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The Second Chance Hotel
It's all fun and games until you accidentally marry a stranger in Greece and inherit a hotel.
Amelia Lang's life is kind of a mess. She's stuck living at home with her narcissistic mother. Her tech bro ex-boyfriend deliberately sabotages her at work, and she gets fired after throwing a mug at his head (it's okay! She missed.) Then she has a major falling out with her best friend. So Amelia does what Amelia does best: She runs away.
After traveling around Europe for three months, she settles on a small Greek island to reset her life and figure out what's next. But after too much retsina, she gets tricked into marrying James, another guest at the hotel, who is perfectly nice—but perfectly boring. To top it off, they are gifted the very hotel they're staying in—a hotel they don't want that is in desperate need of some TLC. They agree to keep the hotel open through the busy summer season for the sake of the island's quirky but well-meaning residents, after which Amelia plans to return home to start rebuilding her disastrous life.
Amelia and James must work together to determine how to get out of their situation—easier said than done for Amelia, who's started to feel a strong spark of attraction for James. But Amelia is sure her real life is waiting for her back in San Francisco. Is it time for Amelia to return home or could this be the second chance at a new life she didn't know she wanted?
Amelia Lang's life is kind of a mess. She's stuck living at home with her narcissistic mother. Her tech bro ex-boyfriend deliberately sabotages her at work, and she gets fired after throwing a mug at his head (it's okay! She missed.) Then she has a major falling out with her best friend. So Amelia does what Amelia does best: She runs away.
After traveling around Europe for three months, she settles on a small Greek island to reset her life and figure out what's next. But after too much retsina, she gets tricked into marrying James, another guest at the hotel, who is perfectly nice—but perfectly boring. To top it off, they are gifted the very hotel they're staying in—a hotel they don't want that is in desperate need of some TLC. They agree to keep the hotel open through the busy summer season for the sake of the island's quirky but well-meaning residents, after which Amelia plans to return home to start rebuilding her disastrous life.
Amelia and James must work together to determine how to get out of their situation—easier said than done for Amelia, who's started to feel a strong spark of attraction for James. But Amelia is sure her real life is waiting for her back in San Francisco. Is it time for Amelia to return home or could this be the second chance at a new life she didn't know she wanted?
Audio CD
First published September 12, 2023
968 people are currently reading
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About the author
Sierra Godfrey
2 books471 followersI am the author of A Very Typical Family (commercial fiction, Sourcebooks 2022), The Second Chance Hotel (romance, Sourcebooks 2023), and the forthcoming THE ENIGMA CHALLENGE (Viking Penguin 2026).
I'm mostly on Instagram, where I am delighted to talk books with you. Connect with me there @sierragodfrey.
Like the setting in A Very Typical Family, I was born in Santa Cruz, California and now reside in the San Francisco Bay Area with my family, which includes way too many animals. I love tea, crows, paper planners, reading--SO MUCH READING--and am a quiet introvert.
For regular updates and reading recs, sign up for my newsletter at sierragodfrey.com/signup
I'm mostly on Instagram, where I am delighted to talk books with you. Connect with me there @sierragodfrey.
Like the setting in A Very Typical Family, I was born in Santa Cruz, California and now reside in the San Francisco Bay Area with my family, which includes way too many animals. I love tea, crows, paper planners, reading--SO MUCH READING--and am a quiet introvert.
For regular updates and reading recs, sign up for my newsletter at sierragodfrey.com/signup
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,004 reviews
November 20, 2023
Ultimately sweet but I never really warmed to Amelia.
Amelia is fired from her job after throwing a mug at her ex-boyfriend's head when he sabotages her work. They had planned to go to Europe, so on the spur of the moment she jumps on the first plane out of the US--never mind that she will miss being the maid of honor in her best friend's wedding. After a few months traveling around, she heads to the small island of Asteri where her parents spent their honeymoon many years ago. There she finds the hotel a bit run down, but still comfortable and relaxing. Only one other traveler is present, James, another American. Through a humorous set of events, James and Amelia find themselves both married and the new owners of the hotel. What do they do to get out of this mess?
