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A Smart Girl's Guide to Second Chances
What happens when the man who broke your heart reappears just before your wedding?
The new romantic comedy from award-winning author Steph Vizard for fans of Beth O'Leary, Mhairi McFarlane and Lizzy Dent.
To Do List
1. Replace decapitated groom cake topper
2. Complete twenty-page questionnaire for second-choice celebrant
3. Break family curse
4. Ignore ex-boyfriend / current client
Rebecca, a super-smart consultant, is determined to defy the family marriage curse, which claims no woman marries their first fiance, and prove that Matt is The One.
Although the wedding planning lurches from one disaster to the next and she has to steer a major work project before the big day, Rebecca is sure she can stay on top of things. That is until Alex – the ex who dramatically broke her heart at Oxford University – reappears in the boardroom as her new client. How dare he still be as infuriatingly clever and hot as before? And since when did he start wearing shirts with collars?
As Rebecca's past and present collide, she realises her choices can't be resolved with a trusty pros and cons list. Before she makes it down the aisle, she'll have to finally come to terms with the age-old head or heart?
Praise for A Smart Girl's Guide to Second Chances
'Get ready to feel deeply and fall in love hard. A Smart Girl's Guide to Second Chances is as smart as it is swoony.' Ali Berg & Michelle Kalus
'Charmingly brilliant and brilliantly charming' Jodi McAlister
'A fun, perfectly executed romcom that plays cleverly with the idea of missed connections and what-ifs ... Vizard's characters are intelligent thirty-somethings whose personalities work against the stereotype of the emotionally naive or unstable female protagonist so often seen in coming-of-age romances. Readers who enjoy multilayered plots that extend beyond the novel's central relationship will enjoy the triumph of friendship in Vizard's sophomore novel ... Readers of Emily Henry, Abby Jimenez and Mhairi McFarlane will be swept away by A Smart Girl's Guide to Second Chances, an Australian romcom that deserves the bestseller status of its international counterparts.' Books+Publishing
'I haven't been this gripped by a love triangle since Mark Darcy and Daniel Cleaver. Smart, sweet and oh so satisfying' Karina May, author of That Island Feeling
'Steph Vizard once again pulls off a highwire high concept mash-up of delectable romance tropes - love triangle, second chance, A CURSE - and grounds it with deeply human, loveable characters. Think Richard Curtis, via Melbourne, with a dash of Oxford glamour and lens-flared young love. This is a sparkling, cinematic and satisfying modern romance, deftly written.' Clare Fletcher
'A standout. Sharp, witty and utterly charming, I devoured this in one day. An absolute joy to read, from the first page to the last. Perfect for fans of Mhairi McFarlane' Jessica Seaborn, author of Isn't It Nice We Both Hate the Same Things
'Warm, witty, and delightfully romantic. A Smart Girl's Guide to Second Chances will tug at your heart and leave a soft lump in your throat.
The new romantic comedy from award-winning author Steph Vizard for fans of Beth O'Leary, Mhairi McFarlane and Lizzy Dent.
To Do List
1. Replace decapitated groom cake topper
2. Complete twenty-page questionnaire for second-choice celebrant
3. Break family curse
4. Ignore ex-boyfriend / current client
Rebecca, a super-smart consultant, is determined to defy the family marriage curse, which claims no woman marries their first fiance, and prove that Matt is The One.
Although the wedding planning lurches from one disaster to the next and she has to steer a major work project before the big day, Rebecca is sure she can stay on top of things. That is until Alex – the ex who dramatically broke her heart at Oxford University – reappears in the boardroom as her new client. How dare he still be as infuriatingly clever and hot as before? And since when did he start wearing shirts with collars?
As Rebecca's past and present collide, she realises her choices can't be resolved with a trusty pros and cons list. Before she makes it down the aisle, she'll have to finally come to terms with the age-old head or heart?
