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Mr Maybe
At twenty-seven, Libby thinks there's a lot to be said for a rich husband. So when Nick comes along - lovely, funny, handsome Nick, who has no money whatsoever, lives in a grotty bedsit and thinks the perfect night out consists of the pub and his mates - she decides he's only good for a fling. No strings attached.
Investment banker Ed, on the other hand, could possibly be the answer. His house in Regent's Park makes up for his hideous moustache and she can probably overlook his irritating habits, and anyway, he's crazy about her. But does Libby really know what she needs? Is she just in love with being loved? Or is she loving the lifestyle, rather than the man?
Investment banker Ed, on the other hand, could possibly be the answer. His house in Regent's Park makes up for his hideous moustache and she can probably overlook his irritating habits, and anyway, he's crazy about her. But does Libby really know what she needs? Is she just in love with being loved? Or is she loving the lifestyle, rather than the man?
425 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
490 people are currently reading
64938 people want to read
About the author
Jane Green
75 books8,750 followersJane Green's twenty first novel, Sister Stardust, is out April 5th 2022.
She is the author of eighteen previous New York Times Bestselling novels, and known as one of the world's leading authors in women's fiction, with over ten million books in print, and translations in over 25 languages.
Previous novels have included The Beach House, Second Chance, Jemima J, and Tempting Fate.
She joined the ABC News team to write their first enhanced digital book— about the history of Royal marriages, then joined ABC News as a live correspondent covering Prince William’s wedding to Kate Middleton.
A former journalist in the UK, she has had her own radio show on BBC Radio London, and is a regular contributor on radio and TV, including as well as regularly appearing on television shows including Good Morning America, The Martha Stewart show, and The Today Show.
Together with writing books and blogs, she contributes to various publications, both online and print, including anthologies and novellas, and features for The Huffington Post, The Sunday Times, Cosmopolitan and Self. She has taught at writers conferences, and does regular keynote speaking, and has a weekly column in The Lady magazine, England’s longest running weekly magazine.
A graduate of the French Culinary Institute in New York, Green is bringing out her first cookbook: Good Taste , with Berkley in October 2016.
She is a storyteller for The Moth radio hour on NPR,
and lives in Westport, Connecticut with her husband and their blended family. When she is not writing, cooking, gardening, filling her house with friends and herding chickens, she is usually thanking the Lord for caffeine-filled energy drinks.
Jane's Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jane-Gr...
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
She is the author of eighteen previous New York Times Bestselling novels, and known as one of the world's leading authors in women's fiction, with over ten million books in print, and translations in over 25 languages.
Previous novels have included The Beach House, Second Chance, Jemima J, and Tempting Fate.
She joined the ABC News team to write their first enhanced digital book— about the history of Royal marriages, then joined ABC News as a live correspondent covering Prince William’s wedding to Kate Middleton.
A former journalist in the UK, she has had her own radio show on BBC Radio London, and is a regular contributor on radio and TV, including as well as regularly appearing on television shows including Good Morning America, The Martha Stewart show, and The Today Show.
Together with writing books and blogs, she contributes to various publications, both online and print, including anthologies and novellas, and features for The Huffington Post, The Sunday Times, Cosmopolitan and Self. She has taught at writers conferences, and does regular keynote speaking, and has a weekly column in The Lady magazine, England’s longest running weekly magazine.
A graduate of the French Culinary Institute in New York, Green is bringing out her first cookbook: Good Taste , with Berkley in October 2016.
She is a storyteller for The Moth radio hour on NPR,
and lives in Westport, Connecticut with her husband and their blended family. When she is not writing, cooking, gardening, filling her house with friends and herding chickens, she is usually thanking the Lord for caffeine-filled energy drinks.
Jane's Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jane-Gr...
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,038 reviews
June 21, 2007
This book made me quit my book club.
August 30, 2011
The best thing about this book was that it makes you realize that anyone really CAN get published! They should really file it under "inspiration".
I know, I know, I got what I deserved. I just wanted a fun summer read and I loved her book Jemima J, but this was *complete* garbage. The characters were shallow and unlikeable (at one point the main character realizes she is literally prostituting herself out). She is such a self-satisfied whiner that I found myself actively rooting *against* her.
And just when you can't hate them more, an awkward, explicit, and completely unnecessary sex scene is thrown in for good measure.
I wish this had been a Choose Your Own Adventure where I could show up in the final scene and shoo the guy away (I won't spoil it and tell you who the guy is, because if after this you still read it, you deserve to suffer).
I want to throw this book away but maybe I'll save it as a birthday gift for someone I really hate.
Blech.
I know, I know, I got what I deserved. I just wanted a fun summer read and I loved her book Jemima J, but this was *complete* garbage. The characters were shallow and unlikeable (at one point the main character realizes she is literally prostituting herself out). She is such a self-satisfied whiner that I found myself actively rooting *against* her.
And just when you can't hate them more, an awkward, explicit, and completely unnecessary sex scene is thrown in for good measure.
I wish this had been a Choose Your Own Adventure where I could show up in the final scene and shoo the guy away (I won't spoil it and tell you who the guy is, because if after this you still read it, you deserve to suffer).
