“I always thought that love would feel like something gentle, but this isn’t. I feel a clawing, desperate need to hold his heart in my hand and to fend off anything that might damage it. The world outside Providence is a chaotic, restless thing, full of disappointments and pain. I am the only one careful enough to hold on to something so precious” (272).

This is a sweet story about our role in relationships and seeks to answer this question: In relationships, how much should we expect to give and how much she we expect to take? The plot and setting of this story provide the laugh-out-loud moments in this rom-com where youthful (but old lady-acting) Ruthie, impulsively childish (but brilliant and wealthy)
Teddy, and nosy temp agent (but wise and caring) Melanie live and/or work at this retirement villa appropriately named Providence (as it provides all the safety and security Ruthie is looking for).

While I enjoyed the comedic plot and setting, the characters are where the book fell a little short for me. I really loved the potential here, but in the end, they were a bit like caricatures. Ruthie was too old ladyish; Teddy was too childish. Their relatability ebbed and flowed. There’d be moments where I saw them as real characters, and then they’d drift over that line a bit too far, a bit over the top, making the whole read a bit underwhelming. A solid 3.5. ( )

This was way cuter than I thought it would be ( )

This was my first Sally Thorne book and even more than the opposites-attract romance trope, I enjoyed the antics of the retirement villa residents and staff that simultaneously cheer Ruthie on while giving her a hard time in a caring way, as she is surrounded by people who want the best for her.

I recommend for a lighthearted read where the protagonist is an old soul, while still having big dreams she wants to pursue. What set this story apart from other rom coms was the endearing cast of retirement villa residents that added a dose of humor to the story. ( )

Have you ever felt you were born in the wrong era? Cute romcom about a girl in her early twenties working and living in a retirement community, who has become to dress and think like she is also the same age as the others in the community. Until the owners young hipster son moves in and notices her for more! ( )

What would you do if you were given a second chance to make a good first impression? A book sprinkled with re-dos, Second First Impressions follows the story of Ruthie and Teddy, two people whose initial encounter should have all but been forgotten (especially by Ruthie!)

Ruthie and Teddy couldn't be any more different if they were born on separate planets. Ruthie is 24 going on 94, to a point that Teddy mistook her as a person going to a costume party because she was a dead ringer for an old lady! See what happens when you try to be a good Samaritan and help someone in need! Having made one heck of a first impression, Ruthie didn't expect to cross paths with the stranger she, now regretfully, bailed out at the gas station until he walked into her office at Providence Retirement Villa, with the owner! Quick to learn Teddy is Jerry's son and taking precaution because the new owner has a tendency to tear down and redo his investments, Ruthie jumps after ever opportunity to make Jerry happy - even providing the empty apartment next to her to his son and giving him a job. Jokes on Teddy though, while Ruthie seems to be accommodating, she knows the truth about the Parloni sisters. They have run off every male assistant they ever had! With the comfort of payback, Ruthie is sure Teddy won't last long and she will finally have him out of her hair and out of her life. Her plan backfires as Teddy turns on the charm and charisma, burrowing deeper into her life than she ever intended.

While the story encompassed the personal journal of each character as the interacted with Teddy and Ruthie - the takeaway from Second First Impressions is the importance of giving second chances. Through each story, we find that the characters get a redo.

I also felt like the story built a strong foundation on concept of perception. We take our initial encounter with a person or a situation and create our viewpoint without another glance.

The one thing I didn’t like about this book was that it was incredibly slow. I do enjoy the build up of a slow burn romance but this one was just too slow for me. There were many times I was bored and just genuinely wanted to know where the story was going. Once I understood that is was a multi-plot effect, following the second chances of each character - whether career, family, love - it made more sense but I did feel like there were moments where the story was forced forward unnaturally. While this book does try to be a little bit steamy, those parts are a little convoluted and disorganized, taking the reader out of the moment because you can’t figure out if she is sharing the experience as a recapped afterthought or during the moment. I will say there are several laugh out loud moments, for that reason - you are compelled to stick with the story to see where it goes.

Last but not least, I did enjoy the process of redemption that each character was able to experience through their second chance - it made for a wonderful ending to the story. ( )