I thought this was an enjoyable book with a heartwarming ending, but it took a very long time to get there. I absolutely disliked Amelia at the beginning, she was rude and selfish and I couldn't believe she did what she did by leaving right before her best friend's wedding. After I got to know Amelia a little better, I understood some of her reactions to things, but it took much longer for her to grow a backbone, compassion, and self awareness than I would have preferred.
The book has many laugh out loud moments, particularly with the misunderstandings and the members of the community, who become like a found family to James and Amelia. You do have to suspend a bit of disbelief that Amelia had seemingly endless amounts of money to travel Europe for months on end, even with staying in hostels, etc.
I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did a great job keeping me invested in the story. There are some pretty steamy scenes so I recommend ear buds or listening to it in a private space. Overall I do recommend this for a light, fun romance.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
Amelia is fired from her job after throwing a mug at her ex-boyfriend's head when he sabotages her work. They had planned to go to Europe, so on the spur of the moment she jumps on the first plane out of the US--never mind that she will miss being the maid of honor in her best friend's wedding. After a few months traveling around, she heads to the small island of Asteri where her parents spent their honeymoon many years ago. There she finds the hotel a bit run down, but still comfortable and relaxing. Only one other traveler is present, James, another American. Through a humorous set of events, James and Amelia find themselves both married and the new owners of the hotel. What do they do to get out of this mess?
I thought this was an enjoyable book with a heartwarming ending, but it took a very long time to get there. I absolutely disliked Amelia at the beginning, she was rude and selfish and I couldn't believe she did what she did by leaving right before her best friend's wedding. After I got to know Amelia a little better, I understood some of her reactions to things, but it took much longer for her to grow a backbone, compassion, and self awareness than I would have preferred.
The book has many laugh out loud moments, particularly with the misunderstandings and the members of the community, who become like a found family to James and Amelia. You do have to suspend a bit of disbelief that Amelia had seemingly endless amounts of money to travel Europe for months on end, even with staying in hostels, etc.
I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did a great job keeping me invested in the story. There are some pretty steamy scenes so I recommend ear buds or listening to it in a private space. Overall I do recommend this for a light, fun romance.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
May 5, 2024
I tried & failed on this one 1️⃣ this wasn’t for me reads like a Y A novel plus this authors writing style was terrible a big miss for me. 2 🌟.
May 3, 2023
this was really funny and hillarious!
thanks to netgalley for the arc in exchange of an honest review.
thanks to netgalley for the arc in exchange of an honest review.
September 23, 2023
DNF. I should've just stopped reading at the beginning when she ditches her BEST FRIEND'S wedding to jet off to Europe to find herself. I didn't like Amelia then and I still didn't like her as I read further.
October 11, 2023
Down on her luck Amelia decides to take a three month holiday to travel through Europe, finally settling on a small Greek island with connections to her family. Things go from bad to worse, however, after too much day drinking at a local wedding and soon, she is tricked into marrying a fellow guest at the hotel and inheriting said hotel. With much bickering, the two decide to run the hotel during it’s busiest season for the sake of it’s former owner and quirky residents. But as the end of Summer nears, Amelia must decide if she is ready to return to her old life, or if the new one she has created is worth sticking around for.
Sierra Godfrey’s sophomore novel is filled with all of the elements that make a book fun, engaging and oh so bingeable. I will be honest, for the first 15%, I was unsure what to make of it, nor if I liked the main character. This soon dissipated as I began to connect to these interesting and quirky characters and the predicaments they found themselves in. Each character felt multi-dimensional and relatable, ultimately showing a significant amount of growth from start to finish, giving the book such an uplifting feel. And the Greece setting had all of the Mama Mia vibes you could ask for.
