khairun_atika's review against another edition
3.0
"You can't make someone grieve the way you wish they would. You don't have a choice in how you handle it. You just feel the way you feel."
This was not on my TBR, but I chose to read it because it covers one of my favourite themes - grief. Rose Walker lost her childhood love, her husband Lucas in a tragic accident and is suddenly widowed at the age of twenty four. She struggles to cope with the loss, and to be inspired to continue painting again. As a writer, I relate so much to Rose's artistic traits, of trying to express your emotions to your craft, of feeling empty and uninspired after a loss, and of choosing to be an artist despite how hard it is. It was a surprisingly enjoyable read, as Rose deals with her grief, and to truly use art as a form of getting in touch with one's feelings.
This was not on my TBR, but I chose to read it because it covers one of my favourite themes - grief. Rose Walker lost her childhood love, her husband Lucas in a tragic accident and is suddenly widowed at the age of twenty four. She struggles to cope with the loss, and to be inspired to continue painting again. As a writer, I relate so much to Rose's artistic traits, of trying to express your emotions to your craft, of feeling empty and uninspired after a loss, and of choosing to be an artist despite how hard it is. It was a surprisingly enjoyable read, as Rose deals with her grief, and to truly use art as a form of getting in touch with one's feelings.
kirstyreadsblog's review against another edition
2.0
Thank you to Headline Review for sending me a copy of this book via bookbridgr.
After losing her husband Lucas at age 24 Rose is a widow. Her whole life has changed and as she struggles to get back on her feet after such a huge loss she has completely lost her will to paint, something which brought her a lot of joy. The Robert arrives at the village after seeing that she had planned to sell her last ever paintings and falling in love with her art.
This book was the typical chick lit book that I do not enjoy. It had its moments where I didn't mind it but for the most part it just annoyed me. It wasn't completely terrible in that I continued to read it and didn't DNF it but it just really wasn't for me.
To continue reading my review click here: https://kirstyreadsblog.wordpress.com/2016/07/04/the-second-love-of-my-life-by-victoria-walters
After losing her husband Lucas at age 24 Rose is a widow. Her whole life has changed and as she struggles to get back on her feet after such a huge loss she has completely lost her will to paint, something which brought her a lot of joy. The Robert arrives at the village after seeing that she had planned to sell her last ever paintings and falling in love with her art.
This book was the typical chick lit book that I do not enjoy. It had its moments where I didn't mind it but for the most part it just annoyed me. It wasn't completely terrible in that I continued to read it and didn't DNF it but it just really wasn't for me.
To continue reading my review click here: https://kirstyreadsblog.wordpress.com/2016/07/04/the-second-love-of-my-life-by-victoria-walters
sarahs_bookish_life's review against another edition
4.0
The Second Love of My Life is the authors debut novel and I have to say what an impressive debut novel it is.
My heart went out straight away to Rose in the story. Rose and her husband Lucas had known each other since primary school so they had always been pretty much present in each others lives. They fell in love and had not long been married and should have had years of love, new experiences and memories to make and share with each other. When Lucas is killed in an accident caused by a drink driver, Rose's world is ripped apart.
To be a widow at such a young age is just heart breaking. Even though she doesn't have any family of her own, she has her best friend Emma, Emma's husband John as well as Emma's family. She is also very close to Lucas's parents. The bond that all these people have is really heart warming.
Rose lives in a lovely Cornish town where everyone knows everyone. There is a real closeness amongst the residents there and they all watch out for one another. The town sounded bliss and made me want to pack up and move.
After the loss of Lucas, Rose has lost her passion for her painting as well as life. When Robert comes into her life it has her questioning everything and wondering if she can ever have more than one love.
Robert really does send Rose into turmoil. She has so many dilemmas to try and work through. The relationship between Rose and Lucas's parents in particular brought a huge lump to my throat. Rose is a living connection to their son and it really is heartbreaking reading of them as well as Rose who are all trying to deal with the loss and moving on in their own way.
The Second Love of My Life is a gentle and moving story that really does make for a lovely yet emotional read. I think it's a reminder that life goes on and we can either move with it and be happy or stay in the past, which though we should never forget, it can be a sad and lonely place.
