Best friends to lovers tropes have a special place in my heart. This one called my name when I saw it on my review list.
A blend of women’s fiction with a clean romance, it is a lovely summer read that will leave you smiling. Check out my thoughts below.
The Second First Chance by Mona Shroff
Publisher: HQN; Original edition (August 2, 2022)
ISBN-13: 978-1335453464
OVERVIEW:
Strength comes in many different forms.
Riya Desai and Dhillon Vora grew up together. Sharing secrets, hiding in their tree house, they were playmates, best friends and later—as teenagers—almost something more. Until the devastating house fire that ripped them apart, claiming the life of Dhillon’s father and Riya’s big brother, Samir. Riya and Dhillon have barely spoken since that terrible night, but they both made big decisions based on that fire.
Riya has chosen to fight fire with everything she’s got, but it’s not easy. As the only female firefighter and one of the only people of color at her fire hall, she has to prove herself over and over. Plus, she’s hidden her career from her family.
Dhillon wanted to heal things, so he became a veterinarian. When a chance encounter with a rescue dog throws Riya and Dhillon together again, he’s furious at her career choice. After what happened to them, how can she run into fires on purpose? For Riya, Dhillon’s anger is unacceptable: How can he not see that she’s protecting others from the very losses they both experienced?
The Second First Chance by Mona Shroff Review
One thing that caught my eye about this story was the ethnicity of the characters. I love to read stories about different cultures as the characters really have to break the mold of what is expected of them by the family. Shroff crafted this story beautifully.
The push and pull between the characters were what cemented this story. The deep-seated love between them but the pain of loss and miscommunication caused chasms that were hard to cross and heal the hurt.
I loved the strong female lead who broke barriers all the while fighting insecurities and demons inside.
A lovely read that features a long term slow burn romance that makes you just a bit crazy! Beautiful family dynamics and a story that will stay with you for a long time to come! Perfect for your summer book binge!
4 STARS!
Disclaimer: Affiliate links included – Chris has personally reviewed the product listed above. She has not received any monetary compensation for her review but did receive a free ebook so she could evaluate and use it for this post. Her thoughts & opinions in this review are unbiased & honest and your opinions may differ.
Hi! I’m Chris! Just a Midlife Wife sharing about life’s journey; screaming and kicking through it while supposedly aging gracefully…
Focusing on healthy living, low carb & keto, things I am loving right now, and life in general.