this was cute. i liked the story and the overall plot line. the writing was solid and the characters were fun. definitely gonna add this to my collection

In this charming romance novel, readers join ballet dancer Jessica Stone when she lands the role of a lifetime as a prima ballerina. To celebrate, she returns home to England to surprise her parents with her news, but it turns out that her parents are going on a vacation. Staying with her parents’ new dog Monty in her childhood home in Surrey proves to be harder than she thought, as an incident with his leash causes her to hurt her foot. However, handsome stranger and childhood classmate Nathan Townsend comes to her rescue, and sparks fly, but Jessica knows this is all temporary -- she has to return to New York eventually. Jessica and Nathan’s chemistry is brilliant, and their personalities are complex and dynamic, with full backstories. The romance tropes in this novel -- not to mention the dogs -- really add to the atmosphere and charm of the novel. The setting in a small town in Surrey, not to mention the various circumstances and minor characters, really build up the atmosphere and emotional heart of the novel around Jessica and Nathan. With its charm, heart, and fun atmosphere, fans of the modern romance genre and all of its tropes are sure to enjoy this book.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun, quick book. I enjoyed it a lot!

Super fun summer read! Quite predictable - but super enjoyable! Read it very quickly and kept me wanting more - sign of a good summer read in my book!

A great read, the story of Jessica, a ballerina who is living and working in New York, and Nathan, a GP back in England. When they meet he takes care of her after an accident, so what will happen when it is time fr her to return to her life back in New York?

➸ 2.75 | ⋆˚˖🩰‧｡⋆🦮⋆˚˖ 🩺‧｡⋆🪞

·˚ ༘♡.thoughts
╰✎ i wish i could say nicer things other than it was easy to read. that’s already a stretch since the writing was honestly not the best. what i didn’t anticipate was how british this book was. even when there was an american character who grew up in new jersey, they were using british slang. also the writing was very straight to the point. there was a lot of telling, but not showing to the point the plot felt forced. its what made the book kind of hard to enjoy. i was groaning and rolling my eyes more than i was swooning over the romance. I liked the banter between the characters and some of the quotes were cute.

⋆౨ৎ˚⟡ ࣪characters
⤷jessica: could not tell you this bitch’s last name. i honestly thought i would hate her since the first chapter opens up her description like she’s perfect and better than everybody else but in reality she’s just independent. i respect that. jessica is career driven and doesn’t allow nothing to get in her way which i respect. even though she’s in her thirties, she doesn’t let that stop her dreams. i wasn’t connected to her and that might be because i’m so young and sometimes couldn’t understand her point of view or the reasons she said certain things (which pissed me off to another extent).
⤷nathan: he was a man. a british white man. who was a doctor. he was giving perfect book boyfriend to the point i didn’t think he had a personality except for being a doctor and latching onto the past (more in spoilers). that’s it. he was forgettable.

✩‧₊˚quotes
“For someone who hated being bossed around as much as she did, she quite liked it when Nathan became all doctory and strict with her. It made her feel looked after.”

“She loved how she could relax with him, not having to keep up the facade she usually maintained.”

“She’d needed things to fill up her time or else she’d go crazy counting down the days until her life could begin again.”

“I think it’s the first time that house felt like a home.”

“When she was with him, it always felt like there was someone on her side.”

˚⊹ 𐦍༘⋆spoilers
^ྀི WHEN SHE TOLD HIM “no wonder you’re divorced” I WAS SCREAMING. I HAVE NEVER BEEN SO MAD. This is where I started hating Jessica’s character again but I got over it. This was up to the 70% mark which had me questioning why this was called “second chance”. Technically, this is a right person, wrong time” trope because the breakup was mutual. To me, that’s not a second chance. It’s a personal thing. If the author set it up that she missed her family and loved them more (aka prioritizing them) I would’ve believed the random trip to England. It was only for the plot and made me remember this is a book. I wanted to be transported to a world, not remember that I’m just reading a book.

I want to start by thanking the author for sending me an ARC of this book. Thank you very much 🙏.

