Review of MAYBE THIS ONCE by Sophie Sullivan

About the Book

ISBN-13:9781250875877

Publisher:St. Martin’s Publishing Group

Publication date:02/10/2026

Pages:336

Synopsis (from Barnes and Noble)

Tired of living in the shadow of her famous parents, Charlotte Ashford gladly left behind a life of glitz and glamour to pursue her true passion: becoming a counselor. However, when a viral video upends Charlie’s plans, she wonders if the real key to discovering herself is through her late father.

Grayson Keller has finally settled in one place, surrounded by family, and secure in his business. By his third summer as owner, Get Lost Lodge is thriving. Whatever happens, Grayson is perfectly content with his quiet life and careful heart. That is, until he meets Charlie, whom he can’t seem to get out of his head.

On the surface, Charlie and Grayson have nothing in common, but they can’t fight their attraction to each other. They’ve both been hurt before, and they’re not looking for anything serious. The solution is easy: they’ll date, have some fun, and walk away unscathed. Right? Or, maybe this once, they can see past the hurt to what, or who, is on the other side waiting for them.

My Thoughts

Charlie Ashford is hiding from a past that has kept her in the limelight for far too long. She doesn’t want to be famous like her parents; she just wants to pursue her dream of being a counselor. That’s how she ends up at a camp at the Get Lost Lodge, off the beaten track just the way she wants it, while she waits for her new job to begin. Before arriving there, she has a “meet-cute” with Grayson Keller, a man who is attractive but she is not looking to be attracted so she flees from the meeting. What she doesn’t know is that Grayson is the owner of the Get Lost Lodge and he and she have sparks together whether they welcome them or not. Deciding to try out dating and then move on with their lives, this story is a wonderful story of happenstance, events beyond one’s control and just plain romance that is so entertaining. The dynamics between the characters was spot-on realistic and it was fun to read the banter between the two reluctant lovers. I really enjoyed the entire family at the Lodge and how they chimed in their opinions and helpful advice, keeping the pace and the humor going. This book is a perfect read for those who enjoy a good love story that isn’t sappy but realistically portrayed with doubts, false starts and trust issues.
I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book from St. Martin’s Press via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.

About the Author

Sophie Sullivan is an award winning Canadian author of many romantic comedies including TEN RULES FOR FAKING IT and HOW TO LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR, both of which won the Canadian Book Club Award for best romance.

Her books have been mentioned and featured in Buzzfeed, Popsugar, Culturess, EOnline!, Cosmopolitan, The Nerd Daily, Tampa Bay Reads on Fox 13, and more. She chats about all things books, romance, and writing in a variety of places including Episode 14 of Happy to Meet Cute podcast and her local radio station Star 98.3. In her books, you’ll find relatable characters, kissing scenes, heartfelt moments, found family, and anxiety rep. And probably more kissing scenes.

When she’s not writing, she’s usually reading, buying books, or thinking about her next trip to Disneyland and wondering how long the Alice in Wonderland line-up is. She lives on the West Coast with her husband, daughters, and dogs. She wishes she lived somewhere it rained less which is when a lot of free time goes into planning those Disney trips.

If waiting for the next Sophie book is too much for you, check out her alter ego, Jody Holford who writes cozy mysteries and romances. If you want to find her online, Instagram is usually the best place. Website: Sophie Sullivan