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Something, Maybe

by Elizabeth Scott (Goodreads Author)

3.73 of 5 stars 3.73 · rating details · 7,670 ratings · 474 reviews

Everyone thinks their parents are embarrassing, but Hannah knows she's got them all beat. Her dad made a fortune showcasing photos of pretty girls and his party lifestyle all over the Internet, and her mom was once one of her dad's girlfriends and is now the star of her own website. After getting the wrong kind of attention for way too long, Hannah has mastered the art of...more

Hardcover, 217 pages

Published March 24th 2009 by Simon Pulse (first published March 13th 2009)

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Young Adult Romance

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Mar 04, 2012 Reynje rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemp-or-realistic, e-book-kindle, read-2012, unexpectedly-liked, young-adult

A Week in YA Kissing Books - Haiku Mini Review #1

Your "Hugh Hefner" Dad
Doesn't make you a nympho
Throw more rocks at boys

I'm not entirely sure why I liked this one so much out of all the Elizabeth Scott books I've read, but I've narrowed it down to the following reasons:

1. Hannah - I thought she was a great protagonist and I enjoyed reading from her perspective. Her situation was unusual, but she was still relatable in her quest to be "invisible". I found her quite funny actually, particularly wh...more

27 likes · like · see review

Oct 26, 2010 Cara rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Cara by: Haley

Shelves: realistic-fiction, recommended-to-me

From the beginning you are hooked. Just read the jacket blurb. Hannah is the daughter of playboyisk father and her mother was one of what you'd call one of his "girls". Doesn't it make you wonder how a child like this would turn out? I was intrigued and totally dived in to see what Hannah had to offer.

Hannah does all things possible to deflect any kind of attention, but she would like a certain someone's attention and that someone is Josh. Josh is sensitive, smart, caring and extremely cute or i...more From the beginning you are hooked. Just read the jacket blurb. Hannah is the daughter of playboyisk father and her mother was one of what you'd call one of his "girls". Doesn't it make you wonder how a child like this would turn out? I was intrigued and totally dived in to see what Hannah had to offer.

Hannah does all things possible to deflect any kind of attention, but she would like a certain someone's attention and that someone is Josh. Josh is sensitive, smart, caring and extremely cute or is he? Hannah is a bit of a loner, because of all the wrong kind of notice she got when she first arrived in Slaterville. In a way she has to keep up the image of not having one. Ironic but true. Through all her conflicting feelings for her father, Josh, and Finn you still admire her. At times I felt like grabbing her blond hair (that she always complained about) and bash it against a wall repeatedly. I mean that in the best way possible. Basically to get her to see sense. Like I said earlier I still was fond of her despite that. Everything was practically done flawlessly. From her job at BurgerTown to the most intimate things like her stepfather Jose. I did knock off a star though because even though I got why her mom still ran her site and all (they are always strapped for money) but I really doubt she could enjoy doing that. It's just seems very much like being used.

The dialogue is to die for. Seriously is there another adjective for hilarious? I laughed almost every other page. Finn is totally priceless . He's perfect for Hannah. He buys her food (always a plus and you'll see why I mention it), "accidentally" injures people on her behalf, and really gets who she is even if she doesn't want to believe he does. Unlike other books that *cough* Dream Factory that tried to do it but feel short.

Favorite part is the rock scene. I had to read back at that part and laugh all over again. The gift in the end is incredibly sweet. Fellas you need to take a hint or two from The Finn. Yes I put a the in front of his name because he totally deserves it. The book ends realistically but oh so satisfying.
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Sep 22, 2009 Nian rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2009

I guess I've never been a Scott fan, and this book is another sharp reminder as to why. It's similar to Bloom, but just even worse. It's a disaster, to be blunt.

I liked the creativity. For a while, anyway. That's one thing I have to applaud Scott for: she always seems to have an out-of-the-ordinary story up her sleeve. But can she really pull it off? Not in this case. The Playboy parents were interesting at first but later got terribly melodramatic and boring. The father was so predictable afte...more I guess I've never been a Scott fan, and this book is another sharp reminder as to why. It's similar to Bloom, but just even worse. It's a disaster, to be blunt.

