
Member Reviews

Everything Jeff Zentner writes is gold, and this switch from YA to adult is no different. He writes with such depth and emotion I immediately cared about Colton like he was someone I knew. Every time I had to stop reading, I thought about him and what would happen next.

Jeff Zentner's debut adult novel is a gorgeous mediation on grief, dreams, second (and third) and chances, and love. Colton's story is told with grace, charm, and a humor that often bubbled up and took me by surprise. I found myself homesick for places I haven't been, and hungry for a dozen dishes I'd love to try. Because yes: not only is Jeff Zentner a master storyteller and a talented poet -- he can also put together a menu like you wouldn't believe? So glad I was able to kick off 2024 reading Colton Gentry's Third Act -- out 4/30/24! Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity.

As a long time fan of Jeff Zentner's YA novels, I was incredibly excited to hear he was releasing an adult novel. Hearing that this book would be focused on a country singer speaking out against guns, I knew I had to get my hands on it immediately. This book was everything I hoped for and more - I loved the main characters, the secondary characters, the pets... I truly hope Zentner will continue writing adult fiction.
Thank you to Grand Central for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

This book is an absolute gem! I don’t know if I want to characterize this as romance or literary fiction, but whatever it is, it’s like a warm hug. Colton Gentry has fallen on hard times after a loss and some personal choices. We get to see him hit rock bottom and slowly wade back to a life he wants to live. I loved the supporting cast of characters and the small town setting. And OMG I was so hungry reading this book. The food descriptions were absolutely lovely. The second chance romance in this was sweet, but also careful to include the bumpiness of real life. I was cheering for the HEA the whole time.

Writing reviews is a tricky business, encouraging the reader to read a great book without spoiling the plot. This is Zentner's first attempt at an adult novel and he doesn't disappoint. If you've read some of his other title, you know how brilliant he is at writing characters, and dialogue the completely draws you into the story. I'm not going to go into details of the plot and spoil something for you, reader. Just know that it's a story love and loss and all the pain that happens along the way.
Personal plea to the author: Dude! Promise us that the footnotes on the dog will make it to the final printing of the book when it's released in April. Also, nice touch with the "Dearly" mention. You ROCK!

If you've never read a Jeff Zentner book, <i>Colton Gentry's Third Act</i> is an excellent place to start - unless the current date is before April 30, 2024. In that case, go pick up any of his other books to get an idea of what you're in for. Then when the end of April rolls around, go grab a copy of this book, set aside a day or two, and settle in for a beautiful read.
Colton Gentry is the opening act on tour for a country superstar. He's married to a widely - and wildly - popular country and crossover singer. But caught in a downward spiral that goes deep after the death of his best friend, Gentry hits rock bottom when he drunkenly antagonizes a concert-going crowd with anti-gun statements, gets kicked off the tour, and gets kicked out by his wife.
After a stint in rehab - his ex's parting gift - Colton heads home to rural Kentucky. He moves in with his mother as his bank account drains and his life collapses. But then he reconnects with his best friend from high school. He also encounters his first girlfriend. From there, Colton begins the slow journey to piecing his life back together, to reinventing himself. He's no longer the high school football star. He's no longer the successful country singer. And he's still the target of those who believe his First-Amendment right to speak against Second-Amendment supporters is a step too far.
Zentner presents a man who is deeply flawed but also deeply regretful for how he's treated people. Gentry is struggling to maintain sobriety, to find meaning in life, and maybe to even find peace. Zentner is compassionate in his depiction of Gentry while not absolving him of his actions as a younger man. Zentner is also a poet. His words conjure images and evoke feelings. Culinary descriptions are perhaps the most detailed and enticing I've ever read in a work of fiction. Zentner treats not only his characters with care, but so many aspects of their lives such as food, music, and animals.
It's been a while since a book called for a binge. I'm glad I started it over the Thanksgiving break so that I could spend 24 hours immersing myself in Colton Gentry's world. It was blissful.

Readers may be surprised to discover that Jeff Zentner is firmly planting his feet in the romance world with his first small-town romance written for adult readers.
This earnest second-chance love story opens with an emotionally charged moment when a drunken Colton Gentry professes outrage against gun violence on the microphone at a sold-out show that he is performing. The reason for this outburst is not politically driven but personally driven because his best friend was murdered onstage by a mass shooter at a country music festival.
As Colton's drunken rant begins, his team cuts his microphone midsentence, unleashing a cancellation by the country music industry for his public stance against gun rights.
With his personal life in shambles, a defeated Colton returns home to live with his mother, trying to find a new purpose and financial freedom away from his infamous past.
Luann, left behind by Colton when the two struggled to navigate a long-distance romance when they were kids, is now the proud owner of a local farm-to-table restaurant whose dishes wow Colton's dishes when he visits as a patron. Still smarting from the loss years ago, Luann sets aside her misgivings to allow Colton to work as a sous chef for the restaurant.
But how will this impact Luann's world when Colton becomes the punching bag for a media circus that trails him? And, after leaving her, is he deserving of this redemption story?
The book offers readers a slow-burn romance as Luann and Colton rekindle their relationship.
There is a familiarity that Zentner believably builds, but it is no surprise that this magic is best captured when they are kids. As Zenter is a young adult writer, it allowed him to sit comfortably in his wheelhouse while exploring a more grown-up story of navigating divorce, kids, and sobriety in their grown-up moments.
Like J. Ryan Stradal's writing of Midwestern food details, the novel offers our book stacks a well-researched Southern food scene. But where he shines is a coming-of-age story that develops on the page, celebrating the defining moments of a man coming to know himself and who matters most in his thirties.
Despite the opener, the story stays surprisingly neutral as Colton finds commonality with everyone, which many readers will find comforting. It could be an excellent book club book for those who want starter conversations for their groups around the gun rights topic.
This novel will more than satisfy Jeff Zentner fans. I'm thrilled to have gotten my hands on a copy!

