REVIEW: Maybe This Once by Sophie Sullivan

Maybe This Once by Sophie Sullivan: Charlie has spent most of her life trying not to take up too much space. Growing up with fame all around her has taught her how quickly the spotlight can burn and how easy it is to lose yourself inside it. So when one very public moment pushes her to step away from everything she thought she wanted, Charlie retreats to a quiet lakeside town hoping to finally figure out who she is without the noise. Enter Grayson. The man that always has a plan. The lodge he runs is more than a business… it’s his stability, his family and his safe place. After having to deal with everything that he lost, Grayson doesn’t have time or patiences to gamble with his heart. He is not interested in complications and he definitely doesn’t need someone who feels temporary. But the thing with Charlie… well it never every really felt temporary… What begins as something light with easy conversations, shared sunsets and the kind of attraction you promise yourself won’t mean anything…slowly becomes something neither of them can ignore. Because sometimes the place you run to for escape becomes the place you finally feel at home. And sometimes the one thing you swore would only last for now… is the one thing that might last forever.

I just loved this book. There is something so comforting about reading a Sophie Sullivan book and that was very much the case with Maybe This Once. This was the kind of book that didn’t need drama or major meltdowns to leave a lasting mark, it was instead in the quiet moments that will draw you into Charlie and Graysons story. I went into this expecting a sweet small-town romance but what I found was something softer and deeper, a story about identity, healing and choosing love when it would be easier not to. Truly this slow burn, small town romance was just darling.

I have to say there was just something about Charlie that I found myself warming to. She wasn’t just running from a public mistake but she was running from a lifetime of feeling like she exists in someone else’s shadow. There was a quiet fragility to her at the start of the novel, this carefulness in the way she moves through the world but underneath that is resilience and a deep desire to finally choose a life that feels like hers. Grayson on the other hand carries his past in a different way. His steadiness wasn’t accidental instead we get to see a man that was built from loss, responsibility and a need to protect what little peace he has carved out for himself. He loves deeply, but cautiously and this layer of fear and reluctance just made him feel all the more relatable.

One of the things that I really liked about Charlie and Grayson was just how naturally their relationship unfolds. We get to see them face hurdles, nerves and genuine fears. This was not an insta love story but one that we love even when it was not the easy or safe choice. If you are looking for a sweet and rewarding slow burn romance then this is definitely a must read!

Book Info:

Publication: February 10, 2026 | St. Martin’s Griffin | Rock Bottom Love #3

Charlotte “Charlie” Ashford has worked hard to become her own person. Tired of living in the shadow of her famous parents, she gladly left behind a life of glitz and glamour to pursue her true passion: becoming a counselor. However, when a viral video upends Charlie’s plans, she wonders if the real key to discovering herself is through her late father.

Grayson Keller has finally found his footing. He’s settled in one place, surrounded by family, and secure in his business. By his third summer as owner, Get Lost Lodge is showing a steady profit and seeing its fair share of repeat visitors. Whatever happens, Grayson is perfectly content with his quiet life and careful heart. That is, until he meets Charlie, who he can’t seem to get out of his head.

On the surface, Charlie and Grayson seem to have nothing in common more than a growing attraction that neither of them can fight. Trusting each other isn’t easy. They’ve both been hurt before, and they’re not looking for anything serious. The solution is easy: they’ll date, have some fun, and walk away unscathed. Right? Or, maybe this once, they can see past the hurt to what, or who, is on the other side waiting for them.