I want to throw this book away but maybe I'll save it as a birthday gift for someone I really hate.
Blech.
May 30, 2017
This was one Jane Green book from her chick lit days I never read. I wondered why I never bought this and now I know why. I must have read the sample and said no thank you. That was a smart decision. I am kind of horrified at how bad this book was. The main character was awful, so were two of her love interests. Her friend was having issues (serious ones) that she ignored. Her mother made Mrs. Bennett in Pride and Prejudice look like a saint. I mean my God. That's a terrible bar to be lower than. So why did I keep reading? I kept wondering how bad could it get. It got really bad.
Told in the first person, we have Libby Mason who is looking for love in all the wrong places. Libby is told constantly by her terrible mother that she's not worth a damn until she gets married and married to a man with money. And though Libby has dated (and frankly based on the way she acts, I can see why men left her butt) she is still looking to date a rich man who can keep her in designer clothes and a million dollar mansion. Working in publicity has Libby next to the wealthy, but she's not wealthy.
When she goes out with friends, she runs into Nick (who she has met before). She and Nick have insta-chemistry/lust in this one and though Libby knows it won't work out, thinks she is capable of just having a fling with Nick (she's not).
Nick is everything that Libby doesn't want, he's jobless, poor, and doesn't see a problem with dressing like he's homeless. But you know, hot sex, yadda yadda yadda. When Libby starts to catch feelings for Nick, he realizes they should stop while they are ahead. Libby then ends up meeting her rich man and wonders if he is the one for her.
I just can't with this book. Nick is a jerk and so are his friends. Libby is a jerk too though so I don't know who wins that contest. I have never read a book about so many unlikable people in my life. And the only one I felt sorry for was the guy Libby ends up dating after Nick, Ed. Ed wines and dines Libby and she's angry that he's bad in bed, has a gross mustache, etc. but is still happy to get all the flowers and presents the guy showers onto her. Her mother practically offers herself up to him if he will keep dating Libby.
I think in the end I should be happy about follow your heart or something, but wow they all suck.
Told in the first person, we have Libby Mason who is looking for love in all the wrong places. Libby is told constantly by her terrible mother that she's not worth a damn until she gets married and married to a man with money. And though Libby has dated (and frankly based on the way she acts, I can see why men left her butt) she is still looking to date a rich man who can keep her in designer clothes and a million dollar mansion. Working in publicity has Libby next to the wealthy, but she's not wealthy.
When she goes out with friends, she runs into Nick (who she has met before). She and Nick have insta-chemistry/lust in this one and though Libby knows it won't work out, thinks she is capable of just having a fling with Nick (she's not).
Nick is everything that Libby doesn't want, he's jobless, poor, and doesn't see a problem with dressing like he's homeless. But you know, hot sex, yadda yadda yadda. When Libby starts to catch feelings for Nick, he realizes they should stop while they are ahead. Libby then ends up meeting her rich man and wonders if he is the one for her.
I just can't with this book. Nick is a jerk and so are his friends. Libby is a jerk too though so I don't know who wins that contest. I have never read a book about so many unlikable people in my life. And the only one I felt sorry for was the guy Libby ends up dating after Nick, Ed. Ed wines and dines Libby and she's angry that he's bad in bed, has a gross mustache, etc. but is still happy to get all the flowers and presents the guy showers onto her. Her mother practically offers herself up to him if he will keep dating Libby.
I think in the end I should be happy about follow your heart or something, but wow they all suck.
October 10, 2022
If you're looking for a easy sunbed read that Jane Green is your woman, I really enjoy her books, chick lit at its best!
Four stars.
Four stars.
June 1, 2013
This book was utter garbage, how do books like this get published. Firstly I didn't really warm to any of the characters and I couldn't stand the main character Libby; I found her really shallow, unpleasant and materialistic. She really proves how feminism hasn't changed anything if woman are still intent on marrying rich men. I didn't care for any of the characters, especially Nick, the guy who Libby is in love with. I didn't warm to him at all, he's just your classic commitment phobe who can't make his mind up. I really didn't like him. The only character I felt slightly sorry for was Ed, the rich guy who Libby pursues and uses his for money, whilst he genuinely adores her. Secondly I found the story too long and at times dragged out a bit too much. I found the book rather yawnsome and it wasnt that intriguing. I only read it quickly because I dont finish books very often and I wanted to get it over and done with. I skimmed a bit at times because I just found it dull. It's not very well written at all; its easy to read but I found the style sloppy. So my conclusion is that this book is forgettable trash which I wouldn't recommend to anyone.
Grade: E
Grade: E
April 23, 2008
Here's the usual dilemma in chick-lit novels: A woman struggles to choose between a wealthy man she has no connection with and a poor man she loves. She chooses the poor man and he ends up already being or quickly becoming wealthy. We're all happy. The end. But what if the woman chooses the poor man and, goodness gracious, he remains poor (but lovable). What happens then? I know, but I'm not telling.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 2, 2011
If you want poignancy, you won't get that in this book. This is your average chick literature, with a protagonist whose only goal in mind is to end up with the guy of her dreams.
