I am a huge fan of The Second Chance Supper Club, I loved it! It is such a sweet and refreshing novel that is easy to read, flows smoothly, and is delightful all around. The characters are down to earth and the relationships are relatable, making it easy to feel connected to them and feel their emotions. I love reading novels about families and I am drawn to the sociological and phsychological elements involved, which made reading The Second Chance Supper Club even better for me. It was a "curl up on a comfy couch" type of read, one that you don't want to put down. I can easily see this made into a movie, or a TV series. I could not get enough of the characters or the story!

The unexpected death of their parents had left the sister’s once close relationship in turmoil for 3 years. Julia flees to her home state and sister after an incident at her job. You learn the imperfect circumstances of the two sisters is the bond that brings them back together, stronger than ever.   Additional comments and thoughts:  https://recommended-4.com/blog/2019/08/28/the-second-chance-supper-club/

Thank you to NetGalley, Nicole Meier and Lake Union Publishing for the free e-book in exchange for an honest review.

They had a strong sisterly bond until a tragedy strikes and thrusts them apart; but now at a crossroads, the sister’s lives are about to intersect. Julia has it all, a fulfilling career, a fiancé and the hard won respect of her peers, that is until she makes a poor decision and puts her job at risk and ruins her reputation. This sends Julia running to the only person that could understand, her sister Ginny. Ginny runs a clandestine secret supper club in Arizona and has a lot on her plate. The last thing she wants is more drama or the burden of nursing her sisters wounded pride. But family is family and Ginny could use some help herself. Julia and Ginny will be working closely together and have no choice but to confront the pain and betrayals of the past. 

I was really needing a change of pace from all the thrillers and needed something more heartfelt – and man was this the right novel! This was an extremely quick read and I found myself so immersed into all the characters lives that I couldn’t help but be hoping for the best for all of them! I really liked the sisters and how different they are from one another because it reminded me of my sister and I and how difficult it can be to maintain a relationship with a sibling. I really enjoyed the idea of a secret supper club and all that went into doing something the Ginny really loved! I wished that I could enjoy some of the food that they talk about in this novel, so if you are reading – be ready to be starving! I really enjoyed the entire novel overall and would definitely recommend.

Out September 10th!

I enjoyed The Girl Made of Clay and was excited to read this book. It ended being OK and would probably give it 2.5 stars. The book started out promising but didn't seem to go anywhere for me. What could have caused Ginny and Julia not to speak for three years? After finishing the book, I still don't know why they were so mad at each other. Ginny yells at Julia for not helping after their parents' death and they forgive each other. They really don't even talk about it much. How did Ginny last three years running the supper club? She can't stay on a budget and spends more on the food than what she charges.I thought her new restaurant would have a catchier name than Bistro G, especially since she already had Mesquite. I didn't mind Julia and Ginny, unfortunately Olive was a different matter. I hated reading about her. She acted more like a bratty teenager than twenty-one years old. Her attitude and the way she treated her mom was atrocious. She's an adult not a little child. After the book ended, I still didn't know much about Ginny or Julia.  I do love the cover of the book. 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Lake Union Publishing through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Second Chance Supper Club by Nicole Meier
Source: NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing
Rating: 3/5 stars

**MINI-REVIEW**

The Bottom Line:  In theory, this book has everything I love in literature: family drama, loads of good food, and an idyllic setting that enhances the story.  While I love all these things, they just didn’t seem to come together in this read to create the kind of emotional drama I was expecting.  In fact, there wasn’t really any big drama in this read at all and it read quite flat all the way through from start to finish.  For example: Julia completely screws up at work yet there is never a moment where she loses control, breaks down, and/or freaks out; even her major life changes that follow in the wake of the screw up aren’t met with any real drama.  Additionally, Julia’s sister, Ginny is up to her ears in debt and difficulties with her restaurant and daughter yet there is never a moment of explosion or big, over the top drama.  As deep as she’s in it and given all the stress, I expected a Mount St. Helen’s kind of explosion at some point.  Finally, Olive, Ginny’s daughter is an angsty young adult looking to break free from her mother and while she does storm out once or twice, there is never an explosive argument or breaking point which would have been totally understandable.  In truth, I feel like this book doesn’t truly have a climax, but just reads in a linear fashion, point A to point B, with only a few moments of light drama.  With all the events and situations, the three women are involved in, I expected there to be some big moments, some explosions, some real drama that would shatter everything but those moments, not even one ever came.  I wanted that climax, the emotional dump so the rebuilding, the repairs, and the new paths forged would somehow seem to be more deserved, earned.  With all this being said, I did like aspects of this book: the food – oh, gosh! – the descriptions of the food are amazing, the setting is absolutely idyllic, and I did like the women.  I can’t say I disliked this book, but the lack of a climax really hurt the overall enjoyment for me.

A sweet and simple book about the reunification of two sisters after several years apart. There are no twists or turns, no surprises, no messy endings. Way too pat for me. I also started getting annoyed with Ginny's inability to break even or make money. This woman supposedly earned a Michelin Star yet doesn't know how to appropriately price a meal to make a profit? And her excuse of "taking a risk" makes no sense. Likewise, the use of the term "foodie" by a member of the restaurant industry grated on my every nerve. This is not a term of endearment and no chef would call their best customer a "foodie." Simple things like this can ruin what would otherwise have been a light fluffy enjoyable read.

They say good things come in threes and Nicole’s Meier’s books are no exception!

I instantly connected with the main characters even though I have nothing in common with any of the leading ladies.  I am not a high-profile broadcast journalist living in New York, nor am I a critically acclaimed chef but, the author has a way of making their character’s instantly likable and relatable.   

