What would you do if you found a letter addressed to another woman? Or a diamond ring (that doesn't fit you) in your dead husband's suit pocket?

Evelyn usually makes careful, thought-out decisions but this time she decides to deliver the letter herself.
This is the start of a very strange 'holiday' that turns into a huge, multi-layered adventure with something else Evelyn didn't expect: new friends.

She learns it's never too late to find new, true friendships & enjoy life.

This is an uplifting & very enjoyable debut with a flowing writing style that keeps you reading & getting to know the interesting, older characters.

It's the type of read that makes you hope there'll be another one from Kate Galley soon.

The Second Chance Holiday Club by Kate Galley

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Aria and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

It's never too late to change the habits of a lifetime...

Evelyn Pringle isn't the sort to make rash decisions. Or any decisions, really – she's always left that sort of thing up to her husband. But he's been found dead, wearing his best suit, with a diamond ring in his pocket that doesn't fit her. When Evelyn finds a letter addressed to a woman on the Isle of Wight, she decides to deliver it. By hand.

So begins a very unusual holiday, and an adventure no one could have predicted – least of all Evelyn herself. With the help of some unexpected new friends, and a little effort on her part, Evelyn discovers that it is never too late to have a second chance at life and forge friendships that are well-worth living for.

My Opinion

At first I had my doubts about this book but it was actually refreshing to learn about Evelyn and all of her secrets. Whilst this is not what I was expecting, this was an enjoyable read that teaches us that is never too late to find new friends. I read this in one sitting and found it very easy to get lost in.

Rating 4/5

"Not for the first time, I have serious doubts about this Christmas Coach trip. It's given me the perfect excuse to avoid festivities at Carol's, but what with sparky Cynthia, and Alan, the perpetually cheery driver, I'm beginning to wonder if my sister's would have been that bad."

The Second Chance Holiday Club is a lovely Christmas read that allows the reader to laugh out loud at some of the spunky characters and insane scenes, while also tugging at the heartstrings as it addresses loss in all it senses. The book is told from the perspective of Evelyn, who books a coach trip to confront her husband's other love (the one she only found out about after he tragically dies). The coach trip is not at all what she expects it to be, coming into a hotel that's less than as advertised, learning more about her late husband, and finding the companionship of two lovely ladies, Cynthia and Joy... each with stories of their own.

The Second Chance Holiday Club is an easy read, with characters that are easy to imagine are real. Each with their flaws, they are incredibly easy to let into your heart and to root for, and seeing them each find their way was a lovely experience.

When Evelyn's husband dies unexpectedly, a chance discovery takes her on a journey to the Isle of Wight. A tale showing us all that it is never too late to change, embrace life and start again. An unlikely scenario but entertaining and warming.

This was a book of two halves for me. I didn't really like Evelyn in the first half of the book, she was a bit of a misery to be honest, but she slowly came out of her shell in the second half, with the help of her new friends.

Evelyn's husband has recently died and she found out that he'd been on his way to see someone else, with a diamond ring in his pocket. So Evelyn decides to find out about this 'other woman', even though she hasn't got on with her husband for years and really is quite glad to be rid of him. She books herself on a Christmas coach trip to the Isle of Wight, which is where Tony (her husband) was on his way to when he died to solve the mystery.

During the trip she eventually solves the mystery, whilst finding new friends along the way - although she really resists this intially! They end up in a second rate hotel that everyone has given up on, and end up doing everything themselves as there's nowhere else to stay.

There's a really interesting cast of characters, all with their own stories they're working their way through, some by 'running' off on a coach trip for Christmas, notably very outgoing Cynthia and very quiet Joy who befriend Evelyn.

This turned into one of those books that I wasn't sure I was going to like, but ended up really enjoying it by the end.

This is a lovely story, with surprising twists!
It centres around cantankerous 80-something Evelyn, who had recently lost her husband Tony to a heart attack. Whilst sorting through his things she finds a letter  hidden in his desk drawer, professing his love to another woman and admitting a hideous crime  he commitred almost fifty years ago.

Shocked by the discovery she decides that she can't face Christmas alone with her thoughts and needs to get away. On a whim she books a turkey and tinsel coach trip to the Isle of Wight, which ends up being more eventful than expected. The coach party discovers that their their luxury hotel has been double booked and they end up being put up in a ramshackle hotel, with few staff instead!

