Maybe Someday

“I run my hands up my arms, rubbing away the sudden onset of discomfort washing over me. I feel as if I’m watching my future play out in front of me. I’m not so sure I like what I’m imagining. Am I ready for this? Am I ready for this guy to be the guy I bring dinner to every night when he gets home from work?”

Recalling her boyfriend Hunter’s desire to move in together, Sydney grows overwhelmed with discomfort. Before discovering Hunter’s infidelity, Sydney already experiences dissatisfaction with her relationship due to her desire for independence. She asks herself rhetorical questions regarding her willingness to continue a relationship with him, which vary the rhythm of the prose. Her relationship with Ridge teaches Sydney that she does not have to settle for a life of complacency, but that she can find both love and independence.

“I can’t help but appreciate the fact that she doesn’t respond to my being deaf the way I expect her to. Most people become uneasy once they aren’t sure how to communicate with me. The majority of them raise their voices and talk slowly, sort of like Bridgette. I guess they think being louder will somehow miraculously make me hear again. However, it does nothing but force me to contain my laughter while they talk to me as if I’m an idiot. Granted, I know people don’t do it to be disrespectful. It’s just simple ignorance, and that’s fine. I’m so used to it I don’t even notice anymore.”

Ridge remarks on how others treat him when they discover he is deaf. He notes Sydney’s lack of discomfort, which is novel to him. Throughout the novel, Ridge demonstrates the complexities of living as a person who is deaf, with nuanced emotional experiences that affect all humans. Hoover does not define Ridge by his deafness while also honoring the unique life experiences of being deaf. 

“I want to say that Ridge is the problem. He’s been nice, but I think that might be the issue. I’ve been single for less than twenty-four hours, and I don’t like the fact that although I should have been consumed with nightmares about Hunter and Tori all night, instead, I had a slightly disturbing dream involving an extremely accommodating Ridge.”

Sydney describes her growing attraction to Ridge. Less than 24 hours after her break-up with Hunter, Sydney already begins to feel an undeniable attraction to her new roommate. Their bond is natural and drives them closer despite their best efforts to stay apart. Through her portrayal of their relationship, Hoover remarks on the power of sexual attraction. Sydney’s narrative voice is conversational and casual, establishing intimacy.

“I never give it much thought when I write lyrics, because I’ve always felt no one would read them, so it doesn’t matter what the meaning is behind the words. But now that I think about it, maybe the fact that I don’t give them much thought proves that they really are a reflection of how I feel.”

Sydney begins writing lyrics for Ridge, commenting on how her lyrics reflect her innermost thoughts and feelings. Throughout the novel, Sydney’s lyrics reveal her deepest feelings for Ridge, which she keeps hidden due to the complicated nature of their relationship. Hoover uses lyrics to highlight Sydney and Ridge’s true feelings, and to illustrate the power of Music as Emotional Expression. 

“There’s something about these moments when we’re writing music that I absolutely love. All my worries and thoughts about everything wrong in my life seem to go away for the short times we write together. It’s nice.”

Finding refuge in their songwriting, Sydney reflects on how much these sessions mean to her. Ridge and Sydney’s musical connection unites them and offers freedom from complicated and confusing emotional relationships. As the novel progresses, Ridge and Sydney turn to songwriting to reconnect and solidify their deep feelings for one another, underscoring Hoover’s message on the power of music to offer refuge. 

“As much as I claim to want to be unattached from guys and independent and strong, the only thing I’m thinking is how much I wish he would take complete and total control over me. I want him to dominate this situation by rolling on top of me and forcing that incredible mouth onto mine, rendering me completely dependent on him for breath.”

In a moment alone with Ridge, Sydney thinks about her strong sexual attraction to him. Here, Sydney acknowledges the paradox of independence that plagues her throughout the novel. Although she strives for autonomy, she also longs for deep, vulnerable-making romantic connection. Hoover develops this internal conflict as she portrays how Sydney navigates her complicated relationship with Ridge.

“I spend the next half hour reminding myself how much I’ve missed her. I remind myself how much I love her. I remind myself how good it feels when we’re together. I keep reminding myself over and over, because for the past week, it felt as if I was starting to forget.”

Overwhelmed by guilt, Ridge attempts to convince himself that he is perfectly content in his relationship with Maggie. Hoover uses the repetition of “I remind” to portray the effort it takes Ridge to convince himself of his happiness and to deny the impact of his connection with Sydney. Through Ridge’s character development, Hoover explores the nuances of infidelity and the internal conflict of Passion Versus Stability. 

