The Book:
The Second Time Is Sweeter by Natalie Tay
Published May 14th 2019 by Gallery Books
Date read: October 10, 2021
The Characters:
Sydney and her son Max
Her high school sweetheart Sam
Buy it on Bookshop.org | Amazon
The Plot (from Goodreads):
Love is a luxury that Sydney Collins, single mom extraordinaire, simply cannot afford. Between raising Max, finishing school, and trying to eke out a living at the local ice cream shop, she barely has time to clean the apartment, much less date. Carefully controlling her reality is the only way she can get by, but when her high school sweetheart Sam moves in upstairs, her world is sent for a spin.
Sam’s advances are more than tempting, but Sydney’s walls are there for a reason. The scars of her husband’s abuse run deeper than she wants to admit, but Sam’s patient friendship is exactly what she needs. It doesn’t take long for him to fill the space in her life she didn’t know was missing. But her traumas are persistent, and she can’t help wondering if she can ever move past her baggage. Would a romance with Sam be doomed to fail? Or could the second time be even sweeter than before?
The Review:
Thank you to the author for a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
Talk about a heartwarming story! The Second Time Is Sweeter is more than just a romance. It delves deep into the lasting effects of spousal abuse, but does so in a hopeful, uplifting way. Please note that there are some graphic flashbacks that may be triggering to some readers.
This book has some of the best characters I’ve read in a long time. Sydney is strong and resourceful and willing to do anything to protect her son. Sam, the love interest, is sweet, understanding, and so compassionate. Sydney’s best friend is the kind of character I’d love to be best friends with in person, and Max was adorable and so perceptive for a little kid.
The author did a really good job of showing Sydney’s growth throughout the book. She learns that she’s worthy of her friends’ love and of making a life for herself, not just her son. Her strength really shines through by the end of the book, where a little bit of suspense is added to the story.
I definitely recommend picking up a copy of this uplifting story.
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