I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Shelby and Gray were teenage sweethearts. torn apart by Gray leaving the town of Granville and Shelby behind after a high school cheating scandal. They have been brought back together when Shelby's grandmother leaves a share of her bookshop to Gray instead of bequeathing it completely to Shelby. They have to work together to save 'The Second Story Bookshop' bringing them back into close contact, something Shelby's grandmother clearly hoped for. This was a sweet story but it honestly was very difficult to get into at the start. It did get stronger as the tale continued. I really struggled with sympathy for the main character and her broken heart which I felt like really was a teenage heartbreak that wasn't that traumatic really. The small town nastiness that sits under the story also felt uncomfortable at times - not completely cohesive. This is the first book I have read of this author - I'm sure it will resonate with those who enjoy her storytelling. It just didn't really appeal to me as reader. though I was quite sympathetic to Gray who I felt did get the shorter straw in every way.

Disclaimer: This was my first Denise Hunter book; you could take this review as an unbiased review or take it as it is.

Anyway, I scroll on NetGalley, particularly in the Christian Fiction section, and saw this book. I thought, "Why not give this author a try since I’ve been meaning to try her books after seeing her books being recommended within the Christian booktube community" Before I begin discussing the book, I will share my thoughts. I thought I would explain a couple of things that bothered me when reading books, specifically contemporary and clean romance novels. Throughout my reading journey, I’ve realized that I'm not a fan of clean romance books that include physical attraction between characters; however, I’ve also found books that handle this element well by integrating it into the story in a meaningful way, while others do not, often resorting to clichés and stereotypes. Second, I'm not a fan of stereotypical romance novels that are easy to predict the plot and characters' actions. Now to the review and a short synopsis of the book.

Short and sweet synopsis:
This is a second-chance romance, a heartwarming tale that takes place in a small town. We follow two characters, Shelby Thatcher and Gray Briggs. Shelby and Gary have a past; they were infatuated with each other and were in a relationship. However, their relationship soon ended on a rather sour note, leaving an everlasting scar on them both. Shelby loves working in her grandmother's bookshop, helping her grandma. Unfortunately, her grandma dies, leaving her the bookshop; however, to her horror, her ex-boyfriend, a.k.a. Gray Briggs, has been given half of the ownership of the bookshop. Putting her feelings aside, they are forced to see each other and work together.


Review:

This book took a while to unfold, and at one point, I found myself switching between the audiobook and the ebook in hopes of gaining my attention; however, that was unsuccessful. So, at around 50ish percent, I switched back to the audiobook and found myself enjoying it. But I wasn’t a massive fan of the relationship between Shelby and Gray, especially their physical attraction to each other, which just rubbed me the wrong way. Many times, I was uncomfortable and caught myself cringing at the descriptions. Another thing was that Shelby was already in a relationship, having thought about Gray's physique, which was just a no. As I said earlier, this book has two timelines, present and past, which I was confused about in the beginning and middle until I started listening to the audiobook, which became clear to me, which shouldn’t have taken me so long, but sadly it did. I also wasn’t a fan of the fact that in Shelby's past and present relationships, she hadn’t been honest with her boyfriends about her true feelings. At this point, you’re probably wondering why I rated this book so high. Well, it wasn’t until I switched back to the audiobook rather than simply reading it with my eyes that I started enjoying it a bit more. To my surprise, the characters began to grow on me and I found myself rooting for them. The character's growth in this book was well done, which is partly why I enjoyed it so much. I like the fact that this book centers around saving a bookshop and helping it gain attraction. The setting around the bookshop was beautifully described, and it added a unique charm to the story. Lastly, while this book is categorized as Christian Fiction, the faith in this book was very subtle; there were a few mentions of prayer, which was disappointing, as I enjoy a good romance novel with strong faith elements. Nonetheless, I recommended this book to those who want a small-town romance that talks about books and saving a bookshop.
Content warnings ‼️:
Little to no language
Death of a loved one

The Second Story Bookshop is a heartwarming second-chance romance between Shelby and her ex-boyfriend, Gray. Denise Hunter’s The Second Story Bookshop is a charming and heartwarming tale set in a small town, centered around second chances—both in love and in life. This a beautiful, clean, no-spice love story that still manages to deliver all the tension, emotion, and chemistry you could want.

I was not sure what to expect in a Christian Romance novel, but was completely delighted by this audiobook. The narration was awesome, the story was well laid out, and the chemistry between the main characters was palpable.

Shelby inherits her grandmother’s bookshop, but must co-own it with Gray, her ex-boyfriend. As they work together, old feelings resurface, but past problems and a new threat to the bookshop challenge their love.

