It was a heartwarming and cozy read. I really enjoyed the book, the drama , love story and the characters.
The narrator and production did an amazing job.

With so much thanks to NetGalley and to the publisher Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio.

This checks so many of your "typical" hallmarkish type book troupes:
-High school flame returns home
-Dead grandma gives inheritence with stipulations of course
-Owns a bookstore and needs the town to rally to save it
-Rescued dog
-Forced proximity
Just to name a few
I could pretty much outline what was going to happen in this book, but did that stop me from enjoying myself? Nope not one page! I had a fun time (finally) reading a clean romance that was wholesome. There were a few times I reached for my lactaid pills, but overall a cute book and enjoyed the firey chemistry between Shelby and Gray. I love how Denise Hunter is able to show that relationships can still be "fire" without physical action and honoring their faith in God.

Now let's pretend this book was not on the Hallmark channel and an actual real life story, it is totally unbelievable. We have this whole town that totally bullies a teen age boy because his father killed someone-Im sorry but that is just ridiculous. The things they did to Gray was really dumb and I feel like Hunter could have done something different with this plot point.
I also struggled with the "past" relationship between Shelby and Gray, they date for a pretty brief time and Shelby acts like they are 100% committed and is unable to forgive Gray for what he did.That really bothered me she did not have an adult conversation....which shows she was too immature to actually be in the relationship.
That aside, it is a sweet book, and will for sure give you all the warm and fuzzies without anything woke!

Thank you Net Galley for allowing me to review The SEcond Story Bookshop, all of my thoughts and review are my own and honest.

This was a quick, cute read. It was not one of my favourites reads of Denise Hunter though. It is a second chance romance with a predictable ending. I did find the character of Shelby annoying at times. If you are a hallmark movie fan, then you will probably enjoy this. I listened to it on audio. The narrator was good and very easy to listen to.
Thank you NetGalley and publishers for the advance listening copy.

I found this to be such a lovely read. Anything about a bookshop sucks me in but adding in romance makes it better. I loved the fact grandma knows best. Watching Shelby and Gray’s relationship unfold through the past and current time, while also watching them heal the past made this book so cozy and enjoyable.

3.5 stars ✨

going into this book i was so hocked i loved the idea of two ex lovers being pulled together to do a job and rekindling their relationship.

but honestly some aspects of this book didn’t 100% click for me or feel authentic to the story. in certain parts of the book it felt like the author needed a reason to show that the towns people still hated grayson so she randomly threw in something seemingly out of the blue.

i don’t want to spoil anything but im sure when you read it you can tell which aspects of the book felt like last minute additions.

i thought grayson and shelby were really cute but i wish we got to see more from them in relation to the pining and the yearning. especially after shelby breaks up with logan i wish we got more of her wondering if it was the right thing to do and if she even wanted to attempt dating again especially getting feelings for grayson.

kim churchill did an amazing job of bringing this story to life

This was my third Denise Hunter bin and it definitely won't be my last. I love a good book about books or bookstores/libraries and this one did not disappoint. One of my favorite little touches about the book was how the main character mentally noted the preferred book genre when acknowledging side characters. The story between the MMC and FMC was beautifully done and spanned across many years. I loved seeing the growth of the characters. I listened to the audio version and narrators did a wonderful job making the book come alive and added to the overall esthetic in a positive way. Overall this book was beautifully done and I highly recommend it. I will be looking out for the authors next book with much anticipation!

Thank you to netgalley and the book publishers for the advanced copy in return for my honest review. The above statements are 100% honest and my own.

I'm sure some other readers will enjoy it, but the writing style and storytelling approach just weren't for me. Thanks to the NetGalley and Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio teams for the opportunity to listen and review this book. I really appreciated the opportunity!

Sweet small town, second chance romance. Plus the added bonus of a charming community book store! The Second Story Bookshop tells the story of Shelly and Gray - high school sweethearts reunited after the death of Shelby’s beloved grandmother. Much to Shelby’s surprise and dismay, her grandmother unexpectedly left 49% of the shop to the boy that broke Shelby’s heart over a decade ago. Now they have to work together to save the store in the face of many obstacles, including Shelby’s lack of trust in Gray. I enjoyed many aspects of this book, but I struggled at times with Shelby's maturity level and always with how extremely unfairly the townspeople treated Gray. Overall, though, this is a sweet romance with deep and heartfelt themes.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the chance to listen to an advanced copy of this audiobook.

