Before I start this review, please know the trigger warning is sexual harassment in the workplace. The author was very sensible with the topic but please continue reading at your own accord ⚠️

This is the second book I finished in one sitting that has a magical realism (both books released today 😊)

Honestly, I was trying to read it on NetGalley but my account wasn’t opening so I forgot about it but eventually it worked and I binge read it. I really really want to reread it tho and annotate the physical copy of it

This book is a slow burn which in my opinion is great. I love that genre of books because it feels so realistic. I can definitely relate to Sadie. With all that going on who wouldn’t want a do over, a second chance at life? I’m all in for it!! I couldn’t help thinking “me” “omg so me” “hahaha same”..

The moral of the story is great. It just teaches you things. After the do over she asked for, she was faced with different situations and a lot of changes obviously so the way she used to react to things had to change too. She started seeing things in a different light and her reactions changed too. That’s self growth in my opinion. Even though, some things may not be to our liking but this is how life works. This is what I’m going through. This book really touched deep places in my heart

I couldn’t put this book down. If you check out the author, you can see she has a lot of 5 star spreads, so you can tell how much of a great author she is. That’s my first book by Melissa and definitely won’t be my last!

This was a delightful book that added layers and depth to a typical holiday romance book.

While on it's surface the do-over plot is still one of my favorite plots and while there was much of the expected plot points, That didn't dull my enjoyment and I would say that this book adds elementals (feminism, sexism, what is personal success, and many others) that create unexpected twists and add much appreciated levels of realism and empathy. There is also a great depth of emotion and beautiful character development that made it so natural to root for Sadie, and invest in her story and all of the other characters' stories as well.

A sweet thoughtful holiday read for anyone looking for something with depth but will still leave you with that warm hopeful feeling.

Scattered Tale Tries To Be Both RomCom And Women's Fiction. Straight up, I'm fully aware that this is one of those reviews where many will rate this book at 5* for the exact reason I'm deducting a star here (though as you'll see if you too peruse the reviews, at least some of my commentary will also mirror many of the existing 2* reviews as I write this review early in the morning on the US East Coast on release day for this book). Namely, the preachy hyper-focus on workplace discrimination and outright sexual harassment and even sexual assault... in what is ostensibly trying to be a romcom. If you approach this as a romcom - and perhaps that was my failing here, approaching it in such a way... these issues are far too heavy and completely drag the story down.

However, for those that approach this tale perhaps *wanting* the more Women's Fiction side of it, where such heavy issues may be more expected, there you'll get the heaviness the same, but also with the levity that the attempt at also being a romcom brings to the table. So the tale is still scattered, but when approached in such a manner, it likely won't feel as off-putting. Hell, it may even feel quite a bit refreshing.

And of course my other failing here that must be mentioned is my love of The Family Man, the late 90s/ early 2000s movie with Nic Cage and Tea Leoni. It is my go-to reference for "glimpse" type tales such as this, where the main character is allowed to relive some portion of their life over. And while also a somewhat serious drama itself (with quite a bit of comedy), it was nowhere near as heavy as this book was fairly often. Also having this tale set in the end of year season - as that movie was - didn't help me completely separate the two, but again, this is likely a failing of mine that perhaps some other readers may share.

Overall, the book actually does both of its scattered foci quite well... it simply fails in the combination, at least when one is expecting more of a "glimpse" based romcom. As mentioned previously, if approached from more of a Women's Fiction tale, it works rather well.

For those potentially concerned that it doesn't meet the full requirements of a "romance"... it does, actually - at least every rule I'm personally aware of. And for those concerned about spice level... this one will satisfy the "clean" crowd (while perhaps being too heavy for the "sweet" crowd, though perhaps not) in that the closest anything gets to any "action" - other than the sexual assault(s) - is heavy kissing and waking up in the same bed.

Ultimately one of those tales that will likely be at least somewhat divisive due to the dichotomies I've discussed here, it could also do quite well in certain circles and when approached from a certain direction. Recommended.

2023 is really the year for time travel romance! I was really sucked in by the concept but I liked how it really focused on all aspects of Sadie’s life not just the romance. The showing of workplace harassment was important & really well done. All of the stuff about baking made me really want a pastry. The romance between Sadie & Jacob does take some what of a back seat to Sadie coming to terms with the issues at her job & where she wants to go with the career but it is still a central part of the story. I’m interested to read what Melissa Wiesner writes next!

CW: Workplace & sexual harassment.

Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

LOVED, loved, loved this arc provided by NetGalley. Second chances everywhere, but sometimes even when you have a second chance, things don’t turn out the way you hope they do. This was a great pallet cleanser after my string of mafia romances!

This book, The Second Chance Year by Melissa Wiesner, is the 40th book I’ve read this year (2023).

The Second Chance Year had me hooked from the beginning. It was an interesting story of someone who was given another chance to live through a year all over again. Even though she had an idea of what to do, Sadie (the main character) faced some significant struggles which she did not foresee the second time around.

This story was really meaningful, in that there were thematic elements to the story that reminds us, especially women, to stay strong and true to who we really are.

I don’t want to go into the details of the book so I do not spoil it- just know, this book really makes the reader think. At least, that’s what it did for me.

This book was written very well and, as I mentioned, it is meaningful, so I definitely recommend it.

I am going to give this book 4 out of 5 stars.

I am so grateful to NetGalley, Melissa Wiesner (the author) and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) (the publisher) for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve had a rough string of ARCs lately so I was apprehensive going into this one but I’m happy to report I enjoyed this one!

Will this be one I go back and re-read? Probably not. But this was a fun look into the pitfalls of living in the past and wishing for a do-over.

I could have done without the constant food metaphors and similes, but Sadie *is* a pastry chef so it’s not out of left field.

I would have liked to see more from the family dynamic--particularly I think there was more that could have been done with her brother Owen.

Jacob was somehow the best and worst character at the same time. Complex yet cardboard. I think the concept for him was solid and present but I needed more from him, more about him.

While it stressed me tf out, I liked seeing Sadie try to temper herself for what she wanted and actually learn because of it. Is masking who you are a good thing? No. But did it have the side effect of allowing her to stop and pay attention to anyone but herself? Yes, so maybe there’s a balance.

Especially going into the New Year, I think this is a light, fun, quick book that is surprisingly poignant at its core. Definitely recommend for a snappy weekend read!

If you could get a do-over of your worst year ever, would you go for it? That's the question faced in The Second Chance Year by Melissa Wiesner. When Sadie lost her job, her long-term boyfriend, and her apartment all within the same year, she tries a spell from a fortune teller at a NYE party to try again. Can she makes everything better with another chance or will she make everything worse in the end?

I loved this concept and seeing how making different choices could cause you to lose yourself along the way. It was frustrating to see a character truly lose who they are and not recognize what is actually important by trying to hold on to things they lost the first time around (but frustrating in a good way?). I really enjoyed it!

I received this ARC free from the publisher via NetGalley.

This was super cute!! This is perfect for those who love rom-coms and don’t like spice. Perfect if you love brothers best friend!

Sadie has a horrible year where she loses her job, her apartment and her boyfriend. When she makes a wish on NYE to redo the last year she doesn’t think it will actually happen. Until she wakes up the next day in her old apartment, late for work, with her ex-boyfriend sleeping next to her.

Over her second chance year, Sadie realizes how much things actually happened for the better. And she really sees Jacob, her brothers best friend. Jacob has been a little bit in love with Sadie since they were kids but never had the courage to do anything about it.

Now with a second chance to redo her year, will Sadie realize what’s most important and take the risk?

This was such a cute read!!

The Second Chance Year follows Saide who lost her job, apartment, and her boyfriend broke up with her. She is having one of the worst years of her life. She wants nothing more than to do redo this year. She meets a fortune teller who grants Sadie her wish of relieving her year. Sadie soon realizes that reliving her year might not be the best idea. But the one good thing about this is she finds love where she least expects it.

I have read other books with a very similar plot. I don't really enjoy books with this kind of plot. They always seem super predictable and repetitive to me. I thought this book was just okay. I love that Sadie was able to figure out what she wanted. I thought the relationship between her and Jacob was really cute. But other than that this book did not seem very original and I was left a little bored.

Thank you so much Netgalley, Forever, and Melissa Wiesner for the ARC of this book.

A cute romcom story with a time twist. I thought this was a good read. I really enjoyed Sadie. A female character who was strong and opinionated! Love it!! I wish the relationship with Jacob had more banter, but it still kept my interest and I was rooting for them. Really enjoyed the audiobook! The narrator was absolutely perfect for Sadie's voice.

