Childhood friends Riya and Dhillon suffered incredible loss that damaged their friendship and took each of them to a different place. As adults, Dhillon is a veterinarian after being inspired by his own dog being saved and Riya is a paramedic turned firefighter. She's the only female firefighter in her crew which provides fertile ground for harassment from one of her colleagues.

But when Dhillon finds out Riya is fighting fires, he's not happy. All he sees is the fire that took his father's life and he really unloads on Riya about it. I really didn't like him at the start of this book. He seems to find it easier to deal with the animals than his family or even his own emotions. But one thing is always clear to him and that's he's been in love with Riya for a very long time -- he just can't see how it would ever work out between them and has accepted that as the outcome before he even tries.

Riya is amazing. She's strong-willed and capable and not about to let anyone tell her what she can do. I really liked Riya, although she tended to run from her own feelings, which ends up catching up with her in the later part of the book.

Circumstances bring Riya home and back in proximity to Dhillon where they come to a new place of understanding that doesn't really include their true feelings for each other. They really avoid saying what they are to each other, rationalizing it all with "He/she has too much baggage to have a real relationship". It's only when Dhillon starts to really see who Riya is that their long standing love has a chance to grow and thrive.

This is a new-to-me author and I found the story compelling, although at times the pace was slow and I started skimming. There's much about the Indian-American culture which was fascinating and sometimes repetitive in the story. So while I really liked these characters and enjoyed their journey to finding love, I wished that things had moved along more quickly in the later half of the book. Even so, I did find myself wanting to know how things ended up with them.

I did like the firehouse scenes and interactions. Riya's quest to find her place among the team was one of the best aspects of this story, and it was what made this an interesting read for me. While I liked that she found love on her terms, and that Dhillon learned acceptance, I found it hard to really warm up to him after he unloads on Riya in the early pages.

Overall, an interesting romance and a lovely cultural experience. I liked learning about the Indian-American culture and the traditions they followed. There are some sad elements due to the losses experienced by the families, and this book deals with the main characters coming to terms with that, so readers need to be aware there is some emotionally difficult moments in this story. Their losses also formed the character arc for the main characters. I was happy that Riya and Dhillon got their HEA and the epilogue was a happy ending for all.

Thank you Netgalley and HARLEQUIN for access to this arc.

When I read the blurb for this novel, I knew there was going to be some real conflict as well as a large amount of angst. Both Dhillon and Riya had faced horrible loss – due to a fire. But I could see both sides to their reactions to this. Dhillon was horrified that someone he has cared for – okay, let’s be more honest than he is – loved for years wanted to make a career of endangering herself. Meanwhile Riya wanted to help protect people and keep them from facing the losses that she and Dhillon had endured. And oh yeah, would they ever admit to the feelings that just about everyone around them can see they have?

Let me get the bad out of the way first. I liked a lot about this book but there were times when I wanted to shake Riya. And then times when I wanted to shake Dhillon. For a while it seemed to me that they were snipping and glaring at each other far more than scenes of them being nice or showing how much they care for each other. They growled and yelled and did silly things like issued ultimatums. I get it, they both had strong feelings about the situation and felt the need to express those but it got draining to read about.

Riya was the hardest person for me to like. Headstrong and determined to get what she wanted, she absolutely would not listen to people. It was fine if she was standing up to people telling her “you can’t be a firefighter” (yay for women following their dreams no matter how hard this is). It was not fine when her lieutenant and other seasoned firefighters were telling her (during a fire) “you have to follow safety protocols” and Riya just ignored them and did what she thought was best. Okay, sure she got a young girl out of the fire but haring off on her own could have gotten them both killed since Riya had no backup, another firefighter had to join her thus leaving yet another firefighter on his own. So yeah, mistakes were made and continued to be made by Riya. She also lied by omission to her parents about becoming a firefighter.

Dhillon also pissed me off a time or two with what he did such as when he arrived at the firestation and publically confronted Riya about her new job and let slip to her colleagues about the fire that he and Riya had in their past. Riya was understandably furious about the doubt this might have caused in the minds of the men at the station but then her own actions – multiple times – fueled this more. IMO in a fire situation, when lives are on the line, one person’s bulldog stubbornness that she can do the job does not trump actually being ready to do the job. More than once, Riya did not impress me no matter how passionate she was about firefighting.

