A unique book that I really enjoyed.

This book took me on a unique adventure I am unlikely to forget anytime soon. It not only deals with difficult situations but difficult ways to traverse the situation as well.

I enjoyed how realistic a lot of the reactions were, and I appreciated how the author dealt with all the issues in the book.

It kept my happy and smiling through a lot of parts in the book.

An amazing romance of long ago friends who weathered a tragedy and a deliverance from a life of humiliation. The relationship of Asher and Lucy began again when they ran into each other in Las Vegas on the eve of her wedding. She does not marry the dirtbag and Asher and Lucy stay in contact. This is the delightful story of the changes in their relationship. A very satisfying and winning novel.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A slow-burn, second-chance romance with enough heart, humor, and messy realness to make you cry into your wine. Loved every page.

Third Time Lucky is the book you read when you want to feel everything. Aimee Brown knows how to take the classic second-chance trope and make it so tender and raw you’re half-sobbing, half-swooning.

Here’s the tea:
Asher Wright = culinary genius, about to launch his dream restaurant. He’s hot. He’s broody. He’s haunted by the tragedy that broke his friendship with Lucy years ago.
Lucy Gray = runaway bride, literally. Her wedding implodes in spectacular (and hilarious) fashion, ending with her punching her cheating fiancé in front of the guests. Iconic.

When they run into each other again? All the heartbreak of losing Kris (Asher’s best friend and Lucy’s first love) comes crashing back. But fate being a chaotic neutral matchmaker, Asher ends up as the private chef for Lucy’s absolute scene-stealing grandma, Mitzi. Forced proximity? Check. Emotional baggage? DOUBLE CHECK.

❤️‍🔥 What I devoured:
✅ The messy, real grief: Brown doesn’t gloss over Lucy’s trauma. She lets her be messy, defensive, human.
✅ Asher’s cinnamon-roll energy: He’s respectful, gentle, but not afraid to challenge Lucy. Also? Can cook like a dream. Hello, book boyfriend.
✅ Mitzi. Full stop. The kind of sassy, meddling grandma who deserves her own rom-com. She steals every scene she’s in.
✅ Chemistry that simmers: They have a whole “we have history, but we’re so different now” vibe that hits so hard.
✅ Portland setting: Rich foodie details, cozy vibes, and a mansion with the best awkward encounters.


🥄 Minor quibbles:
It’s a slow burn. If you want insta-love? Sorry, bestie, this is a let’s unpack our shared trauma for 300 pages affair.

A couple of scenes felt a bit repetitive, but honestly? The payoff was worth it.

📋 Final prescription:
If you love second-chance romances that don’t shy away from grief, guilt, and real emotional healing—but still deliver laugh-out-loud lines and swoony kisses? Third Time Lucky is your next one-click.

It’s about owning your heartbreak, forgiving yourself, and realizing love isn’t always clean or easy—but it’s worth showing up for.

Perfect for fans of:
🍷 Emily Henry’s Happy Place (but with more grandma shenanigans)
💔 Abby Jimenez’s Life’s Too Short (real talk about grief and trauma)
🍲 Tessa Bailey-level banter (but dialed to angsty slow-burn)

Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review! This one’s going straight to my comfort-reread shelf. ❤️

This is such a wholesome adorable story. The two main characters knew each other in high school. They happened to run into each other at her wedding. Then ran into each other after her grandma hires a personal chef. The get closer and eventually fall in love. The two side characters are awesome too along with the femalemain characters grandma. It was easy to follow and was written very well. Thank you so much for the ARC.

Rounded up to 2 stars

I can appreciate a story of overcoming past grief, moving on with life, and finding love again. When it comes to this particular book, I wish I could say something positive about it but unfortunately I can’t.
This needs A LOT of work and I quite honestly don’t understand how this is so close to publication date. I understand this is an ARC but it’s rife with grammatical errors, unnecessary filler sentences, and an annoying amount of “?!” This feels wholly juvenile in how all the characters speak with each other and how the MC’s think—perhaps this is an issue with the first person POV that I struggle with—but if it hadn’t been mentioned that they were adults around their 30’s I would think they were still in high school.
I also find it a bit silly that Lucy is holding onto so much in regard to a high school boyfriend that died over a decade prior. They were essentially children and she didn’t even know that Kris thought of her as his soulmate but yet she’s letting their past relationship control much of her life.
I will say that this story has potential and I really feel like Asher and Lucy’s relationship has a lot more to offer, but it needs a lot of shining up.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I realize this was an uncorrected proof, but the word “god” was used in some format 75 times. Yes, SEVENTY FIVE times. And this is a zero spice book, so it wasn’t bedroom talk. This is also not a religious book, but the author seems to only use one expression. I am hoping the final version doesn’t have this because it really got annoying, and I don’t know how it escaped the notice of editors or early readers. (Note that I do not take offense of the use of the word, just the lack of creativity).