I liked the creativity. For a while, anyway. That's one thing I have to applaud Scott for: she always seems to have an out-of-the-ordinary story up her sleeve. But can she really pull it off? Not in this case. The Playboy parents were interesting at first but later got terribly melodramatic and boring. The father was so predictable after a while and too unrealistic for my tastes. Everyone always tries to justify his actions, like the mother, for instance, and it gets so tiring. Because you can't make an excuse out of this seventy-two year old "living in his own world" and "loves you in his own way". It's just dumb. The mother was equally tiresome. From the start, she was oblivious and seemed too ditzy. (Not exactly parental role model, right?) In typical novel land, the mother gradually sees her mistake and becomes a real mother later on. Here, it happens in the last 5 pages of the novel. Not only is it rushed, but it's underdeveloped and lacked emotion. I was ready for tears and major confrontation, but I guess Scott is bad at confrontational scenes, so it lacked any depth.

I hated the structure of the story. A novel shouldn't even be labeled as a "structure". You can say you liked the structured writing, the structure of a thesis essay, but never a creative work. But it's definitely present here. The events repeat itself, with few variations: 1) Protagonist goes to school, where she tries to be invisible. 2) She then goes to work, where she banters with Finn and fawns over how "real" Josh is (with a name as stereotypical as Josh, it's hard to fathom how "real" this character can get). 3) She then meets up with best friend Teagan and recounts all details related to Josh. 4) Hannah then goes home and faces drama about how short her mother's skirt is and how she once loved her father. 5) REPEAT steps 1-4 for the rest of the novel. This is beyond predictable. I feel like I'm looking at the water cycle, complete with the routinely events and lack of suspense. I know exactly what's going to happen; all I'm waiting for is the ending.

Not only was the lame structure of the story, well, lame, I also despised how childish the characters and writing was. Most of it was in dialogue. I love witty banter styled dialogue, but this was not it. This was just the ramblings of teenagers who needed to dissect every little detail of attention the opposite sex displayed. Take the animal crackers and the life alarming dilemma (notice my sarcasm?) as to getting Josh coffee or not, for instance. Hannah has to ponder over the meaning of animal crackers so much that I wanted to strangle her and say, "They're just crackers! Get over it, already!" With coffee: "Buy him the damn coffee!" I'm not saying teenagers don't obsess, especially when it comes to the opposite sex, but Hannah is being so extreme about it that it renders her a complete fool. How am I supposed to resonate with such a protagonist?

With my other reviews, I always mention the true Scott touch: repetition a la Scott. It's happened so often that I even had to name it. Sad but true. Hannah's life revolves around claiming she once loved Jackson and now hates him, complaining about her mother's passion for dressing low, fantasizing about Josh, and obsessing over Finn's mouth. These four key events play out like a cassette on repeat, never dying down. Once the drama with Jackson is done, it's on to Josh. After Josh, back to Jackson, then to Finn. You know the deal. I wouldn't even mind so much if it wasn't always just complaining. Heck, I lied. I WILL mind even then. Hannah's like Lauren (from Bloom) in that sense, always whining and never actually being proactive until the fifth to last paragraph on the second to last page.

Another similarity to Bloom: Hannah's love interest. Truly, I must nominate Finn for being the Universe's Most Awkward Love Interest in the world of fiction writing. Scott turns a normally likable and cute character into a lovesick, awkward geek. In any other book, I would have thought it was adorable that Finn would blush in Hannah's presence. But here, I see Finn as a socially inept fool. Which he isn't. He's just so awkward, and I feel like he was never meant to be portrayed like that. Finn is supposed to be sweet, patient, shy, but manly at the same time. Perhaps it's due to choppy writing, but the moment Finn blushes, I groan and wish he can disappear so I don't have to be reminded of what a ridiculous character he is. (less)

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Jan 05, 2009 Abby Johnson rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: blogged

Hannah's parents take embarrassment to a whole new level - her aging playboy dad is the star of a reality show and her mom poses as Candy Madison, running a paid website in her negligee. Hannah's perfected the art of being invisible, which is a shame when it comes to the object of her longing, a coworker named Josh. How can Hannah retain her invisibility and still get Josh to ask her out? Is she doomed to be alone forever?

This is a really sweet, romantic story and I think it might be my favorit...more

5 likes · like · see review

Oct 06, 2009 Valerie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: realistic-fiction

Something, Maybe is simply great. I really like Hannah and her courage. The book is mostly focused on the romance (or lack-there-of in the beginning). It’s funny and heartfelt in a way that I hadn't expected.