ʀ ᴇ ᴀ ᴅ ɪ ғ ʏ ᴏ ᴜ ʟ ɪ ᴋ ᴇ :
• Greece setting
• stories about starting over
• forced proximity
• accidental marriage
• hotel hijinks
• Phaedra Patrick
Thank you Sourcebooks Landmark and Blackstone Audio for my gifted copies.
Sierra Godfrey’s sophomore novel is filled with all of the elements that make a book fun, engaging and oh so bingeable. I will be honest, for the first 15%, I was unsure what to make of it, nor if I liked the main character. This soon dissipated as I began to connect to these interesting and quirky characters and the predicaments they found themselves in. Each character felt multi-dimensional and relatable, ultimately showing a significant amount of growth from start to finish, giving the book such an uplifting feel. And the Greece setting had all of the Mama Mia vibes you could ask for.
ʀ ᴇ ᴀ ᴅ ɪ ғ ʏ ᴏ ᴜ ʟ ɪ ᴋ ᴇ :
• Greece setting
• stories about starting over
• forced proximity
• accidental marriage
• hotel hijinks
• Phaedra Patrick
Thank you Sourcebooks Landmark and Blackstone Audio for my gifted copies.
February 28, 2025
imagine updating your job status on linkedin to be a hotel owner bc you married a man in greece
April 22, 2025
The Second Chance Hotel by Sierra Godfrey started off slow. I wasn’t sure i was going to like it. Average at best. Then what happens when you throw a cup st your ex boyfriend? You run to Greece. You do crazy drunk things that include inheriting a hotel/resort. And life suddenly changes rapidly.
March 18, 2023
Amelia arrives to Greece after getting fired from her male-dominated job, for throwing a mug at her ex-boyfriend due to a last-minute code sabotage. In a moment of impulsiveness, nothing short of irrational, she books a next-day ticket to Europe. The only problem? Her friend’s wedding is in a few weeks – and she won’t be there. She happily trots down, backpacking across Europe for close to 3 months – leaving two weeks left in her destination trip when she arrives at the Ria Hotel in Asteri, Greece. This is where she meets James, a man apt to talking about olives, farms, and botany – which isn’t her style. Unknowingly, they end up getting married. Then, they inherit the Ria Hotel as a couple, and chaos ensues.
At first, James comes onto Amelia, but Amelia lets him know that this “relationship” is friends only, and that this whole “situation” is temporary. And that’s ok – but quite literally, we’re halfway into the book at this point. Pacing, to say the least, is insufferably slow. They act like jealous, irrational teenagers around each other, when, in fact – they’re in their 30’s! Please, for the love of all that’s holy, please communicate! That does not mean send broody stares at each other, or death glances, ignore each other, or yell. If you’ve both had previous serious relationships, that’s got to count for something, right?
“Look. We barely know each other, you and me. You have zero claim on my attention.”
“That’s true. Absolutely. And thank goodness for that, since you seem to be giving it all over the place.”
Extreme jealousy and critical comments when you’ve known each other for a week? C’mon, James. You’re setting the bar real low here, now. At least Amelia can set some healthy boundaries.
I will sympathize that the situation they’re both thrust into is unfortunate to say the least. But Amelia gives me the most whiplash from a character I’ve had in a long, long time. She goes from wanting to hightail it out of the hotel and get a cushy tech job back in California, to wanting to run the hotel within a matter of a few pages and some sweet-talking from James. I cannot fathom how you make such a life changing decision so quickly. But psyche! She does it again, and again, and again. Even at the end!
The only thing I will say is a good “lesson” in this book is that you shouldn’t base your expectation of marriage and love on an unhealthy relationship. Amelia did learn that she avoided anything “serious” as her parents weren’t healthy – her mom is undoubtedly narcissistic. I still wouldn’t say Amelia and James are ideal though – they act like jealous, irrational teenagers when they’re both in their early 30’s.
