Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for an e-ARC of <i>The Second Ending</i>, available everywhere in May 2023.

After spending her childhood and adolescence as a musical prodigy, Prudence Childs is eager for a quieter life and retreats from the public eye as soon as she is able to vote. Struggling to make ends meet, she takes a job writing commercial jingles. The job pays off in dividends, setting her up for life, but it doesn't provide her with any creative fulfillment. Decades later, with her daughters away at college and her husband still traveling frequently for work, she spends her days meandering around the house as she plans out how to spend her future. A book club, perhaps. Soon, though, the decision is taken out of her hands when her ex-husband, Bobby, comes back into her life alleging that she'd plagiarized her most famous jingle. Prudence is wealthy but not $500K wealthy to pay him what he's asking. To come up with the money, she'll need to go on a wildly popular dueling pianos television show, and win against Alexei Petrov, the young internet sensation. With her experience and background, it should be a cakewalk. Right?

I really enjoyed spending time with this eccentric cast of characters and their stories. Granted, the end was wrapped up a little too neatly but it didn't take away how fun the journey was. The pacing was solid, as was the novel's length.

I loved this story! Can a depressed empty nester former child prodigy find joy once more? Prudence doesn't believe it will happen by taking up the piano again. Alexei's talent and career have been micromanaged by his mother to the point he has no life other than being a pianist. He practices for perfection, not for the joy of music. When the two are matched up for a piano duel on live television each has some major roadblocks to overcome in order to win. The stakes are high and the outcome is impossible to predict. You will root for both of them!

Being a professional pianist, the plot of two concert pianists involved in a "performing duel" on tv with each other appealed to me. I, especially, like the mention of all the classical piano solos and had to escape to one of my pianos to play a few of them. The story delves into the lives and experiences of each, making it easy to see why music may mean so much to them. I put up with the frequent use of the "F word", so involved in the book as I was.

Hats off to the author who, obviously, had much piano/musical experience of her own. And thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this in advance of the publication date.

Have reviewed on Goodreads and will post in other places when available.

This is absolutely one of the best works of fiction of the year, and I'm telling all my bookish friends: do not dare skip this book or let it sit on your TBR list! It deserves your attention, praise, appreciation, and full focus. The characterization is pure perfection, and the heartwarming and inspiring message of the book makes you confront your own struggles that are holding you back from pursuing your dreams. It's invigorating, powerful, and refreshing! The storytelling is enchanting, and I didn't want it to end. I could read this book for days to spend more time with these peculiar, one-of-a-kind, quirky characters while listening to each song that named each chapter of the book to increase the sensation! This is a dreamy journey that embraces the power of music to help us reflect on our bottled-up feelings.

The story revolves around two main characters who reluctantly find themselves as rivals in Alexei Petrov's Dueling Piano Wars, a competition featuring classical music. One of them is Prudence Childs, a former child piano prodigy who gave up pursuing her dream of becoming a performer by choosing to create memorable advertisement jingle songs. This earned her enough royalties to buy the house she lives in with her husband, a luxurious lifestyle, lots of jewelry, and the opportunity to pay for their two daughters' college tuitions. At the age of 48, Prudence is in the midst of a midlife crisis due to empty nest syndrome. But when her ex-husband Bobby Wheeler (who is not technically her ex as their marriage has been annulled) threatens to go to the press to tell them that the jingle that made her rich belongs to her music teacher and he has a letter to prove it, Prudence realizes she can lose everything she's worked for, including their house, her reputation, their savings, and even her marriage. She reluctantly accepts the competition producer's offer to win the prize money to compensate for the blackmail. However, she has no idea that Bobby is not the only person who is adamant about ruining her reputation.

Our second main character is Alexei Petrov, a 22-year-old Russian piano prodigy who has lived under the pressure of his parents' dictating practice program. He eats the meals they choose for him and is stuck in a routine they programmed for him, which limits his freedom and restricts his emotions, pushing him into a lonely life. And now he has to learn to play "Great Balls of Fire" because the show producers changed the competition categories.

Both Prudence and Alexei have to win the game to survive. If they don't, they could lose everything they care about. But confronting the people who want to control their lives might be more crucial for them than winning the contest. Maybe the most important thing is learning to let go.

Overall, the conclusion of the book was also satisfying. This is one of the books I plan to reread in the near future. It's definitely good!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine Books for sharing this fantastic book's ARC copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.

I read 50% of this and stopped. I liked the storyline but it was a slowwwww burn and it couldn't hold my attention.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for the advanced copy in return for an honest review.