That said, this book was such a letdown 😕. When I read a good book, I want to feel all the feels—you know, like blushing, smiling, and getting those butterflies 🦋. I want to be so into the characters that I’m kicking my feet in the air. But with this one, I felt nothing. The whole time, I just had this serious face on, and I couldn’t connect with the characters or their relationship at all.

The chemistry between them felt super forced, like the author was trying way too hard to make something happen. It was rushed, and nothing about it felt natural. It was like the author just wanted to move the story along instead of letting the characters develop and actually build a connection. Because of that, the whole story just fell flat 😩.

Another thing that really bothered me was the dialogue. It could’ve been a bit more lively or engaging. It felt really flat, like it wasn’t pulling me in. And we definitely needed more description of the characters’ feelings. For example, I got to the kissing scenes, and they just felt bland. Usually, there’s some kind of description of how the kiss felt, how it made the characters feel, but this was just like, “he kissed me, he pulled me in,” and that was it. It felt lifeless, like there was no emotion behind it, just words on a page.

The writing was fine, but I just couldn’t get into it. The characters were boring, and the plot was so dry. I honestly wanted to like it, but it just didn’t work for me 😔.

And here’s the thing: I NEVER DNF books. Like, even if I’m not feeling it, I always push through to the end. But with this one, I was SO close to DNFing. The characters just didn’t do it for me, and the whole book was just not it. I wouldn’t recommend this one at all. It just didn’t have that spark or connection that makes a book fun to read.

1 star⭐

I really loved this book! I am a ballet dancer and I really love reading books that have ballet dancers in it. I would highly recommend this book!

"Last Dance, Second Chance" by Emma Bennet is a heartfelt romance that blends themes of redemption and rekindled love. The novel follows two characters who, after a period of separation, come together again to confront their past and explore a renewed future. Bennet’s writing is emotionally resonant and captures the complexity of second chances with authenticity and grace. The characters are well-developed, and their journey is both touching and engaging. This novel is a compelling choice for readers who enjoy romance with depth and the promise of new beginnings.

I really enjoyed this book. Jessica is a dedicated ballet dancer and she visits her parents on a whim before her next performance and discovers that they are going on holiday with her brother and family. They have adopted a dog and can't take it with them and the sitter has called sick. Jessica offers to dog sit Monty. She then meets someone she knew before she became a prima ballerina and starts to question if she is missing out.
I'm a sucker for a dog. I really enjoyed this book and seeing Jessica work through her life and discover something more in life. I liked the characters.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgallery.

"Last Dance, Second Chance" by Emma Bennet is a heartwarming and beautifully crafted romance that will captivate readers from the very first page

For one, I related to Jessica in many ways because ' um sir we haven't seen each other in years & now you're telling me because your dog made me hurt my foot you want me to move in with you because I am all alone ? ' Because this book was such a fast paced book that could also be the reason I felt the same way. However 1 thing I didn't understand was " put your dog on the lead " but he let his dog off the lead and it caused her injury. Unfortunately finally getting offered her principal dance position for the ballet company, she gets injured while surprise visiting her parents (I bet Jess knows now to shoot a text before just going someplace).

Other than that I love that Jessica was able to find another love on top of her first love.

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I enjoyed this book.

Jessica, lives in New York and loves to dance. She gets the position she wanted in an upcoming production, which is prima ballerina.

Wanting to give the good news to her parents in person, she goes home to England, without informing them she’s coming. When she arrives, her Mother informs her that they’re going on an holiday with her brothers family. She offers to look after the house and their dog.

But, when she takes the dog for a walk, she has an accident and her foot has to be put in plaster, therefore meaning she has to let the company know she won’t be able to be back to for her prima spot.

She stays with an old school friend and slowly their relationship changes and feelings begin to develop between them but, as she’s going back, she’s not sure whether falling in love is right for her at this time.

Will she leave or give love a chance?

I recommend this book.

"Last Dance, Second Chance" by Emma Bennet is a heartwarming and beautifully crafted romance that will captivate readers from the very first page. Bennet skillfully weaves a tale of love, loss, and redemption, creating characters that are relatable and deeply engaging. The chemistry between the protagonists is palpable, and their journey towards finding love again is both poignant and inspiring.

