Prudence Child’s is a former child prodigy who has no played piano in over 20 years. Alexi Petrov is a piano phenomenon who has been hosting a dueling piano TV show. When Prudence begins to question her existence, and then an ex/husband resurfaces with potential blackmail. Alexi is unsure of where his life is going, but when these two are both tasked with the ultimate piano face off, they must find out why they started playing in the first place and determine whether it’s time for their second ending.

I really enjoyed this book a whole lot.

Prickly Prudence was marched in lock-step toward stardom at an early age, a piano prodigy, but now she's a middle-aged woman with no purpose now that her daughters are in college. Alexei is another who was bludgeoned into expertise by parents desperate for far different reasons than Prudence's horrible grandmother. Because her ex husband shows up with an offer--a threat--she agrees to participate in a TV reality show that involves piano duels.

On the way to the showdown we meet a number of characters whose lives are tangled up with this main story. The author delves into each backstory, then pulls back to a light brush with omniscient narrator, always with reference to the effects of music.

This is far less a romance than it is a novel about families, and expectation, talent and the dark side of child stardom. But the author clearly loves all her characters, flawed as they are; she understands the pain and bewilderment that can bring people to shadowy places, and how music can set them free. It's a feel-good novel, and I really loved it. Especially the writing about music, and about playing the piano. If you've ever played an instrument, the chances are you will resonate with this book. I know I sure did.

We all have dreams and parents who aren't everything we need them to be, but few have them on the scale of Prudence and Alexei. And for these dueling pianists, the stakes are ratcheted higher and higher with each chapter. Luckily, each pianist has a mentor or two to help them navigate the twists and turns.

The syncopated rhythms and complicated relationships made this novel hard to put down.

Thanks to NetGalley for the review copy!

This book was so enjoyable and such a fun read. I loved all the main characters and found their stories to be so interesting and engrossing. This isn't like many books that I usually read and I really liked the change of pace. This book had a lot of funny moments and I was genuinely invested what happened to each of the main characters. I really liked the writing style and while a lot of the book as leading up to the competition and a lot of talk of piano practice it never felt slow moving. I would've liked a little more written about the actual competition this is a minor criticism and don't feel it took away too much from the story. I want to thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was a wonderful 'second' chance book. I really enjoyed how easy this book was to follow along. I was intrigued by Prudences weirdness that she wore with confidence. I came from a musical background, and Second Endings has inspired me that it might now have to be over with. It really forced you to use your creative mind to imagine what the musical pieces being played sounded like. This was just the "fluff" and comical relief that I needed (in the nicest way) from a stent of dark romances. I can't wait to see this in someone's hand later this year as I walk down the beach in my hometown.
Thank you NetGalley, Random House, and Michelle Hoffman for the eARC copy.

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A former musical prodigy and a current musical star face off in a live reality show each thinks will make or break their future. Most of the story is that of their beginnings, Prudence as a child pianist playing at the White House and dominated by her overbearing grandmother; and Alexei, whose parents' attention to his career left him no time for an actual life. How these beginnings shaped their lives of today, and the people around them make for a quirky tale leading up to a very wild grand finale. Comparisons will be made to Lessons in Chemistry, but this is a little more scattershot. Some of the quirkiness works, and some gets lost in the shuffle, and some of the story simply bogs down here and there. It's still a fun read, and it's heart is in the right place. All's well that ends well, and all does end well. Recommended.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley, and this is my honest review.

(4.5 stars.)
There is a special place in my heart reserved for books that don’t just validate readers’ dreams, but encourage them to chase after them.

In The Second Ending, readers are introduced to the two sides of success. First, we have Prudence, a piano legend who was born with incredible musical talent and has always let her emotions lead her fingers on the keys. In contrast, we have Alexei, who has developed ruthless discipline and technical knowledge to reach the top of the piano hierarchy. Yet, each are crippled by the pressures their families placed on them as children, resulting in Prudence fleeing the music scene for decades, and Alexei losing himself in his parents’ desires. Yet, when secrets from Prudence’s past and demands for Alexei’s future force them to go head-to-head on a TV piano competition, Alexei and Prudence might just rediscover their love for music that started it all.

You know that ache in your chest that you get when you read something so absurdly powerful? Something that resonates with you in the precise right way? That was the second half of this story for me, to the point I consumed the latter 75% in one sitting. There is something undeniably magnetic about reading characters find the courage to embrace their dreams, no matter how silly or insignificant they may seem. Currently, The Second Ending isn’t in its final form, but I really hope these quotes remain:

“God loves the poets more than the saints, Prudence. To suffer is human. To turn it into art is extraordinary.”

“It was the power of the dream and not the reality of it. Even the most jaded people in the most hopeless environments need dreams.”

