This ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.


What a promising start to what I assumed was going to be such a cute read. However this book was just ok for me. Our leading lady Thea is a mature 40 something who starts her life over after losing her job and her husband and inherits a quaint lodge in Scotland (uh yea please!) She strikes up this friendship and slow burn romance with the Lord of the lands brother Edward, who are apparently on the outs because of some adolescent grudge (seriously). I don’t know, this book just didn’t do it for me. While I’m a sucker for a slow burn romance, this one just didn’t do it for me, there was no real chemistry between Edward and Thea and I’m supposed to believe that grumpy old Edward is only sweet and cute with Thea for no reason at all? Meh, this was an average read, I feel like there was so much promise here (I mean who doesn’t love a Scottish romance?? Yes please!) but it just felt lacking. Still a sweet story of starting over and finding yourself.

After making it 25% through this book I decided to DNF, I was bored and felt like I wasn't that into the story line

Who doesn’t love a book set in a small town bookshop and library!?! Then, add some romance and you have a wonderful and cozy story in Jackie Fraser’s debut, The Bookshop of Second Chances.

This was a beautiful and lovely slow-paced, mid-life romance about a woman who’s whole life is turned upside down when she loses her job and her husband leaves her for one of her so-called friends, all in the span of a month. Luckily, Thea’s just inherited a cottage in a small town in Scotland, so she decides to spend some time up there while reconfiguring her life, picking up a job at the town’s bookstore and befriending the owner, Edward--a grumpy man with very modern Mr. Darcy vibes. The more time Thea spends in this town, and around Edward, the more she realizes that maybe her heart has room for a new love this late in her life.

Although this is more of a character story, following Thea as she takes on her new-normal, there’s plenty of cutesy and bookish romance and quirky dialogue that’ll make you laugh out loud and grin with pride for the characters.

I just reviewed The Bookshop of Second Chances by Jackie Fraser.
And honestly, you’ve read this book before. But Fans of Evie Drake Starts Over, Much Ado About You, and Olivia Holms Inherits a Vineyard will
love this light, fun, and lovable read.

~Main character is going through hard time. ✔️
~Main character finds out they inherited property from a long lost relative ✔️
~Main character leaves there Mundane life thinking they will go temporarily and then sell after affairs are all in order✔️
~Main Charcter meets most handsome man they have ever seen but only wants to be friends ✔️
~ He is also troubled so a major dramatic scene is going to unfold in the last 3/4 of the book.

And then you know how this story goes. I mean it sort of felt like a Hallmark Movie.
With that being said, it was still a cute read. I enjoyed the small town community. The banter between Thea and Edward was so fun, I mean why can’t we all have a dashing, dark, dark, and sexy Edward to banter with. .I loved the witty comebacks and sassy remarks that they threw at each other.
Quick easy read is perfect for the summer sunny days ahead.

THE BOOKSHOP OF SECOND CHANCES by Jackie Fraser was an enjoyable, character-driven novel of starting over and, of course, second chances. I loved reading a story with a more mature main character, and Thea was wonderful. After being hit with some bad luck, she’s due for something good to happen and give her a chance to change directions. I loved that Thea had a big heart, wasn’t afraid to speak her mind (that took time) or find a new direction that fit her and her interests. It definitely helped that she was able to go to a whole new area with an inheritance that gave her time to heal.
I enjoyed this book immensely. It was just what I needed to read. I was able to immerse myself in a quaint small-town in Scotland with flawed, real characters. I loved how Fraser developed Thea’s character as she worked through her emotions and how they weren’t glossed over. Her confidence took a beating, and it took time to get through it. Edward was an interesting character, and I enjoyed how Thea was able to get past his grumpiness and find a friendship that grew deeper, while convincing him that she could help in his bookshop.
I wish I could inherit a house in rural Scotland and work in a bookstore full of old books. It sounds like a dream come true for a bookworm. In the meantime, find your favorite reading spot, curl up, and enjoy.
Thank you to the publisher for an advanced reader’s copy of this novel. All opinions are my own and freely given.
#TheBookshopofSecondChances #JackieFraser #BallantineBooks #RandomHousePublishingGroup

The Bookshop of Second Chances by Jackie Fraser was a cozy, fun book! It started out darker then I was expecting, with our main character Thea learning her husband has been having an affair with her friend and tells her he's leaving her, but keeping their house. Thea learns her uncle left her a house in a cute Scottish village and the story unfolds from here. I loved seeing Thea build a life in a charming village!

