Wow! I loved this book so much! Eli and Nick have crawled into my heart. This was such a great love story and I will never shut up about it.

This was my first book by TJ Alexander and I will absolutely read more from them in the future. While dealing with some seriously heavy subject matter, it does so with a clarity that is needed in this world at this time. This story gave me the perfect view from the outside about the inner feelings of a trans person as well as those around them trying to accept and understand them and their feelings in the best way possible. Eli and Nick are proof that when you are meant to be, you are meant to be and that is all that really matters. The fear of what is going on currently in Florida is something I think about every day and I can't imagine how trans and queer people must feel on the regular in this country. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

I loved this book! Second Chances in New Port Stephen is a contemporary sweet and spicy second-chances Christmastime story set in balmy Florida. I loved the trans and demi rep - so well written - and the blooming relationship between Eli and his high school ex, Nick. It has a great overall 'love is love" message that the world could do more of these days! Highly recommended!

Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced gifted copy.

This is such an excellent holiday book with queer and transgender representation. I loved Eli and Nick and their often dysfunctional but mostly trying their best families. I was rooting for them to figure themselves and each other out. I also loved the Florida setting and I still think this is the best book cover ever. Would definitely recommend!

Eli is back in town for the holidays for the first time in 25 years, meaning it’s his first time returning to his hometown since his transition. It’s why when he first runs into his childhood best friend and first love, Nick, he’s unrecognizable. Quickly enough, though, the two start hanging out and chatting like old times, even the romantic aspects of the old times…

This book was super cute, but also super fluffy. When you break down the plot there isn’t too much substance there. Both characters went through their own trials and tribulations, of course, but Nick’s were definitely more interesting to read about and had higher stakes than Eli’s. I noticed a lot of reviews were critiquing Eli’s whiny attitude, and, yeah, that was definitely there but it didn’t bother me so much while reading. I just wish more was happening with Eli, something bigger than waiting around for a job and trying to get his supportive parents more up to speed with the times.

I’m not sure if this next point is just a me thing or if others felt this way, too, but Nick and Eli’s high school relationship didn’t feel real to me. It was hard to see this as a second chance romance when the characters both seemed severely moved on from one another by the time they bump into each other. The author did a great job recreating moments from their childhood that would spark romantic nostalgia in the characters, but I guess I needed more. The moments felt really removed from the present day, nothing more than a fond memory to the characters.

I did love the Florida setting. The goods and bads of Florida were shone throughout the book and it affected the plot a lot. Gotta love a good setting!

I’m settled on a 3 Star, in the middle rating. It’s a nice queer holiday read, has some deeper content but all very surface level, and is something I can see myself forgetting fairly soon.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’m not much of a rom-com fan anymore, but OMG this was such a cute story!

I’ve read very few books where there’s a trans main character and this was so enjoyable and also educational. I must admit that there were some parts in the middle where I lost a bit of interest (and almost DNF’d it), but I decided not to give up on it and I was very pleasantly surprised.

I requested this for consideration for Book Riot's All the Books podcast for its release date, but my cohost claimed it first, so I was not able to review it myself.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc of this book.

When Eli returns home for the holidays to his hometown in Florida, he feels trapped and like a failure for losing his last job. But when he meets back up with Nick, his high school sweetheart, things in New Port Stephen start looking up. Can the two reconnect even after all the years and changes between them?

This was good! The transphobia of Florida hits hard right now. I really loved both Eli and Nick and enjoyed their interactions and renewed romance. It took me a little while to get into the book, but by the time I was done I was so sad it was over. I especially love how supportive Eli's parents are and his friend Margo is the best and should have been in it more.

This is a feel-good romance about two adults reconnecting later in life and still finding a spark even after everything they've both gone through while apart.

CW: transphobia/anti-trans legislation, racism, past alcoholism

This was such a beautiful holiday rom-com! Eli (post-transition) runs into his ex-boyfriend Nick and after re-introductions begin to get to know one another as adults and the people they are now.

Eli is now a man and Nick now has a child and has been divorced but at their core they still connect to one another on an emotionally intimate level. This was one romance where the miscommunication actually made sense due to how the MC’s were feeing rather than added in for dramatic effect.