”She didn’t want marriage or kids, especially not after watching her parents’ marriage dissolve slowly over the years like a horrible chemical bath.”
Overall, though, this was a drag to get through. So much “teasing” (if it can even be called that) lack of anything really driving the plot van forward. A little bit of spice near the end, a positive ending overall, but nothing major. There was nothing in this book that made me go “oh my gosh, I can’t stop reading.” Instead, it was more of a “when is this finished?”
If you’re a fan of arranged marriage tropes, a little comedy, beautiful scenery, and an extremely slow-burn romance, pick this up. It would likely be up your alley! However, it just wasn’t for me.
*I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a fair, unbiased review*
At first, James comes onto Amelia, but Amelia lets him know that this “relationship” is friends only, and that this whole “situation” is temporary. And that’s ok – but quite literally, we’re halfway into the book at this point. Pacing, to say the least, is insufferably slow. They act like jealous, irrational teenagers around each other, when, in fact – they’re in their 30’s! Please, for the love of all that’s holy, please communicate! That does not mean send broody stares at each other, or death glances, ignore each other, or yell. If you’ve both had previous serious relationships, that’s got to count for something, right?
“Look. We barely know each other, you and me. You have zero claim on my attention.”
“That’s true. Absolutely. And thank goodness for that, since you seem to be giving it all over the place.”
Extreme jealousy and critical comments when you’ve known each other for a week? C’mon, James. You’re setting the bar real low here, now. At least Amelia can set some healthy boundaries.
I will sympathize that the situation they’re both thrust into is unfortunate to say the least. But Amelia gives me the most whiplash from a character I’ve had in a long, long time. She goes from wanting to hightail it out of the hotel and get a cushy tech job back in California, to wanting to run the hotel within a matter of a few pages and some sweet-talking from James. I cannot fathom how you make such a life changing decision so quickly. But psyche! She does it again, and again, and again. Even at the end!
The only thing I will say is a good “lesson” in this book is that you shouldn’t base your expectation of marriage and love on an unhealthy relationship. Amelia did learn that she avoided anything “serious” as her parents weren’t healthy – her mom is undoubtedly narcissistic. I still wouldn’t say Amelia and James are ideal though – they act like jealous, irrational teenagers when they’re both in their early 30’s.
”She didn’t want marriage or kids, especially not after watching her parents’ marriage dissolve slowly over the years like a horrible chemical bath.”
Overall, though, this was a drag to get through. So much “teasing” (if it can even be called that) lack of anything really driving the plot van forward. A little bit of spice near the end, a positive ending overall, but nothing major. There was nothing in this book that made me go “oh my gosh, I can’t stop reading.” Instead, it was more of a “when is this finished?”
If you’re a fan of arranged marriage tropes, a little comedy, beautiful scenery, and an extremely slow-burn romance, pick this up. It would likely be up your alley! However, it just wasn’t for me.
*I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a fair, unbiased review*
August 12, 2023
Sierra Godfrey’s last novel “A Very Typical Family was a fave of mine so I was excited to see this newest book out by her. I enjoyed this book being set in Greece and I now want to go visit. Amelia “accidentally” marries James after only knowing him for 2 weeks and they are given a hotel. This is a fun novel and a quick read and I really enjoyed it! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review. To be published September 2023.
August 1, 2024
I’m feeling pretty neutral about this one. I definitely think the cover stuck out more to me than the actual story. The fmc was like a thirty-two year old cat in heat with her constant inner dialogue about yearning and looking for ways in which to get the mmc to sleep with her. It took away from the actual plot and robbed us from getting to know the locals better.
January 6, 2025
Friends, I was so excited about a book set in Greece and a fake marriage and loved the first few chapters. It did get a bit slow.
But let me tell you something. I really hated the ending. I mean. I am still so mad.
But let me tell you something. I really hated the ending. I mean. I am still so mad.
