A Smart Girl's Guide to Second Chances: A new romantic comedy from the author of The Love Contract, perfect for fans of Beth O'Leary, Mhairi McFarlane and Lizzy Dent
A new romantic comedy from the author of The Love Contract, perfect for fans of Beth O'Leary, Mhairi McFarlane and Sally Thorne
by Steph Vizard
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Pub Date Sep 30 2025 | Archive Date Oct 05 2025
HarperCollins Publishers Australia | HarperCollins AU
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Description
What happens when the man who broke your heart reappears just before your wedding?
The new romantic comedy from award-winning author Steph Vizard for fans of Beth O'Leary, Mhairi McFarlane and Lizzy Dent.
To Do List
1. Replace decapitated groom cake topper
2. Complete twenty-page questionnaire for second-choice celebrant
3. Break family curse
4. Ignore ex-boyfriend / current client
Rebecca, a super-smart consultant, is determined to defy the family marriage curse, which claims no woman marries their first fiance, and prove that Matt is The One.
Although the wedding planning lurches from one disaster to the next and she has to steer a major work project before the big day, Rebecca is sure she can stay on top of things. That is until Alex – the ex who dramatically broke her heart at Oxford University – reappears in the boardroom as her new client. How dare he still be as infuriatingly clever and hot as before? And since when did he start wearing shirts with collars?
As Rebecca's past and present collide, she realises her choices can't be resolved with a trusty pros and cons list. Before she makes it down the aisle, she'll have to finally come to terms with the age-old question: head or heart?
Praise for A Smart Girl's Guide to Second Chances
'Get ready to feel deeply and fall in love hard. A Smart Girl's Guide to Second Chances is as smart as it is swoony.' Ali Berg & Michelle Kalus
'Charmingly brilliant and brilliantly charming' Jodi McAlister
'A fun, perfectly executed romcom that plays cleverly with the idea of missed connections and what-ifs ... Vizard's characters are intelligent thirty-somethings whose personalities work against the stereotype of the emotionally naive or unstable female protagonist so often seen in coming-of-age romances. Readers who enjoy multilayered plots that extend beyond the novel's central relationship will enjoy the triumph of friendship in Vizard's sophomore novel ... Readers of Emily Henry, Abby Jimenez and Mhairi McFarlane will be swept away by A Smart Girl's Guide to Second Chances, an Australian romcom that deserves the bestseller status of its international counterparts.' Books+Publishing
'I haven't been this gripped by a love triangle since Mark Darcy and Daniel Cleaver. Smart, sweet and oh so satisfying' Karina May, author of That Island Feeling
'Steph Vizard once again pulls off a highwire high concept mash-up of delectable romance tropes - love triangle, second chance, A CURSE - and grounds it with deeply human, loveable characters. Think Richard Curtis, via Melbourne, with a dash of Oxford glamour and lens-flared young love. This is a sparkling, cinematic and satisfying modern romance, deftly written.' Clare Fletcher
'A standout. Sharp, witty and utterly charming, I devoured this in one day. An absolute joy to read, from the first page to the last. Perfect for fans of Mhairi McFarlane' Jessica Seaborn, author of Isn't It Nice We Both Hate the Same Things
'Warm, witty, and delightfully romantic. A Smart Girl's Guide to Second Chances will tug at your heart and leave a soft lump in your throat. With whip-smart dialogue, tender moments, and an ending that truly feels earned, Steph Vizard knows exactly how to keep readers turning pages well past bedtime. Curl up, and enjoy every heartfelt twist.' Holly Brunnbauer, author of What Did I Miss?
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9781460767061 |
| PRICE | A$22.72 (AUD) |
| PAGES | 336 |
Available on NetGalley
Average rating from 30 members
Featured Reviews
Thoughts? 28/08 - It’s 1:30 A.M on a work night but I physically couldn’t put this ARC down. Thank you so much Harper Collins AU and NetGalley and of course Steph Vizard.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This had everything I want from a romance novel including the gut twisting limbo of not knowing how things can possibly resolve. This book had not one but TWO men I was rooting for. What an absolute palaver. How is that even possible?
Rebecca is marrying Matt but the universe serves her a curveball in the form of her ex (arguably love of her life) as her newest client just weeks before her wedding. Alex destroyed her heart 9 years ago after having put it back together. That doesn’t mean she can repress all the good memories that preceded that forever. But Matt is perfect - he makes Rebecca feel safe. He’s reliable. He’s kind. He’s fantastic with her family. He’s supportive. They want all the same things in the future. Is Alex back in her life with an agenda? Is the family curse really true?
This was incredibly well written with a fine tuned emotional intelligence that fans of Mhairi McFarlane (ME) would certainly appreciate. This book was a heavy debate of head versus heart with excellent arguments for both. Everything was very believable and realistic. The issues were appropriately scaled and handled. I really couldn’t fault it. PSA: no cheating or love triangles. Nothing morally untoward.
Well done Steph, you keep getting better and better. Can’t wait for what’s next! 😍
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