Colton Gentry was riding high-he had a hit single on the country charts, he's married to the hottest female country artist, and he's touring with one of the top acts. But that was before his best friend was a victim in a mass shooting. Since Duane died, Colton's been struggling. And he may have gone on a rant about gun control that quickly went viral. Oh, and then his wife left him for a pro athlete. The act he was opening for asked him not to come back. So now, Colton Gentry finds himself back in his home town and living with his mom. He's unsure of how to even start again, but he knows he has to do something. When his ex-girlfriend from high school offers him a job in the kitchen of her new restaurant, he knows it's not the best idea but doesn't have another option. Can returning to where he came from be the answer he was looking for all along?

Colton Gentry’s Third Act is a good story with deep themes and perfect for fans of country music and fans of emotional stories about reconnecting with the past and growing from tragedy.

Another fantastic read by Jeff Zentner. I look forward to each of his new books. Highly recommended.

Zentner has done it again! Beautiful, real and full-bodied characters; strong setting; and a compelling story that moves it all along.

First of all, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy of Colton Gentry's Third Act. I don't think there's anything that Jeff Zentner could write that I wouldn't devour, and this, his first adult title, is no exception. Though I most likely won't purchase it for our general high school collection, I do plan to personally purchase a copy and add it to our staff's little free library and to encourage those adults who sometimes do a staff book club to consider this as an option.
From Colton's first act as a high school football star to his second act as a country music singer to his eventual third act, I was on board. Everything Zentner writes feels like a love letter to the geographic area where it is set and to the people who live there, and in this title, it also feels like a love letter to the food produced there. I loved the supporting characters, and though some situations felt like wishful thinking for how things could or should be in our world, I don't think there's anything wrong with that. After all, doesn't fiction exist in some ways to show us not only how things are, but how things ought to be or how we wish they were?
Bottom line? I loved it.

I could not finish enough of this book to be able to leave a comprehensive review, but I hope it finds its audience and I am grateful to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy.

Colton Gentry is a rising country music star until the day he drunkenly tells a country music crowd his views on gun control after his best friend is killed in a shooting. He loses his career and his marriage to a pop music star. He goes to rehab and then moves back to his rural Kentucky hometown. He gets a new chance at a different life when he is offered a job working at the local farm-to-table restaurant owned by his high school sweetheart.
I got this book from Netgalley. It is due out in April 2024. We get Colton’s story is three different times: high school, his start in country music, and the present day. As I was typing out the plot I realized it sounds like a Hallmark movie and I can see it working well as one. But, Zentner does a good job once again of making you care about the characters and invest in their lives. I also see a little bit of myself in all of his work. He excels at showing what it is like to be a small-town kid from Kentucky or Tennessee. I highly recommend all of his books.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book to review.
After reading and loving most of Jeff Zentner's YA novels (I am still saving The Serpent King for a treat - and also because once I read it I won't have any more!), I was really excited to read his adult debut, Colton Gentry's Third Act.
Colton is an alcoholic, on the cusp of divorce, and launches into an anti-gun tirade during his country music act when we first meet him. Deep in grief over losing his best friend in a mass shooting, Colton ends up in rehab and then back in his childhood bedroom.
The flashbacks to Colton's senior year of high school and his first love really shine and let Zentner's YA writing shine.
Back home, Colton finds employment in the last place he'd ever thought to look for it - a fancy restaurant, with a chef he never thought he'd meet again.
I would have read this book in one sitting if I had had the time! It's unputdownable, sweet, a little spicy, and full of delicious food. The only thing I didn't love was the long lists of dishes the restaurant was serving. One time of that seemed okay, but it happened multiple times and felt unnecessary, and I have to wonder if they'll be in the final version of the novel.
Altogether, 4.5 stars for me, highly recommend reading this and everything Jeff Zentner has written. <3