“I know I need to be on my own. I want to be on my own. But I also know that the reason I’m feeling so conflicted by this entire situation is that I did have a little hope. Although I wasn’t ready for anything right now, I thought the possibility would be there. I assumed that maybe someday, when I was ready, things could have developed between us.”

Sydney expresses her conflicting feelings about her relationship with Ridge. Although she desires reassurance from Ridge that he cares for her, she also longs for independence. This internal struggle plagues Sydney throughout the novel as she grapples with her need for independence and her desire for love. Through Sydney’s struggles, Hoover captures the nuances of young love. 

“I attempt to talk myself out of the feelings of guilt, but deep down, I know exactly what’s happening. I don’t feel guilty simply because I’m staring at her. I feel guilty for how it’s making me feel.”

Ridge acknowledges his deep feelings for Sydney and fights guilt. Torn between his dedication to Maggie and his natural chemistry with Sydney, Ridge wavers between each woman. Through Ridge’s struggles, Hoover highlights the various types of connections between lovers. As Ridge attempts to determine which connection he wants to pursue, Hoover depicts the struggles of young love.

“And if I can’t be yours now 

I’ll wait here on this ground 

Till you come 

Till you take me away 

Maybe Someday 

Maybe Someday.”

Sydney and Ridge collaborate on a song together, which inspires the novel’s title. Their strong musical connection binds them and helps them communicate openly about their feelings for one another. Their song captures their hope for a united future. By titling the novel Maybe Someday, Hoover emphasizes the longing in Sydney and Ridge’s relationship and the intense feelings associated with desire. 

“How can two good people who both have such good intentions end up with feelings, derived from all the goodness, that are so incredibly bad?”

After experiencing another tortured moment of longing for Ridge, Sydney contemplates how she and Ridge can both want to be loyal and have negative intentions of infidelity simultaneously. She poses a rhetorical question that highlights the dilemma that Hoover showcases within her novel. By portraying two complicated protagonists, Hoover portrays the complexities of infidelity.

“Having her so close feels as though we’ve created our own personal space, and nothing from outside our world can make its way in, and nothing from inside our world can make its way out.”

During an intense songwriting session, Ridge and Sydney embrace so that Ridge can feel the music as Sydney sings. Ridge reflects on how his time with Sydney distracts him from outside influences, including his five-year relationship with Maggie. Hoover incorporates moments of physical touch and songwriting to bring Ridge and Sydney closer together and to emphasize their natural, irrefutable connection. 

“It’s not so easy when you’re trying to win a war against the heart.”

Sydney reflects on her and Ridge’s physical contact despite their best efforts to maintain boundaries. Hoover compares Sydney and Ridge’s struggle to a metaphorical war. The two adversaries in Hoover’s war are Sydney and Ridge’s morality and their hearts. As she depicts the development of their relationship, Hoover portrays the heart’s power to destroy any attempts to deny its deepest desires.

“What’s confusing me the most is the fact that my heart hasn’t been aching like this because I can’t be with Hunter. It’s aching because I can’t be with Ridge.”

Despite her recent break-up with Hunter, Sydney’s true heartbreak is due to her prohibited relationship with Ridge. The novel begins with the end of Sydney’s relationship with Hunter due to his infidelity, but focuses on Sydney’s heartbreak over the forbidden love she feels for Ridge. Their relationship is a love story that conveys the deep and complicated nuances of a true soul connection.

“But it’s art. Art is just an expression. An expression isn’t the same as an act, as much as it sometimes feels that way. Writing lyrics isn’t the same as directly informing someone of your feelings. Is it?”

Sydney tries to justify her and Ridge’s actions as they continue to collaborate on songs. Although their lyrics communicate their nuanced feelings for one another, Sydney argues that writing the lyrics does not equate with acting on those feelings. Hoover’s inclusion of the rhetorical question at the end—“Is it?”—reveals Sydney’s doubts regarding her claims. Hoover documents the power of music and the art of songwriting to evoke deep feelings and forge true connection.

“Our souls aren’t just compatible—they’re perfectly attuned. I feel everything she feels. I understand things she never even has to say. I know that what she needs is exactly what I could give her, and what she’s wishing she could give me is something I never even knew I needed. She understands me. She respects me. She astounds me. She predicts me. She’s never once, since the second I met her, made me feel as if my inability to hear is even an inability at all.”

