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Recipe for Second Chances
The ones that got away reunite at a big Italian wedding in this second-chance romance from debut author Ali Rosen, the James Beard Award–nominated writer and host of Potluck with Ali Rosen.
Stella Park is elated to celebrate her best friend’s wedding in the Italian countryside—and maybe she also needs this escape from her personal and her professional life. Writing recipes for a living isn’t all it’s cooked up to be.
But the revelry is short lived when she runs into the ex she hasn’t seen since she broke his heart ten years ago, Samuel Gordon. As her past gets propelled to the forefront, Stella tries not to question the choices she made a decade ago.
When Stella and Samuel keep getting pushed together during a weekend filled with delectable food, Indian and Italian wedding traditions, and unplanned detours in gorgeous locales, she attempts to ignore that maybe he really was the one that got away.
Playing it safe has always been Stella’s dependable rule book. But maybe Samuel is worth the risk—and perhaps some love stories just need more time to marinate.
Stella Park is elated to celebrate her best friend’s wedding in the Italian countryside—and maybe she also needs this escape from her personal and her professional life. Writing recipes for a living isn’t all it’s cooked up to be.
But the revelry is short lived when she runs into the ex she hasn’t seen since she broke his heart ten years ago, Samuel Gordon. As her past gets propelled to the forefront, Stella tries not to question the choices she made a decade ago.
When Stella and Samuel keep getting pushed together during a weekend filled with delectable food, Indian and Italian wedding traditions, and unplanned detours in gorgeous locales, she attempts to ignore that maybe he really was the one that got away.
Playing it safe has always been Stella’s dependable rule book. But maybe Samuel is worth the risk—and perhaps some love stories just need more time to marinate.
271 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2023
5702 people are currently reading
12697 people want to read
About the author
Ali Rosen
8 books522 followersAli Rosen is a bestselling author of both cookbooks and novels, and is the Emmy and James Beard Award-nominated host of Potluck with Ali Rosen on NYC Life.
Her latest novel— described in a starred review by Kirkus as “a swoonworthy romance reminiscent of a Nora Ephron movie”—is Unlikely Story. She is also the author of three cookbooks including the recently released 15 Minute Meals.
She has frequently been featured on shows like NBC’S Today Show and ABC’s Good Morning America, and in publications including The New York Times, Bon Appetit, The Washington Post and New York Magazine.
She is originally from Charleston, SC but now lives in New York City with her husband, three kids, and rescue dog.
Her latest novel— described in a starred review by Kirkus as “a swoonworthy romance reminiscent of a Nora Ephron movie”—is Unlikely Story. She is also the author of three cookbooks including the recently released 15 Minute Meals.
She has frequently been featured on shows like NBC’S Today Show and ABC’s Good Morning America, and in publications including The New York Times, Bon Appetit, The Washington Post and New York Magazine.
She is originally from Charleston, SC but now lives in New York City with her husband, three kids, and rescue dog.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,021 reviews
October 6, 2023
This is my book so obviously I love it 😂. Hope you enjoy it too!
(And for any readers who come to the author’s review looking for content warnings: this is a first person book which does include divorce (in the past, not main character), an anxious FMC, death of a side character’s parent (in the past). It is open door and does contain some language. Otherwise light and breezy! ❤️)
(And for any readers who come to the author’s review looking for content warnings: this is a first person book which does include divorce (in the past, not main character), an anxious FMC, death of a side character’s parent (in the past). It is open door and does contain some language. Otherwise light and breezy! ❤️)
December 19, 2023
I am struggling between 3 and 4 stars but the main character, Stella, made me so angry I couldn’t get to like her much.
Stella and her 3 best friends are in NY for the summer before going back to school in different places. She has promised herself this is going to be a fun/no strings attached summer because she really doesn’t ever want to be attached to anyone. She won’t take a chance on love.
Enter Samuel - he’s fun, easy to talk to and real. He wants more than a fling.
Needless to say it doesn’t work out. They want 2 different things.
Fast forward 9 years. One of those lifelong best friends is getting married in Italy and Samuel is there (of course he is! He is friends with the groom!)
Now you’ll hear how their story really went down with alternating chapters of then and now.
I loved Samuel. I loved Stella’s friends. I loved the Italian/Indian wedding scene. I loved the recipes at the end of the book (bonus)
The person that I couldn’t connect with was Stella.
Overall a fun and light book.
P.S. I ordered some special Umbrian lentils from Amazon to test one of the recipes 🙂
Stella and her 3 best friends are in NY for the summer before going back to school in different places. She has promised herself this is going to be a fun/no strings attached summer because she really doesn’t ever want to be attached to anyone. She won’t take a chance on love.
