This is a sweet book. At first I was not such a fan of Emily but as I got further into the story, you could say that Emily. Despite not really getting to know Emily's grandmother very well before her death; I did love Catriona right away. As more details came out about her and the things she did for Emily made me just fall in love with her more.

Then there is Tyler. He was likable and an nice addition to this story. He helped Emily on her book adventure to solve her grandmother's mystery. The clues that she left for Emily each had a personal meaning. Which brings the readers closer to Emily and her grandmother.

While, I did like this book. I did find the pacing to move slowly. It did not seem as if the story really did pick up and start until about a third of the way into the story. Yet, I still did enjoy reading this book and would read another book by this author.

When Catriona Robinson, a beloved children’s author, dies, she leaves her granddaughter Emily grieving. Raised by her grandmother after the death of her parents in an accident which left her physically scarred, Emily has become a virtual recluse. Since she illustrated her grandmother’s books, Catriona’s death leaves Emily feeling she has no further purpose. Then Emily discovers that she has ten days to follow a trail of clues if she wants to inherit her grandmother’s estate in its entirety. Reluctantly, Emily sets off with Tyler, a childhood friend whom Catriona designated as Emily’s companion, on a journey that takes them to London and on to France and Italy.

A problem for me was that I could not connect with Emily. She is 28 years old but is so immature. She suffered great tragedy when her parents died but that was 15 years earlier. Catriona let her granddaughter remain a 13-year-old? Emily is so self-centred and whiny that she just becomes tedious and annoying.

As expected, the journey she undertakes is a journey of self-discovery. The issue is that the reader is given no credit for intelligence: the author states the obvious over and over again. There are explanations like “Every single interaction, no matter how small, has an impact on who you turn out to be. Every conversation, every disappointment, every touch, they all combine into one huge mess called life” and “it’s not possible to appreciate the good without the bad. The light without the dark. The joy without the sorrow” and “Face your fears. Don’t give in to the voices of doubt. Embrace the terror because you never know where it might lead you” and “no one ever really knows what goes on inside a person’s mind, or their heart, that each and every one of us have [sic] demons to battle with at some point along the way.” A well-written novel does not need to state its themes; it will show, not tell.

There are problems with Catriona’s posthumous scavenger hunt. There is no way that she could have foreseen that Emily would walk down a street in Paris and see a particular art shop! People seem to carry parcels around with them just on the chance that Emily will show up? For instance, Emily meets one man as he docks his boat; he immediately takes her for a boat ride to a hotel restaurant where he presents her with a “brown paper parcel tied up with string”!

There are other events that are illogical. A woman says to Emily, “Let me show you what it is I asked you here for’” and then begins “to search through stacks of books, then clambered onto one of the desks and moved aside dusty cardboard boxes from a top shelf” in order to find it? This same woman had hotel reservations made for Emily and Tyler though she didn’t know they would be in Paris on that day? Tyler seems to have things happen to him even though there is no time for those things to happen. The contents of Catriona’s will are only revealed four weeks after her death? Tyler’s dad is called William and then Charles? Why did Tyler and Adrianna disappear as soon as tragedy struck? Emily hasn’t seen Tyler since her 21st birthday 7 years ago? Does Catriona have no flaws?

There is little to keep a reader’s interest in the book. It is so slow-paced and plodding. I kept wanting to abandon it but felt obligated to finish since I had received a galley. Truly, I feel as if I gave The Book of Second Chances more chances than it deserved.

Note: I received a digital galley from the publisher via NetGalley.

In Katherine Slee’s new novel, The Book of Second Chances, readers meet a young woman who must undergo a bizarre follow-the-clues type of adventures in order to grieve the loss of her grandmother and also make her peace with her tragic past. This novel is a touching story about one woman’s path towards learning more about her grandmother and herself in the process.
Emily can't remember the last time she left the house. Or spoke to anyone besides her grandmother, beloved children's author Catriona Robinson. After Catriona's death, Emily is at a complete loss . . . until she gets an unexpected letter from the woman she loved most. Catriona has revealed there might be one last, lost unpublished manuscript in her wildly popular book series. And she's left a secret diary and trail of clues that only Emily can follow. From London to Paris to Verona, Emily traces her grandmother's past, finding out more about her family — and herself — than she ever imagined possible. Hopeful and adventurous, The Book of Second Chances celebrates books and bookstores, the power of imagination, and having the courage to shape our own destinies.
Grief-stricken and reclusive, Emily Davenport experiences PTSD after a tragic accident and her grandmother’s scavenger hunt/adventure forces her to come out of her shell and confront painful memories from her past. The theme of getting a second chance at life is portrayed as both hopeful and foreboding. The idea that both Catriona and Emily are given second chances in their lives allows them to heal from their past and try and do better to honor the ones they love. In turn, it forces them to think of themselves and their hopes and dreams.
Emily’s physical and psychological disabilities help contribute to a deeper sense of the themes of living life to the fullest. Since she is so self-conscious about her scars and speech impediment, Emily is wary of the unknown and experiencing things outside of her comfort zone. Added to the fact that the one person in her life that has been a constant source of support and stability has died, leaves Emily reeling. However, the way she accepts the things that have happened to her becomes inspiring and shows that while healing isn’t easy, it is necessary.
Emily uses birds to cope and bring her joy in her life and Slee utilizes the birds not only as chapter titles, but the facts and attributes they represent only contribute to both the development of Emily’s character and the themes of the novel. The illustrations before each chapter are beautiful and match wonderfully and really bring the story to life for the reader.
This novel also highlights the ways in which one's life can be touched. Whether it be from a favorite book, a relatable character, friends you’ve known for decades or friends you haven’t spoken to in years, certain things impact our lives and Slee shows just how one moment or persons can alter someone’s life forever.
Overall, this novel will bring tears to your eyes and move you to think about how to live your life to the fullest. Anyone who has dealt with the loss of a loved one can take comfort in knowing that everyone has felt desolate and lost after the fact. However, Emily’s story will inspire hope that though a Phoenix may die, a new one will rise from the ashes in its place.