Praise for A Smart Girl's Guide to Second Chances
'Get ready to feel deeply and fall in love hard. A Smart Girl's Guide to Second Chances is as smart as it is swoony.' Ali Berg & Michelle Kalus
'Charmingly brilliant and brilliantly charming' Jodi McAlister
'A fun, perfectly executed romcom that plays cleverly with the idea of missed connections and what-ifs ... Vizard's characters are intelligent thirty-somethings whose personalities work against the stereotype of the emotionally naive or unstable female protagonist so often seen in coming-of-age romances. Readers who enjoy multilayered plots that extend beyond the novel's central relationship will enjoy the triumph of friendship in Vizard's sophomore novel ... Readers of Emily Henry, Abby Jimenez and Mhairi McFarlane will be swept away by A Smart Girl's Guide to Second Chances, an Australian romcom that deserves the bestseller status of its international counterparts.' Books+Publishing
'I haven't been this gripped by a love triangle since Mark Darcy and Daniel Cleaver. Smart, sweet and oh so satisfying' Karina May, author of That Island Feeling
'Steph Vizard once again pulls off a highwire high concept mash-up of delectable romance tropes - love triangle, second chance, A CURSE - and grounds it with deeply human, loveable characters. Think Richard Curtis, via Melbourne, with a dash of Oxford glamour and lens-flared young love. This is a sparkling, cinematic and satisfying modern romance, deftly written.' Clare Fletcher
'A standout. Sharp, witty and utterly charming, I devoured this in one day. An absolute joy to read, from the first page to the last. Perfect for fans of Mhairi McFarlane' Jessica Seaborn, author of Isn't It Nice We Both Hate the Same Things
'Warm, witty, and delightfully romantic. A Smart Girl's Guide to Second Chances will tug at your heart and leave a soft lump in your throat.
298 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 1, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
May 21, 2026
I thought for a sec she’s gonna piss me off with who she gonna choose in the end. Thank god she have actual brains.
November 30, 2025
A memorable Aussie rom-com about the head versus the heart.
August 31, 2025
Thank you to Harper Collins Australia for the gifted proof copy💗
This felt a little different compared to my usual reads- in a good way! Although it was a romcom, it wasnt very romance-heavy as this book dealt with many other themes such as familial issues & dynamics, personal growth, heartbreak, & friendship, making it feel more “women’s fiction” rather than “romance fiction.”
This feels like your quintessential chick-flick that you’d watch with your female friends, sister, mum, aunty etc, & came out of the theatre feeling like a changed woman because the story is quite thought provoking. I finished reading this & it basically felt like “wow, my frontal lobe just developed…” because the internal conflict that Rebecca (the fmc) experienced in this book was actually quite a difficult issue to navigate, & I personally had no clue which way the story would or should go.
At first I thought I knew how I would personally navigate the situation that Becs had found herself in, however, I feel like I went on the journey of self discovery & growth with Bec, because my mindset seemed to evolve whilst reading. I definitely had a favourite mmc & knew who I was rooting for, but as the story progressed, as i got more invested in each of the characters, & as the emotional stakes got higher, I was torn about who I thought she should end up with. So this love triangle was executed well.
This felt a little different compared to my usual reads- in a good way! Although it was a romcom, it wasnt very romance-heavy as this book dealt with many other themes such as familial issues & dynamics, personal growth, heartbreak, & friendship, making it feel more “women’s fiction” rather than “romance fiction.”
This feels like your quintessential chick-flick that you’d watch with your female friends, sister, mum, aunty etc, & came out of the theatre feeling like a changed woman because the story is quite thought provoking. I finished reading this & it basically felt like “wow, my frontal lobe just developed…” because the internal conflict that Rebecca (the fmc) experienced in this book was actually quite a difficult issue to navigate, & I personally had no clue which way the story would or should go.
At first I thought I knew how I would personally navigate the situation that Becs had found herself in, however, I feel like I went on the journey of self discovery & growth with Bec, because my mindset seemed to evolve whilst reading. I definitely had a favourite mmc & knew who I was rooting for, but as the story progressed, as i got more invested in each of the characters, & as the emotional stakes got higher, I was torn about who I thought she should end up with. So this love triangle was executed well.
October 4, 2025
I said it about The Love Contract and i'll say it again, please adapt this book into a movie!
January 24, 2026
Funny and very Melbourne! Loved the ending
June 28, 2026
For the first half of the book, I thought I was going to be disappointed with the main female character, so it was hard for me to really enjoy the story.