October 12, 2023
3.5 ⭐
I was instantly drawn to this book based on the cover and the description cause it just screamed Mama Mia inspired.
I am happy to say the Mama Mia vibes delivered, this was really fun! It's 100% a rom-com!
The romance is a slow burn, but really enjoyable, I loved how they where thrown in together from the start. I really liked the tricked into marriage and now you inherited a hotel trope.
the setting is stunning, a hotel overlooking the beautiful blue water of Greece was so easy to picture while reading. it was easy to picture the island from Mama Mia as an inspiration
The characters were fun, Amelia is not the best person in the world she makes really dumb decisions but you can't help but to love and root for her.
such a great escape read if you wanted a quick, funny getaway to Greece!
thank you Netgalley, Sierra Godfrey and blackstone publishing for a copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review!
I was instantly drawn to this book based on the cover and the description cause it just screamed Mama Mia inspired.
I am happy to say the Mama Mia vibes delivered, this was really fun! It's 100% a rom-com!
The romance is a slow burn, but really enjoyable, I loved how they where thrown in together from the start. I really liked the tricked into marriage and now you inherited a hotel trope.
the setting is stunning, a hotel overlooking the beautiful blue water of Greece was so easy to picture while reading. it was easy to picture the island from Mama Mia as an inspiration
The characters were fun, Amelia is not the best person in the world she makes really dumb decisions but you can't help but to love and root for her.
such a great escape read if you wanted a quick, funny getaway to Greece!
thank you Netgalley, Sierra Godfrey and blackstone publishing for a copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review!
November 12, 2023
Part romantic comedy, part adventure of self-discovery and new beginnings, this follows a woman who accidentally marries a stranger and inherits a hotel while vacationing in Greece. It's an over-the-top situation, without a doubt, but so wildly entertaining and hilarious!
It sort of felt like a reverse enemies-to-lovers, with pleasantries between Amelia and James as strangers turning into heated arguments after unintentionally becoming husband and wife. The open attraction between them (James being compared to Alexander Skarsgård, I must add) made the sexual tension amidst their bickering so fun.
As the two come to terms with their (hopefully) temporary predicament, working together to improve the hotel, I loved the small Greek island atmosphere and its quirky, endearing locals. A super enjoyable story to escape into! The ending was exactly as I hoped.
(heat level: one brief, mild open-door scene)
It sort of felt like a reverse enemies-to-lovers, with pleasantries between Amelia and James as strangers turning into heated arguments after unintentionally becoming husband and wife. The open attraction between them (James being compared to Alexander Skarsgård, I must add) made the sexual tension amidst their bickering so fun.
As the two come to terms with their (hopefully) temporary predicament, working together to improve the hotel, I loved the small Greek island atmosphere and its quirky, endearing locals. A super enjoyable story to escape into! The ending was exactly as I hoped.
(heat level: one brief, mild open-door scene)
April 2, 2024
What a fun, unexpected treat! This is a book you need on your list! The Second Chance Hotel is about James and Amelia, two wandering souls who desperately needed to escape their lives at home for different reasons. They end up on an almost forgotten Greek Island and wind up taking on a huge project that threatens to undo them but that intriguingly has the potential to rebuild the pieces of their travel weary selves, should they let it. This escapist novel was a delight. I laughed, especially at the differently employed Yorgos characters around the island, as well as the incredibly quirky personalities that find themselves in our main characters inner circles. It has all the elements of a good rom-com with a little silly cheesiness mixed in, and it made me want to travel. So happy I was able to read this one!
Thank you to netgalley and sourcebooks for the eARC of this one! Releases September 12, 2023!
Thank you to netgalley and sourcebooks for the eARC of this one! Releases September 12, 2023!