When the remaining hotel staff walk out in protest to working conditons the coach party is left to fend for themselves! The pensioners rally together to make the best of things and enjoy Christmas. The reserved Evelyn finds herself striking and unlikely friendship with the exuberant Cynthia and troubled Joy and in doing so starts to work through some of her problems.

I really enjoyed this book and the characters' stories are gradually revealed, with some surprising twists! A reflective and cosy read. A great debut from the author, i look forward to reading more from Kate Galley!

Evelyn sets off on an unexpected holiday. Her husband Tony has recently passed away, but he has left a mystery behind him A ring obviously planned for another woman, with an address on the Isle of Wight. So, as you do, Evelyn sets off, determined to return the ring and find out what was really going on in her ;late husband's life.
It's evocatively written, with great sympathy. I did find the Welcome Rest amusing, but also very irritating!
Super book, really enjoyable and also thought provoking. Thank you for the chance to read and review this story.

A chance holiday taken by three ladies who join together for this holiday on the Isle of Wight. Read and enjoy what happens with them. Loved reading this and give it 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for this ARC

Beautifully written, when Evelyn goes on a last minute, spur of the moment trip to solve some untold mysteries regarding her late husband, she meets two women who become good friends and support her quest for solutions. Am so hoping there is a follow on to this, as would love to know what happens next

Absolutely loved this book.
Great characters and storyline. A story of friendships at its best.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC it was a pure delight.

EXCERPT: As soon as I woke this morning, I imagined myself going through Tony's things. I thought about it at the hairdressers while the girl tried to curl my straight white hair, and while I made up my face and wrestled myself into my black wool dress, and again when Carol arrived with her husband to take control of the day. I was still thinking about it when Tony's coffin disappeared behind the curtain. While I should have been focused on the enormity of never seeing him again, never sharing another meal, a conversation, a bed with the man I'd been married to for fifty-five years, I'd actually been imagining myself coming home, kicking off my shoes and walking straight into his study to rifle through his possessions. With good reason it would seem.

ABOUT 'THE SECOND CHANCE HOLIDAY CLUB': Evelyn Pringle isn't the sort to make rash decisions. Or any decisions, really – she's always left that sort of thing up to her husband. But he's been found dead, wearing his best suit, with a diamond ring in his pocket that doesn't fit her. When Evelyn finds a letter addressed to a woman on the Isle of Wight, she decides to deliver it. By hand.

So begins a very unusual holiday, and an adventure no one could have predicted – least of all Evelyn herself. With the help of some unexpected new friends, and a little effort on her part, Evelyn discovers that it is never too late to have a second chance at life and forge friendships that are well-worth living for.

MY THOUGHTS: The Second Chance Holiday Club is an entertaining and amusing later-life story about it never being too late to change the habits of a lifetime and chase your dreams.

Evelyn is staid and stuck in her ways. So she is somewhat surprised at herself for booking a 'Tinsel and Turkey' coach tour getaway to the Isle of Wight - anything to avoid Christmas with her sister Carol and her family! But there's a reason Evelyn has chosen the Isle of Wight.

Cynthia is an overly-made-up, outgoing woman with a bung knee who sits beside Evelyn on the bus, noisily sucking sweets and talking to all and sundry. She drives Evelyn insane! And Evelyn knows she is a liar.

Joy is an attractive but quiet woman with more secrets than the bruises she is trying to hide. Why, for instance, does she need two phones?

So, how do these three overcome their differences and become friends? Read The Second Chance Holiday Club to find out. Enjoyable, entertaining, but with some real 'wakeup' calls to us senior citizens and the not so senior citizens amongst us, The Second Chance Holiday Club is an amusing read with some good life lessons cleverly woven into the fabric of the plot.

Even the supporting cast of characters are a breath of fresh air - Alan, the bus driver, on his last tour before taking retirement; Liam, the young student helping out at the 'hotel's (take that description very loosely!) and who wants a career in hospitality; Carol, Evelyn's sister, who Carol resents; and Sarah, the woman Evelyn finds when she's looking for Margaret.

This is a stellar debut novel, one that will not only entertain, but will give you food for thought.

