Rules for Second Chances

I just finished Rules for Second Chances by Maggie North and here are my thoughts.


Liz is tired of being overlooked and everyone she works with views her as different. She isn't fun loving and outgoing like her husband and she feels like an extra in her own life. She decides to try improv classes to improve not only her work life, but the marriage her stubborn husband refuses to give up on.

The improv is supposed to help Liz become more confident but the more she gets into doing it, the more it is becoming obvious to her that there is more going on with her social awkwardness than she really knew. Can she and Tobin get their marriage back on track and connect in a way that makes their marriage fulfilling for both of them?

Firstly, I am happy this book highlights autism in the MC. It's always great when authors make their books inclusive but they have to be knowledgeable about the inclusivity they are writing about and as a mother of 2 asd children and a wife of an asd man, I felt the author did a pretty good job of portraying autism the correct way and in a delicate manner.

It was easy to adore Liz. I have spent almost a decade with a man just like her and I can see how difficult the social anxieties can be for a person especially when they are undiagnosed. I am the outgoing partner so I can understand the complexities of what Tobin was going through as well. It was really something to watch them both trying to tackle the obstacles in their way of making their marriage work and the fact Torbin didn't let it all slip away, which would have been easier for him, was really the best part of the book for me.

I thought the book was really well written and I very much enjoyed the plot of the book. It's not a traditional romance read so if you are looking for something fluffy, this isn't it. The book covers some pretty heavy topics and isn't lighthearted. I did feel the pace was a touch off. I listened to and read the paperback arc and sometimes felt the story wasn't moving quickly enough to the pace it had set but all in all I actually enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.

The narrator was excellent and set a really great tone for the book. If you are looking for a second chance romance book that is outside the norm, give this one a go! You won't be sorry

4 stars thank you @stmartinspress and @netgalley for my paperback and alc gifted copies!

Out now

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