Highly recommended
Many thanks to Bookbridgr and Headline for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
My heart went out straight away to Rose in the story. Rose and her husband Lucas had known each other since primary school so they had always been pretty much present in each others lives. They fell in love and had not long been married and should have had years of love, new experiences and memories to make and share with each other. When Lucas is killed in an accident caused by a drink driver, Rose's world is ripped apart.
To be a widow at such a young age is just heart breaking. Even though she doesn't have any family of her own, she has her best friend Emma, Emma's husband John as well as Emma's family. She is also very close to Lucas's parents. The bond that all these people have is really heart warming.
Rose lives in a lovely Cornish town where everyone knows everyone. There is a real closeness amongst the residents there and they all watch out for one another. The town sounded bliss and made me want to pack up and move.
After the loss of Lucas, Rose has lost her passion for her painting as well as life. When Robert comes into her life it has her questioning everything and wondering if she can ever have more than one love.
Robert really does send Rose into turmoil. She has so many dilemmas to try and work through. The relationship between Rose and Lucas's parents in particular brought a huge lump to my throat. Rose is a living connection to their son and it really is heartbreaking reading of them as well as Rose who are all trying to deal with the loss and moving on in their own way.
The Second Love of My Life is a gentle and moving story that really does make for a lovely yet emotional read. I think it's a reminder that life goes on and we can either move with it and be happy or stay in the past, which though we should never forget, it can be a sad and lonely place.
Highly recommended
Many thanks to Bookbridgr and Headline for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
clair_82's review against another edition
5.0
A stunning debut novel which is beautifully written, which had me both laughing and in tears!
This book is absolutely beautiful, I was excited to read this after reading the short story prequel, The Summer We Met which was a fabulous introduction to the main characters but is from Emma’s perspective how she met John.
The Second Love Of My Life is written from Rose’s perspective, set in the town fictional town of Talting, 2 years after the tragic death of Lucas. The prologue opens the book, 2 years prior to Lucas’ death when he and Rose are newly engaged, this is such a bittersweet opening as they are so excited as to what their future as husband and wife will hold whereas we know that this is not to be. After 10 years, Rose has suddenly found herself without her best friend.
Rose is an artist however she has lost all creativity since Lucas’ death. The annual Talting Fair is coming up and Rose is selling paintings which have been in the press as the last pieces that she will ever paint. The Fair itself is also a painful reminder as to what she has lost because she always attended these with Lucas by her side.
The charming but mysterious Robert is in town after seeing the article about the paintings and is wanting to snap an original Rose Walker whilst he still has the chance, he falls in love with the town and decides to stay for the summer.
The Second Love Of My Life is not only about grief and the loss of a loved one, it is also about hope and recovery; how you can go through the absolute worst time of your life and come out the other side. Walters most definitely writes this book from the heart, the emotions that Rose is going through is so eloquently written, but not only about the feeling of loss, also the guilt and sense of unfairness that goes along with her grief. Rose has lost a future that she assumed that she would have and is lost, haunted by what could have been. Rose is anticipating that Emma will soon announce that she is pregnant following her marriage to John (as well as it’s all she’s ever wanted) and Rose feels so saddened that Emma will have something that they always envisioned doing together. Rose feels guilty that she cannot see how she is going to be happy for her friend once it happens – the selfishness of her guilt and of a future she hasn’t anticipated is sensitively written.
This book certainty had me laughing one minute and with a lump in my throat the next. I loved all the characters, and Talting which is a much as a character as the people themselves! The friendship between Rose and Emma is genuine, built upon strong foundations – they are both each others rock.
It is hard to believe that this is a debut novel, it is beautifully written full of emotion and hope, a heartwarming read from start to finish. It is a fantastic story about the recovery after a devastating lost, finding yourself once again and accepting that you can have a future again full of happiness and hope.
Victoria Walters is most definitely one to watch and I hope there are many more books to come!
Thank you to the author and publisher for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book is absolutely beautiful, I was excited to read this after reading the short story prequel, The Summer We Met which was a fabulous introduction to the main characters but is from Emma’s perspective how she met John.
