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.

Jeff Zenter wins in his first adult novel, as does his eponymous main character in Colton Gentry’s Third Act. This reader won, too! From the language that awakens the senses to the story that is shown–not told–to the heartwarming conclusion that proves once again that humanity is capable of failing only to try new and gloriously rewarding new creative adventures, this April 2024 is a must-read. From the onset, the reader becomes Colton’s cheerleader as he faces his demons and grief as he returns home as an adult “too old to live with momma.” Is there such a thing? Even while reconnecting with his mother in his childhood home, he is lonely. When he left Kentucky to give Nashville a shot, he did so at the cost of his relationships. His strong bond with his new best friend Duane is only surpassed by his devotion to alcohol. When Duane is killed, Colton begins mixing grief with ever more alcohol. Still, he openly criticizes the gun-loving culture that supports his musical career. So ends his country star days. He now has time to be with his celebrity wife, if only she wanted to spend time with him. Recently divorced and practically penniless, he makes his way back home. Once he adopts the “dog in worse shape” at the shelter, Colton finds new ways to create. Colton’s third act and third chance are his best. The cheerleader reader is excited as he forges new relationships with old friends and real love becomes a possibility. Yes, the novel is a romance. Other Zentner works were tear-jerkers. This masterpiece is a smile-inducer–just the kind of read the world needs. Love, possibility, success, and food (IYKYK), music, family, and a fur baby are just some of the delights in Jeff Zentner’s future tattoo. Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for this advanced copy. I am supporting this 5 star read by purchasing a copy at my local bookstore. Might I suggest Colton Gentry’s Third Act for a book club?

A beautiful, lyrical read about hard topics that need to be addressed and a love story about renewal and second chances. The characters feel so real as you read the book, you are instantly drawn into this gorgeous book. A must read for anyone. I will read again when when book release date hits in April. Be prepared to have your heartstrings pulled in the best possible way and feeling inspired by thiis magical read. What makes it magical is the realness of the characters and the emotions drawn up inside of you by reading COLTAN'S THIRD ACT.
I would rate higher if I could.

Jeff Zentner is my absolute favorite YA author and I was thrilled to read his first adult novel! Colton Gentry's Third Act is an emotional and heartfelt story about love, second chances, and battling one's demons along the way. The writing is gorgeous and poetic like we've all come to expect from Zentner, and the alternating timelines/settings worked really well to build a robust story. 10/10, I loved it, but reader beware--it will make you hungry!

Oh my gosh my freaking HEART!!! I have been eagerly waiting for this book. Pre-ordered as soon as it was available. Waited on pins and needles to see if NetGalley would approve me.

I’m going to say that this book is told so beautifully. You can tell Jeff Zentner is a poet because the language in this book is exquisite. The words are beautiful. The journey you take on this book is heart wrenching, wonderful, sad, and hopeful,

As recently one year sober alcoholic, this book hit me hard. I didn’t do meetings, I actually quit cold turkey. But I had (and continue to have) the best support with friends. I posted I wanted a drink, a dear friend called me to talk to me until I fell asleep. And man when I tell you the grief!!!! This book. It gets it. Wears grief like a blanket. Lives in it. Survives with it.

There are parts of this book that had me streaming tears down my face. There are parts that had me laughing out loud. Parts that had me swooning.

I knew it would be good. I was wrong, it is great.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely devoured this book and knew that Zentner's debut into adult fiction wouldn't disappoint! His wry humor and sublime way with words are still present and accounted for. As are characters that feel authentic and loveable. I specifically must thank him for the way he protects the hearts of us dog lovers, something you will have to read to understand what I'm referencing.

Jeff Zenter's initial venture into writing for adults is truly impressive. In his debut adult fiction novel, Colton Gentry's Third Act, Zenter captivates readers with a poignant tale that does not disappoint. The story revolves around Colton Gentry, who is grappling with the devastating loss of his best friend, Duane, in a tragic mass shooting incident. Consumed by grief, anger, and alcohol, Gentry's life takes a drastic turn when he publicly advocates for gun control and consequently destroys his career. Following a stint in rehab, courtesy of his soon-to-be ex-wife, Gentry finds himself back in his hometown, desperately in need of a fresh start. It is here that he secures a job as a sous chef at a new restaurant, working alongside his first love, Luann. Recognizing the importance of new beginnings, Luann takes a significant risk by hiring Colton and allowing him back into her life. As the narrative unfolds, the chapters seamlessly transition between Colton's senior year of high school, his humble beginnings in Nashville, and the present, providing readers with a deeper understanding of Colton and Luann's complex relationship. Additionally, the story delves into Colton's early days in Nashville with Duane, as well as his arduous journey to find stability and sobriety upon returning home to Kentucky. Zenter's ability to evoke raw emotions is evident in his young adult novels, and he continues to do so in his first adult novel. Colton Gentry's Third Act is a heart-wrenching exploration of grief, forgiveness, and the courage to start anew. Zenter's eloquent prose and skillful storytelling are showcased throughout the book, offering readers a captivating reading experience. The characters in this slow-burn, second chance romance are refreshingly authentic, flawed, and relatable, as they navigate their own personal struggles, learn from their mistakes, and ultimately grow. Despite the weighty themes, moments of humor and levity are interspersed throughout the narrative, ensuring that the book never becomes overwhelmingly heavy.

