Daddy’s Maybe. Denise Essex. 2023. 197 pages. [Source: Kindle Unlimited.]
This book was messy as hell. That’s not a terrible thing; it just comes with the territory when the main characters have to live out the adage, “mama’s baby, daddy’s maybe.” Destiny Cooper has settled into a quiet life in her small hometown. She has a career that’s rewarding and three loveable kids, which she holds onto to balance out that she’s accepted the reality of her marriage to a habitually unfaithful man.
Things are shaken up when her high school flame returns home, moving in across the street with his wife and son. Xavier Grant had no reason to return to Tinsville, but an unexpected – and impossible to pass – opportunity brings him and his family back to face his skeletons, both known and unknown. With a wife who is going stir-crazy and a son looking for connections after being uprooted, the last thing he needs is a wrench that changes everything he thought he knew about his own past.
What sets this book apart is how realistic this plot is. I personally know people whose lives closely mirror the situation Destiny and Xavier found themselves in, and it’s never easy or simple to manage. Essex’s depictions of the characters’ reactions are very realistic, whether they were central to the situation or peripherally impacted. The reality is that none of the spouses and children came away unscathed, and Essex was able to show the myriad emotional peaks and valleys people could experience trying to make sense of an unfathomable situation. In doing so, Essex also created multifaceted characters who were authentic. While reading, I was never fully in support of Destiny or Xavier, nor did I always feel like other characters (well, except one) were wholly villainous.
It’s not at all a far-fetched premise – I’d argue that most people know someone harboring a similar secret or are the product of one, unbeknownst to them. That being said, the reactions of the various people involved are also true to reality and that’s what makes it hard to fall into the space of truly disliking or aligning with any of them. Essex highlights the roller coaster of emotions and unintended consequences for everyone in each family. She even explores some of the generational trauma that the two families deal with, which factor heavily into how they navigate their new realities. The secondary character in the book drive a lot of this peripheral action and I enjoyed reading the characters’ approach to these relationships, too.
Daddy’s Maybe is an enjoyable read with a good balance of drama, romance, and humor. It has an engaging cast of characters navigating an interesting story. It’s a shorter read, perfect for a relaxing afternoon or beach day.
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