That being said, I was really invested in the first half of the book as it was fast paced and entertaining. There were some fun characters too. The second half, however, went sideways. Not enough and too much was happening all it once. It was also so cloyingly sweet and sappy that it should come with a cavity warning.

Third Time Lucky is a heartwarming, slow-simmering second-chance romance that blends humor, emotion, and mouthwatering culinary moments into a truly satisfying read. Aimee Brown serves up a novel that feels like comfort food for the soul—warm, nostalgic, and deeply satisfying.

At the center of the story is Asher Wright, a passionate chef about to launch the restaurant of his dreams. But his carefully plated future gets a messy stir when he sees Lucy Gray, the girl he’s never quite forgotten, deliver a jaw-dropping punch to her cheating fiancé at the altar. Cue the reentry of unresolved feelings, shared grief, and a spark that’s never really gone out.

Their bond is complicated by the ghost of Kris, Lucy’s first love and Asher’s best friend, whose tragic loss continues to cast shadows. But as fate would have it, Asher finds himself cooking in the eccentric mansion of Lucy’s feisty grandmother Mitzi—who steals every scene she’s in with her wit and no-nonsense charm.

Lucy is a relatable heroine—flawed, resilient, and refreshingly real. Her growth arc is powerful, as she learns to put her own happiness first after years of trying to live up to others’ expectations. Meanwhile, Asher is an absolute delight—a cinnamon-roll hero with a chef’s precision and a tender heart.The banter is quick and natural, the tension between Lucy and Asher is delicious, and the healing they both find—individually and together—is earned and poignant.

Third Time Lucky was such a fun and heartwarming read. Aimee Brown does a great job blending humor with emotion, and I really enjoyed following Lucy and Asher as they stumbled their way back into each other’s lives.

The story kicks off with a bang -- Lucy’s wedding goes up in flames (figuratively… and hilariously), and Asher just happens to be there to witness it. Cue all the awkward tension and unresolved feelings from their shared past. I loved watching them reconnect, especially as Asher ends up cooking for Lucy’s wild and wonderful grandmother, Mitzi (who completely steals the show).

There’s great chemistry between the leads, and their slow-burn romance feels natural and earned. I did find a few parts a bit slow or slightly repetitive emotionally, which is why I’m giving it four stars instead of five -- but overall, it’s a lovely, cozy read with just the right amount of heart and sass.

If you're into second-chance stories, lovable side characters, and a little chaos in the kitchen, definitely give this one a try! Thank you to Aimee Brown, NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC!

DNF. Less than 20% in and I could not force myself to continue. The MMC was so unrealistic. Just as bad as a female MC written by a male author.

I love this author and this book didn’t disappoint. A real reflection on betrayal and how it leaves us feeling damaged. A lovely story of how fate can intervene and make you happy again. Heartwarming and romantic

This was such a fun, feel-good read! Asher and Lucy have a bunch of accidental run-ins that keep dragging up their past—mainly the loss of Kris, who was Lucy’s boyfriend and Asher’s best friend. There’s definitely a lot of emotion under the surface, but not too heavy.

Their unexpected reunion in Vegas? Not exactly your classic romance moment—especially when Lucy punches her cheating fiancé in the face at the altar. They think that’s the end of it, but then Lucy’s grandma hires a private chef… and in walks Asher.

From there, it’s a mix of reminiscing, cooking together, and slowly realizing that maybe there’s still something between them. I really enjoyed their connection and how natural it all felt. Plus, Asher’s brother and Lucy’s bestie were super fun side characters who added a lot to the story.

I’ve read a couple of Aimee Brown’s books ages ago, and this one gave me the same cozy vibe. Definitely going to check out what else she’s written.

Thank you NetGalley for the download

This is a cute slow burn rom-com.
We get a second chance romance, a culinary man, no filter grandparent, and sort of grumpy/sunshine vibes.
Asher is a chef who is really making a name for himself but he is still being tormented by the loss of his best friend.
Lucy has quite a dramatic wedding. Basically - everything falls apart. It's actually pretty funny.
So, she and Asher put back together as so it would seem due to fate. Asher becomes her Grandmother's chef - boy is she a hoot.
Asher & Lucy then go on to have this slow-burn romance. They have a very deep connection and layered love story.
Trigger warning - this plot deals with grief and loss, so make sure you are in the right headspace for that sort of story.
Overall the characters were fairly well developed. I did struggle a bit with connection to them.
The plot was structured well. I did think the pace was very slow. I think that a lot of things could have been sped up that tended to linger on too long.
This is a nice refresher read for you summer reading.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read and review this ARC!
Happy Reading!