The romance was both fun as well as angst filled. Dhillon and Riya knew each other well and had strong feelings – both positive and negative – about their relationship. Love and frustration were both woven through this for basically the whole length of the book with the relationship being in the middle of a tug-of-war between them. That was also before the third act conflict ramped up the emotion which unleashed some hissy fits from both Riya and Dhillon about it. Everyone around them was as frustrated as I was about it. This did give the two a lot of time to think about what they were mad and or frustrated about and I was convinced that they had come through the turmoil with a stronger, clearer view of the relationship but the journey there was rocky for them and for me to read.

Yet there was a lot that I liked here. Riya was stubborn but she put that to good use in her determination to get through the grueling Fire Academy in order to be able to do a job where firefighters go into burning buildings to save lives. I was sad that she felt she had to deal with sexual harrassment (from one person only) on her own rather than (in her opinion) appear weak by going to her superior officers about it. And dayum, she did deal with it so Go Riya. She wasn’t the only strong woman either. Both mothers of the MCs lost important people to a fire. Dhillon’s mother had to raise both her children alone (albeit with a strong support network). Dhillon’s sister took some serious lessons in kick-ass from Riya, too, and schools Riya in how much power Riya really has over Hetal’s actions.

Dhillon was an awesome vet. Seriously, the man seemed to be a pet whisperer. He also had a dead-pan sense of humor I liked. He might have pulled the “over protective big brother” act a time or three but ended up supporting his sister and his mother in their romantic relationships. I did wonder why Dhillon, who got chills at the thought of going into Riya’s firehouse, didn’t seem to have a problem continuing to live in the repaired townhouse where the major fire in his life had taken place.

The depiction of Riya and Dhillon’s extensive, supporting, and loving families was wonderful. The Rakshabandan ceremony was fun to learn about. This has been something I’ve enjoyed in all the books so far. Reading about the Gujarati food got my stomach rumbling with hunger, darn it! Points for including Gujarati terms in ways that make them self explanatory. The epilogue did address some of my concerns about Riya. who had realized that she needed to face her issues with the past fire, and the support of her firefighter brothers at the end was heartwarming. Balancing what I liked and what I had issues with, this was a C+/B- for me.

Dhillon Vora and Riya Desai are a couple who faced the bad and good, the sad and happy, and found their way to love in this beautiful second chance romance by Mona Shroff. Their past was tragic as a fire took his father and her older brother Samir. This tragedy was only one factor that drove them apart even though they were friends from a very young age.

Years later, Dhillon has become a veterinarian and Riya is now a probationary firefighter. She finds herself not only as the only woman there, but also as one of the very few people of color. Her challenges are monumental, especially considering her tragic past. A rescue dog is what brings Dhillon and Riya back together. Old feelings, some very painful and many very emotional, rise to the surface. And, the more time they spend together, the more they realize that they never stopped loving one another.

The huge problem is that tragic fire when they were younger. This presents the major conflict with any possibility of a growing relationship. Shocked about Riya’s career choice, Dhillon has a hard time allowing himself to trust his growing feelings for her. Not only must Riya show trust and strength in her decision to become a firefighter, she must deal with Dhillon’s feelings and also the fact that she has not told her family about her new job. She started off as a paramedic and that’s what they think that she is still doing with her life.

Not only are Dhillon and Riya a wonderful couple in the story, the story itself is nothing short of beautiful. Well-written, with compassionate characters, The Second First Chance was a delightful read from start to finish. Another factor that made this book works so well was Dhillon and Riya’s relationships with their families. This dynamic led strength to two characters that were already strong in this compelling read. Lastly, this book was rich on culture, and this only enhanced this thoroughly enjoyable book.

Many thanks to HQN and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Please enjoy my YouTube video review - https://youtu.be/woeXT-wmv5E

DNF at 20%

A few things made me put this down.

First, the action started too fast; the characters were fighting and there was hardly time to get invested in them yet. It was jarring.

Second, the writing was sophomoric and confusing at times, with a lot of adverbs and hyperbole. Just wasn't my style.

