I am a sucker for stories about bookshop, libraries etc.
So needless to say, I was drawn to this bookshop in a Scottish village.
Story starts out somewhat similar to many. Our protagonist 40 something Thea Mottran gets dumped by her husband; she loses her job and her house.… She sets out looking for a fresh start. It comes in the way of her great-uncle leaving her with a manor and a large collection of valuable books.
With the help of the local brothers Edward and Charles she settles in.

I am an avid reader and of course, love a book about books! However, I didn’t love this as much as I thought I would ~characters were not all that likeable; I had a hard time with the romance.

Want to thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing group - Ballantine for this e-Galley. This file has been made available to me before publication for professional review purposes only. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for May 4, 2021

I'm a sucker for books about books AND books that take place in Scotland, so this one got some bonus points. This is just the feel good book that I needed, with a spunky likeable heroine that I found easy to root for. It made me want to pack up my bags and move to this tiny Scottish village ASAP. If any of these things strike your fancy, this one is for you (think The Bookshop on the Corner and How to Find Love in a Bookshop).

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for an earc to read in exchange for a review!

I really liked the sound of this one. It always intrigues me when a blurb mentions starting over, bickering, and feuds. It usually means I am in for a good time! The thing is, this book wasn’t anything like I expected and I can’t say I much liked the characters or the plot. They were all just a bit much most of the time.

Thea is dealing with a lot. She is newly single as her husband has been shacking up with her friend and she is ready for a fresh start. Luckily, her great uncle left her his house. That’s when she heads off on a new adventure.

I think Thea started off as a strong character but then I didn’t understand her fascination with Edward. We will get to that further in the review. I did feel for her and her situation. It’s hard having to move on from someone, and even your house, that you have spent so much time with. It’s even harder when your friend is the reason for it all. I did like seeing her journey in that aspect of finding herself away from her old life.

Now when it comes to Edward, I disliked him and never changed my mind. He is seriously horrible and for an older man he acts like a child.

*Spoilers, Spoilers!*
I knew from the beginning that she would find herself fancying Edward. They started working together and as the colder brother of the two (who also hates women unless he is having sex with them (friends with benefits but he really doesn’t even have friends)). One day he even goes on to tell Thea why him and his brother don’t get along and it’s because he sleeps with all of his brother’s girlfriends and wives. Now, you would think that Thea would stop talking to this guy and find a different job but no. She just shrugs it off and still hangs out with him. The reason for him doing this is just so childish. He does it because when he was a young lad he told his brother about a girl he liked and his brother said he would talk to her. Well, his brother at a party started making out with her and Edward saw so then his brother became the bane of his existence. You would think he would get over it but no. Childish.

This also comes into play around the last bit of the book when Edward’s brother locks Thea in a room to I guess try and sleep with her. Just no. That is so bad! You never fight fire with fire. He ends up not doing anything with her but obviously gets punched in the face. It’s just too much!

*End of Spoilers*
The minor characters are just there for added plot twists and most of the plot twists I saw coming. There was just too much drama for me and not enough character development or even likable characters for me to really care much about this book. There would be times that I would get sucked in just a bit but then something would shut it down quick.

Overall, it was okay but not a book for me.

The Bookshop of Second Chances is a contemporary romance-ish book about English 40-something Thea who inherits a mysterious estate from an eccentric uncle in Scotland at just the right time - it turns out her husband has been cheating on her (with her friend, no less) and some time away in the country sorting out her inheritance and her life is the perfect solution. While in Scotland, Thea meets a few new friends and begins employment at a small bookshop owned by a super grumpy, handsome, single, artistocracy-adjacent dude. The rest? HISTORY (or carefully formulated tropes and elements of romantic comedies that add up to predictable yet satisfying endings designed to give readers a sense of comfort and happiness in this hellscape that we call life - you choose!).

I will never, ever turn down a book set in a small bookshop in Scotland. Like, it will *never* happen. This is basically my dream fantasy. The Scottish bookshop part, not the....rest of it. Except maybe for the obscure Uncle leaving me his cozy cabin with a huge library in the Scottish highlands. I guess that would be okay too. But the husband cheating with my friend thing? Definitely pass. Another big plus for this story is a romantic protagonist in her late 40s, instead of 26-29, which is by far the norm for this kind of story. Based on the protagonist and the setting alone, we're already mostly there. Storyline is rather predictable, but in a way that makes me happy.

