This book was adorable! I absolutely loved Gracie and Noah. I also loved how there were other people mixed into it as well. It made it fun seeing the connection of everything between the two couples and Gracie’s book she was writing. There were moments that had me dying laughing and also wanting to cry. Which is always my favorite kind of books to read. This book was easy to follow and a fun read. I don’t read much baseball romance but I definitely might have to add some more in to my tbr after this one! Very thankful to netgalley for allowing me to read this arc!

And this, my friends, is exactly why you shouldn't let reviews keep you from picking up a book you're curious about. If I had listened to all the negative chatter about this one, I probably would’ve skipped it. But thankfully, I didn’t, and oh, I’m so glad I gave it a shot!

From the moment I read the synopsis, I had a feeling this story would be my kind of read. I’m usually not the biggest fan of second-chance romances, but there’s just something about a divorced couple finding their way back to each other that always gets me. Marriage isn’t easy; it’s messy, it’s real, and when you’ve been with someone for years, chances are, you’ve seen their worst moments and struggled together and apart. Two imperfect people don’t make a perfect relationship... that math will never add up! But when they lean on God and allow Him to fulfill their needs, that's where the beauty is. And that opens up the relationship to one that allows for falling down, getting back up, and a second chance to get it right.

Noah and Gracie’s journey back to each other was rocky (like, really rocky), but it was also sweet, funny, and just full of heart. I laughed out loud quite a bit reading this. Watching Noah fight for their marriage and prove to Gracie that she will be number one in his life? So touching. And seeing Gracie finally face the truth that she never really moved on because no one could ever take his place? So, so sweet.

Add in the sweet side romance between Matt and Rachel (friends to lovers trope, for those who adore those), plus some heartfelt family dynamics, and this book turned into something really special.

I received a complimentary copy of this book, but that didn’t affect my thoughts one bit. Just speaking from the heart here. 💛

I love baseball. I love sports romance. I love books with multiple POVs. But I did not love this book. I'm still confused about why Noah and Gracie got divorced in the first place and then both never dated another person for FIVE YEARS???? Just talk to each other?!? Also wasn't expecting Gracie's nephew Matt to have a POV and whole plot line, but I actually really enjoyed his plot more than the main one. Mona was awful. I don't feel like there was any character growth for anyone through this story? This just wasn't for me as much as I wanted to love it.

3.5/5 ⭐
This books tells the story of two couples (one second chance romance, one a friend-to-lovers type of situation) and is very cute!
It's also a sport romance and a writer romance. You get my saying. There was a lot of things going all at once, as if the author could not pick a storyline and stick to it.
But it was still kind of cute, and I'm not regretting reading this at all. My fav couple out of the two is definitely the friends-to-lovers (the nephew and his childhood crush).

unfortunately i did dnf this one. i felt as though the story was quite busy and lacked direction. there were a lot of different characters and storylines which led to me feeling a bit lost within the pages.

the brief for this book held promise and intrigue, i think that the overall concept was one that could have flourished with a bit more refinement!

thank you to NetGalley and Tyndall House Publishers for the arc!

Unfortunately, I had to DNF this one. The description sounded like something I would have loved. I felt like this book could have used a lot more editing. Thank you Tyndale House Publishers & NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

The concept of First Love, Second Draft is intriguing and sounds like a great read. First loves, who parted ways after 20 years together, yet are still in love? Sounds like a bumpy road ahead if they’re going to get together. But it also sounds like it could be a fun ride. Sadly, it didn’t work out that way for me.

Gracie and Noah parted ways under uncomfortable circumstances. Gracie felt he wasn’t supporting her and wasn’t there when she needed him the most. After finishing the book, I ask her, “When did you support him and be there when he needed you?” She held on to her resentment towards Noah for over five years, and continued to push him away after he arrived to help her during her recovery.

The dialogue between Gracie and Noah, especially in the book’s first half, was unbearable. I understand Gracie didn’t trust her heart with him around, but the way she spoke to him felt more like a bratty child than a 40-something woman. Once they started talking and, more importantly, listening to each other, the book became much better, so much so that I read it in a couple of hours.

Another thing that took me out of the story was the added romance between Matt and Rachel. I understand we should see a parallel between them and the main characters, but it broke up the flow of the main story. And were the accidents needed?

Do you enjoy reading sports romance? What if it contains a second chance romance? Even better if it’s a clean romance, meaning there’s nothing sexual in the book? Then you may enjoy reading First Love, Second Draft.

I liked the premise of this story, as well as the cover and title, but it was hard for me to get into. I think there was a bit too many side characters with too much going on. It made it read a bit stilted. The main character was quirky and chaotic, which isn't bad on its own, but it was a bit much at times and made it hard for me to root for her. As much as I loved the nephew's plotline, I feel like it took away from the main story.

3.5⭐

Thank you to NetGalley and Tyndale House Publishers for the eARC. These are my honest thoughts.

This was a busy novel! There were a lot of characters and different stories going throughout.



Buck was my favorite character. He was good natured with his roommate and supportive of the people in his life.



Gracie, Noah, Matt and Rachel were the main characters and the story was a little bit all over the place for me.



I didn't enjoy the character Mona. She basically abandoned her sister when she was hurt. I found her to be extremely selfish.



Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. The opinions are my own.

