Thea Mottram, devastated by the worst kind of betrayal in her marriage and a redundancy at work, discovers that she has inherited a Scottish "lodge" from her great uncle. Thinking that a change of scene will help her move on with her life, she goes north with a friend to check it out and see what do with the house and the library of rare and valuable books inside. This novel might be considered a romance or women's fiction, but its depth of understanding of grief following major life catastrophes and then how well that is portrayed through the first person narration (really, a conversation), kind of defies categorization. It feels so authentic and Thea is such a believable and quirky character that the plot is really compelling. I highly recommend this story of a middle aged woman, told in a mature voice, who, through fits and starts, creates a new life for herself.

This was a really cute and cozy forray into UK romance! I definitely enjoyed the warm atmosphere and always love a story that involves a bookshop!

What better way to get over a humiliating divorce than to inherit a house in a remote part of Scotland that is replete with antiquarian books? While Thea Mottram bemoans her all-too-cliched fate (husband fell in love with her good friend), she does a nice job swimming to the surface when she checks out the inheritance from a great-uncle she had only met four times previously (he liked her because she preferred reading to talking — our kind of girl!). While intending to stay just long enough to decide what to do with the house, she ends up working at the local bookstore owned by the curmudgeonly (but naturally also quite hunky) man of aristocratic origins, Edward Maltravers.

A thoroughly enjoyable read. While the bones are pure “women’s fiction,” the frills include Scotland, a bookstore selling both new and antiquarian books, and a few twists on the standard chick-lit plot. Good, humorous, writing and a strong, though self-deprecating, heroine that I would be happy to call a friend. My only complaint is that there wasn’t really enough discussion about the cool books! Her contributions to the book talk are denigrations of various classics with toss-off comments about how she doesn’t really care for it for some (to me stupid) reason.

A happy book and I learned a new (to me) phrase: Fourth Wave Feminism — a phase of feminism that began around 2012 and is characterized by a focus on the empowerment of women and the use of internet tools, and is centered on intersectionality.

A book centered around a bookshop in a sleepy, coastal Scottish town? Yes please! I enjoyed this story about a middle-aged woman who decided to take a leap of faith while trying to rediscover herself and maybe even find love again.

I really liked the characters in this book and I loved the setting. I would recommend it to fans of The Bookish Life of Nina Hill and the Book Charmer.

I’m a sucker for books about books, and books set in the UK, so I was excited to try this one. The protagonist is a 40-something recent divorcée who inherits land in Scotland and travels there for a bit of a refresh. This was a VERY slow burn. While there was some cheeky banter, I wanted so much more, and am not sure I bought the relationship Thea eventually finds. You also have to wade through some very boring stuff to get there.

I did love the setting, but was hoping for something like How to Find Love in a Bookshop. Ultimately, it was not nearly as enjoyable and I felt bored much of the book 😬.

𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘧𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘧
⋒ books set in the UK
⋒ slow burn chick lit
⋒ books about books

I yhought this book was a cute romance. I takes place in Scotland with Thea whose life has been turned upside down. Then she meets Edward at his bookshop and things go in a new direction. Highly recommend.

The Bookshop of Second Chances follows follows the life of Thea, whose husband of 20 years leaves her after having an affair with one of her friends. She inherits a house in Scotland from a long lost uncle and goes there to heal her broken heart. There she meets a cast of characters including a pair of wealthy brothers - one becomes her boss and one wants to buy her property. Thea creates a new life for herself in this small Scottish town as she learns what is really important to her. The dialogue at times was stilted which slowed the pace of the novel Overall a good read. Thanks to Random House and NetGalley for an opportunity to read and review the book.

