5⭐️
Tropes:
Small town romance
Town rumours
Second chance
Bookshop owners
this is FANTASTIC.
this book is in my god tear list

This book starts with the reading of a will, which doesn’t always sound like a happy beginning to a story. In this case, that’s correct. Shelby’s grandmother has died, and Shelby is hoping that she will inherit the bookshop she dearly loves. Well, she gets her wish, at least 51% of her wish. The other 49% ownership goes to her ex-boyfriend, Gray, who was the love of Shelby’s life, until he left one day. This is where the story really starts. Can she learn to trust Gray again?

I loved this book so much. I am a huge fan of dual timelines, so I was happy to be able to go back in time 11 years to watch Shelby and Gray fall in love. Gray always had such an unfortunate life, and seeing the man he turned out to be was so satisfying. This book had me swooning, stressed, and happy multiple times. I also love the reason behind the name of the bookshop, The Second Story Bookshop. Everyone always deserves to start over, to begin their second story.

📚 Book Review: The Second Story Bookshop by Denise Hunter
⭐️ 3.5–3.8 stars

My first NetGalley ALC — how exciting! 🎧 I really enjoyed the premise of this story and connected with the characters. Denise Hunter has a way of crafting small-town charm and heartwarming romance that pulls you in.

That said, the third-person narration didn’t quite work for me in this one. It’s definitely a personal preference, but I found myself distracted by the POV and wishing it had been written in first person to feel more immersive. Still a solid, sweet read!

#Bookstagram #DeniseHunter #NetGalleyALC #BookReview #TheSecondStoryBookshop #RomanceReads #AudiobookLove #netgalley

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 narrator did an excellent job of bringing this book to life and the production quality was phenomenal.

I am a firm believer in second chanced and loved this second chance romance. It had a great storyline as well as a FMC and MMC character. It is a very believable storyline I am looking forward to reading more by this author.

The Second Story Bookshop is a charming and cozy read that feels like a warm hug for book lovers. Denise Hunter creates a delightful small-town setting filled with heart, romance, and plenty of literary charm. The characters are relatable and endearing, and the story unfolds with a comforting pace that’s perfect for a relaxing escape.

It’s a feel-good novel that celebrates second chances and the magic of books, making it a great pick for anyone who loves light, uplifting contemporary romance.

I very much enjoyed listening to The Second Story Bookshop by Denise Hunter. The story was engaging and all through the drama I was rooting for the main characters! A second chance (second story!!) that kept me riveted!

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. If you’re a fan of sweet romances with emotional depth, this one hits all the right notes. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to listen to this book early.

This was a fun and quick read, perfect for summer reading. The Second Story Bookshop is a book about second chances. The title bookstore begins as Shelby's grandma's second chance at life after losing her husband; however, the book focuses on how this same store becomes the second chance for Shelby as well--and maybe influences second chances for her family as well. Shelby and her first love Grayson have to work together to save her grandmother's bookshop and to open the hearts of the town and their own hearts to second chances. This was a sweet romance, with cute scenes and a little suspences mixed in. I love a good bookstore book, and this one was a nice mix of romance with a little dram and action. I enjoyed it and think you would too.

I received a complimentary copy of this book "The Second Story Bookshop" and all opinions expressed are my own. I have read a few books by Denise Hunter and I love to grab one when I am in the mood for romance and heartwarming stories. This was a love story between Shelby and Gray. I love the parts where the grandma was talking to Shelby. Overall I enjoyed reading this. I listened to the audiobook today July 17, 2005

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 had the added privilege of listening to the audiobook and believe that is part of what truly brought this book to life in my mind and in my heart. The voices were captured convincingly, and the tone and pace were perfect.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley, and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.

☆3.5
Contemporary Christian romance
Second chance
Town drama
Dual timeline
No spice

Shelby inherits her beloved grandma’s bookshop after her passing. To her surprise, her grandma also left 49% of the ownership to her high school boyfriend Gray Briggs. While the two of them try to work out the bookstore, the town is rallying against Gray, trying to find ways to get him to leave. The story is broken into two timelines, one present and one from the past. Unraveling the past, figuring out why things are the way they are. Grams plan from the grave to push Shelby and Gray back together seems to be working. Gray just needs to survive to the end.
This book had a lot of things going on. The townspeople, oohhh, the townspeople had me fuming. This book deals with a lot of issues about mob mentality against someone for their family's wrongdoing. I had some issues with the way the main character decided that it was okay to have a boyfriend in each timeline and her feelings for Gray developing at the same time. Gray really seemed to be such a good person, and it was hard to see how things happened to him in such an unfair manner. Things did work out in the end, but I wish that it wasn't until the very last bit that things were better for Gray. It is a spice free book full of feelings, lots of feelings. Overall, it was a very town drama lead book. It was enjoyable for the most part, and everything worked out in the end. The narrator did a fantastic job of bringing each character to life and making it so that it felt like each voice was a real person.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson Fiction and Netgalley for providing me with an alc copy to listen and review honestly.