Now, you may be thinking, why the fuck do I like this book? For starters, I have already breached below my expectations for a book when it comes to chick literature. I already expect a common plot, a protagonist with an I'm-ugly-as-fuck self-esteem and some twisted, completely shallow "hindrance" why the protagonist won't be with the man of his dreams. So when I read this, I didn't expect depth at all.
I cried twice in this book mainly because it borders on something most of us have experienced so many times in life. PAIN. I cried with Libby when Nick left her, albeit he genuinely likes her. This is something that I experienced in my life, someone leaving me even though he still loved me and all that jazz. I cried with Libby when Cat accompanied Nick to a party thrown by Sal and Paul. Now, seeing the love of your life with another woman also takes the edge on the pain scale.
I guess I'm a huge romantic who's hardwired for drama. That's why I gave it four stars.
Now, you may be thinking, why the fuck do I like this book? For starters, I have already breached below my expectations for a book when it comes to chick literature. I already expect a common plot, a protagonist with an I'm-ugly-as-fuck self-esteem and some twisted, completely shallow "hindrance" why the protagonist won't be with the man of his dreams. So when I read this, I didn't expect depth at all.
I cried twice in this book mainly because it borders on something most of us have experienced so many times in life. PAIN. I cried with Libby when Nick left her, albeit he genuinely likes her. This is something that I experienced in my life, someone leaving me even though he still loved me and all that jazz. I cried with Libby when Cat accompanied Nick to a party thrown by Sal and Paul. Now, seeing the love of your life with another woman also takes the edge on the pain scale.
I guess I'm a huge romantic who's hardwired for drama. That's why I gave it four stars.
January 23, 2010
I don’t know what to expect when I first picked up this novel. Jane Green was not one of the authors that I’m familiar with so I thought it is good to try something new. Sadly to say though, the result was rather frustrating.
The book started off OK but once I passed the first hundred-page, I literally start to yawn. The predictability of the plots and some annoying characters really turned off my interest but still, I continued reading in hope that there might be something that could spark my interest back on. Nevertheless, nothing really happen other than me getting more and more annoyed with the main character, Libby. Her hopeless, indecisive manner truly crawled under my skin and the way she measured a guy by the stack of money in his pocket was downright sickening. Even though she was just a fictional character, I do not think that it is wise to make a woman looks this daft.
So, needless to say, I am very disappointed with this book and will definitely not going to recommend this book to anyone.
The book started off OK but once I passed the first hundred-page, I literally start to yawn. The predictability of the plots and some annoying characters really turned off my interest but still, I continued reading in hope that there might be something that could spark my interest back on. Nevertheless, nothing really happen other than me getting more and more annoyed with the main character, Libby. Her hopeless, indecisive manner truly crawled under my skin and the way she measured a guy by the stack of money in his pocket was downright sickening. Even though she was just a fictional character, I do not think that it is wise to make a woman looks this daft.
So, needless to say, I am very disappointed with this book and will definitely not going to recommend this book to anyone.
September 20, 2015
The first quarter of the book was good, you get into the story and want to know what will happen… then in the middle part I would say for half of the book I had a very strong sense of déjà-vu with another book I’ve read this year, it was a carbon copy of the story, but checking the publication dates Mr. Maybe was written first so I guess it was the other way around and the Sophie part of “I wish I were you” was the same story as this book, it only upset me because I really felt like reading the same book twice in a short time, I wish I had read this one first.
I have mixed feeling about this book, on one side it was an easy romantic read, on the other the main character is a bit too clueless and the author gave her an easy way out, i.e. no-money-no-job-on-the-dole-lives-in-a-dump Nick turns out to be upper middle class and a published author… mmm what if the one you love really is no-money-no-job-on-the-dole-lives-in-a-dump ?
I have mixed feeling about this book, on one side it was an easy romantic read, on the other the main character is a bit too clueless and the author gave her an easy way out, i.e. no-money-no-job-on-the-dole-lives-in-a-dump Nick turns out to be upper middle class and a published author… mmm what if the one you love really is no-money-no-job-on-the-dole-lives-in-a-dump ?
October 17, 2015
I tried to get back to my Rom-Com, chick-lit, Sophie Kinsella style books but I guess I'm way too deep into other genres. This didn't cut it. It was not a hugely disappointing read, just s forgettable, you kind of dread the time you've invested in reading it.
id-rather-kiss-drake
February 5, 2023
I hate books which make 'cheating' , 'promiscuity' look like fun and glamor.
I know it's fiction , but it gives people ideas and then men start to look at women a certain way.
I'm sorry if you disagree, but most of the internet talks shit about us ladies. They 'assume' , she's a woman, she's probably a gold-digger.
It's no surprise that we are living in a degenerate society where not a lick of morality exists.
March 27, 2011
Over the years I’ve come to accept the fact that sometimes I’m in the mood to read unapologetic fluff. For me, that usually means a British rom/com filled with women who wear Jigsaw suits to their jobs as television presenters, who eat takeaway curries in their garden flats and take mini cab’s to meet their girlfriends at smart pubs at the weekend. I’ve always enjoyed these books with their pleasant and predictable plots where funny, slightly shallow, girls make messes of their love-lives, fight with their trilling mums, count on their friends, and end up with a grumpy by ardent Mr. Right. They kiss and my girlie brain flashes back to Darcy and Elizabeth (and Darcy and Bridget for that matter…) and the book ends on happily ever after.
