Recently separated Thea inherits a great uncle's cottage; the nearby property owner would love to purchase this property. Said property owner is at odds with his brother. Thea decides to stay in the cottage a bit longer than intended (why go home to the small town where her best friend is now living with her husband?). Thea finds a job at the brothers bookshop. You can probably see where all this is going ...

I was looking for a nice little romance and this was perfect; although at 448 pages its a little long for a "little" romance.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher (Ballantine Books) and the author Jackie Fraser for the opportunity to read The Bookshop of Second Chances in exchange for an honest review. Publication date is 4 May 2021.

Thanks to #NetGalley @RandomHouse Publishing for a complimentary eARC upon my request. All opinions are my own. Pub Date: 4/4/2021.

What worked:
* a Scottish bookshop setting
* coastal Scotland
* older characters (40s) romance
* a quirky, curmudgeonly character
* rebuilding your life theme
* slow burn romance
* friendship theme

What I wished:
* I wished for less profanity (using Christ, Jesus Christ as swear words is especially offensive and affected my rating)
* I wished the story hadn't included casual drug use
* I wished for snappier writing and wittier banter
* I wished for a more admirable male character (carrying a teenage grudge into your 40s seemed immature; the revenge sex was cringy; curmudgeonly is not a deal killer but we need to see more of his potential underneath his gruff exterior)
* I wished for more chemistry between the main characters (this puts "fun" into the romance trope)
* I needed to understand why Thea would be attracted to Edward given his many issues/behaviors and her past experience with her husband's infidelity...the love story was less than believable...can she really trust him? I wasn't sold on the success of their relationship.

I think I expected something lighter (based on the blurb). I'm somewhat of an outlier in my opinions....please check other reviews.

Review published to Goodreads and will be published on Instagram on or near pub day.

Thanks to @netgalley and @randomhouse for providing me with a eARC. Ugh, I so into my thoughts. I had high hopes for this one since it was also about books but it was sadly a huge let down. I found myself skimming the last part of the book. I was hoping for a fun and feel good book about books but instead I found myself constantly frustrated.
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Based in the UK Thea finds herself lost. Her husband not only leaves her but cheated on her with her own friend (not a spoiler since it’s in the synopsis). Jerk face. But then she finds out that a distant uncle has left her his house and some money in Scotland. So of course she goes! There she meets Edward who also owns a bookstore.
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Things I liked: that the main characters are older (over 40), books books books, bookshop, how Thea was going through her emotions. I felt they were real, grumpy hero
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Things I didn’t like: how slow it was, the hero (I liked his grumpiness but couldn’t get over his crappy past actions)
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I ultimately couldn’t get over some of the actions that some of the characters did in the past. It overshadowed everything else for me. Obviously characters have flaws and I’m ok with that, but in this case it was something I couldn’t really get over and made it hard to even be invested. With that being said I would definitely want to go to Scotland and visit the bookshop. This is one book I would have preferred to have no romance and just should have focused on Thea and her journey in her new life in Scotland. It didn’t work for me but it might work for you!

This one had me staying up late to finish--it wasn't the most compelling plot but I loved the characters and wanted them to find their happy ending. It's a typical romance, but the main characters are in their mid-forties and have mostly given up on love when they become good friends working in a bookshop together. Not much happens, but it's delightful and thoughtful. About halfway through the book the swearing and crass chatting got too much for me, which was disappointing. It simmered down a bit, but I could have used a lighter touch throughout the book.

I loved The Bookshop of Second Chances. First, I loved the setting. Scotland is on my bucket list. Second, I absolutely loved Thea. She is my kind of woman! Says it like she sees it and doesn’t apologize for being brutally honest. Plus she made me laugh. I also loved that she wasn’t a 20 something blond bombshell. She was an every day woman making the best of a bad situation. Edward and Charles never knew what was going to come out of her mouth. I would gladly read anything with Thea as the lead character!

The story begins with Thea having a tough time – her husband is having an affair with her friend and they live in what had been her house and she lost her job. Then she receives word that her great uncle passed away and left her his house in Scotland and now is as good a time as any to get away to a new place and figure out what to do with her life.

