MAYBE NEXT TIME
One Day meets Groundhog Day, in this heartwarming and emotionally poignant novel about a stressed woman who must relive the same day over and over, keeping her family and work life from imploding as she attempts to spare her husband from an unfortunate fate.
It is an ordinary Monday and harried London literary agent Emma is flying out of the door as usual. Preoccupied with work and her ever growing to-do list, she fails to notice her lovely husband Dan seems bereft, her son can barely meet her eye, and her daughter won’t go near her.
One Day meets Groundhog Day, in this heartwarming and emotionally poignant novel about a stressed woman who must relive the same day over and over, keeping her family and work life from imploding as she attempts to spare her husband from an unfortunate fate.
It is an ordinary Monday and harried London literary agent Emma is flying out of the door as usual. Preoccupied with work and her ever growing to-do list, she fails to notice her lovely husband Dan seems bereft, her son can barely meet her eye, and her daughter won’t go near her. Even the dog seems sad.
She is far too busy, buried deep in her phone; social media alerts pinging; clients messaging with “emergencies”; keeping track of a dozen WhatsApp groups about the kids’ sports, school, playdates, all of it. Her whole day is frantic—what else is new—and as she rushes back through the door for dinner, Dan is still upset. They fight, and he walks out, desolate, dragging their poor dog around the block. Just as she realizes it is their anniversary and she has forgotten, again, she hears the screech of brakes.
Dan is dead.
The next day Emma wakes up… and Dan is alive. And it’s Monday again.
And again.
And again.
Emma tries desperately to change the course of fate by doing different things each time she wakes up: leaving WhatsApp, telling her boss where to get off, writing to Dan, listening to her kids, reaching out to forgotten friends, getting drunk and buying out Prada. But will Emma have the chance to find herself again, remember what she likes about her job, reconnect with her children, love her husband? Will this be enough to change the fate they seem destined for?
A moving “What if” story of what it is to be a woman in the modern world—never feeling we’re getting it quite right—about learning to slow down and appreciate life that is sure to resonate with women’s fiction readers.
- William Morrow
- Hardcover
- March 2023
- 384 Pages
- 9780063239920
Buy the Book
$30.00
About Cesca Major
Cesca Major is a novelist and screenwriter. The author of several psychological thrillers under the name C.D. Major, Cesca’s titles include A Thin Place and the Amazon hit The Other Girl, which was longlisted for a CWA Gold Dagger Award. Having worked in television as a presenter, Cesca enjoys live events and festivals. She regularly vlogs writing tips and teaches creative writing at the Henley School of Art. She lives in Berkshire with her husband and three young children. She is so far resisting getting a dog.
Praise
“I challenge you not to cry.” —Sophie Cousens, New York Times bestselling author
“A timeless classic.” —Hazel Gaynor, New York Times bestselling author
“Just glorious: moving, thought-provoking, life-affirming. I loved this book!” —Lucy Foley, New York Times bestselling author
“Haunting, moody, clever and affecting.” —Gillian McAllister, New York Times bestselling author
“Heartwarming and life-affirming — a gorgeous read.” —Louise O’Neill
“Thought-provoking, tear-jerking, and page-turning- an amazing and amusing book that will really make you think about your life.” —Katie Fforde
“Ingenious, intriguing, and so emotional.” —Jill Mansell
“Deeply moving, extremely funny, brilliantly knowing, and fabulously observed… Heartbreaking but simultaneously life-affirming. A total triumph.” —Daisy Buchanan
“Superbly plotted, shockingly breathtaking- heartbreaking, poignant, and beautifully written… A love story like no other.” —Cathy Bramley
Discussion Questions
- Was there a particular character in this book you could relate to and why?
- Do you think Emma’s experience of the juggle of her life was believable?
- All the stats show that in the U.S., despite women making up 50% of the workforce, they still consistently take on the majority of unpaid work at home. COVID exacerbated these facts–do you think we could do more to address this as a society?
- Do you think people in Emma’s life could have done more to reduce the pressures on her time?
- Why do you think it took this event to get Emma to reflect on how she spends her time?
- Would you want to experience a “Groundhog Day” yourself? And if so, which day would you choose to repeat?
- Do you believe in fate? Do you think we can do anything to fight the inevitable?
- This is also a story about friendship and how, when life gets in the way, we can neglect those relationships–is there someone you wish you could reconnect with in your own life?
- Did you like the ending? How did you interpret it?
- Has the book made you reflect on any changes you’d like to make in your own life?