Lovely story. It’s the end of a series so better to start from the beginning and end with this one. The characters were very sweet and felt like a nice conclusion. There is some miscommunication bits that were a bit much but otherwise cute story.

I received an arc from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I'm sorry this is the last book as I've really enjoyed them.

After the heartbreak of the last book it was good that this one was lighter, but also not without drama.

It was great to be back with Holly, Hope and friends and we had a new addition in the form of Giles’s girlfriend/fiancée Sienna. Holly doesn't feel Sienna is the right person for Giles and unfortunately I didn't really like the way Holly treated her. She came across as nasty and childish at times.

It was nice that Holly and Giles finally have come the full circle and I'm glad we had a good ending for them both.

Thank you to the author, Boldwood Books and Rachel's Random Resources for my gifted copy and spot on the tour.

Happy Ever After at the Second Chances Sweet Shop by Hannah M. Lynn

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

After difficult times, Holly is finally adjusting to her new normal. Her daughter Hope is happy, she’s created a beautiful home, and an unexpected offer may mean fantastic opportunities for her sweet shop, Just One More.

But her sense of calm is shattered when best friend Giles drops a bombshell – a proposal to Sienna, a woman Holly barely knows and who isn’t right for Giles at all.

For Giles’s sake, she tries to make peace with Sienna, throwing herself into wedding planning. But as everyone else cheers on the ‘happy’ couple, Holly’s left questioning whether her doubts are about them – or about something in her own heart…

My Opinion

This is a series that I am definitely not reading in order but I have had no issues following the plot – although I would recommend reading the books in order. With this series Hannah Lynn has become a must-read author for me. Happy Ever After at the Second Chances Sweet Shop was a sweet, charming read with some great characters. Hannah Lynn has once again written a lovely book.

Rating 4/5

I have read another book in this series and want to go back and read the rest now. Seeing your friend engaged and planning to marry someone you don't like is always going to be a challenge. This book takes us there with bells on and through a few hurdles in along the way. A great read.

I actually can't believe that this is the last book in the whole series! I loved every installment This time Holly finds out that her best friend Giles is getting married and she isn't best pleased that it's to the one girl she doesn't like!

I'll say no more because it really is a joy to read and find out yourself

Even though i've read the whole series I do believe it could easily be read as a stand alone. Just a cosy hug of a book!

Highly recommend

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me a copy of this book to review.

This was a fun chick lit novel, and I enjoyed it a lot. I am looking forward to reading more by this author.

I hate to see the series end. The author has written a book about acceptance of another one's choice for a spouse. Hope has to learn to accept Sienna, Giles choice for a wife even though she doesn't think that she is the one for him. The gang is all here in the book.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and the Publisher and leaving a review by my own accord.

This is a last book in a series of interconnected stand alones and as the title suggests, it was so sweet! This was the first one that I have read in the series and I want to go back and read more! A wonderful mix of emotions and I love a short, sweet read. 4 stars! *I received a complimentary ARC from the author/publishing company via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts & opinions are my own.

This was the first book I had read in this series. Although I picked up the story and the characters, there are mentions of previous events which clearly had a bearing on this story. I enjoyed this book, but I prefer other authors in this genre, but that might be because I picked up this series part way through. Thanks to NetGalley for my ARC, this has not affected my review.

Happy Ever After at the Second Chances Sweet Shop by Hannah Lynn is a charming, cozy romance that delights with its blend of heartfelt second chances and sugary whimsy. Set against the backdrop of a quaint small-town sweet shop, the novel finds its magic not only in confections but also in the possibility of new beginnings and unexpected love.

The story follows Holly, who, after Evan’s death, has settled into a new norm—one marked by resilient acceptance and the occasional eye roll at her good friend Giles as he dates a string of women who never quite measure up. That is, until Giles suddenly proposes to his latest girlfriend, a woman who is, for all intents and purposes, clearly the wrong match for him. Holly’s reaction—a mix of genuine concern, lingering jealousy, and disbelief—adds a delicious twist to the story, which make me to question why she feels so conflicted when it seems that Giles should be the one learning the true meaning of love.