First about the romance: Hannah starts out being low-key and all gaga over Josh. She wants to be more like Josh or like one of his typical girlfriends. Hannah never truly conforms to anyone so no need to worry there. You know Finn has a crush on her and in the book he does all these great th...more

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Apr 17, 2009 Amber rated it 4 of 5 stars

From the beginning, I knew I was going to enjoy Hannah. She says words like "craptastic" and calls people "asshats" just like me. Plus Hannah's family life was so different, you couldn't help but get sucked into it. You have a mother who is struggling to stay in the spotlight, and a father who is basically a Hugh Hefner wannabee. No wonder the girl doesn't want anymore attention drawn her way!

The friendship between her and Teagan is another thing that drew me in. I think why I enjoyed it so muc...more From the beginning, I knew I was going to enjoy Hannah. She says words like "craptastic" and calls people "asshats" just like me. Plus Hannah's family life was so different, you couldn't help but get sucked into it. You have a mother who is struggling to stay in the spotlight, and a father who is basically a Hugh Hefner wannabee. No wonder the girl doesn't want anymore attention drawn her way!

The friendship between her and Teagan is another thing that drew me in. I think why I enjoyed it so much is because Hannah and Teagan sound a lot like my friend Shell and me when we have a conversation. Teagan even with her own insecurities is just the friend that Hannah needs. She shoots it to her straight, keeping her level headed about things.

Now onto the two boys: Josh and Finn. When a character is stuck in a some what of a love triangle, there is always a guy you are rooting for. Usually I give them a few chapters before I pick which one I'm all about. Josh is appealing with his poetic side and all, but Finn was just...Finn! I loved him! His personality and stuttering were so adorable. He had me cracking up so much in this story, especially when he talks crap about Josh, like in this passage:

"Hannah, I just...I want you to know that if I pause a lot when I tell you how special you are, it's because I want you to think I'm very...very...deep."

If anyone wants to send me a Finn for my birthday (April 29th), I will not object! Just make sure he's in his twenties, cause anything younger might be considered illegal in some states. I wouldn't even care if he chucked a chocolate bar at my head because he knows that's just what a girl needs sometimes. Okay, I'll stop before this becomes the I ♥ Finn Show.

After this book was done and over, I couldn't help but have a smile on my face. Elizabeth Scott delivered a very cute and funny love story. After reading her blog and interviewing her, I can really see her personality in this book. I'm cannot wait to see what she has in store for us next!

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Feb 26, 2009 Rachael rated it 5 of 5 stars

Hannah is invisible, and she likes it that way. She made herself like that on purpose because everybody knows, it seems, who her parents are. Ordinarily, this might not be such a bad thing, but because her father is Jackson James, an older used-to-be-celebrity famous for partying with his scantily clad and much younger girlfriends, and her mother is Candy Madison, a has-been known for being clothed in naught but a pizza box in a commercial, attention is not something Hannah wants or needs. All H...more

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Jan 16, 2013 Vanessa P rated it 3 of 5 stars

Recommended to Vanessa by: Read with Zemira

I enjoyed this one.

I was a little worried at the beginning I wouldn't like it because Hannah was okay with the spit burgers?!?! Ewww! But, I loved the voice. I was never bored. Hannah kept having thoughts that I, as the reader, didn't agree with but I was along for the ride and I didn't dislike the book because of it. I was annoyed with Hannah for most of the book. She liked Josh. Josh, to me, clearly sucked.

The issues she had with her dad were sad. I wanted him to be better, just like she did...more

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Mar 10, 2009 Lauren rated it 5 of 5 stars

I'm going to let you into to a little secret I have, I love Elizabeth Scott's novels! They are like a guilty pleasure for me because they are light, funny, and well written novels, that I absolutely love. Whenever, I read one I'm usually in a bad mood, for some reason, but they instantly cheer me up within the first chapter.

