✨ARC Review✨

The Second Chance Cinema by Thea Weiss

If you are given the chance to relive memories that you want to forget, would you?

I did not know what to expect from this novel before reading it. I am so glad that I read it though because it was heartfelt, nostalgic, and made me hopeful.

Drake and Ellie are two souls who live in relative bliss and excitement for the next chapter in their lives. However, when the cinema showed them the bits about themselves that made them who they are, cracks start to form.

The author did such an amazing job letting Drake and Ellie evolve from when they started. The other characters around them, although they are not shown a lot, are still well written. You can feel their effect on the main characters.

This novel taught me lessons. One, do not be afraid to let those you love know the real you. Two, communication is a two way street. Three, aren’t living in the past.

I really recommend this book to everyone. It’s beautiful.

I was intrigued by the idea of this cinema and how it showed Ellie and Drake memories, starting back in childhood. However, I felt the story got bogged down in the details after the second showing and I soon lost interest, but I plowed my way through. Also, I was hoping for a different ending. I would have liked knowing that Ellie and Drake had used the cinema showings as a way to bring them closer together.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author, and publisher, for an advanced reading copy in exchange for my honest review.

Ellie and Drake, a married couple, get to watch their lives before meeting each other in the big screen at a magic theater. Learn things about each others pasts and choose how to proceed with he new information. This was a very unique story and interesting read. The third person narration was a bit new to me but didn’t take away from the story.

While most stories follow the journey of two people falling in love, this one starts there and then moves forward to what comes next. In this case, there's an element of magic through the cinema as the couple explore their individual pasts and needs in an effort to grow together in a healthy way as they move toward marriage. The story was too slow for my taste, but had a good premise and ending.

Thea Weiss’s “The Second Chance Cinema” follows Drake and Ellie’s journey as they discover a secret cinema that holds a unique weekly screening, just for them. This captivating tale, infused with magical realism, presents a chance for them to relive their past and confront the impact it has had on their future.

As my first ARC through NetGalley, I was resolute in completing the book and providing an honest review. While the initial pace was somewhat slow, I gradually adjusted to the writing style, which frequently shifts between past and present. However, it was around the halfway point that I was truly captivated by the characters’ potential for resolution and their journey toward moving forward. The honesty with which they embraced their past traumas left a lasting impression on me, and I find myself contemplating its themes for weeks to come.

I want to express my gratitude to Atria Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, for providing this book for review consideration through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.

A cozy romance with a bit of magic. Ellie and Drake stumble upon a theatre that appears in their town out of nowhere that plays memories from their past - including some secrets that they haven’t yet shared with each other that start to complicate their relationship. This was a very cute concept and a nice light read!

I loved it. I love Ellie and Drake. It was such a beautiful story about grief and love and moving forward. Love can be so raw it breaks you and be the thing to put you back together. If I had the opportunity to go every week and watch my memories good or bad, I would without a doubt. This book was so good I finished it in 24 hours. When I signed up to be an arc reader for this book the synopsis alone pulled me in. I will be recommending this book to everyone and will be buying a copy once it releases!

I love magical realism, and this book really hit the nail on the head. The setting, particularly the cinema, is described in such detail you feel like you’re there. It’s interesting to see the memories & events unfold, and the way they affect the characters, and their relationships to each other, themselves, and their families. I would definitely add this to your fall TBR. Between the cozy, magical theater setting and the dash of mystery as the memories play, it would be the perfect read for a fall afternoon/evening. Bring the popcorn.

It's an interesting thought that, unless you grew up with your spouse, you wouldn't know every single thing about them, whether they were keeping something from you intentionally or not, and whether it's good, bad, big, or small. Would you want to know everything if you could, or is it better to leave the past where it is? You have to decide if revisiting the past is going to be a blessing or a curse.

What would you do if you had the chance?

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Atria, for the ARC! All thoughts are my own :)

This cozy second-chance romance had the perfect touch of magical realism to keep me hooked from the first chapter. I enjoyed learning about Ellie and Drake and how they worked together to mend their past, present, and future. Although the story was a little slow at times, I was able to really connect with the characters and understand their fears and apprehensions regarding their relationship. I typically have a hard time empathizing with characters when they are written in 3rd POV, but this was really well done. Thea Weiss's descriptions were vivid and she was able to add depth to the characters that I really enjoyed.

