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Maybe Next Time
Lambda Literary Award Winner!
Sabrina Starling doesn't need love. She has fame as a brilliant violinist and unlimited options for female company. Nothing can shake her -- except the memory of her very first love. Knowing that neither the teenaged nor adult Jorie will ever return her feelings, Sabrina has escaped into her music and the arms of other women.
When injury leaves her temporarily unable to perform, Sabrina finally finds the one woman who could free her forever from the memory of those stolen Hawaiian nights with Jorie. There's one problem. The object of Sabrina's desire, Diana, is deeply in love with Pam, the woman who has shared her life for the past eighteen years.
A family funeral calls Sabrina home to the islands, but she no long believes that the gentle breezes and possible welcome in Jorie's eyes can repair the lives she's shattered, including her own.
Karin Kallmaker's searing novel of innocent first love and dangerous seduction joins an unparalleled string of critically acclaimed bestsellers that earned her the title of Undisputed Mistress of Lesbian Romance.
Sabrina Starling doesn't need love. She has fame as a brilliant violinist and unlimited options for female company. Nothing can shake her -- except the memory of her very first love. Knowing that neither the teenaged nor adult Jorie will ever return her feelings, Sabrina has escaped into her music and the arms of other women.
When injury leaves her temporarily unable to perform, Sabrina finally finds the one woman who could free her forever from the memory of those stolen Hawaiian nights with Jorie. There's one problem. The object of Sabrina's desire, Diana, is deeply in love with Pam, the woman who has shared her life for the past eighteen years.
A family funeral calls Sabrina home to the islands, but she no long believes that the gentle breezes and possible welcome in Jorie's eyes can repair the lives she's shattered, including her own.
Karin Kallmaker's searing novel of innocent first love and dangerous seduction joins an unparalleled string of critically acclaimed bestsellers that earned her the title of Undisputed Mistress of Lesbian Romance.
246 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
9 people are currently reading
189 people want to read
About the author
Karin Kallmaker
81 books711 followersKarin Kallmaker has been exclusively devoted to lesbian fiction since the publication of her first novel in 1989. As an author published by the storied Naiad Press, she worked with Barbara Grier and Donna McBride, and has been fortunate to be mentored by a number of editors, including Katherine V. Forrest.
In addition to multiple Lambda Literary Awards, she has been featured as a Stonewall Library and Archives Distinguished Author. Other accolades include the Ann Bannon Popular Choice and other awards for her writing, as well as the selection as a Trailblazer by the Golden Crown Literary Society. She is best known for novels such as Painted Moon, Simply the Best, Touchwood, The Kiss that Counted and Captain of Industry.
The California native is the mother of two and lives with her wife in the Bay Area. You can catch her blogs at Romance and Chocolate: https://kallmaker.com/blog/. Find her on social media by searching for "Kallmaker" - there's only one.
In addition to multiple Lambda Literary Awards, she has been featured as a Stonewall Library and Archives Distinguished Author. Other accolades include the Ann Bannon Popular Choice and other awards for her writing, as well as the selection as a Trailblazer by the Golden Crown Literary Society. She is best known for novels such as Painted Moon, Simply the Best, Touchwood, The Kiss that Counted and Captain of Industry.
The California native is the mother of two and lives with her wife in the Bay Area. You can catch her blogs at Romance and Chocolate: https://kallmaker.com/blog/. Find her on social media by searching for "Kallmaker" - there's only one.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
May 30, 2018
It was ok. Couldn't take to Bree.. I was more interested in Jorie's character to be honest with you. Would have been nice to have had more for her story.
March 12, 2019
So, I really hated Bree. Like a lot. But at the same time I wanted to hold her and tell her everything will be alright. Take care of her. Kinda like my feelings towards Vanya in The Umbrella Academy Netflix series. Shake some sense into her. She's a musical genius, and an inteligent human being, but so self destructive and "naive" (?) in my country we'll say she enjoys "navegar con bandera de pendeja" wich translates to sailing with an idiot flag and means she likes to pretend to be an idiot so she can get away with being a jerk. She knows she's doing wrong, hurtful things, and I get it, she has suffered too, a lot, but that's not an excuse to go ruining lives.
I'd read this a few years ago, being honest I didn't remember it, not quite, but I love how Karin Kallmaker writes, she catches me in her stories, even if there are plot things that are not to my liking, there she has me, captive, waiting for what happens next and with my self-diagnosed attention deficit disorder few authors achieve it.
The book is a whole journey through Sabrina's life, the things that marked her as a person and as an artist, revolves around love, the lack of, the misunderstanding of, but in a more real, not so idealized way. All the characters have flaws in their character, all of them make mistakes, none is perfect, or pretending to be perfect, and that makes it real and interesting to read.
I'd read this a few years ago, being honest I didn't remember it, not quite, but I love how Karin Kallmaker writes, she catches me in her stories, even if there are plot things that are not to my liking, there she has me, captive, waiting for what happens next and with my self-diagnosed attention deficit disorder few authors achieve it.
