What do you think?
Maybe We're Meant to Last
Not yet published
Expected 3 Nov 26Two friends who determined they were better as BFFs instead of something more in middle school wonder if they should give dating another try as high schoolers in this witty and heartfelt second-chance romance middle grade rom-com.
Eve and Andrew’s friendship barely survived a disastrous attempt at dating at the beginning of eighth grade. Now, one year, one ruined school event, and one grand gesture later, their friendship is solid thanks to the Rules for the Friendzone, which include:
No longing looks.
No hugs lasting longer than three seconds.
No kissing. Ever.
But when Eve impulsively breaks a rule just before the start of their freshman year, the delicate balance of being best friends who kind of dated is thrown completely off. The only thing to do as far as Eve is concerned is to rebuild the Friendzone stronger than ever. That would work perfectly if Andrew hadn’t suddenly realized that being just friends with Eve will never be enough for him…
Eve and Andrew’s friendship barely survived a disastrous attempt at dating at the beginning of eighth grade. Now, one year, one ruined school event, and one grand gesture later, their friendship is solid thanks to the Rules for the Friendzone, which include:
No longing looks.
No hugs lasting longer than three seconds.
No kissing. Ever.
But when Eve impulsively breaks a rule just before the start of their freshman year, the delicate balance of being best friends who kind of dated is thrown completely off. The only thing to do as far as Eve is concerned is to rebuild the Friendzone stronger than ever. That would work perfectly if Andrew hadn’t suddenly realized that being just friends with Eve will never be enough for him…
- GenresMiddle Grade
320 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication November 3, 2026
About the author
G.F. Miller
6 books123 followersG. F. Miller absolutely insists on a happy ending. Everything else is negotiable. She is living her Happily Ever After with the love of her life, three kids, two puppies, and some chickens. She cries at random times. She makes faces at herself in the mirror. She believes in the Oxford comma. And she’s always here for a dance party.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
upper-middle grade romance my beloved <3
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
After their epically horrible attempt at dating in 8th grade that was chronicled in Not If You Break Up With Me First, Eve and Andrew are trying their best to maintain a strict adherence to being friends, but it's hard because they both still have a crush on the other. Andrew has been away in Turkey and at band camp, and Eve has spent a lot of time training to make the high school cheer leading squad, but when they finally are able to spend some time together, it's awkward. To make it even more so, Eve kisses Andrew without asking his permission, and then laughs it off as an attempt to have a first kiss so it's not difficult when they date others. Andrew is more confused than ever and gets no help from an AI chatbot. Eve just kicks herself, avoids Andrew, and tries to follow her rules for how to stay in the friend zone. Complicating matters is the fact that Eve makes the cheerleading squad and struggles with some of the routines. She's afraid that the upper class man will judge her for hanging out with a member of the marching band, since there is a lot of bad blood between the two groups. Not only that, but Eve catches the eye of J.T., a very attractive senior football player. Andrew has to deal with Goth-like Claudette Ko (aka Koko) who flirts HARD with him and only reluctantly agrees to help him make Eve jealous after J.T. asks Eve to Homecoming at a disaster school bonfire that ends with the cheerleaders glitter bombing marching band members. Claudette goes to Game Galaxy with Andrew to try to crash Eve and J.T.'s first date, and agrees to go to Homecoming with him. J.T. is a good guy, and he can tell that Eve's affections lie elsewhere, but still goes to homecoming with her so she isn't left hanging and, as he tells her, he already bought a butter yellow shirt to match her dress. Andrew has a plan to win Eve back at the dance, but will it work?