Jane Green’s Mr. Maybe is precisely that sort of book, only I hated it. There was one major missing element: A likeable protagonist. The “heroine” is Libby, a young woman so shallow and so money grubbing that she is ready to walk down the aisle with a man who she finds not only physically repulsive but irritating and unlikeable. He is, of course, in Libby’s parlance “massively wealthy.” Libby’s better advisors- her best friend, her brother, and her father- tell Libby gently, and then not so gently, that this man is NOT for her. Only her heartless, dim mother thinks that Libby is making a wise decision. Of course, Green provides some explanation of Libby’s delusion- her heart was recently broken, she’s never had someone “treat her well….” But still. She feels nauseas when this man kisses her, and smothered by his attention. Of course, there is another man in the picture: Funny, sexy, kind, but, of course, tragically poor Nick. I don’t think I need to connect the dots for you plot-wise- it’s not exactly a nail biter.
This book left me irritated at its pathetic protagonist and at the writer who created her. Looking back though, I wonder is this book was really any worse than Green’s other books that I read and liked about 9 years ago? Is Libby was really any shallower than say Becky Bloomwood, or even Miss Jones herself? It may be that now that I’m in my early 30’s (ugh) rather than my early 20’s, these fairy tale romances between naïve women and stolid men don’t work for my anymore. I may have…finally… outgrown them. It seems impossible, but here we are. So it looks like I’m in the market for a new kind of fluff. Maybe cat themed mysteries? Or novels about quilting societies? Or what’s that one about quirky, church-going townspeople? Hmmm…. Let me know. I’m open to suggestions.
Jane Green’s Mr. Maybe is precisely that sort of book, only I hated it. There was one major missing element: A likeable protagonist. The “heroine” is Libby, a young woman so shallow and so money grubbing that she is ready to walk down the aisle with a man who she finds not only physically repulsive but irritating and unlikeable. He is, of course, in Libby’s parlance “massively wealthy.” Libby’s better advisors- her best friend, her brother, and her father- tell Libby gently, and then not so gently, that this man is NOT for her. Only her heartless, dim mother thinks that Libby is making a wise decision. Of course, Green provides some explanation of Libby’s delusion- her heart was recently broken, she’s never had someone “treat her well….” But still. She feels nauseas when this man kisses her, and smothered by his attention. Of course, there is another man in the picture: Funny, sexy, kind, but, of course, tragically poor Nick. I don’t think I need to connect the dots for you plot-wise- it’s not exactly a nail biter.
This book left me irritated at its pathetic protagonist and at the writer who created her. Looking back though, I wonder is this book was really any worse than Green’s other books that I read and liked about 9 years ago? Is Libby was really any shallower than say Becky Bloomwood, or even Miss Jones herself? It may be that now that I’m in my early 30’s (ugh) rather than my early 20’s, these fairy tale romances between naïve women and stolid men don’t work for my anymore. I may have…finally… outgrown them. It seems impossible, but here we are. So it looks like I’m in the market for a new kind of fluff. Maybe cat themed mysteries? Or novels about quilting societies? Or what’s that one about quirky, church-going townspeople? Hmmm…. Let me know. I’m open to suggestions.
January 26, 2018
I have wanted to read this book for like ever and I was so happy that I finally got it! However, I just wish that I ended up liking it a lot more. Now don't get me wrong - I liked it but the MC just rubbed me the wrong way for most of the book. Okay, the entire book.
Libby is pretty much a self-centered bitch. However, she is a well-rounded self-centered bitch because she's also shallow and hypocritical asfuck. I just wish she wasn't who she was the entire book and then maybe I would've liked her - but.. uh.. yeah.. I totally didn't.
Then there's Nick, who is the love of Libby's black heart. Yeah, I didn't like him either. Heck I wouldn't have cared one bit if he just magically died from something, like the plague. Honestly, if the book didn't have Libby or Nick and had some more likable and relatable characters then Mr. Maybe would've gotten a lot more stars and a way better review.
I feel like I need a happy book or happy juice to make my day shine a little bit brighter.
Libby is pretty much a self-centered bitch. However, she is a well-rounded self-centered bitch because she's also shallow and hypocritical as
Then there's Nick, who is the love of Libby's black heart. Yeah, I didn't like him either. Heck I wouldn't have cared one bit if he just magically died from something, like the plague. Honestly, if the book didn't have Libby or Nick and had some more likable and relatable characters then Mr. Maybe would've gotten a lot more stars and a way better review.
I feel like I need a happy book or happy juice to make my day shine a little bit brighter.
August 8, 2014
To Libby Mason, Mr. Right has always meant Mr. Rich. A twenty seven-year-old publicist, she's barely able to afford her fashionable and fabulous lifestyle and often has to foot the bill for dates with Struggling Writer Nick, a sexy but perpetually strapped-for-cash guy she's dating (no commitments – really). So when Ed, Britain's wealthiest but stodgiest bachelor, enters the picture, her idea of the fairy tale romance is turned on it's head.
