Review: Second Chances in New Port Stephen by TJ Alexander
Thank you Atria Books for my copy! All thoughts are my own.
When I interviewed TJ earlier this year, I had just found out about their December release, Second Chances in New Port Stephen, and I was utterly thrilled. I loved TJ’s books so much. Their writing and the characters they create are so real. I think this might be my favorite book so far, not only because I fell in love with Nick and Eli, but because I think they kept things “real” with what they deal with in the everyday (we have trans and queer characters in Florida, enough said), while still finding a realistic HEA for romance readers that doesn’t feel forced. . It’s a hard balance to strike and knowing TJ, I’m not surprised. I LOVED this book.
Synopsis:
“Eli Ward hasn’t been back to his suffocating hometown of New Port Stephen, Florida, in ages. Post-transition and sober, he’s a completely different person from the one who left years ago. But when a scandal threatens his career as a TV writer and comedian, he has no choice but to return home for the holidays. He can only hope he’ll survive his boisterous, loving, but often misguided family and hide the fact that his dream of comedy success has become a nightmare.
Just when he thinks this trip couldn’t get any worse, Eli bumps into his high school ex, Nick Wu, who’s somehow hotter than ever. Divorced and in his forties, Nick’s world revolves around his father, his daughter, and his job. But even a busy life can’t keep him from being intrigued by the reappearance of Eli.
Against the backdrop of one weird Floridian Christmas, the two must decide whether to leave the past in the past…or move on together.” —NetGalley
What I Liked:
The Dialogue—TJ Alexander is masterful at making their reading laugh and cry on the same page. The dialogue is quick and bright while also punching you in the gut when it matters.
The Vibes: While I love holiday books, I love a specific kind of holiday book—a contemporary romance set at Christmas/December, not a Christmas romance if that makes sense. This book is perfectly the kind of holiday book I love.
The Characters—Nick and Eli have my heart forever and so does Zoe! It’s HARD to write kids in romance books and TJ knocked this character out of the park. Loved them all.
What Didn’t Work For Me:
This is knocking a star off, but omg Kay was the most infuriating character. So real, there’s always that kind of person at family holidays but wow she made me angry. I loved seeing how Nick and Lori dealt with her though because I think it can be relatable for a lot of people.