This author has had my heart since turning the first page of my first Zentner book. Since then I’ve read through all his YA novels, loving the way he creates characters who are flawed yet loveable, authentic and complex, always someone to cheer for, and a supporting cast to die for.

In 𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘵𝘰𝘯 𝘎𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘺’𝘴 𝘓𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘈𝘤𝘵, Zentner’s first adult fiction book, he does it again, another 5⭐️ read for me.

Colton has been knocked down more than once. After starring as his high school quarterback and prom king turned country singer, life doesn’t go in the made-for-tv-movie kind of way he expected. Colton has to learn and grow and adapt and change. What a treat to watch him do it.

Zentner trades in the stereotypical “man’s man” and gives us a lead character who cries over heartbreak, who is passionate and emotional, and made me fall madly in love with Colton.

Zentner also uses the ugly partisan divide in America for some of his plotting, and humanizes our differences, showing what a little listening on both sides might accomplish.

PS my favorite parts were the footnotes on the rescue dog (spoiler alert-he’s not gonna die in this book) Thank You!!!

If you love a good sports movie or a comeback kid kinda story or a tale that plunks at your heart strings, read this book - it’s out April 30th! (I know, I know - I couldn’t wait! In the meantime, read 𝘎𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘣𝘺𝘦 𝘋𝘢𝘺𝘴, 𝘐𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘓𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘒𝘪𝘯𝘨!)

I will always read everything Jeff Zentner writes. As an adult who has already gone through a few "acts" in her life, this novel resonated with me. It gives the reader who that they can come back from so many of the worst things.

Jeff Zentner's first adult novel, Colton Gentry's Third Act, will definitely be on the list of my favorite reads of 2024. Although it ends in the most satisfying manner, I didn't want it to end at all, and it inspired me to look for the author's award-winning YA books next.

Colton's first and second acts are as a high school football star and then a country singer with mild success until one of his songs is a hit and he marries the most popular female country singer of the day. But after a personal tragedy, a failed marriage, a career-ending incident during a concert, and a stint in rehab, he finds himself at age 39 alone, broke, and living with his mother in his Kentucky hometown. A chance meeting with his high school sweetheart, Luann, leads to an employment opportunity he would never have expected, but it is not without many challenges to his sobriety and his penchant for running away when the chips are down.

There are so many things I loved about this book, including the author's beautiful writing style that evoked tears from me more than once. The character development of both Colton and Luann is absorbing and immersive--both are characters well worth rooting for. Supporting characters including Luann's adorable 8-year-old twin girls, Colton's ever-supportive mother, his steadfast friend Derrick, and his elderly dog Petey are just as warmly drawn as the protagonists. (Jeff: Thank you for the very necessary footnote about Petey, by the way.) Parts of the book are wildly romantic, but it's really a book about redemption, starting over, and all kinds of love. And then there's the Southern food--I'm still salivating. It's also about the unique and memorable details that make each character come to life. Highly recommended.

My sincere thanks to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.

I'm a big fan of Jeff Zentner's YA books and this was his first foray into adult books (and romance!). A sweet story but probably one that I won't remember a year from now.

As a huge fan of Jeff Zentner's YA novels, his adult debut was easily one of my most anticipated books of the year, and this one was worth the wait. In terms of tone and style, it's recognizable as the author's work- there is a lyricism to the story and a gentle, warm pacing that fits the story, the setting, and the work that Colton Gentry is doing on himself. Read this if you love the music but hate the politics of country, if you love second chance romance, if you love great Southern fiction, or if you adore mouthwatering food descriptions in your books.

Colton Gentry’s Third Act” stands as a narrative celebration of human resilience and the transformative power of love. Zentner’s heartfelt prose ensures that this story of overcoming adversity will resonate with readers, particularly those who appreciate contemporary fiction that explores the depths of the human condition.

Musician Colton Gentry, drunk and grieving his best friend's recent death, speaks out about gun violence at a sold-out arena of country music fans. Immediately, his career implodes; his marriage was already disintegrating; and he soon ends up back in his small Kentucky hometown with his mother, newly sober and trying to figure out his life before his bank account is completely empty. A chance encounter with his first love, Luann, sets him in a new direction. A story about re-starting your path, believing in yourself and accepting other people's belief in you, about healing, about re-awakened love, and about listening to one another.

🧑🏼‍🍳 Here’s something you don’t see in this space often: a romance written by a male. And it works! Thanks so much to @grandcentralpub and @netgalley for an early look at this. It’s out April 30th.

🧑🏼‍🍳 Ultimately, this book is about life’s curveballs, and how our paths sometimes take a turn we never saw coming. A high school football star injured senior year turned rising country star — is suddenly shunned from Nashville after sharing his beliefs about gun control. So what will Colton Gentry do now?

🧑🏼‍🍳 This book is written with so much heart and feeling. The way the MC handles himself, and others, throughout the book will have you cheering him on, and hoping with all you have that he finds his way to happiness, and mostly, contentment.

🧑🏼‍🍳 Put this on your list if you love…
- second chances
- dual timelines
- standing up for your beliefs in a respectful way
- striving to see multiple sides of an issue
- addiction recovery

🧑🏼‍🍳 This book’s essence is truly in the journey, not the destination. But the end leaves you feeling pretty happy as well. I thoroughly enjoyed the time I got to spend in Venice, Kentucky with Colton Gentry, and highly recommend this.

🧑🏼‍🍳 One caveat/trigger warning: Gentry’s initial rant is spurred by losing someone in a mass shooting at a country music festival. As someone who just knows people who were at the musical festival shooting in Las Vegas, it was honestly hard to read. I can’t imagine how you’d feel if you were more directly connected.

