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bethreadsandnaps's review against another edition
3.0
College friends lament paths not taken. One of the friends passes away from lupus, and she gives each of her four friends $250,000 to explore the paths not taken.
The characters could have been stronger. The only one who you could tell was talking without her name being attached was a non-friend who was the archenemy of one of the main characters. It was hard to keep everyone straight because they all seemed the same, albeit with different occupations and names.
There is no mourning for the recently departed, which I found odd and didn't seem to be realistic. I know the story is focusing on the main characters and their second chances, but you would think there would be more than one short page that mourns the benefactor who left them this wonderful opportunity.
The book ends tidily, perhaps a little too tidily.
The characters could have been stronger. The only one who you could tell was talking without her name being attached was a non-friend who was the archenemy of one of the main characters. It was hard to keep everyone straight because they all seemed the same, albeit with different occupations and names.
There is no mourning for the recently departed, which I found odd and didn't seem to be realistic. I know the story is focusing on the main characters and their second chances, but you would think there would be more than one short page that mourns the benefactor who left them this wonderful opportunity.
The book ends tidily, perhaps a little too tidily.
bookmarklit's review against another edition
4.0
Probably 4.5 stars? Not an all-time favorite but definitely not less than 4 stars. I'm not sure if this was a case of the right book at the right time, or if I just really loved this one, but either way- so glad I read it. I needed something with no hype and non-YA, and this delivered in spades. I loved the cozy, college campus vibe (even though they were all 10 years out of college, just living somewhat on the campus) and the theme of second chances. Definitely made me think and smile and swoon (a LITTLE bit). The romance was somewhat surface-level but I did enjoy it. Great ending, too!
karak's review against another edition
4.0
I did like this book, but I spent the whole time that I was reading it thinking that I had read it before. Maybe it's a common theme to other books that I've read recently (women buy a big old house and fix it up while learning valuable life lessons). Maybe I did read it before. But whatever the case, it was a nice, fun read. Well written.
jessica1583's review
2.0
I am usually very easy to please when it comes to books and I never say I dislike one, but this book did not meet my expectations to what I thought it would be. There are several characters in this book and up to the very ending, I had a rather difficult time keeping track of each one. Although the characters all melded well with one another, their stories were weak and not fully formed. In order to completely understand each character there would have need to be more details about their lives.
The story has very random points that never actually get into completion. Many things happen to each character, though we never truly see how they end up for them.
The ending was rushed and left many questions still unanswered. Despite the cliches and the rather predictable scenarios, there was a good morale to the story.
It is rather a shame to see that it's compilation was rather choppy and chaotic.
The story has very random points that never actually get into completion. Many things happen to each character, though we never truly see how they end up for them.
The ending was rushed and left many questions still unanswered. Despite the cliches and the rather predictable scenarios, there was a good morale to the story.
It is rather a shame to see that it's compilation was rather choppy and chaotic.
booksnwhiskey's review against another edition
3.0
it was a quick read for me when i have two small children running around the house. the only reason i gave the book a 3 star was because of the quick tidy happy ever after with 2 single women all finding love the two months that they are at Henley House and a marriage saving itself in that time. it needed more or there shouldn't have been so many characters. however it gave me just enough to relax me at the end of the night.
brandiemetzger's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book and loved all of the characters!
kaleys23's review against another edition
4.0
I was lucky enough to win this (signed!) book from Liz and Lisa over at Chick Lit is Not Dead last September when I commented on their post "What's on Beth Kendrick's Bucket List?". I had read Kendrick's book Nearlyweds the summer of 2009 and absolutely loved it so I decided to try to win Second Time Around. And what do you know? I actually won it! Amazing.
Now that you know how I came across this novel, let me tell you that I loved, loved, loved it. I had a gala event that I was planning for work this past weekend and reading this book was a fantastic escape. I was incredibly stressed out so the fact that I was able to focus on the characters and the story really shows how great this novel was. It was also a particularly delicious experience to read this book while laying in my hotel room bed the morning after the gala - massive weight off my shoulders, a great book, and an incredibly squashy and comfy bed. Heaven.
If you've ever wondered what would happened if you had done something differently (and come on, who hasn't?), you'll really enjoy this book. These four friends get the chance to change their lives and, as cliched as this sounds, find happiness. Each of the four women have a chance for a mini do over in their lives when they inherit $250,000 and each of them handles it in different ways. The four friends are the key to this novel so I want to give a little peek into how they deal with their new situations.
Brooke is the sensible one of the bunch who decided to stay in their college town and is working at the alumni office. When the money comes to her she decides to jump right in and do what she's always wanted.
Cait is working as an English professor and is hoping for tenure. She's always wanted to write a novel but even with this money, she can't quite seem to take the chance. Suddenly her situation changes at the college she's teaching at and she finally runs out of excuses.
Jamie is the wild girl who always does what she wants and everyone else be damned. Guys come and go and she seems to be content with her job as a bartender - until her boss refuses her time off and she quits. In typical Jamie fashion, she falls headlong into her dream job when she's visiting Brooke.
Then there's Anna. She's the only married one of the four but things are not all sunshine and lollipops. She and her husband have been trying for a baby for years and it has finally taken a toll on their marriage. He has to go oversees for work so she decides it's a perfect time to visit with the girls at Brooke's place and it's there she rediscovers her passion for baking.
