2 stars
This book is predictable and disappointing. I had high hopes for this book but sadly it did not deliver.
i received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher.

This story was warm, cozy and hopeful. The dynamics between Thea and Edward reminded me a little of Beach read. Their banter was clever, witty and completely amusing. I loved how Thea brought out Edward’s kind side, and how they much they complimented each other. While the story was slightly predictable, I loved every minute of it!⁣ Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Ballantine for this ARC for my honest review.

This novel started out with some good possibilities, but quickly devolved into something totally humdrum and predictable.

I appreciate this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher, Ballantine Books, in exchange for an honest review and I wish the author well. This was just not for me.

I received an advance copy of, The Bookshop of Second Chances by, Jackie Fraser. This book was okay. Starting over again after losing her job. The characters were a little annoying and nosy. It was an ok read.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3586370554?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

I really wanted to love this but just found the writing too long-winded to capture my attention. The premise and setting were great, and there were moments where I felt like the characters were able to shine. Unfortunately, it did feel muddied by extremely long passages where it's basically just Thea's stream of consciousness.

This story, for me, was very "Eat Pray Love" meets charming Europe. I enjoyed experiencing the protagonist's journey from bottom-of-the-barrel to flying high on love. The setting in and of itself (from the quaint towns to the specific bookshop) truly laid the foundation for Thea to make headway in her new life. The storyline provided a sense of optimism in the bleakest of times (which was very welcomed considering the current state of things in the "real" world). The only criticism I have about the story is simply its predictability. There was not enough originality or innovation in the story's plot, which is why this story will not remain a very memorable one, especially compared to other similar novels on my shelf.

Althea “Thea” Mottram is not having a good time of it. As the book begins, Thea is just turning 44. it is three weeks since she lost her job and ten days since her husband of fifteen years, Chris, left her for her (so-called) friend Susanna.

Things take a turn when she learns she has inherited the house of her Great Uncle Andrew, whom she met only a few times, but who had no other relatives. The house is in a small Scottish village near the coast, and is a lodge on the estate of Lord Hollinshaw, who lives about a mile up the road. The attorney for the estate tells Thea that Lord Hollinshaw, a.k.a. Charles Maltravers is interested in buying the lodge, so she would have money to live on if she sells it. Charles brother Edward, who renounced his title and has an antiquarian bookshop in town, would buy the books from the house, which are quite valuable and could also contribute to her support.

While Thea is deciding what to do, she applies for the job opening as a sales assistant in Edward’s shop. Edward made clear that if he weren’t desperate he would never hire a female, but takes her on because his current assistant is moving and he seems to have no other options.

Thea loves the work in the shop and makes friends in the town. She comes to love the lodge as well. She and Edward become friends in spite of his determination to be curmudgeonly, and she learns why Edward and Charles are not speaking.

Thea is struggling with the emotions roiling around in the aftermath of her breakup, and never conceives that anyone could find her attractive or desirable. She soon learns that isn’t so accurate an assessment either. But she is also afraid of happiness: didn’t she think she was happy before? And look how that turned out….

Evaluation: This lovely story is like a Hallmark Channel movie but with cursing and sex, making it a bit more realistic than Hallmark fare. I found myself rooting for all of the charming characters to find happiness, and of course, what can beat the setting?

I received The Bookshop of Second Chances by Jackie Fraser as an ARC from NetGalley. The Bookshop of Second Chances is a fun little romance set on the coast of Scotland. Life is not going well for Thea Mottram. She has been let go from her job and then discovers that her husband of 20 years has been cheating on her with someone that she thought was her friend. She then gets some good news when she learns that her uncle has left her a cottage on the Scottish coast. She decides that now is the perfect time to check out her new house and get away from everything in her current life. She originally plans to stay for 2 weeks but decides to stay longer and work on the house. She gets a job in a second hand bookstore and also makes renovations on the house in the hopes of eventually turning it into a vacation rental. She and her boss Edward start to develop feelings for each other. Edward has a horrible relationship background mostly involving sleeping with women that he doesn't care about. Thea is Edward's opposite in that respect. She believes in commitment instead of one night stands. The banter between the two of this is fun and Edward starts to realize what he has done with his life. This was a fun summer read.

What I liked: This book is introspective, charming and a great escape into the world of Thea Mottram. I found the setting lovely, the writing engaging and the love story fun (albeit almost Mr. Darcy-ish). Fun read!

What I didn't like: Strong language at times and sexual behavior used for revenge. Also the main man was seriously emotionally disturbed and somehow was magically better when Thea came into his life. He definitely needed therapy.

The Bookshop of Second Chances by Jackie Fraser

The Bookshop of Second Chances is a good book for when you want to turn off your brain and just have a chill romantic read. One of my favorite aspects of the book is that the main characters are in their forties so their life experiences have the possibility to provide different perspectives than many novels that feature those in younger age groups. It’s slightly reminiscent of the film Under the Tuscan Sun and there are a few bits that even make me laugh out loud. With that being said, this is a debut novel and for me it reads like one.

