Review: Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover & Thoughts on Cheating in Books

Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover
Publisher: Atria Books
Publication date: March 18th 2014
My rating: 2 stars

At twenty-two years old, aspiring musician Sydney Blake has a great life: She’s in college, working a steady job, in love with her wonderful boyfriend, Hunter, and rooming with her good friend, Tori. But everything changes when she discovers Hunter cheating on her with Tori—and she is left trying to decide what to do next.

Sydney becomes captivated by her mysterious neighbor, Ridge Lawson. She can’t take her eyes off him or stop listening to the daily guitar playing he does out on his balcony. She can feel the harmony and vibrations in his music. And there’s something about Sydney that Ridge can’t ignore, either: He seems to have finally found his muse. When their inevitable encounter happens, they soon find themselves needing each other in more ways than one…

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover, a passionate tale of friendship, betrayal, and romance—and the enchanting music that inspires one young woman to put her life back together.

From the author of the New York Times bestsellers Slammed, Point of Retreat, Hopeless, This Girl, and Losing Hope, Maybe Someday is destined to become another bestseller and long-lasting fan favorite.

I don’t write a lot of negative reviews because it feels like a waste of time to me, but I recently read a post by Brandi @Blkosiner's Book Blog that made me have a different opinion.  I want to say upfront that I’m a huge fan of Colleen Hoover’s writing and I have loved every one of her books up to this point. Yes, I hate cheating and love triangles in books, and yes, I did know going into this that there would be a love triangle.  But I have read books that I still loved even with a love triangle and cheating. I thought if anyone can make me love a story with these controversial issues Colleen Hoover could do it.  I was wrong. 

I’ll start with a non-spoilery portion but the second half of my review will have spoilers.  You’ll have to highlight it to read, but be warned they give away major plot points.  Beneath my review I’ll give some example of books I loved in spite of the cheating they contained.

Ridge and Sydney live across the breezeway in the same apartment complex and they become acquainted through love of music.  Ridge goes out on the balcony and plays beautiful songs and Sydney comes out and listens.  She makes up her own lyrics since she doesn’t hear Ridge singing and this doesn’t go unnoticed by him.  He’s currently experiencing intense writers block and so he cleverly asks Syd to share her writings.  They form a connection and also an intense attraction.  When someone shares a love for an interest you’re passionate about it’s like an instant bond!  Unfortunately, neither one of them are unattached.

In the middle of all this, Sydney finds out that her boyfriend has been cheating on her with her best friend who she lives with. When things blow up, Ridge witnesses this and offers Sydney a place to stay, and things become VERY complicated from here on out.

I will say that CoHo has a way with writing chemistry and sexual tension that is off the charts, and some of the scenes between Syd and Ridge made they’re longing come through loud and clear.  I wanted them to be together! As the story went on, though, I disliked Ridge more and more, and I felt pity and anger toward Sydney for being so pathetic and weak.  I did hold Ridge more responsible and reprehensible in this story, because Sydney did not have all the facts when she fell for Ridge, and she was in a more emotionally vulnerable position after her breakup.

Bottom line: If there is cheating in a story in order for me to still enjoy it, the author must make me sympathize with the characters situation and understand it, thereby somehow excusing their actions even if I don’t condone them. This did not happen for me. Instead I couldn’t stand Ridge more and more as the story went on, he really treated Sydney and Maggie horribly, IMO.  By the end I felt Sydney was second choice.

The only reason I rated this two stars instead of one is because I liked the ending, mostly.

Now onto the spoiler section: (Must highlight to read)

*********SPOILERS--DO NOT READ IF YOU DON’T WANT TO BE SPOILED*********

I had major issues with how things carried on after Sydney found out Ridge had a girlfriend. Instead of moving out Sydney stays and continues to take the humiliation of Ridge coming onto her and then pulling back and saying how much he LOVES Maggie! He treated Sydney like crap!  When Maggie finds out about them, Ridge has a fit and tells Sydney to “MOVE OUT NOW”.   He basically put all the blame on her for their situation! I was hurt and angry for Sydney, but I also wanted to give her a good shake and say “Why are you putting up with this?” “Don’t allow yourself to be treated this way!”  

If Ridge was so IN LOVE with Maggie why does he continue to put himself in situations with Syd that would make any girlfriend have a major meltdown?  I know I wouldn’t want my boyfriend/husband lying on the chest of a girl to “hear” the lyrics and music running through her.   I would’ve had a problem with Sydney moving in with Ridge in the first place, especially if I knew how much they had in common. This was a major clue to the fact that there were problems with Ridge and Maggie’s relationship and if that was played up more, I may have been more sold on this.

Instead we had it drilled into us how devoted and in love Ridge was with Maggie. Seriously, if that’s how he treats someone he’s in love with that does not bode well for the future.

In the end Ridge didn’t man up and break things off with Maggie. Instead Maggie makes an easy way out for him by refusing to take Ridge back.  However, if Ridge did break it off with Maggie everyone would’ve cried foul because of her terminal illness, so basically CoHo wrote an impossible situation because there was no winning either way.  IMO Sydney was second choice. In fact, when Sydney asks if Ridge would go back to Maggie if she came back HE SAYS YES!!! No, just no.

End of rant, end of review…

Cheating Books That Worked For Me:

(I won’t reveal if it was emotional or physical cheating but there is some form of cheating in each book/series)

The Love Me With LiesSeries: The Opportunist, Dirty Red, Thief by Tarryn Fisher:

Why it worked: Basically there was one couple, Olivia and Caleb who were meant to be together. They have a history and it’s messy, love-gone-wrong in epic proportions.  But I ALWAYS wanted them together.  Any other connection I just wanted GONE!

Covet by Tracey Garvis-Graves:

Why it worked: I really felt for this married couple Ms. Graves did an outstanding job making each and every character relatable and sympathetic. The unwise decisions made were understandable, even if they were wrong, and in the end they each took responsibility for their actions, and there was healing.

Archetype and Prototype by M.D. Waters:

Why it worked: Same as The Love Me With Lies Series. One couple meant to be, all others, go away please!  The difference in this series is this wasn’t really love-gone-wrong it was more of outside-issues-have-screwed-us-over situation.

One Tiny Lie by K.A.Tucker:

Why it worked: Livie was completely naïve and socially inexperienced and I felt like a lot of the situation just sort of happened to her.  Ashton was in a relationship but it wasn’t really by choice. Plus, the girlfriend was out of the picture for most of the story so I never really felt any connection to her. I know that doesn’t make it any less wrong it just didn’t bother me as much.  Points to the author!