I loved meeting all of the characters in this small, charming village and the gossip that travels quickly. She meets the two Maltravers brothers – Charles who has a title of Lord and the other, Edward, owns a bookshop that mostly handles old books and some very valuable ones also. Her uncle Andrew had a vast and valuable library, so she contacts Edward to discuss selling the books. He’s well known for being quite cranky but it’s funny how Thea doesn’t let that bother her. She says what’s on her mind and, at times, you see just a flicker of how much Edward enjoys their interactions.

The longer she stays, the more she enjoys the house, the village and then starts working at Edwards bookshop and bringing new ideas for sales. Since I’m such an avid reader, I loved reading about the enormous home library full of books plus the bookshop and Thea and Edwards discussions about authors and stories.

The story was somewhat slow but in a charming meandering sort of way. I love the descriptions of the old homes, the landscape, the various towns and villages and the various side characters. If I ever get to travel again, Scotland is on my list and would love to visit such a place.

Thea is forty-four so I enjoyed reading about an older character and we need more stories of those in their 40s and older. I also enjoyed reading about the various character flaws and that nothing was magically fixed for anyone, no matter their age. The story includes a range of emotions for Thea from sad and humiliated, to somewhat content, along with some angst, some laugh-out-loud moments and happiness.

Closer to the end of the story, Thea had a thought that truly resonated with me. She realized that she wanted to have her own home, be independent and have control over her life. After many years of insecurity and then a divorce, this is exactly how I felt and feel. I don’t want my finances, medical insurance and other things to be decided upon by someone else.

I love epilogues and while this one didn’t have one, it had a sweet and a happy-for-now ending.

Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for providing this new book to read. I look forward to more of Ms. Fraser’s work.

Jackie Fraser is getting off to a wonderful start with her debut novel about a woman who needs a fresh start in life. Thea has recently lost her job and her husband has left her for one of her best friends.

Feeling down and out, Thea opens some mail one day and has a letter from an attorney. Evidently an uncle in Scotland has recently died and left everything to her. Naturally, Thea must go visit and see for herself the lodge she has inherited.

Steeped in local family history, Thea’s trip to Scotland draws her closer to the family she never knew. Thea also finds a sense of family in the small village. She ends up getting a job at the local bookstore and romance has a way of creeping into her life unexpectedly.

This was a quick and enjoyable read. I could not help but want to go stay with Thea in her lodge and patronize the shops and pubs in thee village.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for allowing me to read an advance copy. Im happy to offer my honest review.

A bookshop in Scotland named Fortescue is the backdrop for this new novel by Jackie Fraser. Owner Edward Maltravers is tall, dark, and handsome and has a Mr. Darcy vibe. Despite the fact that grumpy Edward does not welcome Thea to the community with open arms, she still offers to fill in at the bookshop. It is a surprisingly good fit for Thea and the two find their skills complement each other and the shop flourishes. Although the Maltravers are in a posh set, the language in this book is rather coarse. There is lots of talk about books and the actual work of running a store, but what books are they reading? I wanted more actual book talk, I think. This somewhat reminds me of 'Much Ado About You' by Samantha Young which I did not love either. I keep looking for a book like 'How To Find Love In a Bookshop' by Veronica Henry. For those who love a remote setting, also try 'The Library at the Edge of the World' (set in Ireland) by Felicity Hayes-McCoy. If you like historical fiction and a bookshop setting, you simply must read 'The Last Bookshop In London' by Madeline Martin.

Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

The Bookshop of Second Chances starts with the elements of a psychological thriller: woman deserted by her husband, inheriting a lodge in a distant part of Scotland, a mysterious death of her great uncle’s daughter, and two feuding brothers. However, it turns into a sort-of romance. The trouble is Edward is not really appealing. Romance writers know that if you have an outwardly appearing jerk of a hero you have to get into his head to show why he is like that and how he can be saved. Jackie Fraser doesn’t do this and the book suffers from it. I found myself saying at the end “Thea, don’t trust that he will change!” I also found it unlikely that Thea would go from the push-over wife she was at the beginning to the straight-talking, abrasive woman six months later. The transition was too fast. Saying all this, I did finish the book so the book was written to keep me reading.

