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vj_thompson's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book gave me all the feels and made me feel giddy while reading. I loved the found family aspect among Sadie's little community of friends. I enjoyed every moment of this book 💕
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Sexism, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Classism, Bullying, and Alcohol
Minor: Racism and Sexual assault
lovelymisanthrope's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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? Yes
4.5
I heard about this book online, and I was immediately intrigued and wanted to read it during this holiday season.
"The Second Chance Year" follows Sadie Thatcher, a woman who has just completed the worst year of her life. On New Years Eve, Sadie craves nothing more than a do-over. She lost her job, her boyfriend, and her beloved apartment all in one year, and she has not been able to pull herself out of this depression since. A chance encounter on New Years Eve gives Sadie the opportunity to get her second chance, but a second chance might not be what she actually needed.
This story was so special and sweet, and it really explored this idea of differentiating between what you actually need and what you think you need. Sadie has convinced herself that she can make her life better if she just has a second chance to do everything "right". But it does not take her long to realize that to do things "right" means conforming for people who never actually appreciated her. She also learns very quickly that life is going to play out how it is supposed to, with or without her interference.
People around Sadie do not seem to really see her and appreciate how great and talented she actually is. Sadie is a very skilled baker, but her parents snub her accomplishments because they are not scholarly enough. She has a big mouth and stands up for what she believes in, but her boyfriend sees her stirring the pot. Sadie is lucky enough to have a small circle of people who do appreciate her, but it takes her second chance year for her to really see that. I loved seeing Sadie realize that she really did have it good, she was just looking at things wrong.
Sadie's bad year was a trainwreck, but it helped to establish the life she was meant to live all along. I think so many of us tend to see doors closing as a bad thing, but sometimes that can just be the universe trying to redirect us back on the path that is destined for us. Sadie's growth and reestablishment of her self-confidence was beautiful to read.
I did think this was a romance going into the book, and there is a really sweet romantic interest for Sadie, but it was not the main focus of the story, in my opinion. I loved Jacob, and I wanted to see more from him and Sadie, but it took her the entire book to realize her true feelings for him. I loved the messaging that Jacob has always seen Sadie for how great she is, and that for the right person, you do not need to change a thing.
This was a beautiful, quick story, that is perfect to read this time of year, to get inspired to live your best self in the new year!
"The Second Chance Year" follows Sadie Thatcher, a woman who has just completed the worst year of her life. On New Years Eve, Sadie craves nothing more than a do-over. She lost her job, her boyfriend, and her beloved apartment all in one year, and she has not been able to pull herself out of this depression since. A chance encounter on New Years Eve gives Sadie the opportunity to get her second chance, but a second chance might not be what she actually needed.
People around Sadie do not seem to really see her and appreciate how great and talented she actually is. Sadie is a very skilled baker, but her parents snub her accomplishments because they are not scholarly enough. She has a big mouth and stands up for what she believes in, but her boyfriend sees her stirring the pot. Sadie is lucky enough to have a small circle of people who do appreciate her, but it takes her second chance year for her to really see that. I loved seeing Sadie realize that she really did have it good, she was just looking at things wrong.
Sadie's bad year was a trainwreck, but it helped to establish the life she was meant to live all along. I think so many of us tend to see doors closing as a bad thing, but sometimes that can just be the universe trying to redirect us back on the path that is destined for us. Sadie's growth and reestablishment of her self-confidence was beautiful to read.
I did think this was a romance going into the book, and there is a really sweet romantic interest for Sadie, but it was not the main focus of the story, in my opinion. I loved Jacob, and I wanted to see more from him and Sadie, but it took her the entire book to realize her true feelings for him. I loved the messaging that Jacob has always seen Sadie for how great she is, and that for the right person, you do not need to change a thing.
This was a beautiful, quick story, that is perfect to read this time of year, to get inspired to live your best self in the new year!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
uranaishi's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment
Moderate: Alcohol, Classism, Sexism, Bullying, Grief, Gaslighting, and Misogyny
Minor: Sexual content, Cursing, Animal death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Racial slurs, Racism, and Toxic relationship
theespressoedition's review
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? Yes
5.0
I always know that I've really enjoyed a book when I, a stringent TBR follower, decide one evening to abandon my entire monthly TBR in favor of rereading said book. That's exactly what happened with The Second Chance Year, which easily puts it in my top 3 favorite romances of 2023.
What would you do if you knew you could have a do-over of the last year of your life?
