The Second Chance Year (2024)

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Sadie has had a Very Bad Year, she lost her job, her boyfriend and her apartment. At a New Year’s Eve party, she meets a fortune teller and wishes she could have a do-over and change her ways to prevent the Very Bad Year from happening. Sadie reminded me so much of myself in the beginning, a loud mouth who speaks her mind and doesn’t like bullies so she stands up to them.

Each month of the year has its own few chapters as we watch Sadie learn and grow during the book, realizing that her life wasn’t really as great as she thought it was and that sometimes having a big mouth can be a good thing. As a woman who speaks her mind my family has never had to worry about me being taken advantage of or being abused in a relationship. I am fiercely independent and I saw these qualities in Sadie.

There is romance in this book but it isn’t front and center. The story mostly focuses on Sadie being true to herself and her happiness. She goes through a career change, and friendship change and even takes a different approach with her parents and others, I particularly loved her friend Kasumi and the descriptions of the baking but be careful you will get hungry!

My final thoughts: This is not your typical time loop story as Sadie is re-doing a year to change things up so it was refreshing not to live the same things over again. With themes of sexism, bullying and sexual harassment this wasn’t a light easy read, but Sadie was a girl after my own heart, she is a fighter for sure and I am glad she realizes how special that can be. The book is also a caution…Be careful what you wish for.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.

Thank you Forever (Grand Central Pub) and NetGalley for the ARC. IYKYK my reviews are always honest.

Writing: bit on the blander side | Plot: cooliooooo | Ending: aww

SYNOPSIS

Sadie has had a Very Bad Year, so when she gets the opportunity at a redo she doesn't think twice. But can she turn it into a Very Good Year, or is fate set in stone?

MY OPINION

I'm balls deep (is 'clit deep' somehow grosser???) in time travel romances right now and enjoying them for the most part. This premise is BANGIN, so if it speaks to you, give it a whirl and form your own opinion. I think it would make a fantastic movie. Similar to The Good Part, I wouldn't call this a straight up romance. It's trending more chick lit to me—there's a significant amount spent on work and family dynamics. In fact, the alleged romance between Sadie and Jacob was the weakest and my least fave part.

I just didn't buy into their vibes. There was no banter, and they could barely have a conversation together, yet Jacob wanted wear her hair as a wig since they were kids???? And all the sudden Sadie was like he's kinda hot, because he was muscular... from playing piano???????????????? PLAYING PIANO??????????? Google 'famous pianist' and tell me one a scale from Arnold Schwarznegger to pine needle what the average body composition is like.

And let's talk about all these food-related similes. Or, more specifically, baking similes. I know homegirl bakes for a living, but this was giving ole Stacy Willingham (iykyk) a run for her money. The similes were so jarring, oftentimes I had to pause and reread to make sure I wasn't hallucinating, which took me out of the story's flow. See below:

"Something about that leaves me as hollow as a cannoli without any filling."

"Look, the last year of my life sucked like a straw in a milkshake." I guess this is better than saying a prostitute in a truck stop parking lot....

"...Spinning around in the darkness like cake batter in a KitchenAid?" Hope KitchenAid cut the cheque because that's silly

"... I ask, my voice like fluffy meringue." wtf does this even sound like????? I think about this at least once a day.

"Confusion curls in my gut like a Swiss roll." I mean.............

Ok last one: "But my dad's face is as hard as a burned loaf of bread, and my mom keeps sighing and shaking her head like I've brought pumpkin pie to a summer party." MA'AM. STEP AWAY FROM THE KEYBOARD!!!!!

Anyways, like I said, if the premise speaks to you, don't hesitate to pick it up. Especially if baking is your main personality trait.

PROS AND CONS

Pros: cool and fun premise, interesting look at if we can rewrite history or destiny is set in stone, the work/family issues were nicely incorporated

Cons: didn't feel the chemistry between Jacob and Sadie, about 30 too many baking puns/similes, Sadie could've told me she was 17 and I would've believed her, writing was a bit uninspired

___

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˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗ 2.5 𝕊𝕥𝕒𝕣𝕤 ˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗

The premise for this novel is very intriguing and I thought it was going to be a very light hearted romance/time-loop type of read and while at times it was, it was more of a learning process for Sadie our FMC.