October 8, 2025
I’ve read some absolutely cracking Australian rom coms this year, and this is up there at the top of the list. Ticked so many boxes for me: very likeable/relatable FMC, delicious tension in the love triangle storyline and super fun, well-written supporting characters. What a treat.
December 4, 2025
Such an enjoyable rom com that is so much more than that - a beautiful look at following your head or your heart. This one was great because it really subverts the genre in a realistic, enjoyable way. I had a wonderful time.
March 18, 2026
i was giggling!! not at all what i expected, lost me a little in the middle but i really enjoyed the end and it actually felt realistic. very quick easy read!
September 9, 2025
A Smart Girl’s Guide To Second Chances is an enjoyable and easy to read rom-com you can easily devour in a single sitting!
Everything about this book was perfect, from the storyline to the characters all the way to keeping you on your toes in regards to Bec’s love life and if she ends up with Matt or Alex or neither.
What made this story was that it portrayed a complicated and messy relationship that occurs in real life, which will allow many people to resonate with.
Another real life aspect of this story was that it wasn’t just centred around a love life but around family, friends and work relationships / life balance. It was breathtaking to see that all creates demonstrated growth not just the main characters - Bec, Matt and Alex - but that their family and friends also demonstrated growth!
A Smart Girl’s Guide To Second Chances clearly depicts the nature of messy and real human relationships in the real life in a rom com setting that reads will throughly enjoy and resonate with in their own way.
Thank you so much to Steph Vizard, NetGalley and Harper Collins Australia for the eARC of this book!
Everything about this book was perfect, from the storyline to the characters all the way to keeping you on your toes in regards to Bec’s love life and if she ends up with Matt or Alex or neither.
What made this story was that it portrayed a complicated and messy relationship that occurs in real life, which will allow many people to resonate with.
Another real life aspect of this story was that it wasn’t just centred around a love life but around family, friends and work relationships / life balance. It was breathtaking to see that all creates demonstrated growth not just the main characters - Bec, Matt and Alex - but that their family and friends also demonstrated growth!
A Smart Girl’s Guide To Second Chances clearly depicts the nature of messy and real human relationships in the real life in a rom com setting that reads will throughly enjoy and resonate with in their own way.
Thank you so much to Steph Vizard, NetGalley and Harper Collins Australia for the eARC of this book!
September 1, 2025
Thoughts? 28/08 - It’s 1:30 A.M on a work night but I physically couldn’t put this ARC down. Thank you so much Harper Collins AU and NetGalley and of course Steph Vizard.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This had everything I want from a romance novel including the gut twisting limbo of not knowing how things can possibly resolve. This book had not one but TWO men I was rooting for. What an absolute palaver. How is that even possible?
Rebecca is marrying Matt but the universe serves her a curveball in the form of her ex (arguably love of her life) as her newest client just weeks before her wedding. Alex destroyed her heart 9 years ago after having put it back together. That doesn’t mean she can repress all the good memories that preceded that forever. But Matt is perfect - he makes Rebecca feel safe. He’s reliable. He’s kind. He’s fantastic with her family. He’s supportive. They want all the same things in the future. Is Alex back in her life with an agenda? Is the family curse really true?
This was incredibly well written with a fine tuned emotional intelligence that fans of Mhairi McFarlane (ME) would certainly appreciate. This book was a heavy debate of head versus heart with excellent arguments for both. Everything was very believable and realistic. The issues were appropriately scaled and handled. I really couldn’t fault it. PSA: no cheating or love triangles. Nothing morally untoward.
Well done Steph, you keep getting better and better. Can’t wait for what’s next! 😍
This had everything I want from a romance novel including the gut twisting limbo of not knowing how things can possibly resolve. This book had not one but TWO men I was rooting for. What an absolute palaver. How is that even possible?
Rebecca is marrying Matt but the universe serves her a curveball in the form of her ex (arguably love of her life) as her newest client just weeks before her wedding. Alex destroyed her heart 9 years ago after having put it back together. That doesn’t mean she can repress all the good memories that preceded that forever. But Matt is perfect - he makes Rebecca feel safe. He’s reliable. He’s kind. He’s fantastic with her family. He’s supportive. They want all the same things in the future. Is Alex back in her life with an agenda? Is the family curse really true?