This is a lovely heartfelt novel on par with Nicholas Sparks' work. Admittedly, it was hard not to think of Bradley Cooper's performance in A Star Is Born throughout the whole time I was reading this book.
Story: Colton Gentry's life has fallen apart. His best friend was murdered in a mass shooting and in a despairing rage, the country music singer gave an honest opinion about guns during a concert. Naturally, it goes down poorly: his label drops him, his hit single tanks, the public hate him, and his pop singer wife decides to end their marriage. Broken and broke, he returns to his home town to live with his mother and try to figure out his future. A chance meeting with one-time girlfriend Luann presents him with an opportunity to find meaning in life again after their twenty years apart.
I really enjoyed this slow burn and thoughtful book. It takes us on Colton's journey of dealing with the loss of his close friend, recovering from alcoholism, reuniting with his mother, and facing his past through Luanne. The book is told solely in Colton's point of view but alternates between the past and present. We get to understand his relationship with both Luann as well as best friend Duane. We also get a nice perspective on Luann, what she was dealing with at the time they were teens, and what she has done with her life now.
This is a very nice second chance romance with gentle and good individuals trying to do their best in the world. It has a solid ending that isn't treacly sweet and instead puts the characters in a place where they can move on. The only criticism I have is that there is far too much of an obsession with food and food philosophy - I ended up skipping the zen of cooking/restauranting paragraphs since I just didn't find an obsession with food very interesting. Reviewed from advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

Zentner isn’t afraid to tackle the big issues. One scene (outside the restaurant) did a great job of giving some texture to both sides (which was cool), but at the end of the scene Colton stands firm in his belief and I loved him for that. I also like the fact he’s not perfect and doesn’t pretend to be.
It’s a love story but like all of his books, it’s about a myriad of other things as well. If you’ve read this author before you know he’s not afraid to rip your heart out and stomp it with football cleats. I still want to give Zentner a hug, handshake and drop kick for what happened in his book The Serpent King (if you haven’t read it, go get it). So the whole time I was reading this I was thinking “zentersgonnamakemecry, zentnersgonnamakemecry.” I didn’t shed any tears, but came close once or twice.
This felt like a romcom to me – in a good way. It was cozy. And funny. Which I appreciated. The banter was top notch.
I’m not a country music fan (though I’m sure the genre has changed since I last heard it) but I do play guitar (or used to, I’m pretty rusty now) and, as I told a friend here earlier this week, this book made me want to go buy a cowboy hat and start a strumming.
A Spotify playlist for this book would be great, if someone would go ahead and put it together, thank ya kindly (tips imaginary cowboy hat and winks in a way that’s supposed to look cool but instead probably makes me look like I’m part of the Adams Family).
A solid performance.

I feel completely inadequate to review SUCH a great book by one of my favorite authors so here are my brief thoughts rather than trying to compose something fittingly eloquent:
- I couldn't stop crying for like 30 minutes when I finished because I was so sad I would never be able to read this book for the first time again.
- The newest addition to my list of favorite books.
- It will be difficult to decide if this or Happy Place by Emily Henry is my favorite book of 2023.
- Typical Jeff Zentner pain & heartache but I also could not stop laughing out loud.
- I need Colton's Nashville hot chicken recipe.

Oh me oh my.
Jeff Zentner has been an auto-buy author for me since I received Serpent King in an early OwlCrate and sobbed my way through it in a single sitting. So to say I’ve been salivating over Colton Gentry’s Third Act since he started teasing it on instagram is an understatement.
I was very excited to jump into Zentner’s adult debut and I was not disappointed. This book has so much heart. The writing is absolutely delicious—I had to stop and reread some sentences out loud because they were so exquisite. Zentner is the most poetic writer I have ever read.
This book read to me like a Hallmark movie in the very best way: big city hunk, down on his luck, has to move home to his small town where he encounters his wildly successful high girlfriend (aka the One Who Got Away). Although some may say the plot is expected, I would not call it predictable. The characters absolutely leap off the page and it’s so easy to feel Zentner’s passion about the book through the passing of each chapter.
(I also appreciated the footnotes about Petey. Very necessary.)
Thank you for once again writing my new favorite book, Jeff Zentner!

Colton Gentry's Third Act is a beautiful story of redemption and a third chance at life.
Colton loses his career, his best friend, and his wife in a very short span of time. He goes home to figure out what he's going to do with his life. He adopts a dog and finds a job working with his high school sweetheart. The one who got away. The story shows his growth through alcoholism and discovering what is most important to him.
There is no way I can accurately describe just how amazing of a writer that Jeff Zentner is.
Writing style is rarely something that's important to me when reading. I have a few big things I don't like, but besides that, I'm usually more invested in the characters and the plot. Jeff is the exception. I drool over his food descriptions. I ache to see the sites he describes with my eyes, even though I can picture them so clearly. I also loved the different chunks of time we got to see. It was a great way to see the growth throughout their whole lives.
Beyond that, the characters are delightful. The story has good pacing. It's easy to get invested and to root for Luann and Colton. Possum and Scooter make me so happy! They're so cute! I also appreciated the footnote that was included. I won't spoil it, but it helped me not be triggered by something that I can struggle with in books.
I really struggle to like the south. As a woman right now, the south can be a scary place. Jeff Zentner makes me want to explore every corner of it. I can understand why he adores the south and he does a beautiful job of sharing that with the reader.
Overall, this is tied for my favorite Jeff Zentner book with Serpent King. An absolutely beautiful story that I will buy the day it comes out to read again and again.