She's basically at a New Year's Eve party and there's a fortune teller there that she makes a wish to go back a year to fix her 'Really Bad Year' only to pretty much make all the same mistakes again. 🥴

I thought there was a really excessive amount of sexism in the book and it kept pulling me away from what I thought was supposed to be a quick fun and light read. These types of sexist acts may very well still be prominent in the work place and I'm just unaware? I just felt like some of the situations threw women back a few generations and it was ick.

The romance- I didn't really feel any chemistry at all between the two, never really got the connection so that was a little bit of a bummer.

I had so many eye rolling moments with the insane amount of food similes and descriptions with literally every feeling or thought in the book - omg stfu. lol. Like what? Find some examples below:

"Something about that leaves me as hollow as a cannoli without any filling."

"Look, the last year of my life sucked like a straw in a milkshake

"Spinning around in the darkness like cake batter in a KitchenAid?"

"I ask, my voice like fluffy meringue"

"Confusion curls in my gut like a Swiss roll."

"My heart swelled like a sourdough loaf in the proof box"

"But my dad's face is as hard as a burned loaf of bread, and my mom keeps sighing and shaking her head like I've brought pumpkin pie to a summer party."

It was really just alright in my opinion.
✎﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏

Many thanks to NetGalley, Hachette Audio, and Melissa Wiesner for this ARC in exchange for an honest review! 🧡

♾️✨
MY FAVORITE ROMANCE THIS YEAR.
Head over heals - swept me off my feet - giggled, smiled, laughed, cried
90s-early 20s romcom vibes with tough themes that are still ongoing (sexism, sexual harassment, etc.)
The FMC’s personality is a mirror of my own - so I deeply connected to these characters 💗

« I wish you could see yourself the way I do. Because I don’t see someone with a big mouth. I see someone who stands up to bullies. Who doesn’t let bigger, more powerful people get away with treating someone badly » ❤️‍🔥

"I thought if only I could tone myself down and smooth out all the rough edges, I'd land the perfect job, the perfect guy, and finally, my parents' acceptance. But it turns out that in pursuit of those things, I twisted myself into someone I don't recognize."

Been there? 😏

How much of your authentic self should you really bring to your workplace and your relationships?

This is what author Melissa Wiesner answers in her emotional rom-com. Along the way, she explores the choices we make and how/if fate plays a role. She’ll warm your heart with a romance and make you smile with her witty banter.

𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫. 𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐡. 𝐎𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐭.

The Second Chance Year is about a pastry chef who has the chance to go back in time to save her job, fix her love life, and do over her terrible year when a carnival fortune teller grants her a wish.

Desperate to hold onto all the things she lost in the previous year, Sadie discovers that it comes with a price. Is she willing to shelf her authentic self at work and in her relationships for the sake of keeping her job, friends, and boyfriend?

You’ll love this romantic and heartfelt story with a spunky female and a swoon-worthy male. The slow-burn romance will have you choking back tears and agreeing that we all need a cinnamon-roll Jacob Gray in our lives! The delicious pastries will have you wishing Higher Grounds Coffee was in YOUR neighbourhood.

This book is perfect for book clubs as it offers multiple topics for debate. There’s a #metoo movement focus, a spotlight on ‘fixing’ ourselves to fit in, as well as a highlight on women forging a place in male-dominated workplaces.

Wiesner promises that this book is for you if you love:
✔ a dash of magic ✨
✔ quirky found family 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦
✔ delectable desserts 👩‍🍳
✔ a rescue cat 😺
✔ standing up to bullies!! ✌

If you were given a chance for a do-over of the worst year of your life would you take it?

The Second Chance Year by Melissa Wiesner
Contemporary romance. Magical realism, wishing, time travel.
Sadie Thatcher is having a Very Bad Year. She lost her job. She lost her apartment. She lost her boyfriend. She’s living on the couch of her brother’s best friend, wrapped in a blanket and eating ice cream. Her best friend convinces Sadie to go to a New Year’s Eve party where she finds a fortune teller. Sadie makes a wish to do the last year over and wakes up the next morning, a year in the past, in her old apartment, with her boyfriend next to her. She vows she will spend the next year doing everything differently. No more talking back to her boss. No more public fights with her boyfriend’s coworkers. It’s going to be different this time around.

