Book Review: Maybe This Time by Kasie West

Even though it is January, I am really enjoying taking the time to read summer young adult romance novels. I have quite a few that need to be read, but so far I’m really enjoying reading one of my favorite genres of books.

While trying to decide on a book to write a review of, one of these romance novels stood out above the others. It is Maybe This Time by Kasie West. Even though the book is one I consider a “summertime” young adult romance, it starts in January and takes place throughout the whole year. Since I’m in the middle of reading books out of season, including other Kasie West novels, I decided to write a review Maybe This Time.

The blurb for Maybe This Time on Amazon is…

One year. Nine events. Nine chances to . . . fall in love? Weddings. Funerals. Barbecues. New Year’s Eve parties. Name the occasion, and Sophie Evans will be there. Well, she has to be there. Sophie works for the local florist, so she can be found at every big event in her small hometown, arranging bouquets and managing family dramas.Enter Andrew Hart. The son of the fancy new chef in town, Andrew is suddenly required to attend all the same events as Sophie. Entitled, arrogant, preppy Andrew. Sophie just wants to get her job done and finish up her sketches so she can apply to design school. But every time she turns around, there is Andrew, getting in her way and making her life more complicated. Until one day she wonders if maybe complicated isn’t so bad after all . . .

Told over the course of one year and following Sophie from event to event, this delightful novel from master of romantic comedy Kasie West shows how love can blossom in unexpected places.

There are many things I really enjoyed while reading this book. I am a fan of holidays, so I really enjoyed how the book took place over multiple holiday events throughout the year. I loved seeing how Sophie and Andrew fall in love over the course of the year. I also enjoyed reading how both characters grew into more mature people and looked beyond each other’s surface to fall in love with one another. I also like that it is a clean romance novel. Not much public displays of affection. No bedroom scenes. Just a good, clean romance novel. And finally, I love that the novel takes place in the Southeastern United States. (Alabama to be exact!)

Although I really enjoy the book, there are a few things I didn’t like. I do like the pacing, but it wasn’t as nice as I hoped it would be. I also didn’t like how long it took for Sophie and Andrew to fall in love. Although these are not deal breakers for me, it is something that put me off. For some, they may really enjoy the pacing and the time it took for Sophie and Andrew to fall in love.

After reading this book more than once, I can say that I really love this book! Even though there are parts I don’t like about Maybe This Time, it is a fact that not every novel and story is perfect. Of course that didn’t stop me from enjoying the book so much I decided to read it more than once! It is 364 pages long, which makes it an easier book for fast readers to finish, yet not so long that it will dissuade slower readers from enjoying it. I recommend this book to it’s target audience, 12 years and up, and anyone looking for a sweet and clean romance novel to read no matter what time of the year it is!

That’s all for now! Thank you for reading!