I loved the premise and the setting. I envisioned the cottage from The Holiday with Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet while reading this one. A perfect cozy holiday time read for tea and a blanket. That being said the pace was a bit slow for me with a ton of buildup and not a lot of POW. More of a Hallmark movie style ending than I was hoping for- but perfectly sweet nonetheless. I felt the storyline and characters were great but this one fell a bit flat after such a great start. My favorite thing about this book, though was the brilliant use of humor. I laughed out loud on more than one occasion at Thea's dry wit and no-holds-barred banter. The other brilliant bit about this novel was the acknowledgment of technology (the use of instagram for bolstering sales at the bookstore, etc.) but the strategic mention of "no service" zones to create a cozy cottage- gone back in time- unplugged feel that I very much appreciated. It takes a good writer to remove technology without drawing attention to the fact. I liked the feeling of "getting away" while reading this one very much.

I really enjoyed this debut novel about a forty-four-year-old woman who heads to Scotland upon learning of an inheritance from a distant great uncle – his home and antique book collection. Escaping from her life in Sussex, where she’s recently lost her job and was left by her husband of twenty years, Thea embarks on the journey not knowing what to expect, either from the situation or from her shattered sense of self.

What begins as just a two-week trip to settle the estate, extends into a life-changing experience, as she sorts out her feelings and thoughts and takes a job in a bookshop. The owner, grumpy curmudgeon Edward, had sworn he would never hire a woman, for reasons that the reader learns later. Of course, there is a romance, but a slow building one as we learn more about his history, the town and the workings of the bookshop.

I enjoyed seeing Thea’s transformation as she discovered her true self and figured out what was important to her in life, all while getting to know the town and the villagers. I loved seeing a middle-aged heroine who became stronger and at the same time more open to life, though in the beginning her self-deprecation and lack of confidence, while in keeping with the events that had recently happened, was a bit grating.

The romance part was delightful and funny, even with the inevitable setbacks and misunderstandings. All in all, a happy tale that was underscored by a beautiful Scottish setting. Highly recommended.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House/Ballantine, as well as the author, for the opportunity to enjoy this free eARC. The book is set to be published on May 4, 2021.

The Bookshop of Second Chances is a fun, relaxing read set in a small town in England. It has a satisfying ending, and would be a great book to take on vacation or to the beach--you'll get sucked into the life of the characters and want nothing but the best for the protagonist.

When approached about reading and reviewing this novel, all I needed to hear was Scotland and a bookshop!

Jackie Fraser's debut is a complete delight with unexpected depth and poignancy.

Who among us would not want to hear they have inherited a cottage in Scotland from an almost forgotten uncle? Thea is less than impressed. She is struggling to hang on to her life in London after her marriage implodes. While Thea thought her marriage was fine, her husband thought he fancied one of her friends.

While she has no intention of abandoning life in the city, the opportunity to escape to the Scottish countryside to check out her inheritance does come at an opportune time. Along with the charming home, Thea finds community, friendship, time to reflect and recover and perhaps embrace new love?

Rarely do we see a more 'mature' protagonist. Which I find frustrating since I am even older than Thea and don't see myself in most books I read. Thea's struggle to find her new 'normal' and navigate dating in your 40's provided humor, heart and in my opinion a realistic look. Here's hoping Jackie Fraser's novel start a welcome and overdue trend. Very much looking forward to more by this author.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster UK and author Jackie Fraser for the complimentary e-book in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is an enjoyable, feel-good read. At first, I was annoyed with the “voice” of the main character and I had to make myself continue reading. However, once the story moves to Scotland, the overall tone of the book changes and is much more pleasant. This may have been purposeful because the main character, Thea, is going through a divorce and her awful husband cheated on her with one of her friends. Thea is funny and likable, if at times clueless (but honestly, who isn't). At some point in the story, Thea categorizes something as “gentle stories” and I think that is a lovely phrase that suits this book as well.

I was perplexed, if Thea was still married 90% of the book, wouldn't her soon to be ex, be entitled to half of the inheritance from the uncle's estate. It wouldn't have been a simple easy divorce. Nor would Thea have fallen for another womanizer when that was one of the reasons her marriage ended.

