Second First Impressions

Ruthie Midona works as an administrator at a luxury retirement villa, where she maintains strict rules and routines. Her orderly world faces disruption when tattooed Teddy Prescott moves into the villa's rental apartment and takes a temporary job as her groundskeeper. The retirement villa's eccentric residents scheme to test potential assistants through outlandish tasks, with Teddy becoming their latest target. As Ruthie helps Teddy navigate these challenges, their initial friction transforms into an unexpected connection. Despite their contrasting personalities and lifestyles, Ruthie and Teddy discover common ground in their struggles with family expectations and finding their own paths. Their relationship forces them both to question their assumptions about themselves and each other. The novel explores themes of reinvention and the courage to move beyond self-imposed limitations. Through its retirement community setting, it offers perspectives on how wisdom and growth can emerge at any stage of life.

Readers call this a slower, sweeter romance compared to Thorne's previous books, with less tension and conflict. Many note it feels more like women's fiction than pure romance. Readers praised: - The retirement village setting and elderly side characters - Character growth and emotional depth - Clean, low-heat romance - Authentic portrayal of anxiety Common criticisms: - Too slow-paced for some romance readers - Less chemistry between leads than expected - Main character comes across as immature - Plot feels predictable "The seniors steal the show" appears in multiple reviews. Several readers mention being disappointed after loving The Hating Game, finding this book "lacks the spark" of Thorne's debut. Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (55,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (2,800+ ratings) BookBub: 4.1/5 (1,900+ ratings) The book seems to resonate more with readers seeking character-focused contemporary fiction rather than those expecting a steamy romance.

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🌟 Author Sally Thorne wrote this book while caring for her newborn during the COVID-19 lockdown, balancing writing with midnight feedings and new motherhood 🦋 The novel's retirement village setting was inspired by the author's own experience working in aged care facilities, where she witnessed many remarkable love stories among residents 📚 This was Thorne's third published novel, following her breakout hit "The Hating Game" which was later adapted into a movie starring Lucy Hale 🏡 The Providence retirement village in the book was modeled after luxury retirement communities in Queensland, Australia, where some residents live in individual villas rather than traditional care facilities 💝 The turtle theme throughout the book serves as both a metaphor for the main character's tendency to retreat into her shell and a connection to the retirement village's conservation efforts