A fun story with magical realism that I found interesting and intriguing.
Main character, Sadie, gets the opportunity to repeat a year that was her worst year ever. What she encounters isn’t what she expected.
The story had romance, fun and lots of drama.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Sadie Thatcher is a pastry chef at an upper end restaurant in Manhattan. She has a serious boyfriend in Finance and an apartment she loves. Then her world comes toppling down and she ends up losing all three and living rent-free with her brother's best friend, jobless and depressed.

When she goes to a carnival theme party and happens across a fortune teller, she figures 'what the heck' and makes a wish to relive the prior year. What could go wrong, right?

I loved this story - the humor, the romance. I loved Sadie's character. Be forewarned that there are instances of sexual harassment in the workplace scattered throughout the story but the author handles the resolution well.

I highly recommend this book.

I received this Digital Review Copy from Forever/Grand Central Publishing through Net Galley in the hopes that I would read it and leave an unbiased review. This is that review.

I’ve honestly loved magical realism romances this year, and this one was no different! Loved the characters, the writing and the story overall.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This story follows Sadie, a pastry chef, who has just had the worst year ever. She lost her job, boyfriend, and apartment. She has been living with her brother’s best friend, Jacob. She goes to a New Year’s party, where she asks a fortune teller if she can redo the year. When she wakes up the next morning, she realizes the year has restarted. Now she has the chance to redo everything and make different decisions to keep her job and boyfriend.

I really enjoyed this story! It was fast paced, and kept me entertained. I really enjoyed seeing Sadie grow and mature throughout the book. Her relationship with Jacob is so sweet- I loved it.
I would totally recommend this for the holiday season, and to those who enjoy romance!

This book was such a fast-paced fun read, especially for this time of year! The concept of a second chance year and what it would mean to go back and re-live the past year to potentially change the past was really well done in this storyline. I loved how the storylines overlapped in a way that the character recognized, and yet diverged - since who would really know how other things change as you're changing your own story.

The romance element was really sweet - I wanted a little more of it! The surrounding cast of characters definitely helped to progress the story and gave an extra dimension that was really fun. I really enjoyed getting to see how the journey progressed throughout the second chance year and the character arc to ensure that things ended up working out the way that they should have all along.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever Pub for the eARC and for the chance to read this book!

I really enjoyed this audio book! The narrator really captivated the story, it was very well written. I found the book to be very relatable on many levels. It was an easy listen. I got this on NetGalley and I am glad that I did!

This book was a breath of fresh air. If was the perfect book to read as we get ready for a new year. It was fun and sweet and brought out all the emotions! The author crafted a brilliant cast of secondary characters and really nails the found family theme. She also doesn’t shy away from some tough topics like sexual harassment in the workplace and gaslighting. Sadie learns so much about herself and the importance of staying true to your core values even when it’s difficult. This is the third time travel themed book I’ve read in a row and this was absolutely blew the others out of the water. It’s not that the author wrote anything especially groundbreaking but it all worked together to make for a really satisfying reading experience.

I love any kind of magical realism or time travel book, so this was the perfect read for this holiday season.

Sadie wishes for a do over on her worst year, so when she wakes up at the beginning of the bad year, she is going to make it the best year instead of the worst.

Perfect if you like:
-Magical realism
-Found family
-Talk of desserts
-Spunky female main character
-Swoon worthy male character
-New York setting

Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central publishing for the ARC!

I read this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I was scared going into this book, worried that the author wouldn’t be able to get the time traveling part right. Well, she nailed it, and I couldn’t put this book down. It was fun, kick-ass, had an adorable MMC, and great side characters. It was the perfect book for the mood I was in. Yes to happy endings!

Thank you to the publisher, Forever Books. I appreciate the gifted paperback ARC, and I am leaving this review voluntarily!

1. 𝐁𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐖𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐅𝐨𝐫 - Even though there are things I wish would never have occurred in my life, I would never go back and change it because the path of my life would probably be different.

2. 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐄𝐲𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐚𝐲 𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 - The things that a person could pick up on if they just allowed a tad bit of attentiveness. Sadie could have made some change the first time around!

3. 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭 𝐀𝐧𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐥 - I think Sadie is my spirit human. Prefers sneakers over Louboutins. 1000%. Lady A’s song “Champagne Night” spells out ME to a TEE, and I think Sadie would agree!

4. 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐬 - It is unfortunate how families don’t always see the damage that they inflict with little nuances that are demeaning and hurtful. And those that make someone feel pressure to always be the best. Either way, each person should be valued for what they accomplish in their lives.