The Second First Chance is a wonderful, messy love story about family, heartbreak, strength and courage. I loved the strong female lead who broke barriers all the while fighting insecurities and demons inside. A lovely read about a slow-burn romance that makes you just a bit crazy! Beautiful family dynamics and a story will stay with you long after reading.

I fell in love with the gorgeous cover and then I fell hard for this poignant and gripping story that made me cry bucket.
Great characters, excellent storytelling, a well plotted story that kept me hooked.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This is all about all kinds of second chances for everyone. Riya lost her brother and Dhillon his father in a fire when they were teens. Now 30, they've remained in each other's orbits (their families are neighbors) but they keep their distance. He's become a vet and she's transitioned from EMT to firefighter- in secret. Now, though, the secet is out. Can these two find their way to each other? That's part of the story but in some ways the more interesting part is Riya and firefighting. She's got a huge (huge) chip on her shoulder, to the extent that she endangers herself and others (while maintaining that she's right and the more experienced firefighters are wrong). She learns, though. I liked this for the representation and for the small bits - Dhillon and the dogs for one thing- as well as for the characters. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. It's a good read that will make you smile.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
The Second First Chance is everything the title promises…and more. It’s a heartfelt second chance romance between childhood friends impacted by shared loss, and Mona Shroff navigates the issues with care. Riya and Dhillon, and their reactions to all they’ve experienced, are so beautifully rendered, they came alive for me.
Each of them chose to process their trauma from the fire that took their loved ones in opposing ways, to the point that when they’ve reconnected years later, it poses an obstacle for them. Both of them clearly want to help people to prevent another loss like they faced, but they don’t see eye-to-eye on the best way to do that. It’s beautiful to see them processing their issues and finally finding their way to each other again after the fire initially tore them apart.
Riya also navigates the issues of what it means to be a nonwhite woman working as a firefighter, and dealing with the simultaneous racism and sexism, and even sexual harassment, from her colleagues. She struggles to deal with it, but she also ultimately stands up for herself and advocates to be treated as an equal.
I really enjoyed this book, and while it’s rather thematically heavy, it’s ultimately heartwarming and life-affirming. If that’s your jam in contemporary romance, I recommend picking this up.
CWs: death of a family member, child death, grief, pet death, sexual harassment, sexism, racism

Good best friends to lovers clean romance story.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
One thing that caught my eye about this story was the ethnicity of the characters. I love to read stories about different cultures as the characters really have to break the mold of what is expected of them by the family. Shroff crafted this story beautifully.

The push and pull between the characters were what cemented this story. The deep-seated love between them but the pain of loss and miscommunication caused chasms that were hard to cross and heal the hurt.

I loved the strong female lead who broke barriers all the while fighting insecurities and demons inside.

A lovely read that features a long term slow burn romance that makes you just a bit crazy! Beautiful family dynamics and a story that will stay with you for a long time to come! Perfect for your summer book binge!

The Second Last Chance is a novel that does not just skate on the surface of its characters’ lives. There is a backstory that includes a tragedy and the subsequent ways in which characters try to cope with what has impacted them.

Read the book to find out why Riya wants to become a firefighter. It is not easy for her, especially in a male dominated field. I think that those reading this novel will want the best for Riya as she copes with her past and her vision for the future.

Close to Riya is vet Dhillon. Their shared past may influence their future. They dealt with their pasts in different ways; will they find common ground?

This is a moving story about the past and its influence on choices, family, romance, race, being a woman and more. Definitely worth a look!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin for this title. All opinions are my own.

Made me cry but the story is beautifully written, the characters so like able , and the cover is beautiful as well. It's a story about family, strength, find happiness and believing in your dreams , as well as never letting your fears get you down.

The Second First Chance is my first book by Mona Shroff and I couldn't put it down. While the romance between Dhillon and Riya is a big overarching theme throughout the book, it also explores overcoming trauma, family dynamics, strong sibling bonds, resilience and ultimately being true to yourself. As someone who is not Southeast Asian/Indian, I loved reading about Riya and Dhillon's family traditions and culture. In addition to our main characters, we get to meet an array of family members and friends. Keeping up with side characters can sometimes be tough for me but everyone in this book added value to the story. I especially loved the development of Riya's firehouse family and the relationship between Dhillon and his sister Hetal.