I was Libby Mason a few years ago so I think Jane Green needs to send me a big check for copying my life and making it into a great book.
I was Libby Mason a few years ago so I think Jane Green needs to send me a big check for copying my life and making it into a great book.
February 21, 2008
The author is interesting but parts of this book were just painful to read. Ever had the urge to haul off and smack a fictional character? You might here. Also, if you are considering reading this book, you should know that the author is British, and there is some terms that are not common in the US.
February 28, 2021
I don't like Libby. She lies and deceives and goes back and forth not really knowing what she wants. If I were single I would stay as far away from her as possible. There are several redeeming quotes in the book:
"I want someone who will adore me so much that they cannot even walk past me without touching me in some way."
Really don't like the next one "We'll make arrangements and then if something better comes up we'll cancel the first arrangements without even thinking about whether we're upsetting anyone."
For me - once I make a commitment and put it on my calendar that is what I do. Hate disappointing anyone. And hate being disappointed because someone changes their mind. So I don't like the main character in this book. Of course I don't like Ed either, and Nick also.
"I want someone who will adore me so much that they cannot even walk past me without touching me in some way."
Really don't like the next one "We'll make arrangements and then if something better comes up we'll cancel the first arrangements without even thinking about whether we're upsetting anyone."
For me - once I make a commitment and put it on my calendar that is what I do. Hate disappointing anyone. And hate being disappointed because someone changes their mind. So I don't like the main character in this book. Of course I don't like Ed either, and Nick also.
March 27, 2009
Check out the cover, wouldn't he at least be Mr. Right Now?
So Libby is 27 and single and wanting to have a better half. After meeting Nick as more than an acquaintance the two get a hot fling going on. He came to her flat on the first night and took a bath and they did it right there in her tub. I almost needed a cold shower after this chapter! Needless to say I was hooked from the beginning.
Libby you rock. I love how Jane Green writes the characters thoughts and then what the character says and how Libby does often speak her mind. Girl after my own heart.
Alas the gorgeous Nick, who is an amazing kisser and even hotter in bed, or wherever they are when they do it, tells her from the start he is not ready for a relationship. And so it goes and before they know it they are in a non relationship relationship so Nick has to end it because he is not ready for what is already in their face.
Of course Libby is devastated. He is gorgeous, a great lover, and becoming a great friend, and gets along great with her friends. This was supposed to be a fun fling but when everything feels so right why can't it be the right time for a relationship?
Then her bff takes her out because the best way to get over someone naturally is to get under someone else. A man by the name of Ed gives Libby his card and asks to take her to dinner sometime. He phones, she's not quite sure but of course she accepts when she learns hes beyond rich and one of London's most eligible bachelors.
Its predictable, of course shes always wanted to be the rich man's wife and here he is, but can she ever get gorgeous broke Nick off her mind? Um not after that bath, neither can I hehehe. So its not about the men but our dearest Libby and how she goes through all the emotions all of us single girls go through. A great fun read which I know is always described as a "beach read" but in the beginnings of spring why can't everyone just accept us girls love these easy to read stories any time of year? Sorry to say goodbye to Libby but there's so much of me in her and all us single ladies it really isn't a true goodbye.
Very fun read!!!
So Libby is 27 and single and wanting to have a better half. After meeting Nick as more than an acquaintance the two get a hot fling going on. He came to her flat on the first night and took a bath and they did it right there in her tub. I almost needed a cold shower after this chapter! Needless to say I was hooked from the beginning.
Libby you rock. I love how Jane Green writes the characters thoughts and then what the character says and how Libby does often speak her mind. Girl after my own heart.
Alas the gorgeous Nick, who is an amazing kisser and even hotter in bed, or wherever they are when they do it, tells her from the start he is not ready for a relationship. And so it goes and before they know it they are in a non relationship relationship so Nick has to end it because he is not ready for what is already in their face.
Of course Libby is devastated. He is gorgeous, a great lover, and becoming a great friend, and gets along great with her friends. This was supposed to be a fun fling but when everything feels so right why can't it be the right time for a relationship?
Then her bff takes her out because the best way to get over someone naturally is to get under someone else. A man by the name of Ed gives Libby his card and asks to take her to dinner sometime. He phones, she's not quite sure but of course she accepts when she learns hes beyond rich and one of London's most eligible bachelors.
Its predictable, of course shes always wanted to be the rich man's wife and here he is, but can she ever get gorgeous broke Nick off her mind? Um not after that bath, neither can I hehehe. So its not about the men but our dearest Libby and how she goes through all the emotions all of us single girls go through. A great fun read which I know is always described as a "beach read" but in the beginnings of spring why can't everyone just accept us girls love these easy to read stories any time of year? Sorry to say goodbye to Libby but there's so much of me in her and all us single ladies it really isn't a true goodbye.
Very fun read!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
March 27, 2011I read this book during my obsession with British authors period, along with coming off of a break up. And let me tell you, it didn't disappoint! This book is wildly funny and really tells the story of dating during your twenties. Libby, who has no idea what is important in a relationship, is a loveable heroine. She becomes strong and you can feel yourself falling in love with her. The journey she takes is one that allows the reader to re-examine their own dating history. Pointing out that everyone has Nick and there's always an Ed around the corner. Her crazy stories and escapades are not only hilarious but begin to become part of your own life. Suddenly, you become Libby and your best friend becomes Jules. You are able to identify with both love interests and your heart breaks every time Libby's does.