Oh my goodness, I loved this book! To be honest, a synopsis doesn't do it justice, because the interactions between Thea and Edward are what make this book such a gem. But here's a go.

In a short period of time, Thea loses her job, discovers her husband is having an affair with her friend, and learns her great-uncle has died. However, the blow from the last loss is softened by the fact he left her his house and valuable rare book collection. At loose ends, unemployed and living in the dreary apartment she rented when her husband insisted on staying in their house, Thea travels to the small town on the Scottish coast to survey her inheritance.

What she planned as a two-week trip stretches to weeks, then months, and she convinces Edward, the rare books dealer and professed misanthrope, to hire her to work in his bookshop, despite his "no girls" policy. Edward is laughably curmudgeonly, yet strangely irresistible, as every single girlfriend and wife of his estranged brother, Lord Charles, can attest.

THE BOOKSHOP OF SECOND CHANCES was such a fun read, I didn't want it to end. And what could be better than a Scottish coastal setting, rare bookshop, and post-40 romance? #TheBookshopOfSecondChances #NetGalley

Thanks for the ARC of The Bookshop of Second Chances!

Thea has discovered her husband has been cheating on her. Her 40s seems like a hard time to start over, especially when she didn’t see it coming. She has to move out so her friend, the mistress, can move in with her husband. But as luck would have it she inherits a home from her Uncle Andrew at the same time. She leaves her sad flat and misery to go see what it is she inherited.

The house is quaint and lovely but used to belong to a prestigious family who would very much like it back. It is also filled with a hefty collection of expensive books. She heads to town to meet with the bookseller to see if she can’t sell some of the stash. Its then she meets the grumpy shop owner, Edward. Not long after she talks Edward into letting her work in the bookshop. She ends up deciding to stay in the house for a while and works for Edward. Most of the town can’t stand him and it’s his brother who wants her property back.

We follow Thea on a journey of self discovery. She tries to figure out what life looks like after divorce. What is it like to make friends, be yourself, figure out who you are. Thea & Edward develop a relationship filled with banter and an understanding of one another. Is Thea ready for more than friendship? Could she start over in this town and stay forever? Can Edward get past his grumpy ways and be capable of real human love?

This story was sweet. It had a very slow build and lots of detail. I would have preferred Edward to be built up a little differently to the reader. I was shocked when he became of interest to Thea as I had envisioned him a miserable, gross man. He did have some charm but I had written him off early on (as I thought Thea did.) It was beautiful to see the characters be so true to themselves that they could get past all the things that had broken them. Fraser is a wonderful storyteller. I loved all the English/British wording that I had to figure out!

What a charming and delightful book. I absolutely adored it. Loved the friendship that developed between Thea and grumpy bookstore owner Edward. I liked how she did not take any crap from him. There was good character development, and a great plot, and even though it did get a bit slow in the middle, I did like the slow-burn romance part of it. Would these two really become romantically involved? It was just the kind of read I needed and was quite satisfied with the ending. A beautiful setting that made me want to be there. This was a wonderful and very enjoyable book.

Thank you to Ballentine Books and NetGalley for the review copy.

I loved everything about this charming book set in a small Scottish village amid a adorable bookshop with a smart main charcter starting her life over. It is a wonderful read that I highly recommend. Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity. My review opinion is my own.

Thea i liked right away as a middle aged woman brave enough to start her life over after her husband of 19 years leaves her for one of her friends and she loses her job. ( Thank you to the author for portraying a real woman!). Both on Valentines Day. Thea is a bright intelligent person who does not suffer fools. She is determined to start her life over. When a relative leaves her a cottage and his antiquarian book collection in Scotland she does not hesitate . Once she arrives she finds a charming cottage in need of work and a wonderful collection of books she hopes to sell to the local bookseller. The bookseller is a local curmudgeon who does not want her books but she is determined to sell these books so she can support herself while she settles into her new life.

I loved this story . It swept me away to Scotland and the world of antiquarian books. I highly recommend this book to take you away to a pleasant world that you will love being a part off. Very well done to the author.

The Bookshop of Second Chances, by Jackie Fraiser, is a heartwarming romance, set in rural Scotland. The characters are mature adults and lovers of books. While this one did not have me burning the midnight oil, I did enjoy it.