Something, Maybe was no different, of course. It was filled with well developed characters, cute boys, and father-daughter relationship problems. The plot was interesting, b...more

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Jul 02, 2010 Marie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: own, young-adult

Hannah is your average girl with no so average parents. Her father lives in a playboy type of mansion surrounded by playgirls (but they're called something else in this book). He hasn't talked to Hannah in a number of years and she would like to keep it that way. Her mother runs a site where she chats with men in her underwear and her husband died a bit recently. Not to mention that they live in a small town and everyone knows who her parents are. That's gotta be tough. She works at BurgerTown w...more

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Jul 21, 2009 BOOK BUTTERFLY rated it 2 of 5 stars

All Hannah James wants is to be a normal teenager. But it’s not easy when your father is Jackson James, a sleazy celebrity famous for partying at his mansion with beautiful women, or as he calls them, his “special girls” (scantily clad young women who parade around with little on or sometimes nothing at all). Her mom, Candy Madison, a former “special girl”, makes her living by doing live web chats in her lingerie. With eccentric parents like hers, Hannah only wants to fly under the radar at scho...more All Hannah James wants is to be a normal teenager. But it’s not easy when your father is Jackson James, a sleazy celebrity famous for partying at his mansion with beautiful women, or as he calls them, his “special girls” (scantily clad young women who parade around with little on or sometimes nothing at all). Her mom, Candy Madison, a former “special girl”, makes her living by doing live web chats in her lingerie. With eccentric parents like hers, Hannah only wants to fly under the radar at school and avoid the inevitable whispers, insults and stares from the other teenagers. She tries to be invisible by dressing in baggy clothes and wearing no makeup. Money is tight, so she also works at a call center along with best guy friend Finn and the dreamy Josh.

Josh is the only person Hannah does want to notice her. He’s a deep “thinker” who writes poetry and reads Dostoyevsky, but every time she tries to talk to him, Finn annoyingly interrupts and ruins the moment. But the more Hannah does get to know Josh, the more she wonders wonder why she’s always thinking about Finn. Guess sometimes what you want, really isn't what you need, right?

Hannah was such a well constructed character. She was a strong, intelligent young woman with a sharp biting wit, and her voice was completely believable for someone her age. Elizabeth Scott really knows how to capture teenage voices and put them into believable dialogue. The following are two of my favorite excerpts from Hannah’s narration. The humorous way she relays everything going on around her was so entertaining-

"Josh doesn't date guys like me. He dates tall, skinny, dark-haired girls who care about political causes and social injustice and wear short, gauzy dresses that I could never get away with wearing. Ever. Plus they always have cool names like Arugula or Micah." (Page 10

"Josh tries to shrug, but ends up looking all broken and sad. I know this is terrible, but he looks amazing when he’s miserable. He also looks like he needs someone to help put him back together, and I so want that someone to be me!" (Page 101)

From the start of this novel, it was completely obvious which guy was best for Hannah. But I was so drawn in by the passion and skill of Scott's writing that it held my interest and made for an entertaining ride. I enjoyed the love triangle between Hannah, Josh and Finn. As an outsider looking in, it was easy to recognize how phony Josh was, but I could also relate to why Hannah would be infatuated with him. In fact, I imagine I would’ve easily felt the same way myself at seventeen! Finn had real heart and soul though, and he was always the one I rooted for. It was so satisfying to read how his relationship with Hannah evolved, and so sweet how he would blush so quickly around her, or get all tongue tied. He really "got" Hannah and I loved how quick he was to defend her or help her smile when she needed a friend.

The unusual family dynamics of the book definitely made for a unique read, and I appreciated the way Scott dealt with the deeper issues of love and loss in a sincere way and didn’t have to resort to clichés. It was also impressive how well adjusted Hannah was for someone with such unorthodox parental figures. Her empty relationship with Jackson was downright sorrowful though. He treated her with a detached, flighty sort of affection. The worst part being that everything was captured on film and manipulated by his reality tv crew into whatever ratings spin he was looking for. After witnessing those antics, it was easy to understand how Hannah needed to have something consistent in her life to depend on. I could easily put myself in her shoes and imagine how hard it would be to take risks, especially growing up with the type of lifestyles her parents were leading.

The character of her best friend Teagan added an interesting dynamic to the book as well. While dealing with her own insecurities, Teagan was not afraid to shoot from the heart, and tell Hannah what was best for her. Those types of friends are priceless, and when you’re a teenager, you need a solid support system like that more than anything.

BOTTOM LINE: This was my first Elizabeth Scott novel. After completing it, I understood why she is such a popular teen romance novelist and I can’t wait to read more of her books. Something Maybe was an endearing, feel good read that will definitely evoke a happy sigh from readers at the end, and I’d highly recommend it.