This was incredibly well written with a fine tuned emotional intelligence that fans of Mhairi McFarlane (ME) would certainly appreciate. This book was a heavy debate of head versus heart with excellent arguments for both. Everything was very believable and realistic. The issues were appropriately scaled and handled. I really couldn’t fault it. PSA: no cheating or love triangles. Nothing morally untoward.
Well done Steph, you keep getting better and better. Can’t wait for what’s next! 😍
January 16, 2026
The first half of the book would have been an unenthusiastic 3 stars as a mediocre rom-com, with predictable, well-worn plot devices and tropes and a hefty requirement for suspended disbelief, but about 2/3 of the way down the tedious path came a reveal that was just too stupid to recover from. It would have been a rare DNF for me but it was a book club choice so I slogged through it despite not caring in the slightest about any of the characters.
October 8, 2025
*Thank you to NetGalley & HarperCollins Publishers Australia for providing a digital copy to review*
What happens when your ex (that you never really got over) reappears just before your wedding? From this hook alone, I knew I needed to read this book. I was also long overdue for a contemporary romance, and this fulfilled that need.
The book is entirely from Rebecca’s perspective, as she prepares to wed the love of her life. The story goes between two time periods. ‘Current day’, where Rebecca is planning her wedding to Matt, and around 10 years previous, where she is at Oxford and meets Alex. I loved going back and forth between the two and seeing how what happened in the past still affects her.
While this is a romance book, Rebecca’s relationships with the people in her life are also put into focus. Her relationships with each member of her family are complicated, and we see how her parents' divorce affected the trajectory of her life. I loved how fleshed out the secondary characters were. They all had their own issues, which in turn helped Rebecca’s development.
When it comes to a second-chance romance, you think you know how it will end, but this one kept me guessing, which was fun. I enjoyed seeing Rebecca’s journey in both her professional and personal life and how, overall, this story just felt real. There are aspects I think a lot of readers could relate to.
What happens when your ex (that you never really got over) reappears just before your wedding? From this hook alone, I knew I needed to read this book. I was also long overdue for a contemporary romance, and this fulfilled that need.
The book is entirely from Rebecca’s perspective, as she prepares to wed the love of her life. The story goes between two time periods. ‘Current day’, where Rebecca is planning her wedding to Matt, and around 10 years previous, where she is at Oxford and meets Alex. I loved going back and forth between the two and seeing how what happened in the past still affects her.
While this is a romance book, Rebecca’s relationships with the people in her life are also put into focus. Her relationships with each member of her family are complicated, and we see how her parents' divorce affected the trajectory of her life. I loved how fleshed out the secondary characters were. They all had their own issues, which in turn helped Rebecca’s development.
When it comes to a second-chance romance, you think you know how it will end, but this one kept me guessing, which was fun. I enjoyed seeing Rebecca’s journey in both her professional and personal life and how, overall, this story just felt real. There are aspects I think a lot of readers could relate to.
November 27, 2025
I adored Steph’s previous book of The Love Contract- has it really been 2 years since I read that?!
A Smart Girls Guide to Second Chances is a great read, it follows a dual timeline of past Rebecca and present Rebecca and the two biggest romances of her life.
When the guy that absolutely crushed her heart years ago reenters her life, while she is planning an absolutely doomed wedding… who should she choose?
This book is witty, but has heart. It has some truly deep moments and the FMC learns a lot about herself and her family, and truly grows as a person.
I really enjoys Steph’s writing, the ending went the complete opposite direction to what i expected 🤯
July 17, 2026
Do you follow your head or heart?
Love is a journey and it travels on many roads and has detours to both the head and heart.
Rebecca will need her Melway to navigate and determine the roadmap that suits her emotionally.
A family curse dictates that no woman in the family will marry their first fiancé but intelligent, cohesive and determined Rebecca wants to defy this.
Her and Matt are about to celebrate their wedding.
Walking into a boardroom she immediately spies a familiar face that evokes emotional memory and pain from the past.
Alex is a new client and will their history cast a shadow on her future?
Love is not the only distraction for Rebecca, she is loyal to her best friends and absorbs their plights in both business and family.
