I absolutely loved this book! This being the first book I read by this Author TJ Alexander definitely made a great first impression. I am living for the LGBTQIA+ representation.

If you're seeking a heartwarming romance that embraces second chances, this novel is a delightful choice! In Second Chances in New Port Stephen, T.J. Alexander weaves a heartwarming tale of family, love, and rediscovery.

Meet Eli Ward, a trans man, who reluctantly returns to his stifling Florida hometown for Christmas. His career took an unexpected nosedive. Post-transition and sober, he now faces the challenge of surviving his boisterous yet well-intentioned family while concealing the nightmare his dreams have become.

Meet Nick Wu. Divorced and in his forties, he is juggling fatherhood, work, and the complexities of life. His reunion with Eli sparks a second chance at love, as they grapple with past memories, prejudice, and the possibility of a future together.

Alexander's writing is wholeheartedly honest, capturing the essence of being a transmasculine person in Florida. Yet, despite the weighty themes, the novel remains buoyant. This is a delightful holiday romp that never gets bogged down. The exploration of divorce, sobriety, and the power of forgiveness adds depth to this charming romance.

Second Chances in New Port Stephen is a delectable blend of nostalgia, laughter, and hope. Whether you're sipping cocoa by the fireplace or lounging on a sunny beach, this book is a perfect companion for the holiday season.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for a temporary e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I feel like I haven’t a lot of romance novels with older trans characters. They always seem to be 20 or early 30 somethings. But it was so incredibly refreshing to read a book where both main characters are in their 40s.

Eli is returning back to his hometown of New Port Stephen, down on his luck career-wise. He’s post-transition and sober, and not at all wanting to face the people who he left behind years ago. But one of the people he runs into is his ex high school sweetheart, Nick. The two rekindle their friendship and well, we know how this story goes.

I found this book so charming and fun. I loved the relationship building between Eli and Nick, the wanting but not knowing if they were allowed to be wanting. I know they’re in their 40s, but it was like watching two high schoolers find themselves and fumble through it, which makes sense since they were high school sweethearts.

This story is one of exes who reunite after one has transitioned. It’s about finding your way back together when you knew each other so well decades earlier. It’s about how you can grow into yourself and end up being more of yourself than you ever thought possible. I loved this.

Wonderful story, great character development, great writing! Highly recommend this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it

Thank you Atria for the gifted copy.

I really enjoyed this book! A trans male MC, an Asian queer/demi/questioning MC, lots of other rep, the cutest parents, an even cuter kid, second chance, kind of holiday read? What's not to love?

Eli (post transition) returns home for the holidays, and runs into his high school ex/former BFF, Nick. There's still lots of chemistry there, which is evident when they start hanging out. Nick is dealing with his own issues, and the closer him and Eli get, the more he starts questioning his sexuality. Eli is also dealing with job loss, possibly moving back in with his parents (in a house with his childhood photos plastered all over the walls). So that's a lot going on, right? Eli has a few tantrums, but his parents try to fix their mistakes by giving him the best photoshoot ever and trying to do better with understanding Eli's needs as a trans man.

Problem (For me) - Eli is 40...not mid 20s like he acts. He also has a mustache that was not my fav (I'm not a mustache fan).

Otherwise, I enjoyed the steam, the banter, Eli and Nick's parents and how supportive they are, all of the rep, and that it was a "holiday" book without being overly "holiday-ish".

I have a few more books by this author on my shelf, and I'll definitely be pulling them out in the near future!

Thank you to @netgalley and @atriabooks for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

A second chance romance between former best friends, where one is gay transgender and the other is divorced. I loved the transformation that Eli’s family goes through as they learn to embrace him completely. I also enjoyed the rekindling of the romance with Nick as he explores his sexuality. My favorite was the total accepting of Eli and his and Nick’s relationship by Nick’s daughter and ex-wife.

This book made me happy, and I really enjoyed reading it. I am now planning to read the author’s backlist!

4 stars

#books #bookishlife #booklover #readingisfun #iowabookstagrammers #iowabookstagram #netgalley #stmartinspress #spotifyaudiobooks #netgalley #goodreads #ltbreaderteam #secondchancesinnewportstephen #tjalexander

4.5

Setting: Florida
Rep: gay trans protagonist; queer Taiwanese-American protagonist

This was really cute and I really believed in Eli and Nick's relationship, I loved their banter and their progress and Nick's discovery and exploration of his queerness. Great little book!

A second chance romance between two former besties. Eli spends the Christmas holidays with his family unbeknownst to them that he lost his job. Running into his ex boyfriend Nick rekindled feelings for both of them. I loved that Eli was trans and his family embraced him wholeheartedly. His mother was actually very sweet and supportive. Even if she missed a couple of points in the beginning. Nick was great in exploring his sexuality and his feelings. Overall, it was a cute romance!
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for my ARC in exchange for my review.

