I was hoping for so much, but was disappointed. I love the author's "The Hating Game" so much. However, her last two offerings were not as good. I couldn't' get into the story or the characters. The main protagonists seemed stunted in their growth. Are 25 year olds usually this clueless and vapid? No, because I encounter YA characters that are much more developed and aware. I couldn't get into this story or care about the characters and what happened to them at all.

I was so excited when I finally got my hands on Sally Thorn's new book, Second First Impressions. You guys know my endless love for The Hating Game. This book isn't as perfect for me as The Hating Game was but oh boy was it sweet, quirky, and dreamy. I gave it 4⭐.

Why only 4⭐? When I started reading this book it took me a while to get into it but the more I read, the more this story and characters grew on me.

The writing was delightful and the characters both main and side ones warmed my soul like a cup of tea on a rainy day. I kid you not. The characters in this book, all of them make this book so heartwarming and adorable.

But let me just take a minute and rave about the main characters. I loved these two. Both as individuals and as a couple. Ruthie was such a quirky heroine that showed such growth throughout the story. Following her journey into self-acceptance and realizing her worth as a woman was admirable. And Teddy. Goddamn it guys! This guy showed up on a motorcycle, all long hair and tattoos for days with such irresistibly charming personality. I swear, he's a dream. He got me to sigh dreamily and swoon so bad I got dizzy.

This book is not as steamy as The Hating Game. It's a more of a book that focuses on personal growth as much as it focuses on the romance part. It's adorable and heartwarming, funny but emotional enough. And you'll love the characters in this book!

The specter of The Hating Game continues to loom large and it’s really unfair to Sally Thorne that her debut novel happened to be one of the most perfect contemporary rom coms I’ve ever read and all her subsequent books are held to that lofty standard.

I really enjoyed the side characters in this book more than the leads and the actual romance so that’s always a bit concerning. The side characters should not overshadow the main characters but here, Melanie Sasaki (of the famed Sasaki method) and Renata and Aggie Parloni did just that. I did like Ruthie - her backstory was fascinating. But Teddy was a harder sell. I’m a heroine-centric reader to begin with but most unusual for me, I’ve recently read a string of books where the hero just completely captured my heart. But Teddy brought that to an abrupt halt.

There’s a line in the book where Melanie explains that in every relationship, “there’s an adorer and an adoree. One who loves, and the one who is loved.” For much of the book, Teddy comes off as the adoree in the relationship and I never quite believed that he loved Ruthie as much as she loved him. Now, this might be because the story is entirely in Ruthie’s POV and you never get inside Teddy’s head. But then, as much as I hate to doing this, I’m reminded of The Hating Game. It was all Lucy’s POV but somehow, you knew, by the end, just how gone for Lucy Josh really was. The signs were there. Looking back on this book, the signs are fewer and far in between and his “give” and “take” tattoos really make it seem like he’s a taker and Ruthie is the giver.

It was, as my friend Melinda likes to say, an aggressively fine book. But I’ll always remember Josh and Lucy, I probably won’t remember Ruthie and Teddy.

I enjoyed Sally Thorne’s other books and this one was exactly what I thought it would be, a fun and light story that made me chuckle and smile throughout. Second First Impressions features a main character I loved. Ruthie is an old soul who works at a retirement home. She is quirky and witty and different than the heroines we usually see in novels.

Check it out:

Position Vacant: Two ancient old women residing at Providence Retirement Villa seek male assistant for casual exploitation and good-natured humiliation. Duties include boutique shopping, fast-food fetching, and sincerely rendered flattery. Good looks a bonus—but we aren’t picky.

An advertisement has been placed (again!) by the wealthy and eccentric Parloni Sisters. The salary is generous and the employers are 90 years old, so how hard could the job be? Well, none have lasted longer than a week. Most boys leave in tears.