Strengths: Miller must have a direct line to see tweens and teens in action, because this is pitch perfect. All the angst, all the longing, all of the miscommunication. Should it be this hard for Eve and Andrew to get together? No. But do they put up understandable road blocks for themselves? Absolutely. I didn't enjoy watching Andrew consult a chatbot for dating advice, but this is probably painfully realistic, as was the line (from the E ARC) "he made an appointment with himself to overthink this from midnight to two a.m."! Eve, who was the one wronged the most when they broke up after dating, holds the harder line in trying to keep Andrew as a friend, so it made sense that she dated J.T., who was genuinely lovely, although I did worry that he had evil motives as a senior dating a freshman. Koko was terrifying, but it was such fun to watch Andrew join forces with her. Even the fighting between the band members and the sports players was understandable, given that the marching band had horrible uniforms and the cheerleaders brand new ones. (Even though cheerleaders often have to purchase their own gear.) The ending is happy, so I suppose even saying that is a spoiler. Adored this even more than the first two.
Weaknesses: I think that Eve should have spent some time dating J.T., just from a life perspective. I loved that he wasn't a jerk; so many authors would have made him one. For the purposes of the story, it's good that she went back to Andrew, but realistically? Life doesn't work that way. Compare this to the ending of the original Wonder Years television show when the epilogue talks about how Winnie and Kevin went their separate ways. (Or not, because that aired in 1993. Sigh.)
What I really think: Miller's titles are terrifically popular in my library, so I have two of each book to keep up with demand. It's the sort of title that girls return to the library with their friend in tow who wants to check it out. Give to fans of Suzanne Nelson and Kasie West or, well, anybody!
After their epically horrible attempt at dating in 8th grade that was chronicled in Not If You Break Up With Me First, Eve and Andrew are trying their best to maintain a strict adherence to being friends, but it's hard because they both still have a crush on the other. Andrew has been away in Turkey and at band camp, and Eve has spent a lot of time training to make the high school cheer leading squad, but when they finally are able to spend some time together, it's awkward. To make it even more so, Eve kisses Andrew without asking his permission, and then laughs it off as an attempt to have a first kiss so it's not difficult when they date others. Andrew is more confused than ever and gets no help from an AI chatbot. Eve just kicks herself, avoids Andrew, and tries to follow her rules for how to stay in the friend zone. Complicating matters is the fact that Eve makes the cheerleading squad and struggles with some of the routines. She's afraid that the upper class man will judge her for hanging out with a member of the marching band, since there is a lot of bad blood between the two groups. Not only that, but Eve catches the eye of J.T., a very attractive senior football player. Andrew has to deal with Goth-like Claudette Ko (aka Koko) who flirts HARD with him and only reluctantly agrees to help him make Eve jealous after J.T. asks Eve to Homecoming at a disaster school bonfire that ends with the cheerleaders glitter bombing marching band members. Claudette goes to Game Galaxy with Andrew to try to crash Eve and J.T.'s first date, and agrees to go to Homecoming with him. J.T. is a good guy, and he can tell that Eve's affections lie elsewhere, but still goes to homecoming with her so she isn't left hanging and, as he tells her, he already bought a butter yellow shirt to match her dress. Andrew has a plan to win Eve back at the dance, but will it work?
Strengths: Miller must have a direct line to see tweens and teens in action, because this is pitch perfect. All the angst, all the longing, all of the miscommunication. Should it be this hard for Eve and Andrew to get together? No. But do they put up understandable road blocks for themselves? Absolutely. I didn't enjoy watching Andrew consult a chatbot for dating advice, but this is probably painfully realistic, as was the line (from the E ARC) "he made an appointment with himself to overthink this from midnight to two a.m."! Eve, who was the one wronged the most when they broke up after dating, holds the harder line in trying to keep Andrew as a friend, so it made sense that she dated J.T., who was genuinely lovely, although I did worry that he had evil motives as a senior dating a freshman. Koko was terrifying, but it was such fun to watch Andrew join forces with her. Even the fighting between the band members and the sports players was understandable, given that the marching band had horrible uniforms and the cheerleaders brand new ones. (Even though cheerleaders often have to purchase their own gear.) The ending is happy, so I suppose even saying that is a spoiler. Adored this even more than the first two.
