A heartwarming story of second chances. Clever, funny, inspiring. Great characters and a relatable story. Beautifully written and thought provoking.

This is a strong story of second chances, or maybe even third or fourth. It has a light-hearted feel with clever, snarky humor that made me chuckle, while probing deeper issues of familial expectations and trauma. I thoroughly fell in love with Prudence and wish we could go out for drinks, though she could absolutely drink me under the table. I also fell in love with her husband (not the ex!), who seemed to understand and care for her in ways I haven't seen as much in novels lately. The "mid-life" protagonist is one I relate to in many ways, and I found this story to be a bit of a comfort read.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I first started reading this book, but I was definitely NOT disappointed. What a heartwarming book. I think this book will leave readers pleasantly surprised as it is not as predictable as the reader may think. I would definitely recommend this to my patrons at the library.

The Second Ending was incredibly heartwarming and very funny. Michelle Hoffman created such an interesting cast of characters - some more entertaining and charming than others - but all of the intertwined storylines made this a very fun read. Most of the characters thankfully learn some important lessons along the way as well. Thank you to Ballantine Books, Random House, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this novel.

I love second chances. Whether that’s in love, chasing your dreams, or just life.

The Second Ending does just that. It shows the power of a second chance. Prudence was a child protege. She played at the White House and all over before she was 12 years old and yet she fell out of love with the music because she felt like she was being forced to do it.

Similarly, you meet Alexei. He wasn’t a natural with the music, but he was determined and strategic. He worked hard to be the best, but his family’s expectations were overwhelming to say the least.

But, when the two marvels of music find themselves preparing to duel with their pianos? Life takes an unexpected turn toward a happy ending for both our musicians.

What a deeply meaningful book. I thought I was getting light, fluffy romance, but what I got was even better. I loved this story and (most) of the characters. If you read one romance book this year, pick this one!

Prudence Childs was a child prodigy but pushed out of her career by a domineering grandmother. Alexei Petrov has worked hard to make his Russian parents proud. They gave up everything for him. Now he has a popular reality TV show featuring dueling pianos. When Prudence is challenged to be one of the pianists, she isn't sure she still has the talent. The attention dredges up her ex-husband who is ready to blackmail her for a million dollars. What follows is a hilarious and heartwarming trip to the dueling piano finals.

A child prodigy grown into a bored empty nester realizes all kinds of excitement with a televised piano competition, a scheming ex and a bid to keep her reputation intact. Not a bad story, but a bit boring in the writing and the characters weren’t the most likable. It was just okay for me.

I thought this was a fun read! It is a story about second chances and standing up for yourself. It had some funny parts to it which I also enjoyed.

Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC of this book!

This was a fun read that had me laughing out loud a lot. It's about music, dreams, hopes, and not giving up. It was a little bit slow but overall an enjoyable read. Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC.

This book is laugh out loud funny and made me cackle more than once with Prudence and her crazy antics. It gave me a Desperate Housewives feel with the multiple storylines intertwined and the humor. Definitely a fun read that has some more serious themes underneath.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

I went into this sort of hoping for a romcom/contemporary romance type of feel, but this was definitely not that! It’s a story about hope, second chances, and standing up for yourself. There are multiple perspectives written in third person, and I really enjoyed seeing the different character plot lines developing separately. Normally I love first person POV for this, but it was a unique writing style and felt unique and new.

I struggled to connect with the characters. It was a fun and enjoyable story, but I just didn’t feel like I connected with any of the characters so I did feel like that took away from the story a little bit. I also thought some aspects weren’t the most believable (the blackmail and revenge, the HOA, the competition), but it was a quirky story with quirky characters, so I tried to just go along with it. Overall this was an okay read for me, with some funny moments and some emotional moments that I really enjoyed.

This book was incredibly slow and hard to read. I was initially pulled in by the description but couldn’t get more than halfway through it.

Prudence Childs is depressed. With both her daughters away at school and her husband traveling frequently, she feels like her life is over. Then her secret ex-husband shows up at the door threatening to blackmail her, and she realizes that her life as she knew it may actually be over.

Piano virtuoso Alexei has an unfulfilling career on a reality show, Dueling Pianos. Former prodigy Prudence agrees to compete, as a quick way to earn the money to pay off her ex. An HOA enforcer with a grudge against Prudence muddies the waters, as does Alexei's newfound affection for drinking shots and beers at sports bars.