Ruthie Midona will work in Providence’s front office, and be at the Parloni’s beck and call, forever. That’s sort of her life plan. If Ruthie can run the place in her almost-retired bosses’ absence, with no hijinks/hiccups, she has a shot at becoming the new manager. She might also be able to defend her safe little world from Prescott Development, the new buyer of the prime site. Maybe after all that, she can find a cute guy to date. All she needs to do is stay serious—and that’s what she does best.

Until, one day, someone dazzling blows into town.

Teddy Prescott devotes his life to sleeping, tattooing, and avoiding seriousness. When Teddy needs a place to crash, he makes a deal with his developer dad. Teddy can stay in one of Providence’s on-site maintenance cottages—right next door to an unimpressed Ruthie—but only if he works there and starts to grow up.

Ruthie knows how this sweetly selfish rich boy can earn his keep—and be out of her hair in under a week. After all, there is a position vacant…

Coming out on April 13

I was blown away by Sally Thorne's The Hating Game giving it a 5/5 - a rare rating from me! Therefore, I was so excited to read her next book 99 Percent Mine which was a complete disappointment.

I went into Second First Impressions not really knowing what to expect. The premise sounded great and fun, but would it be a hit or a flop?

SUMMARY
Ruthie is an old soul 20 something who works full-time and lives on site in an expensive retirement village catering to eccentric elderly women. Her sheltered and awkward upbringing feeds into her anxieties about romance and socialization with people her age.

The retirement village is purchased by a large real estate company, and the CEO sends his rough and tumble tattoo artist son, Teddy, to work and live on site as well to help get Teddy's life in gear. However, Teddy's stay and job at the retirement is only temporary until he earns enough money to buy into a tattoo parlor with his friend.

Immediately, Ruthie and Teddy have undeniable chemistry and a great witty report (which I LOVE), but Ruthie's insecurities keep her from exploring anything more than friendship with Teddy, especially since she knows his stay is temporary. Additionally, Melanie, the young temp at the retirement village, is obsessed with starting her own internet dating lifestyle business and recruits Ruthie as her first client.

Also add in the amazing characters of retirement village residents Aggie and Renata and the fact that there are endangered tortoises all over the retirement village that prevents people from interfering with them, and it's great fun.

OPINIONS
I want to start by saying that I thought the beginning was ROUGH. The objectification of Teddy was uncomfortable and borderline sexual assault. The plot was slow to pick up. I was about 30% through the book still wondering when it was going to pick up.

However, once the characters are more developed and you get over the hump of an awkward beginning, it is a fun and fluffy romance. The romance is not too intense and quite mild. The characters are great. It's not too deep of a read, and I'm relieved that there's nothing too heavy in it. I find that so many modern romances include heavy topics that I don't want in my modern romances.

I did find it slightly lacking because of how much I loved The Hating Game, but I still highly recommend Second First Impressions. It will make a great light romance/beach read for 2021.

Thank you to NetGalley & William Morrow for providing an ARC for an honest review.

Ever since I first found and devoured Sally Thorne's "The Hating Game," I was hooked on her compelling writing style and language with its delicious trope, witty banter, and fun dialogue. Then, I ordered a copy of "99 Percent Mine: as soon as I hit the last page and soon devoured that one too. Upon hearing her latest release was coming out this April, I was instantly excited to read this next story.

Summary: The wealthy yet eccentric Parloni sisters are back searching for an assistant to help them with various errands throughout the days. The job seems easy yet, somehow, most male employees can barely make it through a week. Ruthie Midona works at the front desk at the retirement home and is forever at the sisters’ beck and call. She is yearning for a managerial promotion, so she’s focused on proving to her boss she can handle running the place on her own without any hijinks or hiccups. And perhaps she can easily keep her happy little place safe from the new owner, Prescott Development. And even find a nice boy to date, if there’s time afterward. One day, someone dazzling rolls into town on a motorcycle, covered in tattoos, and spins Ruthie’s world upside-down. Enter Teddy Prescott, who’s dedicated his life to sleeping, tattoos, and avoiding seriousness. Looking for a place to crash, he makes a deal with his developer father to stay in one of the villa’s on-site maintenance cottages (right next door to Ruthie) if he agrees to work there and start to grow up. Ruthie has just the job opening to satisfy the elder Prescott, keep this selfish rich boy out of her hair, and only around for about a week.