The author's writing is crisp and evocative, painting vivid pictures of the settings and emotions that drive the narrative. The plot is well-paced, with just the right balance of tension and tenderness to keep readers invested in the story's outcome.

Emma Bennet's "Last Dance, Second Chance" is a testament to the enduring power of love and the beauty of second chances. It's a must-read for romance enthusiasts and anyone who enjoys a good love story with a happy ending.

This was so heart-warming, I fell in love with it instantly. Such a beautiful book that I devoured it so quickly,

Last Dance Second Chance was a sweet story, just slow and dense. I couldn’t really connect with the character and they weren’t really multi dimensional. It was an ok read. Just ok.

3.75 ⭐️ 1 🌶️

This book is honestly so cute and very heart warming that gives our FMC Jessica and MMC Nathan, a second chance at love in small town Surrey, England. This small town aspect really brings the charm, and also helps immersing yourself into the lives of the characters, at least for me it did. I also love the fact that Jessica is a ballerina -- and although it may not be considered a sport, it's nice to see the FMC being the active one over the MMC, landing her dream role until having to doggy-sit Monty.

The novel employs the second chance romance trope, which gives the opportunity to see the characters' growth and reconciliation after past misunderstandings and separations. One of the highlights of the book that I absolutely loved is the ideas of redemption and forgiveness, as the characters navigate their past mistakes and seek to rebuild their relationship because it actually shows the emotional depth and authenticity of their journey and the validation of the relationship, which is hard to get with characters at time.

The read is so short and engaging that it's hard not to finish it in one sitting. Okay so why the 3.75 ⭐️? I am a bit of a spice girl... and there is very little to no spice at all for this read. Spice is also subjective to the reader, but for me, it is 1 🌶️. Although there is also emotional depth, there is a bit of a lack with their characterization and development. This would have been a 4.25⭐️ read if I had some of this, and perhaps a bit of resonation with me and the characters.

Overall, this book is so cute, and a quick cozy read that will keep you engaged to the point where you genuinely feel happy for these characters despite the obstacles they are put through!

Definitely read this one if you enjoy uplifting romances with a touch of nostalgia and plenty of emotional resonance.

* Thank you to NetGalley for the arc!

Jessica is kind of the perfect protagonist. She's driven and passionate about her career, and she's strong and independent. Watching her cope with an injury that costs her the role of a lifetime while fighting attraction to a swoony doctor? Sign me up!

I enjoyed the chemistry between Jessica and Nate and it felt heartwarming and authentic and perfect.

This was a cute, light-hearted romcom!

Jessica, a 31 year old ballerina, has just gotten the part of her dreams!! To celebrate, she flies to England, her home, to see her parents. They go on a 10 day vacation, during which Jessica hangs back to take care of their dog. While on a walk with said dog, she hurts her foot, and her savior just happens to be someone from her past!!

This was a really fun, quick romcom. Emma and Nathan were so sweet, and who doesn't love when a dog makes their way into the story?! I enjoyed both Emma and Nathan as individual characters, too. I had a hard time with the writing style - it felt a bit choppy, but that could just be my issue! Overall, would recommend this to someone looking for a quick summer read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for this ARC.

Jessica Stone is a 31 year old British ballet dancer living in New York. When she gets her first prima ballerina role she flies home to Surrey to surprise her family - but they are just out the door on a ten day holiday, so she stays behind with the dog, Monty. The first day back, she meets Nathan who she went to school with. He also has a dog, and an accident occurs in which she breaks her foot. This is for now the end of her ballerina dream, but Nathan takes over her care, moves her in with him and looks after her. As meet-cutes and forced proximity tropes go, this feels contrived, but it works.

It gives Jessica time to think about what she wants in her life and what she will do if her foot doesn't heal properly or she gets too old. As Nathan rightly points out, ballerinas do not have a long shelf life.

The story is sweet and kind of conservative and dare I say it - boring. There is no spice or any big dramatic development - she spends time with Nathan and family wile hopping about on crutches, reconnects with her old ballet teacher and finds new career possibilities.

The two dogs add humour to this light-hearted romance but there isn't much substance, and the title is weird and a bit obvious. Read it if you love ballet and second chances stories and need a quick to read palate cleanser.