This book is recommended for anyone who needs to remember the importance of growing up and what matters in a relationship. Libby is a sort of every woman and really becomes identifiable. She weaves a tapestry of hilarity and love. Sit down with a big cup of tea, your favorite snack and enjoy!
This book is recommended for anyone who needs to remember the importance of growing up and what matters in a relationship. Libby is a sort of every woman and really becomes identifiable. She weaves a tapestry of hilarity and love. Sit down with a big cup of tea, your favorite snack and enjoy!
July 7, 2015
"I’ve come home. It’s difficult to explain, but there is something so familiar, so comfortable, so right about this moment, it suddenly feels like I am exactly where I should be, at exactly the right time, with exactly the right person."
I first read Mr. Maybe during my major Brit Lit-love fest of the early-2000s. More than a decade later...and I'm happy to say that I still love this book.
Mr. Maybe is more women's fic (or chick lit, as we used to call it then) than romance. While yes, Libby does experience passion and infatuation and ultimately love, this is the story of a young woman finding her own self-worth and learning what she and her heart deserves.
Mr. Maybe is early, yet classic, Jane Green. The protagonist is an unapologetically real and honest woman who comes to life-changing realizations about herself, there is an excellent cast of secondary characters; there is a man who is not from a fairy tale, but is winning in his own way; and there is laughter. Mr. Maybe was just as wonderful as I remembered. I had a wonderful time reading it again all these years later. And wow, what more could I ask for?
I first read Mr. Maybe during my major Brit Lit-love fest of the early-2000s. More than a decade later...and I'm happy to say that I still love this book.
Mr. Maybe is more women's fic (or chick lit, as we used to call it then) than romance. While yes, Libby does experience passion and infatuation and ultimately love, this is the story of a young woman finding her own self-worth and learning what she and her heart deserves.
Mr. Maybe is early, yet classic, Jane Green. The protagonist is an unapologetically real and honest woman who comes to life-changing realizations about herself, there is an excellent cast of secondary characters; there is a man who is not from a fairy tale, but is winning in his own way; and there is laughter. Mr. Maybe was just as wonderful as I remembered. I had a wonderful time reading it again all these years later. And wow, what more could I ask for?
October 16, 2016
My Life in 10 Books: #3
When I was eight years old, my parents took me and my siblings to stay with friends in Holland. The pretty suburban neighbourhood and their large three-floor house was a completely different, bourgeois world to us. We explored that house like it was a palace, creating games and imagining worlds on every level. I felt like Lucy from The Chronicles of Narnia and fully expected to find a doorway to another world in one of the many rooms.
So, naturally, I was nosy as fuck. I had also recently discovered my passion for reading, which was almost as great as my passion for praise from the adults who witnessed me reading. My memory is not perfect, but I swear sometimes I pretended to read books way above my reading level, basking in the warm, smug feeling of smartassery.
Then, one day, I found a box of books in this house. I did not know the difference between trashy genre fiction and classics at this point, but I did know the difference between a children's book and an adult's book - so, of course, I picked up the latter. The book I pulled out of this box was Mr. Maybe by Jane Green.
Let me tell you now - it is a terrible book. Shallow, poorly-written, and with a plot almost too cliche to believe. The main character - Libby - is an annoying, self-obsessed, frankly awful character who is so intent on bagging a rich husband that she will date a man she finds neither attractive nor remotely likable in order to get access to his bank account. Then Nick - a cute, poor guy who's great in bed - comes along and (OMG would you believe it!) she falls for him and changes her ways.
Yeah, it's that terrible. However, sadly for me, it is one of the few books that will probably forever stay in my head. It might actually be, also sadly, the first "adult" book I ever read. I still remember, quite distinctly, the oral sex scene in the bathtub. I remember, vividly, feeling at first completely shocked, then intrigued by this strange behaviour, then guilty - clearly this was not the kind of book my parents would applaud me for reading! Goddammit!
Thanks to my mother's "ask me anything" policy, I already knew about the mechanics of sex. I knew the real names for the parts and I knew what went where and that women have periods, men have erections, and this is how babies happen. But the "ask me anything" policy only works if you know the questions to ask. I did not, for example, know about the feelings involved in sex. I did not know about the excitement, the desire, and sometimes the love, that is all a part of it.
Some people will say these are not things for an eight year old to know. Perhaps they are right. I can't say for sure what person I would have been if I'd never read this book. Maybe it screwed me up. Maybe it's the reason I like sweet, silly men who dance around and don't take themselves too seriously. Oh no.
Either way, this post is a story, not a message. My life, not a metaphor. I did read this terrible book, and it was... eye-opening XD
When I was eight years old, my parents took me and my siblings to stay with friends in Holland. The pretty suburban neighbourhood and their large three-floor house was a completely different, bourgeois world to us. We explored that house like it was a palace, creating games and imagining worlds on every level. I felt like Lucy from The Chronicles of Narnia and fully expected to find a doorway to another world in one of the many rooms.
