Maybe Maby

Willow Aster’s Maybe Maby has been on my to-read list for a long, long time. I finally felt the need to dive into this story and I can’t say how glad I am that I did! I didn’t know much about this story going into it. Only the line, “I’m having a meltdown” and that alone was enough to make me excited. I love off-kilter characters, the ones who let readers see into their minds. It makes the world feel less lonely, even if it’s just a fictional character, to know that other people struggle too. I loved Maby for this exact reason. She was far from perfect but easy to love, even if she thought she was the opposite.I love how realistic Willow was able to make Maby’s struggles. I’m sure most of us can relate to feeling a little crazy at times, like we simply can’t go on another minute, and our lives are not worth living. Despite that, she was able to keep on moving forward, even when it seemed impossible. She was able to draw strength from people who loved her. Speaking of those who loved her, while Maby is the star of the show, it’s impossible not to adore her friends and wish they were real-life people.“Maybe I just remind you of who you want to be … who you are when you’re not trying to be something else.”Not only were the characters, besides the obvious antagonists, incredible, but Willow shows she is a master of writing swoon-worthy romance. There is a bit of a love triangle going on in this story, but I was able to appreciate its significance in Maby’s life. I even loved both guys for their unique traits and was grateful for the way things worked out in the end. For me, the obvious choice was Coen. Can we just talk about this perfect book boyfriend? He was almost too good to be true, but I couldn’t help but adore his kind words and actions to follow them up. I loved their relationship and the family dynamic he brought to the table more than I can say, I could have read 200 more pages about these characters.I can’t wait to catch up on the rest of Willow’s books I missed out on before I was avidly reading. Her love stories always make me feel all of the mushy-gushy feels.