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Aug 29, 2008 Lucy rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: fans of Sarah Dessen, Ellen Wittlinger

Shelves: teen

Hannah is used to being invisible. She likes it that way. When the entire world has seen your mom mostly naked, and your dad has his own reality show that features him and his "special girls", you get a little sick of people looking at you.

But sometimes, Hannah wants to be noticed. She would love, for example, to get noticed by Josh, her brainy, passionate coworker who happens to be her soulmate. Unfortunately, the only person who seems to notice her is Finn, her other coworker--irritating, anno...more

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Mar 15, 2009 Kristi (The Story Siren) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own

After Living Dead Girl, I’m glad to see the romantic side of Scott’s writing shining once again! Not only that, but it’s had the humor and satire that makes a very satisfying read.

As soon as I started reading this book I was hooked. Hannah’s voice captivated me from the start, as well as the story line. I loved the unusual family dynamics that were displayed. It was a highly used theme– embarrassing parents– but it was crafted in a totally new angle. I loved it.

Not to mention the love triangle...more

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May 22, 2013 Karlie B rated it 4 of 5 stars

Something, Maybe by Elizabeth Scott is a great teenage romance novel for anyone to read. I would say that this would be a book for contemporary teen romance fans specifically. However, if guys out there want to know how to win over a girl, maybe they should read this to get some tips from Finn (hint hint). This book is about a girl named Hannah who has some pretty crazy parents. Her dad is a former playboy, and her mom is basically a mix of a bunch of different things, but she mainly talks to pe...more

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Jan 14, 2013 Zemira Warner rated it 3 of 5 stars

Recommended to Zemira Warner by: Read-along with Vannessa

Shelves: contemporary

Reason why I liked this book would be that it reminded me of diaries because everything Hannah said seemed like it came from a diary. It’s just that I kept a journal for a couple of years, while I was in highschool and it looked something like that. Pages and pages of boy talk and bitching about my parents.

Hannah’s father is basically like Hugh Hefner. He is a wealthy old fart who likes to have ‘special girls’ and only worries about himself. Hannah is a smart girl and she realises he will never...more

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Sep 13, 2012 Lisa rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance, young-adult

This book is about 17 year old Hannah who works with 2 guys named Josh and Finn. She is really in love with Josh and secretly classifies him as her soul mate. Finn is the annoying one who (in her mind) does everything to ruin her life for her. Then she also has a famous mother and father, but they don't work for something you'd like your parents to work for.

There is a lot of drama and romance in this book, content-wise I would say this is appropriate for 13+ at the least. But it is very simple t...more

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Aug 17, 2011 nymfaux rated it 4 of 5 stars

from my blog: (\__/)nymfaux

I just finished my second Elizabeth Scott book, Something, Maybe and, I don't know if anybody has experienced this, but I have been having some Judy Blume flashbacks. Just thrownin' that out there...There is just something about the way Elizabeth Scott can really get inside my head, in the same way that all those Judy Blume books did with all their big moments and tough decisions!!!!!!!

Speaking of which....Not that I ever cry when I'm reading books...but this book has...more from my blog: (\__/)nymfaux

I just finished my second Elizabeth Scott book, Something, Maybe and, I don't know if anybody has experienced this, but I have been having some Judy Blume flashbacks. Just thrownin' that out there...There is just something about the way Elizabeth Scott can really get inside my head, in the same way that all those Judy Blume books did with all their big moments and tough decisions!!!!!!!

Speaking of which....Not that I ever cry when I'm reading books...but this book has some serious tear-jerker moments. Something, Maybe is the story of Hannah Jackson James. Hannah is your normal, basic teenager who's mother is Candy Madison; a former model/TV actress a la Pamela Anderson, and who's father is Jackson James, a Hugh Hefner-esque playboy and celebrity mogul.

Everything would be fine in Hannah’s life, except that everything isn’t fine. While no child wants to know the intimate details about their parents, Hannah's parents are the extreme. And Hannah is does what any self-respecting teenager would do; she does her best to be invisible.

Hannah loves her mother, but not always her mother’s choice of career—Plus it’s kind of hard to invite friends over when your mom is doing an online webisode dressed in lingerie. When Hannah’s father tries to get in touch after so many years of estrangement, Hannah can’t help but wonder if he’s just doing it to boost his television ratings. Hannah is so busy being invisible, she can’t figure out how to tell her crush that she’s completely in love with him. And could she be overlooking, someone who’s been there all along? Whatever background you come from, it's so easy to feel Hannah’s eternal hope and nagging fears about her absentee father and just wanting him to be there for her.

