What a delightful read! I loved this book about Colton and Luann’s love story. It was so fresh to read romance written by a man from a man’s perspective. I loved all of the cultural references and be prepared to be hungry reading this book…. The food descriptions were so interesting and appealing. I can’t wait to recommend this book!

I love Jeff Zentner's books because I love the small town vibes. This was different from The Serpent King and In the Wild Light but character development was just as great. I enjoyed the dialogue and maturity of the story.

Pick up this book if you're ready to fall in love with characters and become invested in their lives. Pick up this book if you long for one of those novels that are so beautifully written that you have to stop reading and let it soak in. Pick up this book if you want to travel back to the nostalgia of the 1990s. Pick up this book for a slice of life and love and the journey for both.

Colton Gentry's Third Act by Jeff Zentnrr is a hopeful and heartwarming second chance romance.

Colton is a country music singer who, following a personal tragedy, turns to alcohol to cope. This addiction is the downfall of his career, marriage, and life. 

Finding himself at rock bottom, he moves back to his family home in the town he grew up in. 

When a chance meeting with his high school sweetheart, Luann, results in a job, Colton is finally given a new chance at life.

It was a wonderful story that I could not put down

What a wonderful book and great cover art choice! This had all the moments of a sad country story song, but was also filled with plenty of upbeat moments and smiles to keep from feeling heavy or sad for long. The friendships of the past and the reconnection in the present, were written in a way that kept me zipping through the pages and enjoying the dialogue. I can’t say that I’ve ever read a story that had me wanting to listen to my favorite Alan Jackson songs, while eating a bit of Nashville hot chicken and sweet pickles; drooling here! THIS book is definitely going on my keeper shelf. I highly recommend it!!

I’m so happy to have had the chance to read the Advanced Reader’s Edition e-copy of “Colton Gentry’s Third Act" by Jeff Zentner; thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing!

Jeff made me love country and I don’t even LIKE country. You’ll cry, cheer and celebrate Colton at the top of your lungs. Dare I say this is my new fictional boyfriend?

This Southern romance featuring a washed up country music star stood out from the pack for me! Colton Gentry is a disgraced country music star who returns to his tiny hometown in Kentucky when his career and marriage implode. There, he encounters his high school girlfriend and first love, who he hasn’t spoken to in decades. And, they get a second chance at love. Like other romances that have worked for me, this one deals with heavier themes in a light package. Zentner covers grief, friendship, addiction, and loneliness, which made me care about the characters more than I usually do in a romance. I also loved all the settings that this story takes place in: country music, food / restaurants, high school football, and the world of fame (which we know is a romance Micro Genre for me). And, a lot of this story is about redemption and rebuilding your life after things go sideways. There is a small political element to this story - Colton is black-balled from the music business because he pulls a Dixie Chicks-esque move by speaking out against guns on stage at a concert. But, this is more of a driver of getting Colton back to his hometown rather than a huge element of the story. And, it was sort of interesting to explore the aftermath of something like this.

A B list country musician does the unforgivable and drunkenly speaks out about gun violence and the second amendment while on stage as the opening act for a more famous musician. He is immediately cancelled and goes home to Kentucky to lick his wounds. The majority of the book takes place after his return home while also flashing back to his senior year in highschool and decisions made that impacted his life
I wanted to like this book but found myself skimming pages of dialogue where conversations didn't really further the story. Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read.

Colton Gentry is on the verge of being the next big country star when an onstage intoxicated rant about gun violence lands him in trouble with Nashville’s music executives. Burning his music bridges while remaining unapologetic about his views Colton finds himself back in his small Kentucky hometown, wondering exactly what is next for him. Adopting an old dog (who does not die) and reconnecting with his first love, Luanne, gives Colton a new path in life but only if he has the confidence to take it.

When I saw the cover and read the description for Colton Gentry’s Third Act I admittedly wondered if I’d be able to connect to this book in the same way as his others. I am not a fan of country music and my experience with “fine dining” is slight at best. But, I should have known better than to worry. Jeff Zentner has done it again, and by that I mean has made me smile and cry (sometimes both at once) throughout his newest novel. I soon was feeling Gentry’s pain and his feelings of failure and was continually rooting for him. Zentner’s characters are written with such depth, complications and flaws it makes them uniquely relatable. One of the quotes that landed a chord with me was Zentner’s description of depression.

“Nothing feels right. Nothing offers pleasure. Every experience, every sensory input feels like it’s being run through a filter that shades it a sickly yellow.”

Poetic and beautifully written, I devoured this book in a single sitting much like I wanted to devour the food that was described. You try not salivating after reading this:

“Wagyu beef cheeseburger with Sweet Meadow Farm pimento cheese, fried green tomatoes, and Broadbent bacon jam…”

If you’re looking for a novel that includes heartbreak, grief, healing, and love Colton Gentry’s Third Act is a must read for 2024. While you’re at it pick up In the Wild Light by Jeff Zentner as well

After a public falling out with his fans and the implosion of his marriage, country star Colton Gentry returns to his hometown to start fresh. Working as a chef in his high school flame’s restaurant gives Colton the opportunity to redefine himself.

COLTON GENTRY’S THIRD ACT is an emotionally resonant comeback story about identity, starting fresh, and returning to one’s roots. While country music is a launching point, deeper themes take center stage. Jeff Zetner touches on timely issues such as cancel culture, addiction, and redemption.

