Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

This story touches on sensitive themes like loss, grief, reconciliation, and redemption.

What to Expect:
💙 Hunky Baseball Star
🤍 Sassy Writer
💙 Second Chance Rom-Com
🤍 Clean Sports Romance

This book was a solid read with a lot of potential to be truly great, but it didn’t quite dive deep enough into the emotional terrain it teased. Gracie and Noah’s second-chance romance had its moments, with good banter. The story had a lovely way of balancing humor with genuinely touching scenes, which made it a delight at times.

Gracie completely hooked me. She’s got this dry humor and fierce independence that I adored, even when I wanted to shake some sense into her! And Noah? We have a guy who’s vulnerable and willing to try again; he made strides to mend their relationship. That said, his redemption arc fell a bit short; while his growth was implied, we never truly saw it unfold, which was a missed opportunity. And his lack of a proper apology for the events leading to their divorce left a noticeable gap in their reconciliation.

The chemistry between Gracie and Noah felt authentic, and the history they shared added emotional weight to their interactions. When they finally confronted their past, it was moving, but the journey there felt uneven. The pacing dragged in some places, and the absence of deeper conversations made their resolution feel less impactful than it could have been.

Now, about that secondary storyline with Matt and Rachel: it was sweet, charming, and completely unnecessary. Don’t get me wrong, they’re adorable, but their story felt like it belonged in its own book. Here, it just stole the spotlight from Gracie and Noah a bit too often.

This story touches on sensitive themes like loss, grief, reconciliation, and redemption, and while it had moments of emotional resonance, it didn’t delve as deeply into these areas as I’d hoped. Still, it’s a sweet, clean romance with plenty of wit and heartfelt moments. If you’re looking for something light yet tender, this book might be just the thing. However, readers seeking a more profound exploration of its heavier themes may find it falls a bit short.

A big thank you to Tyndale House Publishers, Becca Kinzer, and NetGalley for granting my wish to read this book and providing the ARC. It’s always a treat to dive into a new story!

Gracie is currently at rock bottom. Divorced, struggling to pay her and her Dads medical bills, behind on her next novel, and now injured? Things couldn't get worse. That is, until her meddling nephew calls in her ex-husband to come take care of her, and he jumps at the chance to rekindle what they once had. Gracie is left to wonder how long he'll stick around this time and how soon baseball will interfere again.

*****
This was one of the strangest second-chance romances I've ever read. The characters were fine but not lovable. Her sister Mona is a terrible sister, and I'm still baffled as to why her nephew gets his own POV and chapters worked into her story. It doesn't add anything to the novel and just continues to have it drag on to be much too long.

Also, I don't know how two people could divorce in their mid to late 30's and then not be with other people? In 5 years? Still calling each other husband and wife and babe. Especially after he left her devastated after a massive personal loss to focus on his job and never chose to explain it. It was just awkward and dragged out, and we don't get the reasons behind things until too late in the novel to even have investment into the characters.

Then there's the epilogue that really didn't need to be included. If anything, it brought the book down further due to how awkward and clunky it was, and how it reinforces that despite remarriage, he's still going to continue to find ways to choose baseball.

Overall, I found this a slow and frustrating book, and I wouldn't recommend it.

*****

Thank you, NetGalley, and Tyndale House for the digital ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

While First Love, Second Draft has an intriguing premise—a burnt-out romance writer and her ex-husband thrown back together—it ultimately misses the mark for me. Gracie and Noah’s second-chance romance should have been heartwarming, but their backstory felt underdeveloped, leaving little emotional payoff when they reunite.

Noah’s unwavering devotion to baseball, even in Gracie’s most vulnerable moments, is framed as noble, but it read as selfish to me. The justification for his choices, especially surrounding a deeply personal tragedy, felt tone-deaf. Instead of showcasing genuine growth, the story glosses over what led to their divorce in the first place, making their reconnection feel rushed and unearned.

Gracie, meanwhile, had her moments of charm, but her emotional journey was bogged down by too many side plots. Matt’s storyline, while interesting, distracted from the main narrative, and Mona’s character added unnecessary negativity without resolution.

Overall, the book struggled to balance romance, personal healing, and its commentary on sacrifice. If you’re looking for a satisfying second-chance romance with emotional depth, this one might leave you frustrated instead of swooning.

Gracie Parker, a romance writer, must complete and submit her manuscript to her publisher, who is not happy with her at the moment. With the deadline quickly approaching, Gracie is sidelined by injuries sustained when she fell off a mechanical horse that was in the back of a truck. She can barely sit up, much less walk or even think about finishing her book. The last person she wants to see or help her is Noah, her ex-husband. After a phone call to Noah from Gracie’s nephew, Matt, who advises that she is looking for a tenant for the cottage next door, Noah shows up at her door announcing that he’s her new tenant and he’s come to help her.
Noah is a major league baseball star; however, the ending of the current season is a big letdown, and he believes his successful baseball career is over. He regrets that he traded his marriage for the years of success he had as a pitcher in the major leagues. Gracie simply got tired of him always being gone.
As Noah makes every effort to help Gracie, she continually refuses his help, questioning if people can really change. Her manuscript is not getting done, and she feels her successful writing career is probably over as well.
An opportunity to salvage her career is presented to her; however, it would be necessary to partner with Noah to successfully complete the suggested project.
Amongst the story of Gracie and Noah, Matt, Gracie’s nephew, is also dealing with his high school crush who is back in town. This adds a new twist to the story and another set of misunderstandings on both sides.
I enjoyed this delightful and sometimes humorous story of everyday people and the complexity of issues they face. The characters are relatable, and I found the story engaging and heartwarming.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All comments and opinions are my own.

