this head and heart question for Rebecca certainly got into my head and heart. i loved every moment i got to spend with this book. so much so im smiling once again writing this review about it. there is so much more to this book than being a rom-com. it had that added sparkle to it.
Steph writes so that the actual deep moments for Rebecca somehow still have a tilt of lightness or joy to it. she somehow doesn't take away from the deeply thought provoking moments but never overwhelms or overburdens. more like makes you think in the best kind of way books like this a magic little vehicles for.
this is one of those reads that has you caring far too much and becoming far too invested. and so you are almost tense with thinking how Rebecca would fair and just what choices she might end up making! its my heart on the line too now Rebecca, luv.
i dont know how some authors just seem to weave giggle and wit through their pages. even when something funny isn't occurring there is that skipping, lightness, chuckle element to it. i loved this book for giving me that. it was just what i needed. i felt completely cared for by Steph and this book to give me just the kind of feelings i needed from todays read.
this was a story about love but in many of its forms. we had the working of family, friends and those at work all at play here. all those aspects went on a journey through Rebecca and the two men in her triangle. and this felt important because all the relationships you have in life be it tricky, mess or brilliant can have ups and downs and can completely dictate how you relate to love, or even how you think you should be loved.
Rebecca, Matt and Alex you certainly put me trough the ringer. and i got so emotional attached to where this story would go, how Rebecca would come out at the end of it that i got quite tense and worried for all concerned at some points. what was the right choice? was there even a choice? was this a test? was this an allowance for memories over future? oh Rebecca you tugged at my heart as you went though the decisions with your own.
i loved this book. and what i absolutely appreciated and loved this book all the more because of is that there wasn't a niggle of a cheating or love triangle in that sense. no morally grey areas. and that was a slight niggle for me when i first read the blurb. but im so glad Steph didn't stear it that way.
this is a gem of a read. from that cover to the content of the pages it ticked all the glorious boxes a book like this might.

What is better than a second chance romance book? A second chance romance book that has the chemistry of this book 🤍

The emotional aspect of this book was done incredibly well. You were taken on a journey with the characters where you felt every emotion alongside them which is something that is incredibly hard to write but Steph nailed it. This book will stay with me for a long time and left being no what ifs.

I adored everything about it and can’t wait to re read it once it’s been released.

This book took me on a bit of a roller coaster! I thought it was going a certain way and started to really fall in love with the main character (Rebecca) and her past love but then decided I was totally against it! I almost gave up reading when I thought the main character was going to make 'the wrong choice' but luckily I persevered and I am so glad I was wrong! I loved the way that Rebecca grew as a person throughout the book and found herself in the end.

Really enjoyed the author's writing style and I liked the flashbacks that gradually revealed more about the characters. Will be keeping an eye out for more books by this author.

This story is one of the best love triangle story I have ever read.
Because Alex and Matt were both interesting enough that I didn't know which one Rebecca was going to choose.
I had a favorite, but not by much, and it could have gone either way without me thinking that the author chose wrong.
I recognized myself a lot in Rebecca. And I felt very invested in her story and the outcome because there were times when, let's say it, she was her worst enemy.
The cursed wedding plans gave a comedy layer to a story that had a lot of depth, it really made me smile how Rebecca and Matt are so chill about it.
And the book is not only about Rebecca's love interests. Because there's a lot of different relationships that can need a second chance, and I loved everything the author did with them too.

The Smart Girl's Guide To Second Chances is a really well written women's fiction book about a wedding that keeps going wrong, an ex-boyfriend who pops up when you least expect it, and family issues that never quite seem to get resolved. It features well-rounded side characters, a main character that's excellent at her job and a love triangle where I didn't predict what the outcome would be (but was very pleased with how it turned out by the end of the book). I'll be seeking out Steph Vizard's previous book, and any future books that she writes! Loved it

I ate this book for breakfast, lunch and dinner! 😭🫶🏼
This was thought-provoking and hilarious yet charming rom-com that completely took hold of me. It's a story about love and about how timing and your family can throw the curveball that will force you to realize what is really important to your heart. Humor did not fall flat and there were many heartfelt moments.

With weeks to go until Rebecca walks down the aisle to marry Matt, her life as she knows it is about to turn on its head when Alex the first person who broke her heart re-enters her life and forces her to reflect on everything that once was. The expectations of the present and what makes her truly happy for her future. The dual timelines were handled well, bringing insight to each moment and making for a more emotionally engaging read without a dull moment.

The spark and connection are undeniably what make this story shine. The connection Rebecca has with Matt feels familiar, secure and built on unwavering trust, whereas the spark and connection she shares with Alex are years of hurt, unresolved issues and an unbreakable magnetic attraction. Neither half of the love triangle lacked depth. They were a story on their own, which is hard to achieve but was so well done by the author.

The book also explored other elements than love such as friendships, family life, heartbreak and anxiety. Overcoming those hardships makes Rebecca grow throughout this story. Seeing her growth felt so inspiring and served as an example to apply to real-life situations.

No spoilers but I am so beyond happy the right person won, that the FMC had the strength to make the right choices and made me all smiles and giddy when I was finished. A really satisfying read, that wrapped up this entire book in a neat little package with a bow ready to present to the world. I couldn’t stop giggling after I put the book down.

Highly recommend to all readers wanting to get their hands on a witty, smart and incredibly well-written fiction that truly conveys the way that second chances in life may not always come with ease, however, sometimes they are truly what you need!

*Thank you to NetGalley and Aria & Aries for the ARC*