Colton Gentry's Third Act is another gorgeous story by Jeff Zentner, but for an adult audience this time. If a story can make a vegetarian who doesn't like spicy food want to try Duane's Hot Chicken, I'd say the author's done his job. Highly recommend.

Want to laugh? Check. Want to cry? Check. Want to fall in love with Colton Gentry? Check.
"Colton Gentry's Third Act" takes the reader through Colton's multiple redemptions. You love him, you hate him, you feel bad for him. As with all of his books, Jeff Zentner makes you feel all the emotions - sometimes all at the same time. (Thanks for the footnotes about Petey).

I have nitpicks -- a big one: was the final act obstacle necessary (or even believable)? -- but honestly, I find myself defending the book every time I think of one. This was satisfying, really solid contemporary fiction. It carefully deals with addiction. It's a heartwarming story about second chances and first loves. The food writing left me hungry.

Thanks to Netgalley for the advance copy.

Colton Gentry’s Third Act by Jeff Zentner was a perfect read. Wow, this is my first Jeff Zentner read and I cannot wait to read everything else he has written. This was a heartbreaking, beautiful read and I consider myself very lucky to have read an ARC. I could not live a cast of characters more than I loved these. They get very real and definitely made me feel a lot of things. God, I will be thinking about this book for quite a while. The writing was top notch. It was so good. I will be adding this to my list of books I will be forever recommending.

I also appreciated the footnotes about Pety. Five stars for that alone!

Smart move by Zentner to use flashbacks to get his tried and true YA sea legs under him as a natural entry into his first adult novel. Didn’t want this story to end!

Another terrific novel by Jeff Zentner. Being a fan of his YA titles, I was hugely excited for this book and I was not disappointed. As usual, Zentner creates unforgettable characters and somehow manages to turn what should be monotonous conversation into deep and beautiful passages. His descriptive scene-setting shines as always, his love for the south shines through so strongly and it adds an intangible quality to the overall setting. I am thrilled to read his next work. Purchased for our library.

I rarely rate 5 stars and seldom write reviews but this book is so beautiful! Yes, beautiful; Colton’s growth is painful AND beautiful. knowing you are worthy of love and forgiveness is priceless. I was so invested in his journey; everyone can believe in you but it’s not until you believe in yourself that the magic happens

What a beautifully written story about second and even third chances.

Colton was in the early days of sobriety making amends and trying to piece together a future. Sometimes the only way forward is reaching back and trying again.

Jeff Zenter writes with such emotional intelligence that as a reader I felt in safe hands. He covers some heavy topics but not in an exploitative way. There was one part about protesters that I felt took away from the flow of the story but it was a minor part quickly over.

Humor sprinkled throughout like a fourth wall breaking footnote that I very much appreciated and the line about The Shining had me howling.

Loved Jeff's foray into adult fiction! The throwback teen storyline was still where the author's talents shone smoothest and most assured, but that's to be expected given that he's been a successful YA writer so far. There was, however, plenty to enjoy in the rawer and less assured adult storyline - his trademark gift of creating characters we root for even when they're being stubborn and annoying, his ability to write about difficult topics without seeming preachy, the poet in him writing vivid descriptions that make the American South come alive with all of its flaws but also its beauty and wonder, the rhythms of the dialogue. The final third seemed a little rushed and I wasn't convinced that the near alternating flashback to present moment was the strongest narrative choice (as much as I enjoyed the throwbacks, I felt like I wanted more time in the now, and there were other ways to handle the past storylines; though I definitely wanted way more of Duane in the past). I'm excited to see Jeff venture more into adult fiction territory - there's a lot to look forward to, if this first offering is any indication!

PS. You're going to be perpetually hungry while reading this!

Longer review to come closer to pub day.

Jeff Zentner's first adult novel is a gem! Highly recommend! Thanks to NetGalley for the digital arc…it made my heart sing!

After losing his best friend to gun violence, singer/songwriter Colton Gentry goes on an anti-gun rant to a country music audience and ends up imploding his career and his marriage. After a stint in rehab, he heads home to small town Kentucky, broke and struggling with his sobriety. He reconnects with old friends, adopts a dog, and with no other jobs on the horizon, Colton takes his high school girlfriend up on her offer to come work in her restaurant. Reminiscent of Larry McMurtry’s deft balance at weaving laugh-out-loud humor with deep sorrow, Zentner returns to familiar themes of loss and grief and an obviously well-loved setting in the rural South. He expands on his repertoire with mouth-watering food descriptions and a restaurant kitchen setting that fans of The Bear will recognize - absent all the yelling.

Romantic, hopeful, and distinctly human, this novel is unmistakably Jeff Zentner. I’m thrilled that one of my YA faves is adding his voice to adult fiction.

Hello, welcome to another review where I eat my words.
I am vocal about my distaste for third person narration in romance novels. This narrative often makes me feel removed from the character(s). I should have known that this wasn’t going to be an issue with Colton’s story, as it is a Jeff Zentner novel after all.

Jeff Zentner’s writing balances humor and heartfelt, creating such vivid characters and settings that you can smell, taste, hear, and see the words on the page. This story examines politics, cancel culture, second chances, and mental health in a beautiful, respectful way that I cannot imagine anybody finding fault.

THIS NOVEL, Y’ALL. I don’t think I can describe what this story did me. While reading this I could just imagine what a massive hit this novel could and should be. This is the 2024 release you do not want to miss! Colton’s story was made for the big screen, or better yet, a limited series.