Dysfunction and fragmentation within her family assists in her mental consolidation.
I was determined to read this after meeting Steph at a recent readers retreat and I am so pleased I did.
It was fun, upbeat, authentic and entertaining.
A love story with a detailed peripheral dimension that added juicy layers.
Love is a journey and it travels on many roads and has detours to both the head and heart.
Rebecca will need her Melway to navigate and determine the roadmap that suits her emotionally.
A family curse dictates that no woman in the family will marry their first fiancé but intelligent, cohesive and determined Rebecca wants to defy this.
Her and Matt are about to celebrate their wedding.
Walking into a boardroom she immediately spies a familiar face that evokes emotional memory and pain from the past.
Alex is a new client and will their history cast a shadow on her future?
Love is not the only distraction for Rebecca, she is loyal to her best friends and absorbs their plights in both business and family.
Dysfunction and fragmentation within her family assists in her mental consolidation.
I was determined to read this after meeting Steph at a recent readers retreat and I am so pleased I did.
It was fun, upbeat, authentic and entertaining.
A love story with a detailed peripheral dimension that added juicy layers.
April 16, 2026
This was such an unexpectedly delightful palate cleanser of a novel. Not normally a fan of cosy romances, I think this novel appealed to me because it is a little more slow-paced and character-focused. Sad for me that the old flame was blonde (booooo, sorry to all blonde men) and sorry this lady because honestly, neither of the men seemed that interesting. I love an Australian romance, there's something about it that's more grounded and this felt very familiar. Overall, a charming, easy read. 3.5.
January 31, 2026
A solid 3/5 but not in a bad way. I chose this book looking for something easy going and predictable and whilst in some ways it was in others it gave more than I expected. Humorous, heartfelt and emotionally thought provoking. Would recommend for an easy enjoyable read.
December 14, 2025
honestly... Wonderful. a great literary romance which sucked me in.
January 7, 2026
Light hearted rom-com based in Melbourne, Australia.
February 21, 2026
3.5 stars rounded down
October 9, 2025
I love that this book took a different direction — I was worried it was going down the route insinuated by its flashbacks and overall structure. A rarity in the romance genre. Four stars.
November 9, 2025
Like I wasn’t really invested in it 100%. I felt I was just bored with the book, just lagging on. Like the concept sounded interesting and different, but how it was executed just didn’t work for me.
Plus, I think the characterisation and the world building were completely lacking, and I felt like the book was built on assumed knowledge, but there was nothing to assume on.
So I just think in the end, the basic stuff was lacking, which meant the romance just became very bland and vanilla. And I think from that, I just kinda got annoyed just because it was so stupid. The ending did kinda redeem the book, but still, I was not in the mood for it.
2.5
Plus, I think the characterisation and the world building were completely lacking, and I felt like the book was built on assumed knowledge, but there was nothing to assume on.
So I just think in the end, the basic stuff was lacking, which meant the romance just became very bland and vanilla. And I think from that, I just kinda got annoyed just because it was so stupid. The ending did kinda redeem the book, but still, I was not in the mood for it.
2.5
October 13, 2025
I actually hate that i read this book. I HATEDDD the ending . Unnecessary. Nothing was really resolved . Bunch of flashbacks for nothing .
November 24, 2025
This was fine, but I found Rebecca very irritating and immature. This may have been exacerbated by the audiobook’s narrator, whose reading I found a bit grating.
June 18, 2026
Super-smart business consultant Rebecca is about to get married. She is sure her fiancé Matt is The One, but nothing seems to be going right when it comes to the wedding preparations - a burned out wedding venue, a photographer struck blind, no wedding celebrant, an over-sized wedding gown, and broken cake toppers... everything seems to be going wrong.
If the stress of rescuing the wedding was not enough, Rebecca also has a big project coming up at work - one which might bring the promotion she has been hoping for. Preparing to get stuck in, she heads to the boardroom to meet her new client, only to discover that it is Alex, the man who broke her heart at Oxford years ago.
Rebecca begins to wonder whether the universe is trying to tell her that Matt is not the perfect choice she thought he was. Could the wedding curse her mother keeps mentioning, that means women in her family never marry their first fiancé, actually be true?