What a great book! This book started off slow for me. I went in expecting a lighthearted, romcom without much depth. I surprisingly got more from this book and I am so happy I did!

It took awhile to grab my attention, but approximately 30% into the book the storyline quickly became interesting to where I didn't want to put it down! And I became okay with the slow pace at the beginning, because, honestly, I feel it provided the book with layers and made me enjoy the characters even more!

I loved Thea, the protagonist of this story. She was such a likeable character! She's sensible, straightforward, and blunt, which are qualities I admire. Initially, I struggled with the mature way she handled her friends still spending time with her ex and her lack of being upset with certain situations. Although very admirable of her to be the bigger person, it just didn't seem realistic to me at first. However, I believe it helped the book stay positive overall and I can appreciate that! The author does a great job of showing Thea's vulnerable side and making her experiences and reactions seem very believable by the end of the story.

Overall, I would read other books by this author in a heartbeat and believe it would be a perfect choice for a book club.

***Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me an advanced copy of this book!

Any book with the word Bookshop in the title peaks my interest, and I'm so glad I picked this one up. What a sweet and enjoyable romance! Set mainly in Scotland, Thea has just split from her husband of many years after finding out he's been having an affair with her friend for years. A great uncle she didnt know too well passes and leaves her his home and money as she's his last living relative. She quickly leaves her home in Sussex and travels to Scotland.to sort it out. While she only intended to stay a few weeks, she ends up enjoying herself so much she stays on. She gets a job with Edward, the owner of an antique bookshop. Its interesting that she's even hired as Edwards first rule of business is No Girls. We watch Thea fall in love with the town and Edward while mending the parts of them both that need healed along the way.

Though things are getting better, were still not close to international travel for pleasure anytime soon, so reading books set in places vastly different than mine is such a fun way to "see" other places at the moment. The author does such a good job of describing the area, the shop, the land, etc you can truly see where this is happening. The characters are also so well rounded and described its easy to feel involved in their story and truly root for their HEA. One of the best parts is Thea is middle aged, and truly acts like it. She doesn't try to be anyone but who she is and accepts she may not be a perfect twenty year old anymore. However, she still has so much to offer and is worthy of love. She doesn't accept less than she's worth and she is.only with Edward because he respects her as he should and treats her with kindness and respect. Its refreshing to see a strong, smart, and independent woman who is with a man because he adds to her life and not because she's desperate and takes the first thing that comes along.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you Ballantine Books, Jackie Fraser, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

4.5 stars – Rounded

Let me start by saying – set a story in a bookshop or with books (or authors) as a main feature and I’m instantly going to grab it. No matter what. But here we get so much more – when we meet Thea she’s reeling from unexpected news and her separation – and not one of the world’s most high-maintenance women. When she discovers her husband’s infidelity with a former best friend –her world is shattered and like most people, she turned the grief and ‘what if” questions onto herself. An unexpected inheritance allows her the opportunity to get away (for a fortnight she thinks) to a small Scottish town to see a cottage, clear it out and decide to sell or lease. Arriving to meet the solicitor and friend of her late great uncle, she realizes that he (like she) was a fan of books – his collection is wonderful and full of joys. But Thea isn’t sure that she wants to tote it home, not knowing what the value is – and needs someone who does.

Enter Edward, eldest son who renounced the inheritance in favor of his younger brother Charles – and has a small, rare books business in town. His brother Charles, meanwhile, is the owner of the “big house’, of which Thea’s new cottage was a part. Charles and Edward are two sides of a coin: Charles is polished, handsome and charming – perhaps too much so. Edward is also handsome and polished – in ways – but far less ‘people friendly’ and growls like a hungry bear. When Thea decides that the change of her venue – where no one knows her story – is just what she needs – the story heats up. She’s far too busy deciding on new changes for the cottage, learning where she is, and convincing Edward to hire her as a shop assistant to spend all her time fretting over her lost 20-year marriage. And, unsurprisingly, Thea has the ability (and wit) to counter the excesses of Edward’s “I’m a massive grumpy bear” attitude. In fact, Thea’s humor and determination to make the changes she wants instead of those she knows will help other’s days is refreshing. And she’s hit that point – you know the one – where you are too tired of the BS and ready to just make a move FOR yourself.