We could predict what was going to happen. That doesn’t make it any less charming. With Sadie no longer being vocal about certain issues, her situation and friendships change. Sadie finds herself missing the people at the coffee shop. She talks to Jacob more and realizes he’s way more than she’s noticed in the past.
Sadie changes how she reacts to situations which does change events but not how she expects or even wants sometimes.
It does have a couple of deep “learning” points, but more, it’s an adorable romance where Sadie finds it’s better to just be herself.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley. I will absolutely share my love of this story with my bookclubs.

OH MY GOD this was so cute! After a horrible year Sadie attends a New Year's Eve party where a fortune teller offers her the chance to re-do her year. After nothing changing, The next morning she wakes up on January 1st of the year before.

I read this book in one sitting and I don't regret a thing! I loved the way the story was paced and how the book didn't revolve directly around Sadie and Jacob's relationship but focussed mainly on how Sadie grew from her previous mistakes. The writing and the cover are stunning too.

Jacob and Sadie were so adorable and I loved his friendship with her brother Owen. The side characters were amazing, especially Mrs Kaminski who definitely grew on me. Sadie's friendship with Kasumi was precious and Giocoso crawled his way into my stone-cold heart.

Trigger warning for sexual harassment,

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

"𝑰𝒕'𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖, 𝒊𝒕'𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖, 𝒊𝒕'𝒔 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖."
5 teary-eyed, hopelessly romantic stars.
『 °*• ❀ •*°』

now playing…

(still) love you more than coffee - matsuii
↻ ◁ II ▷ ↺ 1:35 ───ㅇ──────── 2:46

i want you guys to meet my official book bf, jacob gray 😋😋
no, but seriously, this was such an amazing read and it gave exactly what i was hoping it would! so let’s get into the review, shall we? 💐♡

🎇🤎🥐🍰🎹☕

🧡plot

this book follows

i loved the way the plot in this book progressed and it felt perfectly structured. though, (like usual) i wish we got more time with jacob & sadie together, there was still more resolution than other endings i’ve read!

🧡characters

🧡other notes!

- mrs. kaminski is so funny. everything she did and said was so cute.
- giosoco (gio for short) is such a cute name for a cat and i love jacob for suggesting that :,)
(it’s a term used in music and means playful and joyful)

🧡some quotes

“I wish you could see yourself the way I do.”

“For most of my life, I just kind of looked past Jacob without really seeing him. But now I can’t seem to stop noticing all the little details of him. The scar on his chin from when Owen crashed into him on a bike in sixth grade. How he ducks his head at first, and then raises his gaze to meet mine. The way his fingers are always tapping out a melody on his leg as if they can’t stop. Does he know he does that?”

“When we get off the train at our stop in WIlliamsburg, the crowd surges onto the subway platform. Jacob tucks my hand into the crook of his arm, so we stay together. When we’re out of the crush, I should let go, but I don’t. There’s something comforting about holding on to this solid man, something comforting about his warm scent that calls to mind his peaceful, quiet apartment in the days when I lived there during my Very Bad Year. Jacob glances at my hand on his arm and keeps walking.”

“How is it possible that I ever thought this man was weird or awkward? He knows exactly who he is, and he doesn’t need to apologize or please anyone. I wish I could be more like that.”

“He gracefully smooths chocolate buttercream over each delicate cake top, surprisingly good at this. I guess those piano-playing hands are pretty skilled with instruments of the nonmusical variety. But let’s be honest. I already knew that.”

“‘She probably didn’t tell you,’ Zoe continues, ‘but there are lines out the door for her pastries. Customers love them. It’s been amazing for business.’
‘Sadie didn’t tell me anything,’ Owen says, poking me in the ribs. ‘But Jacob’s been raving about it.’”

“‘Jacob Gray,’ I tease. ‘Are you telling me that after all these years of playing music, you have stage fright?’”
me too Jacob, me too.

“I run my hand over Jacob’s neat script. I remember those ds and bs from when I lived in his apartment during my Very Bad Year, when he’d scrawl his grocery list on a notepad on the fridge. Small round circles with long tails, sort of like backward- and forward-facing half notes.”

