I got through this one fairly quickly, probably because I felt a connection to the women in the story as they are all the same age as I am. I felt a bigger connection to Sarah and Miriam, though, than I did with Beth.

Each of the women experiences loss, change and growth throughout the story, which takes place in three parts. Within each part, the POV alternates between the three women, each telling their own story for that period of time, though they all blend and meld together.

Like me, Sarah has been through several jobs and never feels financially secure. I feel like this is the heart of her storyline, though there is of course more to it- relationship issues, forgotten dreams, etc.

Miriam on the other hand, is forever single. There have been failed relationships in her past, but figures she is just meant to be alone. I readily identify with this as well. Miriam also has family issues and a career she enjoys rounding out her life.

Beth, on the other hand, has neither of these issues. She has a stable marriage, plenty of financial security, a successful career of her own. But she also has problem to deal with that hover below the surface, showing no life is ever perfect.

I enjoyed getting to know the three women and watch them move through this phase of their lives. It reminded me that there is still time to chase some dreams of my own.

Disclaimer: I received an eARC of this book through Net Galley on behalf of the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Enjoyable stories and interesting concept/characters but not the best writing compared to other authors in this genre/style.

I received an e-copy of this story for my honest review.
Teri Emory has reminded those of us that are in mid-life, whether single, long-married, or starting over, that there can be “Second Acts” to our lives. She gives us hope. Another thing that I have taken from her book is that friends, no matter when you met them, or whatever is going on in life, can be a good thing to have around. And, I know this might be cliché but… #FriendsForever!

Second Acts is a book about female friendships. Sarah, Miriam and Beth met as roommates in college and have continued their friendship over the ensuing years: through marriages (and divorces), loss, job challenges, kids, aging parents and all the typical life experiences.
The characters were all likable and interesting and I found some of their experiences especially relatable (aging parents and Sarah’s work in the healthcare/pharma worlds).
Overall, a three star book for me. There are many books out there that follow a similar journey and Second Acts just didn’t break out of the mold enough for me. Thanks to Netgalley and Amberjack Publishing for the opportunity to read Second Acts!

Three women remembering their college days. It is well written and keeps you hooked. Perfect for a beach read.

Overall its a good book with good characters - some more and better developed than others, some with actual depth and characteristics that others sadly lacked- and interesting storylines.
I also always love when this type of genre has books that include characters outside the "typical" age range of early twenties since its always nice to see that authors and publishers remember that life does not end after you turn 25.

Worth a read if you are interested in it.

A lovely, detailed, interesting book about life and about how things turn out , about surprises and about things you want and things you think you wanted. Good book.

A story that spans the lives of three women, Miriam, Beth and Sarah. They were college friends whom now have become middle aged with marriages, children and careers. They each have a story that spans the decades of their friendships. Their story is about challenges, heartbreaks, and their secrets. Can these three women face their struggles and maintain their friendship? Teri Emory blends their lives and their friendships in this unforgettable novel. You quickly get wrapped up into their story and can relate to their characters. A beautifully written novel for women who have had their own struggles and lasting friendships. I was so graciously gifted this book from NetGalley for an unbiased review.

I honestly could tell by the writing of the first 2 chapters that it wouldn't be a good fit for our box and had to put it down. I may read it again in the future!

This was a great read....loved it. I was pulled into the story and the lives of the characters right away. There is nothing that compares to the friendship of other females, and this trio of characters demonstrates that throughout different stages of their lives.

This was a very enjoyable read. The story centers around three friends and the incredible support that they have for each other, which started when they were roommates in college.

I highly recommend this book if you are a fan of Women's Fiction. I look forward to reading more books by this author.

#justfinished Second Acts @TeriEmory: how lovely, nice and well written! SPOILER: the Prince Charmant exists... sometimes :) A+++ #netgalley https://twitter.com/tentatividiauro/status/921669212271185920

Thanks to NetGalley, Amberjack Publishing and Teri Emory for the opportunity to read and review this book - I loved it. Just a great, relatable read.