This book was really difficult to get through - the multiple POVs were confusing, the “plot” was all over the place, and the story didn’t feel very flushed out. Is it cliché to say this felt like the very first draft of the book?

2.75 stars

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Title, cover, and premise all get a 5 out 5 from me. It intrigued me, drew me in, and held great promise. Especially the title, I really love the title. And I loved Noah’s obsession with trying to win Gracie back.

Unfortunately, this book just wasn’t for me. I found that I didn’t connect with the writing style, and the quirkiness that I believe the author was going for just didn’t land on its target audience with me.

I felt like the book focused on too many characters, which made the story feel chaotic. It honestly felt like the book could have used some more rounds of editing and tightening up the story.

The formatting issues also kept throwing me out of the story, but I put that last because I know it’s just an ARC and this will probably be resolved by the time the final is published.

I do think others will like and connect with this book more than I did, especially if they like a multiple POV story that focuses on multiple characters (not just the two MCS – Gracie and Noah) and second chance romances.

I have already posted my review on Goodreads and my review will be posted on Instagram on Wednesday, April 9.

I am a huge sports romance lover. But this just missed the mark for me. This book focused on the main character's nephew and not really the two main characters. That isn't what I wanted to read. I also felt like the writing was cringy.

There’s just something about a Becca Kinzer book. The witty banter, the faith elements, the romance. And this book brought double the romance with following two couples. Loved it! An added bonus was the main hero and heroine who were both in their forties. Hooray for age-relatable characters! I can’t wait to see what Becca cooks up next.

This is the first novel I tried by Becca Kinzer and I really liked it. I was pleasantly surprised/impressed by how much I liked it! Kinzer was a perfect mix of Nicole Deese and Cindy Steel. Charming characters and witty banter/humor. I liked the small town setting and the cast of characters were all well developed and adorable. I also liked the plot, there were no overdone tropes and it was a different premise than I typically read.

I really enjoyed the secondary romance between Matt and Rachel. Even though it was technically in the background, it was sweet and endearing and I liked it as much as the primary story between Gracie/Noah. I also adored Buck’s character; he was steady, genuine, present and caring.

Read if you like second-chance romance, forced-proximity, small towns and sports romance!

Thank you to Tyndale House Publishers & Netgalley for the ARC. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

There's an audience for every book, and if you're into "second change romance" (I'm not familiar with the trope) and want your protagonists to be the only ones for each other (does that exist? I mean, in real life?) than maybe... maybe this one is for you.

Gracie has a huge writer's block, that started when she and her husband divorced. She's also recovering from an injury and needs help. Her good-for-nothing big sister is no help though. Insert ex-husband who's never stopped loving his ex-wife (why did he divorce, you ask? I have no idea. Particularly since this is USA set and this might be an assumption, but isn't therapy the thing people do?) and who's determined to win back her heart.

There's also a nephew, who gets his own storyline. Initially funny - a lot more funny than the mess Gracie is at least- until it's just not.

There were parts I enjoyed but overall the only feelings I have were one of mild irritation and of chaos. Unfortunately I thought Grace ridiculous and annoying, childish even. Why would two people get a divorce and not counseling? More so when it's said Gracie did get therapy to get over the break up.

Oh and the ending... *throws hands up in annoyance* ...what was that? More chaos and more I-really-don't-think-this-is-for-me

Again, there's an audience for every book, and maybe when you're a tad biblical this goes down easier, but not for me.

I received an eARC from NetGalley in return for my honest opinion

I love the title. I really liked that the main characters were older, but this book was a little too much: too long, too much info on the secondary couple (that could have been a spinoff book or novella), too many sexual innuendos for the typical Christian fiction book. I liked the characters and I liked them together. The ending was sweet.

Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of the book.

I’m sorry, but this book just wasn’t for me. I found the humor to be lacking and just wasn’t feeling the characters. I hope that other’s find it delightful, however!

I absolutely 100% recommend this book if you like to giggle and laugh out loud. If you enjoy lovable, zany, and crazy characters, romance, and sweet poignant moments with Biblical inspiration, then this book is for you. I couldn't put it down, and when I had to, I kept thinking about the characters in the story. Because after just a few pages, they became my people. Now, after finishing the happy-ever-after ending, I'm still thinking of them. I have a huge book hangover, for crying out loud. I loved everything about this book and hope you will too. *I was given a copy of this book by the publisher, and this is my honest opinion.

DNFed at 24%
I just could not do it. She’s an author that writes very personal book and something I don’t know if this is an author self insert. I don’t like her in the tiny bit I read and I don’t like him.

I really didn’t like this book. The humor felt very forced and slapstick. The heroine is just too pitiful as she faces severe writer’s block and injuries from falling off a coin-operated child’s rocking horse. Her ex-husband, a famous baseball pitcher, shows up to try to win her back and help her recover from her injuries. More slapstick encounters follow.

He’s been released from his team on the eve of the World Series because his arm had given out. Weeks pass and suddenly his manager shows up to ask him to come pitch in the Series. What was going on all that time in between? And why would the manager believe that his arm was suddenly healed?

The heroine’s prickliness makes her rather unlikeable. And then what was an attempt at a humorous romance suddenly turns rather dark and depressing. Add in unbelievable and it was almost as much a mess as the time-traveling mess of a romance the heroine was writing.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.