Weaknesses: I think that Eve should have spent some time dating J.T., just from a life perspective. I loved that he wasn't a jerk; so many authors would have made him one. For the purposes of the story, it's good that she went back to Andrew, but realistically? Life doesn't work that way. Compare this to the ending of the original Wonder Years television show when the epilogue talks about how Winnie and Kevin went their separate ways. (Or not, because that aired in 1993. Sigh.)
What I really think: Miller's titles are terrifically popular in my library, so I have two of each book to keep up with demand. It's the sort of title that girls return to the library with their friend in tow who wants to check it out. Give to fans of Suzanne Nelson and Kasie West or, well, anybody!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to NetGalley and Aladdin (an imprint of Simon & Schuster) for an eARC of this book! All opinions are my own!
I read What if You Fall for Me First and Not if You Break Up with Me First, and while I honestly loved Holden and Sophia's story the most, I was still interested in Maybe We're Meant to Last and Andrew and Eve's future, which is something that is changing as they head to high school.
Short synopsis: Andrew and Eve (best friends for years and next-door neighbors) decided in eighth grade that they would just be friends. But as they begin high school, it's becoming harder for both of them to keep their relationship in the friend zone. With new friends, sports, and rivalries awaiting them in high school, will they come together, or stay apart?
I loved the details about cheer and band (things I have done to an extent) and liked seeing Sophia and Holden snippets. I felt a little bad for Eve as it turned out that her old friend group from junior high was slowly coming apart. Nonetheless, she made new friends and tried new things, taking the reader along the way.
Andrew's scenes at the marching band were very interesting, and it was cool to see other characters from the previous books there.
The scene at the game center was hilarious (that eight-year-old really doesn't like Andrew!) and Claudette was great, as always!
I definitely want to see G.F. Miller's write a book about Claudette!
It can be hard to find books on the older end of the Middle Grade spectrum (otherwise known as Upper Middle Grade) targeted towards 8th-10th graders, so G.F. Miller's novels are always a pleasure!
Overall,
5 Stars!
I read What if You Fall for Me First and Not if You Break Up with Me First, and while I honestly loved Holden and Sophia's story the most, I was still interested in Maybe We're Meant to Last and Andrew and Eve's future, which is something that is changing as they head to high school.
Short synopsis: Andrew and Eve (best friends for years and next-door neighbors) decided in eighth grade that they would just be friends. But as they begin high school, it's becoming harder for both of them to keep their relationship in the friend zone. With new friends, sports, and rivalries awaiting them in high school, will they come together, or stay apart?
I loved the details about cheer and band (things I have done to an extent) and liked seeing Sophia and Holden snippets. I felt a little bad for Eve as it turned out that her old friend group from junior high was slowly coming apart. Nonetheless, she made new friends and tried new things, taking the reader along the way.
Andrew's scenes at the marching band were very interesting, and it was cool to see other characters from the previous books there.
The scene at the game center was hilarious (that eight-year-old really doesn't like Andrew!) and Claudette was great, as always!
I definitely want to see G.F. Miller's write a book about Claudette!
It can be hard to find books on the older end of the Middle Grade spectrum (otherwise known as Upper Middle Grade) targeted towards 8th-10th graders, so G.F. Miller's novels are always a pleasure!
Overall,
5 Stars!
Review of advance copy received from Author
IT WAS SO GOOD. Pre order it, gift it to your best friend, tell your librarian. This is the YA book of the year! I was sent an ARC for this book and I am absolutely in love with G.F. Millers writing but this book totally made me realize she’s so good at capturing the essence of awkward teens. Her use of slang was hilarious and the boys were extremely accurate. And the ending? PERFECT. It’s the ending we needed after the first ending that Eve and Andrew got. Although I feel like I’m aging out of the vibe, I had an amazing time and I love these clean romances that she gifts us!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews