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mishale1's review
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I haven’t read this author before and mostly picked this up cause the storyline sounded cute, it got good reviews and it was set at Christmastime. I love Christmassy/holiday books and appreciate variety in the plots. So this unique spin on a second chance at a first love sounded good.
But I guess I was expecting something more Christmassy and I felt like it mainly just took place at this time of year rather than it being part of the storyline.
Eli doesn’t go home to visit his parents in Florida very often. He doesn’t feel comfortable in his hometown. His parents seem very loving and accepting but he feels unwelcome in his hometown, and he feels a little uncomfortable even in his parents’ home which is filled with pictures of Eli before he transitioned.
My favorite scene in the book actually follows Eli’s confrontation with his parents about the pictures. I thought it was very sweet and funny but I won’t spoil the scene.
I wasn’t always crazy about Eli. I felt like he was so hard on his parents who really seemed to be trying to do everything right.
Eli’s potential love interest, and highschool ex, Nick was very sweet.
I’m not sure what else to add. I know most of the reviews here are rave reviews and mine is a lower rating. But I guess it wasn’t what I was expecting and I didn’t love Eli as much as I should have.
But I guess I was expecting something more Christmassy and I felt like it mainly just took place at this time of year rather than it being part of the storyline.
Eli doesn’t go home to visit his parents in Florida very often. He doesn’t feel comfortable in his hometown. His parents seem very loving and accepting but he feels unwelcome in his hometown, and he feels a little uncomfortable even in his parents’ home which is filled with pictures of Eli before he transitioned.
My favorite scene in the book actually follows Eli’s confrontation with his parents about the pictures. I thought it was very sweet and funny but I won’t spoil the scene.
I wasn’t always crazy about Eli. I felt like he was so hard on his parents who really seemed to be trying to do everything right.
Eli’s potential love interest, and highschool ex, Nick was very sweet.
I’m not sure what else to add. I know most of the reviews here are rave reviews and mine is a lower rating. But I guess it wasn’t what I was expecting and I didn’t love Eli as much as I should have.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Transphobia
Moderate: Death of parent
imstephtacular's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Sexual content, Alcoholism, and Alcohol
Minor: Biphobia, Homophobia, Car accident, Transphobia, Bullying, Racism, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Violence, Grief, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, and Body shaming
hannahmichele5's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I think second chance romances are probably the hardest to write and pull off but TJ did it perfectly, as I suspected they would. This was actually the THIRD book by TJ Alexander that I've read this year (they are publishing like 2 books a year currently I think?!?). TJ is now an auto-buy writer for me - I'll read their grocery list IDGAF.
Second Chances in New Port Stephen features Eli, a trans man, and Nick, both in their 4o's, who rekindle their young love when Eli comes home to Florida for the first time in 20 years for the holidays. This had all of the gentleness and kindness I have come to adore in TJ Alexander novels while also feeling fresh and festive. Every time I read another book by TJ I just feel this overwhelming sense of love and happiness and this one is no exception.
I wanted to note, and this has also been noted in a lot of reviews that I have seen, that TJ does an incredible job of listing content warnings in their books and because of this I expected this book to be a lot darker than it was. I found all of the content to be quite mild and it seems like most other folks agree! Regardless, huge shoutout to TJ and their team for keeping their readers safe.
Y'all go ahead and add this to your must-read books this holiday season! I can't wait for the world to meet Eli and Nick (and Zoe)!
Now, if I don't get an arc of TJ's next book (a poly romance titled TRIPLE SEC) that is set to come out next year, I think I will simply pass away.
Second Chances in New Port Stephen features Eli, a trans man, and Nick, both in their 4o's, who rekindle their young love when Eli comes home to Florida for the first time in 20 years for the holidays. This had all of the gentleness and kindness I have come to adore in TJ Alexander novels while also feeling fresh and festive. Every time I read another book by TJ I just feel this overwhelming sense of love and happiness and this one is no exception.
