A strong start to a new series
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Cath has picked herself up and started her life all over again, after her husband of thirty years decided to trade her in for a newer model. Cath isn’t one to wallow in what-might-have-beens so she makes a new start in the Northumberland village of Tilldale, almost as far from Leeds as she can get. She knows the area from her childhood and her first love, Matty, so Cath’s sure she will love the village. But thirty years of history is a lot, so will village life be what she needs to heal a bruised heart? Or will her grumpy fellow villager Will put the brakes on any healing at all?

I enjoyed this gentle village life novel, and saw the romance from a hundred yards, as well as the other climactic event: this was written to the usual romance formula which hasn’t failed us yet. I think the second novel (Christmas at The Second Chance Supper Club, Oct 25) will tie up the loose ends, which is perhaps why this novel didn’t quite stick the landing. A good four stars but could have been five.

When Cath's marriage comes to an abrupt end, she makes the decision to move to Tindall, a countryside place that holds special memories for her of family holidays when she was a child, and her first true love and holiday romance when she was just 16.
As she makes friends and there's herself into the local community, she is shocked to find that 'Matty' is still living locally, her holiday romance from over 30 years ago. Their brief romance didn't end well, and it seems he holds a grudge. Will this spoil her idyllic new life and force her back to Leeds?
A truly lovely read, full of friendship, community and wonderful characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and HQ for this ARC.

After her divorce from cheating husband Trevor, Cath, 52, is making a fresh start in the village of Tilldale in Northumberland. Having left her friends and Sister Susie behind and with son Adam, 22, away travelling in Asia, she feels quite lonely at first, but soon makes friends with Dan and Andreas, the gay couple from the village shop and their dog Shirley, neighbour Nikki and retired firefighter Will, who looks strangely familiar. With loving to cook but no one to cook for Cath starts a Supper Club in her shed, with the other four participants taking turns to host.

This feels a little too long with repetitive plot points like Andreas' frail mother who's in and out of hospital. The romance is very slow-burn and didn't quite convince me - Cath really didn't recognise Will? I knew who he was to her the minute he bumped into her car!

Just a slight warning though: you cannot read this book while you're hungry, there are just so many yummy food descriptions, plus the recipes for some of them are at the back of the book, which is a nice touch. I would have loved to take part in any of the dinner parties!

I really like the side characters, they bring the story to life, plus it's a great description of a functioning community. I can't wait to read the sequel, Christmas at the Second Chance Supper Club! If you like food-centred stories about new beginnings, second chances and found family, with a dash of romance, this is for you.

3.5 stars

It's been a while since I last read a Caroline Roberts book and I was very happy to see her back writing. And with this, its another glorious book from her.

And as I have come to expect from this author, there is plenty of delicious sounding food described, during each of the supper club meetings and even some recipes at the back of the book.

I loved getting to know Cath, as she starts to build a new life for herself in Northumberland. And I also love how food can bring people together, which is definitely a theme of this book.

Add in an adorable Westie, the owners of the village shop, a delectable widower, and the local whirlwind, you have the makings of a fabulous new social group.

I loved every second of this book, its warm hearted, tasty and I totally love all of the characters.

It was a joy to read and I look forward to hopefully coming across these characters again at some point in the future.

Thank you to HQ Digital and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Caroline Roberts’ The Second Chance Supper Club is a warm, uplifting story about resilience, community, and rediscovering love after heartbreak. Set in the idyllic landscapes of rural Northumberland, this novel offers exactly the kind of comforting escapism that fans of Jill Mansell and Milly Johnson will adore.

The story follows Cath, whose carefully built life collapses after her husband’s betrayal. Seeking solace and a fresh start, she relocates to a quiet village, only to find that solitude brings its own challenges. In a moment of inspiration, she transforms her garden shed into a magical supper club—a twinkling, intimate space where neighbors gather to share meals, laughter, and their own struggles. What begins as an attempt to stave off loneliness evolves into something much richer: a true community bound by food, friendship, and hope.

Roberts captures the essence of found family beautifully. Each character who joins the supper club brings their own warmth and quirks, adding texture to Cath’s journey of healing. The food descriptions are mouthwatering, evoking a sense of comfort that mirrors the emotional nourishment the characters find in one another’s company. At the same time, Roberts weaves in themes of vulnerability, courage, and the quiet bravery it takes to begin again.

The romance thread, tender and understated, complements rather than overshadows the broader story. It’s a gentle reminder that love can blossom unexpectedly, even after heartbreak, when trust and connection are allowed to grow naturally.

With its heartfelt prose, evocative setting, and cast of relatable, endearing characters, The Second Chance Supper Club is both a celebration of community and an ode to the restorative power of sharing food and stories.

Verdict: A charming, heartwarming tale about rebuilding a life and finding joy in unexpected places. Perfect for readers who love stories steeped in friendship, food, and second chances.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – A feel-good feast for the soul.

Set in gorgeous rural Northumberland, this is a lovely feel-good romantic read with the bonus of attached recipes for luscious comfort food. 40+ recently divorced Cath has moved to a cottage in a small village. While still settling in, she makes new friends by inviting new local acquaintances to her home-cooked suppers in the garden shed she has just lovingly refurbished…Can‘t wait for second book!

This book was like a warm, cosy blanket that wrapped itself around me and made me feel all snug and happy. It was a delightful, romantic read that was super easy to get lost in. The characters were so well-developed and the setting was absolutely gorgeous. And let me tell you, the food descriptions were to die for! I wouldn’t dare read this while I was hungry! It was a pure comfort read from beginning to end, filled with warmth, feel-good vibes, and a satisfying sense of contentment.