My thoughts: I was beyond pumped to start this book and see what this forced proximity and opposites attract romance had in store. While it was a bit slow to start for me (much like "99 Percent Mine"), I did find the writing compelling and engaging that kept me willing to continue on the characters' journey, true to Thorne’s style of her past works. Seeing how Ruthie and Teddy's connection grows deeper with time was fun and lovely. While it’s no enemies to lovers story or they're no Joshua & Lucy, it is Ruthie and Teddy and a fun love story that’s all their own! As I got into this slow-burn romance, things eventually start to develop thanks to plenty of rich language and authentic characters, I couldn't help but get sucked into it. Then, oh baby, it picks up steam about halfway through. While it does get steamy, much like her first novel, but it's not that raunchy and I'd call it "tamely sexy" for a romance novel. Then the ending was absolutely precious in terms of a love story/HEA but also for Ruthie as an individual finding her path.

As someone who loved <i>The Hating Game</i> and felt lukewarm about <i>99 Percent Mine</i>, I am happy to report I adored <i>Second First Impressions</i>! I want to be at Providence hanging out with Ruthie, Teddy, Melanie, and Renata and Aggie (seriously, give me a spin-off prequel series starring Renata and Aggie <b>now</b>). Ruthie and Teddy's opposites-attract, somewhat enemies–friends-lovers, slowish-burn romance was so sweet and well-developed. This book was like a big warm hug I never wanted to leave. 4.5 stars, only because I felt like the ending was a bit rushed, but loved everything else and highly recommend.

Recommended Read!

It's no surprise that Sally Thorne has charmed me yet again. Second First Impressions had a pleasing, heartfelt storyline and all the chuckle-worthy scenes and offbeat characters that I have come to crave from her wonderfully entertaining writing.

I was pretty wowed with Sally Thorne's debut, The Hating Game, so I've been (not so) patiently waiting for each new book since. Second First Impressions did not disappoint. I loved that we got to see everything that happened strictly through our heroine Ruthie's POV, leaving things with our hero, Teddy, up for interpretation. Ruthie was a very capable twenty-five-year-old who had some quirks that were endearing--and a bit sad, when we found out why she was basically hiding herself away from society in the retirement villa. Seeing Ruthie interact with Teddy, office temp Melanie, and the residents at Providence was a riot. What a lovely community! And it made me love Ruthie even more for how kind and considerate she was with everyone. Including the endangered golden bonnet tortoises, which were a nice addition to the community and the story itself.

Then there was Teddy. I'll be honest that I wasn't really sure if he was sincere or just a playboy who liked attention. I won't give away all the deets. But I'll say that Teddy ended up being a broken bad boy with a golden heart, so have faith that this *does* end in a HEA. There were just some hiccups along the way. I think Thorne did a great job of letting us see Teddy's true nature little by little, all while making us smile with his antics and the fun back and forth conversations he had with Ruthie and Melanie. His family added some tension to his personal and professional life. And even though I kind of figured out where things were headed with the plot, Teddy still surprised me in a good way toward the end. And believe me, it will make you smile and sigh happily...

Second First Impressions was so sweet it was almost ridiculous how much fun I had reading it. If you're still on the shelf about reading anything by Sally Thorne, I think this will be the book to nudge you over the edge--and it will have you smitten right away.

Ruthie Midona is 25, works and lives at a retirement community, and was just mistaken as a contestant in a Golden Girls costume contest by a handsome stranger on a motorbike. The handsome stranger ends up being Teddy, the son of the retirement community's owner. Teddy is an aspiring tattoo artist with a rebellious streak and he must prove to his father he can hold down a job. He decides to do this by taking a job as the assistant to two fabulous yet high maintenance residents. In the meantime, Ruthie's manager is on vacation and she is charged with holding down the fort, while it seems the future of the retirement community is in jeopardy. She also is trying as best she can to shake off her undeniable attraction to Teddy. Second First Impressions is a great coming of age story, particularly for those in their early 20s. It touches on overcoming past traumas or issues with family, and finding yourself: whether that be in career, friendships or dating lives.

