This is the first Ali Rosen book for me. I loved it. Bea and Jack were that second chance romance that you just have to root for. I also so,appreciated that they were a bit old and not in their early 20s. The problems and hurdles these two have are totally relatable. I also like the fact that it took place between NYC and Ireland. I loved reading about these locations because I have been to both. And can I mention how adorable six year old Bash is! The narrator Maria Marquis was fantastic.

I just finished Alternate Endings by Ali Rosen Narrated by Maria Marquis and here are my thoughts.

Beatrice is a single working mother. Trying to balance her life with her ex husband and their 6 year old son is just the start of the pile teetering pile of insanity that is her life. Work, at least, is something she has control over. That is until her boss decides to up and move back to Ireland after her own divorce.

The last thing Beatrice needs is all the travel between NYC and Ireland especially with how precarious her custody agreement is with her ex and the last thing she expects to find there is a man she hasn’t seen in 20 years..Jack…. Especially as Jack ghosted her all those years ago. Trouble is the attraction between them can’t be ignored even if they do work together now.

What can I say, it was a cute second chance romance. The audio narrator was great. Had no issues with being fully engaged with the book the whole way through.

I really liked Bea. Is an overworked mama trying to navigate her life post divorce. Her job is her only stability and then that gets shaken up too. It’s pretty funny really. She’s a hot mess of epic proportions and her son is so precocious. He has a million questions and is like a mini grown up.

I am not a huge fan of second chance romances because for me, there is never a good reason for there to be a second chance but I kind of liked this one. You can kind of see where Jack was coming from and while I still think he could have had a conversation with Bea back then, it didn;t stop me from really loving how their relationship unfolded.

It’s well written and a really sweet and fun read. It was a really slow burn. The pace could have done with being a bit quicker but I enjoyed the characters enough that it didn’t really matter.

3.75 stars rounded to 4

Thank you to @netgalley and @brilliancepublishing for my gifted audio

Alternate ending is a wonderful romance they reminds you that not every ending is the the end of the story. Beatrice had the opportunity to find exactly what she wants in life if she releases herself from fear of so many things. I enjoyed the second chance love story of Jack and Beatrice, although unconventional, is was warm and interesting to listen to.

I absolutely adored Ali Rosen's sophomore novel. I am a sucker for a second chance romance and Bea and Jack were truly a couple I could root for. It's nice to see a heroine my age (36) represented as well, as a lot of romances tend to focus on twenty somethings and I really liked the relatable aspects of these characters. I enjoyed that this book took place between Ireland and NYC - as a NYC resident, I love to read about local places and the chapters in Ireland added a nice balance to the story.

The narration by Maria Marquis was phenomenal and made this story a joy to listen to from start to finish.

4.25 stars!

"Alternate Endings" by Ali Rosen, narrated by Maria Marquis, offers a heartfelt journey through the complexities of love, forgiveness, and self-discovery. As a divorced single mom navigating the tumult of her past marriage and striving for success in her career, Bea's story resonates deeply. Set against the charming backdrops of Ireland and the US, this slow-burn second-chance romance unfolds with authenticity and depth. Rosen's writing captures the essence of real-life struggles and triumphs, making the characters feel vivid and relatable. Marquis's narration is a highlight of the story, showcasing a variety of female and male voices with different American and Irish accents throughout. While the pacing may falter at times, the realistic portrayal of Bea's balancing act between motherhood, work, and love keeps listeners engaged. It is a recommended listen for fans of women's fiction and romance alike. Special thanks to NetGalley and Montlake for the gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first Ali Rosen book, and I definitely want to read her other stuff! I loved that even though this was a romance, it focused a lot on Beatrice and her growth as a character. She felt relatable and empowering as a single mom, who was also a powerhouse at work. This book felt light even with the heavier topics discussed. Rosen touches on divorce, IVF and infertility, as well as the fear of asking what you want as a woman, and I thought she did this so well. I also enjoyed the second chance romance here. Jack and Beatrice immediately had tangible chemistry and I couldn't get enough of them. The mixed setting of New York and Ireland was fun too, and I didn't mind the back and forth journey we went on as readers. Bash was a really wholesome side character as were Beatrice's sister in law and her friends. There was some classic deflection humor that worked well, but this was emotional at times too. Overall, this was a quick read and I really enjoyed it. Thank you to LEO PR and Brilliance audio for sending me ARC's to read and review!

This book was okay-took way to long to get to the point.

I like slow burn books but this one dragged on a little too much. I would recommend it for a small time enjoy read. This could have been better in my opinion.

A cute, slow-burn second chance romance with a lovely split setting (Ireland and US).

Premise - after her boss gets divorced, divorced single mom Bea has to work in Ireland twice a week... where she finds herself face to face with her first love, Jack. Between juggling single motherhood and increasing responsibility at her company, Bea finds herself falling into a FWB arrangement with her ex. Can she keep all the plates spinning? And can she keep the lines clean with Jack?

Well, this is a romance so we obviously know the answer to at least one of those questions. Nevertheless, the journey to get there is interesting and realistic (albeit quite slow). This book works well for women's fiction/romance crossover readers, especially those who enjoy a great deal of slice of life.

I loved the writing style of this - the characters felt real and fleshed out. They didn't forget their lives, responsibilities, and passions just because they stumbled upon a cutie (my absolute pet peeve in romance). Instead, Bea had a full work and home life (we assume Jack did, too, all the evidence indicated such) and we saw the romance unfold in a more realistic way.

The reason it's a 3 and not a 4 is that the pacing wasn't quite there - it was easier to put down than I would have liked. I just didn't really feel compelled to keep reading as I would have liked to, though it was very pleasant when I was reading. Still, I'm glad I read it and would definitely recommend it to romance fans!

Thanks, NetGalley and Montlake, for the gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review.