Of course, there’s a spark between Charles and Thea – but his history (and what a convoluted story that is) and his feud with his brother are obstacles: even as Thea decides that she’ll step up and provide a way to reconciliation, if not fully than one that will allow them to be in the same place at the same time without drama. I loved the way that Fraser built the characters and took steps toward a relationship with Thea and Edward, and her own ‘strictly middle class suspicious of the titled’ people held Edward accountable for his behavior – and her ability to censure his worst impulses in the main. And Thea is lovely and engaging – a bit older, much wiser and still quite funny with all of the quirks and worries we all have at different times – and her determination to just move forward to whatever is next. Clever, fun, engaging and with enough drama and comedic value to make it interesting – the dash of books, the solid sense of place and a few ‘locals’ with their own opinions on everyone and everything combine with Thea’s kindnesses, her strength and her curiosity to make the story sing. I can’t wait for more from this author.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at <a href=” https://wp.me/p3OmRo-aTF /” > <a> I am, Indeed </a>

3.5 stars rounded up for this charming debut

The first half of the book went slowly for me. I don’t think it’s fair to say it’s slow-paced, but I kept picking it up and reading 3 pages before falling asleep (that’s on me). So it felt like it took a loooong time to get through the first half. By about 40% in, I was really invested! I think I’ve seen this categorized as a romance, but I’d consider it more contemporary fiction with a second chance trope (which fans of this subgenre know almost always includes romance for some reason).

The setting is one of the best parts of reading BoSC! It takes place in a small Scottish village that is charming and quaint and gives off major cozy/fireside vibes. Despite this idyllic setting, the setting feels real, due in large part to the varied cast of characters. The village has more than just your requisite curmudgeon, doting grandmother figures, and charming bachelors. It’s got modern, flawed, relatable characters. Even the minor characters are interesting (and could do with a spin off, cough cough).

Speaking of characters, the protagonist, Thea, is sooo the person I want to be. Even when terrible things happen to her, she keeps her head on straight and doesn’t get worked up. She’s calm and collected, even when frustrated. Not in an apathetic way, just a woman who knows her worth and realizes there’s no use falling apart over things you can’t change.

Overall, I really enjoyed the book. After I finished reading, it occurred to me how wonderful it is to imagine that even the worst of life events can lead to a second chance, a new life full of happiness that makes the bad worth it.

Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the copy in exchange for my honest review.

This book was the cutest, coziest read - and was exactly what I needed at this moment. THE BOOKSHOP OF SECOND CHANCES by Jackie Fraser follows Thea, who suddenly inherits a house from her great uncle - and it came at the perfect time, just after learning her husband of 20 years was cheating on her and leaving her for one of her good friends. So, Thea packs up and sets off, determined to clean out the house and put it up for sale. However, once she arrives in this small, coastal town, she meets a zany cast of characters, learns to love the quiet countryside, and eventually gets a small job at the local bookshop, where she reports to a surly, grumpy man named Edward.

Part-romance, part-family drama, and part-reflection on what Thea wants out of her shifting life, this was just a solid read that had me forgetting the clock and just getting lost in some good pages. It was definitely a slower book than I normally reach for - but, like I said, exactly what I needed right now - just a sweet story to get lost in.

The paperback edition of THE BOOKSHOP OF SECOND CHANCES will be out on May 4th! Thank you to @netgalley and @penguinrandomhouse - Ballantine for the chance to read and review and eARC!

Have you read a good, cozy book lately?

CW // infidelity; family arguments; physical altercations

Overall, this was a nice, feel good book. However, it started off really slow for me and I almost stopped reading it. I do want to mention that romance isn't my typical go to genre so that may have been a reason I  couldn't get into it right away. I did enjoy the main characters though. I enjoyed hearing how Thea tried to make a live for herself, away from everything she knew. I also liked Edward and love that he owned a Bookshop. I didn't really feel the chemistry between Thea and Edward though but again, that may be bacause I'm not a typical romance reader. I did enjoy how the story went and the ended was nice. The story overall was enjoyable once I got into it and it made me smile throughout too. A nice, feel good read if this is your go to genre.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Harlequin Junkie Recommended Read

Broken yet crazily serene, Thea returns to her home to pack up her stuff and put to bed her marriage of 20 years after she discovers her husband has been cheating on her with one of her friends. Somehow, she is the one who is leaving the house, and yet, as lotto-like karma would have it, as she collects the last of her mail, she discovers she is the sole heir of her late Great Uncle Andrew’s estate.

