A review by chrisljm
The Bookshop of Second Chances by Jackie Fraser

relaxing slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

So this isn’t a bad book. Just kind of boring. Respectfully, I think this book is more suited, and might be more enjoyable, for middle aged people. Or people going through a midlife crisis. 

There were a few things I didn’t particularly enjoy and one of them was the dialogue. When it comes to dialogue in books I know a lot of filler stuff that we say in real life is probably excluded so that conversation flows more seamlessly between characters, but not in this book. It was like we got to hear every word that Thea was saying as well as every thought that crossed her mind. Which is ironic because even with all that I didn’t get the feeling that she was in love with Edward because she never even let herself contemplate those emotions and when she did, she was just so unsure of what she felt. Another thing that bothered me was the emotional aspects because I was never able to sense what they were feeling and the only reason I knew they were feeling certain things was because it’s specifically stated. The way the book is written, it just feels like you’re being kept at arms length and you only know when Thea is sad or angry after it has happened, which is strange because she’s the narrator. 

But what I disliked the most was every scene with Chris. Towards the end of the book there’s a meeting between Chris and Thea and I wish I didn’t read that at all. It’s not even because I hated Chris, I just hated the way they interacted with each other. 

Also, Thea was made out to be super funny, at least to Edward, but um either he was super down bad or the comedy needs work. Or maybe I just don’t get Scottish humor. 
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