In a moment of full transparency, Ridge admits his love for Sydney and his belief in their deeper soul connection. Hoover’s use of repetition emphasizes Ridge’s passion—“She understands me. She respects me. She astounds me. She predicts me.” (emphasis added). The use of the word “attuned” conveys the impact of music on their connection. As the novel progresses, Ridge becomes more aware of his true feelings for Sydney and no longer denies her impact on him.

“I lean my head against the wall behind me and try to imagine my world before Sydney entered it. It was a good world. A consistent world. But then she came along and shook my world upside down as if it were a fragile, breakable snow globe. Now that she’s leaving, it feels as if the snow is about to settle, and my whole world will be upright and still and consistent again. As much as that should make me feel at ease, it actually terrifies me.”

Ridge reflects on the impact his relationship with Sydney has had on him. He uses a simile, where something is compared to something else using “like” or “as,” comparing Sydney’s impact to the shaking of a snow globe. This illustrates how much she has disrupted the life he had planned for himself and Maggie. Hoover reframes this disruption as a positive one that allows Ridge to embrace a different side of himself; he no longer has to save others around him, but lives for himself.

“It always feels as though you’re trying to be my lifeguard. I don’t need a lifeguard, Ridge. I need someone who is willing to watch me brave the ocean and then dare me not to drown. But you wouldn’t be able to let me near the ocean. It’s not your fault that you can’t give me that.”

Maggie outlines the ways Ridge holds her back from living life to the fullest because of his fierce protection of her. She uses a metaphor, where something is compared to something else without the use of “like” or “as.” In this case, she compares Ridge to a lifeguard who bars her from trying new experiences in life. Through Maggie and Sydney, Hoover highlights the significance of independence for women who long to live freely in the world. 

“Maybe I’m not the hero to her I’ve always tried so hard to be, because right now, I feel as if she doesn’t even need a hero. Why would she? She has someone so much stronger than I’ll ever be for her. She has herself.”

Ridge reflects on Maggie’s desire to live freely without his protection. Here, Ridge begins to understand how his attempts to protect Maggie have hindered her from living independently. He asks himself a rhetorical question to demonstrate the absurdity of his efforts to protect Maggie, who is a capable and strong woman. 

“I’m confused by my reaction and confused by my heart. I’m immediately consumed with relief to know that she forgave him, but the relief washes away with grief at the realization that she forgave him. I don’t even know how to feel. I’m relieved for Ridge and grieving for myself.”

Sydney struggles with the ambivalence she feels toward Maggie’s forgiveness. While she is happy for Ridge, she also grapples with sadness over her own feelings. Throughout the novel, Sydney wavers between these conflicting emotions; she attempts to live according to her moral code while also experiencing deep, genuine feelings for Ridge. Through Sydney, Hoover displays the complexities of infidelity and questions the morality surrounding it. 

“I suppose his expertise in a silent world gives him an ability to read people, just in different ways. Instead of focusing on the sounds of my breaths, he focuses on the rise and fall of my chest. Rather than listening to quiet sighs, he more than likely watches my eyes, my hands, my posture. Maybe that’s why his face is tilted toward mine now, because he wants to see me and get a feel for what’s going through my head.”

Ridge visits Sydney in her new apartment after they have spent some time apart. They navigate an awkward conversation about the future of their relationship. Sydney comments on the ways Ridge’s deafness heightens his other senses and allows him to read her body language. Throughout the novel, Ridge and Sydney communicate deeply about intimate topics without much difficulty. Hoover portrays the ways people who are deaf, like Ridge, are able to communicate effectively and uniquely with others. 

“Questions like this refuse to leave my mind. Questions like this keep me from believing he could ever be happy with the outcome of his situation, because he lost her in the end. I don’t want to be someone’s second choice.”

Sydney questions Ridge’s feelings for her and wonders whether Ridge holds the same deep feelings for Maggie. Hoover repeats the phrase “Questions like this” to emphasize the insecurity that plagues Sydney. Sydney’s proclamation that she does not “want to be someone’s second choice” exemplifies her value of independence throughout the novel and delays her relationship with Ridge. 

“As much as it hurts to know he’s walking away, I also know that I need to let him. I asked for this. We need this. I need this. I need to get myself to a point where I know that we can finally be together without all the doubt running through my head. He’s right. My mind needs to catch up to my heart.”

After she and Ridge decide to take time apart after his break-up with Maggie, Sydney reflects on how much she needs this time to herself. She repeats the word “need” to emphasize the importance of this decision and her journey of independence. Throughout the novel, she navigates the conflict between her mind, which tells her to stay away from Ridge, and her heart, which feels inexplicably drawn to him. Their decision to take time apart gives Sydney the freedom to explore what she really wants and needs.