I have referenced this book so many times in the last week since I've read it, it has clearly stuck with me.

Prudence was a childhood piano prodigy, thanks to the music lessons she witnessed her childhood babysitter teaching and no thanks to her grandmother's abusive and forceful hand.
Alexi is a famous pianist but had to work hard to get himself to where he is, through getting out of Russia, into top conservatories in Europe, and now hosting a music reality show in America.
Weaving their stories along with those of an ex husband, a former ballerina bent on revenge, a former music teacher who had been searching for greatness, and a Hollywood producer who needs a break, the stories are filled with hilarious HOA squabbles, a bit of blackmail, a piano, and the histories of two phenomenal pianists and their quest to become and prove they're the best- while examining what that means for each of them.

#arc
#netgalley
#thesecondending

This book was a true delight! As a regular mystery reader this book was a bit out of my comfort zone but it was soooo worth it! Prudence was a child prodigy, playing piano for some of the most important people in the world. However, as she grows up her passion for piano changes and circumstances lead her to selling a famous commercial jingle that makes her rich.

Fast forward, her ex-husband re-emerges with the receipts that maybe the jingle that made Prudence so famous wasn't actually hers? Drowning in debt her ex blackmails her to keep the secret of her stolen jingle. To save her name and collect money for her ex Prudence agrees to appear on a new reality show of dueling pianos.

While Prudence's famous commercial jingle set this story into play, there is soooo much more to this story. This is a story about finding your passion in life, doing what truly makes you happy, and not settling for other people's expectations. Prudence was a truly delightful character to read about and you cannot help but get wrapped up in her excitement and shenanigans.

Also just need to say that naming the chapters took me back to childhood and I loved it!!

It takes great skill to create a story that makes the reader feel engaged when two pianists are competing on a TV show – and there is no way to hear what they’re playing. It’s all in the imagination and words.

Two characters are involved in the competition. Prudence is a bored 49-year-old mother. She has found herself in a financial predicament and needs to keep her ex-husband quiet. He needs money and is blackmailing her for a past lucrative advertisement arrangement which may have been dishonest.

Alexei is a 22-year-old Russian immigrant who is getting pressure from his parents to make more money. They said he needs to give the Russian government a percentage of profits so that he can to keep living in the US.

Both are trained as classical pianists but Prudence was a child prodigy. She gave up in her early 20s from stress. She said to her husband, “It’s all that LSD my mom took back in the sixties. I’m damaged.” Alexei worked hard to become a success, practicing long hours. Now they are going to compete on TV’s “Dueling Piano Wars” for the winning prize of one million dollars.

The story is at a fast pace just like the piano keys that move rapidly with the “’Flight of the Bumblebee.” The book is especially great for those of us that were raised in the sixties when many remember piano lessons.

It’s an original, entertaining plot with some great lines and interesting characters. I found myself laughing at times. It helped me to be able to google some of the piano pieces that are mentioned in the plot to get an immersive experience.

There were some nice twists and the end was unexpected. There is a love of music in this story which may give some readers a push to get their pianos tuned up.

My thanks to Michelle Hoffman, Ballantine Books and NetGalley for providing me an advanced copy with an expected release date of May 30, 2023.

Fun that takes you through the life of a piano prodigy named Prudence while she goes through a midlife crisis.

This book was downright fun!

Prudence is a child prodigy pianist who is now 48 and is being threatened with exposure as a plagiarist over an advertising jingle she wrote as a child. Prudence is currently facing a mid-life crisis as her children are now grown and she tries to find purpose in her life.

Alexei is a pianist who is currently hosting a game show where pianists compete against one another. He has issues with his mother who has gotten the family out of Russia on the ticket of her son's expertise in music.

Both of these characters are eccentric and their stories are engrossing. The author has somehow managed to convey the beauty and love of music onto the page that makes the reader feel it. The descriptions of music and piano playing are exhilarating!

I thoroughly enjoyed the characters, the plot and especially the music. The sideline with Tamara's grudge from a perceived slight when she and Prudence were both children, as well as the blackmailing ex-husband Bobby were just that - sidelines. I disliked both of these characters, as I'm sure the author intended. Highly recommend this read to anyone who likes music or who likes competition.

Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on May 30, 2023.

Cute book that will appeal to many of our library readers. Second chances, older age, great combination.

As a reader, I enjoy a smorgasbord of genres so when offered an early edition, I dove in without a 'second' glance. Books enter our lives at the right time and their words speak differently to readers. Music's magic is that melodies convey more between its lines. The full score is composed by experiences.

