~2.5, rounded up. Thanks to Thomas Nelson & NetGalley for the ALC to listen & review. All thoughts are my own~
RECAP: Shelby Thatcher is shocked to inherit only half of her grandmother’s beloved bookshop, while the other half goes to Gray Briggs, the man who broke her heart. Years after fleeing Granville, Gray returns to face the town’s scorn & the woman he never forgot. As they’re forced to work together, old feelings resurface, but past wounds & a new threat to the shop test whether love can truly get a second chance.

REVIEW: As the synopsis implies, we got a second chance romance here, folks. I see this as a light read, perfect for its 10/7/25 pub date. However, I found Shelby to be immature & borderline aggravating at times. There's also a hint of insta-love, but given it started when they were in high school, I just couldn't tell if it was instant or just young love. I also hated Granville, because the town and its people are a character all their own. I come from a small town, but if it was anything like Granville, I'd high tail it out of there - it was such a toxic, small minded community at times. But anyways... Other than that, it was an OK read, probably could have been a tad shorter. Not my typical genre, but I can see this working for someone who does like this genre, especially with the trope described.

The book description was catchy. It hooked me quickly. Inheriting a family bookstore from the beloved grandma who always had your back, only to find out you have to share it with the ex you’d prefer to never see again. Being a rom-com, the assumption that the characters would have love chemistry is a safe assumption. However, I was also happy that there was depth among the characters wanting to also deal with the negatives of the past. Denise Hunter does a good job at giving her characters the depth to have a reader keep reading to see how they end up.

My lower rating is 100% because I really didn’t like the main female. She drove me crazy. I totally understand that it was a whole line in the story that there was this idea that the male “left” in their youth. But the whole family, and arguably town, hated the main male because he hurt his ex-girlfriends feelings in high school? Ehh. Also, are we really pissed at him for “leaving” when really, he just went into the military for the benefits? Let it go. I also get that the “small town” vibe was a need for the story, however basically every person being that ignorant? Again, ehh.

The narrator was listed as Kim Churchill. She was an excellent pick. Her emotions were on point with the characters throughout the book.

I’ve said it before, I am not surprised in the slightest that the Author has had her books adapted into Hallmark movies. Her books 100% feel like Hallmark movies in all the good ways. This may not have been totally up my alley, but I can think of many people who would eat this book up!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Sweet, wholesome, and full of heart—The Second Story Bookshop is a cozy second-chance romance that totally hit the spot. Shelby inherits her grandmother’s beloved bookshop… but only half of it. The other half? Belongs to her ex, Gray Briggs—the love of her life she hasn’t seen in years. The tension is real, the emotions run deep, and the challenges that tore them apart before haven’t gone away. Add in a new threat to the bookshop, and you’ve got a layered, tender story about love, loss, and finding your way back.

This is a closed-door romance with strong family dynamics, a dash of small-town charm, and just the right amount of emotional depth. Perfect for fans of clean, feel-good love stories with a bit of angst and a lot of heart.

The audio narration was excellent!

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Audio Fiction for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

2.5 stars

This was cute, but not particularly remarkable. It unfortunately didn't stand out in a sea of Hallmark-type romance stories. Again, it was cute, but I barely remember any of the characters or plot points right after finishing the book. I didn't have a life-changing time with this book, so I'm a little disappointed, because I expected more from the blurb.

This book felt like a warm hug from the very first chapter, and I ended up finishing it in less than 24 hours. Yes, it was that comforting and addictive. I’ve always had a soft spot for second-chance romances, and this one absolutely delivered with all the right emotions. Also, the narrator did such a beautiful job and helped me immerse myself into the story almost immediately.

The small-town setting, the cozy bookshop atmosphere, and the tender way the story unfolded made it impossible to put down. Shelby and Gray’s journey back to each other was filled with vulnerability, depth, and quiet longing, even when neither of them wanted to admit it out loud. I also love the way her family handled the whole situation eventually.

The ending was satisfying, since everyone got what they deserved. This is the first book I read by Denise Hunter, but definitely not the last. I really appreciate her writing style and I'll definitely read more of her books in the future.

If you love heartfelt stories full of charm, gentle romance, and that nostalgic feeling of coming home, this one definitely deserves your attention.

I'm grateful for the chance given to me to read this book. I received it as an ARC (in the form of audiobook) from Netgalley and I'm writing this review voluntarily. All opinions are my own!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
I loved this believable cozy, small town, second chance romance that sucked me in from the beginning.
Shelby Thatcher inherits her beloved Grams bookshop but her Gram left shocking news in her will. Shelby inherits 51% of the bookshop and to everyone’s shock the boy who broke her heart, Gray Briggs 49%. What could go wrong? What could go right? 😊
This story takes you through heartbreak, healing and redemption. This is my first novel by Denise Hunter and will not be my last. The Second Story Bookshop was a refreshing story for me and I savored it.

Thank you Denise Hunter, Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio 🎧 for my NetGalley ALC.

Shelby Thatcher and Grayson Briggs fell for each other their senior year of high school—but their young love couldn’t survive the odds stacked against them. Gray was painted as the town troublemaker—a reputation he unjustly earned due to the misdeeds of his alcoholic father. To escape the town that hated him, he left Shelby behind to nurse a broken heart.

