You Can't Hurry Second Chances: A Novel

by Michelle Stimpson

"An utter delight from start to finish." –Terah Shelton Harris, author of One Summer in Savannah, for Sisters with a Side of Greens

A heartwarming small-town tale of rediscovering joy in unexpected places. Starting over isn't easy, but sometimes it's exactly what we need.

Newly divorced and determined to prove she can stand on her own, Joyce Hicks moves back to small-town Texas, leaving behind the life she has known for decades for a fresh start in her late father's home. Unfinished renovations force her to share her kitchen with her tenant, Gabriella Santos, an aspiring chef with dreams of opening a restaurant inspired by her Black and Mexican roots. What begins as an inconvenience blossoms into an unlikely friendship between the two women as they learn to navigate their shared space.

Just as her life begins to settle, Joyce's summer plans upend when her grandson, Elijah, is dropped off for an unexpected seven-week stay, dredging up all kinds of buried things from her past—including visits from her ex-husband, judgment from her daughter, and insecurities that she never quite healed from. Meanwhile, Gabriella's passion for cooking and her vibrant personality infuse the household with energy, even as she faces her own struggles with self-doubt and heartbreak. 

Together, Joyce, Gabriella, and Elijah form a patchwork family that supports each other through life's highs and lows. When an old flame, Richard, reappears in Joyce's life, she must decide whether to embrace love head-on or to slow down and wait just a little longer for her happy ending.

More Praise for Michelle Stimpson

"Stimpson delivers raw, complex characters and a delicious storyline that will stay with the reader long after the last page." — New York Times bestselling author Kim Michele Richardson for Sisters with a Side of Greens

"Full of heart, generosity, and charm." — Lucy Gilmore, author of The Lonely Hearts Book Club, for Sisters with a Side of Greens

"This is a heartwarming story of misconceptions and learning to love people for who they are, not what you expect them to be." — Booklist for Sisters with a Side of Greens

Kindle Edition

Expected publication May 5, 2026

About the author

Hello, Goodreads community! I'm Michelle Stimpson, and storytelling is my heartbeat. I've found my calling in penning heartwarming women's fiction that offers a seat at the table of family, humor, and hope. As an author, my greatest joy comes from crafting narratives that resonate with anyone seeking to find laughter and light in the pages of a good book. My tagline, 'Read. Love. Repeat.', is a promise of the emotional journey I aim to provide—engaging stories you’ll love and yearn to revisit.

Happy Reading

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Reviews

[SuzieQuzie7973 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark and Michelle Stimpson for sharing this ARC with me, in exchange for my honest review.

You Can't Hurry Second Chances is a cozy/comfy, sweet read. This is a book that, in my opinion, will stay with y'all for a long time. Ms. Michelle's story telling will leave you feeling that second chances can and will work out. The character development with Gabriella and Joyce was a slow burn type. They started out as unlikely friends but ended up with a meaningful friendship. The flow is easy and perfect. I love everything about this book.

I highly recommend this book to all y'all.

[Symone · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC ❤️ This book was like eating a big bowl of hot chili with some fried chicken and sweet cornbread on the side. It was warm, clean, comfy, and country. At sixty, Joyce returns to her late father's home to rebuild her life after divorce. In this small town, she finds unexpected friendships, a comforting sense of belonging, and a found family that helps her heal. I can definitely see this as a movie on the Oprah Winfrey Network. It was a good read, especially for a church book club. But me personally, I just wish it had a little bit more going on.

[Jessica Brusven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a sweet book about the endearing opportunities that can exist when someone pivots late in life. I enjoyed the main characters as well as the tertiary ones, they wove together well. It’s a quick read and there are some convenient plot points that lack depth, but overall I really enjoyed this book. It explores what it means to start over later in life and demand more after many years of settling.

[LaCricia A'ngelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s nice to read books related to characters of a certain age. This book did not disappoint.

Joyce at the age of 60 made some radical changes in her life to which not everyone agreed. I enjoyed reading how Joyce navigated her current life situations and finding her self anew. We never know how we can handle situations until they become our reality. Joyce was an inspiration for me and I believe it will be the same for not only mature readers but young readers alike.