3.5 stars rounded up.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria books for an eArc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I think it's the fact that Ellie and Drake are already together that makes this story so interesting. People will fall in love, that always seems to be where the story ends and this novel faces what happens next head-on. It's a sweet story about the two attempting to reconcile their pasts before getting married. The spilt between Ellie's perspective and Drake's perspective works, allowing the reader to understand why jealousy and fear can simmer under the surface of any good relationship. While the spats between the two seemed a little contrived at times, I think that as a whole they did their job at adding a complex layer to each character. As with most romances, and as Drake points out later in the novel, communication could've resolved a lot of the problems that they have throughout the story, but the reasons they don't say things do make sense and don't feel like plot devices.

This is not deep by any means, but it wasn't intended to be some philosophical exploration of love and the meaning of life. It's a romance book and it does that excellently.

I love the writing in this book. The author gives some delicious descriptions and does a great job painting a picture of the scene. The flow of the story was a little slow, but I liked the ending and the characters.

I wanted to enjoy this book but unfortunately after about 50 pages could not get into it. Thanks for the opportunity to read and good luck with the book. Thanks again

You had me at magical theatre. Loved this book so much! It was so whimsical and cozy while also being gripping and intriguing! I could not put it down! Can't wait to read more from this author!

What a fantastic book! The first one I have read by this author but definitely can't wait to read more! The characters stay with you long after you finish the book. Highly recommend!

4.5 ⭐️ I was lucky to be selected as an ARC reader for this book, and it did not disappoint. I was HOOKED. Reading a romance about a couple already together was a refreshing perspective I haven’t encountered before. The idea of the cinema airing out the characters secret added an extra layer to what would have otherwise been a miscommunication trope, which can be difficult for me, and helped us see the character reaction to themselves. The only spot that was a little lacking was the depth of the characters. I feel like I didn’t get to dive too deep into the main characters personalities but I knew enough about them to root for them in the end. Overall an amazing story.

Ellie y Drake están comprometidos, se aman y no pueden esperar a casarse. Todo debería ser perfecto, o al menos estar bien, pero el trabajo de Ellie es cada vez peor y Drake no se siente contento con el suyo.
Un día, mientras caminan, encuentran un antiguo cine que anuncia la película: La historia de ti. Ambos, curiosos, entran. No hay nadie más en la sala, y se llevan una gran sorpresa cuando la película comienza: pueden ver recuerdos de su pasado, de cuando eran niños. Al principio creen que se trata de una broma, pero pronto se dan cuenta de que es real y que nadie más puede verla. Descubren que las películas están hechas exclusivamente para ellos y que serán diez en total.
Al principio, todo parece emocionante, pero conforme van viendo la vida del otro, empiezan a preguntarse si realmente deberían casarse.


~

Todo iba bien, pensaba darle 3.5 ⭐, pero cuando llegó la escena del anillo, la historia se arruinó por completo. Ya no pude creer que Drake realmente amara a Ellie. Por más explicaciones que dio, no pude quitarme la idea de que Ellie fue solo un reemplazo. Y para colmo que jamas fuera capaz de comprarle su propio anillo después de todo, no lo puedo perdonar.


Spoilers a continuación:

Ellie descubre que Drake le propuso matrimonio con el mismo anillo con el que le había pedido matrimonio a Melina (su ex). Y no solo eso, hay más cosas (las pondré más abajo). No entiendo cómo, después de descubrir que prácticamente toda su relación fue una recreación de la que él tuvo con la otra, Ellie no le aventó el anillo y lo dejó.


was right. I don’t know what the hell just happened. Maybe I forgot the details because they were hard for me. Almost like how you forgot.





“Well then,” Ellie said, “what do you love so much about me, Drake?”
“Oh, come on. Don’t do that. You know what I mean.”
“No. I really don’t.”
“Okay. Well, I love that you’re passionate and artistic, and we have so much fun together, and you appreciate old things—
“Huh. That sounds familiar.” Her face turned red. “ ‘I’ll love you forever,’ ” she recited. “I’ll love you forever?” Ellie stood and pushed the door to the living room open. Drake followed behind her. The record he’d put on earlier was skipping as they circled the coffee table like animals in a chase. It was tough to tell who had the advantage. Finally, the skipping stopped, but the music sounded like it was playing underwater because it was on Dorothy III. Nancy had ducked behind the couch to hide.
“I said the same thing to you,” Drake told her. He stopped moving and held his hands up. “That I’d love you forever. And I meant it.”
“Right. Thanks for making that point for me.” Ellie stopped straight across him. “You said the same things to both of us. You used the same ring, played me the same songs, took me to the same restaurants, watched the same movies, gave me the same sappy proposal. You love me because I remind you of her, Drake.” Ellie marched over to him. “You can’t even be original with who you love.”

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.

A whismiscal novel that is incredibly cozy and well written. Perfect read for a snowy christmas day at home!