This book is crisp, engaging prose breathes life into the sweet shop and its colorful cast of characters. Familiar faces and quirky interactions—like Holly’s exasperated amusement at Giles’s dating escapades—create an atmosphere that is both light-hearted and emotionally resonant. The book is a fun, quick read that revels in the charm of everyday life, reminding us that sometimes the sweetest moments come wrapped in the complexities of friendship, loss, and love rediscovered.

Overall, it is an uplifting celebration of love, resilience, and fresh starts—a delightful treat for anyone in need of a little extra sweetness in life.

I haven’t read the earlier books in the series, but this one completely swept me off my feet! It’s everything I love in a cozy romance—heartfelt, charming, and full of small-town warmth that makes you want to curl up with a cup of tea and read in one sitting.

Holly is a beautifully written character—resilient, relatable, and so easy to root for. Life seems to be falling into place: her daughter Hope is thriving, her sweet shop is gaining momentum, and things feel… settled. That is, until her best friend Giles announces he’s engaged to someone Holly barely knows—and doesn’t quite trust. As Holly tries to support him, plan the wedding, and ignore her growing doubts, she starts to realize that maybe she’s been overlooking what her own heart has been trying to tell her.

Even without reading the previous books, I had no trouble connecting with the characters or the story. Yes, it has those comforting, predictable beats—but that’s exactly what makes it such a delight. It’s like stepping into a warm hug of a story, filled with love, growth, and the magic of realizing your heart’s true desire. A five-star comfort read I absolutely adored!

Unreal history and Chemistry.

This one gets my award for most mixed feelings. There was so much good about this book. There was:
Humor
Grief
Close knit group of friends
Single Mom
He Falls first
Only One Bed
The history between the Holly and Giles leads to chemistry that is undeniable and you can't help but root for them.

If it wasn't for the cheating. It's just not my thing. I can't stand it and it makes things so messy and usually makes characters get a little crazy and it was the only thing that I just truly did not enjoy about this story.

All other parts of the story were great!!!

Thank you to Net Galley, Boldwood Books, and Hannah Lynn for letting me read an ARC of this book!

As this is the last book in a series of 8,life has moved on a few years since we last read about Holly. She is still running her old fashioned sweet shop in her village, her daughter is at school and life is going well.
Holly then discovers that her best friend Giles is getting engaged without telling her. Giles has had lots of on off girlfriends so why is he choosing to marry the very one that Holly dislikes.
All her friends know why Holly is so annoyed but Holly just doesn't seem to get it.
Lots happening in this final book and lots of fun moments.
I have loved this series and hope I find the time one day to read it all over again.

Holly has finally started to adjust to her new life. Her daughter Hope is happy, she’s got a lovely house, great neighbours and her own sweet shop. Things are looking great!

That is until she hears her best friend Giles has got engaged to Sienna, a woman who Hope doesn’t really know and doesn’t seem right for Giles.

Hope tries her best for Giles sake to get to know Sienna. She starts helping with the wedding planning. Hope still isn’t sure about Sienna but is it something else that is making her feel uneasy?

this is the 8th book in a series, I had not read the others and found it could be read as a standalone. cute, sweet story.

Another great book by Hannah! This is the 8th in the series I have really enjoyed every book! This is an easy read, with super short chapters, which will have you smiling throughout. I could say so much about this book but I don’t want to ruin it for anyone who hasn’t read the others! I continued to love all the characters and what I loved about this series is how it isn’t your romance type book! This is a series I would probably read again as I loved it so much!

I'm sorry to see this series has come to an end. I mean a series with a focal point of a sweet shop, there's something just magical about that. I think we all love to visit a sweet shop and the series has been so much fun. I've loved getting to know Holly. She's gone through some ups and downs but she's resilient and lands on her feet. She's had the help of her friends to get her through her rough patches for sure and she also has a lovely daughter Hope that we met a few books back. Once again she's hit a rough patch in this book and it's not even due to her sweet shop. Her personal life has taken a surprise turn and left her feeling surprised and in shambles.
Best friends are great to have, they're there for you and make you hold your chin up when times are rough. What if your best friend throws a curve ball in the mix like Giles does with Holly and proposes to someone else just when you are admitting to yourself that your interest may have gone past the friend zone?
Will Holly have a chance to convince Giles to take a chance on her or is it too late for a second chance for them?
I highly recommend starting at the beginning of the series and just binge reading the whole series, no regrets it's just that great. This is a feel good, unputdownable series.