4.5 stars rounded up
I’d read two (good) suspense novels in a row, so I needed a change of pace, and this well-written novel was perfect. It’s set in Scotland, a beautiful country I adore, and since I’m not traveling physically anytime soon, at least my mind can go on a trip someplace. This is not a fast-paced, plot-driven story, so if that’s what you’re looking for, this isn’t the book for you. There are times when the narrator, Thea, describes rooms in far more detail than I’d ever need. Also, in some parts we’re really in her mind about quotidian stuff like her reflecting on her finances, which, at this time in her life, are a wee bit tricky because she left her husband after discovering he was having an affair with someone she thought was her friend, which means she’s owed half of a house but doesn’t have the money yet.

When she inherits a large manor in Scotland from an uncle she barely knew but shared her love of books, Thea travels to this small Scottish town to see if she should sell the estate or convert the property into something she can rent. Plus, there is an elaborate library filled with rare books that she could sell. Thea had been made redundant from her job, and with her unexpected inheritance, she doesn’t have to find a job right away.

She discovers that she likes the town and decides to stay on a bit, and, to fill her time, finds a low-paying but enjoyable job in a bookstore owned by an irascible man who, in his late forties, is just a few years older than she is. She’s still healing from the end of being with a man she loved and trusted for almost twenty years. At this point, she’s certain she’ll never find love again. So yes, you can guess what happens, but the attraction doesn’t happen overnight. Her turmoil from the loss of her marriage and her reluctance to enter into a relationship with a man who has had considerable issues with women is not something she enters into lightly.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this novel, which RELEASES IN THE STATES MAY 4, 2021.

Thea Mottram's world is falling apart. In the same month she loses her job and finds out her husband of 19 years is cheating on her with a friend. A great uncle leaves her a house in a small town in Scotland along with a collection of books. Going to Scotland to clear out the house she chooses to stay on and gets a job at the local used bookshop. She makes friends in the town and gets on with bookshop owner Edmond, the older brother of the local Lord.

This is a women's fiction novel. Thea moves along trying to sort out her emotions and get on with her life. Even though she takes on this life changing experience she seems too placid reacting to her situation and not making choices for herself. Edmond was likable with his own backstory and baggage. The plotting over a year moves slowly. A beach trip, party, dinner, drinks. It is a good read but I was in the mood for something lighter. There is a romance (not descriptive) but I wasn't convinced they were each others happy ever after.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for an ARC ebook in exchange for a honest review.

A book so charming I couldn't help but read it in one day. It's the kind of story I know and love: set in the UK, an inheritance, a new life, a grumpy man, frequent mentions of bacon sandwiches...you get the idea. But 'The Bookshop of Second Chances' is unique because the protagonist isn't having a "quarter-life crisis" - she is legit a middle-aged woman! While the plot is a bit predictable, the book stands out thanks to the depth and humor brought by this unique perspective. Also of note: the love interest's backstory made me *truly* laugh out loud, it is just unexpected and great.

Thea is 44. She's just lost her job, and her husband has left her for one of her former friends. Or, she's left him because she has to move out of their shared home. When she goes to gather her belongings, she receives a mysterious letter from an attorney in Scotland. She has inherited her Great Uncle's house and his impressive collection of books. What begins as a two week trip soon becomes a life change for Thea, as she grieves her marriage and starts fresh, finding a job in a bookstore with attractive, yet standoffish and grumpy boss Edward, who everyone warns her about. This book was a pleasant surprise. It's an exploration of life after marriage with charming characters and a small town setting that will appeal to many readers.

I absolutely love this debut novel by Jackie Fraser. First of all, I love any story set in Scotland. Secondly, it made me laugh, cry, and stand up and cheer for Thea’s happiness.

Reading about Thea’s turmoil and anguish about her husband and best friend’s betrayal is so realistic and raw. But it’s Thea’s strength, kindness, and exceptional sense of humor that gets her through the bad times and opens her up to a sense of purpose and belonging. After all, who else could get the grumpy Edward Maltravers to hire a woman in his bookshop and actually make him laugh at her startling forthrightness and hilarious wit. I would love to have Thea as a friend any day.

Edward is so messed up when it comes to relationships and Thea is obviously not an expert with her recent past. So watching them become friends with their no-holds-barred honest conversations and LOL moments is so refreshing and certainly makes them an exceptional pair. Not to mention Thea is determined to fix a decades-long grudge between Edward and his brother Charles. And boy it’s a doozie!!