Ok, apologies for yelling, but I NEED MORE BOOKS WITH MATURE WOMEN! And by mature I mean, not 22 and trying to find the meaning of life. I digress. This book was brilliant! I loved Thea and her sense of humor and her willingness to tell people what she thinks rather than trying to beat around the bush. Her husband just left her for after 19 years for someone she thought was her friend (rude) and she’s suddenly inherited a house in the middle of nowhere Scotland. She meets the local gentry, including Charles who is Lord Something and quite posh and charming, and Edward, Charles’ older brother who gave up the title and is quite grumpy. I love the characters, there is a real depth to them. And I love the bookshop!!! And mostly, I love Thea who is broken hearted but still strong as she is trying to figure out her life and her next steps.

A recently divorced woman inherits a house and in doing so, starts a new life. I didn't love this book, but the premise was great.

40something year old Thea inherits an old lodge house in Scotland just after finding out that her 20 year old marriage is over. Thea goes to Scotland to clear her head and to deal with the estate. She meets two feuding brothers who both seem to have an interest. One is a posh lord, the other a surly, unpleasant sort that has given up society life to run a bookstore. Thea is still reeling from her husband's betrayal. Is she ready to open her heart to love again?

I wanted to like this more than I do but it just didn't do it for me. The banter between Thea and Edward was good but I found that the rest of the narrative was just too wordy and descriptive for me. I kept wanting the author to just get to the point and keep the story moving. It was fine, but just not really my cup of tea.

This isn't the book I intended to start the new year with, but I received an ARC and once I started, I was immediately wrapped up in Thea's story. I'm always interested in a novel featuring a bookshop and one set in Scotland is even more intriguing. Mostly I enjoyed Thea's authenticity and her honesty about her struggles. I appreciated her ability to use humor to work through complex and sometimes uncomfortable interactions. As a romance reader, I really enjoyed the strong romantic subplot too. The longstanding rift between Charles and Edward is so relatable and I liked how Thea refused to accept that the divisiveness remain "as is".
There are numerous layers and themes to explore within this story: regrets, avenging perceived wrongs, refusing to make amends, justifying wretched behavior because sometimes that's easier than making the effort to change. Ultimately, the theme of second chances and having the courage to love again after tremendous heartache resonated with me.

Sensitive reader alert: if foul language is offensive, proceed with caution.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the complimentary copy. All opinions shared here are my own.

I loved the Scottish setting of this book. Thea was such a relatable character! I had a great time reading this story.

Thank you so much NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

What is not to love? Finding yourself? Finding love? A bookshop? Sold, sold, sold. Such a delightful and heartwarming read!

This is a romance. It is formulaic but it also breaks some of the the rules. I enjoyed it (since covid I have been reading a lot of this sort of book; they have become a haven from reality). As some have already commented, I found the female protagonist's use of certain words annoying-- given her age, I don't think it would be likely for her to toss the "f-bomb" around quite so freely. I also wonder if it is likely for someone to be hurt as seriously as she was and be quite so ready to put it all aside. And the male protagonist...well, he is distinctly flawed... Still, I did finish the book because I wanted to see how it was resolved. I didn't find it a slow read nor did I find the romantic scenes awkward as some have commented. I'd rather have things move slowly than read about instantaneous love. All in all, I enjoyed the book, was pleased that the protagonists weren't in their twenties, and will look forward to seeing what the author writes next. I'd give it 3.5 stars if I could but since I can't, I m rounding up to 4.

The Bookshop of Second Chances was such an enjoyable read. Thea is desperate for a fresh start when she is fired from her job and finds out that her husband of 20 years has cheated on her and is leaving her for one of her close friends. She feels that she has lost everything that ever mattered to her. Middle age is not the time most people desire to start over! When she receives word that a great uncle has left her an estate in Scotland she goes to visit with the plan of only staying for a little while until she can figure out her next steps. The reader will love how fate intervenes to give her a new set of friends, a new job that she truly enjoys, and a second chance at love. The author, Jackie Fraser, does such a great job of describing the charming Scottish town and people of Baldocherie that I want to pack my bags immediately! Thank you for this escape while we are all grounded from travel due to COVID-19. I also enjoyed the banter between Thea and Edward Maltravers, the grumpy and infuriating owner of the local rare book store. Their interactions reminded me of Elizabeth and Darcy from Jane Austen novels although Edward may be a bit more damaged than Darcy. Thea is also intrigued by Edward’s brother, Charles Lord Hollinshaw, as she tries to unravel the story behind their decades-long feud. I think readers will enjoy the story line, “Now that she has a chance to reinvent herself, what life will she choose?” Will she go back to something safe or take a chance on a new life and love? Thank you to #netgalley, Random House Publishing and Ballantine Books for the ARC. I can’t wait to promote this book when it comes out in March 2021.

