THE SECOND ENDING by Michelle Hoffman is a definite delight of a read!

Prudence Childs is nearing 50 and is gifted her old piano from when she was a child prodigy. This isn't a pleasant memory for Prudence and she grapples with what to do when her ex-husband comes out of the woodwork with a compromising situation and begins the blackmail process. When the music calls to Prudence, she falls back into it fully and finds herself with an opportunity to solve her ex issue: winning a piano duel contest on TV! What she doesn't know, is that the host of this piano duel, Alexei Petrov has his own demons to conquer.

This is a strong story of second chances, or maybe even third or fourth. It has a light-hearted feel with clever, snarky humor that made me chuckle, while probing deeper issues of familial expectations and trauma. I thoroughly fell in love with Prudence and wish we could go out for drinks, though she could absolutely drink me under the table. I also fell in love with her husband (not the ex!), who seemed to understand and care for her in ways I haven't seen as much in novels lately. The "mid-life" protagonist is one I relate to in many ways, and I found this story to be a bit of a comfort read. Now, on with that bookclub...

Thank you to @netgalley & Ballantine Books @randomhouse for sharing @michelle.hoffman_ 's debut book & letting me share my thoughts! This title will be available on May 30th, so pre-order or head in to your bookstore then!

Y'all, this was just such a delight of a read, and it's one I cannot recommend to any human who reads books enough. The story was just so wonderful, and I found myself rooting for the main character so hard. The story focuses on Prudence. Prudence was a musical prodigy as a child, but has since moved on from music. In her late 40s, Prudence returns to music as part of a dueling pianos reality television show. As she prepares to this, an ex who's down on his luck returns to her life with a secret that could ruin her. He finds an unexpected partner in (literal) crime in his efforts, but also this partnership is rather complicated. This was a redemption story with a spin, and there were so many twists and turns that added so much depth to the story. I truly didn't know what was going to happen, and I kept reading because I was so drawn into not only Prudence's story, but that of the others around her. Everyone had something that made this one such a wonderful read. Thanks to NetGalley for the look at this upcoming release!

This is a beautiful and often funny story. It is filled with some wonderful and quirky characters. Prudence is a child prodigy and a middle aged mother with an empty nest. Alexei is young twenty five year old superstar pianist. Each has their own conflicts and drive to prove themselves the best. The story is also romantic as it examines how strong Prudence’s marriage is. It also looks at family expectations through both characters lives and struggle. There is also many other fun surprises that await you through the pages of this book.

The Second Ending by Michelle Hoffman is a funny comedy about two pianists and their different paths to competing on dueling pianos tv-show.

Prudence was a child prodigy but stopped playing and Alexi is young sensation. This competition means different things to both of them but it's all about finding their love of the music and challenging themselves to think differently about themselves.

I enjoyed this book! It was funny, I kinda wish this show was a real thing!

4/5 stars!

This was definitely a different read than what I'm used to (fantasy + romance), but it was a refreshing change of pace! This is a story full of love, sadness, and hope and a wonderful musical journey exploring second chances. Prudence and Alexei show us we can write ourselves new endings.

Thank you NetGalley, Random House, + Michelle Hoffman for an ARC copy of The Second Ending. All thoughts are my own.

This feel good story is perfect to read in those sun-soaked summer days. Prudence Childs was a childhood piano prodigy who finds herself middle-aged and lacking the creative spark she once had. When her ex-husband blackmails her, Prudence’s fate in a dueling piano competition is jeopardized. The focus of rediscovering your identity in middle age and forging a new path despite familial expectations will resonate with many readers. This is a sweet one you won’t want to miss!

READ THIS IF:
You believe in new beginnings at any age
American Idol but make it competitive concert piano appeals to you
You appreciate a middle-aged protagonist

I featured The Second Ending in my summer reading guide, Kelly Hook's Summer Books. The guide launched 5/25 and has over 2k downloads.

