The Second Time is Sweeter

by Natalie Tay

Love is a luxury that Sydney Collins, single mom extraordinaire, simply cannot afford. Between raising Max, finishing school, and trying to eke out a living at the local ice cream shop, she barely has time to clean the apartment, much less date. Carefully controlling her reality is the only way she can get by, but when her high school sweetheart Sam moves in upstairs, her world is sent for a spin.

Sam's advances are more than tempting, but Sydney's walls are there for a reason. The scars of her husband's abuse run deeper than she wants to admit, but Sam's patient friendship is exactly what she needs. It doesn't take long for him to fill the space in her life she didn't know was missing. But her traumas are persistent, and she can't help wondering if she can ever move past her baggage. Would a romance with Sam be doomed to fail? Or could the second time be even sweeter than before?

Genres: Romance

Audible Audio

Published January 31, 2024

Reviews

[Caroline Bartlett · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://www.howdidthatbookend.com/nat...

Thank you to the author for a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

Talk about a heartwarming story! The Second Time Is Sweeter is more than just a romance. It delves deep into the lasting effects of spousal abuse, but does so in a hopeful, uplifting way. Please note that there are some graphic flashbacks that may be triggering to some readers.

This book has some of the best characters I’ve read in a long time. Sydney is strong and resourceful and willing to do anything to protect her son. Sam, the love interest, is sweet, understanding, and so compassionate. Sydney’s best friend is the kind of character I’d love to be best friends with in person, and Max was adorable and so perceptive for a little kid.

The author did a really good job of showing Sydney’s growth throughout the book. She learns that she’s worthy of her friends’ love and of making a life for herself, not just her son. Her strength really shines through by the end of the book, where a little bit of suspense is added to the story.

I definitely recommend picking up a copy of this uplifting story.

[Gill Fernandez · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got to the end

Everyone’s reading tastes are different and this book, though competently written, really wasn’t for me. I never really engaged emotionally with the characters and I found the style at times overly busy. Sorry.

[Samantha Howland · Rating 5 out of 5]

The emotions

Addicting to read. Couldn't stop. So many emotions and being someone in a similar setting made it scarier to read, but oh so good.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

In so many stories that feature single mothers, the children are treated like set dressing, but on the very first page of this book, we see not only Syd's intense love for her young son, but also her worries about whether she's meeting his needs. This is a sweet romance, but it also digs deep into recovery from severe abuse. It's gut-wrenching seeing her flashbacks (which are portrayed vividly enough to be potentially triggering for some readers). It's refreshing to see a man portrayed in a romance as actually knowing how to communicate, and understanding when Syd can't talk about her trauma rather than just expecting her to get over it. Sam is the white knight Syd deserves and his interactions with her son will melt your heart.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a romance but digs into the deep topic of spousal abuse and it's effects.

Sydney took her son Max and left her emotionally abusive husband. She has a great friend in Gina who knows the extent of what Jarom put Syd through. She finds her old high school boyfriend, Sam, has moved into the apartment above her.

It's hard for Syd to trust Sam but she lets him become best buddies with her son and she soon sees that a man can be good and gentle.

I love the fact that Sam listens to Syd and doesn't push too hard to divulge all her past with Jarom to him. He's a good listener and such a light for Max. I mourned for Syd when she opens up. I applaud her for getting away from him and giving a good life to her son. I love second chance romances and this one just packs a punch with its dark topic.

Thank you to the author for letting me read her book

[Daniel Moster · Rating 5 out of 5]

There’s a reason this is the 2nd of Natalie’s books I’ve read this week

I started with Natalie Tay’s “That Guy in the Hawaii T-Shirt” earlier this week and have spent most of my time since reading as much as I can. And I liked this one even better than the first. [Insert bad quip about the relevance of the present book title here.]

“The Second Time is Sweeter” is such a compelling read, and I really felt for the characters as they went through the well-crafted ups and downs they faced. I t has been a long time since I was so invested in the lives of characters in a book, and the author managed to do it to me twice in a week.

Definitely would recommend. I look forward to reading more of Natalie Tay’s books as soon as I can.

[Ariana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was written by my amazing cousin. I started reading it yesterday and couldn’t put it down. Natalie perfectly captures that amazing feeling of seeing your son run towards you with nothing but pure love in his eyes, and the love interest completely personifies that feeling of first setting your eyes on someone you know and love just when you’re starting to lose hope when you’re lost and scared and feeling anxious because you’re not quite sure what to do. You know that feeling? This book teaches that even at your most broken, you are not just a burden, and you have value and deserve love.

[Myrtle Murray · Rating 4 out of 5]

The storyline itself was good but would have been better if the backstory was given in the very beginning instead of throughout the first quarter of the book. The ending felt a bit rushed to me but it did come together at the very end. The virtual voice was okay but I think with this particular book a human reading it would have been better. Overall, I did enjoy the storyline and I was able to finish the book.

[alma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slow start but worth it

This book was good it had a hard time to get going but it was good I wish that it would be a Christian romance through the story was a good one but bring in land marks and flavor of the place that you a speaking of because I really did not know where it was taking place but overall I would say read it you be glad you did

[Laurel S Bruner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun read

This was a really good book, a fun romantic book, I really enjoyed it. Excellent author. I highly recommend this book

[Britt Easthope · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute! Easy and fun to read.