This isn't the book I intended to start the new year with, but I received an ARC and once I started, I was immediately wrapped up in Thea's story. I'm always interested in a novel featuring a bookshop and one set in Scotland is even more intriguing. Mostly I enjoyed Thea's authenticity and her honesty about her struggles. I appreciated her ability to use humor to work through complex and sometimes uncomfortable interactions. As a romance reader, I really enjoyed the strong romantic subplot too. The longstanding rift between Charles and Edward is so relatable and I liked how Thea refused to accept that the divisiveness remain "as is".
There are numerous layers and themes to explore within this story: regrets, avenging perceived wrongs, refusing to make amends, justifying wretched behavior because sometimes that's easier than making the effort to change. Ultimately, the theme of second chances and having the courage to love again after tremendous heartache resonated with me.

Sensitive reader alert: if foul language is offensive, proceed with caution.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the complimentary copy. All opinions shared here are my own.

I loved the Scottish setting of this book. Thea was such a relatable character! I had a great time reading this story.

Thank you so much NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

What is not to love? Finding yourself? Finding love? A bookshop? Sold, sold, sold. Such a delightful and heartwarming read!

This is a romance. It is formulaic but it also breaks some of the the rules. I enjoyed it (since covid I have been reading a lot of this sort of book; they have become a haven from reality). As some have already commented, I found the female protagonist's use of certain words annoying-- given her age, I don't think it would be likely for her to toss the "f-bomb" around quite so freely. I also wonder if it is likely for someone to be hurt as seriously as she was and be quite so ready to put it all aside. And the male protagonist...well, he is distinctly flawed... Still, I did finish the book because I wanted to see how it was resolved. I didn't find it a slow read nor did I find the romantic scenes awkward as some have commented. I'd rather have things move slowly than read about instantaneous love. All in all, I enjoyed the book, was pleased that the protagonists weren't in their twenties, and will look forward to seeing what the author writes next. I'd give it 3.5 stars if I could but since I can't, I m rounding up to 4.

The Bookshop of Second Chances was such an enjoyable read. Thea is desperate for a fresh start when she is fired from her job and finds out that her husband of 20 years has cheated on her and is leaving her for one of her close friends. She feels that she has lost everything that ever mattered to her. Middle age is not the time most people desire to start over! When she receives word that a great uncle has left her an estate in Scotland she goes to visit with the plan of only staying for a little while until she can figure out her next steps. The reader will love how fate intervenes to give her a new set of friends, a new job that she truly enjoys, and a second chance at love. The author, Jackie Fraser, does such a great job of describing the charming Scottish town and people of Baldocherie that I want to pack my bags immediately! Thank you for this escape while we are all grounded from travel due to COVID-19. I also enjoyed the banter between Thea and Edward Maltravers, the grumpy and infuriating owner of the local rare book store. Their interactions reminded me of Elizabeth and Darcy from Jane Austen novels although Edward may be a bit more damaged than Darcy. Thea is also intrigued by Edward’s brother, Charles Lord Hollinshaw, as she tries to unravel the story behind their decades-long feud. I think readers will enjoy the story line, “Now that she has a chance to reinvent herself, what life will she choose?” Will she go back to something safe or take a chance on a new life and love? Thank you to #netgalley, Random House Publishing and Ballantine Books for the ARC. I can’t wait to promote this book when it comes out in March 2021.

Thank you NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group (Ballantine), and Jackie Fraser for an advanced copy of The Bookshop of Second Chances in exchange for a review.

Poor Thea has been put through the ringer! She’s lost her job and her husband pretty much in one fell swoop. She soon afterward learns that her great uncle in Scotland has passed away and left her his home and his antique book collection. With nothing to lose, she decides to leave Sussex for the small coastal town in Scotland. She begins to settle in and enjoy life in the quaint cottage she inherited, but there is a slight issue at hand - the bookshop owner Edward Maltravers. Does the tension last or does Thea start to develop feelings she hasn’t experienced in a long time?