An enjoyable, light-hearted comedy that also addresses some deeper issues. The two main characters, Prudence and Alexei have agreed to compete in a televised piano duel and discover that they have traumatic childhoods in common. Prudence, now an empty-nester is a former child prodigy who hasn’t played the piano in years. Alexei is already a star with his own show but is struggling to break free of his parents’ control over his life. Other characters add interest and humor making the story pure entertainment.
I found the storyline of this book to be engaging enough to keep my interest but there was no “wow factor” for me. The character development was good, not great but the additional quirky characters really added to the fun. I personally enjoyed the Phoenix setting as I also live in the area and the author’s descriptions were spot on.
This book is a refreshing read and provides a break from the mainstream “book club” selections.
#NetGalley #RandomHousePublishing-BallantineBooks

Someone recommended this book to me, so I requested it. I should have known that it was not for me, but I gave it a try. Two exploited children trying to get back their lives as adults. Unfortunately, there are no surprises. The plot was predictable. I kept waiting for something to happen and it really didn’t. The blurb made it seem there would be a little more…intrigue I guess. From the other reviews, I can see this book was for some people. I am just not it’s target audience. That being the case, it was OK.

This was such a quirky and unique book! It felt special to read something set in my (adopted) home of the Phoenix metro area and I loved all the references to real places, like Hotel Valley Ho and the Fountain Hills fountain. It took me a while to think of what this book reminded me of, and I ultimately came up with “Finley Donovan is Killing It.” It has a similar tone, where it’s both a little dry and dark, but still whimsical. There is nothing creepy or violent in this book like there is in Finley Donovan, though. I found this plot compelling, if a little far-fetched. The characters were endearing and there were lots of good life thoughts.

Thank you to the publisher - I received a complimentary eARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed reading this book!!! This book was about two prodigies that tell us their life story while preparing to duel each on reality television show. It was a very interesting read, however it was rushed at the end.

Aside from this book being really inspirational, its never too late to do that thing you either used to do or want to do. I loved the MC, she was funny as hell, a little too dramatic, but she is trying to find her way yet again after becoming an empty nester. There was a ton of comedy, this author did her thing. I recommend this book, mainly more for the readers who are into music, which is totally relatable.

A story about two piano players who each get a second chance at life. I just didn’t connect with this one. I think the writing style wasn’t my fave, but I can see a lot of other people liking this one!

This one was a slow one for me initially but I eventually got attached to the characters and really liked the ending.

Prudence is nearing 50, her youngest child has just moved out and she's questioning her life and what's next. As a child piano prodigy, Prudence decides to play again and ends up in a tv competition against a young pianist, Alexei. Overall Prudence really frustrated me -- she made some questionable choices and I just wanted to talk some sense in to her. But she showed some growth and by the end I was rooting for her as well.

Alexei was probably my favorite character -- I really felt for him and the tough position he was in with his parents. It was nice to see some growth from him and some of his parts made me laugh.

The side characters are all pretty unlikeable too -- both Bobby and Tamara felt like pretty terrible people.

Overall very impressive for a debut novel and I will definitely check out what Michelle Hoffman writes next!

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book!

This was a fun, lighthearted read that also touched on more serious and deeper issues. Both were done flawlessly and effortlessly. You weaved in and out of the story, enjoying the characters, relating to their thoughts (even when I really couldn't) and overall just enjoying them. Both very different, yet also similar, their stories and relationships are done incredibly well. Overall a fun, easy summer read!

Prudence was a famous kindergartener for her unbelievable piano skills. As she got older, she began to realize that her grandmother was exploiting her, so she ran away and wrote commercial jingles, which continued to add to her fame and fortune. With her daughters now away at school, Prudence wants to reconnect with her music, and agrees to compete on a dueling pianos TV show. Her rival Alexei, is also a flawless pianist, but has no life outside of music. Both realize that the competition will give them the chance to take control of their lives and passion.

Thank you Netgalley for my advanced reader copy.

