I adored this book! Second chance romance with a second chance at a career felt really good to read, especially from a male perspective. Great imagery with the food as well, a very nice touch.

I absolutely loved everything about this book. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishing company for providing me with this ARC.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for providing me this Digital Advanced Readers Copy of the book!

While I don't normally read adult romance, this book left me excited for future adult books by Jeff Zentner! The book read like some of my favorite contemporary fiction books as it was filled with both beautiful prose and well-developed characters (not to mention the alternating timelines that I just adore). Colton is a complex character, and he felt like he could easily be a close friend or family member. Zentner's ability to create a redemption story for Colton who struggles with addiction while avoiding an overly cheesy/quick happy ending allows the story to be representative of real-life for so many people while still offering hope. For me, this was a quick read that really made me feel for the characters. Since finishing this book, I find that I keep recommending it to friends, and I know I'll keep a copy on my shelf for years to come.

Jeff Zentner is well known already to many young adult readers as an author who poetically tells a story with all of the emotions exquisitely portrayed. I was so excited to hear that this is his entry into adult fiction. I'm glad to say his unique ability to bring characters to life with sensitivity and appreciation for human frailty remains intact here. The love story is well earned and delicately told. I recommend this book to anybody who appreciates the art of a slow burn romance.

Colton Gentry's music career is in the gutter after he drunkenly gave his opinion on guns during one of his concerts. Country music fans did not care that he had just lost his best friend to a shooting. On top of his career, his marriage is on the rocks too. He leaves for his hometown in Kentucky to move back in with his mom with his tail between his legs. While looking for a job, he runs into his high school sweetheart, Luann, who has opened up a farm-to-table restaurant. Will he get a second chance to change his life around?

I really wanted to enjoy this more. I loved Zenter got to the heart of Colton's struggles, both life and his mental health. I loved Luann, I thought she was a badass. However, I think it was a little too long. It dragged at times and when I would put it down, I didn't feel that pull to pick it back up.

Some may say I’m biased simply because the main character and I have the same name. But that isn’t all. Reading this was such a surreal experience of happenstance sentences revealing similarities to the life I lead. June 6 is my birthday. I have my masters degree from Tulane. Dolly Parton is my favorite singer of all time.

Colton Dean Gentry is such a good man. Colton Gentry’s Third Act was such a good novel. I laughed. I cried. I was rooting for him at every turn.

I won’t forget him for a long, long time.

I love Zentner. His dialogue is always realistic and fresh, unexpected.
The story wandered quietly to a very satisfying end.

I liked this! I at first wasn't sure where it was going, the story itself didn't seem to match up with what I was expecting from the blurb, but it ended up being enjoyable! I wasn't as connected to the characters as I had hoped, but it still was a good read with a great message and I don't think I'll be in the majority when it comes to connecting to the characters. Looking forward to recommending this!

Thank you for the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this arc and give an honest review.

A story of addiction, love, family and second chances. Colton Gentry's Third Act was a story with depth but I did find myself bored and wasn't in love with the writing or dialogue. I had to DNF at 50% but hope to give it another shot in a few months to see if it was just my mood that didn't allow me to continue or if it just isn't my cup of tea.

I have been a big fan of Zentner's YA books. His writing is beautiful and heartbreaking. Colton Gentry's Third Act has those qualities but it felt like something was missing. In the end, I was disappointed by the book.

I will read anything that Jeff Zentner writes, because he's so good at creating complex and feeling male characters. This novel is a crossover adult but still has a YA feel (not a bad thing). I'm not a fan of romances, and while this is essentially a romance, it's much more nuanced than that. I was most moved by Colton's relationship with Luanne's children and with his own adopted elderly dog, Petey. I also loved Colton's vulnerability. Just wanted to hug him.

This book hit the sweet spot for a fun and entertaining, yet serious. This small town romance had depth, witty banter, and some serious topics were handled well. An easy one for me to recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Station for the complimentary e-copy.

The story follows Colton, a country singer whose career collapses after he speaks out on gun control following a personal tragedy. As he falls into alcohol addiction, he loses everything—his love, his career, and his direction. With nowhere else to turn, he returns to his small hometown, where he confronts his past and begins to rebuild his life. Reconnecting with his first love, Colton finds both forgiveness and a chance for renewal, setting him on the path to healing. I really enjoyed its themes of reinvention and second chances.

Colton Gentry's life has imploded. A bit his fault... a drunken pro gun control rant on stage at a country music concert is not a way to endear yourself to fans... but the grief and overindulgence of alcohol have put him in a real downward spiral. Abandoned by his rising pop star wife, Colton heads back to home town to plan his next steps and lick his wounds.

This book has a little bit of everything, blended together so wonderfully that it never once feels like too much of anything. A little romance, a little regret, a little homecoming, a little heartwarming, throw in some self-reflection and reinvention all put together with Zetner's masterful way with words an it's a winner.

