From the publisher:
In this unforgettable story full of charm, wit—and just a bit of magic—a woman down on her luck is given a second chance at fixing her life and trying one year all over again. Perfect for readers of Josie Silver and Rebecca Serle.
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.
“A touch of magic and a heap of self-growth animate this sparkling and sophisticated rom-com.”―Publishers Weekly, Starred review
“A swoony romance with a subplot about harassment and sexism in the workplace, Wiesner’s latest will resonate with every reader who’s wondered, “What if?”―Booklist, Starred review“An ambitious woman finding her way in the world and the heart-meltingly caring man who loves her for who she is combine to make this a charming romance.”―Library Journal
https://amzn.to/47m6Nd8
“Tough themes with a light touch and many winning characters.”―Kirkus
The chance to relive a year of your life? Why not! Everything goes wrong for Sadie – she loses her job, her boyfriend dumps her, and she can no longer afford her apartment. Think this is improbable? Ha! This exact scenario happened to a family member several years ago, all in the space of one week, so yeah, I have no trouble with this premise. Where this story veers off is into the magical, and it really worked here.
After spending a few months on her brother’s best friend, Joshua’s, charity in his spare bedroom, Sadie attends a circus-themed New Year’s Eve party replete with disgusting cotton candy cocktails, clowns, and a fortune teller. The fortune teller grants her one wish, and Sadie wishes to have a do-over for the past year.
Sadie has a big mouth, something else I could relate to! She strongly defends right over wrong, despite the consequences, and there are many. So in this year of do-over, she is determined to keep her mouth shut and get her job, her boyfriend, and her apartment back. And it works. Except as the year goes on, she isn’t entirely sure she wants it all back.
Turns out Joshua is a really great guy who she had been ignoring for years. But as she gets to know him, her boyfriend isn’t as appealing. She takes a part-time job baking for her favorite cafe, and that job becomes even more fulfilling than that full-time gig she had lost the first time around. Her world has turned topsy-turvy, and by year-end she no longer is in the same place anymore, nor does she want to be.
I don’t want to give anything more away, so suffice it to say I loved this book! The characters are well defined, the story is somehow totally believable, and I hated turning that last page. My first read of the new year was a winner!
1/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
THE SECOND CHANCE YEAR by Melissa Wiesner. Forever (December 5, 2023). ISBN: 978-1538741917. 336p.
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