The book is a whole journey through Sabrina's life, the things that marked her as a person and as an artist, revolves around love, the lack of, the misunderstanding of, but in a more real, not so idealized way. All the characters have flaws in their character, all of them make mistakes, none is perfect, or pretending to be perfect, and that makes it real and interesting to read.
October 23, 2022
I’ve been in the mood reread some older romances which means I’ll probably be revisiting a lot Karin Kallmaker’s work. I enjoyed this one the second (or probably third) time around. Not your traditional romance formula. Most of this story is told in flashbacks, something that I don’t always enjoy but worked for me here. My only complaint is the ending really needed an epilogue. 4.5 stars.
August 6, 2007
This book was a great book. The setting of the book is Hawaii.There are some native words in the book but there is a reference page where it shows how to say it and what the words means. I definitely recommend it.
May 30, 2013
Tormented - really really beutiful.
June 7, 2022
It was the first lesbian book I ever read and set me on the path to reading and writing queer characters. Not because it was such a good book, but because it was so frustratingly heartbreaking and I wanted to write a story about queer people who didn't have a waste a lifetime loving each other from afar and needing to blow up their lives before realizing that they should just be together.
Both characters are very frustrating, to say the least. This story kind of tells you how important it is the be honest and communicative with the folks in your world or you could miss out on a lifetime of love. I'm true the tragedy was the point of the story. But as a young gay kid I just wanted to read something hopeful and positive and this wasn't really it.
Both characters are very frustrating, to say the least. This story kind of tells you how important it is the be honest and communicative with the folks in your world or you could miss out on a lifetime of love. I'm true the tragedy was the point of the story. But as a young gay kid I just wanted to read something hopeful and positive and this wasn't really it.
August 4, 2020
Drama in spades
“Nothing had ever worked. There was no way to forget anything, to get some peace from her mistakes, to stop hurting other people because she was hurting so much.”
+ • + • + • +
Its next level angst in all its tormented anguish & masochistic dysfunction. When a musical prodigy with a life full of sadness, loss & not belonging becomes an adult still seeking to fix & fill that incompleteness with others, will she find fulfillment or just more frustration…
“Nothing had ever worked. There was no way to forget anything, to get some peace from her mistakes, to stop hurting other people because she was hurting so much.”
+ • + • + • +
Its next level angst in all its tormented anguish & masochistic dysfunction. When a musical prodigy with a life full of sadness, loss & not belonging becomes an adult still seeking to fix & fill that incompleteness with others, will she find fulfillment or just more frustration…
March 9, 2018
I had started this book before and had not been able to finish it. I got angry/sad with the characters and didn’t want to spend anymore time with them. Then I saw a review and decided to give it another try. It was still difficult to read and I skipped over a few of the tougher parts but, I’m glad I gave it another try.
April 20, 2025
This novel offers a poignant exploration of love, loss, and self-discovery. The novel delves into the life of Sabrina "Bree" Starling, a renowned violinist whose world unravels after an injury threatens her career. The narrative unfolds through a series of flashbacks, providing a rich tapestry of Bree's past relationships and emotional struggles. The depiction of Bree's internal turmoil and her interactions with those around her are portrayed with depth and nuance. However, the structure of the novel, with its frequent shifts between timelines, may pose challenges for some readers. The pacing can feel uneven at times, and the focus on Bree's emotional journey might not resonate with everyone. This is less of a romance and more about overcoming setbacks and grief.
July 9, 2020
Great book and one I reread often.
April 16, 2021
Wow! What an amazing work of realistic fiction. A love story that will take your breath away.
May 16, 2012
This is the kind of book where the more you read it the more you like than love it. When I read it the first time I hated it. Read again, liked it. Read it again, really liked it. I'll probably change my rating the next time I read it.
December 8, 2007
I had a hard time getting started in this one. The constant flipping to the dictionary made it slow to follow.
May 3, 2011
2.5 stars. This read like a straight Harlequin romance, with a "secret" and many flashbacks and a lot of drama. Not really my cup of tea.
October 19, 2012
I could barely finish this book. It was so navel-gazing and tormented. I love the author's work usually, so this was a disappointment.
December 29, 2019
This continues to be one of my favorite books of all time. I rarely read a book more than once but this is probably my 20th time.
April 14, 2017
I love this author....I always have high expectations from her books. This book was no exception it however had a series of past and present to future events that at the beginning needed me to be patient to understand as well as maintain my interests. But if you can overcome that confusion I bet, like I did, you'd realise the beauty of the complexities the author tried to potray with the characters especially the main character Bree.
And looking back after reading the whole book I find it very sad indeed that years of living seemed to have been wasted avoiding the thing that was there all the while. It's a great book but you need patience especially at the beginning to feel attuned to the storyline.
And looking back after reading the whole book I find it very sad indeed that years of living seemed to have been wasted avoiding the thing that was there all the while. It's a great book but you need patience especially at the beginning to feel attuned to the storyline.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews