This was just so cute!! I love that Nick never really questioned what he was feeling, he just went with it. I do appreciate that he didn't rush to find a label. Nick just knew that he loved Eli and that was enough. I feel like they had a bit of miscommunication at the end but it was wrapped up perfectly, to me. I loved every second that the two of them spent with Zoe. I want a bonus chapter where they tell her that they are together.

I received an arc through netgalley.

I really enjoyed this book! This is my first TJ Alexander book and I'm certainly inclined to read more of their work now. I found the characters likable, especially the side characters like Max and Zoe and the parents. I perhaps began to lose patience with their idiots-to-lovers storyline towards the end--their feelings were so convoluted I found myself losing track of who actually felt what way about the other and what the reasons were they weren't saying so, etc. That being said, the book followed a pleasant enough formula that I didn't really need to have a tight grasp on the specifics to enjoy it. I also read this book over a rather long period, so that might have impacted my memory of the plot too. I would absolutely recommend this to someone looking for a fun queer holiday romance!

I really wanted to love this one , Trans male MC, second chance for first loves, single parent, a demisexual awakening. Unfortunately the story dragged for me and I couldn't get invested. I really didn't like the main character Eli very much , I found him to be very judgmental. I did however adore our other MC, Nick, who was a sweetheart. Alogn with his daughter, Nick and Eli's parents, and other side characters/ This book is heavy on the feels, with Eli working through trauma that's resurfacing now that he's back in his hometown. But there's light moments along the way and mild steam to spice things up.

I went into this book without having read anything by this author and knowing little about this book. I loved this book! The characters are fabulous, and the emotions it brought out were heartbreaking and then heartwarming.
Eli, a trans man, returns to his family home in Florida after he loses his job as a comedy writer when his boss is outed as a serial sexual harasser. His family very hard to be supportive, and some of the scenes made me cry.
He meets his lifetime friend and first boyfriend from when he was a girl, and without giving anything away, love sometimes truly lasts.
Nick Wu has married and divorced and is the father of a beautiful and funny 4 year old mixed race girl. He has a horrible MAGA ex mother in law who bullies her daughter.
The book really deals with so many social problems in a very real and sometimes funny way. I will be reading many more of Alexander's work.
Thanks to NetGalley and Atria publishers for the EARC for an honest review. I hope if it does not necessarily change people's minds, it will at least begin to allow more acceptance.

I sat down intending to just read a chapter or two to get a feeling for the story, then all of a sudden I’d read 50%. Second Chances in New Port Stephen sucked me in immediately, I absolutely flew through the book. I really appreciate it when authors can take a trope that isn’t my favorite (second chance romance) and still have me completely fall for the book and the couple.

Eli and Nick were best friends as kids and dated as teens. But that was before Eli moved away and transitioned. When he’s back in their small town for the holidays he runs into Nick and they strike up a new friendship that starts evolving back into a romance. It was so nice watching Nick and Eli reconnect. They’re both in their late 30s, and I especially appreciated the storyline of Nick learning new things about his sexuality at a later age. I also liked how the steamy scenes explored Nick learning things about queer sex and what things he might like to try in the future.

Outside of the romance I really enjoyed the individual stories that both Eli and Nick had with their families and personal lives. Eli hasn’t been having much success with his career and coming home to his family (and the state of Florida) can be awkward or painful at times. Nick has a daughter from a previous marriage. And while he had a very mature and amicable split with his ex-wife, his mother in law causes issues that they have to work through together.

For the most part this is a pretty lighthearted romance. There are mentions of serious topics like alcoholism and transphobia, but the story doesn’t dwell in those areas for too long. The conflict and drama that occurs in the book felt very realistic and not like some random thing just thrown in to force a breakup. I can’t wait to read T.J. Alexander’s next book! Definitely check this out if you’re in the market for a queer/trans romance. It’ll make a great read for the holiday season since that’s when it’s set, but it’s not such a big part of the book that it would feel weird to read it in the summer.

Second Chances in New Port Stephen by TJ Alexander is a charming queer holiday romance story.
TJ Alexander writes the best queer love stories and this was no different.
This was a great story with a heartfelt theme! I loved the love story, obviously, and the characters had great depth and development.
I loved watching their relationship bloom.
A wonderful second chance romance!

