The novel reminded me of a musical version of Where Did You Go, Bernadette? It started off strong and I enjoyed the main characters Alexei and Prudence and their struggles with music, their parents, fame, and relationships in general. The character's interactions with those immediately around them and certain people from their past were engaging when allowed.

I wanted to love it and I did enjoy it until the end, which felt rushed and forced so every character got an ending. Some endings felt like they deserved a bit more to them as I felt the characters themselves earned them. As a reader, I wanted to know what steps took place since there was a bit more dramatic build-up then silence, and then everybody got an ending. Then there were a few characters like Bobby and Tamara that irritated the hell out of me and that was also a bit of the problem as they did push the plot forward as the book went on but the characters themselves were so unlikeable they felt like literary road bumps. But I also feel like some side characters should have been developed a bit more as they were key to both the main characters' development and current state.

Overall, a middle-of-the-road read.

I received a copy from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest opinion.

I had a hard time getting through this book. It just did not hold my interest. I know it will be a very good story for some. Different strokes for different folks.

Two music prodigies facing personal crises agree to compete on a new reality TV show focused on dueling pianos. As they each get ready to go on the show, they realize the only way their talents can really shine is if they deal with their darkest fears. Author Michelle Hoffman offers readers a deeper look at the music performance world in the somewhat successful book The Second Ending.

In Arizona, Prudence Childs is adrift. She’s just sent her younger child off to college, and now she’s an empty nester. Her husband, Stuart, adores her but is busy in his career in the investment world. Prudence wishes she could find something to take away this weird version of the baby blues.

The fleeting thought of returning to the piano comes to mind, but Prudence immediately nixes it. A child prodigy, Prudence traveled the world and played for many VIPs all before her teen years. It’s taken decades to undo some of the conditioning that her cruel, overbearing grandmother ground into her. Prudence loves the piano—nowhere else is she as free or as creative—but Granny Childs caused enough damage to make Prudence question herself, and now the former child star wants nothing to do with Mozart or the rest of those guys.

She hasn’t completely left music behind. With her fine-tuned ear, Prudence created ad jingles for some of the biggest brands. The job allowed her to put herself through school and gain independence in those early years when Granny Childs told Prudence she couldn’t do anything on her own. She’s proud of those jingles, even if they aren’t exactly concert-hall material. With both kids gone now, though, Prudence is starting to realize that maybe she does miss the concert hall a little bit.

Across state lines, Russian piano sensation Alexei Petrov is wrapping up the newest season of his reality TV show where musicians battle it out on pianos. Audience votes determine who wins, and people tune in every week to see the gorgeous Alexei put the musicians in their place. A quirky concept that no one predicted would take off, the show has made Alexei a star and given classical music a reboot.

But Alexei isn’t happy. In fact, he doesn’t feel much of anything. He’s too busy practicing and performing to do much more than, well, practice an perform. His mother, Tatiana, did what she had to do to make sure Alexei developed his talent. His musical prowess allowed the family to escape the oppression in Russia for a better life. Now Tatiana, Alexei’s de facto manager, believes Alexei needs to pay his parents back for all their sacrifices. Which means both financially and musically.

Prudence and Alexei are both facing burnout, but they both undergo circumstances that reveal why they can’t quit the piano just yet. What’s more, they’ll both have to compete on the TV show if they want to keep their secrets intact and their reputations pristine. As they practice and prepare, they realize maybe the way to get back to their music is to go forward, face their greatest fears and their biggest naysayers, and allow their talents to soar.

Author Michelle Hoffman builds levity in the dual point-of-view storyline. Readers will find themselves chuckling at some of the revelations and challenges that Alexei and Prudence face, which hide the tragedies of their childhoods. The spotlight stays on both characters in the present, but the sadder moments of their earlier years keep edging into view from the shadows.

Although the book alternates between Prudence and Alexei, an omniscient narrator steps in frequently to tell readers what’s happening. Sometimes the omniscient narration works; sometimes it doesn’t. This unevenness might force some readers to go back and reread sentences in order to move forward, causing them to be pulled out of the book completely.