I do wish it would’ve been touched back on the conversation of Nick’s likely demisexuality, as it leaves it rather ambiguous and I think representation in ace community of all kinds is important and is often left ambiguous or un-discussed (especially in adult media).

4 stars!

⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria books for the E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Atria Marketing for sending me this arc.

I was very excited for this book and I do want to try and give it a second chance soon but right now as someone who lives in a state that is enacting laws like what is talked about in this book I can't do it. It's an important topic and I read the first chapter which I loved the writing so I do think this will be fun but I am temporarily DNFing for now.

I was provided an e-arc thank to NetGalley and Atria. This book is a beautifully story of lost love and recapturing it. A wonderful queer story that captures your heart! It follows Eli as he visits for Christmas in his hometown and goes down memory lane and rediscover love and family. It touches on some dark topics such as alcoholism and anti-trans politics in states, loss of a parent. But is a funny heartwarming story!

It’s only fitting that on the night Eli Ward returns home for Christmas after years away, he runs into his still-hot, still-charming ex-boyfriend. Eli’s a different person now—post-transition, sober, and recently unemployed after his TV writing gig blew up—and it takes Nick a moment to put the pieces together after their carts bumped into each other. They hang out for the remainder of the holidays, both unsure if the flames are really being rekindled or not. Second Chances in New Port Stephen is such a sweet and funny book about family and love and identity.

3.5 stars rounded down!
Second chances in New Port Stephen is a LGBTQ+ holiday romance featuring a queer and trans couple. Eli finds himself in a career lull after the lead actor of the show he’s been writing for is exposed for being a creepy, with no other choice he sublets his apartment and returns to his family home in New Port Stephen, Florida to lick his wounds and figure out what to do next. Nick is a divorced dad and restaurant manager who after college ended up moving home to be closer to his aging father.

To start out I really adored Nick and his story line especially the parts where he was exploring and learning more about his sexuality along with his relationships with his daughter, ex-wife, and father. Eli and his parents relationship was also a highlight, I enjoyed the realistic depiction of how even though Eli’s parents love and support him they still run into issues that cause Eli discomfort (like all the family photos of Eli pre-transition throughout the home). My major issue with the book is it’s reliance on the miscommunication trope at points and how even though Eli who didn’t transition till he was in his 30s for a good chunk of the book insists on referring to Nick as his “straight friend” this really rubbed me the wrong way.

Thank you Atria Books for my copy! All thoughts are my own.

When I interviewed TJ earlier this year, I had just found out about their December release, Second Chances in New Port Stephen, and I was utterly thrilled. I loved TJ’s books so much. Their writing and the characters they create are so real. I think this might be my favorite book so far, not only because I fell in love with Nick and Eli, but because I think they kept things “real” with what they deal with in the everyday (we have trans and queer characters in Florida, enough said), while still finding a realistic HEA for romance readers that doesn’t feel forced. . It’s a hard balance to strike and knowing TJ, I’m not surprised. I LOVED this book.

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.” —NetGalley

What I Liked:

The Dialogue—TJ Alexander is masterful at making their reading laugh and cry on the same page. The dialogue is quick and bright while also punching you in the gut when it matters.

The Vibes: While I love holiday books, I love a specific kind of holiday book—a contemporary romance set at Christmas/December, not a Christmas romance if that makes sense. This book is perfectly the kind of holiday book I love.

The Characters—Nick and Eli have my heart forever and so does Zoe! It’s HARD to write kids in romance books and TJ knocked this character out of the park. Loved them all.

What Didn’t Work For Me:

This is knocking a star off, but omg Kay was the most infuriating character. So real, there’s always that kind of person at family holidays but wow she made me angry. I loved seeing how Nick and Lori dealt with her though because I think it can be relatable for a lot of people.

