While I didn't purchase the Maybe Someday album, I did listen to all the samples on iTunes and found them to be a very complimentary, sounding better than I imagined them in my own mind. All those songs Ridge and Sydney wrote are actual songs by Griffin Peterson. A bonus to this novel is the fact that it has an original soundtrack. She takes what could be very predictable and twists it into something that is unique and bittersweet. As with her previous books, Hoover writes with great levels of emotion, angst, and humor (loved the pranks) not to mention that addictive quality that makes her books un-put-down-able. The messages in this story are also good ones: 'listening' to the heart, not needing to be a hero to a woman who is already a heroine, giving yourself freedom and time to be alone to figure out what is right, etc. It had a strong undercurrent of good morals and respect with a focus on the internal, not the external attractiveness of a person. I'm usually not interested in novels that include a love triangle, but this story wasn't what I expected. It all made sense whether you liked it or not. There's a lot of wavering between right and wrong in her mind and I found myself appreciating the ways in which rationalized and justified her feelings and actions. Name calling and punching people was immature (to a degree) and I thought this might be something that continued throughout the novel. I know she found herself in circumstances that made her angry and that fueled her to be a bit irrational. Sydney's character started off a bit shaky for me. I don't think she intended for Ridge to be typical in any way. I'm remaining neutral because I believe Hoover created an exceptional and loveable character and his inability to hear makes him extraordinary. I am sure there are varying responses and opinions to his musical abilities and ways in which he communicated.

I was uncertain how authentic Ridge's character would be and I couldn't help but wonder how his hearing loss would be perceived by others who consider themselves deaf. I listened to this story critically because I am fluent in sign language and work with children who have a hearing loss. First off, I have to applaud Colleen Hoover for creating the unconventional main character of Ridge who is strong, positive, talented and happens to be deaf.

Maybe someday by colleen hoover