I've read all of Laura Pearson's books since she signed with Boldwood and I've loved them all, so I was delighted to have the opportunity to read The Many Futures Of Maddy Hart. The premise is really quirky and I was intrigued by how the concept would work out. Laura Pearson's writing is really engaging and easy to read and I was completely invested in the story from the first page to the last.

The biggest strength of The Many Futures Of Maddy Hart is the characters. The novel is narrated by Maddy, and this gives the reader plenty of opportunity to get to know her, and she was a character I warmed to almost straight away. I loved her chemistry with Oliver and I was rooting for them as a couple as well as individuals the whole way through. It is clear from the beginning that Maddy's family and best friend, Priya, are important people in Maddy's life, and I loved the way that Laura Pearson developed them into vibrant characters that I cared about just as much as Maddy herself.

The plot of The Many Futures Of Maddy Hart is quite slow burning and I was unsure where the story was going for large parts of it. The ending was not what I expected it would be, but it was very emotional and I will be thinking about Maddy and Oliver for a while to come.

Well that was a lovely read, a great story with some great charecters that were easy to get to know and love, took me less than 24 hours because I didn't want to put it down

The premise is there, but it isn't fleshed out. However, I have to say I adore Maddy and Oliver. They were relatable and you could feel the love from them.

I love Laura Pearson books! What an interesting concept. Yes, far fetched but so is time travel and sci-fi etc. A bit of magic or psychic abilities is rather interesting and perhaps rather scary and stressful when you think about it. What if she can see other things in her future that she perhaps doesn't want to when she's older? Either way I loved it in every way! Beautifully written and well plotted.

I am a big fan of the author and have enjoyed all her previous novels. I therefore grabbed this one quickly when I saw it was available on NetGalley UK.
I love time travel novels and I have never seen one with this unique twist before. In this book whenever Maddie has sex, she finds herself travelling forwards in time to the potential future .She sees herself living with her partner in a future that sometimes contains a small child .it’s not clear whether these futures are definite or nearly potential some seem more attractive than others. Eventually it becomes clear that there are things that she can do in the present it might influence whether these potential futures will happen.
I like the way that she has a girlfriend who accepts her story of time travel and allows her to talk through the issues with her. This gives the also your opportunity to ponder and plan cleverly.
Why she travels is not explained nor why she returns and how long she stays I didn’t find this a little unsatisfactory as I rather like stories that type all the end by the end of the book.
The author I describes the characters in her stories perfectly they seem real three dimensional people and I truly believe in them despite the elements of magical reality in the storytelling This is a difficult skill to maintain absolute normality and reality in your narrative whilst introducing something as far fetched sexually introduced time travel . The author is Spot on here This is a totally believable story.
I enjoy the fact that the time travel allows the storyteller to look at a prolonged period of time in the characters lives so that you get a fully developed long lasting relationship between Maddie and her partner Oliver. There are similarities here with the novels of someone like David Nicholls such as Us or One Day I think if you loved that novel you will love this one too
I think this book is going to do very well and prove very popular. I could see it becoming a lovely film so I hope Netflix has its eyes on it.
I read an early copy of the novel on NetGalley UK in return for an honest review. The book is published in the UK on the 4th of February 2025 by BaldWood books.
This review will appear on StoryGraph, Goodreads and my book blog bionicSarahS book.wordpress.com after publication it will also appear on Amazon UK

** spoiler alert ** This review contains mild spoilers.
The premise of this book is ridiculous but I decided to give it a go. It has glimmers of delivering with its execution, but ultimately does not. While Maddy is likeable, her character isn't developed well enough to make the story come together (why would she suddenly lose her "passion" for acting because she's sees shes not an actor in the future?). Is the author saying the future is set in stone or that we have free will? It's unclear to me, especially when she engineers a breakup with Oliver to "make" the future come true in a way that's acceptable to her. Finally, the ending was abrupt and unsatisfying.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Teenager Maddy Hart has her whole life ahead of her, a life full of wonders and possibilities. Her first experience of sex isn't quite what she expected as it gives her a glimpse of her life ten years in the future - and she doesn't like what she sees. This happens each time she has sex and as a result Maddy quickly swears off relationships altogether, until she meets Oliver.

Laura Pearson's last two books have had novel plots and The Many Futures Of Maddy Hart is the same. As a teenager, Maddy discovers that when she has a sexual encounter she gets a glimpse of her life ten years into the future. She doesn't like the life on display each time and after a while decides to avoid relationships completely. Instead, she's going to concentrate on her career as an actress.

Becoming a successful actress isn't easy and Maddy ends up taking some strange jobs. Through one of these jobs she meets Oliver, another aspiring actor. The description of the actual job is hilarious, you can feel Maddy's astonishment and then indignation at having to demean herself.

