The New York Times bestseller by one of the best-loved authors in women’s fiction
With this life-affirming tale of friendship and fate, Jane Green once again shows why she is a nationally bestselling author with legions of loyal fans. The story of a group of people who haven’t seen each other since they were best friends in school, they reunite when one of them dies in a terrible tragedy. Recapturing the intimacy of their younger days, they are each surprised at the impact their encounter brings. Warm, witty, and as wise as ever, Second Chance will strike a chord with anyone who is still trying to figure life out.
Sweet book, easy read with a bit of a "The Big Chill" story line about a death bringing college friends back together. Good book for a vacation or Sunday afteroon read.
I am definitely a fan of Jane Green but this book was just plain boirng and slow. It was nothing like her other books. If you want to read it I recommend you borrow it from the library instead of buying it.
I have to say I don't like all Jane Green's books - I love Babyville, Jemima J and Bookends but can't stand 'Mr Maybe' and this book fell into the latter category. Seriously I think she has lost the plot as the book focused on selfish, spoilt rich women whom no sane person would feel an iota of sympathy for. Holly her main character is described as likeable but personally I couldn't stand her - she reminds of a certain type of woman I've met in real life - the passive aggressive moaner who whines constantly about her husband and appears to be waiting to be 'rescued' by another man. Holly has married a man whom she appears to have nothing in common with but has stayed with him for 15 years (apparently for the money) and had two children - all the while pretending to be the sort of woman he wants her to be, while moaning about him to virtually everyone she meets. (Funny how Olivia's boyfriend is treated as scum for walking out on her after several apparently happy years while Holly is treated as a heroine for doing the same thing - I guess there are different rules for different people). Holly has kept in touch with her ex Tom for years and clearly she regards him as the 'one who got away' and appears to constantly disaparage his wife Sarah. The low point of the novel for me was when Green makes SARAH apologise to Holly at Tom's funeral for secretly resenting her! She had every right to, as any woman would have recognised Holly as a danger to her marriage.
Saffron her friend is a spoiled incredibly vain actress obsessed with her affair with a famous married actor whom she meet in rehab - did I care about her struggles with the bottle and getting her married man to leave his wife? - er no not in the slightest!
TBH I wished that both Holly and Saffron were characters in a different novel - perhaps by Joanna Trollope or Marion Keyes where they might have gotten their comeupence instead of being granted unbelievable saccharine sweet endings