I really, really enjoyed this book. Ruthie and Teddy’s banter was so cute and they had fantastic chemistry - so good that I couldn’t stop thinking, “can you just kiss already???” The pacing of their relationship was a bit hard to believe, but I liked them so much as a couple that I can overlook that aspect slightly. And of course, the Parloni sisters are an absolute highlight!!

I read this book in one day, so needless to say, I highly recommend it!!

I really liked Sally Thorne's 99 Percent Mine, so I was excited to receive this eARC of her latest book. I enjoy Thorne's sarcastic characters and the humor she brings to even the most mundane types of scenes, and Second First Impressions has more of her trademark wit. The secondary characters were so interesting and funny that they sometimes overshadowed the main characters, to be honest. I liked Ruthie and Teddy (the female and male leads), and I liked them together. They complimented each other so well, and Ruthie was one of the few people who truly saw the "good" Teddy had to offer. And Teddy was incredibly sweet -- he looked passed Ruthie's "eccentricities" to see her kindness and true beauty, and he was really great with Aggie and Renata, the old women he was "working" for. As far as rom-coms go, though, this one is middle-of-the-road for me. I liked the characters, I liked them together, and I thought there were some good LOL moments, but it just didn't quite hit the mark. Thorne really brings the wit and passion in 99 Percent Mine and I felt like Teddy was the only passionate character here. While she's physically attracted to him, Ruthie seems more like she's into caring for Teddy than being with him and almost like she feels sorry for him most of the time. Also, and this is a small thing but still -- Teddy doesn't have any tattoos on the cover of the book. That's kind of a big detail to miss out on considering his character description and how often his tattoos are discussed throughout the story. But overall I thought it was a sweet story with plenty of "com" with a side of "rom"...

Thank you for sending this book. Unfortunately, it was a do not finish for me. I wanted to love it so much but it was too slow for me and I couldn’t connect.

I received a copy of this book for review from NetGalley. At the beginning of this book, Ruthie is a young woman who feels like she is "25 going on 90". She loves her job at a retirement village, but she struggles with her self confidence, and has strong anxiety about leaving. After a handsome man hurts her feelings at a gas station, she resolves to improve her lot in life. With some help from her friends and coworkers, she pushes herself to become 25 again.
This book is sweet, charming, and made very little impression on my memory. I liked Ruthie, and I could understand her fascination with Teddy, but the girl desperately needed to learn how to set boundaries. I spent a good deal of time wanting to tell her to get some therapy, and cut her parents out of her life. I enjoyed Renata and Aggie, but the rest of the characters seemed a little bland. While I enjoyed the book, I read it two days ago, and had to look up the main character's name. It's a fun read, and your mileage may vary, but I probably will not be revisiting this book.

I don’t know why I’m always surprised by how much I enjoy Sally Thorne books, but I loved this one just as much as the other two. Very cute contemporary romance that was just what I needed. I love that there was no alpha male character that swooped in and forced the leading lady to change to be accepted - this one gets an A+ for the stay true to you message.

At some point in the 6 years she’s worked at Providence Luxury retirement villas, Ruthie Midona has begun to act more like a retiree. Closed off from her peers while living on site, Ruthie’s entire world revolves around her work and her old favorite television show. When she meets Teddy Prescott, the charming and irresponsible son of the man whose company has purchased Providence, Ruthie’s routine gets shook. Teddy is out of money and options, and has been given the chance at working at Providence to save up for his own tattoo parlor, but after years of messing up, his confidence is shook. Teddy begins helping residents and taking an interest in Providence and Ruthie, it becomes clear that as Teddy entourages Ruthie to take life a little less seriously, while Ruthie helps Teddy take himself seriously.