There is a spark between Maddy and Oliver but Maddy doesn't think their paths will ever cross again. Fate has other ideas. And that is the crux of the story, what if our fate is already mapped out for us? A little bit like "sliding doors", Maddy can glimpse her future if she stays with her current partner. This peek into her future allows her to change course if she doesn't like what she sees.

When Maddy finally begins a relationship with Oliver the flashes of their future look perfect. Eventually, Maddy begins to question what she sees, realising that she's been making assumptions about the intervening ten years and this has a major impact on her relationship with Oliver.

I loved all the conundrums Maddy's "curse" (or is it a blessing?) raised. How sure can Maddy be that the visions of the future are real and will actually happen? There's also a big question about what it means if Maddy sees nothing at all? Will Maddy keep getting glimpses of the future for the rest of her life? What should she do if she learns information that could impact a friend's future? All these questions, and more, are ones that the reader ponders alongside Maddy.

Maddy has to make some difficult decisions that effect not only her and Oliver but also her wider family. As I read I felt my heart breaking because Maddy couldn't explain her actions to the people around her.

3★

Well the premise was Maddy Hart could see the future, interesting naa, tho it has a catch she should be having sex with a person and during this she finds herself transferred into 10 years in future and what it looks like with him. The idea behind it was definitely odd but exceptional.

The way I am pulling towards magical realism these days hehe, it’s not funny anymore.
And can we talk about the cover? This has no reason to be this pretty.

‘You know how my character is reincarnated, over and over again, and has a different love in each life? I mean, of course you know. You are the love of all my lives.’

Initially it started off strong but halfway it got predictable and the ending? Abrupt and underwhelming. I thought in the first half it could be a solid 4 stars but idk where it went wrong.
The narrative was intriguing and the concept of altering your present to change your future was cleverly written. But the plot holes and underdeveloped scenarios didn’t work for me. I wish i could get more backstory of Oliver, romance wasn’t romancing idk.
Mrs. Aziz and Henry were my favourite side characters, I loved how meaningful their presence was in the book. Ngl every character has their own significance but these two have my heart. I wanna give the biggest hug to Henry. The disability rep in this book is my favourite thing about it.

Thanks to the author, Laura Pearson, Boldwood Books, and NetGalley for the ARC.

The Many Futures of Maddy Hart by Laura Pearson has a unique premise, and if as a reader you are willing to go with it, it will take you on a journey filled with friendship, love and family.
Our protagonist Maddy has an unusual problem, every time that she is intimate with a partner she is jolted forward into her own body, a decade into the future, giving her a glimpse of what her life could become. This is terrifying at first and remains so disturbing that she is reluctant to share her secret with anyone but her best friend, Priya, especially after some visions of the future that are heartbreaking. This means that she builds a wall around herself and her feelings, only allowing in her mum, stepdad and little brother, plus Priya of course. When she meets Oliver and that wall starts to crumble she finds herself for the first time in a version of the future that could make her happy, but as time goes on and she learns more about that future it appears that the path to her happiness will not be as simple or straightforward as she hoped. If she is to have Oliver's heart in the future she may have to break it first.
I have read several Laura Pearson books so I knew I was going to be in good hands, and this book did not disappoint. I always find that she creates lovable characters that invite the reader into their lives and struggles, and I usually find myself very invested in the outcome. That being said, the outcome in this book is left a little more to the readers imagination so if you are someone who likes everything wrapped up neatly you may be a little disappointed. I think it works in the context of the story here but I know not everyone will feel the same. I also felt that the ending was just a little rushed in comparison to the pacing of the rest of the book. It is not just the main characters of Maddy and Oliver that had my attention, Priya's story was heartbreaking and I loved the relationship that Maddy had with her younger brother. If you like a book that plays with the concepts of fate and love this might be just the book you are looking for.
I read and reviewed an arc courtesy of NetGalley, all opinions are my own .

The plot of this book is so unique that I was instantly drawn to it. Maddy is fleshed out extremely well and very likeable. Through the writing I was able to really feel connected to her and what she was feeling with these flash forwards. Similarly Laura was able to develop the side characters in a way that I was very invested in their lives as well. Oliver was such a great catch and I felt my heart tug while Maddy had to contemplate the trade off of a future with him.

Laura Pearson has a remarkable gift for exploring the infinite possibilities of life, and she returns to that theme in The Many Futures of Maddy Hart. As always, her writing shines with skill and grace, drawing readers into Maddy’s journey of self-discovery as she glimpses the paths her future might take. Pearson’s ability to balance emotional depth with a touch of speculative wonder is what makes her one of my favorite authors.

While I enjoyed this book for the beauty of her prose, it felt less robust than some of her previous works. Where The Beforelife of Eliza Valentine felt like a sweeping symphony, this story is more akin to a violin solo—still lovely, but smaller in scale. The world and characters didn’t feel as fully realized, and I found myself wishing for just a bit more depth.

One aspect that stood out was the ending. While it fits the reflective tone of the book, I tend to prefer more resolved conclusions. Readers who enjoy open-ended stories may find it thought-provoking, but it left me wanting more closure.