Also, at times the book feels like it’s skating across the surface of its plot. Some of the side characters—Prudence’s octogenarian piano teacher for one—deserved more development and time on the page. There’s also the question of Granny Childs. She terrorized Prudence in her childhood but gets no time on the page in the present, which may lead some readers to wonder about her.

Overall, the book does provide a lighthearted read and some lovely surprises. The relationship between Prudence and Stuart is sweet, and Alexei’s pining for his one true love will endear him to readers. Those looking for a beach read set in the world of classical music might enjoy this one.

This sounded interesting enough but character driven stories with very little action are not my thing. There’s so much backstory that nothing really happens in the future for the first half of the book. I enjoyed the parts where she would play the piano and wow people but there wasn’t very much of that. I almost gave up on this one but I am glad I didn’t because the last 25% picked up and the parts revolving around the two of them together was great. The ending definitely saved this one for me and I grew to love Prudence and Alexei.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for the digital ARC of “The Second Ending”. I have really come to love stories with a quirky female as the lead character. Prudence was a real hoot, but her compassion and love for music was the key to her connections with those she came into contact with in life. The supporting cast of characters and their viewpoints helped to make this an entertaining read, but it also had a lot of heart. I will recommend this to my reader friends.

"The Second Ending" by Michelle Hoffman is a debut novel centered around second chances. The two main characters, Prudence and Alexei, each have unique backgrounds and paths in the music industry. While I appreciated the portrayal of the music teachers and the book's concept, there were subplots that distracted from the main storyline. Some characters, like Alexei's parents, added depth, but others felt unnecessary. The writing style reminded me of "Where'd You Go, Bernadette," which wasn't to my liking. Nevertheless, the book has a distinctiveness that could translate well into a TV movie. The eye-catching and music-themed cover deserves a mention.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the eARC.

I'll be honest, I thought I was going to be reading a romantic comedy of some kind when I picked this book up. Maybe I misunderstood the synopsis, but this book was not that. This was a hard to describe novel full of quirkiness and a main character who was complex and layered. I found myself invested in the characters and their relationships. I moved through pretty quickly!

3.5/5 maybe 4 stars. :)

What a fun read! Read like a 90's rom-com without the rom. Loved the song titles at the beginning of each chapter and all of the music referenced throughout the book. Love the friendships that unexpectedly developed along the way. Loved the complexity of the main character, Prudence. She was quirky, but she wasn't only quirk - she had an incredible heart and eyes to see others with compassion. What I didn't care for was the lack of a single accomplished pianist that actually had loving, supporting parents. Not every parent is a "tiger mom!" But, overall thoroughly enjoyed this one - perfectly timed for summer reading. Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books/Random House for the ARC.

A game show contest between pianists made for a great read. There are a number of subplots on each side of the competition that added to the quest for victory and sped the narrative along. An enjoyable battle, complete with parent issues, romantic issues, jealousy, secret pasts, deceptions…the two competitors face them all. A page turner.

This book is a little hard to describe, but don’t let the cover fool you - it’s not at all a rom com, more of a quirky character novel. It’s primarily about, and told from the perspectives of, two very different people who both have talent on the piano - Prudence, a now 49 year old newly empty nester who was a famous piano prodigy as a child but abandoned it and became a jingle writer; and Alexei, a talented pianist in his 20s who is now hosting a piano-based reality tv competition show. But we also see occasional chapters from the perspectives of other characters, like Prudence’s ex-husband and current husband, the neighborhood HOA President with a vendetta against her, and the reality tv exec who has the idea to have Prudence compete with Alexei on his show. But at heart, it’s really about Prudence and Alexei and each of their struggles with their talent, family expectations, and even their identity as they search for their “second ending.”

This was just such a quirky and unique one, and I really enjoyed it! (And am also amazed that a debut novelist got such a hard to categorize book published!) I loved the characters, the funny moments, and the descriptions of piano playing that were really vivid even for a piano novice like me. It has a little bit of the zany farcical feel of Amy Poeppel’s The Sweet Spot or Elinor Lipman’s books, so if you like either of those, I bet you’ll like this one, and vice versa.