This was interesting -- a bit like one of my favorites Where'd You Go, Bernadette but not quite as good. I enjoyed the piano talk but I kept hoping for something better, more magical to happen. I guess I wanted a bit of fantasy rather than such a stark reality. But it was still a very good read and I read it one sitting, which tells you I was captivated. Definitely add this one to your TBR pile!

The Second Ending comes out next week on May 30, 2023 and you can purchase HERE.

A child's world, Prudence had discovered when her girls were young, is only as large as what is around them. Her daughters never cared about their mother's storied childhood, how she'd played for two sitting presidents and had tea with Isaac Stern. They only cared that she could make mud pies and killer began tacos. Prudence gave her children everything she had been denied. She read them stories, taught them card games, and held them when they were sad. She nurtured them precisely so they could become independent adults. But the opposite had happened to Prudence along the way: She had grown dependent on them.

THE SECOND ENDING by Michelle Hoffman is the delightful and charming story of Prudence (named after the Beatles song) and Alexei, two high-profile musicians whose lives intersect on a music reality show. We follow Prudence and Alexei as they prep for their big reality show event and both musicians grapple with how they got where they are – do they really love music this much? Did they choose this life or was it chosen for them? Are they even good enough?

But I'm making it sound serious. There are serious and heartfelt moments, but mostly THE SECOND ENDING is witty and funny with a little side of quirky, because Prudence has got that child star/adult recluse quirkiness going on which I loved.

Musicians, you're going to really enjoy this one. It's a fun and light read with humor and heart.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for a free review copy of this book!

Review on IG @fromsarahsbooknook to come on release day.

This book had a very flatline plot for me. Nothing was exciting, nothing was depressing, I felt like I took Benadryl reading this book because it was so lackluster.

Prudence and Alexei are two different versions of exploited youth. Both have their problems, both are annoying, neither is truly endearing. When I got to the actual competition, I wasn't even rooting for one over the other, I just wanted to see how it went.

There was one whole character and her story that just slowed the whole thing down. Nothing about her added anything to the story other than "why are you here?"

I had the same feelings I had reading Lessons in Chemistry, which I also didn't like, so if that's your speed, this book is for you.

What a delight! Prudence and Alexei are on a collision course toward one another as they both need to win a piano competition on the incredibly popular tv show he hosts. She was a child prodigy who broke away from the piano as a teen, married Bobby, had the marriage annulled, and rebuilt her life after graduating Julliard and then marrying Stuart and raising two daughters. But now she's 48, the girls are off to college, and she's having a crisis. And then Bobby shows up. Alexei's parents used his talent to get them out of Russia and now he's 22 and living a regimented life but the fact that he's got to play a rock or pop song in the competition changes everything- and he finds his heart. Know that Prudence can be annoying but just wait til you meet Tamara, who has been holding a grudge for many years! There are moments of great sweetness here, a little pathos (no spoilers), and it's got some good laughs. You will find yourself rooting for both Prudence and Alexei, for different reasons. I enjoyed this very much and it became a page turner as we barreled to the competition. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Great read.

I just couldn’t get into this story. I'm very character driven and I found these characters 'flat'. Sorry to say I gave up on this one.

The Second Ending was a fun, warmhearted, enjoyable read. If you are looking for something light with an uncommon plotline, you will love this book!

The book centers around two highly-skilled piano players who will be competing against each other in a dueling piano reality TV competition. Along the way, we meet different characters (both good and bad) from each of their lives, and both pianists learn about themselves and grow and change over the course of the book.

As someone that took piano lessons for eight years (and who has been yearning to start playing again as a middle-aged adult), I really enjoyed the concept and plot of this book. But I don't think it gets too deep into the details of playing piano, so even if you've never had an interest in learning and instrument, you can still totally enjoy this book.

The Second Ending is definitely entertaining and had me laughing at several points. It was just what I needed after some heavier reads. It was a quick and easy read, and I think it would be perfect for a vacation and/or the beach.

Thank you to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the e-arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.