Uncertain about her next steps in life, she takes the opportunity to travel to Scotland to take stock of her new asset and with very little reason to return to her home in Sussex, Thea figures she will stay for the summer and apply for a job in the local bookstore until she can figure out her next bold move.

Despite not wanting to employ women like some outdated 1900s archaic law, Edward, the bookshop owner and renowned town grump relents, and takes Thea on for minimum wage as a trial of sorts. Little by little she seems to bring him out of his own misery pit and on one random summers day, he takes her to his beach shack and whilst nothing explicitly romantic occurs, it is clear this is the beginning of something for the both of them.

With some gorgeous description of the Scottish scenery and some interesting commentary about tradition and historical family connections, this was a very earthy book that was umbrella’d with some proper well-to-do poshness of Ye’ Old.

Thea, despite the devastation of her broken marriage was painfully practical and certainly a little hung up on the fact that she was in her 40s and not part of the ‘Lord & Lady’ club or comparatively a whole lot less posh then Edward who had given up his title. Whilst Edward was by no means a saint, and behaved like a total nightmare some of the time, he was very likeable and his complex family backstory gave him plausible motivation to behave in some of the appalling ways he had, particularly towards his brother Charles.

Throughout, there were some great one-liners and given Thea really wasn’t one to fuss in any way shape or form, it was an interesting way to unpack the concept of cheating and indeed the outcomes of separation.

The overarching connection to literature and book collections grounded both of the characters and the whole journey was made all the more enjoyable due to their shared passions. Overall, this was a lovely read and certainly one that inspired sitting by a wood fire, a nip of brandy and the deep hope that good things always come to those who wait.

I loved this novel. It felt like a much needed breath of escapism. Thea inherits a house from an uncle in Scotland. She decides to move there and gets a job at the local bookshop. She forms a sweet relationship with the owner after having heartbreak in her own marriage. Loved the Scottish descriptions. Wonderful.

Unfortunately, I was not able to finish this book. It felt very disjointed to me and jumped around, making it hard to follow. There were also a lot of characters that were introduced without being introduced so I had a hard time figuring out who anyone was because all of a sudden they were mentioned like we had known them all long.

This seemed like the perfect book to read right after leaving my job and it was! It’s a great book to take on vacation, but also a great read when you just need something that feels good with a great setting and great characters. I’ll definitely be recommending this title!

This book tells the story of Thea, a woman well into her years whose life goes up in flames when her husband of multiple decades cheats on her with a friend of hers and she is unceremoniously fired from her job. As often happens, when one door closes another one opens and Thea suddenly inherits a house in a small town in Scotland, from a great uncle she barely knew. While she only intended to stay at the house long enough to sort out her great uncle’s estate, she finds that this house is a fairly nice home and that the man she invited over to appraise a book collection that came with it is pretty good company. Ignoring logic and reason, Thea decides to stay, gets a job in a small bookstore and begins to find joy in little things again.

I must admit the plot of this book was a bit slow but I don’t think that took away from it’s charm. I quite liked the fact that Thea is a normal person; she’s not young, beautiful, or graceful and she makes no apologies for who she is. As a person in my 20’s I’m familiar with the fact that young people tend to feel things so strongly and passionately that it emcompasses everything. This passion is at the focus of so many novels that it’s almost synonymous with the word “love”. While I do very much enjoy those tales of epic romance, this was definitely not that. This book did something I haven’t really seen much of before; it told the story of the comfortable love, the one that makes you feel safe and secure, the one that strikes when you’re past your days of apocalyptic emotion. I think in addition to finding love in Scotland, Thea found a sense of peace, much like I did while reading her story.