This book had such potential. I love the enemies to lovers trope, I just can’t buy it from these two. If my husband cheated on me, the last type of guy who I would attempt to date would be the one who sleeps with anyone his brother has married or dated. It seems like an odd match to me. Maybe if that detail had been left out, the story would be more relatable and believable. That being said, I would read more novels from this author as the plot was entertaining and the main character was endearing, if not a little ambivalent towards her next romantic interest.

Thank you to Net galley for this ARC copy of The Bookshop of Second Chances. I really enjoyed this fun light read. Edward was a fun and unique character.

The Bookshop of Second Chances
By Jackie Fraser
December 20, 2020

It took a chapter or two, and then, I was hooked! I loved the Scottish landscape where Thea explores a different lifestyle, meets new people, surrounds herself with books, and makes discoveries about herself. "A long time ago, everything I did was new. Now nothing I do is new, but some of it is unusual," she says. I'd recommend this book to other readers.

More like 3 and ½ Stars.

This was good!

Thank you so much Penguin Random House / Ballantine Books and NetGalley for my advanced copy!

What I Loved-

The Cover- Come on! This cover is everything and immediately drew me in.

The Plot- This book features a lot of things I enjoy in books. I'd describe it as Starting Over / Surprise Inheritance / Romance.

The Setting- Scotland. I love Scotland and want to visit there some day. This book also has a small town setting. Love.

The Characters - Thea is hilarious and all of the characters in this book were unique. I enjoyed reading them all.

Where This Book Fell Short-

I felt like the story dragged a bit. As much as I was enjoying it I felt as though it was taking forever to get through.

The Romance. I didn't exactly care if Thea and Edward were together in the end. They were amazing friends. I would have been happy with just friends.

Overall- glad I read this one and would definitely recommend this to other bookish friends.

The Bookshop of Second Chances was a story of love and hope, of self-discovery and facing life’s difficulties and challenges head on. It’s a story of second chances and realizing it’s never too late to find love and pursue your dreams.

Fraser created some really wonderful characters who supported each other, even if they didn’t fully understand the reasonings behind their choices. I enjoyed getting to see Thea break through the walls that Edward had built around himself. They helped each other through their heartaches and heartbreaks. It was a wonderful tale and made me want to take a trip to Scotland pronto!

I ended up DNFing this one about 20% in. Honestly, I was just bored with the story and found myself struggling to pay attention to it. I would be interested to check out other books by the author, as I enjoyed her writing style. The plot line itself just wasn’t for me

Dnf-ing at 15%

While reading this I felt like nothing was explained in the way that would have developed into loving the main character. It felt very bland to me. I was not invested and did not feel like I could continue reading and actually enjoy the story.

The Bookshop of Second Chances is a delightful British women's fiction novel. Set in the backdrop in which the main character's life dissolves, she explores a new beginning and a new life set in Scotland. I loved that Thea, the main character, had a backbone and was willing to ask the tough questions. She didn't shy away from hard conversations, but she was utterly charming while doing it. The Bookshop has a little bit of everything: family drama, romance, friendship, and new possibilities. I loved it!

I have struggled with my feelings about The Bookshop of Second Chances by Jackie Fraser ever since I started reading it. In fact several times I was just "nope, no more" but I would pick it back up after a few days and read some more. Let me be clear, it wasn't the quality of the writing but rather the casual disregard shown by the characters towards adultery. Even the betrayed wife had an ambivalent attitude towards it when it came to Edward. I find it difficult, nay, impossible to believe that a woman who has recently found out that her husband and her friend have been running around behind her back would find a guy who makes it a point to sleep with every woman involved with and/or married to his brother remotely interesting! She finds him attractive? Nope, don't believe it. She dismisses it?! I don't even know how she could stand being in the same room - seems that would trigger a lot of pain. Infidelity is not entertainment, at least it shouldn't be.