This was a lovely second-chance romance. I thought the characters were likeable and the storyline was captivating

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Second Story Bookshop by Denise Hunter
4.6⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (rounded up to a 5)
Spice: 0.2/5
Cursing: none
Format/Source: audio from NetGalley, Thomas Nelson, and Zondervan Fiction Audio
Genres/Tropes: romance, second chance, small town
Audience: NA
Setting: NC
Characters: Shelby, Caleb, Logan, Oliver, Gray, Brendan, Gram
👍 short-med chapters, multi POV, bookshop, redemption, book loving MCs, no cursing
👎 multi time frames

Description:
Shelby enjoys working in the charming small-town bookshop her grandmother opened years ago. When her beloved grandma passes away, Shelby inherits the bookstore. But to her shock, Gram leaves half ownership to Gray Briggs, the man who broke Shelby's heart years ago.
Granville residents have been vilifying Gray as long as he can remember. After graduating high school, he couldn't skip town fast enough, even though it meant leaving the girl he'd fallen deeply in love with. Facing the town's animosity is difficult, but seeing Shelby again is sheer torture. No one could ever stir his heart the way she did.
As the adversaries are forced to work together, Gram's beyond-the-grave scheme is working--Shelby's old feelings for Gray begin to resurface. Is their love doomed to fail again, or will they find a way to make it work this time around?

My opinion:
Denise pens a sweet and clean second chance romance. The short-med length chapters and multiple POV made for an effortless read. I adored the small town bookshop setting. I always love reading a book with characters who love to read, and both MCs do so in this book! The redemption arc was somewhat predictable but still great. I truly appreciated that there was no cursing to pollute the storyline. Typically, I do not enjoy novels with multi time frames; however, they were clearly labeled, making them easy to follow along. I was entertained by this novel and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys clean romantic stories.
#bookstagram #arcreader #booklovers #netgalley #romancebooks #booktok #denisehunter
***I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

A cute second chance romance. A story exploring a tumultuous past of a son in a small town and the overcoming prejudices to keep his love.

Shelby Thatcher adores working in the charming small-town bookshop her grandmother opened years ago. Since high school she's helped Gram turn the shop into a community hub for book lovers in the lakeside town of Granville, NC. When her beloved grandma passes away, Shelby inherits the bookstore. But to her shock, Gram leaves half ownership to Gray Briggs, the man who broke Shelby's heart years ago.

Granville residents have been vilifying Gray as long as he can remember. After graduating high school he couldn't skip town fast enough, even though it meant leaving the girl he'd fallen deeply in love with and alienating her family once and for all. Now he's back, the beneficiary of his elderly friend's will. Facing the town's animosity is difficult, but seeing Shelby again is sheer torture. No one could ever stir his heart the way she did.

As the adversaries are forced to work together, Gram's beyond-the-grave scheme is working--Shelby's old feelings for Gray begin to resurface. But the problems that destroyed their relationship before still remain, and a new one surfaces--one that threatens Gram's beloved bookshop. Is their love doomed to fail again, or will they find a way to make it work this time around

Everybody deserves to get to write their second story - and this is Shelby and Gray's version.

Shelby and Gray both found themselves back in their small-town after Shelby's Gran dies and to their surprise, she leaves her beloved bookshop to both of them. Gray's life was never easy - bullied because of the sins of his father. All he wanted to do was to leave town, but that also meant breaking Shelby's heart. When they learn that the bookshop is in trouble, they work together to save Gran's pride and joy.

This book evoked such emotion due to the pain that Gray has felt all of his life and continues to feel. It showed the small-town politics and how tough that can be when you're on the opposing side of it. Kim Churchill narrates this audiobook and I enjoyed listening to her tell their story. So grab your blankets and hot tea and sit down for this cozy read!

🎧
Narration: 🎙️🎙️🎙️
Plot: 📖📖📖📖

This books was so good! I don’t know what I expected when I started this but I finished it it in 24 hours! The feelings this book gave me were real! I went from giggling to tears! I loved both Shelby and Gray! They both went through so much but still came out strong yet vulnerable. And that nickname! ❤️‍🔥 Gray is it I’m telling you! His teasing had me giddy! This book touched on so much between bullying, grief, heartbreak and even Down syndrome. It did so beautifully! I enjoyed the ending of the story! It was just so sweet and perfect touch. I will say that I wish the book had been longer. I think it got a little choppy and slightly rushed at about 75% but other than that it was really great.

I also want to mention the narrator, Kim Churchill. She was great! She actually reminded me of the narrator that does some of Kristin Hannah’s books, Julia Whelan. Kim really brought the raw emotion alive in this book!

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio for the opportunity to listen to this book!

I received this ALC courtesy of NetGalley. I enjoyed this book for the first 30ish percent. Then it veered heavily down the road of aspiring to be a movie Candace Cameron-Bure would star in. For me that is not the vibe. The conflict between the main characters was ridiculous and seemed selfish on the FMCs part especially carrying on all those years later. Also the whole town behaving the way they did? And the incident that lead to the climax? Ok then…
The audiobook narrator did a great job voicing every character but I wish they had also had a male narrator. I think it would have given more to the book.
Overall if you enjoy hallmark movies and things like that you would enjoy this.

The Second Story Bookshop
by Denise Hunter
Narrated by Kim Churchill

I received an ARC of this audiobook through Netgalley.

Shelby and Gray had a sizzling teenage relationship that ended when Gray suddenly left town. Now, Shelby and Gray half each inherited 1/2 of the Second Story Bookshop that her grandmother owned. Can they put the past behind them and come out on the other side?

There’s a lot of things to love about this book:
Bookshop romance, dealing with old traumas, meddling grandmother, small town, and two main characters that you can’t help but fall for immediately.

If you like romance and second chances - I definitely recommend this book. It has so many good feels!

If you are looking for a small-town, feel-good read, then Denise Hunter is your girl! Her latest novel, "The Second Story Bookshop" may just be my favorite!