As with all second chance romances (at least for me), the main characters are oblivious to the others feelings and you want them to just TALK to each other (because it is obvious to everyone else they are madly in love) but there is always an obstacle in the way. While that can get frustrating, the payoff makes it worth it.

A very cute love story between the boy- and girl-next-door who faced a horrific tragedy. Now that they are adults who’ve taken wildly different paths, the question becomes if they can get past their past. They are two very different characters, but I really understood both of the perspectives. I loved the descriptions of Indian American culture and the food. Bonus, I also live in Maryland so I knew a lot of the places they went! Would highly recommend.

The Second First Chance is the first book I’ve read from Mona Shroff. This romance explores family dynamics, resilience, moving on, and being true to yourself. The largest theme of this book has to deal with grief and moving on from a traumatic event. Riya and Dhillon’s families, being next door neighbors, experience loss the day their respective townhomes catch on fire. Riya loses her older brother, Samir, while Dhillon loses his father. This was one really heavy, emotional, and heartfelt read. Other heavy subjects the author addresses in this story are pet death, fire injury, car accident, sexual harassment, and medical content. The author does an incredible job showcasing how deeply complex each of the main characters are and how their pasts and feelings are slowly revealed. I also really loved the way the author showed sibling bonds among the families and how important that is along with tying into the Hindu tradition of Rasksha Bandhan celebrating the special sibling bonds between brother and sister. I highly recommend The Second First Chance to anyone who loved Things You Save In A Fire and The Light We Lost by Jill Santopolo. If you do read this, please read with care.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the early ARC.

I enjoyed this book very much. I have never read a book about a female firefighter, and I thought that was very interesting and well written. I loved both characters, I loved Dhillon being a vet and the two dogs playing big role in the book. Loved the Indian traditions being mentioned in the book. I loved how strong, brave and resilient Riya was. I loved the unity of firefighters at the station and how acceptant they were of Riya.
The cover is gorgeous! Overall, great book by this new to me author.

This story was so so beautiful and such a great read for anyone looking for a best friends to lovers and a second chance romance. I loved the sibling and familial relationships in this book--Hetal and Dhillon, as well as Riya and Samir's relationship reminded me so much of my relationship with my own sibling. Mona Shroff always does such a great job of portraying sibling relationships within South Asian families, and this was only emphasized more in The Second First Chance with the theme of Raksha Bandhan. This Hindu ceremony is one that my family participates in every year, and the way that it was portrayed in the novel matches my own experience celebrating the holiday perfectly. (I'm in love with the rakhi on the cover.)

There's also a large theme of grief and healing from a traumatic event in this novel. Dhillon and Riya's families, being neighbors, experience loss the day that their houses catch fire. Dhillon loses his father while Riya loses her older brother Samir. The way these two best friends navigate their grief and drawn to each other through their healing process was really emotional. It's so clear that they're each other's mirrors, and that there's truly no one else for them. Of course, both Riya and Dhillon have incredible, loving support systems from their families who are also grieving in their own ways, which I really loved. And not only does the novel explore actual familial relationships, but found family relationships as well through Riya's firefighting unit. Even with Riya being the only female firefighter in her unit, the love and support from her fellow firefighters was apparent.

There's so many more elements that I can talk about for The Second First Chance--it's truly a multi-faceted story and I can't recommend it enough! Overall, I'd give this story 4.25 stars, rounded up.

My first time picking up a novel by Shroff.
The cover and synopsis quickly caught my attention.

Riya and Dhillon's story is great. I liked the storyline and at times found it hard to put the book down.
I enjoyed following their story. Dhillon has good reason for being upset with Riya about her career choice and Riya's reasons for doing it is truly remarkable and brave.

Shroff's writing I thought was very well done. She drew me in and kept me there till the very end.

I enjoyed it yes, but I never fully connected with the characters and I believe my excitement over this one shadowed that some. I had higher expectations I guess.
Still though a wonderful book with a good cast. I just wished I connected with them more.

I will definitely pick up another book by this Author.
And would would recommend The Second First Chance.

“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

HQN,
Thank You for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!
I will post my review to my platforms, blog, B&N and Waterstone closer to pub date.