It was sweet romantic novel set in Scotland, and I love that it was set (semi) in a bookshop! I enjoyed it but will say that it would have benefitted the author and the reader to have a book that was about 200 pages shorter.

Heart warming Atmosphere
Enjoyed ever minute of this story. There is something about a bookshop setting that adds so much to a story. It's like a character on its own. I loved the MC's!

The Bookshop of Second Chances by Jackie Fraser is a perfect fit for readers who adore heartwarming, slow-paced romances that explore themes of new beginnings, self-discovery, and the transformative power of love, set against the charming backdrop of a quaint Scottish coastal town and a cozy bookshop.

I had a really good time with this book! I borrowed the audiobook from my library to use along with the ebook and it was a good experience to be able to switch back and forth between the two. The narrator was a really good fit for the story.

I read a lot of fantasy books with young protagonists so having a character in her fourties with her live falling apart felt really refreshing. That was of course sucky for her but what a dream to live vicariously through someone else to move to a small town in Scotland and fall in love with the owner of a bookshop!

I enjoyed the dynamic between the fMC and her acquaintance-boss-lover really fun to follow from the start! I love how she handled his grumpiness and how she showed his appreciation in small ways. And I was just as fascinated with his mess of a love life as she was!

This is a relatively slow and meandering book but it worked perfectly for this story. I loved the comeuppance at the end for her ex and the way some other stuff was handled at the end. Her love interest did turn very sappy, though adorable, at the end and I sometimes thought there was too much inner monologuing going on but overall, I really enjoyed this story and am glad I finally got to it.

I got an ARC for this back before publication, but couldn’t get into it, now I saw the audiobook on my library and decided to borrow it, it was ok, Thea was quite likable and easy to relate to, and we don’t see many over 40 ladies being the FMC, but I couldn’t stand Edward, he was such a terrible person and for what? Something that happened 30 years ago and didn’t deal with, oof, but overall it was a cute read and the narrator was amazing.

Scotland is next up for my travel bucket list so of course I wanted to read a book set in Scotland that takes place above and in a bookstore!! I loved the characters and my trip to the beach. This is definitely a romance for book lovers though a bit on the slow side, especially the end bit.

Thea Mottram is having a bad month. She’s been let go from her office job with no notice—and to make matters even worse, her husband of nearly twenty years has decided to leave her for one of her friends. Bewildered and completely lost, Thea doesn’t know what to do. But when she learns that a distant great uncle in Scotland has passed away, leaving her his home and a hefty antique book collection, she decides to leave Sussex for a few weeks. Escaping to a small coastal town where no one knows her seems to be exactly what she needs.

Almost instantly, Thea becomes enamored with the quaint cottage, comforted by its cozy rooms and lovely but neglected garden. The locals in nearby Baldochrie are just as warm, quirky, and inviting. The only person she can’t seem to win over is bookshop owner Edward Maltravers, to whom she hopes to sell her uncle’s book collection. His gruff attitude—fueled by an infamous, long-standing feud with his brother, a local lord—tests Thea’s patience. But bickering with Edward proves oddly refreshing and exciting, leading Thea to develop feelings she hasn’t experienced in a long time. As she follows a thrilling yet terrifying impulse to stay in Scotland indefinitely, Thea realizes that her new life may quickly become just as complicated as the one she

I loved the setting of this book and the cast of charming characters! I grew to love them and became interested in seeing them succeed. The book felt a little cliche for my liking and the romance did not make me feel anything. I would have liked for it to feel a little more real between the characters. Overall it was a quick and fun read.

"The Bookshop of Second Chances" by Jackie Fraser is like a cozy blanket on a rainy day – comforting, heartwarming, and just what you need to lift your spirits. Fraser’s tale, set in a quaint Scottish town, is a delightful read that offers a mix of romance, self-discovery, and the magic of books. The characters are wonderfully flawed and relatable, and the Scottish backdrop adds a charming touch. I'm giving it a well-deserved 4 stars because, while it's not groundbreaking, it's the kind of book you recommend to a friend who needs a pick-me-up. Perfect for those who love a good book about books, second chances, and finding love where you least expect it!

Very well written book. Really enjoyed this author, would definitely read more by this author and recommend on my book IG

I love books about books and book lovers. This combined with the older protagonist in a romance set in a rural countryside - this was the perfect comfy, cozy vibes.

This was such a cozy, fun, romantic story—I loved the community, cast of characters, and witty voice. A delightful romance!

This book has the whole grumpy/sunshine vibe going on. That said, the plot just fell a bit flat to me. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't super memorable either. Cheating is a major part of the plot, which I didn't love. I also felt that the FMC's reaction, given her current situation, just didn't make sense. Mild spice.

Overall, I'd rate it 3 stars.

🧚🏻Thank you to NetGalley, Ballantine Books, and author Jackie Fraser for originally presenting me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

DNF at 18%. Just could not get into the storyline, I was super bored unfortunately. I did like that the FMC was in her 40’s and I loved the bookstore. But, I just couldn’t get into the story.

What an adorable cover!! I definitely judged this one by the cover and I'm glad I did. I thought it was a fresh plot focusing on older characters. The first half of this book was slow for me, but I adored the second half!

I absolutely adored this book. The dynamic between Thea and Edward was hilarious, but also so sweet and cute. I enjoyed watching them fall for each other, while also learning about themselves and what they want. The cast of characters that surrounded them made the story that much funnier and more realistic. I identified with Thea so much more than I thought I would! And the story revolves around books and a bookstore--what could be bad about that??

This was a delightful read. Anything with a bookstore and falling in love get a big thumbs up! I enjoyed the book and thank you for the opportunity to read.

Any time I see “Bookshop” in the title, the book quickly becomes a must read for me and I feel confident it will be worthwhile. Filled with compassion for Thea I cheered her resilience and vicariously traveled to Scotland with her. The author’s delightfully detailed settings in the cottage, the town of Baldrochie and the bookshop made it easy to disappear into. Which is the next best thing to booking a flight to Scotland myself. I enjoyed this and am curious to read her other book, The Beginning of Everything, as well.

I wanted to love this one - I mean hello, that cute cover and a bookstore in Scotland, count me in! I felt like if you read the synopsis you read the book - very one dimensional and not a lot to it!

3.5 stars for this cute, re-birth story of a woman who heads to the Scottish coast to start over. This book would be great for readers who are trying to figure out where they're at in life and needing some reassurance that life all works out okay.