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thebookcanvas's review
3.0
The Bookshop of Second Chances - 3/5⭐️
Genre: Contemporary Fiction/Romance
Spice: 1/5
Genre: Contemporary Fiction/Romance
Spice: 1/5
amandalovefull's review
hopeful
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Woman leaves behind ex-husband who had an affair with her friend and meets a morally grey pair of brothers with their own relationship issues in a small town.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity
Minor: Infertility and Miscarriage
mwest15170's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
theshaggyshepherd's review against another edition
4.0
I had a really good time with this book! I borrowed the audiobook from my library to use along with the ebook and it was a good experience to be able to switch back and forth between the two. The narrator was a really good fit for the story.
I read a lot of fantasy books with young protagonists so having a character in her fourties with her live falling apart felt really refreshing. That was of course sucky for her but what a dream to live vicariously through someone else to move to a small town in Scotland and fall in love with the owner of a bookshop!
I enjoyed the dynamic between the fMC and her acquaintance-boss-lover really fun to follow from the start! I love how she handled his grumpiness and how she showed his appreciation in small ways. And I was just as fascinated with his mess of a love life as she was!
This is a relatively slow and meandering book but it worked perfectly for this story. I loved the comeuppance at the end for her ex and the way some other stuff was handled at the end. Her love interest did turn very sappy, though adorable, at the end and I sometimes thought there was too much inner monologuing going on but overall, I really enjoyed this story and am glad I finally got to it.
I read a lot of fantasy books with young protagonists so having a character in her fourties with her live falling apart felt really refreshing. That was of course sucky for her but what a dream to live vicariously through someone else to move to a small town in Scotland and fall in love with the owner of a bookshop!
I enjoyed the dynamic between the fMC and her acquaintance-boss-lover really fun to follow from the start! I love how she handled his grumpiness and how she showed his appreciation in small ways. And I was just as fascinated with his mess of a love life as she was!
This is a relatively slow and meandering book but it worked perfectly for this story. I loved the comeuppance at the end for her ex and the way some other stuff was handled at the end. Her love interest did turn very sappy, though adorable, at the end and I sometimes thought there was too much inner monologuing going on but overall, I really enjoyed this story and am glad I finally got to it.
theresaalan41's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 stars rounded up
I’d read two (good) suspense novels in a row, so I needed a change of pace, and this well-written novel was perfect. It’s set in Scotland, a beautiful country I adore, and since I’m not traveling physically anytime soon, at least my mind can go on a trip someplace. This is not a fast-paced, plot-driven story, so if that’s what you’re looking for, this isn’t the book for you. There are times when the narrator, Thea, describes rooms in far more detail than I’d ever need. Also, in some parts we’re really in her mind about quotidian stuff like her reflecting on her finances, which, at this time in her life, are a wee bit tricky because she left her husband after discovering he was having an affair with someone she thought was her friend, which means she’s owed half of a house but doesn’t have the money yet.
When she inherits a large manor in Scotland from an uncle she barely knew but shared her love of books, Thea travels to this small Scottish town to see if she should sell the estate or convert the property into something she can rent. Plus, there is an elaborate library filled with rare books that she could sell. Thea had been made redundant from her job, and with her unexpected inheritance, she doesn’t have to find a job right away.
She discovers that she likes the town and decides to stay on a bit, and, to fill her time, finds a low-paying but enjoyable job in a bookstore owned by an irascible man who, in his late forties, is just a few years older than she is. She’s still healing from the end of being with a man she loved and trusted for almost twenty years. At this point, she’s certain she’ll never find love again. So yes, you can guess what happens, but the attraction doesn’t happen overnight. Her turmoil from the loss of her marriage and her reluctance to enter into a relationship with a man who has had considerable issues with women is not something she enters into lightly.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this novel, which RELEASES IN THE STATES MAY 4, 2021.
I’d read two (good) suspense novels in a row, so I needed a change of pace, and this well-written novel was perfect. It’s set in Scotland, a beautiful country I adore, and since I’m not traveling physically anytime soon, at least my mind can go on a trip someplace. This is not a fast-paced, plot-driven story, so if that’s what you’re looking for, this isn’t the book for you. There are times when the narrator, Thea, describes rooms in far more detail than I’d ever need. Also, in some parts we’re really in her mind about quotidian stuff like her reflecting on her finances, which, at this time in her life, are a wee bit tricky because she left her husband after discovering he was having an affair with someone she thought was her friend, which means she’s owed half of a house but doesn’t have the money yet.
When she inherits a large manor in Scotland from an uncle she barely knew but shared her love of books, Thea travels to this small Scottish town to see if she should sell the estate or convert the property into something she can rent. Plus, there is an elaborate library filled with rare books that she could sell. Thea had been made redundant from her job, and with her unexpected inheritance, she doesn’t have to find a job right away.
She discovers that she likes the town and decides to stay on a bit, and, to fill her time, finds a low-paying but enjoyable job in a bookstore owned by an irascible man who, in his late forties, is just a few years older than she is. She’s still healing from the end of being with a man she loved and trusted for almost twenty years. At this point, she’s certain she’ll never find love again. So yes, you can guess what happens, but the attraction doesn’t happen overnight. Her turmoil from the loss of her marriage and her reluctance to enter into a relationship with a man who has had considerable issues with women is not something she enters into lightly.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this novel, which RELEASES IN THE STATES MAY 4, 2021.
scwilson328's review
3.0
3.5⭐️
I wanted to love this book, and there were certainly things I did love about it, but the main characters fell too flat for me to really love it.
