Maybe Next Time: A Novel

Written by Cesca Major

Narrated by Clare Corbett

A REESE’S BOOK CLUB PICK 

A heartwarming and emotionally poignant time-loop novel about a stressed woman who must relive the same day over and over, keeping her family and work life from imploding as she attempts to spare her husband from an unfortunate fate. 

It is an ordinary Monday and harried London literary agent Emma is flying out of the door as usual. Preoccupied with work and her ever growing to-do list, she fails to notice her lovely husband Dan seems bereft, her son can barely meet her eye, and her daughter won’t go near her. Even the dog seems sad. 

She is far too busy, buried deep in her phone; social media alerts pinging; clients messaging with “emergencies”; keeping track of a dozen WhatsApp groups about the kids’ sports, school, playdates, all of it. Her whole day is frantic—what else is new—and as she rushes back through the door for dinner, Dan is still upset. They fight, and he walks out, desolate, dragging their poor dog around the block. Just as she realizes it is their anniversary and she has forgotten, again, she hears the screech of brakes.

Dan is dead.

The next day Emma wakes up… and Dan is alive. And it’s Monday again.

And again. 

And again.

Emma tries desperately to change the course of fate by doing different things each time she wakes up: leaving WhatsApp, telling her boss where to get off, writing to Dan, listening to her kids, reaching out to forgotten friends, getting drunk and buying out Prada. But will Emma have the chance to find herself again, remember what she likes about her job, reconnect with her children, love her husband? Will this be enough to change the fate they seem destined for?

A moving “What if” story of what it is to be a woman in the modern world—never feeling we’re getting it quite right—about learning to slow down and appreciate life that is sure to resonate with women’s fiction readers.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: Mar 7, 2023
• ISBN: 9780063239944

Cesca Major

Cesca Major is a novelist and screenwriter. She runs writing retreats and coaching throughout the year, is a mentor for Black Girl Writers and has taught creative writing for Jericho Writers and Henley School of Art. She blogs and vlogs about the writing process on her social channels. Cesca has written under pseudonyms in other genres and has been nominated for both the RNA’s Romantic Comedy Award and the CWA Gold Dagger Award. She lives in Berkshire with her husband, son and twin girls.

Reviews for Maybe Next Time

[Rebecca Snodgrass · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This book dragged on. The ending was terrible. I almost didn’t finish it but I felt like something interesting would make it worth it.

[Lena · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Although it is not the first book with a time loop setting I did enjoy it, especially looking back from the ending. It is an entertaining audiobook that lingers longer than I expected.

[Kathleen McNamara · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I’m not sure I would have enjoyed it as much reading the book. I listened to the audiobook and kept anticipating the next night.

[Samantha Hall · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Great book, worst ending. This book had me rethinking how we all go through life and how suddenly it can be cut short. I wanted to hug my kids and husband and pay more attention to them. Most definitely one of the best books I have read in awhile, but the ending made me want to throw my phone out of the door and scream. Not at all what I expected!

[Isabela Abreu · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I cried and I loved, most of all I loved all those letters!

[Bae Milanes · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I have no words. I had literal goosebumps after the last chapter. That last letter from Dan was EVERYTHING.