Honestly, if you haven't sat on a balcony and felt the literal vibrations of someone’s guitar through your chest, have you even read a Colleen Hoover book? Maybe Someday isn't just another romance novel floating around on BookTok. It’s a polarizing, messy, and loud piece of fiction that people are still arguing about over a decade after it hit the shelves.
Most readers go into it expecting a sweet "boy meets girl through music" story. Instead, they get smacked in the face with a moral gray area that’s wider than the gap between Sydney’s apartment and Ridge’s balcony. It’s a story about "good people" doing objectively "bad things," and that is exactly why it sticks in your brain like a catchy chorus you can’t shake.
The Problem With "Good People" and Emotional Infidelity
Here is the thing: Sydney Blake is 22 and thinks she has the perfect life. Great boyfriend, best friend for a roommate, the whole deal. Then, she finds out her boyfriend is cheating with said best friend. It’s a brutal, rain-soaked opening that sends her packing to the apartment across the way—belonging to the mysterious guitar player she’s been watching.
Enter Ridge Lawson.
Ridge is talented, sweet, and fundamentally decent. He also has a girlfriend, Maggie, whom he loves with every fiber of his being. And this is where Maybe Someday gets complicated. Ridge and Sydney start writing music together because they have this insane, undeniable creative spark. But that spark doesn’t stay on the lyric sheet.
People love to debate whether "emotional cheating" is a real thing. In this book, it’s not just real; it’s the entire plot. You’ve got two characters who are desperately trying not to fall in love because they don't want to be "that person." But the heart doesn't really care about your moral compass or your five-year relationship.
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Why the Soundtrack Actually Matters
A lot of authors say their characters are "musicians," but the lyrics on the page usually feel kind of flat. Colleen Hoover did something different here. She actually partnered with musician Griffin Peterson to record a full soundtrack for the book.
Basically, you can scan a QR code or hop on Spotify and hear the exact songs Ridge and Sydney are "writing" in the story. It changes the experience. You aren't just reading that Ridge is a genius; you're hearing the raspy, emotional vocals that make Sydney fall for him.
- "I'm in Trouble" – This track basically sums up the first half of the book.
- "Hold On To You" – The kind of song that makes you want to cry in a car.
- "Maybe Someday" – The title track that ties the whole messy bow together.
It was a total game-changer for contemporary romance back in 2014. It turned a solitary reading experience into something multi-sensory. It’s also probably why the book feels so much more "real" to fans; the music exists in our world, not just in Hoover's head.
The Secret That Changes Everything (Spoilers)
If you haven't read it, you might be wondering why they don't just talk more. Well, the big "twist"—though it’s revealed early—is that Ridge is deaf. He doesn't hear the music the way Sydney does. He feels it. He puts his hands on the guitar, or on Sydney’s neck when she sings, to feel the vibrations.
This adds a layer of intimacy that most romance novels can't touch. Their communication isn't just about words; it’s about touch and vibration and sign language. It makes their bond feel deeper, which, frankly, makes the "betrayal" of Maggie feel even more gut-wrenching.
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Maggie isn't a villain. She isn't some mean girl you want Ridge to leave. She’s kind, she’s sick (she has Cystic Fibrosis), and she’s his best friend. Watching Ridge navigate the guilt of loving two women—one who represents his history and one who represents his soul—is exhausting. It's meant to be.
Does It Romanticize Cheating?
This is the big question. If you look at Goodreads reviews, the one-star ratings usually scream about how this book makes infidelity look "beautiful."
The truth is a bit more nuanced. Maybe Someday doesn't say cheating is okay. In fact, it shows how it destroys people from the inside out. Sydney is horrified by her own feelings because she knows exactly how it feels to be the one cheated on. Ridge is paralyzed by his loyalty to Maggie.
The book lives in the space where we acknowledge that humans are messy. You can be a "good person" and still make choices that hurt people. It’s uncomfortable to read because it forces you to wonder: If I met my literal soulmate while I was with someone else, what would I actually do? ## The Full "Maybe" Universe
If you finish the first book and need more (or just need to see someone else get a happy ending), you aren't stuck. Hoover expanded this into a series:
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- Maybe Someday: The main event. The Ridge/Sydney/Maggie triangle.
- Maybe Not: A novella focused on the side characters, Warren and Bridgette. It’s much funnier and way more "steamy" than the first book. Honestly, Warren is the MVP of the series.
- Maybe Now: The 2018 follow-up that picks up where the first book left off. It gives Maggie her own voice and her own journey, which a lot of fans felt was desperately needed for closure.
How to Get the Most Out of the Read
Don't just skim the lyrics. If you're going to dive into Maybe Someday, do it the right way.
First, get your headphones ready. Listen to the Griffin Peterson tracks as they appear in the chapters. It makes the "vibration" scenes hit so much harder when you're actually hearing the melody.
Second, pay attention to the dates and the texts. A huge chunk of their relationship happens through a screen or on paper. It’s a reminder of that specific 2010s era of romance, but it also highlights how much you can learn about someone when you're forced to write everything down.
Finally, be prepared to disagree with the characters. You will probably want to shake Ridge. You will definitely want to tell Sydney to move out sooner. That frustration is part of the hook.
To really understand the hype, you have to look past the "romance" label and see it as a study on the timing of love. Sometimes, the right person appears at the absolute worst possible moment. Whether you think they should act on it or walk away is what defines your experience with this book.
If you’re looking for a clean, easy love story, this isn't it. But if you want something that makes you question your own boundaries while listening to some actually decent indie-folk music, you're in the right place.
Next Steps for Readers:
Check out the Griffin Peterson - Maybe Someday album on Spotify before you start Chapter 5. If you've already finished the book and felt "blah" about the ending, skip straight to Maybe Now—it gives Maggie the agency and the storyline she actually deserved from the beginning.