A second chance, opposites attract romance, set in a bookshop?? Sign me up! I really enjoyed this romance between Shelby and Gray who are left a struggling bookshop after the death of Shelby's grandmother. Shelby is the town's sweetheart and Gray is the black sheep who has been away for years.

This book kept me engaged in the story with the sweet romance and small-town setting in this book. It takes the two awhile to decide each other is what they truly want, as Gray always says he plans to leave. There is a mystery and some intrigue as well that enhance the story in a good way. This is a clean, no spice romance which I really enjoy and the story really carries this one to a fitting conclusion.

I had the chance to read the book and listen to the audiobook. The audiobook is very well written and enjoyable. Thank you to Thomas Nelson and Netgalley for the opportunity to listen and read ARC copies of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

LOVED this sweet story. The wholesome second chance love story will be the perfect read for fall. The narrator was fantastic. The plot and character development were also fantastic. Denise Hunter will always be an automatic read for me.

Shelby Thatcher inherits her grandmother’s beloved bookshop, only to discover half the ownership goes to Gray Briggs—the ex who broke her heart in high school. As they navigate small-town expectations and buried feelings, Shelby and Gray must restore both the shop and their trust in one another. The story unfolds across dual timelines, blending present-day romance with flashbacks to youthful first love and heartbreak.


The audiobook is narrated by Kim Churchill, whose warm and expressive voice captures Shelby’s vulnerability and Gray’s quiet strength. Churchill differentiates characters subtly yet effectively, allowing listeners—even at double speed—to follow shifts between timelines without losing emotion or clarity. Reviewers praised her for bringing authentic inflection to each role without going “over the top”. The Second Story Bookshop is a cozy, feel-good listen ideal for fans of heartfelt Christian romance and nostalgic small-town settings. Kim Churchill’s narration elevates Denise Hunter’s warm storytelling, making this audiobook perfect for commutes or lazy afternoons with a cup of tea.

Another winner from Denise Hunter! I loved listening to this book. First, let's talk about the narration; the narrator is absolutely amazing and did a great job of bringing this book to life. Secondly, let's talk about the story. This book is about a second-chance romance between high school first loves. The hero has had many challenges in his life and is a master at overcoming them and making his life better. Through struggles not of his own making, he has become a better man, which I loved about him. The heroine has had hardships and struggles as well; she has gumption and a protective spirit for those she cares about. Lastly, it is a book with a bookstore as the main setting. With suspense (which I am totally for) and sweet romance, this all culminates into a wonderful story that I totally recommend.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is your average, run of the mill Christian book- except for the fact that God is rarely mentioned. So clean? Yes. Christian? Not really.

It’s an easy read, but part of that is because it’s so predictable from the first page. No real surprises or plot twists. Everything is suddenly easy and perfect towards the end. And boring.

It’s full of plot holes too. I mean seriously, an entire town against one guy for years based on something he didn’t even do? That doesn’t happen in real life. And it’s all suddenly okay towards the end without any real resolution. Maybe if Gray had needed to deal more directly with the family of his father’s victim instead of the town as a whole it would’ve worked.

Another big thing for me were Shelby’s so called “abandonment issues”. Shelby’s character made me want to DNF several times based on this. It’s mentioned as an issue maybe two or three times, but we’re supposed to see it (and her overcoming it) as some kind of big pillar in the book? No, I see an immature, needy character who can’t get over a high school break up TEN YEARS after the fact. And again, this issue is over and done with in a matter of sentences just like the animosity towards Gray. No working through it really, the whole issue is more like an after thought.

I don’t mean to be rude, but this book would’ve been better if it dove deeper into the issues it presented, worked on them throughout the book, and wasn’t so dang predictable and downright cheesy.

Another big 5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 for THE SECOND STORY BOOKSHOP by Denise Hunter, narrated by Kim Churchill!
This is another great story by Denise Hunter. The narration is also wonderful. That made it such a pleasant listen!

The story is an emotional one. When Shelby inherits the bookshop that her grandma opened years ago in a quaint little town in North Carolina, she is shocked to find out that she is only half owner. The other half is owned by her ex-boyfriend Gray who broke her heart years ago.

