Second Tide's the Charm by Chandra Blumberg

Rating: 4 of 5 stars 

Pages: 336 pages
Published: August 2024

I first heard about Second Tide's the Charm by Chandra Blumberg via the Modern Mrs. Darcy virtual book club's annual Summer Reading Guide publication in 2024. A couple of months later, I picked up a copy of the romcom at my local Barnes & Noble bookstore, but I didn't get around to reading it until about a year later. I read this as a sort of buddy read with my long distance reading friend who resides in New York. I consumed my copy while making annotations on the page as she did the same with The Love Simulation by Etta Easton, then we swapped books. (More to come on The Love Simulation later!) Thanks to the bookstagram community for the fun activity! 

My chosen novel follows the fictional lives of Hope Evans and Adrian Hollis-Parker who were both colleagues in the field of shark research and committed romantic partners until life got in the way causing them to call it quits. An opportunity in the summer allows Hope to relocate from Michigan to Florida to get her professional life back on track. When Adrian realizes that Hope will be working with him, tension ensues and the reader is given a front row seat to former lovers turned friends navigating the waters in hopes of finding themselves again. 

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were realistic, and the representation of Black professionals in a S.T.E.M. field was refreshing. I also enjoyed the references to nearby Chicago (one of my favorite cities) when the novel opes and Hope is living up north. Overall, this is your traditional romance-comedy mash-up. It's light, somewhat predictable, and injected with humor. However, there are some heavy topics that are addressed in a relevant and sensitive manner, which I fully appreciated. The plot is captivating and intertwines themes of resilience and self-discovery. The author does a great job of crafting a narrative that explores the complexities of interpersonal relationships, but also writing in such a way that draws the reader into the emotional plot while creating a smooth chain of events. My only criticism of this novel is that some scenes seemed to drag on just a bit too long, often lasting several pages and even an entire chapter. I would have appreciated a little faster paced novel. 

Recommendation: Second Tide's the Charm is a beautifully-written exploration of romantic persistence, proving that love has transformative power. Readers of contemporary fiction are sure to love Blumberg's work. 

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.

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The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

Rating: 5 of 5 stars 

Pages: 236 pages
Published: January 2012

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith made its way to my radar after watching the 90-minute movie adaptation, Love at First Sight, on a whim on Netflix a few weeks prior. As I was embarking on a 6+ hour flight to start life with my husband (i.e., honeymoon), I thought this would be the perfect light and short read to enjoy. Both the book and the movie feature the same predictable meet-cute scenario, although there were some liberties (as per usual) taken with the film. I found them both equally entertaining, emotional, enjoyable, and a nice way to begin my last quarter of 2023 reading. 

So, basically what happens is Hadley is on her way from the U.S. to England to participate in her father's wedding to a woman whom she's never met. Whether as a result of bad luck or subconsciously not wanting to watch her dad really put the nail in the coffin of his marriage to her mother, she misses her original flight and meets Oliver. Their seats are near each other on the flight she makes and they spend the bulk of it getting to know one another. However, once the plane lands, hectic schedules and potential delays separate the two, and the only thing that can bring them back is a little romantic fate. 

You can probably guess exactly how the story unravels. It's one we've all read or seen in one form or another. I just really enjoyed the escape from reality to read something totally fun during one of the most happiest times in my life. It's a young adult novel, and as a middle-aged reader, I have no regrets. 

Recommendation: I'd give this book (and the movie too!) a go if you're looking from some lighthearted entertainment as we enter the cozy, holiday season. At less than 250 pages, it can easily be completed in a day. 

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.

Read More