What can I say? I adore this charming and delightful story about finding yourself, finding love again, and finding peace in a beautiful setting with remarkable new friends.

Thank you to Ms. Fraser and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.

A fun, light-hearted read. Just what I needed to escape a gloomy, depressing time. Enjoyed the setting of a small, tight-knit community in Scotland, Though I found the plot fairly predictable, I still really enjoyed the read. A change to have main characters who weren't in the 20's. Fun dialog and encounters, vivid descriptions of the settings.

I requested to read and review this book from Ballantine Books. The setting of this book is Scotland. The main characters are Thea, Edward, Charles and Canter. There are other characters as well that you will get to know along the way. This book has drama, romance, mystery. A story of when life gives you lemons make lemonade from them. Sometimes things are bad but for most life can turn itself around. Believe in yourself and know not everyone is crappy. Family is family. This book is for any type of reader.

Thea has just lost her job AND her husband, but with an unexpected inheritance in Scottland, she embarks on a new life. Nice story with great description of the town and Thea’s new property, but overall the book reads fairly slow. I enjoyed reading it, and it wasn’t a total loss, but not my favorite.

NOTE: Special thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review.

I received an ARC from Netgalley.
I love books about bookshops and for some reason I just really loved the main character in this story. She is close to my age, witty, and broken over her husband's extramarital affair with one of her friends. This story is her putting herself back together in a new place and daring to dream of a new future.

"The Bookshop of Second Chances," by Jackie Fraser, has a somewhat familiar premise: Thea, a middle-aged and newly divorced woman, is looking for some excitement when she inherits a house in Scotland from a relative she barely knew. Upon moving to a new place and going through everything that her great-uncle left behind, Thea makes some new friends and even has a new love interest. Unfortunately, I just couldn't get invested in this story and the characters didn't really interest me. I ended up just skimming the book.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

I liked the descriptions of the land and buildings. I loved the description of the bookshop and the books. I also liked some of the minor characters. I did not like any of the characters or their language. I don’t believe forty somethings speak that way where every other word seems to be a curse. Also I’m not sure that at that age people are that unsure of themselves. Maybe I’m too old for this book.

Thea has been having a hard time lately. On top of recently losing her job she discovers that her husband of 20+ years has been having an affair with one of her friends (discovered in an extremely unpleasant way). While deciding what she is going to do next, she is delivered a chance for a new start in the form of a letter from a deceased great uncle who has left her his home and the marvelous book collection within. After escaping to her new property, she meets the owner of the local bookshop and discovers the potential for a second chance at happiness.

The beginning of this story had a lot of potential. I loved Thea’s character from the start: she was witty, sarcastic and pretty strong in the face of so many challenges. I also liked Edward’s character when we first met him. Yes, he is sort of a recluse, yes he was kind of rude to everyone he met, but that was part of the allure. However, as their relationship started to develop, I found Edward’s character to be too much. He’s offensive and immature in a lot of different ways, specifically towards women. Additionally, as the story progresses, his obsession with Thea borderlines on creepy. I did love that the main characters were in their 40s, I think that set this book apart from some of the other Women’s Fiction / Romance novels I have read recently. All in all it was a quick enjoyable read for me.

Thank you Netgalley, Jackie Fraser and Ballantine Books for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

There were a couple things I liked about this book. Love the bookshop in a small town in Scotland setting. Love that the main characters were 40-something year old adults. I liked the female character Thea and thought she had some moments with great dialog (or even thoughts in the stream of conscious narration, loved the description of the comfy pajamas). But on balance, found more that I didn’t love. I didn’t love the main male character, he was by definition grumpy but I never found him appealing and he had a horrendous history of women, relationships, and using people for revenge. And even though Thea was so recently devastated by her husband’s infidelity she fell for this guy who obviously has a high chance of hurting her. And it just seems to build on the myth that the love of a woman, can change a man – in this case very quickly. I also didn’t care for the couple scenes with casual drug use by adults who seem way too old and too smart for that. I requested and received this advanced copy to read and review from the publisher Random House Ballentine and NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

A cute story of starting over, finding love, and finding yourself along the way. It was a little slow for me, but overall a fun read.