Character Authenticity: 5/5 Spice Rating: 1.5/5 Overall Rating: 5/5

3.5

This was a cute, fun holiday romance featuring a second chance romance and “older” queers coming out later in life. Eli is sober and recently transitioned and back in his hometown of New Port Stephen, Florida, for Christmas. Except he is also unemployed with no leads on a new job and dreading the thought of moving back in with his parents. Then he runs into Nick Wu, his high school boyfriend who is divorced and running a restaurant while coparenting his daughter.

I liked the conversations about coming out later in life and I loved the conversations about demisexuality and being queer in conservative locations and how that can really mess with concepts of home for queer kids. I thought the romance was cute, though I could have done with a little less of the miscommunication trope. Like really, Eli is nearly 40 he should be able to check his voicemail. Also, I know he was probably just going through some things personally but I really got frustrated that Eli kept introducing Nick as his straight friend when they went clubbing. Like Eli was in his 30s before he figured out his gender stuff so why was he so adamant that Nick had to be straight.

Second chance trope + LGBTQ+?

Count me in.
I feel like so many books about Florida tend to stereotype it, this felt like it accurately captured it. TJ always kills it with their writing. I love reading about and celebrating queer joy! Eli & Nick are amazing characters. I would read another book about them.

Filled with witty & flirty banter!!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, & the publisher for a copy!

I had enjoyed Alexander's previous novels about a pair of roommates each finding love in Chef's Choice and Chef's Kiss. Second Chances in New Port Stephen though introduces a completely new set of characters following Eli Ward who returns to his hometown of New Port Stephen, Florida for the holidays. Although one character is a manager at a local restaurant this novel is less foodie focused. It felt like there was a lot of extra story going on with the former two novels including things like food competitions, while this one felt more heavily engaged in the relationship of the characters as they deal with their past and decide what they want for their future. The other books were fun and had likable characters, but I felt more emotionally invested in this novel.

Eli hasn't been back in his hometown for many years. During that time he transitioned, started a successfully comedy writing career that recently has stalled, and overcame an alcohol addiction. There are a lot of funny holiday moments with Eli and his family. His parents are shown as well meaning, though not overly perfect. When he encounters his childhood bff/high school ex-boyfriend, who is a divorced dad still nursing the hurt of his mother's death, the holidays look like they may be come a bit jollier for them both.

I honestly wasn't sure if this would work for me, but I LOVED it. It's one of those books where I felt grumpy when I had to put it down for a while, because all I wanted was to continue reading. I just felt completely immersed.

This is an incredibly sweet second chance romance with older (40-ish) main characters. I'm normally a little meh about the second chance trope but think it works really well here. Nick and Eli are high school sweethearts who reunite by chance. Only now Eli is openly trans and Nick is a divorced dad who everyone (including himself) assumed was straight. I love how non-dramatic it was for Nick to reassess his sexuality and the moments with his father melted my heart. I also really love the depiction of his relationship with his ex-wife. It's so much better to actively work at being friends and co-parenting than to fall into the one-sided evil ex nonsense. This is set in the Florida of today so very real issues are discussed but it's well handled in a way that doesn't pile on trauma. Also the depictions of holiday family interactions are spot on.

**I received an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**

Thank you to Atria Books for the advanced reader copy. These opinions are my own.

For the first time in years, Eli returns to his childhood home in Florida for Christmas with his parents. But he's really there because his career in New York blew up, and he needed to sublet his apartment. He quickly runs into his childhood best friend and first boyfriend, Nick Wu, now a single dad.

I always appreciate TJ Alexander's representation of transgender main characters. And Nick's description of what it means to be trans to his young daughter was so beautiful. I also enjoyed that both Eli and Nick were about to turn 40. I like seeing characters who are a bit older represented in romances as well. However, I found it difficult to like Eli. He was unkind to family and friends.

The plot incorporated a mix of authentic journeys and absurd scenarios. I liked this writing style for second chance romance that is largely focused on the present without too many flashbacks or an alternative timeline. It felt current and like the author wasn't hiding information from me.

After the opening, I expected a bit more about politics, but it was just an underlying background of the Florida setting. Similarly, Christmas felt like more of a background context than an important aspect of the plot. Instead, the crucial themes in the plot were about identity and navigating family relationships.

Rounded up to 4 stars