Thank you NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group (Ballantine), and Jackie Fraser for an advanced copy of The Bookshop of Second Chances in exchange for a review.

Poor Thea has been put through the ringer! She’s lost her job and her husband pretty much in one fell swoop. She soon afterward learns that her great uncle in Scotland has passed away and left her his home and his antique book collection. With nothing to lose, she decides to leave Sussex for the small coastal town in Scotland. She begins to settle in and enjoy life in the quaint cottage she inherited, but there is a slight issue at hand - the bookshop owner Edward Maltravers. Does the tension last or does Thea start to develop feelings she hasn’t experienced in a long time?

This book had such potential. I love the enemies to lovers trope, I just can’t buy it from these two. If my husband cheated on me, the last type of guy who I would attempt to date would be the one who sleeps with anyone his brother has married or dated. It seems like an odd match to me. Maybe if that detail had been left out, the story would be more relatable and believable. That being said, I would read more novels from this author as the plot was entertaining and the main character was endearing, if not a little ambivalent towards her next romantic interest.

Thank you to Net galley for this ARC copy of The Bookshop of Second Chances. I really enjoyed this fun light read. Edward was a fun and unique character.

The Bookshop of Second Chances
By Jackie Fraser
December 20, 2020

It took a chapter or two, and then, I was hooked! I loved the Scottish landscape where Thea explores a different lifestyle, meets new people, surrounds herself with books, and makes discoveries about herself. "A long time ago, everything I did was new. Now nothing I do is new, but some of it is unusual," she says. I'd recommend this book to other readers.

More like 3 and ½ Stars.

This was good!

Thank you so much Penguin Random House / Ballantine Books and NetGalley for my advanced copy!

What I Loved-

The Cover- Come on! This cover is everything and immediately drew me in.

The Plot- This book features a lot of things I enjoy in books. I'd describe it as Starting Over / Surprise Inheritance / Romance.

The Setting- Scotland. I love Scotland and want to visit there some day. This book also has a small town setting. Love.

The Characters - Thea is hilarious and all of the characters in this book were unique. I enjoyed reading them all.

Where This Book Fell Short-

I felt like the story dragged a bit. As much as I was enjoying it I felt as though it was taking forever to get through.

The Romance. I didn't exactly care if Thea and Edward were together in the end. They were amazing friends. I would have been happy with just friends.

Overall- glad I read this one and would definitely recommend this to other bookish friends.

The Bookshop of Second Chances was a story of love and hope, of self-discovery and facing life’s difficulties and challenges head on. It’s a story of second chances and realizing it’s never too late to find love and pursue your dreams.

Fraser created some really wonderful characters who supported each other, even if they didn’t fully understand the reasonings behind their choices. I enjoyed getting to see Thea break through the walls that Edward had built around himself. They helped each other through their heartaches and heartbreaks. It was a wonderful tale and made me want to take a trip to Scotland pronto!

I ended up DNFing this one about 20% in. Honestly, I was just bored with the story and found myself struggling to pay attention to it. I would be interested to check out other books by the author, as I enjoyed her writing style. The plot line itself just wasn’t for me

Dnf-ing at 15%

While reading this I felt like nothing was explained in the way that would have developed into loving the main character. It felt very bland to me. I was not invested and did not feel like I could continue reading and actually enjoy the story.

The Bookshop of Second Chances is a delightful British women's fiction novel. Set in the backdrop in which the main character's life dissolves, she explores a new beginning and a new life set in Scotland. I loved that Thea, the main character, had a backbone and was willing to ask the tough questions. She didn't shy away from hard conversations, but she was utterly charming while doing it. The Bookshop has a little bit of everything: family drama, romance, friendship, and new possibilities. I loved it!