Synopsis Mabel Armstrong is on the verge of giving up. But just when things feel bleakest, there seems to be a shift in the universe. People come out of the woodwork. Her ex won’t leave her alone. An old friend finally tries to become more. Even the cute guy at the coffee shop starts paying extra attention. Maybe Maby is a heartbreaking, and at times, hilarious story about coping with loss, finding love in New York, and learning to recognize hope in the middle of it all. |
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Review
Willow Aster has proven how absolutely brilliant she is, yet again. I always know when I begin a book by Willow that it will be unlike any other book out there. Maybe Maby was quirky yet intense, emotional and dark, sometimes hilarious, but simply put - it was phenomenal.
Mabel is...well...geez, what IS Mabel. She's OCD but it isn't that simple. She struggles every day. Every single day. Some days or months are better than others but overall, her life is rough. Maby's disorder owns her life. Because of that, she pushed her boyfriend away and endures tension at work with her boss. The death of her mother is an addition she doesn't need, and can't seem to get past.
Maby has guy trouble. Serious guy drama. The ex-boyfriend, Dalton, wants her back. A friend from the past, Saul, wants her after they had a "moment" quite some time before that he won't let go of (after disappearing from her life). And then there's Coen, the barista at her local coffee shop. This isn't your sweet, warm & fuzzies, over the top romantic type of novel. Once she does choose, you'll feel all of that and more. It's getting to that point that is so interesting, frustrating, heartbreaking, and exactly what I needed.
Maby is an interesting woman. She knows she's...well, she calls herself crazy. She knows it and tries her best to make do with it. She's very determined, intelligent, and quite the smartass, but she's just a bit lost. There were so many times I wanted - no, NEEDED - to hug her and tell her it'd be okay. Her disorder isn't what we all joke about as being OCD. She counts mercilessly, she washes until she bleeds, etc. It's serious and there's no joking with that. I won't talk about the guys because you need to experience that all on your own. They're something else entirely. But Coen owns my heart. That guy...sigh.
The most important aspect of this entire book really isn't the relationships at all. It's Maby and her disorder. Who can handle it and who can't. Who wants to be there for her and who just wants to claim they can. It all comes down to this: who will love Maby wholeheartedly and with no judgment? Her journey to finding that answer is such an emotional tale.
As I said before, no one does romance like Willow. Her books are always so unique. Her writing style is very different but that's part of what puts her at the top of my list. She is a pro at pulling you into the story, and making you not just care but love these characters. I also love that she didn't write a big climatic ending. Truth be told, the entire book gave me that "whoa" moment that other authors try to achieve. Every page, every sentence, every word kept me on the edge of my seat. Maby's life is a string of big climatic events it seems, and I loved it, as sad as it was at times.
Overall, it's 100% Willow Aster greatness. Willow takes an uncomfortable subject matter and not only makes you understand, but also feel so deeply for the main character. It has the romantic and swoonworthy moments, as well as the steaminess and angst that we all have come to expect, but it went beyond that. This one tops so many others because of how different it is. It's creative and unlike anything else you'll have on your Kindle right now. I can't rave about this book enough, and now I need my next Willow fix.
<3 Erin
Mabel is...well...geez, what IS Mabel. She's OCD but it isn't that simple. She struggles every day. Every single day. Some days or months are better than others but overall, her life is rough. Maby's disorder owns her life. Because of that, she pushed her boyfriend away and endures tension at work with her boss. The death of her mother is an addition she doesn't need, and can't seem to get past.
Maby has guy trouble. Serious guy drama. The ex-boyfriend, Dalton, wants her back. A friend from the past, Saul, wants her after they had a "moment" quite some time before that he won't let go of (after disappearing from her life). And then there's Coen, the barista at her local coffee shop. This isn't your sweet, warm & fuzzies, over the top romantic type of novel. Once she does choose, you'll feel all of that and more. It's getting to that point that is so interesting, frustrating, heartbreaking, and exactly what I needed.
Maby is an interesting woman. She knows she's...well, she calls herself crazy. She knows it and tries her best to make do with it. She's very determined, intelligent, and quite the smartass, but she's just a bit lost. There were so many times I wanted - no, NEEDED - to hug her and tell her it'd be okay. Her disorder isn't what we all joke about as being OCD. She counts mercilessly, she washes until she bleeds, etc. It's serious and there's no joking with that. I won't talk about the guys because you need to experience that all on your own. They're something else entirely. But Coen owns my heart. That guy...sigh.