I would like to thank NetGalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for the opportunity to read this ahead of its publication date in return for my honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and publisher for this ARC!
🌴song: all I want for Christmas is you
🌴 summary: Eli’s life is not so slowly falling apart after losing his job, leaving New York, and moving back home to his homophobic Florida neighbourhood. What he doesn’t expect is to end up on a trip down memory lane when he runs into his first boyfriend, Nick. Can they bridge the gap after all these years and be friends again, or maybe something more?
🌴you’ll love this book if:
- you love a good hometown Christmas romance
- you are a fan of TJ Alexander
- you love a good second chance romance
🌴thoughts: this is a super cute holiday romance, I loved ElI’s family and the retake photoshoot was just too cute it melted my heart a bit. I loved Nick and Zoe and their dynamic. I think Kay was a really important character to explore the attitudes of the neighbourhood that Eli was struggling with. I loved that Eli wasn’t perfect and Nick called him on it. I really wanted to see more of what came from Laurie and Zoe moving so far away, but I know that wasn’t the story being told. I do wish Margo was explored more because I really liked her character. I also think there were some loose ends with nick’s restaurant. Overall a great read and perfect for the holidays!

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
TJ Alexander continues their winning streak of queer romance, this time with the queer holiday romcom, Second Chances in New Port Stephen. Writing queer fiction is a tough balancing act, both bringing one’s own perspective on present-day LGBTQ+ issues, while also providing hope for the better, and Alexander definitely does this. The book is set in Florida, and while there’s commentary on the bleak political climate in that state in particular, from the anti-trans legislation to book banning in the name of “protecting our kids,” it’s done with both sensitivity and a touch of humor. I’ll never forget reading the snide quips about the lack of improvement in the Florida school system or the description of the governor (who is not named in-text) as “a guy who looked like undercooked pizza dough and with a haircut to match.”
The two leads are great, and I liked that they were a bit older, being almost forty, and are dealing with the impact of the life experiences they’ve had, while also still struggling with starting over and figuring things out. Eli is perhaps the more fleshed out of the two, in my personal opinion, given he’s now forced back to his family home amid scandal threatening his tv writing and comedy career. While it was less of a plot point than I initially expected, his description of alcoholism and its impact on his life was also quite moving. And with his transition having occurred largely after he left town, there’s also a lot of family tensions he’s still dealing with, especially from his father, who doesn’t fully understand.
Nick is also pretty solid as a character too. While I can’t say his daughter Zoe blew me away, being one of the child characters I didn’t actually care for, I did respect his role as a single father, amid the other responsibilities he had on his plate.
These two have a pretty interesting dynamic, due to their past relationship. There’s clearly still a connection, and there isn’t any animosity. However, while the mutual attraction is there, neither is aware of what the other wants out of the relationship. While it was nice that they had each other to lean on when things got tough, I did want them to stop dancing around each other and make things clearer much earlier, although that’s kind of the only thing that the romantic side of the book had going for it, conflict-wise.
I also really liked the holiday vibes, with it starting right before Christmas, and concluding at New Year’s, with an epilogue set in the following year. It was also interesting to have it juxtaposed against that Florida setting, both for the politics that colors the narrative and because I feel like so many Christmas books are set in snowy places, so it’s cool to have one with more tropical vibes. And with the compressed timeline, it’s fairly fast-paced and light, making it simultaneously a great cozy holiday and beach read.
This was another enjoyable offering from TJ Alexander, and I’d recommend it to readers looking for lighthearted queer fiction to read during the holidays, or anytime of year.

Omg! I loved this book. I cried so many tears of happiness and laughed so many times. I loved the sort of twist on a second chance queer Romance. The author does an amazing job connecting you to the characters. I really adored this book. It's a must read.

Thank you @atriabooks @netgalley for this queer holiday romance. Eli is a trans that is back home to a small town in Florida and catches up with his first love, Nick, who is a divorced dad. I love the setting of Florida and references to the current state of affairs there. Seeing their friendships redevelop was great. I love that they were both at crossroads and seeing their growth journey. Eli's parents were so amazing and supportive and Nick's dad was great too.

Now this ate. This was my first ALEXANDRR book and it def won’t be my last. It truly was amazing and I did cry.

This book is a bit cutesy for my taste, but I still enjoyed it. As a holiday romance, this was fine. Zoe, the precocious child, was an annoying, unnecessary presence. Eli's parents were great- supportive and a bit awkward. Eli and Nick acted like teenagers, which was good sometimes, but not great otherwise.

“This place can try to bury me all it wants. I’m not going to let it. Even if I end up here for my whole life, I’ll still be me. Life’s too short to be anyone else.”

I received an advanced readers copy of Second Chances in New Port Stephen by TJ Alexander in exchange for an honest review. Here are my thoughts!

🦩 Eli Ward does not want to head home for the holidays, but when scandal threatens his career he doesn’t have anywhere else to go. The thing is, Eli has changed a lot since he was last in New Port Stephen. He’s sober, he’s in his forties, and he’s in the post transition part of his trans journey.