The Second Love Of My Life is written from Rose’s perspective, set in the town fictional town of Talting, 2 years after the tragic death of Lucas. The prologue opens the book, 2 years prior to Lucas’ death when he and Rose are newly engaged, this is such a bittersweet opening as they are so excited as to what their future as husband and wife will hold whereas we know that this is not to be. After 10 years, Rose has suddenly found herself without her best friend.
Rose is an artist however she has lost all creativity since Lucas’ death. The annual Talting Fair is coming up and Rose is selling paintings which have been in the press as the last pieces that she will ever paint. The Fair itself is also a painful reminder as to what she has lost because she always attended these with Lucas by her side.
The charming but mysterious Robert is in town after seeing the article about the paintings and is wanting to snap an original Rose Walker whilst he still has the chance, he falls in love with the town and decides to stay for the summer.
The Second Love Of My Life is not only about grief and the loss of a loved one, it is also about hope and recovery; how you can go through the absolute worst time of your life and come out the other side. Walters most definitely writes this book from the heart, the emotions that Rose is going through is so eloquently written, but not only about the feeling of loss, also the guilt and sense of unfairness that goes along with her grief. Rose has lost a future that she assumed that she would have and is lost, haunted by what could have been. Rose is anticipating that Emma will soon announce that she is pregnant following her marriage to John (as well as it’s all she’s ever wanted) and Rose feels so saddened that Emma will have something that they always envisioned doing together. Rose feels guilty that she cannot see how she is going to be happy for her friend once it happens – the selfishness of her guilt and of a future she hasn’t anticipated is sensitively written.
This book certainty had me laughing one minute and with a lump in my throat the next. I loved all the characters, and Talting which is a much as a character as the people themselves! The friendship between Rose and Emma is genuine, built upon strong foundations – they are both each others rock.
It is hard to believe that this is a debut novel, it is beautifully written full of emotion and hope, a heartwarming read from start to finish. It is a fantastic story about the recovery after a devastating lost, finding yourself once again and accepting that you can have a future again full of happiness and hope.
Victoria Walters is most definitely one to watch and I hope there are many more books to come!
Thank you to the author and publisher for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
toofondofbooks's review against another edition
4.0
I knew from the second I started reading this book that I was going to love it, and I was proved to be absolutely right. This is such a beautiful novel about love, grief and second chances.
I loved Rose from the start of this novel, she just felt like a real person to me. I could feel her pain, her sadness and her desire to honour Lucas, but also her will to live life. I think a lot of people will identify quite strongly with her. She has been through a lot in her life and even if you haven’t been through the same things, the way she feels and approaches things is so believable and true to life.
I loved how this book is in large part also about the families that we create for ourselves, how you may have lost your family, or you may not have a good relationship with them but so often other people come into your life who become your family. Rose’s relationship with Lucas’s parents, particularly his mother, seemed so spot-on, and I was willing them to be able to remain family to each other as Rose’s life began to change. Rose’s relationship with Emma’s mother was also lovely, we don’t see much of them together in the book but the closeness is referred to quite a few times.
I really liked how the town of Talting enveloped the characters in this book, and that in a way it became a character in its own right. I could picture the place so vividly that I began to feel like I’d actually been there. The warmth of the people and place was just wonderful.
I cried so many times reading this book. All the sections where Rose talks about losing her mum just broke my heart because I’ve been there too and Victoria Walters just got those feelings exactly right. I’ve always felt that since losing my mum all the difficult times in my life have been more difficult because I didn’t have my mum to turn to and that’s how it was for Rose, it’s sadly how it is for everyone who has had a good relationship with their parent.
I really enjoyed reading Emma and John’s story too. I’d previously read the short story prequel to this novel called The Summer I Met You and fell in love with this couple then so I was really pleased to find that they feature quite a lot through The Second Love of My Life. It was lovely to see how close Emma and Rose were, and how they remained such good friends throughout everything they each go through.
It’s beautiful how Lucas’ presence is felt throughout this whole novel even though he’d actually died before the point where the book began. We really get to understand how Rose and Lucas’ relationship worked and just how happy they had been together. Rose’s grief for him felt so real and so believable, and I so often wanted to give her a hug, but the book is never maudlin. We feel Rose’s pain but we fall in love with her character so much that we want her to move on we want her to find love and true happiness again. Victoria Walters has spanned this novel over a few years and it allows us to see the progression of Rose’s healing process in such a way that you cant help but feel joy when she starts to feel like she can move on.
