Maybe Now

Maybe Now is a contemporary romance novel. Analyze the role that genre tropes play throughout the narrative plot line. Which tropes does Hoover embrace and/or subvert? How do these tropes relate to the novel’s conflicts, stakes, and themes?

Maybe Now is the third and final installment in Hoover’s Maybe Someday Series. Craft an analytical essay that explores the novel in relation to its two prequels. What conflicts does the novel resolve? What themes does it develop? How would the series differ without this installment?

The novel is written from the primary characters’ intersecting first-person points of view. Analyze the narrative and thematic significance of this thematic choice. Consider how the novel would change if it were written from an alternate perspective.

Analyze the role of guilt and shame in Sydney’s storyline. Consider how her relationship with Ridge Lawson compares with Hunter and Tori’s relationship. How does guilt inhibit her growth journey? Does she work through this guilt, and how?

Analyze the evolution of Sydney and Maggie’s friendship. How does their dynamic complicate Hoover’s explorations of communication and boundaries? How would the stakes of Maybe Now differ if the two remained at odds?

Craft an argumentative essay that interrogates Hoover’s representation of deafness and the Deaf Community. Are her portrayals accurate, sensitive, and/or exploitative? Cite sources to defend your claims.

Maggie’s character lives with cystic fibrosis and diabetes. Craft an argumentative essay that interrogates Hoover’s depiction of chronic illness. Which facets of her portrayal are accurate, dubious, and/or gimmicky? Cite sources to defend your claims.

Maggie’s bucket list recurs throughout the novel. Explore the symbolic significance of the list—particularly in the context of Maggie’s personal growth journey. Consider how Maggie interacts with and regards it. Consider also how Ridge, Sydney, and Jake Griffin respond to the list.