A Bridesmaid's Guide to Second Chances: A Steamy Small-Town Second Chance Romance

by South Hopkins, Michelle Hopkins (Editor)

Genres: Second Chance, Amazon

112 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 15, 2026

About the author

South Hopkins writes contemporary love stories full of supercharged banter, laugh-out-loud humor, and characters who fall hard, fast, and a little recklessly. Her stories are packed with undeniable chemistry and all the chaos that comes with it.

When she’s not writing, South collects crystals, observes life’s little disasters, or sips iced coffee while dreaming up her next story.

Sign up for her newsletter https://preview.mailerlite.io/preview...

or follow her on Instagram (@southhopkinswrites) and TikTok (@southwrites) to stay updated on her latest swoons, laughs, and upcoming stories.

Reviews

[Bea · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a ARC review :)

Cute, good, short novella with all the feels and a HEA <3
Slight slow burn, to the point it is possible in a novella, but it is worth it.
If you're a fan of longing, tension, drunk confessions and yearning, this is the story for you!


Perfect second chance romance between childhood best friends who weren't smart enough to tell each other they had feelings.
Caleb coming back to town after years of not seeing or talking to his best friend; having left because he thought she was interested in someone who wasn't him is the best driver of the plot. Not to mention Daisy working with his sister and him helping when he returns to town.

There is some lack of detail and backstory but the story is good enough to be worth the read regardless.

[a.vangasse · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a review of an arc, provided by the author. Thank you South Hopkins for this opportunity 😀

I loved this story! It’s such a quick and fun read. The book is only 70 pages but I didn’t feel like I missed anything in this book. It has the plot and ofcourse some spice in it!

Let me telly you that I can’t wait to read about the other flower girls!🥰

If you like
👉 contemporary short romance
👉 friends to lovers

Then you should definitely read this book!

[Megan Key · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun, quick read. Daisy and Caleb are so adorable together, once they get over their past hurts. I always love a good friends to lovers story. This one just happens to be friends to sorta strangers to lovers. I would love to give Cauli some cuddles. I look forward to Iris’ journey to love in book 2!

[Ruthie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Caleb and Daisy are the most charming story I have read. These friends to lovers have to face some serious misconceptions about their friendship and feelings have towards each other. Like any good enemies to lovers there’s avoiding and anger that make for the best banter and a great ending. This is my first book with this author and I am so happy this book is a series because I definitely can’t wait to catch up with Daisy and Caleb and follow Iris in her book. If you want a cozy book this summer while at the beach or the park or the comfort of your home definitely pick up this book. Happy reading.

[Laura-Jane Barber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute! I met the author and she’s adorable!

[Chloë · Rating 5 out of 5]

5✨

Publication Date: 15th May 2026
READ NOW - Kindleunlimited & Paperback

A short, sweet but spicy second chance romance for readers who enjoy -
👰🏻‍♀️ Palpable tension & undeniable chemistry
🐾 Strong sisterhood/girl gang vibes
👰🏻‍♀️ He’s all in for her & always has been
🐾 A happy ending


~ plot ~

As a wedding planner, Daisy spends her days helping other people with their happily ever afters. Ironically, she couldn’t be further from that point herself. For the last 6 years - since her best friend Caleb ghosted her & broke her heart, she’s kept it firmly under lock & key.

Back in town after 6 years away, Caleb is determined to make things right with Daisy. She was his best friend, his person & not a day has gone by where he didn’t think of her.

With the pair forced to work together, it doesn’t take long for old feelings to come rushing back. But with 2 guarded hearts, a major miscommunication & 6 years worth of hurt, is it too late?


~ review ~

I really enjoyed this sweet & spicy second chance novella. My only complaint? I wish it was longer! It was so well paced & I was dialled in from start to finish. The alternating dual POV format was perfect for this type of story as it gave a real insight into what was going on in Daisy & Caleb’s minds. The humour, wit, sarcasm & banter had me laughing out loud & I loved the ‘Flower Girl’s group chat. When it came to the spice, it was just the right amount & although hot & heavy, it was soft & intimate too.

If you find yourself with a spare hour & want a little escape from reality, this entertaining, heartwarming but heart racing novella is the perfect choice!

~

Daisy was such a relatable character & the angel vs devil battle she had going on with herself had me laughing so hard because girl, I GET IT! The overalls, muscles, abs & smile - if I’m being totally honest, I’d have folded faster.
I connected with her right away & thanks to South Hopkin’s engaging, immersive writing, I felt everything she was feeling too. The hurt, the betrayal, the internal battle, having to put a brave face on day in day out, surrounded by love when you have a Caleb shaped hole in your heart? Torture. SO glad she got her happy ending & the fact she was a book lover too - 10/10!

Caleb, Caleb, Caleb. First off, the ghosting? Not cool. However, a broken heart can make you do funny things & in the long run, it all worked out for the best! I was with this guy from the jump, I mean that introduction was like something from a Hallmark movie - Daisy caught the bouquet, he caught Daisy, it was perfect! Something that really stuck with me was how he remembered seemingly inconsequential things from his & Daisy’s past as it just hammered home how much she meant to him. He really didn’t stop thinking about her for 6 years! What a guy.
PS. any man who will carry your shopping bags is a keeper.