Aimee Brown returns with a gorgeously funny, deeply emotional second-chance romance in Third Time Lucky, and it’s as irresistible as a perfectly cooked chef’s special.

We meet Asher Wright, a talented chef on the cusp of opening his dream restaurant—focused, driven, and definitely not looking back. But when he witnesses Lucy Gray, his high school friend and the girl he never quite got over, punch her fiancé at the altar, life throws him back into the past like a hot pan off the stove. Suddenly, old grief bubbles up—especially the loss of Kris, Asher’s best friend and Lucy’s first love.

Through a delicious twist of fate, Asher ends up cooking for Lucy’s larger-than-life grandmother, Mitzi, in her Portland mansion. What starts as awkward and stilted quickly turns into a rekindled friendship—and then something far more tender and tantalizing.

Lucy is a fierce, funny heroine who’s done playing by anyone else’s recipe for love. Asher is that rare cinnamon roll-meets-sous-chef combo—grounded, kind, and quietly devastating. Their chemistry simmers as they face grief, guilt, and their own second (okay, third) shot at love.

With laugh-out-loud banter, a side of emotional depth, and one unforgettable grandmother, Third Time Lucky is a recipe for romantic perfection. Think: Abby Jimenez heart, Emily Henry wit, and a dash of Great British Bake-Off comfort.

This was a super cute and fun romcom—a perfect summer read.

Lucy’s about to get married when she finds out in spectacular fashion that her fiancé is a dirty rotten cheater, and promptly punches him in the face and calls off the wedding. This part dragged out a little bit--I always like to get the sleazy cheating arc out of the way swiftly so we can get to the good stuff!

She decides to move in with her wealthy and eccentric grandma, Mitzi, to take care of her and figure out her next steps, as she can work from anywhere. Mitsi hires a private chef who’s none other than Lucy’s old friend, Asher. But their feelings are a little more than friendly these days. Still, neither is looking for a relationship at the moment, right…?

I LOVED Lucy and Asher together! Such genuinely great people, a deep bond and connection, true feelings. The author built it up beautifully, with much more than just attraction or romantic interest. The side characters were great too—from hilarious Mitzi to the goofy relationship between Lucy’s BFF and Asher’s brother. So many funny moments!

Just a warm, fluffy hug without a lot of high drama or angst.

I liked the premise of this story-girl and boy run into each other many years later after a tragedy they experienced together in their teens. Overall though it was a slow burn romance with very little tension. The drama they had was outside of their relationship and they questioned their feelings constantly. They admitted their attraction pretty early on and the story was basically just a progression of their relationship. Good for fans of low angst and closed door romance!

I felt pretty lucky to get an ARC of Third Time Lucky by Aimee Brown—second chance romance is my favorite trope, and this book delivers in the best way! Asher and Lucy don’t just get one or two chances at love—they get three in this charming and heartfelt summer read.

The story follows Lucy and Asher over the span of several years, from high school to adulthood, as life keeps bringing them back to each other at just the right (or wrong?) moments. With clever use of a shifting timeline, we get to see their individual growth and evolving connection over time. Add in a swoony, emotionally complex chef, some fake dating, and a strong cast of supporting characters, and you've got a recipe for a truly satisfying romance.

Fans of The Bear or anyone looking for a “Yes, Chef” male main character should definitely add Third Time Lucky to their TBR. It's full of witty banter, emotional depth, and just the right touch of summer sparkle.

#ThirdTimeLucky #NetGalley #BaldwinBooks #realtorreads #booktok #bookstagram #books #booklover #book #bookrecommendations #bookish #bookstagrammer #bookworm #reading #bookreview #bookaddict #booknerd #booksbooksbooks #readersofinstagram #bookcommunity #romancebooks #bookblogger #romance #read #bookshelf #bibliophile #reader #fantasy #bookrecs #kindleunlimited #booksofinstagram #bookclub #bookphotography #booklovers

This was incredible! Super cute read, our FMC is trying to rebuild her life and keeps encountering our MMC, who is such a cinnamon roll. Their relationship overcame so many things, I was rooting for their happy ending, even when they had just found each other again after a decade.

I have to disclose that I'm a sucker for some pining and groveling, here we didn't get a lot of that, what we DO get is two people that were bitten by love before and are scared to try again, memories of their youth as friends and a person that they both loved and lost. It's kind of a second chance love story. I would have loved to see they struggling with their attraction to each other a little longer, but they go from swearing off relationships to madly in love, no in between. And I ate that up!

The ghost of Kris also makes it bittersweet, I shed so many tears, they haven't let him fully go after twelve years, thinking constantly about him and feeling guilt, but it felt like they also didn't process their grief fully. Not even talking about him with their closest friends/family, at some point they both express that only the other knows how much it still hurts, and it's both a beautiful thing to share and a heartbreaking connection.