TW: miscarriage and death

Thank you to Netgalley and Tyndale House Publishers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a cute but a little heavy read. The FMC, Gracie, is in a rut with writer's block, an injury, and pushing down her trauma. To top it off, her ex-husband, Noah, shows up. Some pretty intense topics came up during the book but were handled delicately. I like Gracie as a character with her wittiness and independence, but Noah is what really stole the show for me. He was vulnerable and ready to take accountability to win Gracie back (something men don't often do). Their chemistry felt genuine and authentic, and nothing felt unrealistic and just "easy." It showed that the two needed to work in tandem to glue everything back together.

However, I did feel that this book was longer than needed, and the epilogue didn't do much for me.

Read if you like:
Second chance romance
Athlete romance
Closed door romance

This was my first romance novel in quite a while and it didn’t disappoint! I really enjoyed the character development and the depth the author went into Gracie and Noah’s lives and love. It had just the right amount of detailed story telling, suspense and hearty scenes throughout to keep you hooked.

The only thing I would have REALLY liked to be different in the book was the grocery scene with Matt and Rachel - it started out really cute and exciting and very very quickly turned on it’s head to be unimaginably cringey. I feel like it would have been better and made more sense for the way the story of Matt and Rachel was going if Matt had made the ultimate move he had literally spent the entire time talking about instead of Rachel.

Also, having more time spent on looking back at the reasons behind Mona and Gracie’s relationship dynamic would have made more sense too. And of course, it’s a romance novel. I get that Gracie had a fractured pelvis but surely add in some sexy scenes (especially if Noah really is as hot as she says he is… plus it was only a hairline fracture)! Final note, Luke honestly could have been excluded from the book entirely considering how little he played into the entire storytelling of Noah and Gracie.

#NetGalley #FirstLoveSecondDraft

I don’t normally love the idea of exes getting back together but I am a sucker for a good second chance romance! This was cute.

Gracie Parker is a romance writer stuck in a rut, and Noah, her famous baseball star ex-husband, is exactly the last person she wants to be around. Yet, as they’re forced to work together, the chemistry and unresolved emotions between them are impossible to ignore. What really stood out for me was how their journey wasn’t just about rekindling a romance, but about personal growth and learning to trust each other again. Gracie’s witty, bookish personality made her easy to root for, and Noah’s quiet determination to win her back was both charming and heartwarming. If you enjoy second-chance romances that are both sweet and full of heart, this one’s for you.

⚾️📝First Love, Second Draft by @beccaannkinzer📝⚾️
Huge thank you to @netgalley and @tyndalehouse for granting my NetGalley wish with this amazing ARC!
💜⚾️📝

When I saw the cover of the book and then read the synopsis, I knew I needed to read it. As a baseball loving writer, it sounded right up my a. Alley…. (iykyk)

While the main story line about Gracie and Naoh was a second chance romance, the secondary story line between Matt and Rachel going from friends to lovers filled my heart with such joy!!

I loved watching Gracie and Noah reconcile their marriage so much. Between the playful banter to the honest and raw heart to hearts, I fell in love with their love. So much to the point the ending brought me to tears! It was beautiful.

My heart is so very full after this one! 💜

This should be called First Love, First Draft. This book made absolutely no sense from the character details to the way the story is told. I honestly feel apathetic towards the characters, like I don’t love or hate them - I just don’t care for them. Except maybe for Gracie’s dad, Buck. First off, why do we have a POV and chapters dedicated to her nephew? He’s not a main character, he’s not her love interest. This is a story about family, but his aunt getting back with her ex-husband. This just makes the story confusing, because him being in love with a girl from high school doesn’t add to the story. Second, you mean to tell me it’s been 5 years since Gracie and Noah divorced and they’re still so hung on each that they call each other husband/wife without the ex in front? At that point, they should just be separated. Noah never actually apologizes for not being their for Gracie during the catalyst of their divorce. He only justifies his stupid decision by blaming childhood trauma he NEVER told her about and that baseball is his job. We don’t actually see Noah’s growth or how their divorce affected him besides “I’m so loney”. This novel could’ve been very well written with a dying parent and traumatizing divorce but it lacked the depth needed for these topics.

Thank you Tyndale House publishing and NetGalley for the ARC.

This is this is the story of Gracie and Noah, who have been divorced for 5 years. Gracie is injured and Noah comes take care of her, leading to their reconnection. Noah is a professional baseball player who ALWAYS chooses baseball. This book was so disappointing. It was the perfect exemple for toxic work culture and being second best. This was a love letter to baseball and NOT to partnership and growth.