I wanted to love this book, and there were certainly things I did love about it, but the main characters fell too flat for me to really love it.
trinitychilddreamer's review
5.0
I loved this book - even despite trying to wade through English/Scottish vernacular. I have wanted to read more books with older protagonists - 16yo main leads are fine...I've just grown out of that stage so it no longer holds the same appeal or complexity that an adult relationship can offer.
I love the main character - she's not necessarily someone I think I'd get on with in real life, but I like her quiet acceptance of new things and her realistic outlook. It was honestly so refreshing to read her tell her truth quietly and without the drama - even though it was definitely warranted. If my husband had a years long affair, I'd be heartbroken and outraged. I can just picture the righteous chaos I'd cause with "Before He Cheats" by Carrie Underwood playing in the background. Thea had a quiet and more confrontation-averse way of handling the deception. It did also help that she had a house far(ish) away to deal with instead of her broken marriage.
I also really enjoyed that Edward's affection for her wasn't crazy obvious. It was a subtler, more caring transition into love. It was really sweet - you can kind of glimpse it and see that he has feelings for her, but she is just oblivious and so not self-focused to think he likes her. THE SCENE WHERE HE FREAKING SWIPES HER TEARS AWAY AND KISSES HER UGHHHHHHHHHHHH I LOVE IT BUT I also hate that he freaks out and FREAKING FIRES HER and TELLS HER SHE WASN'T HIS FRIEND. The emotions of it all was a freaking whirl and I was there for it. Emotional depth and realistic reactions? Heck yes.
Overall, the side characters weren't crazy fleshed out, but the emotional depth, the pace of the story and the just plain life situations made this book a winner. Might even buy it. Probably. Maybe. Yes.
I love the main character - she's not necessarily someone I think I'd get on with in real life, but I like her quiet acceptance of new things and her realistic outlook. It was honestly so refreshing to read her tell her truth quietly and without the drama - even though it was definitely warranted. If my husband had a years long affair, I'd be heartbroken and outraged. I can just picture the righteous chaos I'd cause with "Before He Cheats" by Carrie Underwood playing in the background. Thea had a quiet and more confrontation-averse way of handling the deception. It did also help that she had a house far(ish) away to deal with instead of her broken marriage.
I also really enjoyed that Edward's affection for her wasn't crazy obvious. It was a subtler, more caring transition into love. It was really sweet - you can kind of glimpse it and see that he has feelings for her, but she is just oblivious and so not self-focused to think he likes her. THE SCENE WHERE HE FREAKING SWIPES HER TEARS AWAY AND KISSES HER UGHHHHHHHHHHHH I LOVE IT BUT I also hate that he freaks out and FREAKING FIRES HER and TELLS HER SHE WASN'T HIS FRIEND. The emotions of it all was a freaking whirl and I was there for it. Emotional depth and realistic reactions? Heck yes.
Overall, the side characters weren't crazy fleshed out, but the emotional depth, the pace of the story and the just plain life situations made this book a winner. Might even buy it. Probably. Maybe. Yes.
jasberry99's review
3.0
this was great until it wasn’t :/ unfortunately the romance itself was the main disappointment for me, which was a real bummer after spending most of the book anticipating it. knocked down from 5 to 3 stars :/
sleighbelle's review
2.0
I received this book from a goodreads giveaway and this is my honest review. Fraser wrote an empowering book for women who are starting over in mid-life. This shows women that life can and does go on after life altering events. The setting was superb, Scotland- no need to elaborate on this one. The author described places very well and gave me a longing to visit the area. The characters themselves could have been developed more. I felt that Thea, having already experienced heartache fell for the most immature man in the book. Any man that still has unresolved issues from high school should be a red flag for a woman coming out of a long term relationship. I think that this book would have been a three star for me except for the use of the Lord's name in vain. It seems as if Fraser used Jesus and God every other page. I am not sure if that is an English thing or not, but it is offensive to me.
Things that worked:
setting -Scotland :-)
supporting characters - I really liked Jenny, Alistar, Cerys etc.
plot - it is a great idea -woman finding out who she is after heartache/starting over
Things that really didn't work:
overuse of the Lord's name in vain - see above
character development - Edward and Charles both seemed to lack in development. Charles should
have had a more prominent role in the novel if he was going to attempt to
influence Thea, it seemed he just randomly showed up and I never really felt
a friendship had developed. See above for my issues with Edward. I am not
sure what the purpose of bringing Chris to Scotland was to be honest. That
scene could have been excluded entirely and handled by email or by a phone
call. It was awkward to read. I know Thea needed resolution but that was a
bit much.
Overall, without the issue of the Lord's name being used every other page, I would have given this book 3 stars, but it has to be a 2 star for me for this reason.
Things that worked:
setting -Scotland :-)
supporting characters - I really liked Jenny, Alistar, Cerys etc.
plot - it is a great idea -woman finding out who she is after heartache/starting over
Things that really didn't work:
overuse of the Lord's name in vain - see above
character development - Edward and Charles both seemed to lack in development. Charles should
have had a more prominent role in the novel if he was going to attempt to
influence Thea, it seemed he just randomly showed up and I never really felt
a friendship had developed. See above for my issues with Edward. I am not
sure what the purpose of bringing Chris to Scotland was to be honest. That
scene could have been excluded entirely and handled by email or by a phone
call. It was awkward to read. I know Thea needed resolution but that was a
bit much.
Overall, without the issue of the Lord's name being used every other page, I would have given this book 3 stars, but it has to be a 2 star for me for this reason.