I was given a complimentary copy of this series.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Who can resist a book set in a sweet shop? Especially as it turns out one like the one in the Cotswolds I vividly remember visiting a few years ago (and buying some Uncle Joe's Mint Balls from)! I jumped at this one, although I'll say now that it's the last in a series and although it does work as a standalone, as enough of the back story is shared to make it understandable, you'll really want to read the whole series to get the full emotional and plot benefit.

Holly is running her old-fashioned sweet shop with reliable staff and she has her daughter for company at home, plus kitten, Rhubarb, and good neighbours. Now, I did not check when I requested this book, but I soon realised it's the last in what must be a well-loved series, as it's full of adorable and supportive people, with good friends and a lovely community plus sweet shop detail (it starts with sherbert lemons!). This does mean I'll have to be even more careful with the no-spoilers thing, so this review will be short and general.

A bombshell is dropped, a hilarious mini-break happens, there are tears and kisses and I would imagine that readers of the series will be delighted with what ensues (not a spoiler, given the title!). There are enough pops back into history to remind a regular reader or fill a new reader in, but not so much that it will annoy someone who's read the rest of the series. Important to me was that Rhubarb the kitten survives the book with no even mild peril: she is put there to facilitate a plot point but not at her own risk, thank you, Hannah!

Blog post coming on 7 April 2025: https://librofulltime.wordpress.com/2025/04/07/book-review-hannah-lynn-happy-ever-after-at-the-second-chances-sweet-shop/

After losing her fiance 10 years previously, Holly is adjusting to her new world with her gorgeous young daughter, a thriving sweet shop and wonderful friends around her, including her best friend Giles. At least, until he announced his engagement to Sienna, who Holly takes an instant dislike to, which only intensifies when she realizes Sienna is deceptive and manipulative. Holly eventually had to face the facts that her feelings for Giles run deeper than friendship and she may have missed her chance at a future with him.

I've given this review a 4 Star rating - it's a sweet, warm and light-hearted romantic read including lovely characters and a charming setting that leaves you with a warm feeling at the end of the story. If you enjoy this type of easy read, you would absolutely enjoy this book which isn't too challenging and the type of read you can curl up with, why and get a little lost in.

Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for my opportunity to read and review this book

Happy Ever After at the Second Chances Sweet Shop by Hannah Lynn is a heartwarming, feel-good novel set in the cozy, picturesque Cotswolds. The story centers around Holly, a woman who is slowly rebuilding her life after facing difficult challenges. She has found peace in her sweet shop, Just One More, and is enjoying the happiness of raising her daughter, Hope. But just as things are settling, her best friend Giles shocks her with a surprise proposal to Sienna, a woman Holly feels isn't quite right for him.

Holly's attempts to support Giles and make peace with Sienna lead her down an unexpected path of self-reflection. As she throws herself into wedding preparations, Holly begins to question whether her doubts about the couple are about them or if they reveal something deeper about her own feelings—toward Giles and the possibilities of love and second chances.

The novel is brimming with warmth and charm, from the inviting atmosphere of the sweet shop to the delightful characters that populate Holly's world. The dynamic between Holly and Giles is particularly engaging, with their close friendship adding a layer of complexity to the love story. The theme of second chances—both in love and in life—resonates throughout, making this a perfect read for anyone in need of an uplifting escape.

Hannah Lynn’s writing is engaging and relatable, capturing the emotions of navigating friendship, love, and personal growth. With its picturesque setting, lovable characters, and a dash of romance, Happy Ever After at the Second Chances Sweet Shop is a delightful and comforting read that will leave readers smiling. Perfect for fans of cozy romances and stories of new beginnings.