This book has everything - laughing, crying, loving, fighting, playing, and thinking - and it's all wonderfully woven together. The characters are all well rounded and incredibly likeable. I like that none of the women are perfect because, really, who is? The great thing about having this many different characters is that there's usually one that you can really identify with. In my case it was Cait. I can't quite put my finger on why but hers was the story that I always enjoyed going back to. Not to say that I didn't like reading about the other women, because I did. I actually wanted to be friends with them. And I think that is a key thing. These women have a friendship that all other females envy. Ten years ago they met in college and have stayed in touch ever since. While they may be living in different parts of the country, they still manage to see each other at least once a year and always pick up where they left off. They're doing better than some of my friends and I and we're all (for the most part) in the same province! Hence, the envy.
I also think the setting is key. The four friends are back in their college town, which is a quaint, stereotypical upstate New York college town. For me, this was the kind of place that I always thought of when I thought about going away to university. The cover also helped convey what the setting was going to be like as well. There's nothing like seeing some Muskoka chairs, one with books on it, surrounded by green space. I think there also may be some sort of deeper meaning behind the setting. Perhaps Kendrick had all the women end up in the same town they went to college in for a reason. I think it might be because that's when things started to change and they began to make "real" decisions for the first time. I may have gone waaaay too deep for this novel, but it's an interesting thought.
I highly recommend this book because it really is everything that chick lit should be. Compelling female characters, great friendship, a little bit of romance, and a journey. Do you really need any more convincing? Find this novel in some way or another and read it. You won't regret it.
Now that you know how I came across this novel, let me tell you that I loved, loved, loved it. I had a gala event that I was planning for work this past weekend and reading this book was a fantastic escape. I was incredibly stressed out so the fact that I was able to focus on the characters and the story really shows how great this novel was. It was also a particularly delicious experience to read this book while laying in my hotel room bed the morning after the gala - massive weight off my shoulders, a great book, and an incredibly squashy and comfy bed. Heaven.
If you've ever wondered what would happened if you had done something differently (and come on, who hasn't?), you'll really enjoy this book. These four friends get the chance to change their lives and, as cliched as this sounds, find happiness. Each of the four women have a chance for a mini do over in their lives when they inherit $250,000 and each of them handles it in different ways. The four friends are the key to this novel so I want to give a little peek into how they deal with their new situations.
Brooke is the sensible one of the bunch who decided to stay in their college town and is working at the alumni office. When the money comes to her she decides to jump right in and do what she's always wanted.
Cait is working as an English professor and is hoping for tenure. She's always wanted to write a novel but even with this money, she can't quite seem to take the chance. Suddenly her situation changes at the college she's teaching at and she finally runs out of excuses.
Jamie is the wild girl who always does what she wants and everyone else be damned. Guys come and go and she seems to be content with her job as a bartender - until her boss refuses her time off and she quits. In typical Jamie fashion, she falls headlong into her dream job when she's visiting Brooke.
Then there's Anna. She's the only married one of the four but things are not all sunshine and lollipops. She and her husband have been trying for a baby for years and it has finally taken a toll on their marriage. He has to go oversees for work so she decides it's a perfect time to visit with the girls at Brooke's place and it's there she rediscovers her passion for baking.
This book has everything - laughing, crying, loving, fighting, playing, and thinking - and it's all wonderfully woven together. The characters are all well rounded and incredibly likeable. I like that none of the women are perfect because, really, who is? The great thing about having this many different characters is that there's usually one that you can really identify with. In my case it was Cait. I can't quite put my finger on why but hers was the story that I always enjoyed going back to. Not to say that I didn't like reading about the other women, because I did. I actually wanted to be friends with them. And I think that is a key thing. These women have a friendship that all other females envy. Ten years ago they met in college and have stayed in touch ever since. While they may be living in different parts of the country, they still manage to see each other at least once a year and always pick up where they left off. They're doing better than some of my friends and I and we're all (for the most part) in the same province! Hence, the envy.
I also think the setting is key. The four friends are back in their college town, which is a quaint, stereotypical upstate New York college town. For me, this was the kind of place that I always thought of when I thought about going away to university. The cover also helped convey what the setting was going to be like as well. There's nothing like seeing some Muskoka chairs, one with books on it, surrounded by green space. I think there also may be some sort of deeper meaning behind the setting. Perhaps Kendrick had all the women end up in the same town they went to college in for a reason. I think it might be because that's when things started to change and they began to make "real" decisions for the first time. I may have gone waaaay too deep for this novel, but it's an interesting thought.
I highly recommend this book because it really is everything that chick lit should be. Compelling female characters, great friendship, a little bit of romance, and a journey. Do you really need any more convincing? Find this novel in some way or another and read it. You won't regret it.
melissia501's review against another edition
3.0
This was a cute and lighthearted book. I enjoyed the characters (although the novel that was thrown in was a little too much for me).
familywithbooks's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this story and how all of the women's storylines were woven together. What made it better for me was that whenever I put the book down to focus on school, it was very easy for me to pick the book back up and dive right back into the storylines as though I never left. The stories began to drag a bit in the middle, but quickly picked back up again enough for me to not want to put it down just to see where all of the women ended up. All in all a great read!