This was a sweet, cozy story.

I love books set in Scotland/bookstores and this had that. It also was a story about finding yourself after everything in life changing.

Just super pleasant

Overall this was a cute, light read, but I can’t help but compare it to other similar books like “The Flatshare,” and for that reason the rating isn’t as high for me. I enjoyed Thea and Edward as characters, and I actually REALLY loved hearing about the vintage book collections. But, I had a hard time getting really invested in their romance. There were parts where I wanted to shake them and say “SPIT IT OUT!” when they were talking with each other. I also wanted there to be a bit more drama! This book is pretty long, and for light, romance type reads I prefer them to be around 300ish pages, or I tend to lose interest.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

I usually love books about bookshops. Veronica Henry's How to Find Love in a Bookshop is one of my favorite books. Unfortunately, I didn't feel the same way about Jackie Fraser's The Bookshop of Second Chances.

Thea Mottram's husband has just left her -- for her friend (ouch!). Conveniently, she learns that her great uncle has passed away and willed her his home in Scotland. Trying to pick up the pieces of her life, Thea decides to escape there and immediately loves it. She gets a job in the town bookshop, which is owned by grumpy Edward Maltravers, who is also in the middle of a long-standing feud with his brother, Charles.

As I tried to assess why I didn't love this book, I came up with a few main reasons. 1. The characters are unlikeable. Edward even tells Thea that he usually doesn't hire women. 2. Some of the plot points are not believeable. For example, Edward's feud with Charles is from something that happened when they were teenagers. Decades later, Edward continues to get revenge on Charles in an egregious way (there's that unlikeable thing again). 3. There are pages and pages and pages of dialogue. Everything gets spelled out to the reader instead of letting us discover things on our own.

But what I really didn't like in this book is that the bookshop isn't really part of the story. Yes, Thea and Edward work there so there are a few scenes there. But more action takes place in Edward's upstairs flat that in the bookshop itself. I just didn't get that cozy feeling that I usually get from these types of books. So if you like bookshop books, you may be disappointed in this one.

MY RATING - 2

I really enjoyed this book! This was a very charming, middle-age romance set in a lovely Scottish backdrop and with a bookstore at the center - what's not to love? The main character is charming, always says what everyone else is thinking, and the book had a great cast of supporting characters. Recommend for anyone who dreams about working in a bookshop and finding love.

What do you do when you find yourself laid off from your job? And, right after that happens, you discover your husband of 20 years is having an affair with your best friend.
Thea is trying to cope with everything she’s been dealt with when out of the blue she is told she has inherited a house in Scotland from a Uncle she barely knew. The house also includes a rare book collection.
The storyline was good with a fairytale aspect.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Ballantine Books and author, Jackie Fraser, for the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed are my own.

The story begins with the finding out her husband has been involved in an affair with her friend, losing the house to them, and then losing her job. Things are definitely not going well for her. Then her great uncle from Scotland dies and leaves her his home.. she decides now is as good time as any to start over and moves into the home.
She meets the Maltraver brothers and what follows is a slow burning story of second chances

This is light bit of "chick-lit". I am not normally a fan of this type of book, but was wanting something escapist and easy-going after a series of tougher, grittier reads, so thought I would give it a go. It was easy enough to read, but I didn't find the characters all that compelling or engaging, and the plot felt overly convenient and overly simplified. I realize that is, at least in part, the point - comfort in familiarity and all that - but it just didn't really grab me.

The Bookshop of Second Chances by Jackie Fraser is a delightful read. It has so many elements that worked for me: a heroine who is over forty, a setting of a small Scottish village and a bookshop, lots of humor, and a sweet romance. Reading this book was pure enjoyment. I lovingly call this genre "British chick-lit" and this book reminded me why I love it so much. If you are looking for an escapist read and heartwarming romance with a grumpy hero, I highly recommend The Bookshop of Second Chances!

This little boom surprised me! I found the story endearing, the characters likable, and while the trope is a popular one, the author kept my interest.

Jackie Fraser capitalized on a woman down. Thea’s life is falling apart. She’s just lost her job, her husband is leaving her for one of her friends, and she’s just not sure what to do about it.

When a letter arrives in the mail, Thea has a choice to make; she can set off on a new adventure or mellow in the current state of her affairs.

Thea’s decision turns out to be a second chance at everything- a career, life and love.