This is a story of renewed relationships helping the reader to see that no matter what life throws your way, with good communication, forgiveness, and love, healing is possible.  

Once I started reading, I couldn’t put it down, leaving me without a book to read the last half of my secluded vacation!

Life is too short to read bad books!  Do yourself a favor and treat yourself to this feel-good novel by Nicole Meier!

Julia and Ginny are sisters that have grown apart. Through a series of events Julia finds herself taking a break from her life in New York to fly across the country and pay Ginny a surprise visit in Arizona.  
 During the visit we find more about the sisters and why they grew apart.  Julia also spends time with her now adult niece Olive. 
The supper club is a charming setting and helps to weave the sisters stories together.  Ginny runs the supper club from her home assisted by Olive.  Ginny and Olive have a strained mother/daughter relationship. The addition of Julia adds a great perspective.
I found all 3 main characters and the peripheral characters reasonably likeable.
The book overall is a good read, its more “meaty” than a cozy romance.  I did know fairly early on how the story would turn out.  
A solid 3 star read.

3.5 stars
I really enjoyed the setting of this book (makes me want to visit Arizona!) and the concept of the underground supper club. There were moments where I found both Ginny and Julia annoying. Honestly, Julia seemed like a selfish brat who didn't even bother taking a single day off from work after the death of her parents, dumping everything on Ginny to deal with. And Ginny goes into debt and guilts her adult daughter, Olive, into working for free in her secret supper club as a hostess/server. However, as the book progressed, each of the women started to appreciate the hardships of the other. I enjoyed the second half of the book more than I did the first half - I do hope there will be a second book as I would love to see what happens next in the lives of Ginny, Julia, and Olive. 

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for providing a copy for review.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

What a wonderful book!! 
This was a cute, quick read.
 I love a good story about sisterhood, starting over & second chances!!  
If you are interested in this kind of topic, you should for sure read The Second Chance Supper Club!! 

Definitely recommend!!

Every now and then I like to take a dip into a different genre and I have had some wonderful surprises in this type of genre.

Not so with this one I am afraid. It is not terrible, it is an afternoon read but you have read it all before. Julia, the ambitious career woman, living in New York with her perfect fiancé, suddenly turns her world upside down. You have read that correctly, she turned it upside down, by sabotaging her own career as a host on a TV talk show. I must admit that I found it rather implausible that someone of her experience and age would be so rash.

Naturally when this happens you leave and go to your hometown to re-evaluate your life. You also apparently arrive on the doorstep of your estranged sister assuming she will take you in, which she does. The sister, Ginny, had sacrificed her promising career as a top chef, in New York, for family duties in Arizona. She is resentful of Julia and battling with her daughter, Olivia.

The story is about the secret supper club Ginny created in her house, and the relationships between her, Julia and Olivia. It is not a bad novel it is just too formulaic.

Thank you #Netgalley for the arc of #TheSecondChanceSupperClub in exchange for my honest review.

A very nice book about estranged sisters, Julia and Ginny and taking risks and starting over.  Left me with such a good feeling, a beautiful story. Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy.

Sibling rivalry was the reason I was tempted to requested this book, along with my love of food.
The descriptions of the food were tempting but the story lacked of depth, it was too obvious from the start what the ending would be and the title was a dead giveaway.
The fact that Julia didn't pursue her leak before confronting the Mayor didn't ring true if she was a professional. 
Her relationship with her sister didn't suggest she'd seek her out in time of trouble and her niece's attitude towards her mother changed drastically, without much of the discontentment being resolved especially as the father didn't play any part in resolving the issues.
An easy read but I like my stories with a bit more ' bite' !

This was an easy read between some heavier books I've read lately.  I didn't necessarily connect with the characters and the story felt a bit dull at times, but it was still a nice read.

Unfortunately I am on a roll but it is not a positive one. I have limped through the the last few books I have chosen. I barely managed to finish this book. The premise interested me but I kept losing interest in the story as it unfolded - none of the main characters pulled me in. The initial crisis that set the scene for the story felt too far fetched and I struggled from that point on. 

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an early release in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Great read for a women's novel. This would be a great beach read! Estranged sisters, a mother daughter conflict, a relationship based on job status, work politics, makes for some interesting scenarios. The characters were believable and quite likeable. 
Those of us with sisters understand some of the conflict but not the lengthy rift between these two sisters. It is unfathomable to most of us that there really are families who have siblings who don't speak to each other for years. 
This is a book of women coming to terms with themselves and what truly makes them happy. The book flows nicely and while it has an acceptable ending, it leaves a few things open for more stories of this group and their new life choices. 
I would love to see additional books with these characters growing in themselves and their community. Enjoy the read! 

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. . This book was provided as a complimentary copy for an unbiased  review. The opinions expressed are my own.

Second Chance Supper Club was a good read. It explored the rocky relationship between women in a family and how their relationships mended. I received the book as an ARC from #Netgalley.

I thought the characters were genuine and believable. Two sisters are reunited after a lengthy separation. The themes are forgiveness and strong family bonds. Readers will be able to relate with the plethora of emotions presented in the story. It was a fast read because the narrative was very inviting.

I liked this story but I wish it had a more satisfying ending.   Julie Frank risked her career big time in exposing potential corruption on her news show but the outcome was never given an ending.  Julie left her show and moved back to Arizona to stay with her older sister with whom she has issues.  Together they confront the past and help each other with a thriving dinner club.  I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

What a cute, quick read The Second Chance Supper Club was. I loved how it centered around two polar opposite sister and food! I must admit my stomach growled a lot while reading this book. And my husband will like to thank Nicole Meier as I really went all out on dinners for the couple days I read this! I love all the connections that were formed and reformed in this book.