Readers will surely relate to the protagonist of Cesca Major’s Maybe Next Time. Overworked literary agent Emma struggles to balance her many responsibilities, too busy to realize the emotional toll on her family. When a forgotten anniversary ends in tragedy, Emma awakens to find herself given chance after chance to set things right. This time-loop romance has made quite a name for itself, earning a spot as a Reese’s Book Club pick and an Apple Originals adaptation currently in the works.
Join us as Cesca talks us through writing Emma’s journey, as well as more projects readers can look forward to on the horizon.
About Cesca Major
Cesca Major is a novelist and screenwriter. She has written 14 novels under different names, and her books have been published in more than 12 countries. She has been nominated for the RNA’s Romantic Comedy Award, HWA Gold Crown, and the CWA Gold Dagger Award. She currently has TV and films in development with companies including Hello Sunshine, Apple, Monumental Television, 42, Amazon, and more. She mentors for the Black Girl Writers in the UK, and in 2024, she was proud to be a mentor on the Reese’s Book Club ‘Lit Up’ scheme. Cesca lives in Berkshire with her husband, son, and twin girls. She loves to hear from readers, so please feel free to send her a message over at Twitter or Instagram.
Thanks for joining us, Cesca! Let’s get started.
Maybe Next Time carries themes of love, family, and the question we all face every day: How can we best spend our time? What drew you to explore these specific themes?
The book idea was born out of living a very stressful life as a busy working mum on book deadline, juggling writing with caring for three children under three largely alone, as my husband had to continue working full time as a veterinarian during COVID. I felt I was just existing rather than truly living, and wondered what might make me really appreciate the present and slow down. The answer was quite dramatic.
In one of your YouTube videos, you mentioned that you feel very much like Maybe Next Time’s main character, Emma. Are there any quirks or habits the two of you share?
I think many women will relate to Emma, as so many women, with children or child-free, can relate to being the person who juggles a great deal and has to wear different hats. Emma is a people pleaser and struggles to say no and prioritize, which I definitely recognize. She is also chaotic, often rushing around, and has a sweet tooth. I channeled a lot of my experience of being a busy mum into her character, to the point where I struggle to reread the second chapter of the novel!
What was your favorite scene to write for Maybe Next Time? What made it particularly special?
I loved writing the letters Dan writes to Emma, as I always wanted to interject a lot of fun and humour into the book, and so many of these were also an insight into another Emma (often a nicer Emma…!).
Your previous novel, If I Were You, featured a body swap as a framing device, while Maybe Next Time takes place in a time loop. What draws you to using fantasy elements as inciting incidents?
I adore putting ordinary people into extraordinary predicaments and just think it heightens the stakes of a story, and also allows you to make a less predictable tale. The end of Maybe Next Time causes a lot of discussion, but I’m delighted it has surprised so many people.
Is there a particular trope or genre that you love but haven’t gotten the chance to work with yet?
I definitely want to write a straight thriller. I love plotting, so I am surprised I have yet to try one. I have strayed very close to my supernatural thrillers, written under my pseudonym C. D. Major. My latest, The Residency, out in 2026, is probably the closest I have got to one yet. I have some ideas…!
Was writing a second book easier than writing a first? Was the process similar, or were there elements to the second writing and publishing journey that surprised you?
I had lots of unpublished books and also novels under different names, but it is a strange moment when you write a second novel — there is a strict deadline for starters and also the realisation that lots of people liked the first one, so inevitably they will compare the second one…!
Do you have any writing projects you’re working on currently that you would like to tease?
I have just finished another speculative romance that I am so excited about. It has magic, a love triangle, and some emotional elements too. I’ve loved writing it.
Is there a book from the mystery genre that you would personally recommend to readers who enjoyed Maybe Next Time?
I adore Rosie Walsh’s books, and her first, Ghosted, acted as inspiration for Maybe Next Time. Rosie is so clever at blending romance with mystery, and I know there will always be twists, turns, and wonderfully relatable emotional moments. I look forward to anything she writes.
Lastly, Maybe Next Time is currently in the process of being adapted into a movie for Apple Originals. Do you have any behind-the-scenes sneak peeks you are willing and able to share?
It is with the amazing dream team that is Hello Sunshine and Apple, who make such wonderful shows together, so it is in very safe hands. The team fell in love with Emma’s story and had such a wonderfully moving reaction to the book. I’ll never forget that call with them. Wonderful, pinch-me stuff.
Thanks again to Cesca for speaking with us! Visit her website and follow her on Instagram to keep up with her work — and don’t forget to check out Maybe Next Time!
Looking for small-town romance? Click here to read our interview with Kat T. Masen.
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