So, naturally, I was nosy as fuck. I had also recently discovered my passion for reading, which was almost as great as my passion for praise from the adults who witnessed me reading. My memory is not perfect, but I swear sometimes I pretended to read books way above my reading level, basking in the warm, smug feeling of smartassery.
Then, one day, I found a box of books in this house. I did not know the difference between trashy genre fiction and classics at this point, but I did know the difference between a children's book and an adult's book - so, of course, I picked up the latter. The book I pulled out of this box was Mr. Maybe by Jane Green.
Let me tell you now - it is a terrible book. Shallow, poorly-written, and with a plot almost too cliche to believe. The main character - Libby - is an annoying, self-obsessed, frankly awful character who is so intent on bagging a rich husband that she will date a man she finds neither attractive nor remotely likable in order to get access to his bank account. Then Nick - a cute, poor guy who's great in bed - comes along and (OMG would you believe it!) she falls for him and changes her ways.
Yeah, it's that terrible. However, sadly for me, it is one of the few books that will probably forever stay in my head. It might actually be, also sadly, the first "adult" book I ever read. I still remember, quite distinctly, the oral sex scene in the bathtub. I remember, vividly, feeling at first completely shocked, then intrigued by this strange behaviour, then guilty - clearly this was not the kind of book my parents would applaud me for reading! Goddammit!
Thanks to my mother's "ask me anything" policy, I already knew about the mechanics of sex. I knew the real names for the parts and I knew what went where and that women have periods, men have erections, and this is how babies happen. But the "ask me anything" policy only works if you know the questions to ask. I did not, for example, know about the feelings involved in sex. I did not know about the excitement, the desire, and sometimes the love, that is all a part of it.
Some people will say these are not things for an eight year old to know. Perhaps they are right. I can't say for sure what person I would have been if I'd never read this book. Maybe it screwed me up. Maybe it's the reason I like sweet, silly men who dance around and don't take themselves too seriously. Oh no.
Either way, this post is a story, not a message. My life, not a metaphor. I did read this terrible book, and it was... eye-opening XD
July 16, 2016
This is not one of JG's best, but it sort of grows on you over time. And this really is a clever little book and insightfully too. How often have got into something that wasn't right for us because we wanted it so terribly to be right?
I could understand Libby's dilemma. Which woman doesn't want a guy who's good in bed and has the financial backing to help? And Libby isn't a bimbo. She has a job of her own that she works really hard at, and also happens to adore fashion.
I really didn't like Nick in the first part of the book. He wasn't her equal in many ways, as she spent most of her time paying for the dates and mothering him. Also, it was pretty obvious that he wanted the fun but wasn't ready for commitment.
Ed was there to salve her ego. But even though he was quite a snob, and had zero personality, and was really boring. But I could understand her going out with him as I've dated guys like Ed. it's the curiosity factor.
Libby is unapologetically honest about being shallow. She likes nice things and she wants to be treated nice. She's also honest about her insecurities, and trying to adapt to each new boyfriend like a chameleon to get him to love her.
It's really about loving herself, as cliched as it is.
And honestly, her mum is horrible.
I could understand Libby's dilemma. Which woman doesn't want a guy who's good in bed and has the financial backing to help? And Libby isn't a bimbo. She has a job of her own that she works really hard at, and also happens to adore fashion.
I really didn't like Nick in the first part of the book. He wasn't her equal in many ways, as she spent most of her time paying for the dates and mothering him. Also, it was pretty obvious that he wanted the fun but wasn't ready for commitment.
Ed was there to salve her ego. But even though he was quite a snob, and had zero personality, and was really boring. But I could understand her going out with him as I've dated guys like Ed. it's the curiosity factor.
Libby is unapologetically honest about being shallow. She likes nice things and she wants to be treated nice. She's also honest about her insecurities, and trying to adapt to each new boyfriend like a chameleon to get him to love her.
It's really about loving herself, as cliched as it is.
And honestly, her mum is horrible.
September 18, 2010
Second time I've read the book - not exactly intentional. i grabbed it as a summer book when breezing through the library. Realized a chapter or two in that I'd read it before.
Woman wants to meet Mr. Right. Meets Mr. Hot who makes clear he does not want long term relationship. She thinks she won't get emotionally involved, but she does. He breaks up with her. She immediately meets Mr. Moneybags - one of London's most eligible bachelor's. Her mother starts planning the wedding. He proposes surprisingly soon. She feels it's not quite right. Realize Mr. Hot is the right guy. He realizes he made a mistake. She dumps Mr. Moneybags and resumes relationship with Mr. Hot.
Easy summer read. Not horrible, but too predictable. Mr. Moneybags is drawn as such an awful mismatch for her that one knows from the start it will not last.
Woman wants to meet Mr. Right. Meets Mr. Hot who makes clear he does not want long term relationship. She thinks she won't get emotionally involved, but she does. He breaks up with her. She immediately meets Mr. Moneybags - one of London's most eligible bachelor's. Her mother starts planning the wedding. He proposes surprisingly soon. She feels it's not quite right. Realize Mr. Hot is the right guy. He realizes he made a mistake. She dumps Mr. Moneybags and resumes relationship with Mr. Hot.
