Maybe She'll Stay

A Novel

By: Robyn Lucas

Narrated by: Paige Reisenfeld

Length: 8 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

A daughter’s return home opens old wounds in a novel of family, love, and emotional rescue by the author of Paper Doll Lina.

After three disastrous marriages, a series of bad dates, and a tumultuous relationship with an emotionally abusive mother, psychology professor Nancy Jewel is through with love and commitment. Romantic or familial, the notion is a waste of her time. Content with being alone, she’s starting to feel normal-ish when she learns her father, incarcerated in Georgia, has been diagnosed with a terminal illness. Nancy is determined to get him a compassionate release, even if it means returning home and reaching out for help from the last attorney she wants to see: her recent ex.

Back in her estranged mother’s orbit, and dealing with the fear of losing her father, Nancy wrestles with the ghosts of her toxic childhood and her reconnection with a failed bid at love. When an unexpected career challenge pushes Nancy to the edge, her impulse is to run. What other choice does she have? Face life head-on, and maybe, for once, stay.

©2023 Robyn Lucas (P)2022 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“More than a simple romance, the novel is a hopeful look at how people can change their lives for the better by gaining new perspective.”—Booklist

Paige does Nancy so well!

Nancy, Nancy, Nancy! She definitely for sure is one hot mess. From the introduction in Paper Doll Lina to now, she continued to boggle the mind of the choices she makes and the life she lives. In Paperdoll Lina, we get a taste of the mess that is Nancy but she is there for her best friend and helping Lina in her difficult journey. In Maybe She’ll Stay, we get the whole meal and Robyn so vividly captures what is the result of a troubled childhood with a difficult, narcissistic parent and how that manifests itself in adulthood. Nancy struggled with love and being loved, always taking the physical over the emotional route, as if she’s scared to delve into her emotions. So much so, there were times I wanted to yell at her ‘Dammit Nancy, look around!’ and throw the book across the room. Sadly you cannot! You keep going because Robyn Lucas’ writing style entices you to continue from chapter to chapter. Her ability to capture moments, timelines, and describe the scenes from a unique perspective, keeps you coming back for more.

From her mother, father, sibling, and friends, Nancy enjoys being the go to person, but where does she go? Does she have that go to person? I’m not telling, you gotta read the book. However, I will say this. If ‘Paper Doll Lina’ is about hope, ‘Maybe She’ll Stay’ is a story is about love….in all its forms.

Another beautifully written book by Robyn Lucas! Can’t wait to see what is next!

Perfectly narrated

Maybe She'll Stay is Robyn Lucas's 2nd book. I absolutely loved her first book and jumped on at the chance to read her second.

Nancy is unlucky in love and has become a commitment phobe after three divorces. Her lack of success in the love department probably comes from her childhood. Growing up, her family was extremely dysfunctional, with a verbally abusive mom and an incarcerated dad.

When a family crisis strikes, Nancy is forced to reopen old wounds. She is also forced to lean on others for help.

Nancy was a complicated character, and much of her relationships with her parents resonated with me, despire is following different paths in love.

I loved watching the evolution of Nancy's character, her growth, vulnerability and trust.

The story lines in Robyn Lucas' two books are very different but what they do have in common is covering tough subjects with complex characters.

Robyn Lucas is a skilled writer and great storyteller. I will be anxiously awaiting her next book.