Thank you Netgalley for the eARC. I usually like to mix in some Women’s Lit/Romance when I’m reading things with heavier themes and this didn’t disappoint. I was actually surprised because it was a slow build romance, and when I say slow, I mean sloooow, but it worked and I liked it. If you’re wanting something steamier and fast-paced, this ain’t it. As someone who is closer to 40 than 20, I liked having an older character and seeing what starting over looked like from that POV. I also have an affinity for British/Scottish writers when it comes to romance - they tend to be a bit wittier and the dialogue is more realistic whereas most American romance writing can be saccharine and exaggerative (not to yuck anyone’s yum, just my personal prefs). (less)

Thea inherits a cottage full of rare books from a distant uncle in Scotland. She thinks she'll just have a short getaway from her cheating husband and joblessness. She finds a job in a book shop run by a curmudgeon and her next door neighbor is a Lord. It's a lovely village setting with interesting characters who become friends, and it makes for a very satisfying read.

Wonderful read. Lots of twists and turns, to keep you on your toes. I loved bed to literary tour of the,area, so descriptive and inviting. The relationship seesaw ride was exhilarating. I love that Thea was a woman of her own mind and character. Nice job.

Jackie Fraser’s The Bookshop of Second Chances is a meandering novel that explores what happens when one woman takes a leap of faith and changes her life, without really intending to.

Thea is recently separated from her cheating spouse when she receives notice that she’s inherited a house in Scotland. She sets out to sort the house and sell it, then finds herself being drawn to the quaint village, the emerging community, and the handsome if grumpy bookshop owner she’s in close contact with over selling her inherited books.


This novel has a beautiful setting that is practically a character itself. I love books set in Scotland, and I’m especially enjoying them while travel isn’t an option. This novel, along with Jenny Colgan’s, make me want to pack a bag and head for the Scottish highlands!

This novel is full of lovely characters you want to befriend and spend time with. Thea, our protagonist, is a quick witted woman who is slowly discovering the underlying strength she possesses. It’s great fun to witness her sardonic wit as she says what she’s thinking in a fun in refreshing way, often to the shock of the aristocracy in her company. Her English friends and her new Scottish friends are all well developed, and bring an added depth to the novel.

This book has a leisurely pace and character driven plot; it’s one to linger in. With themes of healing, redemption, self-acceptance and second chances, it’s an enjoyable read.

The Bookshop of Second Chances is out 4 May 2021 from Random House and Ballantine Books. Big thanks to them and Net Galley for an advanced copy so I could provide this review.

We all love stories about books and bookshops, and this one comes with the addition of being an actual love story! Thea is a wonderful heroine who experiences the loss of her job, her friends, and her marriage in such a real way, only to be saved by an inheritance from a long-lost great-uncle. (Yes, please!) While working to find her way in this newly single life - in Scotland, no less - she develops a love for her new job in an antique bookshop and for the grumpy, introverted former Lord who runs it!

I love this tale of "will they, won't they?" romance, where the typical foibles of love were just enough to be believable and not so over-the-top to be a turn off. Thea gets a real second chance at love and life, opting to start over in this cozy hamlet. It takes bravery to leave the known and experience the new!

In her debut novel, The Bookshop of Second Chances, author Jackie Fraser takes readers on an uplifting journey. It’s a story about new beginnings and taking a chance when the opportunity arrives. The story is set in a small, quaint Scottish town in the lowlands and follows Thea as she tries to create a new life for herself.
After being married for close to twenty years, Thea learns that her husband has been having an affair with one of her close friends. Making matters worse, instead of being sorry, her husband is divorcing Thea so he can be with her former friend. In the same month, Thea also loses her job without being given any prior warning.
In the process of learning that she no longs has employment or a husband, Thea is notified that she was named in her great-uncle’s will. While she barely knew her great-uncle, he left her his collection of secondhand books, along with his house. After considering the events of the month, Thea decides this is her second chance.

She packs up and moves to the small village in the Scottish lowlands where she believes she’ll have a chance to start fresh. Thea quickly learns that life is complicated, even in a tiny village after she meets the Maltravers brothers and becomes involved in their lives. One is a cantankerous bookstore owner, while the other is a titled lord. Learning why the brothers are estranged and possibly reuniting them becomes a part of Thea’s story as she learns to start life over again.