This is an entertaining novel with a happy, though seemingly abrupt, ending. The backstory seemed excessive in relation to its quick resolution. But this was a fun, unique read. #TheSecondEnding #NetGalley

Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Women Fiction
Setting: Arizona
Time: Current Day
Format: 📖
Release Date: May 30, 2023
Length: 337 Pages

The Second Ending is Michelle Hoffman’s debut novel. It is the story of two classic trained pianist; one a forty-eight year a former pianist prodigy, Prudence Childs who once as a very young child graced the likes of the White House and TV shows that inspired others. But once Prudence understood how her grandmother was pushing and manipulating her, she left home and became a famous and wealthy commercial jingle writer. The other is young twenty-two year old Russian pianist, Alexei Petrov – a theorical perfectionist. As an internet success Alexei has a large following, but like Prudence he has his problem as well .. demanding parent, no friends, or hobbies only a life dedicated to his music.

As these two pianists face the challenge of a new reality show - Alexei Petrov's Dueling Piano Wars; first they must both face their personal predicaments and prove to domineering and controlling family members, x-husbands, x-girlfriends and to themselves having a successful ending is always within reach. The Second Ending is a story about what the power of music can do to finding joy again and second chances.

I had my difficulties getting through this novel and because it was a NetGalley book I finished it. The beginning had lengthy backstories that could have been edited down. The last half picked up a bit but found the ending rather anticlimactic. Honestly, I did not find the story very engaging.

Thank you, Michelle Hoffman, Ballantine and NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This novel is due to be released on May 30, 2023.

A wonderful story of music, hopes, dreams, and not giving up. I loved it.
Many thanks to Random House and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

🎹 The Second Ending - Michelle Hoffman

3 ⭐️ - This book was super quirky and fun. A story about second chances later in life has lots of inspirational messages and a lighthearted plot. It was fun, spunky, a little mysterious, and upbeat.

Prudence Child was once the most famous kindergartner on the planet. After teaching herself to play the piano at the age of three, she performed for major celebrities and inspired young children to learn the instrument. As she grew older though, she came to see how her talents were being exploited. Now, at age 48 with her daughters away at college, she is desperate to reconnect with her talent and agrees to be on a dueling piano TV show. Unfortunately, her re-found fame has caught the attention of her money hungry, blackmailing ex husband. Can Prudence win the show, take down her ex, and find her love for the piano again?

This book was really cute and fun. It has piece of mystery and twisty plots. It had a fun adventure of finding yourself and your passion. It reminded me a lot of Where’d You Go, Bernadette?! Prudence is fun, spunky, strong and driven. I enjoyed her story and her love of music. Chapter titles with musical related names was fun too! Overall, a cute summer read!

The Second Ending is just as much about second beginnings, and I loved it! Prudence Childs was a world famous pianist by the time she was in kindergarten. Mis-managed and exploited, Prudence found herself writing jingles as a young adult and then withdrawing completely to become a wife and mother. Alexei Petrov is an internet sensation and star of a new reality show where he faces off in a weekly piano duel. Alexei has his own demons that haunt him from childhood. As luck would have it, the two are destined to cross paths.

There is a mystery element to this novel as well as good character development. I really enjoyed this quick read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine books for an advanced e-copy of this book.

The story of a childhood piano prodigy getting a second chance at fame on her own terms when she competes on a TV show. Some characters were annoying, and some were charming. Cute story.

Hoffman's novel is about facing dark realities, entering uncharted territory, leaning on music as a solace, and welcoming new beginnings. The Second Ending was fun and full of heart.

Prudence Childs was a prodigy. She taught herself to play the piano as a toddler, became famous, played at the White House, and appeared on television. She inspired a generation to take up the piano.

Then she realized her grandmother was exploiting her and she broke from both her family and her fame. She fell into a career writing jingles--creatively unsatisfying but it paid the bills.

Decades later, Prudence's dark past threatens to upend her peaceful, if uneventful, adult life.

One thing leads to another and she agrees to participate in a popular televised dueling piano competition--against Alexei Petrov, a young Russian pianist who has flawless technique. But Alexei's parents have always pushed him so ruthlessly, he never made friends or developed a life outside of music.

When the two face off, they each have something to prove--to their families, their exes, those who have doubted them--and to themselves.

There are a number of appealingly zany hijinks here as well as a surprising amount of heart. The Second Ending is about self-discovery, facing dark truths, taking a terrifying leap out of the safety of what is known, and opening the door to a boundless, uncharted future. I really enjoyed this.

I received a prepublication edition of this book courtesy of NetGalley and Ballantine Books.

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