There is sadness and grief in this novel but there are also so many moments that made me smile and some moments that made me properly laugh out loud. I think I went through the whole range of emotions while reading this novel, it is just completely and utterly wonderful. I think this novel will become my new comfort read, the book that I turn to when I need a pick me up!
I rated this novel 5 out of 5 and I can’t recommend it highly enough. It’s a gorgeous novel that will make you laugh and cry, but it will ultimately leave you feeling warm and fuzzy and very, very happy! I can’t wait to see what Victoria Walters writes next.
The Second Love of My Life is out now and available from all good bookshops.
I received this book from Net Galley via Headline in exchange for an honest review.
I loved Rose from the start of this novel, she just felt like a real person to me. I could feel her pain, her sadness and her desire to honour Lucas, but also her will to live life. I think a lot of people will identify quite strongly with her. She has been through a lot in her life and even if you haven’t been through the same things, the way she feels and approaches things is so believable and true to life.
I loved how this book is in large part also about the families that we create for ourselves, how you may have lost your family, or you may not have a good relationship with them but so often other people come into your life who become your family. Rose’s relationship with Lucas’s parents, particularly his mother, seemed so spot-on, and I was willing them to be able to remain family to each other as Rose’s life began to change. Rose’s relationship with Emma’s mother was also lovely, we don’t see much of them together in the book but the closeness is referred to quite a few times.
I really liked how the town of Talting enveloped the characters in this book, and that in a way it became a character in its own right. I could picture the place so vividly that I began to feel like I’d actually been there. The warmth of the people and place was just wonderful.
I cried so many times reading this book. All the sections where Rose talks about losing her mum just broke my heart because I’ve been there too and Victoria Walters just got those feelings exactly right. I’ve always felt that since losing my mum all the difficult times in my life have been more difficult because I didn’t have my mum to turn to and that’s how it was for Rose, it’s sadly how it is for everyone who has had a good relationship with their parent.
I really enjoyed reading Emma and John’s story too. I’d previously read the short story prequel to this novel called The Summer I Met You and fell in love with this couple then so I was really pleased to find that they feature quite a lot through The Second Love of My Life. It was lovely to see how close Emma and Rose were, and how they remained such good friends throughout everything they each go through.
It’s beautiful how Lucas’ presence is felt throughout this whole novel even though he’d actually died before the point where the book began. We really get to understand how Rose and Lucas’ relationship worked and just how happy they had been together. Rose’s grief for him felt so real and so believable, and I so often wanted to give her a hug, but the book is never maudlin. We feel Rose’s pain but we fall in love with her character so much that we want her to move on we want her to find love and true happiness again. Victoria Walters has spanned this novel over a few years and it allows us to see the progression of Rose’s healing process in such a way that you cant help but feel joy when she starts to feel like she can move on.
There is sadness and grief in this novel but there are also so many moments that made me smile and some moments that made me properly laugh out loud. I think I went through the whole range of emotions while reading this novel, it is just completely and utterly wonderful. I think this novel will become my new comfort read, the book that I turn to when I need a pick me up!
I rated this novel 5 out of 5 and I can’t recommend it highly enough. It’s a gorgeous novel that will make you laugh and cry, but it will ultimately leave you feeling warm and fuzzy and very, very happy! I can’t wait to see what Victoria Walters writes next.
The Second Love of My Life is out now and available from all good bookshops.
I received this book from Net Galley via Headline in exchange for an honest review.
ellis_p's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this book, I found myself crying alongside Rose at times and hoping everything would work itself out for her. Found it super easy to read too
tigerlilliereads's review against another edition
4.0
This book took me ages to read, and not because it was a bad book. It was a sad one, you know how some books just speak your worst fears, this one did that. I put myself in the characters position easily (great writing) but at the detriment to myself. This book took so long to read because it made me so sad , especially the beginning. I did end up tearing up all through the book. However that is a testimony to how well the book is written and how well grief and the characters are portrayed. The book ends in a really sweet place and the main character goes on a huge journey throughout. Great book just might need tissues
uptoolatereading's review against another edition
3.0
An OK read, but expected a lot more. Nothing new or original about the storyline.