🧡playlist

✪ video games - lana del ray
✪ bewitched - laufey
✪ watching him fade away - mac demarco
✪ congratulations - mac miller
✪ (still) love you more than coffee - matsuii
✪ unfinished cappuccino - matsuii

: ̗̀➛ overall this book was SO CUTE and cozy. you should read it asap!! and of course, if you read this review hello! ily! ♡

xo eveonne :))

✧♬•*¨*•.｡
__

༊*·˚ 𝐩𝐫𝐞-𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝

this seems like the perfect book to read after the rule book because the first sentence is about the great british bake off😭 super excited for this one!

This was so cute from start to finish. Hot nerds make elite book boyfriends and Jacob is the definition of a cinnamon roll. This was my first book by this author and I would definitely read more of her work. I did get a little annoyed with all the food related lines thrown in. I get it, she’s a pastry chef, but it’s a little excessive for our main character to be thinking “my heart cracked like crème brûlée” in a key moment. I also would have liked at least a little burn after all that slow build up. Closed door romances can feel so anticlimactic and I did feel a little short changed by the conclusion. Overall I would definitely recommend this book, especially if you prefer a more clean romance.

I did not expect to go through such an emotional roller coaster in this book! The plot of the Second Chance Year was very intriguing to me, as we have all experienced regrets from “mistakes” we have made in the past. In this story, Sadie is given a chance for a redo the past year. I could immediately relate to Sadie for being criticized by loved ones from not holding my tongue, or controlling my temper in situations that I have deemed unjust. The author did a fantastic job at normalizing the perception of assertive woman being shamed for being too “aggressive”, while men are rewarded for their assertiveness.

The meaning found in this book is more around developing confidence, truth and individuality, more than the love story. Sadie’s realization that she is lovable because of her outspokenness and that she does not have to sacrifice her morals in order to be successful is way more important character development than the love story. However, how can you NOT fall in love with Jacob? Besides him being a talented dark-haired hottie with glasses? Well, if you are not moved by his quiet gestures of sweetness and love, and his admiration of Sadie’s strength, then you might want to take a break from dark romance for a bit, just saying …

Thanks so much for NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for providing me with an ARC of The Second Chance Year in exchange for an honest opinion. All the opinions and ratings listed above are entirely my own.

✨💖✨

Durează un pic pana intri în poveste, dar este frumoasa. Îmi place ca sunt foarte realiste poveștile scrise de autoare.

I am surpise how I ended up liking The Second Chance Year. Miss Wieser done a wonderful job telling the story about 2 characters who deserves each other.

There is a little bit of time traveller on the story. I enjoy reading the story. I like Jacob who is sweet and charming.

Wonderful story.

4 stars

Who wouldn't want a second chance to set things right and make different choices. Sadie is an outspoken pastry chef who has had a very bad year and all she wants is a chance to go back and make things right. However her second chance might not be quite what she was expecting. The Second Chance Year was not just a great and relatable story but it also had a strong message that I think is important for all readers. Also the story discussed sexual harassment in the workplace and I thought the author did an excellent job addressing the issue. This book is a fast read that will have the reader feeling a range of emotions as you fall in love with Sadie and many of the secondary characters. A great read that I think anyone would enjoy!

Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for this ARC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Trying recs, this one from dear @Tiffany

I loved this.

If you disagree, don't tell me.
If you decide it's annoying the mmc was hung up on her for years, let me have blinds on.
If you hate how the fmc acted with her boss, let me ignore the red flags.
If you find this unrealistic, let me be romantic.

Sadie had it made. She was an up and coming pastry chef at one of the city’s exclusive restaurants. And her boyfriend Alex was a very successful investment banker on Wall Street. Sadie and Alex were the perfect couple. But Sadie had one flaw — her mouth. Known to be outspoken, Sadie’s mouth often shifted into gear before her brain could register her thoughts. And because of Sadie’s outspoken and sometimes caustic language, she lost her job, her boyfriend, and her apartment all in the same year.