I wanted to note, and this has also been noted in a lot of reviews that I have seen, that TJ does an incredible job of listing content warnings in their books and because of this I expected this book to be a lot darker than it was. I found all of the content to be quite mild and it seems like most other folks agree! Regardless, huge shoutout to TJ and their team for keeping their readers safe.
Y'all go ahead and add this to your must-read books this holiday season! I can't wait for the world to meet Eli and Nick (and Zoe)!
Now, if I don't get an arc of TJ's next book (a poly romance titled TRIPLE SEC) that is set to come out next year, I think I will simply pass away.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content and Racism
Minor: Death of parent, Alcoholism, and Transphobia
womanwill's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I had high hopes for this after some trusted rave reviews and loving Chef's Choice earlier this year, and Alexander delivered! Eli and Nick were both hilarious and charming in their own ways and I loved their chemistry.
Eli, a trans man, returns to his hometown New Port Stephen, Florida, for the holidays...err maybe for the longterm after losing his last writing job (but he can't tell his parents this, they'd be disappointed in him!). It's not long before he runs into his high school ex, Nick Wu, who handles his new name and pronouns well, but he's always been straight...
This is a beautiful story of Nick and Eli overcoming their insecurities (and occasional miscommunications) and learning to let old love reignite as they fall back into each other's lives. Nick was so strongly curious about his sexuality without being self judgmental or angsty about it--it was healing to read. Meanwhile, Eli is a bit grump who grapples with his insecurity about losing his job, failing to get another one, and returning home to land in his parents' safety net.
Read if you love:
- characters in their late 30s/early 40s
- a single dad with an exceptionally healthy coparenting situation with his ex
- an adorable daughter named Zoe
- trans rep, gay rep, queer & questioning rep
- lots of Florida shenanigans & jokes
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC.
Eli, a trans man, returns to his hometown New Port Stephen, Florida, for the holidays...err maybe for the longterm after losing his last writing job (but he can't tell his parents this, they'd be disappointed in him!). It's not long before he runs into his high school ex, Nick Wu, who handles his new name and pronouns well, but he's always been straight...
This is a beautiful story of Nick and Eli overcoming their insecurities (and occasional miscommunications) and learning to let old love reignite as they fall back into each other's lives. Nick was so strongly curious about his sexuality without being self judgmental or angsty about it--it was healing to read. Meanwhile, Eli is a bit grump who grapples with his insecurity about losing his job, failing to get another one, and returning home to land in his parents' safety net.
Read if you love:
- characters in their late 30s/early 40s
- a single dad with an exceptionally healthy coparenting situation with his ex
- an adorable daughter named Zoe
- trans rep, gay rep, queer & questioning rep
- lots of Florida shenanigans & jokes
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Sexual content, and Transphobia
Minor: Sexual harassment, Hate crime, Alcoholism, and Addiction
caseythereader's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Thanks to Atria Books for the free copy of this book.
- I love absolutely everything about SECOND CHANCES IN NEW PORT STEPHEN. Queer exploration and discovery! Second chances! Funny and serious! Older main characters!
- I loved that Eli and Nick are almost 40 - they have lived whole lives before finding their way back to each other. I loved that they both discovered the queer parts of themselves "later" in life, and that it's treated as perfectly fine and normal.
- This book is so funny and tender, but it also doesn't brush away the reality of being a queer person in a state like Florida.
- I love absolutely everything about SECOND CHANCES IN NEW PORT STEPHEN. Queer exploration and discovery! Second chances! Funny and serious! Older main characters!
- I loved that Eli and Nick are almost 40 - they have lived whole lives before finding their way back to each other. I loved that they both discovered the queer parts of themselves "later" in life, and that it's treated as perfectly fine and normal.
- This book is so funny and tender, but it also doesn't brush away the reality of being a queer person in a state like Florida.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Sexual content, Cursing, and Transphobia
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death of parent, Racism, and Car accident
uranaishi's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Cursing, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Alcoholism, Body horror, Bullying, Classism, Fatphobia, Vomit, Car accident, Medical content, Alcohol, Body shaming, Deportation, Death, Racism, Racial slurs, Transphobia, Death of parent, and Homophobia
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