*Thank you @readforeverpub and @harperaudio for the #gifted egalley and audiobook in exchange for an honest review.*

Sadie has had a terrible year losing her job, her boyfriend, and her apartment. As she gets back on her feet, she's staying with her brother's best friend. And then she gets the chance to do it all over again -literally. So, she decides to go back a year to see if she make everything "right" again. But along the way she starts to realize maybe what she wanted isn't exactly what she wanted after all. I love a Groundhog Day-esque plot always, and I really, really loved this one. I loved Sadie and how she (re)navigated the world figuring out what she wanted/where she wanted to be. I also found myself rooting for her and where I wanted her to land in that second year. This was one that just made me smile. Thanks to NetGalley for the early look at this December 2023 release. It'd be a great one to check out during this often busy holiday season y'all!

The Second Chance Year, a contemporary romance by Melissa Wiesner is totally unexpected in its storytelling. When Sadie asks a fortuneteller for a do-over of the last year of her life, it still doesn’t turn out how she expected, even with magic guiding her life. Two proverbs apply to this novel, “Be careful what you wish for,” and “Things happen for a reason.”

There were laugh-out-loud moments, disgust, annoyance, anger, sexual harassment in the workplace, unexpected friendships, job opportunities, and so much more. Sadie has always stood up for those less fortunate or those who couldn’t stand up for themselves until her “Very Bad Year” gets a makeover, and she changes how she approaches life and seems to go more with the flow, whether she should or not. We get to know her a little at a time, and some of those she surrounds herself with—friends, family, coworkers, and even those she cares for. The story takes place over a year, and I liked how chapters would be titled the next month as we proceeded through the story.

She and Jacob apparently have liked and loved each other from afar, but since Jacob is her brother Owen’s best friend, neither felt they could act on it. Or could they? There were many layers to the story and several different tropes and storylines. They are nicely woven together as dreams come true for many characters. I loved how Sadie’s flair for baking was central to the story and how I could almost taste the pastries and other treats she made. I liked that the coffee shop became an essential part of her life but that she didn’t realize how it was her lifesaver and helped fulfill her dreams. The story had a good flow, and there was closure with the epilogue, but I wish it had gone on just a little longer to see how their lives and new business venture panned out. The icing on the cake would be if the characters were revisited and if Owen or her best friend got their own books to tell their stories.

The Second Chance Year is a contemporary romance with a little bit of magic as Sadie’s life gets a do-over for her “Very Bad Year.” Sit back with a cup of coffee and a sweet treat or two as you engross yourself in Sadie’s life.

Sadie has had a pretty awful year. She lost her job as a pastry chef, her boyfriend broke up with her, and she could no longer afford her apartment. Now she is living with her younger brother’s friend, Jacob, and working as a barista at a local coffee shop. So when given a chance by a fortune teller at a New Year’s Eve party to re-do her terrible year, Sadie jumps at the chance! But just before midnight she shares a kiss with Jacob that adds another layer to this monumental year. Now she is reliving her terrible year, choosing to hold her tongue and play by the perceived rules. However now she sees red flags everywhere, and Sadie begins to wonder if choosing to redo her year was a good idea after all.

There may have been times when I found the story a little predictable or thought Sadie was a little oblivious, but I still enjoyed this holiday-ish romcom 100%! Don’t go into this one expecting a ton of spice, there isn’t any, but it is completely full of humor and a delightful plot that I loved! This book also comes with a cinnamon roll hero and satisfying shenanigans that make this romcom worth the read!

Thank you to NetGalley, Forever, and the author for my chance to read and review this book!

The Second Chance Year.... I'm not sure if I would categorize this as romance more like chick lit.

Unfortunately, the romance between Sadie and Jacob was the weakest least favorite part for me sadly.

There was no fun banter between the two of them and they barely could really connect and have a conversation. Sadie was like he's kinda hot and muscular from playing piano? mmmm this was a bit odd to me.

Also, what in the world was all the food references between the two of them?! They were a bit all over the place and had to reread what was being said.

For example: "Look the last year of my life sucked like a straw in my milkshake."
"Spinning around in darkness like cake batter in a kitchenaid." Ok this is just beyond odd to me haha.

