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by Cesca Major
4 Stars
Sometimes it takes a tragedy to see the good that surrounds you.
Emma lives a harried life. Trying to be a good literary agent, a good mother, a good friend, and a good wife. Failing at all of it. She can barely keep her head above water. Then on her “date-aversary”, that she has once again forgotten, her world comes to a screeching halt. She loses her husband Dan – the most important person in her life. But the next morning she wakes up and it is Monday again and Dan is by her side. In this poignant Groundhog Day-style story Emma relives the day over and over trying to make everything right – but will she ever escape this loop of tragedy?
I struggled with this book a bit and I am not sure if was because I was listening to the audiobook or if it was the plot itself. I got a little restless because of the repetition – which is sort of the point of the whole story. In Maybe Next Time I did feel the author, Cesca Major, caught the frantic pace of modern-day working parent life. Many of the insights that Emma had about trying to be in the moment and be present for her family touched me and made me think about my own life. Ultimately that is what led to my 4-star rating. I found myself really thinking about my connections with those I care about and how distracting everyday life can be.
This book will most likely only appeal to people in a certain season of their lives. If you are just out of college or without kids or a partner you may not enjoy this book. I think the relatability of the protagonist is what drives the story – not the plot itself.