I love a good second chance romance and wanted to love The Second Story Bookshop so much, but unfortunately I just could not get into the story and ended up DNFing

This is a second chance romance and it was done really well. I loved Shelby’s warm and open heart and how much she missed her grandmother. I really liked how well the author explored abandonment issues and the importance of feeling accepted. Gray and Shelby were great characters and both were very caring and thinking of others. Great book, was a little slow at times but still loved it

I really enjoyed this contemporary romance. I loved the flashbacks to senior year. The reader gets the back love story of Gray and Shelby. The narrator was wonderful and were easy to listen to. There are no swears or alcohol and level 2 kisses only. I received a complimentary copy from @Netgalley and @thomasnelson. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

DNF 20% review: I have really enjoyed several of Denise's books - specifically The Summer of You and Me was 5 Stars and I enjoyed A Novel Proposal and Love, Unscripted.

This book releases in October. I was really excited to pick this up because I love the premise....an inheritance twist, a cozy small-town bookshop, and a second chance romance sounded right up my alley. Denise Hunter’s writing style pulled me in quickly, and I was ready to see how Shelby and Gray’s story would unfold. Shelby and Gray dated many years ago, didn't work out, she inherits her Gram's bookshop after she passes away and Gray gets the other half.

However, one thing took me out of the story pretty early on. Shelby already has a boyfriend, Logan, and they’ve been dating for five months. I flipped ahead to see when that would resolve, and the breakup doesn’t happen until around 66%. I personally have convictions about reading romances where one of the characters is already in a relationship for a significant portion of the book, so I decided to set this one aside.

I think readers who don’t mind that setup and enjoy second-chance romance tropes will still enjoy this one, it just wasn’t the right fit for me.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for a copy of the audiobook and ebook to read and review. All thoughts are my own.

I love Denise Hunter books so much and I read quite a few during my local library’s Summer Reading program so I was extremely excited to read this when I saw it available on NetGalley! One thing I love about Denise Hunter books is there’s absolutely no chance of the Lord’s name taken in vain or F-bombs being thrown! Those are the two things I won’t allow in the books I read or the tv I watch!

Sweet story of true second chances in many ways. With a focus on familial relationships and pressures, this story is heartwarming and renewing. Facing real life problems between the one that got away appearing in the midst of tackling grief and having a bookstore bestowed upon you with no clue how to save it from going under.

I enjoyed the focus on what rumors and hearsay can do to a good persons reputation despite how “good” they actually are. I also liked the journey of Shelby learning to stand up for herself and the people she cares about while also dealing with grief and the unknown of the future.

The Second Story Bookshop
by Denise Hunter
Pub Date: October 7, 2025
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
A wonderful read! I fell in love with this book from the first page. The characters are relatable and of course to me a book about a bookshop is a win!!
I highly recommend this book for those who enjoy the clean writing of Hunter.
5 stars

The Second Story Bookshop is all the things I have come to love and expect from Denise Hunter’s love stories. Intriguing story with depth, well developed characters, poignancy and strong emotions, and heartfelt romance that touches on all the right places. Shelby and Gray have a genuinely deep love for one another and have since they first met; it’s a one of a kind, once in a lifetime kind of love. All the odds were stacked against them when they were young and sadly, they caved and let it go. I am so glad there is room for second chances because these two deserve it. I love Gray as a character. He has been handed a terrible hand in life and even in that, he continues to work hard and rise above. Shelby is fiercely loyal to her family and her bookshop and wants nothing more than to continue her grandma’s legacy. The immediate chemistry between these two is palpable and I love how the story takes place in modern day with flashbacks to tell their backstory. Gray continues to show up and help, because it’s the right thing to and because he’s desperate to offer his apology to Shelby. She may not want to hear what he has to say, but her grandma knew she needed it for closure. I love the way he showed up, even when everyone was against him. I love how Shelby saw what no one else could see and championed for him. I loved the way they were willing to stand up to everyone for what was right and, in the end, as it should, love always wins. There are so many feelings and emotions and tender moments of raw love, and I could not get enough of these two.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley, and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.

I am a huge Denise Hunter fan and this book definitely did not disappoint!!
If you don’t believe in soulmates, Gray and Shelby will definitely have you rethinking that! This book does cover some tough topics (TW for bullying) and I found myself frustrated with the town and the way they treated Gray. Denise wove such a beautiful story of love and hope and healing.. and best of all it centered around a bookshop left to the both of them by Shelby’s Grandmother.
Perfect for lovers of second chance, small town vibes, clean romance, and lots of character growth and depth.

Thank you Netgalley and Thomas Nelson for this ARC. These views are entirely my own!

⭐️ Rating: 3/5
📚 Genre: Second‑Chance Small‑Town Romance
📱 Format: eBook

💭 First Impressions: Like inheriting a beloved bookstore — dreamy, but with a few dusty corners showing.