While Eli has changed a lot, it seems New Port Stephen is the same - including being home to Eli’s old best friend (and boyfriend) Nick Wu. But Nick has grown up too. A divorced dad, he dedicates his time to his father and daughter. When Eli and Nick meet up again, they can’t deny the chemistry is still there - but have they both changed too much? Or maybe just enough? 🦩

Y’all. Y’ALL. This book is AMAZING. Like, it is exactly what I look for in a Christmas romance novel. Friends to lovers to strangers to lovers?? Queer af?? Balancing hilarity and heart wrenching? Listen, if you love Christmas romcoms you will not be disappointed. Hell, even if you don’t like Christmas I think you might enjoy this one!

Second Chances I’m New Port Stephen is out December 5th so get your preorders in at your local indie bookstore! 💕

Given the triggers I thought this might be a pretty heavy book despite the cute cover, but thankfully the story is pretty light.

Eli, who is trans, is back home in Florida to spend the holidays with his family. While home he runs into an ex who hasn't seen him since his transition, and the two reconnect.

This was honestly cute, and I loved this, but will say I HAAAATTTEEE the miscommunication trope so much and wish it didn't exist.

Thank-you to Atria and Net Galley for an ARC of this book. I loved it! I throughly enjoy TJ Alexander’s writing. This is the perfect LGTBQ+ Christmas romance. I greatly appreciate that both Eli and Nick were on paths of self discovery. I love the meeting of the main characters and the ease of their dialogue and interactions. I’m giving it 4.5/5 stars.

4.5 Stars

While this book touches on a multitude of deeper issues, there is so much queer joy to be found. I loved that this book centered on two main characters that were almost 40, who were still finding themselves, and settling in to who they really are.

I related to this book on so many levels, and it was so easy to fall in love with all these characters and their journeys.

I truly believe this was an excellent read with takeaways for every reader. There are direct quotes I plan on using with my own family.

When Eli returns home after losing his job as a comedic writer, it's his first time home for the holidays post-transition--and the first time seeing his high school ex-boyfriend turned DILF, Nick, in almost two decades. But despite both of their changes and twenty years, there's still an undeniable connection between them. Nick and Eli struggle with their developing feelings, the possibility that Nick may not be straight, and whether things could turn into something serious despite the distance between them.

I've enjoyed Alexander's previous books, and this one lived up to the standard--and perhaps even beat it. I love a good holiday romance, and this was unlike any other I've read but with classic tropes, like second chance romance. I was rooting for Nick and Eli from the get-go, and loved some of the nostalgic moments they had (the sinkhole! Nelly!). This book was a little on the long side, but it also dealt with so many serious topics while keeping a sense of humor, I'll cut it some slack.

Thanks to Atria for my eARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

5 stars - 9/10

Thank you NetGalley, Atria Books and TJ Alexander for providing me with an eARC of Second Chances in New Port Stephen for review.

⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ - Rounded Up - Available 5 December 2023

Oh I had an absolutely wonderful time with this read. Eli returning to his home town in Florida is way to relatable 😂😂😂. I really enjoyed the dual narration, I found Eli to be hilarious and Jack to be such a beautiful person. It might have been my recent reads but the adult characters in this books was exactly what I needed after being surrounded be fictional YA main characters for a while.

And the writing of the interactions between Eli and Zoe always left me smiling.

My own real concern was the lack of communication in the last quarter of this book. I was groaning with the knowledge that we held from both the narrators but they weren't telling each other 😂. Miscommunication to the MAX!

I really liked the romance and the characters in this book. It was kinda overly cheesy at times, but I expect that from a romance. I liked Nick's wife, until she decided not to tell him that she was thinking about moving to another state with their daughter. I know it was discussed later, it just felt like a sucky thing to do to him and to their daughter. Some of the miscommunication/noncommunicatuon between Eli and Nick was annoying and it felt like it didn't make sense between two characters who were communicating so well about everything else. But overall, I would highly recommend this book if you're looking for a good romance.

Second Chances in New Port Stephen is an adorable read! Eli heads home to Florida for the holidays to visit his parents and also because…he is currently unemployed and has no prospects. Eli struggles to feel comfortable in this place that he felt stifled who he really was growing up but a chance encounter with his first love makes the holidays a little more bearable. As Eli and Nick spend time together, both realize they still have a lot to learn about themselves despite how much they’ve grown up since they last saw each other.

An adorable second chance romance with fun queer characters. If you are looking for a cute romance, I would definitely recommend Second Chances in New Port Stephen!