Maybe in Another Life

Maybe in Another Life is a prime example of the modern romance genre. As a novel that firmly adheres to the conventions of romance, the narrative is constructed with fans of the genre in mind. As an exemplar of this category of literature, the novel utilizes common and easily recognizable genre tropes; these include storylines that pertain to childhood sweethearts, second-chance love, forbidden love, surprise pregnancies, and will-they-or-won’t-they dynamics.

Notably, the novel features several romance plotlines, three of which involve its central protagonist, Hannah. Though the novel’s structure is unique in that it features alternating chapters through which two disparate plotlines develop, the utilization of certain aspects of the romance genre remain conventional. As in other novels in which romance is at the heart of the plot, Hannah must contend with multiple suitors. These suitors come in the form of Ethan, Hannah’s high school sweetheart and first love, Henry, her night nurse, and Michael, a married man with children in New York who stops seeing her once his wife discovers their affair.

Through the storyline that focuses on Hannah’s growing relationship with Ethan, the novel utilizes the childhood sweethearts trope, a romance convention in which two central characters who were lovers in their distant past find each other again and rekindle their love as adults. Adhering to form, both Hannah and Ethan display feelings of regret regarding their former parting, inevitably admitting to themselves and to each other that they never stopped loving one another. With the notion that these childhood sweethearts remain interested in one another so many years later, the novel also makes use of the trope of second-chance love. By acknowledging that they both made decisions that ruined their relationship in the past, Hannah and Ethan realize they are serious about pursuing a second chance at love with one another.

In a similar vein, the novel demonstrates yet another common romance trope, that of the surprise pregnancy. That Hannah discovers she is pregnant by Michael so quickly after rekindling her romance with Ethan functions to create tension and obstacles both in their relationship and the narrative itself. That Ethan initially rejects the notion of raising another man’s child, only to eventually come around to the idea later, serves two purposes: Firstly, it highlights their undeniable love for one another and their potential as a couple, and, secondly, it ultimately pleases readers who are rooting for their love story. The book’s unique design that allows for two alternate storylines enables readers to experience narrative wish fulfillment. It is in this way that the novel conforms to yet another tradition in romance narratives: to give fans (in one way or another) what they want.

Through the novel’s alternate storyline that sees Hannah developing a relationship with her night nurse, Henry, the novel employs both the forbidden love trope and will-they-or-won’t-they dynamics. As her night nurse and therefore a professional authority, Henry is barred from knowing Hannah on a personal level. That Henry is eventually removed from the night shift because his supervisor suspects that there is something more between them reflects the forbidden nature of their budding romance. When Hannah, upon being released from the hospital, goes against the institution’s rules and searches for Henry on her own, she is reprimanded and threatened by another nurse.

Hannah’s willingness to defy the rules and pursue her romantic interest in Henry is indicative of her belief that he is someone worth fighting for, which, in turn, demonstrates a deeply romantic gesture that fans of the genre are often eager to see—that of finding one’s soulmate. After being released from the hospital, Hannah continues to think about Henry, wondering how and when she might be able to see him again. Hannah’s preoccupation with Henry exemplifies the will-they-or-won’t-they convention of romance, as her constant musings work to build narrative tension and further entice the reader about the outcome of this potential romance.

When Hannah finally runs into Henry at one of her favorite bakeries—a detail about her that he thoughtfully remembers—the slow rising action comes to its climax. Similar to the previous storyline that sees Hannah and Ethan end up together, the successful coupling of Hannah and Henry allows readers rooting for an alternate ending to experience a sense of satisfaction.