Mr. Maybe: A Novel [Paperback]

Jane Green (Author)

Book Description

Release date: June 11, 2002

To Libby Mason, Mr. Right has always meant Mr. Rich. A twenty-seven-year-old publicist, she’s barely able to afford her fashionable and fabulous lifestyle, and often has to foot the bill for dates with Struggling Writer Nick, a sexy but perpetually strapped-for-cash guy she’s dating (no commitments–really). So when Ed, Britain’s wealthiest but stodgiest bachelor, enters the picture, her idea of the fairy-tale romance is turned on its head. Libby soon finds herself weighing the advantages of Nick’s sexual prowess and tender heart against Ed’s luxurious lifestyle and unlimited retail therapy. But when the diamond shopping commences, Libby is forced to realize that the time for “maybe” is up.

Taking romantic comedy to a hip, sparkling new level, Mr. Maybe is a classic tale of what happens to one girl when her heart and her head aren’t looking for the same thing. With a laugh a minute and a heroine whose struggles in the dating jungle will remind you of your own, Mr. Maybe is a story that will leave you smitten.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Yet another endearingly flawed, contemporary London career girl comes down the pike in this latest novel by British writer Green (Jemima J). Libby Mason, 27, enjoys her fashionable career in PR, but is determined to marry a rich, "gorgeous" man who will support her in sumptuous style and allow her to join the class of ladies who lunch. Her previous relationships have proven unsatisfactory on all fronts, but then she meets Nick, who happens to be "gorgeous," smart, funny, sensitive and unparalleled in the sack, but unfortunately also a struggling writer who lives in a "grotty" (but clean) bedsit. Libby decides to have fun in bed with Nick and not fall in love, because he's not rich and she doesn't like his left-wing, blue-collar friends. They do have lots of great sex, until Nick breaks up with Libby because he is too attracted to her and isn't ready for a relationship. Libby turns for comfort to her best friend, Jules, who is happily married to the "gorgeous" Jamie. On a girl's night on the town, Libby meets well-known financier Ed McMahon, who is very rich and very eligible, but not "gorgeous" he is older, pompous, boring and the worst lay she has ever had, but when he proposes Libby accepts, as she sees her dream of becoming the idle rich at last coming true. Despite an annoying overuse of the word "gorgeous," Libby Mason manages to garner reader sympathy and even a cheer or two. There are no surprises here and a few loose ends dangle (allusions to Nick's hidden upper-class roots are never explained), but Green has a charming way with dialogue and sex scenes, making this a cheerful summer read. 3-city author tour.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

In this follow-up to Green's Bridget Jones ripoff, Jemima J, a greedy young publicist is torn between sexy but broke Nick and oh-so-rich-but-boring Ed.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Broadway Books (June 11, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0767905202
• ISBN-13: 978-0767905206
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.8 x 7.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (259 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #62,242 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jane Green is a bestselling author of popular novels. She has been featured in People, Newsweek, USA Today, Glamour, and Cosmopolitan. She lives in Connecticut with her family.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 52 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Mr. Maybe is a big YES! February 13, 2002

By Dianna Setterfield

Format:Hardcover

It's been awhile since I've had this much fun reading a British Chick Lit novel. I was expecting a fairly exciting but predictable read regarding the dating and mating plights of a twentysomething singleton. However, Mr. Maybe surprised me with its genuine storyline, pleasant humor, and characters that you care about.

Mr. Maybe begins in a typical fashion -- single and searching Libby Mason has a great job in Public Relations (natch!), wonderful and supportive friends, and an overwhelming desire to find the man of her dreams, preferably with a very large bank account. So, yes, I was bumbling along, enjoying myself, reveling in the familiarity, when suddenly this book turned serious (but in a lighthearted, fun sort of way....)!

First there comes Nick -- gorgeous, sexy, and unemployed. Lots of great chemistry happening here, but since Nick is trying to devote more time on getting his novel published, the relationship hits a dead end. But then Ed happens. And while he isn't much to look at, he's loaded, and that's what's most important anyway -- right? Well, figuring this one out is one heck of a journey....

Mr. Maybe is great fun. Jane Green writes sincerely about Libby's emotions. I recognized many of Libby's thoughts and trials as aspects in my own past struggles with relationships and commitment. The style of prose is very upbeat and easy to read. Ms. Green has created an exceptional character in Libby, a true heroine of British Chick fame and one I will always feel a kinship with. Mr. Maybe is an explicit detail of one single woman's process of deciding what counts in life -- love or money.

25 of 28 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Funny, light-hearted read August 14, 2001

By Busy Mom VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

This is a PERFECT summer read ~~ light, fluffy and funny. When I read out excerpts of this book to my boyfriend, he laughed over it. It is such a dishy read!

Libby is an aspiring woman who dreams of living in a fancy house, wearing designer duds, lunching at the coolest places in London, wining and dining, hobnobbing with the rich and famous ~~ but in her job as a public relations gal, it doesn't seem likely that her dreams would come true. Till she meets Ed, a successful financial investor ~~ and shows her a glimpse of the enticing world she has always dreamed of. Only to get cold feet as the day to start shopping for an engagement ring nears. Also, she cannot forget Nick, the last boyfriend she had before Ed ~~ the guy who is just perfect for her.