This highly enjoyable rom-com offers a great twist on the second-chance-at-love trope, when Rebecca finds herself caught between deciding if her head or heart should win out when it comes to her future. The story unfurls from Rebecca's perspective, moving back and forth between her time at Oxford, when she fell head over heels for post-grad hottie Alex; and the present, as she looks forward to marrying Matt, back home in Melbourne.
Rebecca was sure her life was on track when she met Matt. Their easy relationship had her certain he was the perfect choice for her, even if their wedding plans keep throwing up problems. The reappearance of Alex, who is much more her intellectual equal, sets her head spinning, and she wonders if Matt is actually the safe choice, rather then the right one.
Vizard does a fantastic job weaving oodles of lovely threads about family, friendship, and paths not taken, as Rebecca works through the heartache of the past - all while fielding significant hurdles in the present. The mystery around what really happened between Rebecca and Alex, during their heady university days, keeps you guessing right until the climax of the tale, and feeds perfectly into the 'wedding curse' element of the story. Vizard then pulls off the very best of in-the-feels endings, tying up all the loose ends in the most satisfying way possible.
Absolutely top-notch rom-com fare. I swallowed it whole!
If the stress of rescuing the wedding was not enough, Rebecca also has a big project coming up at work - one which might bring the promotion she has been hoping for. Preparing to get stuck in, she heads to the boardroom to meet her new client, only to discover that it is Alex, the man who broke her heart at Oxford years ago.
Rebecca begins to wonder whether the universe is trying to tell her that Matt is not the perfect choice she thought he was. Could the wedding curse her mother keeps mentioning, that means women in her family never marry their first fiancé, actually be true?
This highly enjoyable rom-com offers a great twist on the second-chance-at-love trope, when Rebecca finds herself caught between deciding if her head or heart should win out when it comes to her future. The story unfurls from Rebecca's perspective, moving back and forth between her time at Oxford, when she fell head over heels for post-grad hottie Alex; and the present, as she looks forward to marrying Matt, back home in Melbourne.
Rebecca was sure her life was on track when she met Matt. Their easy relationship had her certain he was the perfect choice for her, even if their wedding plans keep throwing up problems. The reappearance of Alex, who is much more her intellectual equal, sets her head spinning, and she wonders if Matt is actually the safe choice, rather then the right one.
Vizard does a fantastic job weaving oodles of lovely threads about family, friendship, and paths not taken, as Rebecca works through the heartache of the past - all while fielding significant hurdles in the present. The mystery around what really happened between Rebecca and Alex, during their heady university days, keeps you guessing right until the climax of the tale, and feeds perfectly into the 'wedding curse' element of the story. Vizard then pulls off the very best of in-the-feels endings, tying up all the loose ends in the most satisfying way possible.
Absolutely top-notch rom-com fare. I swallowed it whole!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I ate this book for breakfast, lunch and dinner! 😭🫶🏼
This was thought-provoking and hilarious yet charming rom-com that completely took hold of me. It's a story about love and about how timing and your family can throw the curveball that will force you to realize what is really important to your heart. Humor did not fall flat and there were many heartfelt moments.
With weeks to go until Rebecca walks down the aisle to marry Matt, her life as she knows it is about to turn on its head when Alex the first person who broke her heart re-enters her life and forces her to reflect on everything that once was. The expectations of the present and what makes her truly happy for her future. The dual timelines were handled well, bringing insight to each moment and making for a more emotionally engaging read without a dull moment.
The spark and connection are undeniably what make this story shine. The connection Rebecca has with Matt feels familiar, secure and built on unwavering trust, whereas the spark and connection she shares with Alex are years of hurt, unresolved issues and an unbreakable magnetic attraction. Neither half of the love triangle lacked depth. They were a story on their own, which is hard to achieve but was so well done by the author.
The book also explored other elements than love such as friendships, family life, heartbreak and anxiety. Overcoming those hardships makes Rebecca grow throughout this story. Seeing her growth felt so inspiring and served as an example to apply to real-life situations.
No spoilers but I am so beyond happy the right person won, that the FMC had the strength to make the right choices and made me all smiles and giddy when I was finished. A really satisfying read, that wrapped up this entire book in a neat little package with a bow ready to present to the world. I couldn’t stop giggling after I put the book down.