Prudence and Alexie are such eye-catching characters. Prudence has the outward persona of an IDGAF lady that blazes through life, even though on the inside she is haunted by fear and insecurity. Alexei dazzles people wherever he goes, but has no sense of self or connection to the outside world that hasn’t been destroyed before his very eyes. They create such a wonderful discussion around the pressure put on children not just in the music field, but any child that has a gift, talent, or just parents with relentless expectations. Also, as a side note, I love how music was described throughout the story. It was like the songs themselves were characters of their own. With that being said, though, I have a few critiques.

First, there was a tendency for music to act as an on off switch of sorts. All it would take was for a character to hear one song, and suddenly they’re not just rethinking their life, but they are like, “alright, time to change everything right now.” Maybe I just haven’t heard music of Prudence and Alexei’s caliber before, but it feels a little extreme to be like, “This one song is enough to make every listener completely change their lives.” I like that it got them thinking about it. I just think the pendulum had a tendency of swinging just a bit too hard. Especially in regards to Tamar’s ending. The other comment I have is on the writing style.

The pros themselves are pretty straightforward, which makes it easy to follow when we’re talking about music. Yet, the style is omniscient, which is rarely ever employed anymore. I think at first, it felt a little jarring because chapter 1 read like a third person limited with Prudence. Then we shifted over to Alexei, and I couldn’t tell if we were reading through his perspective, or the overall storyteller voice of omniscient, or if this was actually Prudence watching him on TV and at any moment we would zoom back into her. I think once I realized it was omniscient it still felt a little bumpy, purely because this style is so under used. Yet, once I adjusted, I actually really liked it. I don’t know if it was completely necessary, but I do think it was pulled off regardless.

Overall, The Second Ending is a story of dreams, self-discovery and rediscovery, and having the courage to chase our passions. I will say the way that the blurb is currently written led me to believe the competition was the majority of the plot, whereas it is actually the finale, and the fact that Alexei’s accent was described as “dreamy” made me think romance when it’s not. I’m kind of glad I was slightly bamboozled, though, because I don’t know if I would have reached for this book as quickly otherwise. Such a good read overall.

Prudence is a child music prodigy who is now in her late forties and in a financial mess. Her adult kids are out of the house and she and her husband have a lot of financial obligations that need to be paid. She still loves piano but hasn’t played or done anything much with it for years. She now picks up where she left off as a young person and awakens her musical talents.

An opportunity comes up for her to use her gift and make some money on a TV reality show. She squares off with a widely known pianist and both are fantastic. Its going to be a close decision who will win.

The first five or six chapters introduce new characters and character development beings immediately. There are a few protagonists in the story. Prudence is up against a lot! One of them is Tamara and another is Prudence’s ex, Bobby. He is just terrible but Tamara is a character I wanted to know more about, believe it or not and the conclusion wraps up nicely!

Very good debut book. This is an easy, quick read and flows well. Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the ARC of this book. I am glad to have read it.

Second chances are something that everyone thinks about. This book was such an incredible outlook and I enjoyed every second of it.

Beautiful, compelling, and hopeful! I feel so lucky to have stumbled upon this book. One of my top books this year. I was totally blown away by how magical it was! (not to be confused with there being any magic in the story).

It pulled me in right away, and it had me thinking about life while I enjoyed being swept away by both the characters AND the plot!!! It left me HOPEFUL, which all of us could us a big dose of nowadays!!

Prudence and Alexei are both people who are talented, likeable, and yet human. I enjoyed the FUN they had, felt for them as they worked through their struggles, and cheered them on as their antagonists plotted against them. Who knew so much could be packed into one book? It has something for everyone, yet does it all with expert writing and beautiful language.

This is the first time I've read Michelle Hoffman. I hope to see more from her in the future.

TOP BOOK CLUB PICK 2023!

This book was so cute! Prudence was the perfect quirky protagonist and as someone who plays piano I really enjoyed the music aspect of the story line. This was a quick read thanks to the different points of view!

I found The Second Ending to be a slow and tedious read. I am not a musical person, so the multiple references to great pieces of music were pretty much lost on me. I found the characters quirky and annoying, and not at all endearing. I kept plugging along, hoping that I would get hooked, but eventually just gave up reading this book about 75% of the way through. I guess it just isn't my cup of tea...or piece of sheet music.

I received this Advanced Reader Copy from @netgalley Thank you! This is a cute story about a woman who was a child piano prodigy, but has not played in years. Due to some misunderstandings in her life, she decides that she has to play again to make money, so she enters an american idol type show for piano. There are some quirky fun characters, and a happy ending. #thesecondending #michellehoffman #musicnovel #pianos #prodigy #bookstagram #booklover #reader #bookblog #lovetoread #fictionreader #bookreview #bookrecommendation #readersofinstagram #bookloversofinstagram #takeapagefrommybook #readallthebooks #booksbooksbooks #netgalley #advancedreaderscopy

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book was so much fun. I loved the quirky characters and their development throughout the book. In a book that for me is about rediscovering your passion or perhaps breaking away and finding your own path rather than following someone else's plan for your life, I thought the author skillfully used humor in telling each character's story. Stories like this don't have to be stiff to also be insightful. My only complaint is that there were a few parts that seemed a bit redundant and didn't really add anything. But overall, I thought this was a really fun read.