Gray’s family history has never been forgotten by the town residents and their animosity towards him remains after all the years he has skipped town right after graduation.

Lots going on to keep me listening… Just had to know what’s happening next. Interesting story line and characters. Love that it involved a bookstore too.

Thank you NetGalley, Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio for this audiobook!

A special thank you to Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio for providing advanced listening access to this beautiful story.

This book had me deep in my feelings for so many reasons! Told through dual timelines, it captures the journey from adolescence to adulthood with authenticity and heart. The slow-burn, second-chance romance is perfectly crafted—full of unspoken longing, tender glances, and the weight of past mistakes that make every moment of connection feel earned. Watching the characters navigate old wounds, rebuild trust, and rediscover the spark they thought they’d lost was both heartbreaking and deeply satisfying.

These romantic threads are woven alongside harder topics—bullying, the stigma faced by children of incarcerated parents, small-town life, abandonment, loss, and the bittersweet lessons that shape us.

I was completely drawn in, reminded that books are meant to make us feel—and this one does so in a surprisingly powerful way. It’s the perfect kickoff to fall reading, with the kind of emotional pull that lingers long after the final chapter. Kim Churchill’s narration brought each character to life, capturing the exact tone and emotion for every scene. A heartfelt, resonant listen that blends romance and real-life struggles seamlessly.

Thank you to NetGalley, Denise Hunter, and Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Audio for blessing me with an early copy of this audiobook to listen to and review! All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own!

Shelby Thatcher’s grandmother has died and left her bookstore to her and her ex-boyfriend. Gray Briggs is as surprised as Shelby to find out he is half-owner of the bookstore, but he stays around to help her get everything under control. Gray has always been an outcast in the town and this has not changed. In the meantime they discover some problems with the story and they discover their love still stands.

This story was enjoyable, but not over the top for me. I think if there would not have been a current boyfriend in story I would have rated the book higher. It bordered just bit to closed to cheating. That being said, I have definitely read worse books in that trope. I did find storyline of the people in the town harassing Gray interesting. I do wish Shelby’s family would have stood up for Gray sooner.

I think Kim Churchill did a great job with the narration. It was easy to follow and it kept attention throughout the entire book. For narration I would probably rate this four stars.

If you like sweet and mostly clean love stories you will enjoy this book. If the “cheating” trope bothers you maybe skip out on this one.

4/5 stars! Second Chance Romance, Book Store Owner, and Enemies to Lovers. This story was a beautiful story about loss bringing two people back together to save the bookshop.

I absolutely flew through this story, and the audio was done so well that I flew through it! Denise Hunter did such a great job of crafting a world full of loss, hope, and the importance of giving a second chance. Not only did our female main character have to give our male main character a second chance, but he also had to learn to give the town that hurt him so deeply a second chance.

I really felt all the emotions while reading this. Sorrow for Shelby as she navigated life after losing her grandmother, anger for everyone treating Gram for mistakes that weren't his, and most importantly love for the sweet dog shadow.

Definitely add this one to your to read list!

Ok, hear me out! Not a religious person nor am I really a soft romance girly BUT THIS, THIS BOOK! I love a good romance with tension, an underdog, and a its been you this whole time scenario. Throw in a small town, a bookstore and you have me hooked which is what I was. I listened to and read this book. It was great, easily a 5 star in my opinion. Sometimes you just need a low to no spice physical romance book. So if you have a thoughts and feeling face, don’t want people looking the other way while you are in public then this is it. Or maybe you are like me, you have kids and your reading is listening to audiobooks in the car then this is it. Thank you Denise Hunter for a great read/listen!

A heartwarming second chance sweet romance.

Publishes 07 Oct 2025

Synopsis: Shelby’s gram dies and leaves Shelby and her ex-boyfriend, Gray, ownership of her bookshop.
I liked the premise. It instantly brought tension to the story through character history and provided a starting point for character development.

Tropes
-Second Chance Romance
-Hurt Hero/MMC
-Forced Proximity
-Grief/Healing

Characters:

I loved Gray’s Resiliency and ability to keep composure. No matter what was thrown at him from the past, community, or local PD he remained controlled and levelheaded. I grew to adore him more as the story unfolded. His response to childhood trauma seems more realistic.