This was a good read - I really enjoyed this book. I'm so glad that I got the chance to read it early and will definitely be recommending it to multiple people who enjoy these types of novels. I enjoyed the characters and especially enjoyed the writing by this author. I'm excited to see what the author comes out with next as I'll definitely be reading it! Thank you to the publisher for my early copy of this book!

Second Chances in New Port Stephen
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Author: T.J. Alexander

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Atria and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

Synopsis: Eli Ward hasn’t been back to his suffocating hometown of New Port Stephen, Florida, in ages. Post-transition and sober, he’s a completely different person from the one who left years ago. But when a scandal threatens his career as a TV writer and comedian, he has no choice but to return home for the holidays. He can only hope he’ll survive his boisterous, loving, but often misguided family and hide the fact that his dream of comedy success has become a nightmare.

Just when he thinks this trip couldn’t get any worse, Eli bumps into his high school ex, Nick Wu, who’s somehow hotter than ever. Divorced and in his forties, Nick’s world revolves around his father, his daughter, and his job. But even a busy life can’t keep him from being intrigued by the reappearance of Eli.

Against the backdrop of one weird Floridian Christmas, the two must decide whether to leave the past in the past…or move on together.

My Thoughts: I am a fan of Alexander’s works and have read the Chef’s Kiss series and loved them. This one is a standalone, along with another work being published later this year, Triple Sec. This story was wonderfully colorful, just like the cover, which by the way, drew me to this story. Eli is back in his hometown, post-transition, sober, and in between work, coming back a completely different person than when he left. He has disjointed feelings about his family and surviving the holidays will be a feat of their own. In high school, Eli was known as a young girl and dated Nick. Now Eli has transitioned into a man and when he runs into Nick, there is an attraction. Nick is divorced and sharing custody of his daughter with his ex wife. With the attraction, comes an intriguness on both sides and they spend some time together during the holidays. This follows the tropes of second chance romance, queer romance, and small town.

Trigger warnings: alcoholism, loss of a parent, and transphobia. These heavy subjects are touched on and are done with such grace with excellent representation. There is also a Demi representation in this story that I loved.

The story is narrated in a dual narration by both Eli and Nick, from their respective perspectives. I know when I pick up an Alexander book, it will contain an endearing, feel good story with diverse characters with excellent queer romance representation. Eli has completed their transition, but is reserved, having been exposed to negativity from being trans; they are caring, kind, and compassionate. Nick was swoon-perfection (well they both carry this trait), loyal to his daughter and her happiness, and takes responsibility seriously. I did not agree with some of Eli’s choices and behaviors but in the end, it had a HEA. I think Eli had the chip on his shoulder due to their issues with their career. The characters were well developed with depth, witty banter, chemistry, and intriguing. The MCs had some major growth throughout this storyline, as well. The supporting characters, especially Zoe (Nick’s daughter) really elevated the storyline. The author’s writing style was complex, swoony, steamy, creative, and kept me engaged throughout the story.

This was a sweet second chance queer romance that will warm your heart. I highly recommend picking up this story, and while you are at it, pick up the Chef’s Kiss series, you will not be disappointed (I have reviews available on both of those books as well). Consider me a TJ Alexander fan for life.

Thank you, Netgalley, the author, and Atria Books for the gifted e-book! ❤️ #gifted. My review is comprised of my honest thoughts.

Read this book if you like: Dual POV, second chances, LGBTQ representation and discovery

This wasn't bad, not great. It had a few issues for me. The characters do not read like they are 40. Eli is very unlikeable. I struggled with the romance. It was not very Christmassy either. You may love this.

Sinkhole.

IYKYK. 🤣

That’s it. That’s all I’m saying about this book. Other than it’s a 5 star read and a month later I still can’t stop thinking about it.

READ. 👏 THIS. 👏 BOOK.

Special thanks to @atriabooks for the ARC.

I received an advanced copy of Second Chances in New Port Stephen from the publisher Atria via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

What It’s About: Eli Ward hasn’t returned to his suffocating hometown of New Port Stephen since he’s transitioned, but facing threats to his career as a TV writer and a comedian, he needs to return home and figure out what’s next. He hopes he can survive his loving and well meaning but often misguided family while hiding his career challenges. Then Eli bumps into his high school ex, Nick Wu, who’s hotter than ever. Divorced and in his 40’s, Nick’s world revolves around his father, his daughter, and his job, but he finds himself intrigued by Eli.

What I Loved: I loved this book so much. There is so much to love. This book is just a wonderful. Nick Wu is just an amazing guy. He is respectful, openminded and a dreamboat. I loved watching Eli and Nick reconnect and their relationship was so special and unique, I just couldn’t wait for it to come together. I loved how the book explored the impact of anti-Trans laws on people and families, Alexander does not step away from recognizing that Florida is not a safe place for Eli, but he also doesn’t condemn all the people in Florida and shows that there can still be joy, the way he balances Florida as a terrifying place but also a place that has kind people who want better was impressive. I also loved the coparenting relationship and getting to see Nick’s relationships with his dad and kid. This book was exceptionally well done. It was truly one of my favorite books of the years.