Having been an Adult Services Librarian for many years, I haven't read any of Zentner's YA novels... The Nashville, TN / KY setting intrigued me, not to mention a romance written by a male author (former professional musician to boot!) It DID not disappoint. Zentner got everything right about Nashville, TN and KY that many authors get wrong. The high school romance felt like young love, while the 2nd chance romance reads authentic to the experiences thirty-something adults would have. This is the contemporary romance I will be recommending to all my romance reading patrons and friends this year!

This book was a good love story with characters you couldn't help but root for. Watching Cole and Luann navigate a relationship as adults was very refreshing. Highly recommend.

Jeff Zentner is an excellent YA author and I was so excited to read his first adult book. It didn’t disappoint. He writes characters with such heart. I loved the way he incorporated the past with the present. Bonus points for the footnotes about the dog. Genius!

If I could change anything, I’d make the book longer and explore their lives in more depth, particularly Colton’s years of becoming successful. For that reason, this book would be an excellent limited series on a streaming channel.

My hope when I add this book to our collection at the library is that it introduces adults to Jeff Zentner and they then read his YA books.

One last suggestion, a book from Luann’s perspective would be amazing! Hint, hint.

Ever since I saw the announcement for this book, I could not wait to read it. I've been a huge fan of Jeff Zentner ever since I read The Serpent King years ago when it first came out. He is an auto-buy author for me--I savor his books and re-read them, and as a writer myself, learn from them, too. His prose is always beautiful and poetic without being overwrought, but my favorite aspect of Zentner's writing is his ability to distill the feeling of wonder and beauty caught only in transitory glimpses we get of this world into words that can touch you again and again. To pack the enormity of that feeling into a sentence, a paragraph, is a true gift. Likewise, his insights into the human condition, into love and loss and grief, leave me feeling seen and understood and connected to others.
So when I saw he'd written an adult novel about a country star who took a stand against guns and lost everything he thought he wanted only to find himself and a new stage, both of.life and performance, I couldn't wait to get my grubby little hands on it. Oh, how this book delivered on everything Zentner excels at, while showcasing his talents on a new stage for him, too. This book made me laugh, cry, and swoon in equal measure. I loved Colton at his lowest and his best, cheering him every step of the way as he climbed back up. This book is about how even good people need redemption sometimes, and how grief can humble us and transform us into gentler, fuller versions of who we were always meant to be. It is beautiful and loving, and at moments, extremely hot. I will read anything Zentner writes, and I hope that this is the first of many more adult novels from him to come. If you are a Zentner fan, you will cherish this book. If you're not already a Zentner fan, you will be soon.

After years of working in the music industry, Colton Gentry finally got a break opening for big country star Brant Lucas. Mostly thanks to his country star wife, but still. However, having lost his best friend Duane in a mass shooting a few weeks earlier, he’s not at his best. With the help of alcohol, Colton makes his thoughts on guns known in front of a sold-out crowd. Which isn’t exactly the place to talk about gun control.

Overnight, Colton not only loses his music contracts, but also his wife. Now, he’s back in his Kentucky hometown trying to put the pieces back together. What he doesn’t expect is to find himself face-to-face with his high school sweetheart–who also offers him a job at her new farm-to-table restaurant. Will he be successful this time?

Thanks to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced copy of Colton Gentry’s Third Act by Jeff Zentner! A rare adult fiction review from me, purely because I absolutely love Jeff Zentner. And I was definitely going to jump on the chance to read his book early!

If you enjoy Zentner’s YA stuff, you’ll definitely enjoy his jump into adult fiction. His poetic writing style is one of my favorite things about his books, and it’s on full display in this book. There are just some gorgeous lines that hit right at the emotions the characters are feeling like: “Grief is an arsonist, stealing in under cover of dark to reduce you to ashes” and “Silence is fertile soil for grief to grow like creeping vines and cover you up.”

Characters are another thing that Zentner excels at, and your heart will ache for Colton right from the first page. Including flashbacks not only helps you to get his whole story, but also the other characters who play a major role in his life. What I appreciated about this book is that it shows that it’s never too late to start over; especially if you have people who are in your corner.

