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.

I'm on my 30's and yeah I did like it it was short and fun and actually adorable.. But to be honest I would like to have seen a little more because the pace was a little bit to quick, for me personally

“Last Dance, Second Chance” by Emma Bennet follows ballet dancer Jessica Stone who secures her lifelong ambition in New York at age thirty-one, landing the role of prima ballerina. Eager to share her joy with her parents in England before rehearsals start, she returns home to find her family preparing for a holiday without her. Stranded in Surrey, she cares for Monty the dog, who becomes her loyal companion until an accident leaves her injured during a walk. A familiar face, Nathan Townsend, comes to her aid—a childhood friend she hasn't seen in two decades. Despite their instant connection, Jessica's imminent return to the U.S. and Nathan's recent heartbreak complicate their burgeoning romance.

I expected a charming romance from this book, but I was disappointed because I didn't connect with the writing style. The author heavily relies on showing rather than telling, which didn't work for me. The characters felt bland and uninteresting, and the dialogue was particularly hard to endure.

Esta bien la historia, pero le faltó emoción. Todo el libro lo sentí plano.

Jessica una bailarina de 31 años que está viviendo el sueño. Está tan centrada en su carrera que no tiene tiempo para salir, ni para ver a su familia, entonces cuando tiene unas pequeñas vacaciones aprovecha para regresar después se años a su ciudad natal y visitar a sus papás, pero se lleva una sorpresa cuando llega y sus padres le dicen que se irán de vacaciones por lo que no pueden quedarse con ella.
Jess decide quedarse y cuidar al perro de su pap. En un paseo tuvo un accidente, se rompió el pie y su puesto como bailarina principal se pone en peligro.

Nathan es doctor, vió el accidente de Jess, la ayudo, la llevo al hospital y la dejo quedarse en sí casa para que no tenga que subir escaleras. Poco a poco se hacen amigos y desarrollan sentimientos románticos, sin embargo, él está pasando por algo y no quiere tener una relación.


Durante su tiempo juntos ella se fue dando cuenta que estaba dejando que su vida pase, que aunque ame su trabajo debe encontrar un equilibrio en su vida laboral y personal.


Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.25 stars
This was a cute, short romance. I did feel like there was a lot of telling instead of showing and the romance was sort of quick and out of nowhere even though they’re “old friends”, they haven’t seen each other since elementary school so I’m not sure how the chemistry got there so quickly. I did really enjoy the dogs, they were super cute. I’d recommend this book if you want a light hearted romcom, love dogs or love ballet.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC! I'm rounding up to 2 as I was unable to complete the story.

Unfortunately, I had to DNF this novel. The book suffered from telling and not showing. The interactions and characters were not believable and the dialogue was stilted. I don't mind a romance that defies logic, but was a too nonsensical for me. I do appreciate the author trying to show a ballerina in her 30s as well as a cute cover. This was simply not for me.

This was such a beautiful story. I love second chance romances and this one was super cute and hit the spot.

Heart warming romance in Last Dance, Second Chance.

Highly recommend this book and it was a quick read.

When Jessica finally lands her prima ballerina spot in New York, she decides to fly back to England to surprise her parents and give them the good news. She then learns that her parents are headed out for vacation with her brother and his family for 10 days and she suggested she could house sit their dog. With an untrained dog, she winds up breaking her foot and she looses her prima spot, but she ends up finding her true love.