March 13, 2024
This book lost me at the very beginning when Amelia decides to ditch her best friends wedding because she is mad she lost her job for throwing a mug at her ex boyfriends face. (I don’t think this can even be considered a spoiler as it happens within the first few pages)
From there, I thought it would get better and we’d see some slight improvement but Amelia was just an EXTREMELY UNLIKEABLE main character. She always felt the need to treat people like crap for selfish reasons and then justify her actions. She also was whiny and half of the conflict she created wouldn’t have happened if she would’ve just shut up and sat down. I managed to read to 64% before dnf’ing and for that I deserve compensation.
From there, I thought it would get better and we’d see some slight improvement but Amelia was just an EXTREMELY UNLIKEABLE main character. She always felt the need to treat people like crap for selfish reasons and then justify her actions. She also was whiny and half of the conflict she created wouldn’t have happened if she would’ve just shut up and sat down. I managed to read to 64% before dnf’ing and for that I deserve compensation.
November 4, 2023
Love the setting - what’s not to love about a short visit to a Greek island that turns into an extended stay & romance. The story is ok, but a bit slow. Fun peripheral characters.
I just get tired of romance stories where the characters’ lack of communication is at the heart of the whole plot. For fuck’s sake, talk to each other about how you really feel! But then there wouldn’t be a book. It is worth reading, it’s just formulaic romance genre.
I just get tired of romance stories where the characters’ lack of communication is at the heart of the whole plot. For fuck’s sake, talk to each other about how you really feel! But then there wouldn’t be a book. It is worth reading, it’s just formulaic romance genre.
September 9, 2023
Breezy, hopeful, and romantic!
The Second Chance Hotel is a delightfully charming, touching tale that takes us into the life of Amelia Lang at a time when her love life is in tatters, her career is stalling, and she finds herself at the end of a European vacation on a small Greek Island waking from a night of festivities with a pounding headache, an unexpected husband, and a co-ownership in a local rundown hotel that needs more than just a little TLC.
The writing is light and tender. The characters are independent, hardworking, and caring. And the plot is an uplifting tale of life, love, friendship, family, community, starting over, taking chances, old hurts, new beginnings, spirited shenanigans, humorous mishaps, following one’s dreams, and contentment.
Overall, The Second Chance Hotel is a heartwarming, engaging, escapist read by Godfrey that reminds us to always surround ourselves with those we love, stay open-minded, and be excited for whatever comes next.
Thank you to Kaye Publicity & Sourcebooks Landmark for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
The Second Chance Hotel is a delightfully charming, touching tale that takes us into the life of Amelia Lang at a time when her love life is in tatters, her career is stalling, and she finds herself at the end of a European vacation on a small Greek Island waking from a night of festivities with a pounding headache, an unexpected husband, and a co-ownership in a local rundown hotel that needs more than just a little TLC.
The writing is light and tender. The characters are independent, hardworking, and caring. And the plot is an uplifting tale of life, love, friendship, family, community, starting over, taking chances, old hurts, new beginnings, spirited shenanigans, humorous mishaps, following one’s dreams, and contentment.
Overall, The Second Chance Hotel is a heartwarming, engaging, escapist read by Godfrey that reminds us to always surround ourselves with those we love, stay open-minded, and be excited for whatever comes next.
Thank you to Kaye Publicity & Sourcebooks Landmark for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 10, 2024
The Second Chance Hotel by Sierra Godfrey is a warm, sensory, and voicey novel that transported me from the winter doldrums of Manhattan to the sunny island of Asteri, Greece. While reading this delicious slow burn romance between Amelia and James and their accidental marriage of convenience, I could almost feel the sun on my face and taste the salt of the olives. Escapist yet thoughtful, and ripe with humor, Godrey's second novel is also a reminder to us all that it is far better to run toward your happiness than away from your fears.
September 7, 2023
I found this book while poking around on NetGalley. The cover caught my attention with the bright yellow and an open window is a favorite art history trope of mine. From the blurb, I was hoping for something along the lines of Mama Mia meets the “someone inherits a b&b” trope from Hallmark movies. So, you know I was super happy to receive an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Unfortunately, it was nearly impossible to read.