Highly recommend to all readers wanting to get their hands on a witty, smart and incredibly well-written fiction that truly conveys the way that second chances in life may not always come with ease, however, sometimes they are truly what you need!
*Thank you to NetGalley and Aria & Aries for the ARC*
This was thought-provoking and hilarious yet charming rom-com that completely took hold of me. It's a story about love and about how timing and your family can throw the curveball that will force you to realize what is really important to your heart. Humor did not fall flat and there were many heartfelt moments.
With weeks to go until Rebecca walks down the aisle to marry Matt, her life as she knows it is about to turn on its head when Alex the first person who broke her heart re-enters her life and forces her to reflect on everything that once was. The expectations of the present and what makes her truly happy for her future. The dual timelines were handled well, bringing insight to each moment and making for a more emotionally engaging read without a dull moment.
The spark and connection are undeniably what make this story shine. The connection Rebecca has with Matt feels familiar, secure and built on unwavering trust, whereas the spark and connection she shares with Alex are years of hurt, unresolved issues and an unbreakable magnetic attraction. Neither half of the love triangle lacked depth. They were a story on their own, which is hard to achieve but was so well done by the author.
The book also explored other elements than love such as friendships, family life, heartbreak and anxiety. Overcoming those hardships makes Rebecca grow throughout this story. Seeing her growth felt so inspiring and served as an example to apply to real-life situations.
No spoilers but I am so beyond happy the right person won, that the FMC had the strength to make the right choices and made me all smiles and giddy when I was finished. A really satisfying read, that wrapped up this entire book in a neat little package with a bow ready to present to the world. I couldn’t stop giggling after I put the book down.
Highly recommend to all readers wanting to get their hands on a witty, smart and incredibly well-written fiction that truly conveys the way that second chances in life may not always come with ease, however, sometimes they are truly what you need!
*Thank you to NetGalley and Aria & Aries for the ARC*
October 4, 2025
A Smart Girl's Guide to Second Chances by Steph Vizard
On Thursday night, Ross and I went to Reading's Carlton to the Book Launch of Steph Vizard's second novel, A Smart Girl's Guide to Second Chances. I hadn't read Steph's first novel, but I requested A Smart Girl's Guide to Second Chances on NetGalley based on the beautiful cover art (although I somehow forgot to get a photo of it). And because I'd read quite a few 'heavy' books recently, I thought it was time for something a bit lighter.
Steph said during the book launch that she wanted to write a book for the smart girls she knows, and she's achieved that with A Smart Girl's Guide to Second Chances. This is a warm book; the alternating timelines effectively develop both the story and the characters' tension. The conflict between characters was realistic, with family dynamics and parental expectations heightening the emotional stakes for Rebecca.
I enjoyed the female relationships (best friends, mothers, sisters, nieces), and how they evolved and developed throughout the story, from university friends to new mothers to businesswomen, possibly even more so than the love triangle. The blurb says "perfect for fans of Beth O'Leary, Mhairi McFarlane and Sally Thorne" and I have to admit I've not read any of those authors, so I can't comment on that but; I will say that A Smart Girl's Guide to Second Chances will appeal to people who enjoy books by Marian Keyes, Sophie Kinsella, or Helen Fielding. All the authors I've enjoyed.
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Australia for the ARC in exchange for my review. A Smart Girl's Guide to Second Chances by Steph Vizard is out now.
Thumbs up. I liked it.
Body count = 0. Unless we are counting relationships.
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On Thursday night, Ross and I went to Reading's Carlton to the Book Launch of Steph Vizard's second novel, A Smart Girl's Guide to Second Chances. I hadn't read Steph's first novel, but I requested A Smart Girl's Guide to Second Chances on NetGalley based on the beautiful cover art (although I somehow forgot to get a photo of it). And because I'd read quite a few 'heavy' books recently, I thought it was time for something a bit lighter.
Steph said during the book launch that she wanted to write a book for the smart girls she knows, and she's achieved that with A Smart Girl's Guide to Second Chances. This is a warm book; the alternating timelines effectively develop both the story and the characters' tension. The conflict between characters was realistic, with family dynamics and parental expectations heightening the emotional stakes for Rebecca.