Enter Samuel - he’s fun, easy to talk to and real. He wants more than a fling.
Needless to say it doesn’t work out. They want 2 different things.
Fast forward 9 years. One of those lifelong best friends is getting married in Italy and Samuel is there (of course he is! He is friends with the groom!)
Now you’ll hear how their story really went down with alternating chapters of then and now.
I loved Samuel. I loved Stella’s friends. I loved the Italian/Indian wedding scene. I loved the recipes at the end of the book (bonus)
The person that I couldn’t connect with was Stella.
Overall a fun and light book.
P.S. I ordered some special Umbrian lentils from Amazon to test one of the recipes 🙂
October 4, 2023
Second book selection from October Prime Reads.
Oh boy. I’ve rarely (only two other times that I can recall) disliked a main character or been as angry in a book as this one.
This is the 2nd book in a week that I’ve read that has centered around a FMC being so completely unable to help herself or to deal with her feelings. A complete inability to commit. In the other book I read it was due to feeing guilt related to her father’s death (somewhat understandable but still, get therapy!). In this one, the reason was the MOST absurd thing ever, IMO. It was because her older sister’s husband left her. In this age where about half of families are split up by divorce, THIS is supposed to be a reason to repeatedly lead on the MMC and break his heart (twice) by pushing away any form of commitment. I mean, if so many people every day see their own parents divorce and yet can separate their parents’ relationships from themselves, how can you use your sister’s divorce as an excuse to completely shut yourself off from relationships. MAYBE if it had been her own divorce, I would cut her some slack. This also manifests itself in self-diagnosed anxiety that she doesn’t get any help for (professional or even through friends).
Instead of being honest, she makes the MMC think he stands a chance and literally manipulates him into sleeping with her after he had told her before that he loved her and that he would only sleep with her if they were monogamous. She had stopped doing her casual sex thing weeks before so that (in her words) she could honestly say it was only him for her in order to get him to relent to having sex with her. And then freaks out when he makes the assumption after sex that they are now boyfriend/girlfriend. So he rightly walks away at that point. But, years later, instead of taking ownership for the estrangement, she pretends in her head that she had made it clear to the MMC that she just “needed more time” and that he didn’t love her enough to give her more time. While in reality, she told the MMC that she would never want a relationship.
This is the worst of it. But there are so many other problems. She comes off as petty, whiny and selfish in so many scenarios.
Overall, the writing isn’t bad but she does do one of the things that I hate. SO much time spent in the FMC’s head describing conversations rather than writing the dialogue. For example, this was how she described their 10 minute walk home the night they met:
“We talked about our summer jobs and fall college plans, keeping things light and breezy. He was incredibly easy to talk to. He was the kind of guy who would pepper you with questions, but not in a way that made you defensive.”
“It was like he couldn’t stop himself from being interested and wanting to view me from every possible angle, drinking in each tidbit he could find while being delicate enough that he could carefully chip below the surface, allowing anxieties and insecurities to surface without judgment. He had a curiosity and attentiveness that was alluring, and he didn’t dodge any questions when I asked him right back.”
There were only a handful of lines of actual dialogue in the pages describing that walk and a LOT of description of what they talked about instead. And also, the FMC got ALL of this from a 10 minute conversation?!? The whole book is filled with way too much time spent in her head and lack of actual dialogue or action which made the relatively short book feel much longer than it was.
What started out as potentially a good story just fell apart for me. I give it an extra half star for the descriptions of Italy and especially the food (and the recipes at the end of the book).
I’m in a bit of a romance slump. Hopefully I can avoid this new trope that I seem to have landed in lately of weak FMCs that won’t get help for themselves and instead take advantage of these (overly perfect) guys.
1.5 stars
Oh boy. I’ve rarely (only two other times that I can recall) disliked a main character or been as angry in a book as this one.
This is the 2nd book in a week that I’ve read that has centered around a FMC being so completely unable to help herself or to deal with her feelings. A complete inability to commit. In the other book I read it was due to feeing guilt related to her father’s death (somewhat understandable but still, get therapy!). In this one, the reason was the MOST absurd thing ever, IMO. It was because her older sister’s husband left her. In this age where about half of families are split up by divorce, THIS is supposed to be a reason to repeatedly lead on the MMC and break his heart (twice) by pushing away any form of commitment. I mean, if so many people every day see their own parents divorce and yet can separate their parents’ relationships from themselves, how can you use your sister’s divorce as an excuse to completely shut yourself off from relationships. MAYBE if it had been her own divorce, I would cut her some slack. This also manifests itself in self-diagnosed anxiety that she doesn’t get any help for (professional or even through friends).
