Maybe Next Time

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Compare the time loop concept in Maybe Next Time with similar narratives like Stuart Turton’s The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle. What makes this novel’s approach unique?

2. The novel ends with Emma waking up to a new day but gives no indication of what happens next. What did this ambiguous ending signify to you?

3. What emotional response did you have to Dan’s final letter revealing his bargain for more time 10 years earlier?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. In what ways do you relate to Emma’s struggle with balancing professional responsibilities with family life?

2. Describe a moment when you experienced a wake-up call that made you reassess your priorities like Emma does throughout the novel.

3. The relationship between Emma and Hattie represents the deep bonds that can form between in-laws. What meaningful connections have you formed with family members who aren’t blood relatives?

4. Dan’s letters serve as a way for him to express feelings he might not say aloud. What methods do you use to communicate difficult thoughts to loved ones?

5. Emma initially views her phone and constant connectivity as essential but eventually recognizes that they are distractions. What boundaries regarding technology have you established in your life?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. The novel portrays the challenges that working mothers face in balancing careers, parenting, and personal fulfillment. What societal factors contribute to this struggle today?

2. Emma’s difficulty saying “no” to commitments reflects broader issues around boundaries and pleasing others. Why might women particularly struggle with this issue?

3. The novel subtly critiques the concept of “having it all”—a career, family, and social life. When did this ideal emerge in society, and do you think it remains influential?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. What insights do Dan’s letters provide that Emma’s first-person narrative cannot?

2. The bicycle symbolizes important aspects of Emma’s journey. What transformation do we see in her relationship with this object?

3. Examine Emma’s evolution throughout the novel. Which moments mark significant shifts in her perspective?

4. The novel contains several secondary relationships beyond Emma and Dan’s. Which of these relationships did you find most compelling?

5. Many critics have compared time-loop narratives like Maybe Next Time to Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol. What similarities do you see in how both stories use supernatural time elements to drive character growth?

6. What function does London serve as a setting for this story about connection and disconnection?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Design a new day for Emma to experience in her time loop that would accelerate her personal growth.

2. If you found yourself repeating the same day, what three priorities would guide your actions?

3. Imagine writing your own anniversary letter like Dan and Emma did. What significant moments or feelings would you include?

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