Three friends - Sarah, Miriam and Beth - meet in college in the 1970s and become lifelong friends, despite their differences in backgrounds and temperaments. The book is laid out in different times of their lives - starting with the college years up through after 9/11 - and each chapter is told in the voice of one of the friends. So you really get to learn about each character this way.

I loved each of these women for their own strengths and weaknesses. Their main focus was on being there for each other forever. How lucky to have friends like that - to know that people always had your back no matter what. And especially to be beginning that "second act" of our lives with such good friends in your corner.

Great read!

Despite taking very different paths after college, the women in Second Acts remained the best of friends and knew everything about each other....they had such a deep bond. Emory mastered telling each of their stories in the present as well as delving into their past.
The main characters are so well developed and I love seeing how each of them finds the inner strength to tackle the individual trial she is facing and theme of perseverance that permeates the book. I'm also encouraged by the idea that life isn't over when your children are raised and out of the house; there's always a way to make a new path for yourself, if you are only brave enough to forge it.

I hate spoiling the plot for books so all I can say is that I loved this book so much it's on my "best of 2017" shelf and I highly encourage you to read it.

I was provided an eARC for review purposed by the publisher. Here is my honest review.

2/10

I DNFed this one after a chapter and a bit. I knew pretty much straight away it wasn't for me. I didn't like the writing style and it wasn't very original. At 24, I'm obviously not the target audience for this book and should have guessed that from the bio, so I probably shouldn't have requested it.

A beautiful story of friendship told in the voices of Sarah, Miriam, and Beth,; a friendship formed in college during the 60's. This story does a beautiful job of showing how life takes unexpected turns and for any of us with problems we would take on our own and not our friends'.

What a delightful read! This is about three women who met in college and became best friends during the 70's in New York. This novel chronicles the lives of Sarah, Miriam, and Beth, as they make their way from hippies to mothers with careers. They have each other's back through marriages, children and everything in between. I loved the way the novel was laid out, where each friend narrated that "chapter" of her life in her own voice. It gave you a deeper understanding of the personalities of the different women and you could relate to them better. This novel was so well written that you felt like you were a part of their world. It's one of those novels that you really wish didn't end, you want to keep reading about what happens next.

I would like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for providing me a copy of this e-galley in exchange for my honest review.

I love some books because they take you outside your life, and let you experience something new and different. But sometimes a book comes along that tells your story, and what a experience, sometimes lovely, sometimes painful that is. I had to set aside “Second Acts” when Miriam’s mother, Celeste, was hospitalized for the first time. I know that story, and it was too painful to read. But what a delight to come back to reading, and to watch Miriam find the support and love she deserves. The friendships and support that the book’s characters experience is wonderful and inspiring. I really enjoyed “Second Acts”.

What a sweet, charming book! I suppose it doesn't hurt that I'm the perfect demographic for this book -- a middle-aged woman who likes chick lit/female friendship stories. But what I liked about this book was how it managed to be relatively villain-free without being too syrupy sweet....not a lot of excess, unnecessary tension and drama. And I felt like it was a realistic portrayal of the characters' lives despite things working out in the end. Maybe I was just in the mood for something like this after all the heavy-duty literary fiction I've read recently, but I thought it was very well done. I will be looking for more from this author.

I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange or an honest review.

I love books like this. Three friends, just living their life. There's a little drama, but mostly this focuses the story on the women in their 50's and this exact time in their life. It's a slice of life book, we see a section of a story.

Sarah, Beth and Miriam have been friends since the 60's and have been each other's rock throughout hard and good times. There is love, there is heartbreak.

Teri Emory created very real characters. This is a story about what happens after all the glitter and shine of a new marriage or a new friendship. This is well-lived. My ONE complaint is that I wish there were more details about the women's activities in the 60s and 70s.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.