Bravo to Michelle Hoffman, Author of “The Second Ending,” for writing an entertaining, witty, and thought-provoking novel. I love how the author ties in the universal benefits of music with hope, second chances, forgiveness, the importance of friends and family, positivity, and fulfilling one’s dreams. “The Second Ending” reads like a “spoof” or dark satire, and the author uses wit, humor, and the characters’ past experiences to show us the highs and lows of life.

The author visually describes her colorful and dark characters as complex, complicated, quirky, flawed, and resourceful. Prudence Childs was a famous and talented child pianist known for writing some jingles that made her a fortune. Brought up by her manipulative and ruthless grandmother, Prudence ran away and found herself in a different type of trouble. As her children leave for college, Prudence is encouraged by her husband to find herself again.

Alexei Petrov, a Russian pianist with TV and internet fame, also has been pressured by his parents to demonstrate his talent. Alexei has worked so hard that he has no time for friends or other hobbies.

Somehow, fate intervenes, and Prudence and Alexei will be “facing off” on television to see who has the most talent. Prudence has some secrets from her husband, and Alexei has resentment towards his parents. The winner will have a million dollars and “prestige.” Prudence and Alexei not only have to do their best, but some people are out for revenge, which can cause complications and challenges. Just like music uses sounds and silence that express emotions, Prudence and Alexei have to find a balance for harmony in their lives. I highly recommend this memorable and thought-provoking novel.

"When someone tells us we can't do something, why do we accept it?"

Prudence is a 48 year old pianist who was once a child prodigy. From the age of 3 she could play the piano, but after years of being exploited by her horrible grandmother, she still finds it hard to play and believe in her talent.

Alexei Petrov is a 22 year old Russian pianist who's been managed by his domineering mother and grew up having to practice, never having the experiences of a normal childhood. He, too, has doubts about his abilities.

One was born to play the piano, one was trained to play. Neither of them understand how talented they are, or how free their music can make them. What I loved about this novel is the idea that inside each of us is a dream, and along the way there are people who will support you in achieving this dream, and people who won't. There are people who want to profit from you, or there are the people who want to celebrate you. This novel is about the power of the arts, the power of a dream, and the power of believing in yourself.

The characters are quirky, and sometimes find themselves in ridiculous situations, but overall it's a charming story about second chances.

Thank you, Netgalley, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Prudence and her husband Stuart have just become empty nesters, and it’s pushed Prudence completely over the edge. Prudence is a child prodigy on the piano, but pushed to the edge of endurance by her grandmother, Prudence has not performed in public since she was nineteen. When approached to perform live on TV on Alexei Petrov’s Dueling Wars! against Alexei himself, Prudence isn’t at all interested. She is planning to start a book club after all 🙃. But when she find out she needs to win the million dollar prize, she’s in it to win it. Alexei is young and not as talented as Prudence, but, he too, needs the prize money. Welcome to the duel of the century! What a marvelous debut by Hoffman! Uniquely different with a cast of delightful characters, this book has it all without hitting one sour note🎶Thank you to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

The Second Ending is a funny and fun read and one that I recommend for when readers are looking for a light and enjoyable novel. The music background definitely added to may enjoyment here. Readers will root for Prudence and Alexei as they turn the pages here.

Both of these pianists showed extraordinary potential. Each then made some decisions that let their more aspirational careers falter. Prudence, a former child prodigy, sold a jingle which did make her rich but…while Alexei is doing cheesy reality TV. Prudence is in her 40s while Alexei is in his twenties. They come together on the TV show. What will happen to them and their lives? Will they find their way back to the lives that they want? Read this very entertaining title to find out. It will be worth it.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for this title. All opinions are my own.

The Second Ending by Michelle Hoffman was comedy and drama all bound together. This felt like real-life. The characters were relatable and well developed. I am not a huge fan of music, but I could feel the passion and desire for the piano and the feelings it can emit with an amazing pianist at the keys. The ending was satisfying. Highly recommend this book about dreams and how to achieve them with pressure from the outside.