Instead of being honest, she makes the MMC think he stands a chance and literally manipulates him into sleeping with her after he had told her before that he loved her and that he would only sleep with her if they were monogamous. She had stopped doing her casual sex thing weeks before so that (in her words) she could honestly say it was only him for her in order to get him to relent to having sex with her. And then freaks out when he makes the assumption after sex that they are now boyfriend/girlfriend. So he rightly walks away at that point. But, years later, instead of taking ownership for the estrangement, she pretends in her head that she had made it clear to the MMC that she just “needed more time” and that he didn’t love her enough to give her more time. While in reality, she told the MMC that she would never want a relationship.
This is the worst of it. But there are so many other problems. She comes off as petty, whiny and selfish in so many scenarios.
Overall, the writing isn’t bad but she does do one of the things that I hate. SO much time spent in the FMC’s head describing conversations rather than writing the dialogue. For example, this was how she described their 10 minute walk home the night they met:
“We talked about our summer jobs and fall college plans, keeping things light and breezy. He was incredibly easy to talk to. He was the kind of guy who would pepper you with questions, but not in a way that made you defensive.”
“It was like he couldn’t stop himself from being interested and wanting to view me from every possible angle, drinking in each tidbit he could find while being delicate enough that he could carefully chip below the surface, allowing anxieties and insecurities to surface without judgment. He had a curiosity and attentiveness that was alluring, and he didn’t dodge any questions when I asked him right back.”
There were only a handful of lines of actual dialogue in the pages describing that walk and a LOT of description of what they talked about instead. And also, the FMC got ALL of this from a 10 minute conversation?!? The whole book is filled with way too much time spent in her head and lack of actual dialogue or action which made the relatively short book feel much longer than it was.
What started out as potentially a good story just fell apart for me. I give it an extra half star for the descriptions of Italy and especially the food (and the recipes at the end of the book).
I’m in a bit of a romance slump. Hopefully I can avoid this new trope that I seem to have landed in lately of weak FMCs that won’t get help for themselves and instead take advantage of these (overly perfect) guys.
1.5 stars
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 3, 2023
I love supporting debut authors and really, this author needs no introduction because you probably already know her as a cookbook author and a TV personality!
From the beginning, you know that you have your hands on a second chance romance and it doesn’t take long to figure out it’s between Stella Park, an associate editor at a food magazine, and Samuel Gordon, an intellectual property lawyer who also happens to be Stella’s best friend’s best friend! The story flips back and forth between the present day and nine years ago when they met…and yes, they get a second chance.
What I loved the best (that most reviewers didn’t ‘get’) … Stella suffers from anxiety and it impedes her flow of rational thought and causes her to erect walls to protect herself. I don’t think I’ve ever identified with a character so much before and it brought me to tears.
Rosen highlights:
✔️ those friends who are always there for you, lifting you up even when you need it and knowing how to rally you despite your anxiety
✔️those of us who allow the fear of nervousness and panic stop us from moving forward
✔️those of us who sit back and live the cautious approach to life
✔️the necessity of grabbing our own happiness with both hands
✔️the exhaustion of living a life of self-reliance and on the defence rather than on the offence
✔️those who allow their job to consume them, refusing to deal with their personal life
✔️those who feel the need to have control in their life
If all you get from this book is an appreciation of Rosen’s vivid descriptions of the food, the Indian/Italian wedding or the Umbrian countryside, you’re doing well. BUT, if you can learn a bit more about those of us who suffer from anxiety and see our indifference as a coping mechanism, you’ve really seen Stella for what the author wanted you to see.
Stella’s words to Samuel echo mine to my amazing husband - “Thank you for making me less afraid in every part of my life.”
I hope you take a chance on this rising star and that Stella and Samuel’s story either resonates with you or guides you when dealing with loved ones or friends with anxiety. At the very least, I hope you enjoy the recipes the author so kindly included. Salute!
Keep writing! We need your stories, Ali Rosen.
I was gifted this copy by Montlake and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
From the beginning, you know that you have your hands on a second chance romance and it doesn’t take long to figure out it’s between Stella Park, an associate editor at a food magazine, and Samuel Gordon, an intellectual property lawyer who also happens to be Stella’s best friend’s best friend! The story flips back and forth between the present day and nine years ago when they met…and yes, they get a second chance.
What I loved the best (that most reviewers didn’t ‘get’) … Stella suffers from anxiety and it impedes her flow of rational thought and causes her to erect walls to protect herself. I don’t think I’ve ever identified with a character so much before and it brought me to tears.
Rosen highlights:
✔️ those friends who are always there for you, lifting you up even when you need it and knowing how to rally you despite your anxiety
✔️those of us who allow the fear of nervousness and panic stop us from moving forward
✔️those of us who sit back and live the cautious approach to life
✔️the necessity of grabbing our own happiness with both hands
✔️the exhaustion of living a life of self-reliance and on the defence rather than on the offence
✔️those who allow their job to consume them, refusing to deal with their personal life
✔️those who feel the need to have control in their life
If all you get from this book is an appreciation of Rosen’s vivid descriptions of the food, the Indian/Italian wedding or the Umbrian countryside, you’re doing well. BUT, if you can learn a bit more about those of us who suffer from anxiety and see our indifference as a coping mechanism, you’ve really seen Stella for what the author wanted you to see.
Stella’s words to Samuel echo mine to my amazing husband - “Thank you for making me less afraid in every part of my life.”
I hope you take a chance on this rising star and that Stella and Samuel’s story either resonates with you or guides you when dealing with loved ones or friends with anxiety. At the very least, I hope you enjoy the recipes the author so kindly included. Salute!
Keep writing! We need your stories, Ali Rosen.
I was gifted this copy by Montlake and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
October 7, 2023
Romance? Not this fare
Stella is going thru some stuff when she first meets Samuel. Stella is a modern gal who's tough & has casual sex cuz sex is just an itch to scratch - she's fine with having a fling with Samuel. Mmm, the romance is building. 🙄
Samuel wants a committed relationship though, he's different, & he's willing to wait for her - why? She sees him as a sex toy. That's not exactly appealing.
Stella is a well-fleshed out, understandable character, but she's not that likeable. Samuel was more sympathetic, but I couldn't really buy his enduring interest in Stella.
I did add a star for the delicious sounding food & recipes though
*** CONTENT ***
*Sex: Description on an R-rating level
*Language: About 2 dozen each of the common swears + 13 f-bombs
*Religion: About a dozen abuses of the Lord's Name, including twice as curses
Stella is going thru some stuff when she first meets Samuel. Stella is a modern gal who's tough & has casual sex cuz sex is just an itch to scratch - she's fine with having a fling with Samuel. Mmm, the romance is building. 🙄
Samuel wants a committed relationship though, he's different, & he's willing to wait for her - why? She sees him as a sex toy. That's not exactly appealing.
Stella is a well-fleshed out, understandable character, but she's not that likeable. Samuel was more sympathetic, but I couldn't really buy his enduring interest in Stella.
I did add a star for the delicious sounding food & recipes though
*** CONTENT ***
*Sex: Description on an R-rating level
*Language: About 2 dozen each of the common swears + 13 f-bombs
*Religion: About a dozen abuses of the Lord's Name, including twice as curses
Read
October 3, 2023DNF because the FMC was so incredibly unlikeable i really did not care what happened to her
October 11, 2023
Struggled to finish
I couldn’t stand the main female character of this book. So insightful about everyone else, yet completely oblivious to her own issues. She comes off as all knowing and completely willing to diagnose and dissect those around her. Her friends are also regrettable, clearly not as good or invested as the main character would have you believe since they allow her to be so disconnected. I struggled to finish this, but rarely DNF. I also don’t typically write reviews, so that’s how strongly I feel about this one.
I couldn’t stand the main female character of this book. So insightful about everyone else, yet completely oblivious to her own issues. She comes off as all knowing and completely willing to diagnose and dissect those around her. Her friends are also regrettable, clearly not as good or invested as the main character would have you believe since they allow her to be so disconnected. I struggled to finish this, but rarely DNF. I also don’t typically write reviews, so that’s how strongly I feel about this one.
October 13, 2023
Rounded down from 3.5 (seriously though, Goodreads should allow half stars), so I enjoyed it but had issues with it too. There was a point about 85% of the way through that I watched to throw my kindle and yell at Stella to get her head out of her ass, ffs. And I say this as a woman with a wicked anxiety disorder. I think it may have been more understandable if her core memory were actually her trauma, rather than tangentially hers. Loved all the food and Italy talk though, chef’s kiss on that.
July 14, 2025
3.5 Stars for Recipe for second chances (audiobook) by Ali Rosen read by Natasha Chandel.
Stella gets a second chance at love at her best friend’s wedding. It’s taking place in the Italian countryside and for some reason her Ex boyfriend happens to be attending. They haven’t seen each other in ten years and she still doesn’t want to commit to a serious relationship. Maybe his persistence will work in the end.
Stella gets a second chance at love at her best friend’s wedding. It’s taking place in the Italian countryside and for some reason her Ex boyfriend happens to be attending. They haven’t seen each other in ten years and she still doesn’t want to commit to a serious relationship. Maybe his persistence will work in the end.