To get herself out of a deep rut, Sadie accepted her best friend’s invitation to a carnival themed New Year’s Eve party. It was supposed to be epic with acrobats, clowns, and even a fortune teller. On a whim, Sadie indulges in getting her fortune read and a wish granted. A chance for a do-over of the last year. Surprisingly, Sadie’s wish comes true and what follows is an adventure as Sadie attempts a make over of herself in hopes that she gets back what she lost.

I really enjoyed The Second Chance Year. It was one of the best romance novels that I’ve read in 2023. There were elements of friends to lovers, rom-com, and second chances. A fantastic combination of all the tropes that I love.

The characters in the novel were perfectly developed with movie-like quality. There was enough snark and banter between the players that kept me humorously entertained. And of course the villains in the novel were the ones you would love to hate. A great balance of good guys and bad guys.

Overall, The Second Chance Year is a must read for fans of second chance rom-coms. Five outstanding stars.

I received a DRC from Forever (GCP) through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.

I absolutely LOVED this one!!! Related personally to so many things that Sadie is struggling w/, and who doesn’t love a happy ending! Well done!

besties i LOVED this (and you know how i feel about groundhog day books.... but sometimes you just gotta write your own time rewinding book and it starts making sense and growing on you a little bit)!!

my only gripe with it was that i felt like it's being marketed as a romance book when it's primarily chick lit, so the complaints about the lack of jacob & relationship development make some sense in that aspect? however, if you choose to look at this book as being more about sadie's journey, you don't really NEED to be that focused on the romantic relationship aspects. i think it does this book some disservice to remove the limelight away from sadie, if that makes sense??

A very nice contemporary story. I enjoyed it and it was a quick read!

This is such a fantastic story!! I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator was excellent, I could listen to her all day (and I did!). I loved the author’s style of writing, the main characters, and the handling of relatable issues surrounding family, bullying, sexual harassment, and equal rights within the workplace. I was fully invested in Sadie’s life and relationships, especially with Jacob. I didn’t want to stop listening until I knew how it ended. I thought this was a great reminder that everything happens for a reason. The Second Chance Year is now on my list of favorites. I highly recommend. Thank you Netgalley, Hachette Audio, and the author for this ALC in exchange for my honest review!

5⭐️!
I absolutely devoured this book! I felt so drawn in from the very beginning and really cared for the main character. I loved the storyline so much and wouldn’t have changed a thing!

This was a fun, quick read but relied on a literal do over (again, I would not choose this had I paid attention) - there was also an inconsistency at the end, and the building relationship was front-loaded in getting established so romance pace felt off and even ignored towards the end. I'm not sure if it's billed as romance or not. Still good enough to pass some time, but not good enough to pick up again.

‘The last year of my life sucked like a straw in a milkshake.’

Sadie has had one of the worst years of her life, she’s lost her job, her boyfriend and had to move in with her brother’s best friend… On New Year’s Eve she meets a Fortune teller who offers her a wish. She can have a second chance at her very bad year. What could go wrong?

Read this if you enjoy |
•adorable nervous babble
•brothers best friend trope
•crazy cat ladies
•strong women

I loved that the author handled the tough topic of sexism in the workplace so well. I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It was the right book at the right time, and it just made me smile. If you’re looking for a light, fun read, I’d highly recommend this one! Chef’s kiss! 😘

CW | Contains a couple of instances of strong language. Sexism.

4.5/5 stars

what a perfect book to start off the new year! this book centers around a life-altering decision made on new year’s eve so i feel like the timing was just right to read this book

on new year’s eve sadie is reflecting back on what she calls her “very bad year”, her long-time boyfriend broke up with her, she lost her job, & has now been forced to move out of her apartment. when at a new year’s party, she asks the fortune teller to grant her wish of a redo year and to her surprise she wakes up the next morning one year in the past with a chance to make all the changes she thought would make her life better. however, sadie learns how every little decision changes not only her life, but who she is deep down, and the lives of those around her

there is also a romance aspect to this book between sadie & her brother’s best friend jacob, but honestly as someone who is usually always here for the romance, i was even just so drawn in by sadie’s self discovery journey alone!

i saw so much of myself in sadie and i feel like her theme song would be “the man” by taylor swift because SAME

This has been one of the most fun and loveliest book I’d read or listened to this year. Is there anyone who didn’t wish to go back in time and do things differently? Well, Sadie has that opportunity but it’s not really going as expected. But seeing her try to fix her Very Bad Year and during all that time she actually grows and discovers herself a bit more was so great and fun! Her real and found family relationships, her love stories, her career - all that helped her discover what she really wants and needs - and what a fun road that was.
I enjoyed the audio version of the book as narrator did amazing job throughout the book!