📝 My Take:
This one had a lot of heart—especially in the bookstore setting and the emotional underpinnings of grief, forgiveness, and community dynamics. Gray’s backstory of being judged for his father’s sins added depth, and Shelby’s struggle with abandonment felt poignant. But emotionally, the pace often felt more slow simmer than slow burn—there were moments when the narrative plodded or leaned into predictable small‑town conflict. The romance is sweet and clean, but didn’t quite sizzle as much as I hoped.

💖 Why You’ll Love It:
📚 Bookshop setting brimming with charm and literary ambience
🏡 Second‑chance romance with heartfelt emotional stakes
💔 Themes of redemption, grief, and forgiveness woven gently
👵 A meddling-but-wise grandmother whose legacy guides the story

🌟 Tropes:
💘 Second Chance Romance
🏠 Forced Proximity / Shared Inheritance
📚 Bookstore Owners
🏘️ Small‑Town Gossip & Redemption

🍂 Final Thoughts:
Think of this as a cozy afternoon spent with tea and an old novel—it’s comforting, emotionally grounded, and sprinkled with gentle sparks, even if it doesn’t quite ignite. A sweet, clean story that’s more homemade pie than flambé dessert.

Wow! A page turner full of a,second chance love story and a second chance bookstory. I got an advanced reader copy from the author, publisher, and Netgalley. I highly recommend you read this if you like clean love stories and second chances.

4.5 ⭐️

I just wanted to take Gray in my arms and make everything okay for him. Poor sweet boy getting bullied almost his whole life and just takes it. I wasn’t expecting this to be angsty, but damn do love a damaged/hurt Hero. Oh yeah…there is a bookshop in this plot but the storyline with Gray took center stage for me. So good.

Book Review: The Second Story Bookshop by Denise Hunter

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the ARC of The Second Story Bookshop by Denise Hunter

I would give the book about 3.25-3.5 stars.

I enjoyed the book. I do think it has quite a few tropes, but I think they were done nicely.

I liked the storyline for the most part and really felt for Grey and his situation. I feel like his reasoning for leaving was quite reasonable and unfortunately there was just a lot of hurt and not enough room for communication. I found the third act was a bit easily solved, but I was happy for them.

What took me a bit out of the story, was the real author names that were mentioned and the religious remarks. I thought it was a bit unnecessary and kinda took me out of the fictional world. The religious words weren’t that much, but since the storyline didn’t mention them being religious (or have I missed something?, I didn’t really get the point, but maybe it’s normal for some parts of the US or the authors writing. I also felt like the disability rep wasn’t done in the best way.

All in all it was a really nice heartfelt romance, about reflecting your life, forgiveness and communication with a happy ending.

I was completely charmed by The Second Story Bookshop. As someone who loves small-town romances and second chances, this book hit all the right notes. The story follows Shelby Thatcher, who inherits her beloved grandmother’s cozy bookshop in Granville, North Carolina, only to discover she must share ownership with Gray Briggs, the ex who broke her heart years ago.

Shelby is warm, determined, and deeply rooted in her community, while Gray is the classic misunderstood outsider trying to make amends. Watching them navigate their shared past, the town’s judgment, and the future of the bookshop was both heartwarming and emotionally satisfying. There’s tension, tenderness, and just the right amount of drama to keep the pages turning.

4 stars for THE SECOND STORY BOOKSHOP by Denise Hunter ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Well this is just a sweet, second-chance romance filled with alllllll the heart, healing, and cozy, bookish vibes.

After her grandmother passes away, Shelby finds herself in charge of the bookshop she helped run along side her grandma — only to run into Grayson, her high school sweetheart — the one who got away (and kind of stomped on her heart in the process).

The chemistry between Shelby and Grayson was believable and beautifully paced. I appreciated the emotional depth in their journey, and the way they both had to grow before coming back together felt authentic. Even though the book is written in third person, it almost reads like a dual POV — which I really enjoyed, since it let me get a clear sense of what both characters were thinking and feeling.

One of my favorite touches was how Shelby still felt connected to her late grandmother, hearing her voice during difficult moments. It added so much warmth and tenderness, and gave a comforting sense of guidance throughout the story.

I also loved the little nods to real-life authors like Kristan Higgins and Kristin Hannah — it made the world feel current and real, and as a fan of both, I felt right at home.

If you love clean romance, small-town charm, and stories about second chances, forgiveness, and finding your way back to love, this one’s for you.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson Fiction and NetGalley for the ARC! This is my second ARC I’ve received of Denise Hunter, a new author I’ve added to my TBR and recommended to many friends.

“The Second Story Bookshop” was a delight to read, with an easy-to-follow story of two individuals working together to revive a family-run book store after a huge loss. It was great to experience this story, and the characters and the story arc were well-written and easy to follow. I would recommend it as an enjoyable and uplifting read.