The story pulled me in right away, with the idea of Hannah’s character being trapped in the spotlight, and being blindingly outshined by her celebrity parents. But the fact is, Hannah is a really a girl that most of us can identify with—being embarrassed, feeling invisible, and sometimes feeling nakedly visible. Wondering if it means anything when you look at your crush, and he looks back …Or what it means when he remembers your favorite snack.

Hannah is constantly wondering what things mean, consumed with what she’s afraid other people are thinking, and Something, Maybe is really a journey of Hannah seeing past the exteriors, learning who she can rely on, and most of all seeing herself for who she is.

Elizabeth Scott really has a talent for taking characters and making them feel like a part of your life—That definitely puts her at the top of my reading list!!!

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Jul 08, 2011 cecilia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: blue-covers

Life as a teenager already sucks, but when you’re the product of a playboy and his bunny (now ex), it sucks even more! When Hannah has to wonder if a boy actually likes her or wants to use her as an “in” to meet the Internet vixen also known as her mother, there is a MAJOR problem! Not to mention the whole ICK factor. Hannah has to sift through normal teenager stuff, a pain-in-the-behind job, a longtime crush, a longtime annoyance, a mother who doesn’t do the usual motherly things, and a disappe...more

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Apr 30, 2011 Em rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

While reading this, I got a major case of déjá vu. It felt like I had already read it before, but I'm still not sure.

It's a simple book. Simple plot. Simple characters. Simple execution. But I still liked it. It wasn't supposed to be a complicated book, and it was the perfect book to waste a few hours on.

Hannah, the main character, was a push-over and a little naive, but in her case that may have worked in her favor. She wanted to trust people so bad - including her father - because she didn't k...more

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Feb 08, 2011 Lauren rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

At the library the other day, I made an effort to check out the work of several YA authors whose books I hadn't read before. I'd been meaning to delve into Elizabeth Scott's books for a while now, but, ah, perhaps I should have checked out Love You Hate You Miss You, which was right next to Something, Maybe on the shelf. I read this book rather quickly, but I never felt very engaged with main character Hannah or the story as a whole.

First off, it must be hard to write a book about a protagonist...more At the library the other day, I made an effort to check out the work of several YA authors whose books I hadn't read before. I'd been meaning to delve into Elizabeth Scott's books for a while now, but, ah, perhaps I should have checked out Love You Hate You Miss You, which was right next to Something, Maybe on the shelf. I read this book rather quickly, but I never felt very engaged with main character Hannah or the story as a whole.

First off, it must be hard to write a book about a protagonist whose main interest is trying to stay unnoticed. It's hard to read a book about one, too. Hannah exists mainly in the context of other people and how much they contribute to her desired invisibility -- her exhibitionist parents and the variety of ways they embarrass her; her co-worker / champion blusher Finn; her supposed soul mate Josh; her school acquaintance Michelle; and finally her pal Teagan, who serves as a forgiving sounding board for her problems with all of the above. The structure of about half the novel follows a pattern: Hannah obsesses about how Finn notices her too much and Josh too little, and then she recounts the whole thing to Teagan on their way home from their respective jobs (just before Hannah runs into her mother doing something embarrassing). It's a 213-page book, and we're getting recaps of events that happened 3 pages ago. It's kind of like a reality show that'll give a post-commercial-break recap of what happened just before the commercial break.

So Hannah pines after Josh and obsesses about whether or not she'll buy him coffee, while of course the reader knows from the get-go that he'll turn out to be a jerk in some way and blushing Finn will step in and prove his worth. Several points here:

- While Josh's concern for the planet and various other causes turns out to be part of his phoniness, I do wish that an eco-geek hero or heroine would pop up in a contemporary YA book. Characters concerned with the environment (supporting characters, always) tend to either be a.) uptight and insufferably nerdy (thinking of Jason in Sarah Dessen's The Truth About Forever, although he was just about the only character I liked in that book), b.) patchouli-scented and the butt of other characters' jokes, or c.) liked in spite of their ecological ways.

