The Second Story Bookshop by Denise Hunter is a small town, second-chance romance and is a standalone novel.

What I Liked About The Second Story Bookshop by Denise Hunter

I liked this novel and particularly liked Gray Briggs, the hero. If ever there was a character that had my sympathy for the entire book, Gray is the character. His story is one of overcoming, and wow, he had a lot to overcome. If you’ve ever seen a rerun of the Hee Haw show, you might have heard the song Gloom Despair. Gray had more than bad luck throughout his life, and yet he turned out to be a very caring individual.

The heroine, Shelby Thatcher, was a good person forced to work with the guy who broke her heart. I could understand her reluctance to be around Gray, and I felt her angst as she faced the possibility she would lose the bookshop. No one wants to see the thing they love die.

The romance took some time to develop because of past betrayal, but readers will never doubt that Shelby loved Gray always. It was very satisfying when she finally let down her guard again and stood up to her family members about Gray.

What You’ll Like About The Second Story Bookshop

Hunter’s writing is superb as always, and she’s created an engaging story.

If you like underdog stories, you’ll like this one. It doesn’t take long to see that Gray is the target of some pretty intense hate in the small town. His perseverance and determination are admirable.

There is a pivotal scene where Shelby’s brother finally sees the quality of Gray’s character, and this leads to a really beautiful conclusion. And of course, you’ll get to see that he’s really always wanted to protect his sister.

Final Thoughts  

It took me a long time to write this review. Gray’s experiences really hit me, and I couldn’t shake the sadness I felt for him even though there was a happily ever-after. Even now, the sadness is the thing I remember most, so maybe it’s safe to say this story may stay with you for a while.

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