I just felt like their relationship was so all over the place there was no chemistry.

Also, this one takes the cake for me.
"But my dad's face is as hard as burned loaf of bread, and my mom keeps sighing and shaking her head like I've brought pumpkin pie to a summer party." UMMM... what in the world?! I can't.

This really wasn't my cup of tea but if this speaks to you and if you especially like the baking references then I'd pick this one up!! :)

3/5 stars

Thank you so much to Forever Publishing and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Pub date: 12/5/23
Published to GR: 12/3/23

Sadie has had a Very Bad Year ™: she lost her fine dining pastry chef job, her Wall Street boyfriend, and her NYC apartment, leaving her with no choice but to live with her little brother’s best friend while she gets back on on her feet.

But after visiting a carnival fortune teller on New Years Eve, her wish is granted to re-do the past year of her life. As Sadie tries to change the trajectory of the Very Bad Year™, she begins to question the choices she has made and reevaluate her goals and what is truly important in life.

I absolutely loved every character in this book, I thought they were all perfect and really drove the story forward. I seriously had butterflies 10% into the book and that never happens. I really connected with Sadie and loved the plot drove female empowerment and camaraderie.

My only complaint is that I wish had been able to see more of the romance between Sadie and Jacob (an epilogue from Jacob’s POV would have been amazing!).

Overall, a super quick and enjoyable read!

Love love love this book. It really made me take a look at my own life and be grateful for the things I do have even when things don't always go my way. Also had me laughing too. Can't wait to read what Melissa will write next.

The Second Chance Year by Melissa Wiesner
Contemporary romance. Magical realism, wishing, time travel.
Sadie Thatcher is having a Very Bad Year. She lost her job. She lost her apartment. She lost her boyfriend. She’s living on the couch of her brother’s best friend, wrapped in a blanket and eating ice cream. Her best friend convinces Sadie to go to a New Year’s Eve party where she finds a fortune teller. Sadie makes a wish to do the last year over and wakes up the next morning, a year in the past, in her old apartment, with her boyfriend next to her. She vows she will spend the next year doing everything differently. No more talking back to her boss. No more public fights with her boyfriend’s coworkers. It’s going to be different this time around.

We could predict what was going to happen. That doesn’t make it any less charming. With Sadie no longer being vocal about certain issues, her situation and friendships change. Sadie finds herself missing the people at the coffee shop. She talks to Jacob more and realizes he’s way more than she’s noticed in the past.
Sadie changes how she reacts to situations which does change events but not how she expects or even wants sometimes.
It does have a couple of deep “learning” points, but more, it’s an adorable romance where Sadie finds it’s better to just be herself.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley. I will absolutely share my love of this story with my bookclubs.

Thanks to the pub. for the ALC.
This was such a fun time loop story. Now, if this isn't your favorite trope, there is only one here, and it's so worth it to give this one a chance because it was such a well thought out story that really showcased the lessons the main character learned through her second chance year. It was easy to root for Sadie and what she wanted. I felt like since she had so many life changes happening, she was an easy character to relate to. I felt so many emotions while listening because of the great character development here. This is a perfect book for someone who wants a story with depth and occasionally asks their own 'what if' type of questions.
The audio narrator did such a great job capturing the complexities of this story in her performance. It's a book I would highly recommend on audio.

This was cute at times and slow at others. I love that we're getting more magical realism romances, and while this one wasn't my absolute favorite, there were still things I enjoyed.

Sadie was an interesting character because she starts out the book in the absolute worst spot in her life and wishes for a do-over of her year. We get to see her try to fix herself and her life only to realize maybe things weren't so bad and she just needed a different perspective. We get a lot of character development of her, which I think was actually well done. Sometimes, it was annoying to see her make the choices she did and give up parts of her strong personality, but it was easy to see, as the reader, that it was all part of her journey.

Jacob, the love interest, was sweet and cute. I feel like we don't often get quiet types in romance novels anymore so that was a nice surprise. It might have been better if we could have gotten into his head at some point. He came off dull at times because he kept to himself, but there were also some cute, little moments. I wish we could have gotten more between Jacob and Sadie. Even just more little things here and there, but again, the journey.

Overall, this was a nice novel, just kinda slow and not as mushy-gushy romantic as I would have liked. Good themes of what matters most, friendship, feminism, etc.