Overall, this is a thoughtful and beautifully written exploration of choices and motherhood, themes Pearson handles with her signature sensitivity. While it didn’t resonate as strongly as her earlier works, it’s still an engaging read that highlights her undeniable talent.

Such a unique premise, the concept of seeing glimpses of future relationships, a time travel theme very cleverly written & nothing like I've ever read before.

It's a heartwarming story about finding love and embracing the unexpected, a real page turner!

was so excited about another book from Laura Pearson after having loved her novel The Day Shelley Woodhouse Woke Up.

I started The Many Futures of Maddy Hart and felt seriously confused by even the first chapter (like "What's going on?").

I decided to keep going with this book, but still had a feeling of unease about the characters, like they weren't developed enough and also that the plot wasn't interesting.

The book is fast paced and the attention to detail is good, but nothing much happens in spite of these things which would usually have me immersed in a book and move the story forward.

I found Maddy and Priya's friendship predictable but I did find them to be good friends and I was glad they had each other. I was glad they met at university and lived together. It made me feel happy for them and a little nostalgic for my own university days and university friendships .

Maddy’s past love life and imagined future with different men in the story wasn’t written in an interesting way for me.

I found myself really struggling to stay interested at all. I did like the sprinkling of Priya’s backstory here and there, but I felt Oliver and Nick had less backstory and I wanted more for all the characters as I feel like I never really got to know them.

It seems to me that Maddy’s apartment search was too quick, easy, and too easily resolved. I’d have liked it to be more difficult and realistic as well as detailed. Just like it is in real life for many people. I felt sad for Maddy and Priya when Maddy moved out.

I feel disappointed in this novel and like it has the potential to be much better than it is. I feel like everything is too rushed and I was taken out of the story. The romance wasn’t romantic or immersive enough.

3 stars

Thanks to Laura Pearson and Boldwood Books for my eARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

I really enjoyed reading this book, it had that element that I enjoyed from Laura Pearson. I was invested in what was happening with the characters and thought the plot worked well overall. I was a beautifully done what if story.

I don’t know where Laura Pearson gets her ideas for her books-she has such unique stories and likable characters. I devoured this book and was upset when it ended- there has to be more! She has quickly become one of my favorite authors. Phenomenal book! Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and Laura Pearson for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. My first ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️book this year!

As a fan of time-traveling stories, The Many Futures of Maddy Heart offered an utterly unique take on the concept: catching glimpses of your future during sex. It’s an imaginative premise that Laura Pearson explores with both depth and emotional resonance.

The story shines brightest through the experiences of Maddy, especially as she navigates different relationships, each revealing new facets of her future. Things become especially gripping when Oliver enters her life—his presence adds layers of intrigue and unexpected twists that kept me hooked.

This isn’t a typical romance, so don’t approach it, expecting a fairy tale love story. Instead, it’s a exploration of grief, identity, and self-discovery. Pearson weaves these themes with subtlety, crafting a narrative that’s as heart-wrenching as it is thought-provokingand all that while keeping it light and funny

What truly sets this book apart is how well the side characters are fleshed out. Priya, Maddy’s best friend, stands out as more than just a supporting character—her story is rich and meaningful, adding depth to the narrative.

A big thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to experience this remarkable book. It’s a story that lingers long after the final page. Highly recommended for readers who appreciate poignant, genre-bending tales that challenge and move you in unexpected ways

maddy hart has a strange gift…she can see ten years into the future each time she has sex. seems like an odd premise, right? it works. really well.
as with all of laura pearson’s books, the reader becomes a part of the story - you feel maddy’s pain, experience her worries, and sigh at her contentment. the gift allows her to “pick her battles” a bit better than the average woman might. she goes through family woes, navigates friendship and early career frustrations, and falls in love for the first time with oliver.
what would you do with a gift like this? enjoy maddy’s story and see where it all takes her!

thank you to boldwood books for providing this book for review consideration via netgalley. all opinions are my own.

very unusual concept, when Maddy has sex she sees herself ten years in the future. will she ever find the right person?

What a treat for the first book of the year.
Slightly unusual concept when Maddy has sex she sees visions of herself 10 years in the future.
Strange but it worked.
I really loved this book, it flowed easily, no confusion when it was now or in the future. It was a really enjoyable read and I was disappointed when it finished.

The Many Futures of Maddy Hart by Laura Pearson

It happens to her every time. When the kisses lead to the bedroom, just when she thinks she might have found the one… Just for a split second, Maddy disappears, and she finds that she’s living her own life. But ten years from now.

She’s only there for a little while. But each time, it’s long enough to know that she doesn’t want to be any of those versions of Maddy. Because every man she falls for seems to lead her to a life that is just… wrong.

Loved the premis of this , haven't read anything like it since The Time Travellers Wife , and like that one , this would make a great movie.
Loved Maddy and enjoyed reading all about her .