*Spoiler free*
Aspiring choreographer Sophie Orenstein would do anything for Peter Rosenthal-Porter, who’s been on the kidney transplant list as long as she’s known him. Peter, a gifted pianist, is everything to Sophie: best friend, musical collaborator, secret crush. When she learns she’s a match, donating a kidney is an easy, obvious choice. She can’t help wondering if after the transplant, he’ll love her back the way she’s always wanted. But Peter’s life post-transplant isn’t what either of them expected. Though he once had feelings for Sophie too, he’s now drawn to Chase, the guitarist in a band that happens to be looking for a keyboardist. And while neglected parts of Sophie’s world are calling to her—dance opportunities, new friends, a sister and niece she barely knows—she longs for a now-distant Peter more than ever, growing increasingly bitter he doesn’t seem to feel the same connection. Peter fears he’ll forever be indebted to her. Sophie isn’t sure who she is without him. Then one blurry, heartbreaking night twists their relationship into something neither of them recognizes, leading them to question their past, their future, and whether their friendship is even worth fighting for.
I’m kinda floored that I was able to finish this one. And not because it was bad! I didn’t know how I would handle reading a book I knew was going to make me emoitonal and that I knew was going to be sad. Those books and I just don’t have a great relationship haha. But I did finish it!
And wow, did I love it. I went into this one not really expecting anything, maybe expecting to enjoy it a little bit, but I did not expect to come out holding as much love as I do. Rachel is a freaking goddess with words. I don’t know how more people aren’t talking about this? How did her first book fly so under the radar? Why aren’t more people gushing about her books everywhere? These are the questions I need answers too! I feel like she can make mundane things so interesting! I don’t usually like books like this and I loved this one. AHHH, the writing was just so good!
I was expecting this book to take a deeper look into characters and life than it did. It made up for it other parts though. I was also expecting more complexity in the story and the emotional journey Peter and Sophie went through. Though it wasn’t there, the story carried it so well that I don’t even really mind. I know this book was supposed to be a morally gray contemporary and I think it completely hit the mark.
The relationship between Peter and Sophie is definitely complicated. I’m not quite sure how to even explain it. The situations were just the situations and they both tried to do what they thought was best for them. And sometimes it didn’t work out. And sometimes it created a mess. But I loved how they were both willing to work on things that they knew they needed to work on. Everyone in this book was very aware that they had flaws and things they could better about themselves. I loved seeing that. I loved seeing the acceptance of flaws and knowing you can get better and grow and learn.
I also got really attached to the side characters! That doesn’t happen very often with me, but I loved their relationships and what they added to the story. I would love a spinoff from any one of them! I think there’s a lot story there. Maybe even a prequel? Honestly, I’d read anything haha.
I liked how this gave me a look at relationships in a different way than I’m used to seeing. I wasn’t sure I was going to like it, but I really did! And I’m going to keep more of an open mind about this in the future!
I don’t give my heart away to heartbreaking books very much. But I now willingly put my heart in Rachel’s hands. She can do whatever she wants to it. I trust her to write books that I love and will break my heart but will put it back together again. I so want to read her first book now and I’m hoping I can get it soon!
Our Year Of Maybe comes out on January 15th, 2019! You can add it on Goodreads and pre-order a copy in the meantime!
Thank you for reading!
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