March 11, 2024
This bitch was insufferable she made herself the victim everytime as if she wasn’t the worst sister, friend and “lover”. God forbid the word girlfriend/boyfriend is said or else she’ll leave him again.
dnf
October 28, 2023Dnf at 26%. Maybe it gets better but I don't have the patience to find out. Sorry. 🤷
October 29, 2023
I just adored this book! It was such a fun read and needed it after all the “heavy, serious” reading I have been doing lately. I am a big fan of rom-coms, cooking and reading cookbooks (does anyone else read those?) so this book was a perfect combination of ALL of my favs! It takes place in two settings that fascinate me - New York City, where I love to visit as much as possible (and can’t wait to try some of the restaurants that were mentioned) and Italy, where I have yet to visit. Thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC (something I have always wanted to say in one of my reviews!!). Grab a copy and enjoy some light, delicious reading and follow Ali on Instagram for some great recipe ideas!
October 3, 2023
3.5 for me.
This book was cute and definitely had potential, but I *personally* was not a fan of the FMC.
This book was cute and definitely had potential, but I *personally* was not a fan of the FMC.
July 24, 2024
If you are looking for a fun rom-com with a main character you will fall in love with and cheer for, this isn’t it.
It’s never a good sign when you are constantly thinking that the male main character could do sooooo much better. As stated in many other reviews, the female main character is not likable and kind of poorly written. There isn’t a very substantial plot to this book but it might make you want to visit Italy and/or try some of the recipes.
It’s never a good sign when you are constantly thinking that the male main character could do sooooo much better. As stated in many other reviews, the female main character is not likable and kind of poorly written. There isn’t a very substantial plot to this book but it might make you want to visit Italy and/or try some of the recipes.
December 9, 2023
I think there's potential but the story didn't involved me and it fell flat
Not my cup of tea
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
Not my cup of tea
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
February 15, 2024
Dual Timelines
Single POV
Second Chance (obvi)
TW: anxiety
lol it’s me: “Leave me alone. I’m dehydrated and tired and my friends don’t want to go to bed yet, so I’m just resting my eyes.”
“‘Resting your eyes,’ huh?”
“Yes.”
Stella is a very complicated FMC. There are moments where I loved her and absolutely hated her. Her use of being independent served as such a low-budget shield for keeping others out- including her best friends. How can you have a Get Shit Done mantra, but not be called out on your own BS? Meh. I am a product of divorce, and I know what it’s like to navigate this at 20 years old and having it change my views on relationships and love. Stella really let her sister’s divorce rule her life and rewrite the rules, when even her sister didn’t let it rewrite the rules for her.
Samuel. What a levelheaded, confident, patient, straight forward/plays no games MMC. His love letter to Stella? Oh. My fucking heart. It is such a beautiful declaration of love in a way that he knew how to deliver it, and knows the blows that will follow — and they sure did follow.
This is a HEA, and a reminder that you cannot force someone to be on the same page as you.
We can all learn these lessons/ah-ha moments that Stella has
1. “But I have never understood until this moment that leaving things unsaid doesn’t make them go away.”
2. “I had pretended for so long that if I didn’t stare directly into the sun, it wouldn’t burn me…”
Single POV
Second Chance (obvi)
TW: anxiety
lol it’s me: “Leave me alone. I’m dehydrated and tired and my friends don’t want to go to bed yet, so I’m just resting my eyes.”
“‘Resting your eyes,’ huh?”
“Yes.”
Stella is a very complicated FMC. There are moments where I loved her and absolutely hated her. Her use of being independent served as such a low-budget shield for keeping others out- including her best friends. How can you have a Get Shit Done mantra, but not be called out on your own BS? Meh. I am a product of divorce, and I know what it’s like to navigate this at 20 years old and having it change my views on relationships and love. Stella really let her sister’s divorce rule her life and rewrite the rules, when even her sister didn’t let it rewrite the rules for her.
Samuel. What a levelheaded, confident, patient, straight forward/plays no games MMC. His love letter to Stella? Oh. My fucking heart. It is such a beautiful declaration of love in a way that he knew how to deliver it, and knows the blows that will follow — and they sure did follow.
This is a HEA, and a reminder that you cannot force someone to be on the same page as you.
We can all learn these lessons/ah-ha moments that Stella has
1. “But I have never understood until this moment that leaving things unsaid doesn’t make them go away.”
2. “I had pretended for so long that if I didn’t stare directly into the sun, it wouldn’t burn me…”
July 24, 2024
I have never known such an irritating character as Stella. I was literally SCREAMING at her the entire book & almost threw my kindle! She should have gone to therapy TEN years ago. She’s so selfish, self centered & plain. I love a miscommunication plot but to just completely ignore what your partner wants bc you are too busy being worried about how he isn’t giving you what you want (when you won’t even let him!!!!) is so frustrating!