What I Didn’t Like: If anything, the miscommunication trope, but really this book is close to perfect.

Who Should Read It: People who are looking for Christmas romance books that are not Hallmark-esqe. People looking for a good trans romance. People who love second chance romances.

Summary: A trans man returns home to Florida and reconnects with his first boyfriend.

DNF @ 26%

Thank you so much to Atria and Netgalley for providing an advanced copy of this. All thoughts and opinions are still my own.

I was so sad this book wasn't a win. I was highly anticipating a new queer holiday romance.

However I just didn't feel like this book had enough plot or strong enough characters to keep the story moving.

Our MC Eli is a hard character to like. He's dramatic and self-centered and often immature - despite being 40. And as a character driven reader, I need to connect to my characters or at least understand them. And I didn't feel like I got that in the first quarter of the book.

While this book wasn't for me, I have seen so many fantastic reviews for it. I think that there were a ton of amazing discussions and themes in this book, so if the premise intrigues you, definitely give it a try!

I'm frustrated because for the first 3 quarters of this book, I just absolutely loved it. The characters, the banter, the developments... but the last quarter just really annoyed me for some reason. And I can tell because it took me about 1.5 weeks to finish the last part.

The writing is easy to read and there's a lot of humour in this one!

*Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. Pub date: December 5, 2023

A trans man returns to Florida for the holidays and runs into his now-divorced high school ex. I struggled to get into this at first because of Eli’s voice and general whininess (that continued throughout, I found him wildly immature), but I kept with it and it turned into a surprisingly charming and swoony romcom. Here for the trans rep—book world can always use more!

T.J. Alexander's "Second Chances in New Port Stephen" is a charming rom-com that takes readers on a heartwarming journey of family, second chances, and unexpected reunions. The narrative revolves around Eli Ward, a trans man who returns to his hometown after a career setback. He is entangled in the quirky chaos of his boisterous family and a reunion with his high school ex, Nick Wu.

While not without flaws, the novel manages to captivate with its strong character development. Eli and Nick, the central characters, are portrayed as interesting individuals, and their evolving dynamic is a highlight. The depiction of Eli's journey post-transition and sobriety adds depth to the narrative, exploring personal growth and resilience themes.

One notable strength lies in the well-developed side characters, particularly Zoe, Nick's daughter. Her adorable presence adds a delightful touch to the story, showcasing the author's character-building skills. The diverse cast contributes to a rich tapestry that enhances the reading experience.

However, the novel does have moments that might not resonate with every reader. The detailed “intimate” scenes feel somewhat out of place within the book's overall vibe. Some over-the-top interruptions, such as school-eating sinkholes and runaway boats, may be unnecessary and distracting.

Despite these minor drawbacks, "Second Chances in New Port Stephen" triumphs in exploring familial bonds and the potential for rekindling old flames. The novel successfully balances drama and fluff with a focus on character-driven storytelling. If you can overlook the explicit content, the well-crafted characters and engaging narrative make this book worthwhile.

This was my first TJ Alexander book, but it sure won't be my last. I really liked Eli and Nick and their loved ones, and I'm really happy for the way this all resolved for them.

This was easily one of my favorite romances of the year. If I had to describe it in 6 words, it would be: “Heartstopper for adults plus Florida man.” I recommend for any rom-com lovers, but also for people looking for more trans representation in books!

I think Nick and Eli being more middle-aged (~almost~ 40) made this book even better. I loved the mature and wholesome way they handled their blossoming relationship and Nick’s questioning of his sexuality. Nick is also a single/divorced father and his interactions with his daughter were so sweet. Overall, I thought communication was handled well and the characters were very supportive of each other, so I never rolled my eyes at anyone like I normally do when reading romance.

There are a lot of heartfelt moments, but this was also such a fun book!! Eli particularly is really funny (he’s a comedian, so it makes sense). All of the jokes about Florida had me cackling and I would definitely read this again as a comfort book.

TJ Alexander knocks it out of the park again. While I have loved all of their romances, as a late-in-coming-out trans person this one really hit home, but in a way that I think is broadly relatable and appealing.

Multiple moments in the novel felt like they elevated this to a rare category of romance novel for me, one that keeps to the format while simultaneously diving deep into incredible moments of revelation, honesty and soul-wrenching emotions.

Eli's relationship with Nick was at times tentative, sweet and also incredibly hot. TJ Alexander managed to capture something unique about revisiting people who were once so dear to you, but now neither of you are sure how much is the same versus how much has changed.

It was Eli's relationship with his well meaning parents, who's misses mattered as much as their successes, that really pulled feelings out of me as a reader that I was happy for, but surprised by. Especially against the backdrop of how caustic and terrible Florida has become for trans and queer people, having Eli come home and have significant misunderstandings on both sides with his parents for what he needs felt so real.

Easily one of my favorite romances of 2023, TJ Alexander continues to submit their place on not only my must-buy list, but also my "can I get it early please" and "will there be a special edition I can buy again" lists.