- Actually, while I wouldn't want to befriend him in real life, I found Josh to be the most interesting character in the novel. Flanking himself with admirers and falsely championing natural foods and environmental causes (all while working as a drive-thru order-taker for a fast food chain), and all the while harboring a rather odd obsession (won't spoil here, but it's funny)... no matter how detestable he turns out to be, at least he's got contradictions and layers.

- At least Teagan recognizes from the start that Hannah and Finn are too terribly bicker-happy and cute to not end up together. Maybe Teagan reads Sarah Dessen novels.

And while this is a short book, the ending wraps things up very quickly. The love story plot goes from plodding (will she buy Josh coffee? will she not?) to full speed ahead, with Hannah dodging plot point after plot point in the course of a single, packed evening. I wish there had been another scene to really tie up Hannah's conflict with her dad Jackson, and another to sort of see Teagan and Michelle off in the right direction, but seeing as Hannah didn't have much conflict with them in the first place, I suppose the lackluster "well, I'm off to do this now!" endings for the supporting characters were all the book could hold.

(My other new-to-me YA authors, if you're curious, are going to be Nick Burd, Siobhan Dowd, and Gordon Korman. And I suppose I'll try my local library's other Elizabeth Scott offering next time I'm there.)(less)

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Dec 29, 2010 Jennifer Monzon rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2010

This book reminds me alot of "Relatively Famous" by Jessica Park. It's a story about a girl who lives with her single mother after thier famous biological father is not around. The only difference is that Something, Maybe is about a girl that has a famous father who knows about her and does not want anything to do with her. He calls and requests that she come to see him but he has an agenda on why he needs her to come to see him. There's also little romance involved. Hannah is madly inlove with...more

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Jun 22, 2010 Jasmine rated it 4 of 5 stars

Having read Perfect You [one of my favorite books:] and Bloom, by Elizabeth Scott, I've been wanting to read Something, Maybe for the longest. Finally went to the library today, [or technically yesterday because I've been up all night & it's now 4 in the morning:], and finished reading it in aproximately five hours. That includes breaks, of course. Almost a record, if you ask me:) Anyways, I'm going to keep this review short & sweet because I still have to get used to this website &...more

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May 18, 2010 Bianca rated it 3 of 5 stars

have only two other books by Elizabeth Scott: Perfect You and Bloom and they both have been amazing! I was eager to read Something, Maybe and Elizabeth Scott does it again!

The book starts off with, "Everyone's seen my mother naked," and you absolutely have to continue reading after that! Having parent's like Hannah's would be difficult for anyone. Her mother sits in front of her computer with hardly anything on and she has a father whose old enough to be her grandfather, that lives in a mansion...more

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May 10, 2010 Kelly Hager rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really liked this book (even more than Stealing Heaven, which I read earlier this year). I think Elizabeth Scott's books tend to sneak up on you. They're entertaining enough at the beginning but usually (for me) about halfway through, I realize I'm having a really hard time doing anything that isn't reading that particular book.

Anyway. :)

This is about Hannah, who has the misfortune of being the only child of two very distinctive parents. Her dad is a Hugh Hefner-type, a man in his 70s who is s...more

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May 07, 2010 Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars

What can I say about this book? Well, First I have to say that FINN is AWESOME!!.. He actually was the reason that I kept reading the book. The dialogue between him and Hannah is just oh so funny. I can't even explain how funny it is! Finn is one of those guys that sits in the backgound totally in love with a girl but she is too blind to see or she is in love with the "popular" guy. In this case Hannah is in love with the "popular" guy who doesnt get her like finn does and isn't what she thinks....more

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Mar 28, 2010 Sara rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010, young-adult

This is the third book I've read by Elizabeth Scott and definitely the best of the bunch. Hannah's the daughter of a Hugh Hefner-ish dad and one of his former live-in girlfriends. She now lives with her mom, who's continually trying to cash in on her fifteen minutes of fame; has a strained relationship with her playboy dad; and works at a fast food call center, where she thinks one of her co-workers is destined to be her soul mate.

Hannah's a really likable character. I definitely felt drawn into...more

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Feb 19, 2010 Violet Crush rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: library

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Something, maybe is really a feel good book, a lighthearted story about a teenage girl Hannah in a small town. There are quite a few themes covered in this book but none are too overbearing. There is Hannah’s mom who is grieving for her dead husband and Hannah who is trying to fit in. Hannah has a huge crush on Josh who works with her at Burger Town call center and Finn who irritates her enough to not think seriously about.