On the other hand Samuel is what I would want my perfect boyfriend to be like!!! Caring, an amazing listener, takes note of the little things, looks for ways to celebrate you & anything else that a perfect book boyfriend could be is definitely in Samuel.
Stella you will never deserve Samuel!
& frankly you don’t even deserve your friends, like you put them in the back burner.. you were so worried about yourself the whole time & how you don’t believe in love. That you can’t even celebrate your friends love & accomplishments…
AND DONT EVEN GET ME STARTED ON HOW YOU TREATED YOUR SISTER
This has more than 1 ⭐️ because I loved all of the other characters & I adore the love that Samuel gives
On the other hand Samuel is what I would want my perfect boyfriend to be like!!! Caring, an amazing listener, takes note of the little things, looks for ways to celebrate you & anything else that a perfect book boyfriend could be is definitely in Samuel.
Stella you will never deserve Samuel!
& frankly you don’t even deserve your friends, like you put them in the back burner.. you were so worried about yourself the whole time & how you don’t believe in love. That you can’t even celebrate your friends love & accomplishments…
This has more than 1 ⭐️ because I loved all of the other characters & I adore the love that Samuel gives
November 23, 2023
A solid debut by food writer Ali Rosen! This second chance romance sees Stella travelling to Italy for her friend's wedding only to find herself reunited with her ex, Samuel - the one who got away.
Emotionally heavy, this single POV story is told through flashbacks as we see Stella and Samuel's rocky relationship and eventual break-up. Perfect for Emily Henry fans, this book had great found family/female friendships, tasty food recipes (included at the end) and EXCELLENT anxiety rep.
I will admit that at times I found Stella's inability to take a chance on love with Samuel extremely frustrating but I think that was the whole point. Samuel wanted everything from Stella and her bad experiences made her scared to take the leap, constantly pushing him away.
Overall I did enjoy this one and liked the narration by new to me narrator, Natasha Chandel. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!
Emotionally heavy, this single POV story is told through flashbacks as we see Stella and Samuel's rocky relationship and eventual break-up. Perfect for Emily Henry fans, this book had great found family/female friendships, tasty food recipes (included at the end) and EXCELLENT anxiety rep.
I will admit that at times I found Stella's inability to take a chance on love with Samuel extremely frustrating but I think that was the whole point. Samuel wanted everything from Stella and her bad experiences made her scared to take the leap, constantly pushing him away.
Overall I did enjoy this one and liked the narration by new to me narrator, Natasha Chandel. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!
January 11, 2024
Honestly this book’s premise sounded like a good, fun time. However, Stella was insufferable. I’ve read the other comments saying it was nice to have anxiety represented in a book character. That was not my first or 100th thought about the way she acted. I don’t understand how someone could assume the heartache of their sibling SO much that they basically rule out falling in love themselves for their whole life. It was ridiculous to me. So ridiculous I couldn’t even bother finishing the last 60 pages of the book. First book of 2024 is a DNF 👍🏼
October 6, 2023
Good plot but overly wordy. Could be shorter by 100 pages.
December 1, 2023
I appreciated the lightheartedness of this book but by the end of the book I was annoyed by the main character, Stella, who took 10 years to make any sort of self growth.
December 5, 2023
Love is worth it
⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️
What a wonderful debut by author Ali Rosen!
Recipe for Second Chances is the love story of Stella and Samuel from the beginning to seeing each other again nine years later while attending a friend's wedding in Umbria, Italy.
✴️ What I liked:
* I love the banter and chemistry of the main characters, Stella and Samuel, right from the start!
* I also dig the Swift references, like getaway car, shake it off, etc. It was fun to have hidden allusions unleashed in a book.
* I don't always like when books have flashbacks to the past, but it actually works really well in this book. The past seems to weave together with the current in just the right moments to create a beautiful story. The only downfall is that my attention was lost at times with the back and forth.
* The characters are relatable. Hadley, Samuel's friend, actually became my favorite character. Everyone needs a smart, sassy, lesbian wingwoman in their life!
In regards to Samuel, as someone who has written a long letter confessing my undying love, my heart hurts for the heartache he must feel in not having his love reciprocated.
I can also empathize with Stella because past trauma is a real MF'er. Her thoughts describe it best:
But how had we gotten here? And was I ready to have this piece of me opened up and exposed? Those were questions I really didn’t have answers to. I wasn’t sure, the way he was. I was scared. I’d watched young love get messy. I’d seen the scars it could leave.