Also, much appreciated for the footnotes that assure you that Petey (the dog) will not die by the end of the book. In comparison to Zentner’s other books, this one is definitely not quite as sad, though that doesn’t mean you won’t feel a spectrum of emotions while reading it. Colton has plenty of ups and downs, but the running current through it all is hope. Hope that things will look up eventually.

All in all, Zentner’s foray into adult fiction is definitely a success, and I can’t wait for other people to read this book next spring!

If Emily Henry recommends a book, I will read it. I thoroughly enjoyed this. The balance of loss and love, the redemption narrative, the humor and quick conversation - it was all so great.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC.

This book is lovely - the charaters quickly wormed their way into my heart and stayed there. I had only read one Jeff Zentner book before, "In the Wild Light," a YA novel, and absolutely loved that, so was eager to try out his adult debut. I think if this were written by a woman, it may have gotten billed as a romance, but it has not gotten pigeon-holed like that & it is much more:

It's a beautiful story of friends, romance, a THIRD chance at getting things right, regrets, the absolute horror and grief of gun violence, alcoholism, and just a general feel-good book. I love the characters and the story, and it never gets TOO dark, but there is enough struggle in there that there's some tension. It definitely made me tear up a few times, and I appreciated the footnote that the dog would NOT die. I also live in Maine and started this book the week after the Lewiston shooting, so the early mention of Duane's death at a country music event, where a mass shooting occurs, hits hard & I'm glad that Zentner is taking on this topic in an unvarnished, unapologetic way. Kudos.

The twins are fantastic, especially Colton's easy relationship with them and nicknames for them - love this.

My few quibbles were there were a few points where the author hits you over the head a little too much with the pulling-on-your-heartstrings (I know I've mixed metaphors there...). For example, when Colton adopts the saddest, oldest dog at the shelter, he has a whole monologue at Petey (the dog) about why he got him - that just feels over the top - like, we already get it; you're showing us, you don't need to tell us all this again. However, on the next page when Colton gets home & his mom is surprised, and he just quietly says to his mom "I needed him. I'm sorry." THAT made me cry. Less is more.

There were also a couple times where the whole 'I'm going to be a chef now" seemed to come too easily to Colton to be realistic.

But - bottom line: if you need a warm hug of a book, that also deals with some deep and difficult issues, while also experiencing a most satisfying third chance & happily ever after romance, you CANNOT go wrong with this one.

Colton Gentry is a washed-up, drunk musician ever since that night on the stage when he couldn’t maintain his composure anymore. Those hecklers were too much for him.

As Colton moves back home, still grieving the loss of his best friend and also his celebrity wife, he spends time helping his mom and reminiscing about the “good ok’ days.”

Jeff Zentner weaves a story of loss, love, and moving on. The alternate timelines are interesting: present day Colton and “back when” Colton was starting out as a country singer. Characters are developed all the way down to the smallest details that readers will recognize and relate to. The language flows and the plot connects perfectly from the past to the present.

Readers will love this newest offering from Zentner - breaking out of the YA mold and into adult love stories. A must-read!

Jeff Zentner is quickly making a name for himself in the adult fiction world like he has done in the Young Adult fiction arena. I read this book in two days. This book makes my heart happy. Another winner from this author. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Everything you love about Zentner's YA books- the rich descriptions and heart found in every detail of his characters and settings- is still present in his adult debut.

This book is very good. And so heartfelt. It takes a while to get into the present day romance, but it's worth the slow burn wait. I loved seeing Colton bounce back. I loved the thoughtful descriptions of grief and the loss of a true friend.

This book is Taylor Swift coded and also for anyone who was and is a fan of the Dixie Chicks denouncing the Iraq war.

This book is also significantly about alcohol addiction and recovery. There are lots of scenes that could be triggering to those in recovery, and there is a heavy emphasis on Alcoholics Anonymous. Please read with care.

This is a wonderful book about third chances. Colton lives for football in high school until a play injures him, football is over and so is his college career. Luann, his girlfriend, encourages him to seek a singing career since he loves music. He cuts off their relationship thinking she is better off without him. Colton is successful until one night on stage, drunk, he expresses his feelings about guns. His best friend was killed at a music festival, and he is consumed by drink and the need to express his feelings on guns. He is shunned by the music industry, his agent, and his wife. With no job and no funds, he heads back to his childhood home and his mother. When he finds out Luann opened a restaurant, he asks to meet with her. She needs a sous chef and offers to train him. He has no confidence anymore and I loved how his mother, Luann, his co-workers, and best friend from high school talked with him honestly and helped his get over himself. I loved the analogies of football playing and singing that Luann offered indicating with the same dedication he could succeed as a chef. The episodes where he interacted with Luann’s twin girls and his dog Petey really highlighted his warm, loving personality. Great book with lots of emotion and examples of true friendship and the gift of second chances.