~

Thank you so much to South Hopkins for reaching out to me about this book, I’m so glad we crossed paths & can’t wait for the next one where we get to see what Iris get’s up to 💖

[With a W Kerr · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ll start with the pros. The writing was decent and the scene where Daisy lets him have it at the light house was so cathartic. The girls friend group was fun and I love they call themselves the Flower Girls. The ending epilogue was so sweet and fun.

The rest…just didn’t hit. It was mostly sweet but Caleb’s excuse for ghosting his supposed best friend and the love of his life is so weak and he didn’t really apologize at all and then they’re having sex. I mean, not only did he bail without talking to her, he treated her cold and distant when she continued to reach out to him. He also felt very one dimensional.

FYI, a shirtless dude in overalls doesn’t sound attractive, no matter how sexy the guy is. Seems very redneck farmer John to me.

Daisy was weak willed. My guy didn’t even really apologize and she’s sleeping with him. Not only that, but it seems she didn’t have feelings for him when he was skinny and dorky, those only “developed” after he got buff and hot. She did feel more fleshed out than Caleb.

Their connection seemed very superficial. I didn’t feel the love or the yearning, other than the single scene of Daisy’s breakdown at the lighthouse.

I would like to have known if they were with other people during their time apart. It seems like they were, which is more irritating on Caleb’s part bc he says he had to leave to grow up and become a man. That reads to me like he needed to get buff and sleep around before coming home to settle down with “the one” 🙄 at least on Daisy’s part she didn’t know Caleb was ever going to return to her so what’s the point in waiting.

[ValerieK · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Daisy and Caleb

This book is absolutely adorable! It is a relatively quick read with a satisfying HEA. I really enjoyed the author’s writing style as this was the first book of hers I’ve read and it definitely won’t be the last!!!

Her writing immediately captures your attention the detail and relatability she brings to the characters made it so easy to get into the story and keep turning the pages. When I hit chapter 2 was absolutely sold on Daisy and Caleb!

This book had me smiling, laughing, wanting to give Daisy the biggest hug and desperately hoping these two would finally figure it out.
It is a sweet romance filled with friends to enemies to lovers tension, found family vibes, a golden retriever MMC, and a strong FMC.

I Definitely recommend this book!

I did received a copy of this book as an advanced reader copy from the author.

[Jess M &#x1fa77; · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐️ ARC read

South reached out to me on Instagram as she noticed I loved romance books and I have to say this sweet novella was a perfect into to her writing!

I loved the story between Daisy and Caleb - high school best friends who secretly love each other. I honestly think this could have been a great full sized read with more of their story and details but what we got given ticked all the boxes!

💜 small town vibes
💜 high school sweethearts/best friends
💜 best friends brother
💜 short and sweet

Excited for the next book of Iris with the little sneak peak at the end 🥰

[Joanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

It wasn't bad but the few good things that stood out to me: the FMC's friend group supported her no matter what, when the FMC talked to the MMC about what he did and how that hurt her, and the book feeling more like a girls supporting girls type rom-com than anything else.

The MMC was a terrible person, in my opinion. He let a few things get in the way of his supposed best friend (FMC), didn't support her and let the town run her out, and basically treat her as a pariah, and the grovel was barely there.

[Anita Castro · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨Thank you South Hopkins for an advance copy of this novella✨

A second chance romance between a wedding planner and her best friend who ghosted her when he left for college. The story is quickly paced and I finished it in one sitting. Since it’s a novella, there’s not a ton of character development but the story still works without pages of details. I can’t wait to read about the other flower girls !

[Krystle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun short read

OMG! I just adored this! Daisy's internal monologue throughout was funny and so relatable. I was so happy to see that the two of them actually took the time to finally talk with, or rather yell at, each other. They both deserved to clear the air.

The way the bouquet toss was written to set up the next couple is such a fun little twist and I can't wait to see how the other stories play out.

[Notepadgal · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you like short and sweet romance books, then this is for you.

Daisy meets her high-school crush at friend's wedding, after he moved away 6 years prior with no warning and now all her feelings come flooding back.

I feel like the book was too short, meaning the build up to the romance element missed the mark. It jumped quickly through the story building side, personally I feel like more could have been added.

Needless to say it is a good choice if you prefer shorter reads.

[Christine Goutmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very quick read, it manages to pack a whole romance story into 70 pages, and doesn’t even leave out the spicy part. The story lost nothing by being short, I loved it, and absolutely am looking forward to the rest of the flower girls getting their hea’s too.

[Geane Stevenson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun read

Loved this fun look at life long friends that form a close knit group because they all have flower names. Cute idea to tie them all together. I loved the characters and quickly became enthralled with their relationship and the outcome of their love. I want more!

[Christine Peiper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, South Hopkins, for the chance to ARC this book. It was such a cute, quick read. I enjoyed every minute of it.

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Storyline

This was a good storyline, I was hoping for more sexy scene but was disappointed with the ending being so abrupt!