And later on she expresses her thoughts and tells him she's not ready, “I have been exceptionally clear with you from the minute I met you, Samuel. I just cannot handle a relationship. This thing between us is great, and I love talking to you and I’m so glad you came to visit, but that doesn’t change where I am in my life.”
✴️ Thoughts:
(Excerpt from the book) When the front door slammed, I barely heard it because I was already curled up in a ball under my covers.
(9 years later)
When I walk out, I slam the door harder than I intended to. But I can’t look back.
The first time was him and the second time was her, but all I know is there's a whole lot of tension and door slammin' going on. The friction between them is heartbreaking, and for me, I couldn't pick sides because I could see both viewpoints of what they felt. Ali does an exceptional job of conveying the emotions of these characters.
Later on in the book: Maybe the real strength is risking the fear for the chance of happiness.
... Maybe this time slow and steady could win the race.
I certainly hope so after nine whole years. Get it girl. We're rooting for you in taking a leap of faith. Because really, that's what love is after all.
I think this excerpt from the book says it best:
We can read every book and stare at every piece of art about the pain of love, but we never know how much it hurts to be exposed until it’s real to us. It’s a feeling so foreign to our base state that it is impossible to imagine.
This does end in an HEA, and it showcases the complexities of love and how it may take some longer to make that jump, but it's worth it in the end. ❤️
Thank you to Netgalley, Montlake, and I was also somehow the lucky recipient of a Goodreads giveaway so this book was definitely meant to be in my hands. I'm grateful for the opportunity to review. All opinions are my own.
#Netgalley #RecipeForSecondChances
⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️
What a wonderful debut by author Ali Rosen!
Recipe for Second Chances is the love story of Stella and Samuel from the beginning to seeing each other again nine years later while attending a friend's wedding in Umbria, Italy.
✴️ What I liked:
* I love the banter and chemistry of the main characters, Stella and Samuel, right from the start!
* I also dig the Swift references, like getaway car, shake it off, etc. It was fun to have hidden allusions unleashed in a book.
* I don't always like when books have flashbacks to the past, but it actually works really well in this book. The past seems to weave together with the current in just the right moments to create a beautiful story. The only downfall is that my attention was lost at times with the back and forth.
* The characters are relatable. Hadley, Samuel's friend, actually became my favorite character. Everyone needs a smart, sassy, lesbian wingwoman in their life!
In regards to Samuel, as someone who has written a long letter confessing my undying love, my heart hurts for the heartache he must feel in not having his love reciprocated.
I can also empathize with Stella because past trauma is a real MF'er. Her thoughts describe it best:
But how had we gotten here? And was I ready to have this piece of me opened up and exposed? Those were questions I really didn’t have answers to. I wasn’t sure, the way he was. I was scared. I’d watched young love get messy. I’d seen the scars it could leave.
And later on she expresses her thoughts and tells him she's not ready, “I have been exceptionally clear with you from the minute I met you, Samuel. I just cannot handle a relationship. This thing between us is great, and I love talking to you and I’m so glad you came to visit, but that doesn’t change where I am in my life.”
✴️ Thoughts:
(Excerpt from the book) When the front door slammed, I barely heard it because I was already curled up in a ball under my covers.
(9 years later)
When I walk out, I slam the door harder than I intended to. But I can’t look back.
The first time was him and the second time was her, but all I know is there's a whole lot of tension and door slammin' going on. The friction between them is heartbreaking, and for me, I couldn't pick sides because I could see both viewpoints of what they felt. Ali does an exceptional job of conveying the emotions of these characters.
Later on in the book: Maybe the real strength is risking the fear for the chance of happiness.
... Maybe this time slow and steady could win the race.
I certainly hope so after nine whole years. Get it girl. We're rooting for you in taking a leap of faith. Because really, that's what love is after all.
I think this excerpt from the book says it best:
We can read every book and stare at every piece of art about the pain of love, but we never know how much it hurts to be exposed until it’s real to us. It’s a feeling so foreign to our base state that it is impossible to imagine.
This does end in an HEA, and it showcases the complexities of love and how it may take some longer to make that jump, but it's worth it in the end. ❤️
Thank you to Netgalley, Montlake, and I was also somehow the lucky recipient of a Goodreads giveaway so this book was definitely meant to be in my hands. I'm grateful for the opportunity to review. All opinions are my own.
#Netgalley #RecipeForSecondChances
October 9, 2023
I thought the past between Stella and Samuel was going to be much more than it was. I felt like we didn’t really get a good glimpse into their story, so it was hard to cheer when they finally got together in the end
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 9, 2023
I'm sorry but...do not read this book. Just don't.