⭐⭐⭐.7

#TheSecondChanceHolidayClub #NetGalley

I: @kategalley1 @ariafiction

T: @KateGalley1 @AriaFiction

#ageing #contemporaryfiction #domesticdrama #friendship #sliceoflife #womensfiction

THE AUTHOR: Kate Galley is a debut author who lives in Buckinghamshire with her husband, children and Meg, their Patterdale Terrier. Much of Kate's inspiration comes from the many varied lives of her clients as a mobile hairdresser, and the inspiration for this book came from one woman's tale of a hilarious Christmas coach trip.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Head of Zeus, Aria, via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Second Chance Holiday Club by Kate Galley for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage

The Second Chance Holiday Club
Earc:NetGalley
Publisher:
Head of Zeus, Aria
Publication Date: 1 December 2022
Genre: General Fiction Adult

What a fantastic first book! This was a pleasure to read—witty in a delightfully dry way, cheerful, and heartfelt. The three elderly women's developing bond was expertly handled; it was understated yet moving. With topics like loss, infidelity, the discovery of long-buried secrets, and opening oneself up to new experiences, the author dealt tenderly and genuinely.
All three of these older ladies had to ask themselves, "Who am I?" and make decisions about who they wanted to be in the future.
Age doesn't have to mean giving up our ambitions and dreams or avoiding new experiences and adventures, as this book beautifully affirms.

Thank you for providing an eARC of Head of Zeus and Net Galley.

#NetGalley #bookstagram #bookreview #goodreads #generalfictionadult #thesecondchanceholidayclub @kate galley

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Clya2A9owKF/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

4.5 stars

What a marvellous debut novel! Witty in a delightfully dry way, joyful, touching, this was a pleasure to read. The blossoming friendship between the three older women was perfectly written, subtle yet poignant. The author dealt sympathetically and realistically with issues such as grief, adultery, the revelation of long buried secrets and opening yourself up to new experiences.
As older women facing huge changes in their lives, all three had to ask themselves the question, "who am I?" and decide who they want to be in the future.
A wonderfully life affirming book - being older doesn't mean we need to give up our hopes and dreams or forego new experiences and adventures.

Thank you to Net Galley and Head of Zeus for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This wonderful debut novel by Kate Galley was at times heartbreaking, and at times heartwarming. The three main characters are older women, each at a crossroad in their lives after the death of their spouses. Hoping to get away over the Christmas period, the three end up at a nearly deserted inn on the Isle of Wight, where each woman discovers that there may be a brighter future ahead.

So nice to read a book with elderly leads. Three women, holding secrets, meet as they are each running away to an inn over the Christmas holidays on a bus trip. The three become unlikely friends as the inn isn’t exactly what they all hoped for. They help each other thru their issues and prove that no matter how old you are, it’s never too late to put your past behind you and start living.

Enjoyable storyline, but slow moving for me. Characters grew on me. Easy book to pick up and put down.

Thanks to Head of Zeus and NetGalley for this ARC. Opinion is mine alone.

I thought this was going to be a really good story and, it started off well and I was amused by it. But, halfway through it started to irritate me and I got bored by the characters. It was set on the Isle of Wight which, for me was good as I have spent many holidays there but, not at Christmas. It’s a shame I was hoping for better. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Evelyn has just been widowed, and on clearing through her husband's belongings she finds a letter addressed to another woman on the Isle of Wight. impulsively she decides not to spend Christmas with her sister, but to go there on a 'turkey and tinsel' trip to hand the letter over in person.

On the coach she meets two very different ladies, and begins to learn a lot about herself and her life, even before she delivers the letter. The result is a very light, upbeat but thought-provoking story of lives wasted, people misunderstood and what real happiness might be. I cried for Evelyn, but was also very heartened by the way she learned to live in her new life. Parts of the story stretched credulity a little, but it makes for a cracking read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley, Kate Galley and Head of Zeus for the book The Second Chance Holiday Club. This is my personal review.
Evelyn Pringle has decided she will take a holiday, but this is not one she ever imagined she would be taking. Evelyn goes on a trip with new friends but they each have one thing in common – they are widows.
The three women- Evelyn, Cynthia and Joy have found each other and they fit so well together.
I enjoyed reading this book and I know you will too.

A wonderful debut book from this author, an easy read that you can get into the story from the very first page. I’m looking forward to seeing more of this authors books in the future.

An absolute delight of a read. I was very surprised to see that this is from a debut author. The writing is gentle but holds no punches as you become absorbed in the live’s of these three very unlikely friends to be. Three ladies all escaping their pasts book a Christmas break on the Isle Of Wight and what could be the holiday from hell may well be their salvation.
Great characters that you’ll become invested in.
Please can we have a follow up I need to know what happens next