Big thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for an advanced copy of this audio book!

I’m literally thrilled to say I’m starting off 2024 with a 5-star read. Thanks to some travel on New Year’s Day, I sped through this in the car and I loved it. Second chance tends to be one of my favorite romance tropes, and this one is done with a sprinkle of magical realism in which our protagonist Sadie is about to go back a year and redo what she’s calling “a very bad year” - it really makes the reader think about our actions and reflect that even if we change our action, we ultimately might land on the same results. I absolutely LOVED this one, it was so easy to read - really happy that this is kicking off my 2024 reading.

I really enjoyed this book! It was a fun and heartwarming read with a root worthy heroine, Sadie, who gets a chance to relive her disastrous year and make different choices. The author did a great job of creating realistic and likable characters, especially Jacob, the nerdy and sweet love interest. I was rooting for Jacob above everyone in this book. Such a darling character!

The book also had a touch of magic and whimsy, thanks to the fortune teller who grants Sadie her wish. The Second Chance Year is a perfect blend of romance, comedy, and drama, with a satisfying and hopeful ending.

If you enjoy books like One Day in December by Josie Silver, In Five Years by Rebecca Serle, or The Midnight Library by Matt Haig, I think you’ll enjoy this one too!

3.75⭐ this was pretty interesting, but not life changing. A good book to start the new year because it takes place during New Year's. I recommend it to those who love women's fiction, time travel-y books.

Sadie Thatcher’s life has fallen apart in spectacular fashion. In one fell swoop, she managed to lose her job, her apartment, and her boyfriend—all thanks to her big mouth. So when a fortune teller offers her one wish, Sadie jumps at the chance to redo her awful year. Deep down, she doesn’t believe magic will fix her life, but taking a leap of faith, Sadie makes her wish, opens her eyes, and . . . nothing has changed . And then, in perhaps her dumbest move yet, she kisses her brother’s best friend, Jacob.

When Sadie wakes up the next morning, she’s in her former apartment with her former boyfriend, and her former boss is expecting her at work. Checking the date, she realizes it's January 1 . . . of last year . As Sadie navigates her second-chance year, she begins to see the red flags she missed in her relationship and in her career. Plus, she keeps running into Jacob, and she can’t stop thinking about their kiss . . . the one he has no idea ever happened. Suddenly, Sadie begins to wonder if her only mistake was wishing for a second chance.

Doesn't everyone wish for a do-over? Especially a bad moment, day, week, month or year? Sadie gets that chance and does "play by the rules". But, she discovers to be careful what you wish for.

I don't want to say too much because I don't want to ruin it but I will say Sadie reminded me of myself, disappointing her parents by going a different route and living the life the way she wants to, not how people think she should (her parents).

There was humor, heart and romance which makes the perfect trio for a book. Also, I discovered a new writer so bonus.

This is a joyful, lighthearted exploration of the main character, Sadie, getting an opportunity to redo a year of her life and make all of the “right” decisions. It touches on friendship, duty, a little bit of misogyny and sexual harassment, a good amount of romance, but mostly it’s about self image, self esteem, and identity.

The question of whether the “right” decisions turn out to be the best thing for Sadie in the long run drives the narrative - and it’s unsurprising that the answer isn’t a resounding yes.

I enjoyed all of the characters. Sadie has the most complexity, as see tries to navigate the consequences of making different choices during her repeated year. The supporting characters (Jacob, Owen, Zoe…) are more two dimensional, but likeable and engaging.

There weren’t that many surprises in the plot, which ultimately turned out largely as I expected it to… but I’m a sucker for an upbeat story so that was absolutely fine with me!

Thank you #NetGalley and Headline Eternal for the free review copy of #TheSecondChanceYear in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.