Aaron and Madi's side story was cute too, and grandma was a top tier character, I loved her! Would recommend this book, it's my second from this author and I really like her style!

This book was just not for me. The multiple POVs was a bit confusing as they sounded a little too similar and I just couldn't connect with the characters. The writing overall was good and I wanted to like this one, just not my style.

books are gifts to us all. it feels a complete privilege to choose books to read. and when you get to, come across books like this to read its a true gem of a privilege.
Aimeee manages to write pages that you bounce, skip and hope through. there is brightness to her writing. there is flow. but dont get me wrong this is no piffy read or fluff. no she manages to keep you feeling warmed even when her characters might be flawed,complex and going through stuff. and even when the plot hits deeply you still love her books more.
when you get a book like this i am especially grateful at the moment. an escape from current affairs makes for a wonderful thing. books, again i thank you. authors like Aimee i thank you again.
the romance didn't feel rushed over overdone, you get to know how they go here,where they are now, and watch it evolve. and you loved to read their interactions which many a time bought big goofy smiles to my cheeks.
of course we have those added bonus's of fab characters outside the main ones. Mitzi was an absolute treat of a character.
there was lots of healing to be done in this book and it handled those with such compassion and tenderness.
oh and of course food enters this book in a tasty way and food is always good!
Asher once knew Lucy. they once connected until their connection continued over a shared loss which eventually pushed them apart. years later all grown up Asher is on the cusp of his dream coming true. but Lucy isn't having such a fab time and her wedding explodes in a rather disastrous way. this causes fate to put her in Ashers ways once again. this time over a new connection. that being her Grandma Mitzi when Asher becomes her personal chef. and time and work shifts things between our pair into something rather wonderful, real and rather hopeful.
a lovely books with two great leads to get involved with.

Tropes: Friends to Lovers, Guy Falls First

Spice: 2/5

Could you ever imagine punching your fiance while standing at the altar? That is what our FMC accomplishes as she discovers her fiance has cheated on her, thus beginning her ban on dating and men in general. Our MMC is the one who showed her the video while she was at the altar. Not only is he a good man for doing so, but he had been the best friend of her high school boyfriend (who was died while they were still in school). These two happen across each other years later while in Las Vegas.

As Lucy tries to navigate her healing her journey while living with her VERY wealthy aunt, her best friend continuously tries to set her up on blind dates even if the man ban is in place. During this coping journey, her aunt decides to hire a private chef. That chef is none other than Ash, the old friend who saved her from a sham of a marriage. This story is not just a healing story in regards to cheating, but also a healing story in regards to the two of them overcoming past traumas and the original ghost of a boyfriend that may have brought them together. We also follow her best friend and his brother who are not looking for anything outside of the bedroom, but quickly catch their own feelings.

I do need to point out some critiques with this story, especially as it is going to be released in less than a month. This reads as if it was only the third draft of a story. In terms of grammatical points, this story is written entirely in present tense; I am personally not a fan of that writing style and could not move past it. One thing to note if you are an American reader, this story is written with single quotation marks (a standard for British writing) instead of the double quotation marks. I only found that jarring because I typically associate single marks with inner thoughts, but that is a cultural remark instead of critique.

I would also like to point out that while the cast of characters is small, the best friend and grandma have similar names while the two brothers have similar names. I could not keep the characters straight until chapter three or four. And unfortunately, I felt that most characters were one dimensional. I wanted to feel the pain and heartbreak of Lucy as she looked back on her high school relationship and the cheating fiance. But I never got that pain; instead her emotions were a see saw of being attracted to Ash and then back to distrust. I should have felt something outside of annoyance. Ash himself is opening up his own business, he is conversing with his dead best friend, he is being an older brother to a player brother, and he is falling in love with Lucy. We were supposed to feel his heartbreak as all of his girlfriends have cheated on him, we were supposed to feel angry that his brother was never growing up, and we were supposed to feel elated that his business was about to take off. Instead, I felt that every chapter was disjointed and predictable in regards to his actions and feelings.

The author is a self proclaimed lover of Portland, Oregon and that is apparent in this book. Unfortunately, that came through in acronyms that any outsider would not understand. There would be out of place descriptions of a coffee shop or lobby of a building, causing me to wonder if she was trying to pay tribute to pivotal locations in her life. Those descriptions were not carried throughout the book which made their occurrences feel out of place or like a writing exercise. She even described a particular coffee shop on two separate occasions, leading me to predicting the end of her statements.

This book could be read by young adults or adults without any trouble. Perhaps the story would hit harder for anyone that had lost a close friend while in high school. But I cannot recommend this book as I do not think it has been fleshed out enough. There is plenty of potential within the story and the characters themselves. This is my first time reading this author so I cannot remark if this book is similar to her other releases.