Amelia is not an unlikable heroine. She’s a bad friend, an awful daughter, and an all around terrible person. The premise of a 32 year old woman leaving a bad relationship and work situation to spend three months sleeping and drinking her way around Europe had promise. But, leaving her best friend in the lurch because you don’t want to get married is just horrible. Then her parents decide to divorce two weeks into her trip, and she complains that her mother is selfish for wishing her daughter could help support her emotionally during a major life transition. The back and forth petty jealousy and lack of communications with James, however were beyond the pale. You know about decision fatigue, but her yo-yo attitudes towards everyone and everything in the story gave me reader fatigue.
From a craft point of view, I’m shocked this book isn’t a debut. I constantly felt pulled from the story by repetitive sentence structure, paragraphs explaining the same backstory multiple times, an over use of dialogue tags, and the author’s choice to use a very distant 3rd person that leans heavily towards an omniscient narrator. The use of both italics and parenthesis for her internal thoughts and the formatting of the text messages were also problematic.
Speaking of problematic content, the Borat-esque use of broken sentence structures, both English and Greek, made me cringe. This is another sign of a writer tackling a setting and premise without the skill to carry the language and perhaps the use of an ESL sensitivity reader should have been used.
In general, this book works for someone wanting a story set in Greece with a dreamy vacation setting, but like the book’s hotel, once you look inside, you’ll be surprised by what you find.
Amelia is not an unlikable heroine. She’s a bad friend, an awful daughter, and an all around terrible person. The premise of a 32 year old woman leaving a bad relationship and work situation to spend three months sleeping and drinking her way around Europe had promise. But, leaving her best friend in the lurch because you don’t want to get married is just horrible. Then her parents decide to divorce two weeks into her trip, and she complains that her mother is selfish for wishing her daughter could help support her emotionally during a major life transition. The back and forth petty jealousy and lack of communications with James, however were beyond the pale. You know about decision fatigue, but her yo-yo attitudes towards everyone and everything in the story gave me reader fatigue.
From a craft point of view, I’m shocked this book isn’t a debut. I constantly felt pulled from the story by repetitive sentence structure, paragraphs explaining the same backstory multiple times, an over use of dialogue tags, and the author’s choice to use a very distant 3rd person that leans heavily towards an omniscient narrator. The use of both italics and parenthesis for her internal thoughts and the formatting of the text messages were also problematic.
Speaking of problematic content, the Borat-esque use of broken sentence structures, both English and Greek, made me cringe. This is another sign of a writer tackling a setting and premise without the skill to carry the language and perhaps the use of an ESL sensitivity reader should have been used.
In general, this book works for someone wanting a story set in Greece with a dreamy vacation setting, but like the book’s hotel, once you look inside, you’ll be surprised by what you find.
October 6, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley & Sourcebooks Landmark for an eARC of this book. The following review is my honest reflection on the text provided.
The Second Chance Hotel read like a very young YA novel. It was hard to believe that Amelia was old enough to be experiencing everything she does in this book. She comes in hard as very self-centred and fatalistic and it's very hard to shake this impression. Everything has to be about her and if it's not falling into her lap she has no idea how to handle it. Even when it does just fall into her lap she still dilly-dallies and can't make up her mind and struggles to do even the most basic of human adult things. I'm probably being unfair but sometimes characters just get on your nerves and you can't reasonably explain it.
I want to say parts of this book were worth reading but I'm struggling hard to remember if that's true or not right now...
The Second Chance Hotel read like a very young YA novel. It was hard to believe that Amelia was old enough to be experiencing everything she does in this book. She comes in hard as very self-centred and fatalistic and it's very hard to shake this impression. Everything has to be about her and if it's not falling into her lap she has no idea how to handle it. Even when it does just fall into her lap she still dilly-dallies and can't make up her mind and struggles to do even the most basic of human adult things. I'm probably being unfair but sometimes characters just get on your nerves and you can't reasonably explain it.