My negative thoughts...

The character development is lacking. For example, Edward is constantly described by people Thea speaks with as being grumpy or cruel; however, no one explains why. Does he cut everyone off in traffic? Insult people that buy books he doesn’t like? Murder puppies? I don’t know.

Even though the main characters are in their forties, some of their behaviors are incredibly juvenile. According to her past Thea would be a progressive woman, but she freaks out at the idea of platonically sharing a bed with a man. Later on, she rolls her eyes after admitting she wanted someone to kiss her. Edward won’t hire women to work in his shop because they’ll fall in love with him or he’ll fall in love with them. If he has a job opening he puts out a sign that essentially says no girls allowed. No matter their age people will always have juvenile moments, but I don’t buy two adults in their forties would so consistently behave in the ways described.

But I think my main issue with the book is that I don’t believe the relationship. The foundation is clearly laid, but I don’t feel it. For me, the writing style lacks a certain depth that enables me to connect with the characters, so I’m not invested in whether or not they will end up together.

Let’s finish up….

These are all just my personal opinions, and obviously the author has talent. To be honest I’d be interested in reading what she comes out with in the future because even though certain beats in this novel didn’t resonate with me, others did.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing, Ballantine Books for providing an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

I love this cute book about a bookstore and second chances. It is a nice quick read for anyone living through this pandemic. It is a light and fun read and you can quickly escape to a book store and forget about reality for a bit!
Thank you NetGalley for an ARC for an honest review.

I'm so crazy about this book. I loved it.
I'll post a longer/more detailed review on Goodreads closer to the pub date and I'll definitely be recommending it!

The Bookshop of Second Chances by Jackie Fraser is a charming story that any bibliophile will surely love. After Thea's world comes crumbling down around her when she finds out her husband is cheating on her with a woman she thought was her friend. Oh, and she loses her job too. But, what's it going to be like starting over in her 40s? When she discovers she inherited a home and book collection in Scotland, leaving town to take care of that for a bit seems like the answer. What she doesn't expect to find is a pair of aristocratic brothers and a second chance at a lot of things - including love.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

I thoroughly enjoyed this engaging sweet romance. Neither of the quirky, flawed characters realized or at least was willing to admit what was going on between them which made for a fun entertaining read. I highly recommend it!

Sweet characters and a lovely story! I like an imperfect set of people and The Bookshop of Second Chances has a ton of them. Do we like them or not? Hard to tell because they have so many quirks. I loved the setup and description. Really fun way to a pass a day!

I thought this was an incredibly nice and wholesome read. It’s uplifting and positive and relatable. Sometimes a novel like this is just the ticket to feeling good! I finished this in just over two days and I was always stoked to read it.

I loved this story! I only put it down when I had to and stayed up way too late finishing it. The characters are so realistic and fabulous. I love that Thea was so honest, said whatever came to her mind without being tactless. I loved that she and Edward both were a bit different, yet on opposite ends of the people spectrum, ie being nice or rude in general. I loved that they both rambled and talked nonsense and were snarky and funny together!

I was provided with an ARC of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I found this book absolutely delightful! Although I used to somewhat stick my nose up at romances, I've found recent enjoyment from books like Beach Read and Red, White & Royal Blue. In a pandemic, where days can often feel bleak, I found the Bookshop of Second Chances to be an uplifting, heartfelt read. One thing I admired was the fact that this book dealt with very unromantic themes - aging, class, divorce, cheating, dicrtionless, and middle age - in charming and comforting ways. The previous books I mentioned usually focus on young adults in their 20s or early 30s, so it was a bit refreshing to read a book so focused on middle-aged people. Although I myself am 26, I didn't find the older characters to be distracting or unappealing - much less, it was a heartening read to learn that, even in your 40s, you can always find love, hope, and a bit of magic in bookshops.

What a delightful read this is if you're a fan of women's fiction. Thea and Edward, the main characters, feel so real I could almost book a train ticket to Baldochrie to make a purchase in Fortescue's Books and have afternoon tea in the Old Mill afterwards.

I loved Thea's humor and the roller-coaster of emotion she shares with us as she gets over a relationship break up and finds the courage to love again. As a creative writing tutor, I find Fraser's use of setting is inspirational, and I shall certainly quote passages to my students when I talk about the importance of showing locations through the character's eyes. The writing is rich in sumptuous detail, but everything is viewed from Thea's point of view so we get to know Thea better, and her voice always comes through in a way that makes us root for her.

The dialogue whips along, making us laugh - often - as Thea and Edward spar with each other, but also cry when they are less kind. I can't wait to read more by this author.

I made it to the 33% mark and decided it's just not the novel for me. I'm fairly certain younger readers (than I am) are the intended audience. These days I need to look forward to picking up my book and that wasn't happening. Sorry.
DNF