The most important aspect of this entire book really isn't the relationships at all. It's Maby and her disorder. Who can handle it and who can't. Who wants to be there for her and who just wants to claim they can. It all comes down to this: who will love Maby wholeheartedly and with no judgment? Her journey to finding that answer is such an emotional tale.
As I said before, no one does romance like Willow. Her books are always so unique. Her writing style is very different but that's part of what puts her at the top of my list. She is a pro at pulling you into the story, and making you not just care but love these characters. I also love that she didn't write a big climatic ending. Truth be told, the entire book gave me that "whoa" moment that other authors try to achieve. Every page, every sentence, every word kept me on the edge of my seat. Maby's life is a string of big climatic events it seems, and I loved it, as sad as it was at times.
Overall, it's 100% Willow Aster greatness. Willow takes an uncomfortable subject matter and not only makes you understand, but also feel so deeply for the main character. It has the romantic and swoonworthy moments, as well as the steaminess and angst that we all have come to expect, but it went beyond that. This one tops so many others because of how different it is. It's creative and unlike anything else you'll have on your Kindle right now. I can't rave about this book enough, and now I need my next Willow fix.
<3 Erin
Excerpt
I take off running with him not far behind. When we reach the stairs, he swoops me up, takes the stairs two at a time, and tosses me on the bed. He stares down at me.
“Now what?” he asks.
“Let’s not sleep with our clothes on tonight.”
His shirt is over his head with one yank from the back. I lean up on my elbows to watch.
“Your turn,” he says.
“Your pants are still on.”
He unbuttons them slowly and takes his sweet time pulling them down. His thumb loops under the waistband of his boxer briefs and my mouth waters waiting for him to take them off. He says something, but I don’t hear any of it.
“What?” I ask.
“I said—are you sure?” He puts his hand over his mouth and looks at me, his eyes narrowing. After a long pause, he says, without conceit: “When we make love, it’s gonna change things. I want to know if you’re ready for that before we do.”
I move until I’m on my knees in front of him. “Things have already changed for me. I’m ready … if you are.”
He grins and pulls my dress over my head. “Haven’t you been hearing me? I’ve been ready for you for a long time, Maby Armstrong.”
His hands travel down my chest and he unhooks my bra, sucking in a breath when it falls to the ground. He smiles at my yellow thong with black skulls.
“You’re so edgy,” he smirks, getting on his knees while he pulls them off. He looks up at me. “I plan to spend a lot of time in this general vicinity.” He waves his hand over the area from my lips to my thighs. “And especially here,” he whispers, pulling me into his mouth.
I hold onto his hair for dear life. I nearly fall back on the bed, but his hands are gripped on both cheeks, keeping my buns of nothing close to steel in place.
“Now what?” he asks.
“Let’s not sleep with our clothes on tonight.”
His shirt is over his head with one yank from the back. I lean up on my elbows to watch.
“Your turn,” he says.
“Your pants are still on.”
He unbuttons them slowly and takes his sweet time pulling them down. His thumb loops under the waistband of his boxer briefs and my mouth waters waiting for him to take them off. He says something, but I don’t hear any of it.
“What?” I ask.
“I said—are you sure?” He puts his hand over his mouth and looks at me, his eyes narrowing. After a long pause, he says, without conceit: “When we make love, it’s gonna change things. I want to know if you’re ready for that before we do.”
I move until I’m on my knees in front of him. “Things have already changed for me. I’m ready … if you are.”
He grins and pulls my dress over my head. “Haven’t you been hearing me? I’ve been ready for you for a long time, Maby Armstrong.”
His hands travel down my chest and he unhooks my bra, sucking in a breath when it falls to the ground. He smiles at my yellow thong with black skulls.
“You’re so edgy,” he smirks, getting on his knees while he pulls them off. He looks up at me. “I plan to spend a lot of time in this general vicinity.” He waves his hand over the area from my lips to my thighs. “And especially here,” he whispers, pulling me into his mouth.
I hold onto his hair for dear life. I nearly fall back on the bed, but his hands are gripped on both cheeks, keeping my buns of nothing close to steel in place.
Author Info
Willow Aster is the author of True Love Story, In the Fields, and Maybe Maby. She lives with her husband and two kids on a tropical beach in paradise. Well, at least part of that is true … the rest is Story Lala Land, where Willow spends most of her time.