I have referenced this book so many times in the last week since I've read it, it has clearly stuck with me.

Prudence was a childhood piano prodigy, thanks to the music lessons she witnessed her childhood babysitter teaching and no thanks to her grandmother's abusive and forceful hand.
Alexi is a famous pianist but had to work hard to get himself to where he is, through getting out of Russia, into top conservatories in Europe, and now hosting a music reality show in America.
Weaving their stories along with those of an ex husband, a former ballerina bent on revenge, a former music teacher who had been searching for greatness, and a Hollywood producer who needs a break, the stories are filled with hilarious HOA squabbles, a bit of blackmail, a piano, and the histories of two phenomenal pianists and their quest to become and prove they're the best- while examining what that means for each of them.

#arc
#netgalley
#thesecondending

This book was a true delight! As a regular mystery reader this book was a bit out of my comfort zone but it was soooo worth it! Prudence was a child prodigy, playing piano for some of the most important people in the world. However, as she grows up her passion for piano changes and circumstances lead her to selling a famous commercial jingle that makes her rich.

Fast forward, her ex-husband re-emerges with the receipts that maybe the jingle that made Prudence so famous wasn't actually hers? Drowning in debt her ex blackmails her to keep the secret of her stolen jingle. To save her name and collect money for her ex Prudence agrees to appear on a new reality show of dueling pianos.

While Prudence's famous commercial jingle set this story into play, there is soooo much more to this story. This is a story about finding your passion in life, doing what truly makes you happy, and not settling for other people's expectations. Prudence was a truly delightful character to read about and you cannot help but get wrapped up in her excitement and shenanigans.

Also just need to say that naming the chapters took me back to childhood and I loved it!!

It takes great skill to create a story that makes the reader feel engaged when two pianists are competing on a TV show – and there is no way to hear what they’re playing. It’s all in the imagination and words.

Two characters are involved in the competition. Prudence is a bored 49-year-old mother. She has found herself in a financial predicament and needs to keep her ex-husband quiet. He needs money and is blackmailing her for a past lucrative advertisement arrangement which may have been dishonest.

Alexei is a 22-year-old Russian immigrant who is getting pressure from his parents to make more money. They said he needs to give the Russian government a percentage of profits so that he can to keep living in the US.

Both are trained as classical pianists but Prudence was a child prodigy. She gave up in her early 20s from stress. She said to her husband, “It’s all that LSD my mom took back in the sixties. I’m damaged.” Alexei worked hard to become a success, practicing long hours. Now they are going to compete on TV’s “Dueling Piano Wars” for the winning prize of one million dollars.

The story is at a fast pace just like the piano keys that move rapidly with the “’Flight of the Bumblebee.” The book is especially great for those of us that were raised in the sixties when many remember piano lessons.

It’s an original, entertaining plot with some great lines and interesting characters. I found myself laughing at times. It helped me to be able to google some of the piano pieces that are mentioned in the plot to get an immersive experience.

There were some nice twists and the end was unexpected. There is a love of music in this story which may give some readers a push to get their pianos tuned up.

My thanks to Michelle Hoffman, Ballantine Books and NetGalley for providing me an advanced copy with an expected release date of May 30, 2023.

Fun that takes you through the life of a piano prodigy named Prudence while she goes through a midlife crisis.

This book was downright fun!

Prudence is a child prodigy pianist who is now 48 and is being threatened with exposure as a plagiarist over an advertising jingle she wrote as a child. Prudence is currently facing a mid-life crisis as her children are now grown and she tries to find purpose in her life.

Alexei is a pianist who is currently hosting a game show where pianists compete against one another. He has issues with his mother who has gotten the family out of Russia on the ticket of her son's expertise in music.

Both of these characters are eccentric and their stories are engrossing. The author has somehow managed to convey the beauty and love of music onto the page that makes the reader feel it. The descriptions of music and piano playing are exhilarating!

I thoroughly enjoyed the characters, the plot and especially the music. The sideline with Tamara's grudge from a perceived slight when she and Prudence were both children, as well as the blackmailing ex-husband Bobby were just that - sidelines. I disliked both of these characters, as I'm sure the author intended. Highly recommend this read to anyone who likes music or who likes competition.

Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on May 30, 2023.

Cute book that will appeal to many of our library readers. Second chances, older age, great combination.