This book is hilarious in some takes and a fast read. I highly recommend taking this book to the beach (or a camping trip like I did) and prepare for a fun afternoon enjoying a light-hearted read!!

32 of 39 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Fun, funny escapist fiction January 24, 2002

By [e-mail]

Format:Hardcover

This book was a riot. I read it while on the stairmaster at 6AM when nothing is funny. But I was laughing out loud as people looked at me thinking I was clearly insane. There are so many funny lines in this book, I found myself trying to explain them to people. The main character is great -- from her relationship with family, to friends, and of course, men, she is a real, genuine, fun and funny person. I will miss reading about her!

There is nothing original or unpredictable about this book, except that the main character is not trying to improve her looks or lose weight. She does, however, struggle with her true identity. Is she a socialite type? Sophisticated, slique? Or all of the above. But this book is a blast.

Surely anyone who loves the new genre of Brit books will love this. Libby, a PR exec, loyal friend, and all around great girl decides to have a "fling" with the gorgeous, but not quite succesful, Nick. He agrees, as they both love spending time together but neither, allegedly, want a relationship. Nick falls for Libby (and she for him though she doesn't want to admit it) and so he breaks things off.
Libby then finds rich and eligable Ed, but is he the one? She certainly isn't attracted to him, but he does have everything she wants. And Libby's is not the only story that draws you in. Her best friend Jules is also an icredibly likeable character, with her own marriage issues to sort through.
This book is one to read, and this author is definitely on my list of must buys! Read it and have some fun!

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Loads of Fun July 29, 2003

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

Since I had my baby 4 months ago, I have discovered I no longer have the ability to sit and read books that require a lot of thought-feels too much like work. I've never been a fluff reader before, but I missed reading so much that I let a friend talk me into reading The Nanny Diaries and since then have become addicted to fun books, though I'm slightly embarrassed to tell people what I'm reading these days!!!

Eventually I discovered Jane Green, who is a British Author of the "Bridget Jones" Genre. Eventually I made it to Mr. Maybe.

I will try not to totally spoil the book for anyone who may want to read it after my review...

The Plot
This book is about a woman by the name of Libby Mason. Libby is a 27 year-old Public Relations Professional-successful but not amazingly so. She is deeply committed to shopping. And her friends. And her job-as it provides the funds for shopping and going out with her friends. And finding a rich husband - so she would no longer need her job to go shopping and would always have a friend around.

In the beginning of the book Libby meets Nick, through a mutual friend. He is handsome, sexy, and an unpublished writer on "on the dole" (welfare for Americans). There is an instant attraction and Libby begins a "purely sexual" (as he is not rich or "smart"-British for stylish-enough for Libby) relationship with him. The first quarter of the book or so follows the sexual exploits of the couple, and Libby's attempts to not fall in love with the oh-so-sweet-and-sexy Nick---I bet you know what happens there!!!

To get over Nick , Libby gets back to her partying ways, and before she knows it is in a relationship with Financial Wiz Ed McMann (isn't this a similar name to the old guy from that Blooper's show???).... Ed is a little older, very rich, not awful looking-except for his moustache, nice enough-though boring, and head-over-heels-in-love with Libby. Libby convinces herself she could love and marry Ed, in-spite of his moustache and personality and bedroom deficiencies.

Libby eventually needs to decide if she will settle for Ed, or look for someone with all of Nick's qualities and Ed's money.

I wont tell you what happens next...

Why I enjoyed this book
I simply couldn't put it down. It was one of those books where I couldn't wait to see what happened-even though it was predictable and I knew along what would happen I needed to know how it happened. I read this book in 2 days and actually looked forward to early morning nursing sessions just to get back to it. I started fights with my husband so he'd leave me alone and let me read...

It was a quick, fun, easy book. It did not feel like work.

In spite of being quick and easy, it had some depth and the characters were well developed. Green explores Libby's history and relationships with detail, so that she is a real person and not just a shallow chick that wants someone with money. Libby's conversation with her friends and family reveal a lot about who she is.

The characters were all likeable. I didn't even always know what guy I was routing for-neither of them were jerks they were just very different.

I enjoy these "single-girl-looking-for-love" books. Though I am married, I was single for years and went through a lot of yucky relationships. I can relate to these women. And I can live vicariously through them and go back to my partying, hard-drinking, serial dating days!!! I read for escapism, and these kinds of books let me escape from mommy-wifedom for a while (Not that I'd really want to give it up ever!!)

What I didn't like so much
Green's books are all very formula. If this is the first one you read it will not be a problem-but I have read 4 of her books in the last couple months so they are all starting to feel the same. I've got one left to read, and I think I'm gonna wait a while. I won't tell you so much about the formula-as it may spoil the plot for you. Suffice to say there were several occurrences in this book (particularly with the sub-plots) that found themselves in every one of Green's books.

The women in the book were all thin, pretty and nice. That always annoys me-can't they be normal women who still manage to find love?? Libby, her best friend Jules, her co-worker pal Jo, her client/friend Amanda and her friend Sal are all perfect. Not a witch in the bunch. Not a fat chick. All different types, but all pretty and relatively nice-even the one who seems like she'll be witchy isn't really. Barf.

Obviously, it was not a brilliant literary masterpiece. But I didn't expect it to be, that is why I read it-I am saving those for when my daughter is about 20-then I'll be back at the Giller and Booker lists.

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