4 “best night of my life” “only room for one weirdo” KissesEvery time I read another Willow Aster book, I walk away from it a little bit changed. The characters and relationships she creates in each of her books is truly amazing and they touch me in ways I never even considered…it’s a completely unique experience each time…and I can’t help but love it. Maybe Maby surprised me in a lot of ways… good surprises of course…but it was definitely a shift from the norm.Mabel Armstrong…my dear sweet bat s#!% crazy Maby. I can say that because I love her…I don’t mean it in a bad way, but Maby never really hides her mental disease. It’s just kind of like breathing or blinking...she doesn’t have to do much, it’s just a part of who she has always been. But, sadly Maby is in a downward spiral and there isn’t a lot of positive in her future. Her mom passed away…her long-term boyfriend Dalton cheated on her…her best friend and pretty much all of her friends abandoned her (which has a lot to do with the ex)…she hates her job…so…like I said, not a whole heck of a lot of sunshine and roses goin on in Maby’s world. Plus then she’s going the OCD and depression which is getting to an all time high level with the recent events in her life and you’ve got a recipe for suck. I felt like it was two steps forward, twenty-two steps back and it broke my heart every time. The few times I felt like I saw Maby’s true potential was when she had the influence of a certain barista with amazing brown eyes.‘Have you ever noticed how the universe seems to have it out for you? Or maybe sometimes it’s trying to help. I’m not sure. I do believe in God, but I also believe there are other spirits contributing, making the universe, as a whole, a very confusing place.’Coen Brady…oh there is a special place in heaven for guys like Coen Brady, he’s his own special brand of perfection. He’s kind and smart…patient and sweet…generous and loving…he goes above and beyond in every way he can for Maby. When I say patient…I mean, think of the most patient man in the world – multiply it by a million and you might have 10% of the patience that Coen has. Job has nothing on Coen. My favorite parts about Coen (besides…everything) was the fact that he’s just a regular guy…a regularly awesome, fantastic, stupendous guy – but he’s not alpha…he’s not loaded…he doesn’t have a horrible past with millions of secrets that he’s hiding…he’s just himself. Loveable…perfect…amazing. Honestly...I feel like he and Maby kinda balance each other out in the crazy department…he’s got his little quirks and stuff (really they only make him cuter) but the main thing is…he is specifically crazy about her. And I couldn’t get enough of it.‘He lifts his wine glass. “I kissed a girl I’ve wanted to know for a long time, and in a single moment, we were instantly in sync. The stars and planets aligned. I’ve never had a first kiss that was so…perfect.”We clink glasses.“Me either,” I admit.“Our very own harmonic convergence, if you will,” he says, as he kisses me. A light kiss, but my heart drops to the ground just the same. With a soft groan, he stops. “I don’t think it’s possible for us to have a bad kiss.”“We can keep trying, it you’d like,” I tease.’Saul Mayes…I feel like I have to mention Saul because…well, for the first third of the book, he was all I knew. He’s Maby’s ex-boyfriends friend and he became Maby’s best friend (remember…I mentioned the best friend that ditched her – he’s the one)…they developed a strong relationship aside from Dalton and…that kind of crossed a line when it shouldn’t have. Neither of them handled it properly and then things went to s#!% for Maby, which made the situation even more complicated and honestly…while I didn’t like what Saul did, I couldn’t ignore the fact that he was one of the few constants in Maby’s life. A couple that has history is my kryptonite and Maby and Saul have a lot of it…a little bad, but a lot of good and even with his f^@% ups, you could still see how much Saul cared about her and that was what pulled me to him. Sadly…once Coen was fully in the picture, there was just no chance for me to remain team Saul…because there is no competing with the perfection that is Coen.‘This is all new to me. I realized I can’t wish away my life. I seem to be stuck here for now and have to make the best of it.I just wish he loved me the way I love him.’So…I totally didn’t see the love triangle thing coming but I totally liked it and it really worked. I heart love triangles and the angst they bring…but that was only half of the joy of MM. This is a romance, don’t get me wrong – but there is a whole journey and process that we go through with Maby, on top of all the relationship stuff. Maby’s issues have issues and I felt like I was her cheerleader, excited for her when she overcame an obstacle or made progress and then frustrated or sad when she backpedaled. I kinda felt like a yo-yo at times, but it worked with the flow of the story. Of course…the best times for me, and Maby, were when Coen was in the picture...as if my ode to him wasn’t proof enough of that fact. Maby + Coen = Bliss! They're fun and playful, he brought out the best in her and showed her how free she could be...how truly happy she could be...they were sexy, they were endearing and they were insanely addictive. I understood her feelings about him and why she kept pushing him away, but it killed me. Every time. To the point of tears killed me.‘“Being with you makes me forget who I really am.” I say it with a smile, but then get serious when I realize the gravity of my statement.He crinkles his face, a little frown forming between his brows. “Maybe I just remind you of who you want to be…who you are when you’re not trying to be something else.” His hand sweeps across my cheek and I lean into it, closing my eyes.I wish he was right. When he looks at me the way he is right now, I can almost believe him.’Speaking of tears…that happened a few times, which, it wouldn’t be a Willow Aster book if I didn’t cry at least twice, so I guess that’s just par for the course. Maby dreams about her mom…wow, for whatever reason, they just cut right to my heart. Plus…there is a scene around 96% when my heart was in my throat. Willow has thrown some curve balls at me…she’s made me ugly cry, so I was a wee bit nervous when I was white-knuckling my kindle, praying to the book gods that she wasn’t going to crush my heart and soul beyond repair…but I wouldn’t have put it past her. I’m being vague intentionally because it did illicit an emotional reaction for me, which is what I live for…but I really didn’t see the point after it was all said and done. Nothing was gained by the event that couldn’t have been done in other ways, and without giving me a heart attack, so it just felt a little unnecessary.“It’s my one last ditch effort to maintain my head around you.” He snorts and shakes his head. “What the hell, I’ve lost all my moves. Let me try that again. I am gone where you’re concerned, Maby. Gone. And you’re not there yet. But once I’m inside you…” He looks in my eyes when he says that and I get so lightheaded, I have to close my eyes. His fingers life my chin and his lips touch mine. His tongue softly traces my lips and I tremble. “Once I’m inside you,” he whispers, “I’m not gonna be able to let you go.”Honestly, reading Maby’s POV did at some times make me feel a little bit crazy…if anything, that’s just a testament to Willow’s amazing writing – because the fact that Maby has a diagnosed mental disorder is never a secret. It’s not prominent or shoved in your face every few pages, but it’s always in the background, we know she does count and have rituals and obsess over certain things. I guess the main thing that I was missing from Maybe Maby that I have come to expect from Willow’s other books was this smooth flow…MM doesn’t really have that feel and while I loved that each chapter was titled (I’m a sucker for the little details)…the chapters were relatively short and the transitions made things a little jumpy for me. Then again, and I know this is going to sound weird, but that and everything else about the book fit with Maby…if that makes any sense. We’re never out of Maby’s POV so therefore it's completely logical why I feel that way…because it matches Maby’s character. Trust me…I thought about this a lot (clearly Mabel did have an slight impact on my psyche cause I started to feel a wee bit loony myself)…and if MM had been told with the same precision and conciseness that True Love Story and In the Fields had…it would have been too perfect…too clean…to proper – all the things that Maby really is not. So…long story short, I get and appreciate why it was written the way it was.'I’m wiping my eyes from laughing, not crying, when I catch Coen staring at me.“What?”He gets so close so only I can hear him. “I can’t believe you’re in my life. Being with you is even better than I imagined,” he says.I gulp and turn to face him. “I never dreamed I would find someone like you. Are you sure, Coen? Are you sure you want me?”He leans his forehead against mine. “You’ve taken possession of my heart little by little, and now you own it, Maby. Completely.”'I feel like I sound a little all over the place with my feelings and thoughts because…bottom line…I truly loved the characters, it hit all the right emotions and fell completely into Maby’s journey. It wasn’t perfect…but this isn’t a story about perfect people falling in love and having an easy walk in the park. It’s about a girl who has struggled to finally come to grips with her life and found someone who loves her unconditionally. I can’t lie…but the last three words in the book give me hope for more. Yes…ladies and gentleman, my clinger has reemerged and I’m holding on for dear life – I love Maby and Coen and would be over the moon excited for more. So…I’ll just be over here…crossing my fingers… ;-)