In this book, you're introduced to Sadie on New Year's Eve after what she considers her Very Bad Year. Her boyfriend broke up with her (after getting a fancy tech-bro job), she lost her job (because she called out her boss for workplace harassment), she had to move in with her brother's best friend (who can't seem to stand being in the same room as her), her parents are disappointed in her (but aren't they always?), and she's not baking anymore (the one thing that has always brought her joy). She's hurting and holding on to what she lost.
When I first read this book, I was in an incredibly vulnerable place in my life--much like Saide--questioning not only what came next, but what I had left behind. It immediately endeared me to this character and as I read, I wondered if I too would make the same choice she did to ask for a second chance year.
Once you start reading The Second Chance Year, it's hard to put down. You're desperate to know what will happen next, not only to Sadie but to the entire cast of characters that you're sure to quickly fall head over heels for. It's like Melissa Wiesner knew I was a sucker for a precious secondary cast because each and every one of these characters (Zoe, Kasumi, José Luis, Mrs. Kaminski, Owen, and obviously Jacob) are so special and add something really wonderful to the story. I was just as wrapped up in their individual threads of the tale as I was with Sadie and Jacob's.
This book is also incredibly empowering. It handles topics like sexual harassment and the concept of women bowing to men in the workplace and while some of the passages are a little hard to read, they're also really well-written and filled with hope and encouragement. I felt as if I gained newfound courage just from reading the experiences of the women in The Second Chance Year.
Of course, I can't NOT talk about the absolutely adorable, swoony, kick-your-heels-and-giggle romance between Sadie and Jacob. It's a brother's best friend, he fell (okay, let's be real, he launched himself off a cliff and nosedived) first, longing-filled whirlwind of a romance and I loved every single second of it. This book is closed-door, and you know what? I didn't even notice that until after the second time I read it because I was too focused on the cutest freaking relationship ever unfolding before my eyes. If you were to go through my Kindle, you'd notice that 85% of my (65 total) highlights are just Jacob doing the literal sweetest things ever for Sadie for no reason other than because he's been in love with her since childhood. I'm feeling giddy all over again just writing about it! He's definitely the epitome of a golden retriever, cinnamon roll and he's absolute book boyfriend goals.
I could honestly talk about The Second Chance Year all day long, but instead, I'm just going to tell you to read it yourself! You can thank me later.
What would you do if you knew you could have a do-over of the last year of your life?
In this book, you're introduced to Sadie on New Year's Eve after what she considers her Very Bad Year. Her boyfriend broke up with her (after getting a fancy tech-bro job), she lost her job (because she called out her boss for workplace harassment), she had to move in with her brother's best friend (who can't seem to stand being in the same room as her), her parents are disappointed in her (but aren't they always?), and she's not baking anymore (the one thing that has always brought her joy). She's hurting and holding on to what she lost.
When I first read this book, I was in an incredibly vulnerable place in my life--much like Saide--questioning not only what came next, but what I had left behind. It immediately endeared me to this character and as I read, I wondered if I too would make the same choice she did to ask for a second chance year.
Once you start reading The Second Chance Year, it's hard to put down. You're desperate to know what will happen next, not only to Sadie but to the entire cast of characters that you're sure to quickly fall head over heels for. It's like Melissa Wiesner knew I was a sucker for a precious secondary cast because each and every one of these characters (Zoe, Kasumi, José Luis, Mrs. Kaminski, Owen, and obviously Jacob) are so special and add something really wonderful to the story. I was just as wrapped up in their individual threads of the tale as I was with Sadie and Jacob's.
This book is also incredibly empowering. It handles topics like sexual harassment and the concept of women bowing to men in the workplace and while some of the passages are a little hard to read, they're also really well-written and filled with hope and encouragement. I felt as if I gained newfound courage just from reading the experiences of the women in The Second Chance Year.
Of course, I can't NOT talk about the absolutely adorable, swoony, kick-your-heels-and-giggle romance between Sadie and Jacob. It's a brother's best friend, he fell (okay, let's be real, he launched himself off a cliff and nosedived) first, longing-filled whirlwind of a romance and I loved every single second of it. This book is closed-door, and you know what? I didn't even notice that until after the second time I read it because I was too focused on the cutest freaking relationship ever unfolding before my eyes. If you were to go through my Kindle, you'd notice that 85% of my (65 total) highlights are just Jacob doing the literal sweetest things ever for Sadie for no reason other than because he's been in love with her since childhood. I'm feeling giddy all over again just writing about it! He's definitely the epitome of a golden retriever, cinnamon roll and he's absolute book boyfriend goals.
I could honestly talk about The Second Chance Year all day long, but instead, I'm just going to tell you to read it yourself! You can thank me later.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Sexism
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