I had read its a romance story. It is, but romance is...more

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Feb 06, 2010 Adele rated it 3 of 5 stars

You could dismiss Elizabeth Scott's Something, Maybe as a frothy romance with some emotional entanglement but if you look deeper you often discover that she's written many ideas and slipped them in like a mother trying to convince you to eat vegetables at dinner.

Scott's writing is so effortless at times that a reader doesn't realise how deep the protagonist's issues run until they are neck deep in them. While the romantic arc of the story is full of snarky interchanges, misdirected lust and buc...more You could dismiss Elizabeth Scott's Something, Maybe as a frothy romance with some emotional entanglement but if you look deeper you often discover that she's written many ideas and slipped them in like a mother trying to convince you to eat vegetables at dinner.

Scott's writing is so effortless at times that a reader doesn't realise how deep the protagonist's issues run until they are neck deep in them. While the romantic arc of the story is full of snarky interchanges, misdirected lust and bucket loads of miscommunication, it's the family storyline that really captured my attention. Scott has covered some BIG IDEAS in this relatively short novel with her examination of Hannah's family. Her mother makes her living by videotaping herself in lingerie and her father is the Hugh Hefner of this universe. As a response she's shut herself off from her peers with an exception to her best friend Teagen and the two guys she works with (one she adores, one she tolerates).

Hannah knows herself almost too well and doesn't let herself breathe. She's cynical, her past experiences have weighed heavily on her and she withholds her hope from her father and from the boy she's crushing on. Despite her insight, she lacks awareness in her own life. Her romantic entanglement is extremely clear to everyone but her. This adds some credibility to the predictability of the situation. Her friend alludes to her true feelings in an unobtrusive way, her crush is aware of the situation, as is the other unfortunate fellow. What I enjoyed most was that the fellow with the crush on her is hanging tight to the one situation that created an opportunity for him to connect with Hannah. And so, that situation, her truck's reliability is a great running theme, not only as it was a time where he established himself as a support but also as it implied his care for her well being.

Most interesting to me was the triad that made Hannah's family. She has issues with both. Her father is shallow, egotistical and is unworthy of her. Her mother, the loving and supportive one, trounces around in her underwear. But despite her mother's vapidness, she's got great intentions and a steel spine. Scott integrated most teen girl's body image concerns in with that of Hannah's fear that people would brand her as promiscuous due to her mother's career path. It's a small touch but it works amazingly well in crafting this strong, three dimensional girl that leads us through some lust worthy guys and some dubious parents.

A great, fun and fabulous read!(less)

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Jan 24, 2010 Runa rated it 4 of 5 stars

It's another fascinating premise from Elizabeth Scott, delivered with elegance that is not typical when dealing with trashy parents such as Hannah's. The romance is reminiscent of that seen in another of Scott's books, Bloom. It too features honest, realistic narration. It's captivatingly written in a gentle style that flows very well. The book is a lot deeper than the book description makes it out to be, filled with blurbs of Hannah's special brand of wisdom, very much like a Sarah Dessen novel...more

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Aug 20, 2009 Jennifer Wardrip rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: trt-gold-star-award-winner, trt-posted-reviews

Reviewed by Sarah Bean the Green Bean Teen Queen for TeensReadToo.com

Hannah's parents are embarrassing. Hannah's mom, Candy Madison, is a former "celebrity" who's known for a certain revealing pizza commercial, a short-lived TV show, and being the girlfriend of famous playboy and Hannah's father, Jackson James. She doesn't talk to her dad and her mom spends most of her time in online fan chats.

Hannah wishes she was a normal girl with a normal life who could attract the attention of her co-worker...more

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About Elizabeth Scott

Hey there, I'm Elizabeth. I write young adult novels. I live just outside Washington DC with my husband and dog, and am unable to pass a bookstore without stopping and going inside.

All right, and I can't leave without buying at least one book.

Usually two. (Or more!)

My website and blog are at elizabethwrites.com, and I'm also on facebook and twitter.

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Quotes from Something, Maybe

“The sun will rise tomorrow. It always does, and all the wishing in the world for the way things were, or for what they could have been, won't change that. It won't change how things are.” — 236 people liked it

“I told you we were meant to be," he says, still smiling, still so Finn, who was always here but who I just didn't see and now--

Well, now I kiss him.” — 48 people liked it

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