When I could forget his misdeeds and her inexplicable dismissal of what it says about him, the story was interesting. I like books about books, bookshops, libraries, Scotland (not Outlander) but just when I would get into the rhythm of it, BANG, there it was again! Did no one, except his brother, find such behavior terrible? His brother may have been a snob but really? No one knew of the awful prank Edward's brother participated in as a teen so why do people think it ok? While I absolutely do not in any way condone it (the cruel prank), Edward's many years of targeting these women is gross. The women shouldn't get off scot-free, they fully agreed to cheat as well. It just, all in all, seems to be full of unlikeable people. It's too bad as there was some real potential to tell a story of a woman faced with a devastating situation and how she survives and overcomes it and instead we are given this sordid tale.

4.5 stars
Cute read!
I enjoyed the writing style of this! It felt like reading a personal journal. It was quite atmospheric.
Very much a slow burn romance, which I personally prefer. It felt more realistic cause no one was a jumping into things and the characters were unsure and it felt more relatable than a lot of rom coms I’ve read.
I loved that the romance was not insta-love like so many contemporary romances are today.
I enjoyed how all the characters were imperfect. They had problems and made mistakes.
This romance really got me. I’m not completely sure what it was. Realistic people. Being hesitant and guarded about starting a relationship. Recent heartbreak.
All I know is this one unexpectedly took me and I enjoyed every bit.

The Bookshop of Second Chances by Jackie Fraser

A woman desperate to turn a new page heads to the Scottish coast and finds herself locked in a battle of wits with an infuriating bookseller in this heartwarming story.

This was a warm book, dealing with relationships and family. It had many great characters and a few problems to be dealt with., and of course, a complicated love story, I enjoyed this book.

Thanks to Net Galley for sending me an advanced reader’s copy for my review.

I did not love this book, I was quite excited to read the title and the premise, but I found myself struggling to stay engaged in the narrative and frankly annoyed at the main character most of the time. I don't mind predictable romances, but the romance-novel-elements were not well written and, frankly, the "sexy" scenes were just super awkward.

This is the first book by Jackie Fraser that I have read and as an American, I found the details of life in Scotland interesting. The differences in terms for things in the UK versus the US are not always clear in the context. Also, the whole class thing adds another layer to richer versus poorer in relationships. It was nice to read a book where the main characters are in their 40's versus their 20's.

Thea's life has fallen apart due to her husband cheating on her followed by getting laid off from her job. An unexpected inheritance from a great uncle leads her to Scotland for what was originally going to be short trip to sort through things at the lodge and ends up being longer. She decides to stay for the summer since there is not a pressing need to head home and also decides to get a job to fill the time and make it easier to meet people. She finagles her way into a job at the local bookshop with the grumpy owner Edward. You will have to read the book to learn what happens between them and will find it worth your time.

I received a copy of this book to review from Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine through NetGalley.

The Bookshop of Second Chances by Jackie Fraser is set primarily in Scotland which is always appealing to me. The story centers around Thea who has recently lost her job and discovered her husband is having an affair. She flees to Scotland where an uncle has left her his home. I liked the small town setting and some of the relationships that she developed during her stay, but I didn’t find her to be a particularly likable character. The story felt flat and predictable and had too much profanity for my personal taste. While mild profanity does not bother me, in this case it seemed out of context with a story that is intended to be a romance. Thank you to Net Galley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for the ARC of this book in exchange for my opinion.

After losing her job and divorcing her husband, Thea learns she has not only inherited a Scotland home but also an antique book collection from a distant uncle who has passed away. She decides to take the leap and start a new chapter in life.

Heres what I liked:
- The scottish town and the description of the bookshop!
- the idea of second chances and starting new chapters
- a book about books!

Heres what I didnt like:
- Thea and Edward lacked a bit of chemistry for me
- I struggled to connect with thea but I think thats an age thing and not on the writing
- Edward was very dislikable.

Overall, this was a cute read and I thought the setting of a bookshop was fun. If youre looking for a romance book about second changes and a new lease on life, this might be for you!