Book Chat | Review 🌷
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The Book of Second Chances by Katherine Slee ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

About the book: Emily is the granddaughter of the late Catriona Robinson, beloved children’s author. At 28, Emily has barely been out on her own since childhood as she prefers to stay in her home in the small, quiet village. Dealing with past childhood trauma and the death of her grandmother, the last thing Emily wants to do is leave the comforts of her home to search for a lost manuscript and follow the clues her grandmother has hidden within her books throughout various countries.
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Thoughts: I loved this book! It was so heartwarming and beautifully written. I love the incorporation of birds and their symbolism throughout the novel. Emily is such a unique character and it is lovely to watch her grow from a shy, sheltered woman into a more confident one.
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This book takes you to the oldest bookshop in London, the south of France and to Verona, Italy. We meet friends of Catriona who help Emily learn more about her grandmother. Emily finds clues hidden within the pages of the children’s books her grandmother created and finds her passion once again. This is the perfect book to curl up with and just leaves you feeling so content and happy when you’re done!

I really loved the premise of this book. Emily who recently lost her beloved grandma is pushed out of her introvert comfort zone and needs to go on a clue busting adventure in order to keep her grandmother's house.

What should have been a story of self-discovery and a charming, whimsical adventure ran a little flat for me. For me it was an almost but not quite.

The book was well written and the character were engaging. I will definitely read more from Katherine Slee in the future.

Thank you #netgalley for a review copy in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

This novel is a journey. Emily is grieving over the death of the one person left in this world that she could count on, her grandmother. They had collaborated together on novels. After her passing, Emily is sent on a journey of self discovery by her grandmother to help her cope and learn to move on in life.
Emily is still suffering also from PTSD after a car accident killed her parents. So while on this journey, she learns how capable she actually is.
This book did pretty much stay in its lane, and that is completely ok. I did enjoy the journey, which is why I am giving this book a 4 star rating. Some may say its slow moving, but it really wasn't to me. I feel like on a journey of self discovery, you aren't supposed to be rushed. Stick it out, and it is a good read.

THE BOOK OF SECOND CHANCES was the perfect little adventure to go on, a lovely escape. It was a charming, simple, uplifting story of self-discovery, loss, love, and living life. After the death of her beloved grandmother (a famous children’s book author) Emily is feeling especially lost when an unexpected letter shows up from her deceased grandma, opening up a trail of clues and a secret diary that she must venture out of her comfort to follow and see what she might discover...

So, ok, was the story far-fetched at times? Well, yes. But it also felt heartfelt and genuine. There was a rawness and vulnerability to the characters that made these people, this story feel real. My heart broke for Emily in her daily struggle of living in the shadow of trauma and battling PTSD, and learning to try to move forward. She had me rooting for and wanting to wrap her up in a hug (that I know she’d push away) the whole time. The slew of great characters we meet along the way in all the various locations was a definite highlight and kept things feeling new and exciting on this journey.

I especially appreciated seeing how everything came full circle by the end of book and how some of the questionable intentions were fleshed out and made right. For a lot of it, my enjoyment was slightly colored by the circumstances under which the grandmother made Emily go on this “quest”, as I felt it was really unfair to Emily with how difficult it was for her. So I’m glad that the ending redeemed it for me, otherwise this review may have looked totally different.

If you’re in the mood for a quick, easy read with beautiful writing and a lot of heart, this is definitely one to add to your TBR!

Thank you NetGalley and Read Forever Pub for the gifted copy.

THE BOOK OF SECOND CHANCES takes the reader on a young illustrator's painful odyssey to find herself and claim an inheritance. Written as both a scavenger hunt and family history quest, Slee's novel has beautiful imagery and a graceful writing style. It is also populated with some very engaging characters who cooperated with our protagonist's late grand-mother to make the quest possible.