Easy summer read. Not horrible, but too predictable. Mr. Moneybags is drawn as such an awful mismatch for her that one knows from the start it will not last.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 3, 2020
No "Calgon take me away moment" and that's a deal breaker for chick-lit!!
Annoying main character-- her constant prevarication drove me bonkers and will probably drive you crazy too!!
Not to mention it is about a hundred pages too long... definitely a disappointment.
Annoying main character-- her constant prevarication drove me bonkers and will probably drive you crazy too!!
Not to mention it is about a hundred pages too long... definitely a disappointment.
September 2, 2019
Ugh, this is one of those '90's books that did not age well. The main character was a twit that I kept screaming at, the author kept repeating gender-based nonsense through her character's inner dialogue, and the story overall wasn't good. Not worth reading. 1 star
November 21, 2007
Slow intro, had to fight not to put it away and start a new book. It really picks up at the end and I found myself really thinking about what happened with Libby + Nick after I finished the book
March 25, 2018
The book is so hilarious, toe curling, and even a guy could relate with the whole story.
January 31, 2021
Title: Mr. Maybe
Author: Jane Green
Rating: 5 stars
Finished Reading: January 2021
Reading Goals: 5 of 12
Well, where do I begin? Relatable! Amazing! A brilliant way of capturing my heart.
Let's start with the plot. Interesting and compelling. The mission is one. Finding Mr Right BUT, the heart wants what it wants.
Characters development. Super-duper awesome. I love the way the author introduced each character. It was super brilliant because I didn't feel the awkwardness on getting to know every role in it. It was like I am Libby, trying to get to know Nick and Ed. Having a best friend like Jules is like a dream come true. Having Mr and Mrs Mason as the parents in the book make the story more lively. Olly as the brother and the rest of Libby's friends were all great supporting characters that made the book super energetic.
The writing is awesome. It's an easy read and super fast. I enjoy reading this more and feel like this is the best January's reading wrap up for the month.
At the end of the story, it brought me thinking about my life. Would I want to be with someone like Ed or Nick? I couldn't answer that but, I do hope that one day when the time comes, I would be able to smile and say, "When it is right, it is right and I'd be happy with the one I had chosen."
In God's will, He knows better. I am still hoping.
Highly recommended to those who love reading a romance novel.
Author: Jane Green
Rating: 5 stars
Finished Reading: January 2021
Reading Goals: 5 of 12
Well, where do I begin? Relatable! Amazing! A brilliant way of capturing my heart.
Let's start with the plot. Interesting and compelling. The mission is one. Finding Mr Right BUT, the heart wants what it wants.
Characters development. Super-duper awesome. I love the way the author introduced each character. It was super brilliant because I didn't feel the awkwardness on getting to know every role in it. It was like I am Libby, trying to get to know Nick and Ed. Having a best friend like Jules is like a dream come true. Having Mr and Mrs Mason as the parents in the book make the story more lively. Olly as the brother and the rest of Libby's friends were all great supporting characters that made the book super energetic.
The writing is awesome. It's an easy read and super fast. I enjoy reading this more and feel like this is the best January's reading wrap up for the month.
At the end of the story, it brought me thinking about my life. Would I want to be with someone like Ed or Nick? I couldn't answer that but, I do hope that one day when the time comes, I would be able to smile and say, "When it is right, it is right and I'd be happy with the one I had chosen."
In God's will, He knows better. I am still hoping.
Highly recommended to those who love reading a romance novel.
March 20, 2010
Libby Mason is a lovable character who will have you laughing out loud at her internal monologue. She has all the ingredients for a great female lead: stylish wardrobe, sassy attitude, great best friend, and an overbearing mother. Jane Green makes me want to move to London, yesterday. Nick is a hottie with a body and spells t-r-o-u-b-l-e for poor Libby right from the get go. While she has convinced herself that she just wants a fling the reader knows better as does her bff Jules. While the blurb makes Libby out to be fairly shallow and materialistic as a reader I didn't get that. Sure she fantasizes about being rich and the lifestyle that would grant her but who doesn't? The rollercoaster of a relationship between Libby and Nick feels real as much as her relationship with Ed feels false. There are parts of her story that I think every woman could relate to when thinking about her own dating history. The sex is pretty hot - a little hotter than Green's usual fair or maybe that is just because Nick is so yummy. The smut-o-meter on this one is probably high enough that I would say no under 16 readers.
January 17, 2015
The cover claims "national best seller." I guess the nation referred to is England. This book seemed to me much like a phonebook with a few vivid recreational-sex scenes thrown in. Well, actually there WAS a sorta plot, albeit a very shallow and predictable one. The characters, whose thought processes would have been more appropriate to 13-year-olds, were supposedly twenty- and thirty-something singles. Actually they were cardboard cutouts.
August 20, 2013
This book was just what I needed right now. An average chick-lit, not mind-bending or anything of the sort, just a simple, predictable tale of the search for love. I just wish the book had focused more on the interesting relationship than the boring one. The interesting relationship was secondary in this book, and it was frustrating to have to wait for it to re-appear all the time.
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