It is a lengthy, all over the place (for a majority of the book the chapters bounce between NINE YEARS AGO and PRESENT DAY...), sad excuse of a romance novel. It also doesn't help that the MC (Stella) is incredibly annoying, weak, and childish. Heavy emphasis on CHILDISH. Some of her reasonings for her "commitment issues" are genuinely comical. I mean, you're hung up on the fact that your SISTER got a divorce a decade ago? Still? She was so insufferable I didn't even want her and Samuel to end up together. Mans deserved better. And of course Samuel is the most perfect boyfriend of all boyfriends. Lol.
The writing itself wasn't awful. I liked the depictions of food and the scenes in Italy. The recipes at the end were also a neat touch but the story was unfortunately not worth the read. I would not recommend this book to anyone. I had to force myself to finish it :(
I'm glad I did not pay to read this.
It is a lengthy, all over the place (for a majority of the book the chapters bounce between NINE YEARS AGO and PRESENT DAY...), sad excuse of a romance novel. It also doesn't help that the MC (Stella) is incredibly annoying, weak, and childish. Heavy emphasis on CHILDISH. Some of her reasonings for her "commitment issues" are genuinely comical. I mean, you're hung up on the fact that your SISTER got a divorce a decade ago? Still? She was so insufferable I didn't even want her and Samuel to end up together. Mans deserved better. And of course Samuel is the most perfect boyfriend of all boyfriends. Lol.
The writing itself wasn't awful. I liked the depictions of food and the scenes in Italy. The recipes at the end were also a neat touch but the story was unfortunately not worth the read. I would not recommend this book to anyone. I had to force myself to finish it :(
I'm glad I did not pay to read this.
January 29, 2024
Really didn't like the main character
November 3, 2023
The title for this book is perfect as it is a second chance romance for an associate editor at a food magazine. Stella Park meets Samuel Gordon when their friends begin a relationship. Her friend group all attended boarding school together. Samuel is just starting law school and Stella is heading to Scotland for culinary studies. They have a few dates before she leaves and their connection is intense. Timing isn’t on their side, but stay connected through daily emails. Fast forward to nine years later and their mutual friends are now having a beautiful destination wedding in Italy. Of course there is a chance to get things right when it didn’t work out before.
These are two opposites. Stella is so afraid of getting hurt after being part of the traumatic fallout from her sister’s marriage failing. It has made her determined to only do casual dating. Samuel is the opposite and I love his willingness to be all in. His first letter to Stella is a highlight, making this reader swoon. The story jumps back and forth in time telling so pay attention to the when as you read each chapter. The author is an award winning cookbook author and makes the food in this sound amazing. I’m not sure I totally bought into how much her sister’s marriage loss impacts Stella but I decided to go with the author's reasoning. Overall, a sweet open door romance with limited descriptions. It is a quick read and I enjoyed it.
These are two opposites. Stella is so afraid of getting hurt after being part of the traumatic fallout from her sister’s marriage failing. It has made her determined to only do casual dating. Samuel is the opposite and I love his willingness to be all in. His first letter to Stella is a highlight, making this reader swoon. The story jumps back and forth in time telling so pay attention to the when as you read each chapter. The author is an award winning cookbook author and makes the food in this sound amazing. I’m not sure I totally bought into how much her sister’s marriage loss impacts Stella but I decided to go with the author's reasoning. Overall, a sweet open door romance with limited descriptions. It is a quick read and I enjoyed it.
November 9, 2023
Sweet story told in alternating timelines as Stella Park attends her friend's destination wedding in Italy and runs into Samuel, a sorta-ex from nine years ago. As the story plays out, Stella remembers their summer together counter pointed with Samuel and his date for this wedding. A quick but very enjoyable read. Stella may be a little difficult to comprehend, but Samuel is definitely swoon worthy. Don't miss his letter to her as she left to go to Scotland so many years ago.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.
July 21, 2024
Super sweet with a pinch of spice.
Anxiety, mental health, life's choice and tragedies.
Destination wedding that brings two old friends from college back together again 9 years later.
Seeing each other on this long weekend brings back memories and realizations thanks to their friends.
I really did enjoy this story and how learning to trust and let go of fear is a part of life that we all deal with in our own ways. Life's not meant to just be fine.
Anxiety, mental health, life's choice and tragedies.
Destination wedding that brings two old friends from college back together again 9 years later.
Seeing each other on this long weekend brings back memories and realizations thanks to their friends.
I really did enjoy this story and how learning to trust and let go of fear is a part of life that we all deal with in our own ways. Life's not meant to just be fine.
June 1, 2024
4.5 ⭐️
June 24, 2025
So cute! Makes me want to travel to Italy!
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