I was drawn to this book because I do enjoy books about friendships as well as the fact that this author Jennifer Scott wrote The Accidental Book Club which was a fun read. This one does not disappoint. ~ Sheila
Three women in a local diner one morning are witnesses to a horrible accident right outside the diner window. While each of these women are alone and do not know the others, they are drawn back to the diner weeks later in a state of shock and acceptance and eventually… a friendship.
Karen has an adult son who can not get it together. Constantly in and out of jail Karen is bailing him out and dealing with his most recent girlfriend and mother of his child who is always looking for a handout and using the child as a bargaining tool. This time he is in jail for a fight that has left a man in a coma. Karen’s patience and wallet are growing thin.
Melinda the paramedic loves what she does. She has a husband who is so excited to start a family and the whole time Melinda is hiding the fact that she is taking birth control with a fear of bringing a child into such an unstable unknowing world.
Joanna has a loving and loyal boyfriend while she hides a deep secret that even she wonders if she can accept. Really can the life and lie she is leading really be so bad if it keeps everyone else happy?
And then there is Maddie, a now widowed soon to be mother. The accident outside the diner took the life of her husband who she loved with all of her heart. Maddie has lost all desire to go on and she is pretty sure she does not want the child growing inside of her, a symbol of the love she has lost.
As Karen, Melinda, and Joanna start meeting at the diner and sharing life stories while developing a friendship, they decide it is up to them to try to help Maddie out of her depression and help her see that there really is a reason to go on, as painful and as new as this world may seem… and maybe, just maybe, helping Maddie, helps each of these women see what is truly important.
Second Chance Friends was a little hard for me in parts due to the subject matter. Thankfully the accident in the book is in the beginning and while it is the glue of the book – it is not the soul. The soul of the book is what I appreciated and that was the friendships that came out of nowhere. A wise person once said (my son), that people come into our lives for a reason. Those who do not get you will drift away and that is ok because better people will come into your life who will genuinely love you. This is what makes Second Chance Friends a good read. The friendships that come out of tragedy. Seeing what is real and what is important and as you will see in this book (as I see in my own life), sometimes we grab onto the wrong thing and put all of our time and energies into trying to make that work when what we are doing is wasting our time on something that will never work.
A good read on friendship and life choices. I found this book to be another good read from Jennifer Scott, an author I will be watching.
- Paperback: 352 pages
- Publisher: NAL (May 5, 2015)
Book Journey 
You know, Sheila, your review here makes me think of the name of your blog – book journey. I think that you are on a journey right now – to a different place – a different way of being. I also think that the right books will find their way into your hands and perhaps they may give you some solace, some wisdom, some comfort. They will appear along your journey to your new place in life. And we’re all here too. Perhaps mostly silent, but journeying along with you. With support and prayers and thoughts and love. Thinking of you. Hugs.
I couldn’t have said it better, Kay 🙂
Beautiful sentiment.
Kay, I very much agree with your words and is exactly how I feel too. I hope your words bring Sheila some comfort.
Loved your review, Sheila. I enjoyed this book and now want to read The Accidental Book Club.
Very nice review, Sheila.
I liked this book too.
I missed out on The Accidental Book Club.
Elizabeth
Silver’s Reviews
My Blog
Wonderful review, Sheila. I’m glad you enjoyed this book. It sounds like a book I should also read.
Sounds like an enjoyable read for a book group.
Kay spoke volumes with her thoughts. I echo her sentiment.
Now based on your review I want to read this one soon, and also the earlier one, Accidental Book Club. I might have found a new-to-me author, so thanks!
Great review! I am adding this and The Accidental Book Club to my crazy long book list.
I haven’t read The Accidental Book Club but I will definitely be picking it up and I want to read Second Chance Friends as well. Excellent review!
Kay, you really have a way with words! Beautifully stated.
Shelia, this book sounds like my cuppa tea. I used to read a lot of friendship novels, but after a while they all started to sound alike, so I stopped looking for them. Must be the right time, as this one sounds like something I’d really enjoy.
Sheila, I have The Accidental Book Club on my desk, but haven’t gotten to it yet. Looks like you’ve come up with another on to add to my dangerously tumbling TBR.
Thinking of you every day. Hugs.
Sometimes it’s hard to find a book that is agreeable to my mood, interest and taste, and then also suits my current place in life. This one sounds like it may be a on agreeable book for me. It’s going on my list and better yet…as soon as I am done with the comment, I am going to search it out to see if it’s in my library system.
ugh….shoot. It’s not in my library system. (Not even listed as one purchased and awaiting arrival). Wait or buy?….hmmm.
Call your local library and request that they obtain the book. They might 🙂