5. 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 - It often comes when a person least expects it, and oftentimes, from a place you’d least expect! What can I say…this love story had me swooning and cheering from the sidelines! ❤️🎆🎇❤️

I thought this was a great story. Sadie has had a no good, very bad year and takes a chance on a wish to do it over again. Surprisingly, she gets to do that and learns how decisions affect not just her life but other people in her life. This was a favorite of mine.

Second Chance Year is an endearing read. Sadie’s year has not gone well and she vegs out watching Golden Girls, ignoring signs the universe is sending her. Until she gets a do over year and learns some new hard lessons about herself, her family, and her choices.
I liked Sadie most of the time and didn’t fault her for not realizing what was under her nose the entire time.
I loved the people in the coffee shop, especially Mrs. Kaminski.
Jacob was a doll who wore his heart on a sleeve.
It’s a great story about figuring out what works and what doesn’t in life because we don’t get retakes, we just keep moving forward and make better decisions.

I absolutely loved this book. I finished it in a day because I couldn't stop listening to it. It's such a good story. I 100% will be recommending it to others. I especially love the lesson in it that most things you might want are probably not good for you and that there is a reason why they were removed from your life.

I will read another Wiesner book for sure.

It was fine but I guess I wanted something different going into this. I think I was sadly just not in the mood to read this type of book right now.

“Have you ever wished for something so badly, only to finally get it and realize it’s maybe not what you wanted after all?”

Sadie Thatcher’s life is going south. So when she comes across a fortune teller offering her a seductive, solitary wish, she jumps at the chance without giving it a second thought. Her request? A singular do over of the last 365 days- a redemptive chance to right the wrongs of her life.

Then the impossible happens and her wish is granted, waking up to a not so distant past. It’s a place where things seemed perfect in both her personal and professional life. With this gift of time, Sadie has the opportunity to avoid the pitfalls that propelled her toward her decidedly unpleasant present.

But as Sadie navigates her seminal second chance year, she begins to notice things, and people, she didn’t the first time around. Suddenly these observations make her question not only the past and present, but her fortuitous future. They say to be careful what you wish for. Does Sadie dare to dream for all her wishes can still come true?

The Second Chance Year is a time travel tinged romance that explores the what if wonderment we’ve all entertained at some point in our lives. So many people look back on the past with fondness instead of embracing the present. This story reminds us every decision we make defines who we are. While a tempting prospect, learning from one’s mistakes is often understated, and underrated.

Although the trope has been done before, The Second Chance Year is one of the better attempts at getting it right the first time around.

Sadie gets a second chance at her worst year ever, a chance to change it and get what she wanted. But as the year progresses she realises she didn't want it anymore and may have lost the person for her. Great read.

This was a cute slow burn of a story. I haven't read a brother's best friend second chance romance in awhile so this was a nice change. The writing style was really well put together and I like that each chapter went by the month to start the year over for Sadie. I enjoyed both Sadie and Jacob's characters and the chemistry they had. Overall cute short and quick read and if you're looking for a second chance romance this one might be a good fit.

Usually, I don’t gravitate towards plot points that have a gimmicky magic twist to them aka time travel, etc. It’s just not my favorite. However, I’m glad I took a chance on this one because it was definitely worth the read! I loved seeing the character growth in our FMC, even if the time jumps felt a bit excessive at times. I loved that romance didn’t become the only thing she focused on, but it still didn’t take a complete backburner. Obviously it’s not anything steamy in the romance department, but it still didn’t feel bland or lacking. It felt a bit like a more grown-up 13 going on 30! This isn’t just a light and fluffy read, though everything is navigated very smoothly.

This is the perfect book for this time of year! I fell in love with Sadie from page one. She had me at Buttercream icing and Golden Girls!

Sadie is having one hell of a year. She lost her job, boyfriend, and apartment all at the same time! So she decides to go to a New Year’s party with her friend and she meets a fortune teller....(NOW, first off I will not lie. I kinda what to try a Buttered Popcorn Martini. 🍸 I blame the author)

This book did give me the movie Big vibes but so much better!! I absolutely love the journey that Melissa Wiesner took me on.

The fact that she wanted to go back a year and chance her luck....she brave! She brave!

I really liked how the character stood up for herself no matter what! Right is right and wrong is wrong. Sadie is a strong woman and I just adore her!

This books is definitely unforgettable! Oh and let’s not forget Jacob....he is dreamy and perfect!

A book on self discovery and a little bit of magic! Often predictable but still a great read. If you're looking for an easy, light hearted read, this ones for you.