The Second Ending by Michelle Hoffman is about Prudence, a former child piano prodigy. As a child, Prudence was exploited by her grandmother, which fueled her need to run away from the spotlight. As an adult, she settled, became a wife (then ex-wife), mother of 2, and wrote jingles for commercials. Desperate for a purpose, Prudence decides to make her comeback by participating in a televised piano duel with Alexei, a young pianist under pressure from his parents. This wouldn't be the only duel Prudence would find herself in - as she was also at odds with her ex-husband who was threatening to expose her secret.

Despite not being a musical person (or understanding really anything about playing the piano), I really enjoyed reading The Second Ending. I thought both Prudence and Alexei were very compelling and complex characters, and I found myself eager to see how both of their stories would progress. Prudence, especially, was interesting to me. I loved watching her rediscover her passion after so many years of not doing what she wanted to do.

However, I will say the plot moved a bit slow in comparison to the character development. There were certain points in the book where it lulled, but nothing that made me ultimately put it down. There were also a few cliches/predictable elements in the book, but entertaining nonetheless!

Overall, this was a great read and an impeccable debut! I'll definitely be looking out for other books by Hoffman in the future!

An exploited child piano prodigy manages to escape from her grandmother. Seeking a means to survive, Prudence writes commercial jingles. This isn't the best use of her talent but it certainly pays the bills. Prudence's daughters are away at school and she needs a new purpose. She agrees to compete in a televised, live piano competition against a talented, popular pianist. The "dueling pianos" show has been popular but when the new season's challenger is announced, people are eager to tune in. Prudence has a secret. Two others know, and one is dead. Will the other one use their advantage against her? After so much time away from playing, can Prudence regain her abilities? And what of her competitor? Alexei Petrov is a showman. Will technical ability overcome showmanship?

This debut book is very entertaining, even if you aren't particularly musical. Transitions in life are frustrating and even though she knew the day was coming, Prudence didn't know how to be an empty nester. Michelle Hoffman's characters are relatable and the competitive piano duel is an ingenious idea. Both main characters have a past they are trying to hide/avoid and the steps they take keep the action moving. This book is perfect for reality tv fans, those who like redemption, and people looking for a new author to follow.

great book!! Loved it. Didn't think I would because it isn't my typical book-type but it was very enjoyable!

The premise was interesting and the writing was humorous, but the pace was lacking. Halfway through the book nothing had happened. It was all just an introduction to the characters. I'm not sure how much longer this went on because from that point I just skimmed to the end. The author is talented, but her editor should have helped find a different way to tell the story that would have propelled the plot further.

Thanks to NetGalley and Ballentine for making advance copy of this title available for an honest review.

The tale of a former child prodigy, and the three villains intent on putting her down. - Well, four if you count herself. - And one of those villains may not be that bad after all.

Hoffman has to be a musician herself. That deep connection, that impassioned creative core, the way music resonates through every cell, every fiber, is not something that can be easily described or even understood by someone without that connection. Because of that, Prudence resonates from the page. We understand her struggles, her mood swings, her insecurities, and her drive. I was slightly baffled by the abrupt change of heart of two of the characters at the end, but with that small exception, everything else in this book flows like masterful composition.

Prudence was a child prodigy on the piano, but her grandmother was cruel to her, so she quit. after her daughters are grown and living on their on she agrees to be on a dueling piano show. very good read

“How many people, Prudence thought, lose sight of a dream because of one careless comment from a stranger? When someone tells us we can’t do something, why do we accept it?”

Prudence Childs was a child prodigy on the piano, playing for presidents and on talk shows. To get away from her demanding, emotionally abusive grandmother, she stopped playing classical music and cashed in on writing jingles for commercials. For the last thirty years she has led a quiet life of being happily married and raising two daughters. Then a man she was briefly married to pops up out of nowhere blackmailing her, threatening to ruin the life she has created by revealing a secret. When a showrunner for an unexpectedly popular show that pits pianists against each other, she realizes that if she can win the prize money she can pay the bribe—and maybe rediscover what she gave up so many years ago.

The host of the show is handsome Alexie. He’s 22-years-old but has never made any decisions for himself. His parents make them all so he can practice, practice, practice. If he wins the million-dollar prize money, he can finally get out from under his parents’ control.

This is breezy and fun and reminds us we don’t do art for commercial gain but because art is a way to express ourselves in otherwise largely tedious day-to-day existence.

Recommend. NetGalley provided an advance copy of this novel, which RELEASES MAY 30, 2023.

4.5⭐️. Empty nester, Prudence Childs, gets a second chance to do what she was born to do, play the piano. The former child prodigy is eccentric, dramatic and weirdly confident and unapologetic. She is also quite funny! She has a secret and finds herself in a predicament in which she has to revisit her past and focus again on her talent. I really enjoyed this book a lot. It’s a debut and gives total Lessons in Chemistry vibes. It’s an entertaining story that also sends a powerful message. Everyone has a dream and you are never too old to make them come true.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for the gifted eARC of this book. It was a treat to read!