I found myself deeply invested in learning more about the vibrant and successful grand-mother who clearly wanted to leave a legacy of love and empowerment. It was moving and inspirational, but what spoiled the book for me was that Ms. Slee was way too literal in her inspirational "life lessons." The free-spirited and generous grand-mother dominated the book, even in death, but the author didn't trust her readers enough to let them use their intellect and imagination to fill in a few blanks. I am not speaking about plot details, or clarification of relationships, but the life-lessons and "coaching" aspects of the book were way too heavy-handed for me. As was the pervasive grief of the protagonist.

I found the book interesting, and the story engaging, but I wanted more from it than Ms. Slee was able to deliver.

Netgalley provided me a complimentary copy of this book in return for a candid review.

A sweet and heartfelt novel, The Book of Second Chances is a good addition to collections where women's fiction is especially popular.

I fell in love with the cover of this book before I even read the book. Though I feel like I was let down a bit because I found this book so hard to read. It took me almost 2 weeks to fully read it. It wasn't boring or anything it just was so difficult to push through. It was a little P.S. I love you esque but with a grandma instead of a significant other. I feel that though the grandmothers intentions were good that she kind of forced her granddaughter to be uncomfortable on purpose, which didn't sit well with me at times. Overall the book was written ok. The story line felt a little regurgitated unfortunately and overall it just wasn't my type of read. It is ok it happens sometimes. I would like to read something else by this author though because her use of quotes to relate to things was awesome.

I absolutely loved this book and everything it entailed. As journey to find yourself even though Emily was really just trying to follow what her grandmother had told her. It was incredible to face this life of love and loss with her and I can't wait to see it come to life with others reading it with me when it is published!

After reading the summary, I was immediately intrigued. I adored my grandmothers who have passed away and felt this book was perfect for me. Despite the grief, Emily is feeling over the loss of her own grandmother, she is tasked with a scavenger hunt. The prize? Inheritance... but along the way, she learns so much more...

Although it took me far too long to get into this book, it was a sweet story that left my heart feeling full. I wish I was able to say that I couldn't put it down, but that wasn't the case. Potentially, my current state of mind with the current affairs of the world played a part in all of this, but we will never know.

I recommend picking it up and giving it a shot!

I was excited to read this book because the cover and the premise intrigued me. However, I was unable to connect with the storyline and ultimately did not finish this book.

#TheBookofSecondChances #NetGalley
Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review The Book of Second Chances.

I really enjoyed this adventurous journey of The Book of Second Chances- it was a great escape while on coronavirus lockdown and unable to go anywhere!!! The pace was relatively slow, but I found the author's voice to be very pleasant and thoughtful. And I am a sucker for grandmother/granddaughter stories as I was raised by my grandmother.

Honestly, this book wasn't for me. It had a great premise, but the pacing was so slow. I found Emily to be really compelling and her grandmother was a mystery in the best way.
Overall, this is a classic journey book, but felt like I'd read this story before.

Struggled to get into this one it was very fragmented and disjointed. I don’t really know what else to say.......................

This book wasn’t for me!
I adored the cover and the premise of the plot but Emily I didn’t connect to and I didn’t like her.
I started skimming the book around page 80.

Thanks to Netgalley for my advanced ebook copy.

All of Emily Davenport’s self worth has been wrapped up in taking care of her grandmother, a best selling children’s author. After her death, Emily is left feeling adrift and without a purpose. But then she discovers her grandmother may have left one unpublished manuscript hidden somewhere. All Emily has to do is find it, and the search takes her around the world,. In the end, Emily finds something much more important, a sense of self and a new direction. This is a sweet story about stepping out of your comfort zone and daring to be brave

Last year I got this book with different title called “for Emily” and I didn’t finish it because of connectivity issues with Emily (yes, the heroine irritated me much!) And a year later, after reading a few sentences of the blurb and being mesmerized by its amazing cover and meaningful name, I requested it.

And here is my dilemma: when I request a book, I take my responsibility seriously and I finish it even though I get bored, I get sick of the characters and I take so many naps and breaks during my frustrated and suffocated reading. I’m a mission woman. So I thought, maybe the first time I wasn’t in my mood and I acted unfair about my feelings. A book about grief and self-discovery, second chances always picks my interest. Why don’t I give this book second chance as like its new name! Right? So’ let’s jump in! At least it gives us amazing opportunity to have a virtual tour in Europe during our reading.

Let’s take a closer look to the blurb: Emily suffers from the death of her grandmother, following the clues and reading her dairy pages which takes her a tour around Europe and helps her discover things about both her grandmother and herself. She learns how to open her heart to the life’s brand new possibilities and happiness.

As you may see the book has promising premise but at my second reading (this time I swear I read the entire book!) I feel same about annoying and dislikable heroine. I couldn’t relate with her and care about her grief, her pain and inner journey which failed me a lot and lose my connection with the story.

It’s still emotional, heartfelt, poignant story and I am sure with better heroine it would be four to five starred reading for me. But this time I’ll stick with my let’s in the middle, and give Switzerland points which means feel-good, European three stars.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central) for sharing this emotional ARC in exchange my honest review.