Thank you Netgalley

This is a gorgeous read about second chances and community. I would love to have a Supper Club that I could join.
This is a heartwarming read, with lovely characters. I really enjoyed reading it.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for my arc.

I absolutely adored this book. From the very first page, it delivered everything I want in a cosy, uplifting read. Cath’s journey to rebuild her life after heartbreak is tenderly told, with moments of quiet reflection balanced perfectly with warmth and humour. The Northumberland village setting is beautifully described, giving the story a comforting backdrop that makes you want to settle in with a cup of tea and stay awhile.

The supper club itself is such a charming idea, and watching it grow into a welcoming circle of friends was heartwarming. Each character brings their own story, adding depth and variety, while the shared meals and occasional mishaps create a lovely sense of community. This is a story about healing, friendship and the courage to start over, with just the right sprinkle of romance to make it even more satisfying.

A perfect lazy Sunday afternoon read.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

This was a lovely comforting read set in beautiful Northumberland; the setting was beautifully described and I could almost imagine the sights and smells of the gorgeous countryside. Northumberland isn't somewhere I'm overly familiar with having never visited, in fact I only knew two things about it, Bamburgh Castle and Holy Island.

I really felt for Cath as she has had to start again through no fault of her own, but her marriage breakdown presents the perfect opportunity for a fresh start in a new part of the country. It felt to me as if Cath really embraced this opportunity by putting herself out there and becoming involved in the community. She misses cooking for other people so the idea of the Supper Club is absolutely perfect; what better way to meet new friends than through delicious food?

Speaking of delicious food, you'll be needing some snacks when you read this book as the food served at the Supper Club sounded mouth-watering; thankfully there's a handy section of recipes at the back of the book. Just like Will though, I'm not much of a cook, but I'd love to try some of the delicious dishes being served.

I'm a sucker for a book about second chances so I knew I'd enjoy this book; I also love the theme of community and friendship running throughout the book as Cath finds herself a wonderful new group of friends in the gorgeous village of Tilldale. It would appear that book two is coming out soon and it's a Christmas book so it's going straight on my festive TBR pile.

Cath is starting over in a place where she had happy holidays as a young person and later with her family. Now she is recovering from her husband's betrayal and the fact that her only son is making his way in life. At first, moving to rural Northumberland seems impulsive. Cath feels her loneliness acutely, but the village she has relocated to is nurturing, and soon she has a group of new friends who bond over food and conversation. I loved the warmth of this story, which is about starting over, new friendships and the chance of romance. The characters are complex and relatable, and Cath's new life is believable too. There is laughter and tears in this story, and plenty of conflict too. It's the friendship that develops and the gentle romance that makes this such a satisfying read.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

Thank you Caroline for another wonderful book. Cathy has recently moved into a cottage in Northumberland from Leeds following the breakdown of her marriage and she has fond memories of the area as she used to visit there with family when she was younger. Cath decides to start a supper club to make new friends and finds herself getting to know new people in the area including the owners of the local shop Dan and Andreas and Nikki along with Will who Cathy feels is familiar to her but she is unsure why. All is revealed throughout the book and I found both the storyline and characters were very good. I could certainly relate to Cath when her Son returns from travelling overseas and she finds her cosy cottage full of dirty washing and crockery everywhere! Meant to add I also loved the recipes at the end and already made the lemon posset which was delicious.

A cracker of a good read. I became involved with the characters and how the storyline evolved. A book I didn’t want to put down and didn’t want to end. This was a story of new beginnings and new friendships with the added bonus of a major storyline twist I didn’t see coming.
Loved it and would highly Recommend
Thank you to Netgalley, HQ , and Caroline Roberts for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review

I absolutely love this author and her style of writing. This book had me hooked from the start and made all the more special due to it being set in one of my favourite places on earth, Northumberland. Fabulous characters, beautiful friendships and a thoroughly enjoyable story. Thank you so much to netgalley and publishers for allowing me to read a copy of this book for my review.

A stunning read that had me hooked from the very first page to the last. A story of new beginnings and new friendships as well as a re-kindled relationship. Highly recommend.

The Second Chance Supper Club by Caroline Roberts is a charming and heartwarming read that celebrates food, friendships, and finding joy after life's setbacks. Set against a backdrop of gorgeous scenic descriptions as well as many delicious dishes, the story brings together relatable characters whose personal journeys tug gently at the heart. I love how this group of characters instantly formed bonds and created the supper clubs. While the pacing occasionally lingers, the warmth and emotional depth make it a satisfying escape. Perfect for fans of feel-good fiction with a generous dash of foodie flair! As always Caroline has given us a community of people we care about and become invested in. Highly recommend.

A new novel about second chances written with personal touch and involving hilarious situations. It’s important to understand when it’s time to get your own life back into your own hands.

What a lovely, lovely book. It was such a pleasure to read this one. I loved all the characters except the two timing husband who didn't deserve a wife life he had. But, everyone else was lovely. I do enjoy these books and look forward to more in the future. My thanks to netgalley and the publisher's for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

I loved this book, thought it was fantastic.

Cath has moved house after a relationship breakup to where she used to stay as a child on holidays

She meets Andreas, Dan, Nikki and Will and they get talking. Then the supper club is created. One person each week creates a meal for them all to eat together and have the companionship of eating with each other.

Cath and Will have history together as children but they don’t recognise each other straight away and when Will discovers the reason for why cath wasn’t in touch. She needs to work out how they will get back to how they were before. The rest of the club notice that they aren’t the same with each other and make them have supper club on their own.

Will it have the desired effect or not?

Caroline is a great author whose book I always enjoy. This was one that had me hooked from the very first page to the last. A story of new beginnings and new friendships as well as a re-kindled relationship. Highly recommend.