3.75 ⭐️

TW: Miscarriage & death

Read this quickly, really enjoyed the storyline. Kind of wish it didn’t have so many chapters before we got into what the issues were with the MC’s.
Sure it was nice to come back and help out when his ex wife had an accident but 5 years to come explain yourself??? Like 5 years is a long time and i felt we needed a lot more backstory
There was good and bad parts of this book
Wasn’t really a fan of the one chapter about the female MC and next chapter about her nephew. Felt we could’ve got 2 separate books out of their stories

Epilogue was only ok, not sure if it was needed.

Everything about this book was a resounding HELL YES for me! It was a one-sitting read, and let me just say—the cover is absolutely gorgeous! I adore the second chance romance trope, and this book delivered it perfectly.

Our male lead, Noah, was fantastic. His desperation to prove to Grace that he had changed was both heartwarming and compelling. I couldn't get enough of their journey together.

This book was a delightful blend of romance and redemption, making it an unputdownable read. If you're a fan of second chances and beautifully crafted love stories, this one's for you.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for the chance to read this book.

I wanted to really like this book and tried but I struggled and DNFd about halfway through

Thank you to Netgalley and Tyndale House Publishers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. First Love Second Draft kept me reading and smiling. It had enough banter to laugh, enough feel good romance to swoon, and enough emotional depth to really feel for these characters. The story truly felt like a two for one romance as it followed Noah and Gracie as well as Matt and Rachel. In both cases the story handles the tough topic of when hard things in life challenge a relationship and how taking a leap of faith might be scary but oh so worth it. And might I just add, Matt and Rachel should have had their own book. I was in love with that couple and just wanted more! I gladly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in a clean romance.

FIRST LOVE SECOND DRAFT by BECCA KINZER is a hilariously funny romcom, with a great deal of depth, amazing characters and a strong Christian message of hope. It is the story of author, Gracie Parker, who has not only lost her edge as a writer since she divorced her famous husband, Noah, pitcher for the Seattle Mariners, five years ago, but she is faced with a two week deadline and injuries from a fall off a mechanical horse which has left her incapactated….
Noah sees this as an opportunity to try and win her back, and, with the help of her nephew Matt, he moves into her rental cottage and helps her get back on her feet. Gracie is not sure this is a good idea, but with the absence of her sister Mona, a loud and very busy real estate agent, she does not have a choice……
Her book is not going well, but there may be a way out of her deadline if Noah and Gracie work together…..
There are so many characters, including Gracie’s dad, Buck, Matt’s friend Rachel, the boys from the firehouse, and the FedEx lady, to name but a few. News travels fast in the small town of Alda……
I am not telling you any more for fear of spoiing things for you.
I was given an ARC from NetGalley by Tyndale House Publishers. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

Long spells in books where we don't know much about what went down in a past relationship is hard to get into. Their divorce was 5 years ago and a lot can happen in that time for a person. I liked that for a tough topic it was lighthearted and there were really cute moments! Second chance romances are ones that I try to enjoy but for some reason or another they end up flat, like not having their whole previous situation disclosed and we are left to wonder what went wrong for so long.

Overall, just not for me.

I first want to thank the publisher for granting my wish to read this book. It was so nice to be chosen. Gracie and Noah were ex spouses that were still in love with each other. She had an unfortunate accident and needed assistance, so he swooped in to help her and to win her back. At the same time her nephew Matt was trying to win over his best friend Rachel. It was all cute. Though I’m not sure how I feel about exs getting back together. There were moments of humor and lightness throughout serious topics of a dying dad and the loss of a pregnancy. The epilogue though was just okay but not needed. Overall, it was an okay, clean, and at times a sweet romance. Thank to the publisher and NetGalley for my ARC.

First Love, Second Draft by Becca Kinzer is a delightful and charming romantic comedy that balances lighthearted moments with a deeper exploration of personal growth and creative ambition. The protagonist, a young woman grappling with both the uncertainty of her writing career and her blossoming relationship, offers readers a relatable and endearing character. However, while the romance is sweet and the writing is engaging, the plot occasionally feels predictable, relying on familiar tropes that don’t push the boundaries of the genre. The pacing can also be uneven at times, with certain conflicts feeling rushed or underdeveloped, leaving some emotional moments lacking in impact. Despite these minor flaws, First Love, Second Draft is a fun and heartwarming read, perfect for fans of rom-coms and anyone in search of a feel-good escape.

2 ⭐️

Both main characters have been going through a messy phase for the past 5 years since their divorce. Noah was recently released from his position on his baseball team, so Gracie's injury couldn't have happened at a better time. Gracie and Noah haven't seen each other in the past 5 years, but Gracie getting hurt, and a nosy nephew brings them together.

I do wish that the story started with the memoir sooner so that we could hear more of their back story of when they met and everything that led to the divorce.

I think that Matt could have had his own book or novella. It wasn't needed and detracted from the real story at hand.

I don't think Mona was a good sister. Honestly, she was not a good person, and she was only concerned about herself. Not even concerned for her son.

**thank you to Tyndale House Publishing and NetGalley for the ecopy**