Like the protagonists, I'm devising my second ending or maybe I should say ninth at this stage in my life. Through choices I've made and others that were forced upon me, my path diverged from my original plans. Michelle Hoffman's "The Second Ending" struck a chord with me and through her characters' actions, made me confront my own obstacles.

Alexei and Prudence are fighting for their survival. While they've never met, a series of events leaves them dueling to be the winner of a musical competition. While Alexei is a technically gifted pianist, Prudence plays with heart. Listeners are touched by the intense feelings her playing elicits.

Alexei wants to remain in America while Prudence's past is threatening to topple everything she's built. Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for the early edition of #TheSecondEnding in exchange for an honest review. It was my first time sampling Hoffman's work but I look forward to an encore.

Loved this story. So nice to read a book where people are kind to each other and help look at life in a positive manner. I think the piano component is wonderful. The author talks about well known music both classical and contemporary. I particularly enjoyed reading the descriptions of how people were transformed while listening to the music. Music lovers will love this book, anyone who has ever been moved by a piece of music will identify with that sensation. Really enjoyed this book!

This book centers around Prudence, a child prodigy. At 48, she finds her world tipped upside down - unsure of who she is, what she wants to do and a threat of revealing a secret she has kept for years. As she finds herself trapped she signs on to be a part of a dueling piano show.

Various different characters are brought into the book - Alexei (host of the dueling piano show/Prudence's competition), Tamara (who has it out for Prudence and she doesn't even know it) and Bobby (Purdence's ex).

I thought this book was the perfect balance of light/easy read but dealing with some tougher topics (growing up a child prodigy). I loved the message of never being too old to pursue your dreams, the independence that some of the characters gained and believing in yourself. The blackmailing part was a little hokey, but also let to the lightness of the book. I loved the quirky characters and getting to know the background of each one.

Thank you, netgalley for the ARC of this book!

Prudence Childs was a child prodigy and household name, playing piano all over the globe while in elementary school. But as soon as she turned 18, she stopped performing and turned to writing commercial jingles. They made her wealthy, but left her unfulfilled - and now as a 48 year old empty nester, she starts to consider playing again to get her spark back. Meanwhile, Alexei Petrov is the star judge for a wildly popular dueling piano show on TV - he’s in his early 20s and in the prime of his career, but wondering if he’s too invested in his work and not making time for anything else. The narrative alternates between the retired prodigy and the exhausted wunderkind, and I found myself rooting for both of them and loving the contrast. There are a LOT of different plotlines to follow (Prudence's ex-husband and her nosy / annoying HOA president, both of whom cause all kinds of drama), and I kind of wish the author had simplified a bit more, but I still loved this book and it helped me reconnect with my own joy of piano / music from childhood. I agree with those who say this novel was a love letter to music - it will make you rethink how you listen to music and what you get out of it, and truly appreciate an amazing artist.

I very much enjoyed this book and its compelling, original plot. I particularly enjoyed all the music references and the well-drawn characters. Even the secondary characters had rich backstories, and many of them could have been lovely, stand-alone short stories. I did find the plot a bit convoluted at times, and most of all, I would have enjoyed the book more without the Tamara Quigley character. The coincidence of her history with Prudence was a bit far-fetched, and her involvement with Bobby Wheeler seemed unnecessary; he was quite capable of screwing things up for himself and others without her help. I had mixed feelings about the ending. On the one hand, it was quite satisfying to see everything tied up so nicely (particularly loved the heartwarming scene between Prudence and Ms. Martinelli), but on the other hand, it seemed a bit unrealistic that everyone should have an epiphany and suddenly be ready to change their ways. These reservations aside, though, I would recommend this book and I thank Random House/Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the e-ARC.

(Posting this review to Goodreads but with spoilers hidden)

This was a sweet read that follows Prudence Childs, a famous child pianist. Now she is an adult who has given up the piano but now how to perform in front of millions to earn the prize and prevent her life secret from being exposed. Delightful, hopeful, and a chance for a second ending.
Thank you, NetGalley, for an advanced copy of this novel.

Prudence is a former piano prodigy who hasn't performed in 20 years and needs to make a comeback without having the confidence to do so. Alexi is a current star and former prodigy who needs a really big TV hit to ensure he can stay in the US. Both need to find an inner strength to battle all the negative thoughts and people who have controlled them for their whole lives and both need a win to get their lives on a better track. This book was full of quirky characters you'll find yourself rooting for.

But before she can open a book, her first husband shows up looking for a pay-off to keep her deepest darkest secret hidden. With her current husband Stuart away on business, and her daughters away at college, Prudence decides to auction off her prized piano. Only to drive the cost and outbid herself when she decides she’s not ready to leave that part of her life behind.