I knew as soon as I saw he had an adult book coming out I needed to get it in my hands. We always talk about Abby Jimenez making people cry, but they clearly haven’t read Jeff’s works. This one got me too. I wasn’t a mascara dripping mess like with The Serpent King but I was still crying.

Ok so even though this one featured addiction, it was alcoholism so it didn’t really affect me. And it was more so about him getting help and continuing down the straight and narrow. He did have a moment, but he held on to it. I don’t think it would have been realistic without these scenes. But if you’re like me and weary, just know that there’s no relapse.

This second chance romance was so sweet tho! I knew they were going to find each other as soon as we met her. I was shouting at him as I saw what happened in the past. But I was glad that they were able to find each other again. But the ending had me shook, not gonna lie. I was a bit mad at him lol But I was glad she didn’t make it easy on him. Because he didn’t deserve it.

I had some conflicting feelings about Colton tho. I was very proud of him for continuing to be who he was, for standing his ground on his stance. (See what I did there?) But I didn’t like the way he was only so adamant because something had happened to him. Not saying that he deserved all the bad things that happened to him (losing his livelihood and all that) but still. I hate when people don’t actually believe in things until it happens to them. Like why didn’t you say anything when we first told you? It just seems isogenous to me. And yes I know he’s a fictional character, but I hold real people to these same standards soooooooooo And that annoyed me about the protestors too. He had to give them a good side as well, and like, idk those kind of people aren’t changed by talks. They’re rude and ignorant and they had the nerve to complain about someone not hearing them, but they didn’t hear him tho. It was annoying.

I liked this book so much. And like man, as you know I’m a foodie. I feel like this was written for me lmao Because let me tell you how I was trying to write down all the freaking food items that they talked about because Lordt. Like, Jeff, do you cook like this in real life? And like the toothpicks? Even those sounded good? Idk what you put in this book, but I couldn’t stop reading it. (Also, I have a really strong craving for some Nashville’s Hot Chicken now.) And like the restaurant parts were hilarious because they were so realistic. The kitchen feels like a family and there’s always some kind of gossip. I loved this little town and the restaurant.

This isn’t The Serpent King, but it was still so good. I would most definitely say this was a solid move into adult for Zentner. I can’t wait to read the book he co-authored with someone else. I hope that one doesn’t break me like this one and his others lol

Colton Gentry's Third Act was a little difficult to get into at first because I couldn't figure out where the story was going. After Colton gets his dog I was hooked. The story is a great reflection of hopes and goals and what brings meaning into your life. The struggles with grief and alcoholism felt very real and hit hard emotionally. It got a little in the weeds with how much detail was about cooking, almost like I was watching the show The Bear. The romance was there with a lot of banter and pining, but the book felt bigger than just a love story. It was great to see the connections with family and friends develop also. I could really see the story play out in my mind, it would make a great tv series.

5 glorious stars !! This book!! Is a warm apple pie on a cool fall night. First off, the setting. I loved the Kentucky small town feel. Colton Gentry's character had me laughing through out the book, his witt and smart come backs had me rolling. Luann is a sweet heart and put up with a lot of Colton's bs, but together they were a masterpiece. The decision he had to make at the end had my heart pounding wondering what he was going to do and hoping he would pick the right path. I loved the feel of the main character overcoming his struggles to find a life he truly loved. Thank you Hachette Book Group and Netgalley for this copy!

Let me introduce you to one of my favorite books of 2024! I knew the moment I laid eyes on it that it was going to wreck me. And let me tell you - it most definitely did. There was lots of crying! Including in public! And lots of salivating over delicious and detailed food descriptions.

Colton Gentry blew up his life and his career by going on a drunken anti-gun rant while on stage performing with his band. He returns to his hometown trying to figure out how to piece his life back together.

Colton Gentry is one of my favorite literary characters. Jeff Zentner wrote this character in such a way that he became so real to me. As did his hometown of Venice. But Luann stole the show for me probably in part because her high school tastes aligned so closely to mine. And food, omg food in this book! The flavors, the smells, all of it was pushing buttons of my appetite! And I dare you not to get attached to Petey the dog.

Read this if you’re looking for a heartwarming story that will tug on your heartstrings and be prepared to shed a few tears! A shoutout to the author for those precious doggo related footnotes!

A huge thank you to Grand Central Publishing & NetGalley for my ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this advanced copy. I ended up listening to the audiobook from my local library. The narrator wasn't my favorite, but he did well enough. I enjoyed how much heart this story had. While yes, it's a romance, it's so much more than that with how well we got to know Colton Gentry. At times, he was a little annoying, but the better I got to know him, the more I liked him. This story is told from alternating time periods perspectives. It's a second-chance romance (one of my favorite tropes) and I thought that aspect was well done. We get to slowly find out why they broke up the first time as we also get to see them come back together as totally different people. I will be recommending this one.