Decades later, they are reunited after the death of her grandmother who left them spilt ownership of her beloved bookshop. Shelby and her family are dumbfounded, but when Gray offers his accounting assistance while she looks for someone to take on that role in the business, she begins to see how much he’s still like the guy she fell in love with—and the ways he’s grown. Can Shelby open her heart and trust the man who caused the greatest pain she’d ever endured?

This is my second Denise Hunter book and I’m a fan! I enjoyed the story evolution and pacing. I’m a justice-lover through and through and was so riled up over the town’s treatment of Gray. This read definitely had me in my feels!

If you enjoy second chance romances, small town settings, book-selling MCs, and swing love, add this one to your call TBR list!

Thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for the ALC! All opinions are my own.

I like Denise Hunters books. In the absence of ability to give half stars please note I give this one 3.5. The narration was good, I felt engaged in the story, but I did not like the small town and I didn't feel like the town redeemed itself in the end. It was essential to the story line for the characters pasts, but felt like a bit too much for their present. Regardless, it was a a good read. It had some drama and issues that the characters had to overcome. It kept my attention, even if I didn't find a majority of the characters to be lovable.

Small town vibes make this a cozy book to curl up with if you are looking for an easy, happy read. Small bookshops are my happy place and the one is this book I wish I could go visit. There is just enough romance to keep you interested but not overtake the storyline.

Denise Hunter has done it again! This was delightful from start to finish! The book is full of themes of second chances and redemption. The plot was well-paced and the characters were charming and witty. This is definitely one I'll listen to again; the narration was fantastic. Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of the book.

Audiobook Thoughts:
When I started listening to this book, I had some reservations, particularly about the narrator. However, around the halfway mark, something changed. I enjoyed the narration, perhaps because I changed my mind about it. This audiobook has the potential to surprise the listener with its unexpected appeal.

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.

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

A second chance wholesome love story, not spicy but will pull at your heart strings. Set on a small North Carolina coastal city it feels very Nicholas Sparks. Good beach reach! Thank you NetGalley, Denise Hunter & Thomas Nelson Publisher

I really enjoyed this book!
My first read by this author and I had a fun time especially since it’s a second chance romance and small town!

Thank you @NetGalley, @ThomasNelson and @ZondervanFictionAudio for providing me with this pre release audiobook of “The Second Story Bookshop” in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this one! It was quaint, wholesome, and cozy, but not as predictable as a typical Hallmark movie, which I thought created the perfect balance. It felt like a mix of "Gilmore Girls," "One Tree Hill," and a touch of "The Notebook." I appreciated the relationship between Shelby and Gray, and I always love to see the underdog come out on top! I will definitely be reading more of Denise Hunter’s books.

I downloaded this because it was “Listen Now” on NetGalley from a publisher I trust, and I am so glad that I did. I needed help staying on-task while packing up our house in anticipation of our move next month. (🙃) Audiobooks always make any mindless task so much easier to stick to.

I flew through this one! It’s a sweet, second-chance story that navigates reputation, community, grief, and family-dynamics. These all sound like very deep topics, but the overall feel of the book is light-hearted. The romance is closed-door, completely, but the romantic tension in the book with dual timelines is the kind that makes you kick your girly little feet. The only thing I didn’t love was how quickly everything seemed to wrap up with a nice bow. After hours of tension and angst surrounding the main point of conflict, for everything to completely de-escalate in a few moments felt a bit like being robbed. On the flip side, if you like your HEA with minimal stress, boy do I have good news for you.

A thoughtful book with romance and heart for the reader that likes a closed-door experience with light faith elements and no swear words.

FOTMS: 🫑🫑

The narration was excellent!

I loved this second chance, small town romance. This is what I love to listen to. 5 stars

Many thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for an audio ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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.

A tale of second chances in life and love, The Second Story Bookshop is full of emotion, drama, mystery and love.
The main character's Shelby and Grey are enemies to lovers, but the world is against them, or rather the small town of Granville, North Carolina, who holds Grey to the crimes of his father. When they are reunited after the death of Shelby's grandmother, who leaves half her bookshop to Shelby, and surprisingly the other half to Grey, they are flung together years after Grey walked out on her. While this seems to be a perfect situation created by Shelby's grandmother, it soon becomes clear that not all is well with the bookshop. With Grey's help, Shelby starts to turn things around, despite Grenville being determined to run Grey out of town. Shelby and Grey grow together on their journey back to each other and to saving the bookstore.
What i love about this book is that there is no spice, it is full of Christian values and the slow burn romance/reconnection ends perfectly. I also love the connection between Shelby and her grandmother, and their shared love of books. The narrator brings each character to life, especially Shelby's family members who are relevant but also don't overwhelm the love story of Shelby and Grey.
Thank you to Netgalley, Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio for this advanced listener copy.

I throughly enjoyed The Second Story Bookshop. Well written with a great plot and believable characters. Denise Hunter has written another winner.

This started off cute and sweet and then kind of dragged. I liked the premise of the story but just couldn’t get into it.