4.5*
The power of music...When music stood for everything a child was known for, Prudence backed away. She backed away from her cruel success driven grandmother and her first love... the piano. As a child prodigy, she was invited to the White House. What didn't show on the outside was the talent that was power driven and not from within. She left home and became successful in writing commercial jingles.
When she was 48 years old, her children are at school when she signed up for a piano competition. In comes another child prodigy and fellow competitor Alexei Petrov. He is friendless due to his parents consistent belligerent behavior for him to concentrate on his piano. He is successful on social media with his skills and a huge following. When they became competitors, little did they expect something more.
There are so many other things that come into play making this a stand out from other books. It was enjoyable except for the abusive behavior of the caretakers. The internal drive for them to break away from the only norm they knew and despised to find the one thing they loved to do. This was a great debut and an impressive display of writing skills. The story was easy to follow and one you don't want to put down until it is finished. Second chances always give hope and resurrection to this story.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Summary: A former child piano prodigy is struggling to adjust to the idea of being an empty nester. She’s asked to join a competition show for pianists but she buried her piano days for a reason. Suddenly, she is being blackmailed by her ex-husband and it gives her reason enough to dig up her past.

Thoughts: My favorite thing about this book was how raw and real it was. The humor is very, very dry which gave it a very unique flair. If you liked Lessons in Chemistry, I think you’ll like this one.

The story is also unique and something that hasn’t been told 10,000 times. I enjoyed the characters but didn’t fully connect with them until about 2/3rd of the way in.

This is the type of book that you need persistence with. The first half almost lost me at points because it felt like the backstories were overdone. However, it redeems itself in the second half. It really builds into such a beautiful and inspiring story. I highlight more quotes in this book than I think I have in any other.

Thanks to Random House Publishing and NetGalley for the advance reader copy of this book. I can see this book taking off on Book-Tok. It is buzzy, has a competitive themed undercurrent and gives the reader someone to root for-I love rooting for the underdog. Everyone of a certain age has experienced the 'what am i going to do next with my life" crossroads and our main character is facing this same conundrum. What they choose to do is outside the box and over the top! I enjoyed the peek into her world, although it was a little messy, the book was a fun read and I can see it as a a great book club read.

I absolutely loved this book! It is a story about the healing power of music and how music helps transcend self doubt and uncertainty. Two musical prodigies, Prudence Childs a former child star and Alexei Petrov, a technically perfect musician are pitted against each other on a reality television show called 'Alex Petrov's Piano Wars'. Prudence, bullied by her domineering grandmother as a child has given up playing professionally since leaving home as a teenager. She has made millions writing jingles for advertisements. But she has a secret, she believes she did not write the one jingle that made her famous and brought her fortune. She feels she is a fraud. Alexei has been manipulated and dominated by his parents all his life. He lives a regimented lonely existence with no friends, no hobbies, and no fun. His life is only about music and though he is technically a flawless pianist, his music lacks heart and soul and he does not realize how unhappy he is. These two pianists are to appear on the Piano Wars show to vie for a million dollars. On their journey to this competition they both must find the strength and inner heart to be their best. Their journey is a delight. This book is funny, heartwarming and full of positivity. I loved all the characters even the flawed ones. Highly recommended.

Unfortunately I put this one down after a few chapter. I felt the story was a bit too predictable and I lost interest feeling like I knew how the rest of the story was going to go.

What a delightful read! Prudence was a child prodigy with a demanding grandmother. She escapes her grandmother and writes jingles. Now at 48 she wonders what is left of her life. Alexi has won a lot of piano competitions and is young and controlled by his parents. Add to this a reality competition called Alexi's Dueling Pianos. Pru will be his competition and is determined to win. Each competitor learns a lot about life along the way.

This book is amusing and fun. If you are tired of reading books with heavy topics then this is a book for you. It will amuse and delight you. You will not want to put it down. I would highly recommend reading this book.

Thank you to #netgalley, #MichelleHoffman and #BallantineBooks for a copy of this book
#TheSecondEnding

The Second Ending by Michelle Hoffman is an absolutely spectacular story about two people who were child pianists and their stories ultimately culminating with their paths crossing. To tell you more would spoil the ending. The book is an awesome telling of two tales that many who played instruments of any kind, but especially piano, can relate. The author is brilliant with her descriptions which transport the reader into the re-telling. There are two parallel stories going on in tandem with the two main character stories and yet the author is able to clearly convey without confusing or leading the reader astray. I will certainly look for more of Ms. Hoffman's books in the future and thoroughly enjoyed The Second Ending! Thank you to NetGalley, Ms. Hoffman and Ballantine Books for the opportunity to review this fabulous book.