Over in TV land Alexi Petrov ‘s hit show about dueling pianos needs a formidable opponent for his season finale. Petrov, an up-and-coming maestro, knows little else than piano, from a young age his parents monetized his talent to get the family out of Russia and have plans on cashing in when he wins the finale for ultimate freedom. (There’s not much people do above the board in this book. Besides Stuart, he’s pretty legit.)

Alexi’s and Prudence’s worlds collide when his producer ropes her in to challenge him in the finale. Will Prudence win enough money to keep her secrets hidden, or will the young sensation cement his position at the top of the piano world with a victory?

This book was laugh out loud funny. I’m often guilty of thinking I won’t enjoy a book if I’m not overly familiar with the topic it covers and as someone without a musical bone in my body going into this one, I was skeptical to say the least. Thrilled to report, I was so very wrong. This book was such a delight. A book that belongs in your beach bag, that you can gift to your mother-in-law, or reread over and over, can’t wait until it gets published and everyone else can meet and fall in love with Prudence Childs.

Thank you @netgalley and @randomhouse for this Advance Reader’s Copy! Can’t wait for its debut later this year! #thesecondending #michellehoffman #arc #netgalley #randomhouse

I didn't enjoy this book though I see many others did! Somehow I was expecting something a little deeper and insightful, but it is aiming for light and funny instead. I didn't find it that humorous because the writing didn't work for me (I found a lot of the pliot devices kind of stupid) and I didn't care for any of the people -- I found them fairly two dimensional and without some basic values that I appreciate! I was also hoping for something much more musical -- the artistic component, not the competitive, money making side. So really not my kind of book, though I can see that it would appeal to others. Sorry! I won't be passing my review on to my blog or goodreads -- I only post books there that I can review positively.

This book was great! I couldn't put it down! The premise was fresh and new, which is hard for me to say as I read so much each year! Sometimes it feels as though I keep reading similar stories, but this was a so original!

Our main character is eclectic, but in a good way. I enjoyed learning about her abilities and how they translated throughout her life. I appreciated that the author built on her character throughout and wove it into this story. Always wanting to know what came next. Thank you for the opportunity to read this one!

The Second Ending, novel by Michelle Hoffman, available June 13, 2023!

This book follows the story of Prudence Childs, former (although she hates that) child star and piano prodigy as she embarks on a twisted adventure to discover her passion for music and the piano again. This story weaves an intricate web, incorporating a jealous HOA president from the past, blackmail, an ex-lover, and a dueling piano contest with Alexi Petrov, a new piano maestro.

I enjoyed learning about each character, their complexities, and how they are all interrelated. We discover their commonalities and how they learn to deal with each other’s problems through one another. The way Hoffman weaves in their stories was interesting and I thought it was well written. I also liked that this was a musically driven story, so if you have a tendency to read books about music, I recommend it!

I also enjoyed the underlying humor in the story which gradually (and I mean gradually) unfolded. I did not like Prudence at first, but then as I got to know her, I got a sense for why she is the way she is and she grew on me. The plot was slow for me, culminating in ONE chapter about the dueling piano contest which left me with many questions!!!

This is NOT a romance novel and should not be labeled that way! Do not expect a love story that unfolds in a HEA. This is literary fiction!

Thank you so much to Ballentine (Random-House) and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced (e-)reader copy and a chance to rate and review this book!

3 ⭐️ 0 🌶

TikTok: Video is in draft, will release within 2 weeks of book release!
Amazon: (will post when book released)

GR: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5380609631
StoryGraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/d154233c-651d-4115-8878-6fb26360494b

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this. book.

My feelings about this book were kind of like working on a piano piece. At first, I was skeptical and kind of bored, but the more I read, the more compelling the read.

I loved how eccentric Prudence was, and how completely comfortable she was in her eccentricity. It was an interesting character study, with all of the characters being very well developed.

The vibe of the book felt to me like Where'd You Go, Bernadette?, which is not a bad comparison.

Even in the middle of the book, I was not sure I could give it a positive review, but just like a piano piece, once I finished, I could totally see the merits of the work. I loved the denouement.

Outstanding and memorable!

Prudence was a child prodigy, who played the piano for presidents and royalty around the globe. Due to a traumatic and disadvantaged early life, her fame waned, and after time she found comfort and stability in her family. That is until the past comes calling—will Prudence be ready for a “second ending”?

This book reminded me of, “Where’d you go Bernadette?” or a Steven Rowley novel. Hoffman is smart and whitty—her characters are well-developed and their lives and relationships are mesmerizing.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the advanced copy!