Recipes for Second Chances is a heart-warming story set mainly set in Italy and New York City. The book follows Stella and Samuel who meet during their college years in New York City. After a brief love affair, they part ways when on wants to commit and the other (through life circumstances) wants to wait essentially because of fear. After years of separation, a trip Italy to attend a wedding of mutual friends brings Stella and Samuel together. Throughout the book, you are rooting for Stella and Samuel as they work through their struggles. Ali Rosen has created a wonderful world of a group of mutual friends - hopefully a couple of sequels are in the works because Hadley, Elena, Cat and Sophie need their own stories to be told.

If you want a feel good romance (with a little angst) with a wonderful Italian backdrop, then Recipes for a Second Chance is the book for you.

I loved the descriptions of food and lush Italian countryside.

Unfortunately, I did not enjoy or believe the chemistry between Stella and Samuel (in the past or present). This would have been more successful for me with more focus on Stella's career and professional growth and without the romance.

Thank you to Montlake and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

Recipe for Second Chances by debut author A. Rosen, published by Montlake is a beautiful second chances story.
Stella Park is in Italy attending the wedding of a friend. And there she meets Samuel Gordon again.
10 years ago she broke his heart, but it's never too late. Being pushed together by friends and family. Could he be worth the risk?
A wonderful slow burn that gives all the feels.

The title for this book is perfect as it is a second chance romance for an associate editor at a food magazine. Stella Park meets Samuel Gordon when their friends begin a relationship. Her friend group all attended boarding school together. Samuel is just starting law school and Stella is heading to Scotland for culinary studies. They have a few dates before she leaves and their connection is intense. Timing isn’t on their side, but stay connected through daily emails. Fast forward to nine years later and their mutual friends are now having a beautiful destination wedding in Italy. Of course there is a chance to get things right when it didn’t work out before.

These are two opposites. Stella is so afraid of getting hurt after being part of the traumatic fallout from her sister’s marriage failing. It has made her determined to only do casual dating. Samuel is the opposite and I love his willingness to be all in. His first letter to Stella is a highlight, making this reader swoon. The story jumps back and forth in time telling so pay attention to the when as you read each chapter. The author is an award winning cookbook author and makes the food in this sound amazing. I’m not sure I totally bought into how much her sister’s marriage loss impacts Stella but I decided to go with the author's reasoning. Overall, a sweet open door romance with limited descriptions. It is a quick read and I enjoyed it.

I love supporting debut authors and really, this author needs no introduction because you probably already know her as a cookbook author and a TV personality!

From the beginning, you know that you have your hands on a second chance romance and it doesn’t take long to figure out it’s between Stella Park, an associate editor at a food magazine, and Samuel Gordon, an intellectual property lawyer who also happens to be Stella’s best friend’s best friend! The story flips back and forth between the present day and nine years ago when they met…and yes, they get a second chance.

What I loved the best (that most people didn’t ‘get’) … Stella suffers from anxiety and it impedes her flow of rational thought and causes her to erect walls to protect herself. I don’t think I’ve ever identified with a character so much before and it brought me to tears.

Rosen highlights:
✔️ those friends who are always there for you, lifting you up even when you need it and knowing how to rally you despite your anxiety
✔️those of us who allow the fear of nervousness and panic stop us from moving forward
✔️those of us who sit back and live the cautious approach to life
✔️the necessity of grabbing our own happiness with both hands
✔️the exhaustion of living a life of self-reliance and on the defence rather than on the offence
✔️those who allow their job to consume them, refusing to deal with their personal life
✔️those who feel the need to have control in their life

If all you get from this book is an appreciation of Rosen’s vivid descriptions of the food, the Indian/Italian wedding or the Umbrian countryside, you’re doing well. BUT, if you can learn a bit more about those of us who suffer from anxiety and see our indifference as a coping mechanism, you’ve really seen Stella for what the author wanted you to see.

Stella’s words to Samuel echo mine to my amazing husband - “Thank you for making me less afraid in every part of my life.”

I hope you take a chance on this rising star and that Stella and Samuel’s story either resonates with you or guides you when dealing with loved ones or friends with anxiety. At the very least, I hope you enjoy the recipes the author so kindly included. Salute!

Keep writing! We need your stories, Ali Rosen.

I was gifted this copy by Montlake and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5949047440

Oh to get lost in a little bit of romance. This was just the story I was looking for, after an October filled with psychological thrillers and witchy reads. If you are a fan of "the one who got away" or second chance romances, this book is for you. It's complicated and a little bit messy, but endearing at the same time. As a mom of young ladies, Samuel exudes the love and patience that you hope your daughters are lucky enough to find. For an extra surprise, you are treated to a yummy bonus at the end. Deliziosa!

RECIPE FOR SECOND CHANCES is a sweet and fast read of a second chance love, ten years later in beautiful Italy. In a decade some things change and some things don't, including Stella and Samuel's love. From the moment Stella and Samuel met the very first time, I was invested in them and their story. Although they don't have the easiest path, their undeniable connection is worth fighting for and overcoming their fears.

To get through life, Stella keeps her work and love life safe and guarded, never getting too close to any sort of risk. For that reason, Stella can only do casual relationships, and Samuel only wants to be with her if she's all in. I found Stella to be very relatable personally. I loved Samuel and found him so sweet and endearing. I admired how he wanted to properly court Stella and how confident he was in himself and what we wants... and never confident in an arrogant way, a true gentleman. And Samuel's first letter to Stella?!!


I so appreciated the reminder that you should never be afraid to bet on yourself and that "you're strong enough to take some leaps."

Thank you to Montlake and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

An interesting Second Chance romance.

This was just weird to me. Maybe it's because I didn't see Spoleto in the same light (since I did get Covid while there),but the time jumps had me confused sometimes. I guess I've been reading too many second chance romances and they aren't hitting as hard.

Additional thoughts, I don't like feminist that hate on Disney. It's a me thing.

Thank you NetGalley for the e-arc version of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.