When one thinks of a coming-of-age story, one rarely thinks in terms of a 48 year old Ivy League professor yet that is exactly the premise and the protagonist found in Diane Meier’s novel The Season of Second Chances. Joy Harkness leads a quiet, solitary life teaching in New York yet when given the opportunity to move to rural Massachusetts she not only eagerly accepts the position, she also purchases a large run down Victorian home. What ensues is an atypical coming of age in which Joy learns important lessons about love and life, friendship and family.
Written in Joy’s voice,The Season of Second Chances is heartfelt and humorous. I liked Joy. I understood her discomfort and her subconscious retreat from close relationships. I found the cast of characters enjoyable and the glimpse into academia fascinating. The Season of Second Chances also carries a subcontext that is, for lack of a better word, stylish. Author Meier is a former marketer and we see her good taste expressed in the decorating and furnishing of Joy’s new home.
As part of her newfound life and community, Joy finds herself in a relationship with her contractor Teddy, an incredibly talented artist in his own right. Like Joy, Teddy has his own relationship issues and unlike Joy he struggles to break free from them. I thought Teddy’s character the least believable of the novel. We know Joy cared for him because she tells us so yet I didn’t find her feelings all that plausible otherwise. In other words, his character seemed both flat and almost like a caricature. Some of the other characters’ relationships seemed a little forced, perhaps to make a statement or to seem more inclusive, I don’t know.
Some readers will want to know that there is some language, not much, a word or two here and there. We are told about the intimate relationship Joy shares with Teddy but that is pretty much all the detail we are given.
I liked The Season of Second Chances. It is a smart, well written novel and I’d like to thank author Diane Meier for sending me the review copy. I enjoyed it very much!
Would you like a copy of The Season of Second Chances? We’re giving away one signed copy to a 5 Minutes for Books reader who posts a comment below, US and Canadian addresses only!
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Wife and mother, Bible teacher and blogger, Lisa loves Jesus, coffee, dark chocolate and, of course, books. Read more of her reflections at Lisa writes….
Sounds like a good read! I would love to read. Thanks for the chance!!
Thankfully God gives many second chances. This does sound like a good book. Thanks!
Sounds like a great book…thanks for the contest.
This sounds like a fun book to read. I would love to win a copy.
Sounds like a fun read….thanks!!
Sounds like a book I would really enjoy reading. Please enter me. Thanks!
great giveaway, thanks for the chance 🙂
Sounds good!
Sounds great! I’d love the chance to read this book.
bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com
Heartfelt and humourous? I like it. Thanks for the opportunity.
I think it sounds like something my mom would love (at least based on what she sends me from her “recently read” book stash). Thanks for the giveaway!
I would love to win/read this book.
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
thanks for the contest!
sounds great….would love to win it.
This one sounds interesting! I’d love to read it!
would love to read this book…thanks for the chance 🙂
please enter me!
I would love to read this book. Thank you for the opportunity to win this book.
Smiles,
Cindy W.
countrybear52[at]yahoo[dot]com
Enter me please! I think I’d enjoy this book.
I love books like this. I think you can always find something to relate to in these types of stories. I would love a chance to win this. Thanks so much!
[email protected]
I’d love to win a copy. Thanks!
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net
I’d love to win a copy of this book. Thanks for the opportunity!
Judy
Looks interesting, thanks.
Looks like a good one…sign me up…would love to win.
Please enter me in the contest.
thesilverdevil at gmail dot com
Please enter me in this giveaway!
I’d love to read this book – please count me in. Thanks!
Sounds like a really good book. Please enter me. Thanks!
You gave a great endorsement. Count me in.
I would enjoy the ‘older’ perspective and the glimpse into academia.
Thanks for your review and a chance to win!
This one has been on my wish list for a few months! I’d love to snag a copy 🙂