The Bookshop of Second Chances

In this incredibly touching debut, ideal for fans of

The New Evvie Drake Begins.

It's Thea Mottram's not her best month. Not only did her husband of almost twenty years leave her for a friend, but she also lost her job at the workplace on Valentine's Day, of all days. Thea is absolutely disoriented and perplexed, and she is unsure of what to do. She does, however, decide to spend a few weeks away from Sussex after learning of the death of her distant great uncle in Scotland, who left her his home and a sizable collection of antique books. It feels like she needs to go to a little beach village where nobody knows who she is.

Thea falls in love with the little cottage right away, drawn to its soft, tulip-covered grass and comfortable rooms. Baldochrie, a nearby town, has equally friendly, eccentric, and welcoming residents. She aspires to sell her uncle's collection of vintage novels to Edward Maltravers, the proprietor of a bookstore, but she can't seem to win him over. Thea finds it difficult to tolerate his stern demeanor, which is exacerbated by a long-standing and notorious rivalry with his brother, a local lord. However, arguing with Edward turns out to be strangely thrilling and revitalizing, causing Thea to experience emotions she hasn't felt in a long time. Thea is driven by an exhilarating but dangerous instinct to live in Scotland permanently, but she soon discovers that her new life might end up being just as confusing as the one she was fleeing.