Shelby was not my favorite. I liked her in the beginning, but she lost me with her “big reveal” of abandonment. Instead of being sympathetic for her situation, I found her selfish, impulsive, and naïve. Her feelings are overdramatic and felt like her own fault. Miscommunication and pain caused by her own history/trauma. Grown Shelby was tolerable, but I wanted to shake some sense into her.

Things I liked:

I LOVED Shelbys relationship with her Gram. As someone who was close to my gram and whom I miss daily, I really connected with this piece. My gram was like another parent to me, the light of my life. She was the sun we revolved around in our family solar system. I enjoyed how this relationship was incorporated throughout the story and that even though her gram was gone, she really wasn’t.
Gray’s character history, growth, kindness, and loyalty.

Christan writer and story without the intention of converting the reader through literature. I get weary of books that tack on religion due to the potential of it being a sermon, but this was done well. There are a couple references of praying and statements like “thank God,” but nothing forceful. I wouldn’t have known this Christian fiction if it wasn’t listed in that genre.

The audiobook is great. Narrator does a good job distinguishing characters through voice and tone.

Steamy first kiss made all the flashbacks worth it.

Unique forced proximity, and I appreciate it! Not only does it occur with the bookshop but when they go to see a quirky author and things don’t go as planned.

Things I felt unsure about:

I can understand the anger Shelby’s family feels towards Gray because he hurt her, but I don’t understand why the town is holding a grudge against him. It doesn’t really make sense to me… why is the community loyal to the Remington family other than they are rich? I didn’t really see them putting that money back into the community to earn their loyalty. Also, is isn’t like that have to pick a side from the murder since Gray wasn’t involved in that. IDK the townspeople come off as shallow. I get there is history with Gray’s father but the town being mad at him for that isn’t logical nor does their loyalty to the Rimingtons.

The shooting felt excessive and over the top. I could only make sense of it by questioning the individual’s mental stability.
I was little disappointed at the first 10 year flashback chapter. It took me out of the moment and tension to start what felt like a different story. The history between the characters kind of drags out like experiencing it in real time. It could be thinned out a little. We don’t need to linger to get it.

Things I didn’t like:

The “big reveal” of what happened between Gray and Shelby as teens was underwhelming and non-deserving of the “mystery” that was created around it. I did feel bad about the scholarship part, but Shelby made that decision. What was a classic lack of communication to miscommunication trope was stunted to no communication per Shelby’s decision. If anything, I think Gray should have been mad at her for being a flake. There was double abandonment there.

The military part kills me. Boooooo. I’m questioning if the author bothered to do research. She paints the military as if they don’t have standards. Also, no one is joining and leaving in 24hrs—come one now. You have a background check, medical check, piss test, minimum fitness requirements, and take an altitude test for placement—all of which have to be completed at specific, regulated facilities. You don’t just go, nor will they take just anyone. This could be fixed in Gray’s POV without losing tension. He could tell/share meeting a recruiter with the reader or show Gray being busy outside with joining taskers outside of school and work without telling Shelby. This piece with Shelby’s negative outlook of the military was troublesome and left me hoping she’d take a good tumble down a flight of stairs (or two).

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and am writing this review voluntarily. Thank you NetGalley and ThomasNelsonFiction.

This second-chance, small-town romance was overall sweet, and I did enjoy it.

I loved that Shelby inherited the bookshop from her late grandmother—it was such a heartfelt detail. The premise of having to share the inherited bookshop with someone you don’t want to be around anymore instantly grabbed my attention. Shelby and Grayson fell for each other in high school, but Gray ended up breaking her heart. He left town soon after, partly due to the backlash he faced over his father’s crime—his father murdered someone in their small town—and partly to escape the pain between him and Shelby.

There were moments of romance I truly enjoyed, such as Gray calling Shelby “sunshine,” but overall, I felt their relationship development fell a little flat. I wish there had been more time spent on them rebuilding trust and connection—it would have made their dynamic much stronger. Also, this small town… yikes. The way people treated Gray felt unnecessarily harsh, especially considering he had nothing to do with his father’s actions.

The story definitely has a Hallmark movie vibe, which I enjoy from time to time.

The audiobook narrator, Kim Churchill, was fantastic and really kept me engaged. She delivered the emotions perfectly and brought the story to life.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this audiobook. All thoughts and opinions are my own.