Go away, I'm reading: [Review] Maybe Someday (Maybe Someday, #1)

Author: Colleen Hoover

Original Title: Maybe Someday

Publisher: Atria Books
Release Date: March 18th, 2014
Finished Date: March 31st, 2015
Pages: 385
Read in: English

Synopsis

At twenty-two years old, Sydney is enjoying a great life: She’s in college, working a steady job, in love with her wonderful boyfriend, Hunter, and rooming with her best friend, Tori. But everything changes when she discovers that Hunter is cheating on her—and she’s forced to decide what her next move should be.
Soon, Sydney finds herself captivated by her mysterious and attractive neighbor, Ridge. She can't take her eyes off him or stop listening to the passionate way he plays his guitar every evening out on his balcony. And there’s something about Sydney that Ridge can’t ignore, either. They soon find themselves needing each other in more ways than one.
A passionate tale of friendship, betrayal, and romance, Maybe Someday will immerse readers in Sydney’s tumultuous world from the very first page.

Source: GoodReads

Final Rating: ★★★ out of 5

I have such mixed feelings about this book... This was my debut into the genre of New Adult, and although more than two months have passed since I've read it, I'm still conflicted.
There were some elements to this that were entirely refreshing, and the romance itself was swoon-worthy, but there were this little things that ticked me off.
Let's be honest: Maybe Someday is a book about cheating. Cheating and betrayals. And that particular topic hits a nerve with me. Colleen Hoover has this way of writing that makes you want to understand, and were it about anything else, I would have.
Still, I really liked the book, mainly because I think it was an incredibly original idea and very well executed. Although the accompanying music wasn't really to my taste, and I found the songs to be quite repetitive and similar, it was an amazing idea to combine literature and music and make it an incredible sensorial experience.
Two stars for the actual story. It gets one additional star for the innovative idea of incorporating music into the story.

The following extended review contains spoilers

If you have not yet read the book and/or do not wish to be spoiled, please do not read any further.

As I've mentioned already, there were some things in this book that didn't really strike my fancy, like some of the main character's feelings and values in general. Seriously, just on the prologue, she slut shams another girl and she shows she has the mentality of a 50s housewife.

«My hand is surprisingly sore, and I'm pretty sure I should put ice on it. I feel sorry for guys. Punching sucks.»

Yes, because males go about punching people every once in a while. It must be that pesky Y chromosome.

By this point, I told myself I would read 5 chapters. If I still didn't like it, I would give it up. But it did change. Well, not the main character. She remained annoying and a drama queen until the end. But the rest of the characters were engaging. And that bomb drop. I swear, I had to go back and read some parts again, because I couldn't get it through my head how I had not noticed that Ridge had not spoken. At all.

«Ridge: I'm deaf Sydney.

Deaf?

Oh.

Wait. Deaf?»

I may not have liked Sydney at all, but in this moment I totally sympathised with her. Her reaction was exactly mine. I congratulate Ms. Hoover for she managed to have this slapped in my face and I did not see it coming - which is rare, but I thoroughly enjoyed it - and that made me give the book a chance.

The way the deaf factor was played simultaneously with the additional song tracks was genius. I loved that the idea was so original and pure - I don't think I'll ever find a book with such a promising and different concept.

So all was going well, and I was almost managing to forget Sydney was whiny and annoying when BAM! Maggie happens.

Really?

You're trading a cheater for a guilt-ridden cheater, Sydney. It's not that much of an improvement. I don't care what you say - Colleen tried to sway me with her writing too and failed - once a cheater, always a cheater. He cheated on Maggie with you, who says he won't cheat on you too?

«Now that Maggie is in the picture, I realize there can't be a maybe someday between us. There will never be a maybe someday.»

I would have been okay with that. She fell in love with him, he has a girlfriend, she moves on and learns to stand on her own feet and be an actual independent woman. I would have loved that ending. To me, it would have made much more sense than the actual ending.

I get that the big picture in this story is supposed to teach me that love knows no boundaries, and that you can't help who you fall for, and that you have to try and make the best of a bad situation. But honestly? Was this necessary?

I could not connect to either Sydney or Ridge, because every "swoon" moment of theirs I was thinking about Maggie.

What actually bothered me the most was the way all the built-up angst and drama was resolved. Yes, this was a love triangle, (and if you know me, you know I tend to hate them with a passion) but it was not one I can respect. Because in the end, Sydney got the guy she'd been pining for, and he did not choose her. Maggie chose for him. He did not choose at all. Remind me, why do people like this couple?

I know there are a lot of lovers of this book and I mean to offend no one, but I just can't wrap this one around my head. It just wasn't for me.