Second Chance Books by Carina Gaskell
I want to start by saying that this book is more than just a love story. It's a tale of forgiveness, unconditional love, and the importance of family.
I have a love-hate relationship with slow-burn romances because I often feel impatient and frustrated. But with this book? Somehow, my patience remained intact. I really enjoyed reading about how Eleanor (Nell) and Thomas (Tom) rebuilt their friendship after years apart. Their romance has a very natural progression and I felt that each part was written just right to fit into the whole narrative of the book.
The greatest charm of this book is how Nell and Tom’s romance opened the door to meeting other characters with equally heartfelt stories that tug at your heartstrings. Books have the power to bring people together, and this is especially true in Second Chance Books. The book club members come from all walks of life but have found family and belongingness within the walls of the bookstore.
I can't end this review without mentioning Roger, a character whose words and acts of love left a lasting, positive impact on everyone in the story. His presence added a profound depth that lingered with me long after the book ended.
Second Chance Books was a heartfelt read, and I hope we get to read more of the other characters in the future! Thank you @carinagaskellwrites for giving me a copy! ❤️
A girl must choose between the future she'd envisioned for herself and the beautiful reality of a secondhand bookstore her first love calls home in this heartfelt contemporary romance that explores the power of love, literature, and community when it comes to changing and saving lives.
Only three things stand in the way of the life Nell had always envisioned for herself: a bookstore, its book club, and the boy of her dreams.
When Nell's brother-in-law walks out on her pregnant sister, it falls on Nell's shoulders to cover their mountain of bills. To do so, she must convince the owner of a secondhand bookstore to sell his property so she can earn a commission.
But when she visits the store, two unexpected things happen: the owner offers her a job sorting the shelves—extra income!—and her childhood crush, Thomas Whelan, turns out to be the only other employee there. Only a fool would turn that opportunity down.
When Thomas reveals he needs help with his love life, it seems all too perfect: get an in with Tom by helping him prepare for his dates, recruit him towards her cause of convincing their boss to sell, get paid, and live happily ever after.
Except the more time she spends with Tom, the more she gets attached: to him, to the bookstore that soon might not even exist, and its customers.
Set in a small town in the throes of gentrification, Second Chance Books is a novel that explores the power of love, literature, and community when it comes to changing and saving lives.