I enjoyed the female relationships (best friends, mothers, sisters, nieces), and how they evolved and developed throughout the story, from university friends to new mothers to businesswomen, possibly even more so than the love triangle. The blurb says "perfect for fans of Beth O'Leary, Mhairi McFarlane and Sally Thorne" and I have to admit I've not read any of those authors, so I can't comment on that but; I will say that A Smart Girl's Guide to Second Chances will appeal to people who enjoy books by Marian Keyes, Sophie Kinsella, or Helen Fielding. All the authors I've enjoyed.
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Australia for the ARC in exchange for my review. A Smart Girl's Guide to Second Chances by Steph Vizard is out now.
Thumbs up. I liked it.
Body count = 0. Unless we are counting relationships.
#NetGalley @NetGalley @harpercollinsaustralia #harpercollinsaustralia #booksaboutbooks ##ASmartGirlsGuidetoSecondChances #BrotherandSisters #AustralianAuthor #AussieAuthor #booksdeevaareads #2025bookshelf #deevaasbookshelf #booknerd #CreativeLife #goreadabook #allthebooks #DesignInspiration #newrelease #Designer #murdermystery #GraphicDesign #DesignNerd #designdeevaa #Bookish #BookRecommendation #Bookstagram #TBRList #Chicklit #Romcom
October 11, 2025
Rebecca, a super-smart consultant, is determined to defy the family marriage curse, which claims no woman marries their first fiance, and prove that Matt is The One. Until Alex – the ex who dramatically broke her heart at Oxford University – reappears in the boardroom as her new client. As Rebecca's past and present collide, she realises her choices can't be resolved with a trusty pros and cons list. Before she makes it down the aisle, she'll have to finally come to terms with the age-old question: head or heart?
What a gem! I enjoyed this book thoroughly from the start to the end. I knew I was in for a treat as I had loved Vizard’s debut, and this was just as sassy (if not more) and multi-layered as her previous book.
Rebecca, Matt and Alex were all likeable, multi-dimensional characters. And this was a true love triangle story as both Matt and Alex were wonderful and truly deserving main love interest title. I couldn’t choose between them myself! All characters felt real - they felt like the actual friends you’d hang out with. And I loved that they made good, rational decisions that felt authentic to me, with realistic complex dilemmas.
Another thing that felt authentic to me was the details around Rebecca’s consulting job. The work details felt right, and the challenges Rebecca had to overcome in the corporate world were accurate. Vizard’s attention to details on the corporate world was awesome - and rare to find in a rom-com book.
Throw in little genius bits like the concept of ‘bad news hedging’, and I was fully hooked. The last ten chapters of the book were like treasures to me - there were so many quotable lines. Vizard’s meticulous plotting and execution were so visible to me - her writing style in general suits me really well. This was amazing, and she didn’t even need to write a single villain to keep it interesting. I had a book hangover for a while after closing the last page!
(Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Australia for a gifted review copy)
See my bookstagram review.
What a gem! I enjoyed this book thoroughly from the start to the end. I knew I was in for a treat as I had loved Vizard’s debut, and this was just as sassy (if not more) and multi-layered as her previous book.
Rebecca, Matt and Alex were all likeable, multi-dimensional characters. And this was a true love triangle story as both Matt and Alex were wonderful and truly deserving main love interest title. I couldn’t choose between them myself! All characters felt real - they felt like the actual friends you’d hang out with. And I loved that they made good, rational decisions that felt authentic to me, with realistic complex dilemmas.
Another thing that felt authentic to me was the details around Rebecca’s consulting job. The work details felt right, and the challenges Rebecca had to overcome in the corporate world were accurate. Vizard’s attention to details on the corporate world was awesome - and rare to find in a rom-com book.
Throw in little genius bits like the concept of ‘bad news hedging’, and I was fully hooked. The last ten chapters of the book were like treasures to me - there were so many quotable lines. Vizard’s meticulous plotting and execution were so visible to me - her writing style in general suits me really well. This was amazing, and she didn’t even need to write a single villain to keep it interesting. I had a book hangover for a while after closing the last page!
(Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Australia for a gifted review copy)
See my bookstagram review.
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