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Phyllis
, November 27, 2023
(view all comments by Phyllis)
Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for a digital advance reader's copy. All comments and opinions are my own.
No surprise here – the novel is called The Second Chance Hotel and it’s a story about two people getting a second chance at life and love. What was surprising was how much I liked the book – the characters, the small island town, the Greek traditions, the quirky citizens, and even the run-down hotel.
The premise sounds predictable, but the writing drew me in and kept me reading. Amelia and James meet while both are vacationing at the rundown Ria Hotel on the Greek island of Asteri. After a few days on the island, and the hotel’s only guests, they are invited by the hotel’s owner to a local wedding. They unintentionally get drunk, accidentally end up married, and become the unwilling co-owners of the hotel – all in one summer evening.
As this is a rom-com, things do not go smoothly. Before the marriage dilemma, Amelia had been spending three months in Europe to breathe and regroup after losing her job and apartment. Now, with time (and reserve funds) running out, she must return home to revive her career and find a new place to live. And also hopefully to make amends with her best friend. But what about the hotel? The marriage? The town that depends on the hotel to generate income?
This was a charming, easy comedy and a delightful trip to Greece. While there were some plot loopholes, it’s still a 4-star read for me.
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