This is the third book I've read by Willow Aster, and the third one I've given 5 stars to.I couldn't put this book down, Maby's battle with OCD was a real eye opener and the fact that she was alone with no real friends was utterly heart breaking.When we are first introduced to Maby, she's lost, battling with OCD and only just managing to get through each day until a spur of the moment decision has a ripple effect and her life starts to change for the better. Walking into the hair salon opened up a whole new world, she gains a little confidence, meets people who are genuine and want to be her friends, and finds herself taking a few chances. Things she would never have done before. She stands up for herself against those who have been dragging her down, she opens her heart to a new man who seems to be everything she needs.When her new found confidence brings more attention than she bargained for, she finds herself having to chose between Saul, the guy she's been in love with for ages, and Coen, the new guy on the scene. Her dilemma frustrated me so much! She is concerned that her OCD will ruin the new relationship, whereas Saul knows how it affects her. I didn't want her to make her decision on that basis, I wanted her to chose the guy who is right for her, who will be there for her when she needs him. I hoped she wouldn't stick with safe, sometimes it's worth taking a risk.My heart broke for Maby, her issues were so complex and she didn't know the best way to deal with them. She was so fragile, and the slightest thing threatened to break her.There were also times when I just wanted to reach into the book and shake some sense into her, some of the decisions she made were infuriating! And then there's Coen. Coen is so sweet and I loved him. He has no hidden agenda, he's not a player, he knows what he wants out of life, where he wants to be. He wears his heart on his sleeve is and there 100% for Maby.It's not all angst and heartbreak though - there are some pretty comical moments and also some ''You Go Girl'' finger clicking moments. I loved Pascal, Maby's hairdresser. He was there to give her a nudge when she needed it and provided some light relief too!This book will put you through a whole host of emotions, and it's worth every single moment.

This is my first encounter with author Willow Aster, and it certainly won't be my last. She has created some beautiful characters with Maby and Coen, even Saul and Coen's family. I fell in love with Coen's family just like Maby did.This story had me very emotional at many points as I journeyed with Maby and her struggles. I was really pulling for Coen as he tried desperately not to scare Maby away, but also trying not to lose her. Argh ... such a tug on my emotions. Brilliant really.I know that a author is doing it right when I can almost see the story in my imagination, and I certainly had that experience with 'Maybe Maby'.

Loved it was very realist story her strengh was amazing

Really enjoyed this book - loved the characters - had me guessing for a while who she would choose. Nice ending

I really got completely lost in this book. I completely loved Maby, and well all the characters really they were all so real and relatable. The subject matter was interesting and unique. A wonderful book that flows and you get completely immersed in the characters lives.