One of the things I most enjoyed about this story was the little moments where Prudence or Alexei did something that did not seem particularly significant to them (Prudence playing piano at the hotel bar or the hospital; Alexei teaching Holden “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”) but had a profound impact on the person or people who witnessed their musical talents. Prudence and Alexei were both enjoyable characters, and there was a great cast of supporting characters. I liked Prudence's backstory and how she gained/regained her confidence in her musical abilities, as well as her ability to convey the emotions of the music she played in such a profound way. I also liked Alexei's backstory and how he was finally able to stand-up to his parents (especially his mother) and take some agency over his career, as well as loosen up and enjoyed the music more. I am not sure the author could have crafted a more perfect “second ending” to the story.

An original plotline that is entertaining with some emotional twists thrown in, just to keep things interesting. The two main characters each have a reason to compete, but losing will trigger consequences they'd rather not face. But two pianists are better than one and they just might find a way to both walk away winners.

This debut novel included a fun mix of characters and a story of hope and second chances. I’m excited to see what Hoffman writes next.

𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗 𝗜𝗙 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗟𝗜𝗞𝗘
✷ Music-centered fiction with a competition twist
✷ Stories about second chances and late-in-life reinvention
✷ Women navigating fame, identity, and ambition
✷ Quick audiobooks that don’t take themselves too seriously
✷ Light fiction with reality-TV vibes

𝗧𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗚𝗛𝗧𝗦
This one fell solidly in the middle of the road for me — not a bad book by any means, but one that I just didn’t connect with as much as I’d hoped.

The premise had so much promise: a once-famous concert pianist re-entering the spotlight through a televised piano competition? That setup alone should’ve had me hooked. And to be fair, it was a fun, quick listen on audio — engaging enough to keep me interested, and the pacing made it easy to get through in just a couple of days.

But ultimately, I didn’t feel fully immersed in the story, and I struggled to connect with any of the characters on a deeper level. They felt a bit distant — not quite fully fleshed out — and because of that, some of the emotional beats just didn’t land. I wanted more vulnerability, more heart, more complexity beneath the surface.

That said, I do think readers who enjoy reality TV drama or stories centered around reinvention and second chances might really enjoy this one. It just didn’t quite stick with me in the way I wanted it to. A solid audiobook pick if you’re in between heavier reads and want something light, but not one I’ll be revisiting.

This was a really heartfelt and deeply reflective read. It follows a protagonist grappling with significant life changes and decisions, particularly those related to second chances and new beginnings. The story delicately handles themes of personal growth, resilience, and the possibility of finding fulfillment even when things don't go exactly as planned. A quietly powerful and hopeful narrative.

I loved the characters loved their story. The chemistry was cute hot and on pointe. Cannot recommend this book enough.

A touching novel about reinvention, ambition, and chasing dreams — no matter your age. Heartfelt, inspiring, and deeply human.

This was emotional and inspiring. It was also laugh out loud funny at times, and a different type of love story. So enjoyable.

Although the synopsis grabbed me, it was slow warming up to these characters in crisis. I sympathized with the pressures of their youth, but struggled to believe or understand their adult behavior and choices.

*The Second Ending* by Michelle Hoffman is a poignant and uplifting novel about a woman who, after a life-changing event, begins to reassess her past and future. With a blend of humor and emotional depth, Hoffman explores themes of reinvention, healing, and finding hope in unexpected places. The book offers a heartfelt look at how it’s possible to embrace new beginnings, even when life doesn’t go as planned.

This book just did not do it for me. As a pianist, I thought I would enjoy the story. But, as another reviewer commented, it reminded me of Where’s Bernadette and I absolutely despised that book/movie. The characters were not well developed and I found myself forcing myself to read one more word on one more page. It just wasn’t worth the effort to get to the end. I struggled through, though, and can now say “I’ve been there; done that; and don’t recommend it.” But if you give this a try, I hope you enjoy it immensely more than I did.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

Contemporary
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I struggled with the characters in this one such that I could not finish it. I gave it 20% but I could not get behind both of them. I did not feel anything for them other than terribly annoyed. This book definitely had potential but it was not for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the copy of this book to review.

A quirky cast and a bit of a slow start but it kept me hooked and I was glad I finished! If you enjoyed “where’d you go Bernadette” - you’ll enjoy this!

I agree with others that this will be a great read for some, but not for me. I struggled to finish it but glad I did because the ending was the best part.

I enjoyed this book so much. It was sad to see how her grandmother pushed her to play the piano and she lost interest later in life. I was glad to see she found the love again playing the piano. I would definitely recommend this book.

This book was good but it wasn’t my favorite. I don’t think I was the intended audience. But I do think that there is an audience out there for this book and it will be someone’s favorite. I will try a different book by this author in the future.

maybe i’ll give this another chance at some point, but i cannot read this book. it is so boring and gives 0 flesh to any character and 0 significance going on. other reviews speak positively so maybe this book just isn’t my taste.

This was such a fun and delightful book! Prudence is a former child piano prodigy, playing for the White House when she was only 5 years old. After a few years of the spotlight, she was tired and stepped away. After a few years, she needed money and she wrote a hit jingle known to many, many people. She makes a ton of money and lives a good life with her family.

Many years later, her first husband (when she was very young and it was annulled) is down on his luck and finds a dark secret about Prudence’s hit jingle. He blackmails her for money to stay quiet. But Prudence’s finances aren’t as good as she thought and paying off her ex husband will bankrupt them. She tries out to be on Alexei Petrov’s Dueling Piano tv show which has a large cash prize. Can she win after so many years away from the piano?

This was a true delight of a book. It was funny and heartfelt. I liked that Prudence was an older main character starting a new chapter of her life. She was also tired of doing things for other people and began to put herself first. There’s also a funny side plot with the neighborhood patrol in her housing development.

Thank you @penguinrandomhouse and @michelle.hoffman_ for my gifted ebook.

The plot of this story is really unique. It's emotional without being overwhelming and there's humor diffusing some of the tension at the right times. Hoffman knows how to twist reader's loyalties from one chapter to the next, which makes it an exciting and interesting read. Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for this ARC!

Wow! This book was filled with music and was such a joy to read. As a musician and music teacher myself, it was fun to read a very rare storyline about what it is like to be a highly esteemed classical musician. I wish that the fictional show existed in real life!