Thank you so much to Net Galley and GP Putnam's Sons for an advanced copy of this book. I loved it!
Format: Net Galley Advanced Reader Copy
Genre: Contemporary Romance/Women's Fiction
Page Length: 448 pages
Publisher: GP Putnam's Sons (October 19, 2021)
Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Mr. Darcy‘s Rating: “You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.”
A Chasing Mr. Darcy Review
I loved Jenny Bayliss' first book (The Twelve Dates of Christmas), and I was irrationally excited for her second book. This story did not disappoint!
Here’s a plot synopsis from GoodReads: Annie Sharpe's spark for life has fizzled out. Her kids are grown up, her restaurant is doing just fine on its own, and her twenty-six-year marriage has come to an unceremonious end. Untethered for the first time in her adult life, she finds a winter guardian position in a historic seaside home and decides to leave her city life behind for a brand-new beginning. When she arrives in Willow Bay, Annie is enamored by the charming house, the invigorating sea breeze, and the town's rich seasonal traditions. Not to mention, her neighbors receive her with open arms--that is, all except the surly nephew of the homeowner, whose grand plans for the property are at odds with her residency. As Christmas approaches, tensions and tides rise in Willow Bay, and Annie's future seems less and less certain. But with a little can-do spirit and holiday magic, the most difficult time of her life will become...a season for second chances.
A Season for Second Chances is such a compelling story. Annie is my soul sister, and I think we would be best friends. Her struggles to identify outside of her marriage really struck a chord with me, and I think that is a testament to Jenny Bayliss' writing. On paper, I have very little in common with Annie, yet Bayliss created a character with such identifiable characteristics that I related to very much. Annie had a rocky journey towards coming to terms with her marriage ending, and I thought the picture painted of her story was really realistic. It wasn't a perfect recovery from her husband's many infidelities, and she wasn't able to make a 100% clean break. There was some backsliding and old feelings resurfacing, but ultimately, I loved that Annie chose herself and pushed past Max's emotional abuse and manipulation.
I completely fell in love with the quaint seaside town in the story, and I want to move there pronto. I loved the people and the scenery, but most of all, I love that Bayliss created a community that instantly enveloped Annie into its traditions and cultures. In America, it seems more common than not to never really know your neighbors; in this story, the neighbors function more like a family, and the way they value each other is really motivating. It was really touching to see the community come together.
I also really enjoyed the dynamic between Annie and John. At first, I wasn't sure how to interpret their interactions, but by the end of the book, I recognized their snipping and bickering for what it was - raw chemistry between two people unsure of how to express their feelings. It was somewhat refreshing to read a story about two adults falling in love as opposed to two barely twenty-somethings. This was a story about real adults finding each other, working through their baggage, and choosing each other at the end of the day. It was exactly what I needed to read right now.
Buy A Season for Second Chances. You will not be sorry!
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