READ THIS IF YOU:
-are intrigued by a love story written by a male author
-believe we are all more than our worst mistakes
-have an affinity for Nashville hot chicken or Buccee’s pickles

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

Many thanks to Netgalley and publishers for providing my review copy. Jeff Zentner is an excellent author and really knows how to write characters that are relatable and real while creating a plot that's unique and interesting as well. You can never go wrong with a Zentner book!

I've enjoyed Zenter's young adult works, his debut into adult fiction did not disappoint. Seeing Colton hit rock bottom and come back a different, better man was satisfying. There were moments of sorrow, social tension, pride and happiness.

I LOVED this book. I will be featuring it in our store’s summer preview for best romances to take to beach/pool/lake this summer. The romance combined with the grief and the beautiful food writing made this novel such a hit for me. I absolutely loved it.

From the start, I was completely invested in Colton and his story. Him standing up for what he believed in (which is something I also happen to believe in) despite the unpopularity of his anti-gun sentiment in the country music community endeared him to me immediately. I mean sure he was kiiind of inebriated when he did it, but my opinion stands. You can tell the guy is hurting, and it's also clear that things are about to get worse before they get better.

He packs up and moves back home, finds him an old dog (with a footnote that nothing will happen to the dog, thank goodness!) and a job totally outside his comfort zone, which just so happens to be at the restaurant of an old flame.

Obviously, the theme here is Colton trying to get his life back on track. He realizes that drinking has become a problem, so he works toward sobriety. He tries to reconnect with folks from his past, and really kind of discover who he wants to be and what he wants his life to look like. It's obviously incredibly relatable for anyone who has had to do a reset long after many of your peers seem to have their lives figured out. There's romance, friendship, family, all kinds of great stuff packed into this book.

But my one absolute favorite part? Colton is a dude who has emotions. No one shames him for having emotions, he doesn't feel "less of a man" for showing said emotions. Everything about this is just... healthy. Not to say that Colton is always dealing with things in a healthy way (remember the aforementioned drinking? He also has been known to push people away to "protect" them, so yeah he isn't perfect, not by a long shot!) but the way it is all portrayed in a way that delivers really good messages.

Bottom Line: It's charming, funny, heartwarming, emotional, and all around fabulous. You obviously need it in your life.

Another beautiful story from my favorite YA author - this time for an adult audience. The story of Colton's rise and fall from grace in country music combined with the story of his re!ationship with high school sweetheart Luann was touching, if a bit trite. But once again, Zentner created a beautifully heartwarming and heartbreaking story.

Jeff Zentner's COLTON GENTRY'S THIRD ACT is the story of a man who has made many acts: first, a college football opportunity destroyed by an ACL injury, then a country western singing career. At the start of the novel, Colton finds himself back in his hometown, living with his mother in the house he grew up in, mulling regrets of actions breaking the hearts of a woman and a best friend he loved with all his heart. While the story felt dragged out in places and swift, lyrical flow in others, all in all, I enjoyed the journey Colton made with an unexpected gift of friendship and a third act where he can live and thrive. The insights in musical careers and the restaurant business were fantastically detailed and realistic. I particularly enjoyed how sensual and immersive the story was in putting me in Kentucky with a fascinating group of people figuring out how to live well. I received a copy of this book and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.

Loved it! It is a great book - well written, with good banter, the dialogues are funny, and the characters are likable. I wish I were listening to it - I actually might in the future - to really appreciate all the Southern dialect quirks like "might could" and the accents.
The book explores themes of addiction and second (third!) chances, high-school romance, gun control, and popular culture and its effect on society.
I thoroughly enjoyed the read. Colton is a well-rounded character, Luann is independent, artistic, and outspoken, and while the story does not contain shart turns and unexpected twists, it is a good story nonetheless.
Thank you, NetGalley, Jeff Zentner, and Grand Central Publishing for providing the early reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

BEST BOOK I've read this year. BEST.
There's romance, recovery, an of-the-moment cause, and some of the best writing that drives emotions in waves. There's a soundtrack to this story of a country star who loses his best friend to a shooting death at a concert. The pulsing beat of an alcoholic in recovery after losing everything is the bass line of the theme song, but the melody comes in when Colton Gentry is forced home where he starts over, making amends. Forgiveness. Finding yourself. And food. The celebration of food in this novel takes it over the edge! So good!!!!

I just loved this book. Colton was a great main character and the reader finds it easy to relate with him. The periphery characters were created with love. The book includes a teenage first kiss scene that is a near exact copy of a first kiss I experienced myself around that same time. It felt like reading a memoir during that scene. Great writing and a very touching story. Appreciated the footnotes.

My thanks for the ARC goes to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing. I'm voluntarily leaving a review.

Genre: Romance, Contemporary Fiction
Spice Level: Slow burn, sex on the page
Language: Smattering of f-bombs and more
Format: Dual timeline. Present and past of Colton.

This book is mostly about Colton's journey—and I don't feel like you see as many romances with the guy front and center. The first chapter was rough for me with the f-bombs. I get it though. We had to see Colton blow up his life. And he did, landing in rehab and more.

I thought Colton's journey to stay sober was pretty realistic. I was rooting for him not to fall and drink again. This was also a bit rough to read. (I had a sibling who became an alcoholic and died young.) But his journey was also cathartic.

The girl he loved from high school was interesting. I was surprised how she was so supportive of him when she'd had so many people bow out of her life or utterly fail her. But it was also sweet that she was prickly on the outside and a marshmallow inside.

I did end up enjoying this book, and I think the majority of romance readers will love it.

Happy reading!