Thank you NetGalley, Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
When Gray left town a decade ago, he couldn’t imagine coming back. The town held his father’s crimes against him and made life so difficult, he couldn’t see a way forward without leaving for the military. Shelby has worked with her grandmother for years at the Second Story Bookshop. So when Gran passed away, Shelby anticipated inheriting the store outright. What Shelby didn’t anticipate was Gran playing matchmaker, even in the afterlife, and giving Gray half the store, too. Will the high school sweethearts find their own Second Story, or will Gran’s legacy pull them under?
Fan favorite author Denise Hunter is back with her latest small-town romance in The Second Story Bookshop, due out this fall. Known for her Hallmark-worthy romances, this story features Hunter’s signature relatable characters and storyline. With an undercurrent of redemption and reunion, Hunter delivers a tale that will keep readers engaged and wanting more from these characters even after the last page. This is a story about kindness, fair treatment, and a warning not to judge people based on gossip.
I give The Second Story Bookshop 4 out of 5 stars. It would make sense that this novel feels like it was made for TV, since so many of Hunter’s works have ended up on the small screen. In terms of romance novels, there were scenes towards then end that felt too forced and out of place when the town was involved. However, if you were viewing this in terms of a first season of a TV show, those scenes might feel spot on. I liked this story and these characters, but wished that the plot was developed a little more.
If you are a fan of Ransom Canyon, Sullivan’s Crossing, or Virgin River, you will love these characters, too. With themes of bullying and poverty, this book may be best directed to readers over 16. As with Hunter’s previous releases, this would make a great book club selection with so much to unpack around the character’s history and actions. I was excited to see this book available through NetGalley since I recently enjoyed Love, Unscripted, and like the Riverbend series as well.
The Second Story Bookshop releases October 7th. You can pre-order your copy today on our Bookshop.org page!
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