story about soulmates in all their forms. And I mean “soulmate” in a way that defies a romantic description; rather, it’s finding the people whom your soul connects with, be it romantically, fraternally, or platonically. The dynamics between Vada/Luke, Cullen/Zack, Vada/Meg, Zack/Luke, and Luke/Cullen are just a few examples of how this idea permeates throughout the story. Every relationship in this book is fully actualized and feels wholly authentic. It’s also about how music (or whatever muse you follow) can also be a soulmate of sorts. Vada and Luke connect on almost a cellular level, and as their story unfolds, you feel present every step of the way. Hahn creates supporting characters whose lives also feel essential to the story, which is a testament to Hahn’s adept storytelling and world-building abilities.
More Than Maybe is beautiful, layered, and brilliantly plotted. It’s a novel that I plan on revisiting often, and should be on everyone’s TBR list for 2020.
**Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest (and, in this case, enthusiastic) review.**