This was exactly the sort of book I have been waiting to see from Sally Thorne. Dynamic characters, a compelling setting, and lovely details to fill out a fresh story, this is a stand out in the genre. Highly recommend.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

First and foremost, I love Sally Thorne’s writing. Her voice is so fun and unique, I feel like I’m constantly smiling when I read her books, and the Hating Game will likely reign supreme as my favorite all-time romcom. That said, Second First Impressions comes in third place behind 99 Percent Mine in order of preference for Thorne’s novels.

Things I loved: the supporting cast. I have never had so much fun reading anyone as I did reading Renata Parloni. What a TRIP! How did Teddy endure? He’s a stronger soul than I.

I also loved Teddy. His story pulled at my heartstrings, and in the end, so did Ruthie’s. I love feeling emotionally invested in characters’ lives and wanting their happiness.

The twists at the end were *chefs kiss*. I saw a couple of them coming, but it was still tied together so beautifully in the end like a Christmas present.

What I wish there was more of: Romance! I don’t know why, but for some reason Sally tells us so much about what happens between Ruthie and Teddy instead of showing us. She talks about certain tender moments that they’ve shared recently that build up to them admitting their feelings, instead of writing them out for us to witness. Sally is SO talented in the banter/chemistry area, it felt like such a shame to miss out on falling in love with Teddy alongside Ruthie in those moments.

I also wish this book had moved a little quicker in the beginning. I was wary of Teddy (as was by design!) but it felt like an uphill battle to get nearly 3/4 through the book before any real romance.

This was a very sweet read, and as always, I’ll be reading whatever Sally puts out for my eager, awaiting hands next!

I love a romance that can show me I'm capable of loving a trope/style I don't typically enjoy when done a certain way! I thought this was a really fun slow burn (which I don't usually like), because Ruthie took so long to open up in a way that made sense to her character. I also thought it was a great example of a single POV that works well in romance (I often don't like those either), because Teddy was so vocal and open, we didn't really need his POV, where Ruthie was such an internal person. I adored their chemistry and the quirkiness of this world. I love a flirty man! The only reason I have it at 4 stars instead of 5 because there are a number of unnecessary jokes that are of the "men are like this, and women are like that" variety and I truly wish we could get an editing pass that takes them out because they're outdated and potentially alienating/hurtful to trans and nonbinary readers and this book just doesn't need them because it's very funny without that stale kind of humor.

This one takes a little while to get into... but if you don't give up on it, the payoff is incredibly sweet. Sally Thorne is such a talent. The characters are charming and quick witted, and I'd read a follow up book on any of the secondary characters. The male lead just charms his way into your heart and stays there. Every time he whispered into Ruthie's ear, I swooned hard.

If you like quirky, sweet, and genuine characters with lots of banter and charm, give this one a go. You won't be disappointed.

This was such a fun charming book. Sometimes your bad first impression of someone changes as you give them another chance. Ruthie works and lives in a retirement home and leads a quiet life. Along comes Teddy, the new owners son, who in order to impress his father agrees to any job at the home. Ruthie chooses to make him the personal assistant of two very challenging ladies. As Ruthie sees Teddy rise to the occasion her opinions of him begin to change. Ruthie also starts to change herself. It’s a fun quirky book with much charming dialogue. If you want a delightful book with great characters I highly recommend Second First Impressions.

After reading and completely loving 99 Percent Mine, Second First Impressions was one of my most highly anticipated releases of 2021. Unfortunately, I think my high expectations led to a bit of disappointment and I ended up a little underwhelmed. Don't get me wrong, this is still a good and very cute book. I thought the retirement community setting was extremely unique and fun. The main characters were quirky and their interactions enjoyable and the secondary characters were certainly a highlight! I think fans of Sally Thorne will really enjoy it and I won't hesitate to recommend it to contemporary romance readers. In the meantime, I'll be eagerly awaiting Thorne's next book!