***** I received an ARC from NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my honest review. *****

Prudence was a child prodigy who taught herself to play piano at age three. She had become so famous that she even played at the White House. As she got older, she realized she was pushed into playing because of her grandmother. Now she is pushing 50 years old, an empty nester, and she is just trying to find some happiness in her life. This is when she turns back to the piano. She decides to compete in one of the biggest tv shows, a dueling piano competition.

Once we begin to learn about the tv show we learn more about her rival. His name is Alexei and he has gone viral for playing piano. We learn he is dealing with some personal issues as well. For instance, his parents pushed him to play piano so he lost most of his childhood and the opportunity to make lifelong friends while he was young.

This story is told from multiple points of view but it doesn’t get confusing. Everything flows very nicely throughout the story.

This is a fun and sweet story about self-discovery and never giving up on your dreams, no matter how old you are.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Ballantine for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I adored this book. It focuses on two very different pianists with complicated backgrounds. Prudence is a prodigy who feels music and her audience always gets swept up in her playing. However, after fleeing her tiger grandmother, she leaves music behind to marry and raise a family. Alexei is a Russian pianist who is very strong technically but is emotionally stunted. As an adult he is responsible for supporting his parents who left Russia behind and push him to achieve success. With his good looks he became an internet sensation and hosts a popular music show. His music is his entire life. Prudence and Alexei end up as competitors on his show. They both have complicated lives from their upbringings but their love of music is infectious and they both have a great deal of influence on others. You can't help but root for both Prudence and Alexei as they learn to stand up for themselves and find their own place in the music world. There are some very quirky side characters and two entertaining dogs. This is a charming story and I had trouble putting it down. I kept wanting to know what would happen next. This is a feel good book, and you won't regret picking it up.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for an advance copy. My opinion is my own.

I did not like this book. I read 40% and stopped reading due to not liking the writing style.
I hope everyone still reads it was just not a read I liked.

The Second Ending by Michelle Hoffman

This is a feel-good story about a women named Prudence Childs who was a child piano prodigy. Even with her talent it wasn't easy she had an overbearing grandmother who was abusive. Prudence has kept her past life a secret until her past confronts her head on. Mainly with her ex-husband who supposedly has a letter that she wasn't the creator of a jingle that she made tons of money off of. Her ex-husband was getting ready to expose her as a fraud.

Prudence lacked confidence in herself and her ability to play piano. She finds herself in a situation where she needs to win a tv show that is about the best piano players. She goes against a young Russian prodigy that she needs to beat to win the 1-million-dollar prize. When prudence plays piano, she makes people feel the music it is played with so much emotion that is her gift.

When first reading this book, I wasn't sure I would like it but, in the end, I found myself cheering for Prudence. She is 50 and trying to prove her worth and talent. This made me believe in Prudence and her ability to play music that makes you feel it in your bones.

There are parts of the book that you laugh at, and I did laugh at times the story became really serious. The serious parts make you want to cry for Prudence her life crisis and the pickle she finds herself in. is Prudence a fraud? Does she have real talent? You will find the answers to these questions is this must-read emotional story about second chances. This is a five-star read for me and this is one of the better second chance stories I have read in a while. This is why I would recommend this book it is a well written emotional second chances book that gives you all the emotional feels.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine for a free copy of The Second Ending for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

The story starts with Prudence, a former child piano prodigy who is experiencing a mid-life crisis now that both of her daughters have left home. She wants to start a book club but can't even get herself to get that moving. Then it shifts to Alexei, a current piano prodigy from Russia who is the star of a tv show where he competes against other piano players and always wins. To keep the show moving into a second season, the showrunner looks for another player and finds out about Prudence. The rest of the book is about both Prudence and Alexei experiencing a lot of growth as they prepare for this competition. My synopsis sounds kind of dry but this book was anything but. It kind of reminded me of 'Where'd You Go, Bernadette' where everyone operates in kind of a moral gray area but you learn to love each character through various zany scenes and thought-provoking scenarios. The plot meandered through a few other POVs but they all came together towards the end. I really enjoyed this story. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for my honest review.