I want to say parts of this book were worth reading but I'm struggling hard to remember if that's true or not right now...
2023
October 22, 2025Valentine's Day TBR
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark
April 22, 2025
Overall, I felt that the book could’ve been shortened. Amelia and James’ conversations and even all conversations in the book felt unnatural and dry. Their relationship (and Amelia and Ella’s) felt too rushed at the end and almost unrealistic.
May 1, 2023
Oh my! This book was an absolute pleasure to read. I completely lost myself in the story and setting, and intentionally slowed my read time because I didn’t want it to end. The premise is so clever, there’s the perfect balance of humor and emotions laced throughout, and the small fictional Greek island of Asteri comes alive thanks to Godfrey’s vivid descriptions. But it’s the characters that really won my heart. I found Amelia relatable and James swoon-worthy. They’re both authentically imperfect, and their slow-burn romance builds at the perfect pace. The other characters on the island are so real, I can picture them going about their lives there right now. In fact, my only complaint is that I can’t actually visit Asteri and the Ria Hotel. If you need an escape, The Second Chance Hotel is the book to savor.
August 17, 2024
3.5 ⭐️
This one dragged on a bit for me. Love the storyline and the ending wrapped it up nicely.
This one dragged on a bit for me. Love the storyline and the ending wrapped it up nicely.
October 28, 2023
4.5⭐️
This one hooked me immediately with a great opening scene - funny and so relatable! If you have ever wanted to quit your boring life and run a hotel on a tiny Greek island (has anyone not dreamt of this??) , then I think this book is exactly what you need!!
What to expect::
•Escaping reality
•Both MC starting over
•Gorgeous Greek island setting
•All of the best townspeople
•Fixing up a dilapidated hotel
•Major Mama Mia vibes
•Hero who is a bit nerdy, but so steadfast
Something about this book just had me hooked beginning to end. Loved it!
This one hooked me immediately with a great opening scene - funny and so relatable! If you have ever wanted to quit your boring life and run a hotel on a tiny Greek island (has anyone not dreamt of this??) , then I think this book is exactly what you need!!
What to expect::
•Escaping reality
•Both MC starting over
•Gorgeous Greek island setting
•All of the best townspeople
•Fixing up a dilapidated hotel
•Major Mama Mia vibes
•Hero who is a bit nerdy, but so steadfast
Something about this book just had me hooked beginning to end. Loved it!
January 1, 2024
3.5 stars. This book isn't for everyone. The characters are flawed and annoying in the beginning but they finally grow up in the end and it's just an overall good beach read story.
September 20, 2023
I REALLY enjoyed this story of starting over, finding yourself abroad and falling in love with both a person and a place in this strangers to lovers, forced proximity, marriage of inconvenience romance that sees Amelia waking up married after a drunken night at a Greek festival and learning that she and her new 'husband,' James have inherited a ramshackle boutique hotel on a remote Greek island.
Forced to work together in order to pay off the debt the former hotel owner owed before they can sell, Amelia and James have a steep learning curve on hotel management and property improvement as they deal with unruly guests and a cast of loveable locals.
A slow burn full of heart, this was great on audio narrated by Ri Paige and perfect for fans of books like Main character energy by Jamie Varon or Lucy checks in by Dee Ernst. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!
Forced to work together in order to pay off the debt the former hotel owner owed before they can sell, Amelia and James have a steep learning curve on hotel management and property improvement as they deal with unruly guests and a cast of loveable locals.
A slow burn full of heart, this was great on audio narrated by Ri Paige and perfect for fans of books like Main character energy by Jamie Varon or Lucy checks in by Dee Ernst. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!
September 9, 2025
A perfect summer read, like Mamma Mia in a book
January 2, 2025
I hate that this was my first book of the new year
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