Maybe Now by Colleen Hoover

 

Maybe Now is the final installment of the Maybe series from Colleen Hoover. This story focuses on Maggie and her new relationship with Jake, as well as a continuation of Sydney's relationship with Ridge, picking up where the first book left off at.

The story starts with Maggie filling out paperwork for skydiving. As we learned from the first book, Maggie has a chronic illness of cystic fibrosis and diabetes, which means she has a much shorter life expectancy. After the breakup with Ridge, she's focusing on finishing a bucket list of items, which includes things like one night stand and skydiving. 

The skydiving instructor is a name named Jake, who is a doctor by weekday. Jake is instantly attracted to Maggie. Despite knowing about her illness (from filling out the paperwork), he takes her out to dinner. At dinner, he asks her out, but she isn't ready to get back into a serious relationship, so she asks for a one night stand.

Next morning, Maggie is disappointed to find Jake in the kitchen making her breakfast. She doesn't want to become attached to someone. She kicks him out. But a few days later, she finds herself at his work for an appointment - she misses him. He is surprised to see her. They share a passionate kiss. She collapses in his office and is taken to the hospital. 

Warren and Ridge come to see her at the hospital. Sydney works through her feelings about this. Ridge gets mad at Maggie for being so careless with her health as skydiving isn't advisable with her condition, and she's not consistently using the medical devices for her illness either. Eventually, they decide to move Maggie back into their apartment so they can take care of her, because she has no family.

Sydney and Ridge's relationship gets stronger and stronger as they continue writing songs together. Sydney and Maggie and Bridgette also all become close friends. One day, Sydney discovers an engagement ring in Ridge's drawer, shocking her. Ridge tries to explain that the ring belongs to Maggie's grandparents. He's had it for years but never felt right to give it to Maggie. Sydney suggests to give it to Jake so Jake can propose to Maggie. 

The six friends go to a "Sounds of Cedar" concert together. Unexpectedly, Sydney goes on stage and shows a song she wrote for Ridge. Despite the fact she had just told him the night before that she's not ready to be engaged, the song suggests otherwise. The friends joke about the suggestion. Warren immediately says he should be the first one to get engaged because his relationship is the longest. Bridgette immediately says Maggie should be the first because she has a shorter lifespan. Maggie says she would need a real ring. Jake runs to the car, grabs the ring Ridge had just given him, and drops down to one knee, with a romantic impromptu speech. Maggie says yes. Warren claims they are stealing his thunder as he presents Bridgette a ring. Bridgette reminds him to go down on one knee. They get engaged as well, and encourage Sydney and Ridge to do so too. Ridge asks Sydney, she agrees. Ridge promises to get her whatever ring she wants.

The story ends with Sydney talking to her unborn baby, recounting their beautiful love story. Another sweet sweet story from Colleen Hoover. Easy listening, totally romantic, funny, and satisfying.