It is an enchanting fictional story that many readers will be able to identify with. Even if they haven’t experienced a job loss or the breakdown of a marriage, almost everyone has dreamed of getting a second chance to redo their life. What better place than in a Scottish village surrounded by books and brooding aristocrats?

Jackie Fraser has created a strong heroine that will appeal to readers. Thea doesn’t take life blows lying down. She is a fighter with a strong spirit that is evident in all of her actions. Even the grump bookshop owner is someone she finds herself enjoying sparring with.

While there is an element of romance in the novel, it is not meant to be a love story. Instead, it is written to show that women are strong and there is always the possibility for new beginnings in life. Some of the language used in the story may be offensive to a few readers, but the story is written to be as accurate as possible in regards to the setting.

Anyone that is looking to escape with a good book for a few hours will enjoy following Thea’s journey as she learns that life does offer new beginnings.

4.5 stars. Liked it a lot. It was a fun read with likable characters and funny moments. I would say it was a slow burn but once they get there it was believable and they were good together. I also liked that these characters were in their forties and very mature. Also it is a behind the door (just implied) sex scenes, no details, no smut, very tasteful which was refreshing for a change. My favorite thing about this story was the setting, Thea working for Edward at the Book shop was just perfect!
Definitely recommend this book!

A solid 3 stars, a decent debut that shows the author has a knack for dialogue and setting a scene. I'll be honest, the first part of this book took me forever to get through. I could see where it was going and I rolled my eyes a bit but... then it picked up and there was something refreshing about Theas non-wallowing and quite blunt behavior. I wasn't as thrilled with the behavior of some other characters but the book didn't skirt around it or excuse it, but I think Edward is an arse. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for THE ARC.

Scotland coastal town, take me away! A book about second chances with some romance thrown in for good measure.

Thea Mottram thought her life was pretty much over. Hubs left her for another; she lost her job; she has to move because hubs wants the house. Receiving a letter from the solicitor, she finds she has inherited a house on the coast of Scotland from a great uncle she barely knew. And there are some collectible books in the house.

Expecting a hovel, she is greatly impressed at the cottage and its contents. But she is not staying, not at all. Introduced to her neighbor, Lord somebody or other, he wines and dines her, all with an ulterior motive - he wants her property. She also meets the owner of the local bookshop, who happens to be the Lord's brother. This brother is a curmudgeon. The story then progresses to friendship and then to romance - sort of. They come to realize they can forgive those who have wronged them and get on with their lives, but the path is not smooth for either of them.

This was lovely and pleasant, but felt like a Jenny Colgan novel that lacked some of the heart and cheer and the strong female characters. It really irked me how the solution to all of Thea's problems was falling in love with another man.

The parts with Thea dealing with her separation and with her ex-husband, Chris, actually felt the most honest and compelling to me. These gritty sections where Thea was vulnerable and felt unlovable really resonated in contrast to other parts that just felt like something I've read many times before.

Nice, easy read, but not particularly captivating or memorable. Sad to say, since I do so love Scottish book store shops (that's a genre now, I suppose!)

DNF at 35%. The pacing of the book was far too slow for me and I did not like the main character. If you like a slow burn romance, maybe this is for you, but it’s not for me.

I found THE BOOKSHOP OF SECOND CHANCES unfortunately flat. The premise was delightful, so I had high hopes. But it was just a mediocre read for me.

• Thea and Edward both were very flat characters for me. I felt like Thea’s personality, especially, transformed to fit what was needed of her, and I never really got a good idea of who Edward was.
• It was perfectly obvious that Edward cared about her and that she liked him, but it took 70% of the book for them to admit that. And then boom, they’re together.
• The side plot with Edward and his brother was kind of wild, and I don’t feel like Thea ever convincingly accepted Edward’s past.

The concept of Thea and Edward was enough to keep me powering through, though, and I was happy to see them happy.

Also FWIW — for a book that is fairly profane (which I don’t mind) and talks about sex a lot, there were no actual sex scenes. I don’t need that or anything but I was surprised.