Second Chances: The Second Chapter Series

by Sommer-Lee Deaves, CJ Editing (Editor)

She left to chase her dreams. He stayed behind to mend a broken heart.

Eight years ago, Addison Anderson walked away from Banksia Falls determined to leave her grief—and everyone who reminded her of it—behind. After losing her father as a teenager, she pushed away the people who loved her most, including her best friend, Theo Delvaire.

When he confessed his feelings for her at sixteen, Addison did the one thing she knew how to run.

Now, after almost a decade spent in the performing arts, a shattered engagement, and the loss of her grandmother, Addison finds herself back in the hometown she swore she'd never return to. The plan is simple—start over, renovate the house she's inherited, and figure out what comes next.

Then she walks into a local pub and comes face-to-face with the man she left behind.

Theo Delvaire is no longer the boy who loved her. He's talented, infuriatingly handsome, and still carrying the scars she gave him. Seeing Addison again awakens feelings he'd rather bury, and he's determined to keep his distance.

But in a town as small as Banksia Falls, avoiding each other is impossible.

As old wounds reopen and buried emotions rise to the surface, Addison and Theo find themselves caught between the heartbreak of the past and the undeniable pull that still exists between them. Because some loves never truly fade—and some storms are destined to return.

A heartwarming small-town romance about first love, second chances, and finding your way home.

Genres: Romance

Kindle Edition

Published October 22, 2026

Reviews

[Amanda Abbott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored Addie and Theo’s love story! 🥹❤️ There’s something so special about two people finding their way back to each other after years apart, especially when deep down, they’ve always known they were meant to be.

Watching them navigate grief, heartbreak, and Addie’s struggle with pushing everyone away made their journey back to one another even more meaningful. Their love was beautiful, emotional, and so worth the wait.

This book had me giggling, kicking my feet, and feeling giddy the whole way through! I was completely invested in Addie and Theo and was rooting for them every step of the way. 🫶🏻

A beautiful story about love, loss, healing, and second chances. If you love a romance that makes you smile like an absolute fool while also tugging at your heartstrings, this one is for you!

Addie and Theo will forever have my heart. ❤️

[Heather Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alright first off shout out to Sommer-Lee Deaves for giving me the opportunity to ARC read for her! 

Secondly I can't lie,  the beginning of this book had my heart breaking so many times I almost threw in the towel!

BUT I am SO GLAD I didn't! This book turned out to be SO FLIPPING GOOD!  Did I cry? YES! To many dang times lol but that HEA ending! Made allllll the tears worth it! And I absolutely can not wait for book 2 and book 3 of the series to come out in 2027! 

And in case Y'all are wondering.....no this one does not end in a cliffhanger, so go snag this sucker up and give Sommer a chance! Because you will not be disappointed! 

[Ryn Emilee · Rating 5 out of 5]

HOW DARE YOU. 😂

You gave me tension, chemistry, mutual pining, healing, second chances, friends-to-enemies-to-lovers AND THEN DECIDED THE LAST THIRD NEEDED TO EMOTIONALLY ASSAULT ME. 😭

Theo? THEO. 🥵
This man is EVERYTHING. The chemistry between these two is ridiculous, and you can feel from the beginning that they were always meant to find their way back to each other.

Then the last third happened.

I cried FIVE TIMES. Actual tears. Emotional devastation. Not a lot makes me cry. So GREAT. My dignity left the building.

This Aussie rom-com delivered EVERYTHING I love: tension, healing, second chances, chaos and two idiots finally figuring out what everyone else already knew.

Review of an advance copy received from the author.

[Ems · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second chances is by far my favourite work by Sommer thus far. It was everything I love and more in a contemporary. Spicy, fun with a side of trauma.

So so proud of you

[Chy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Sommer for the arc copy!!!!!

This was a spicy Aussie rom com and it was definitely aussie 🤭🤭🤭🤭

Addie and Theo were a great friends to lovers and also seeing them get their chance finally made me happy!! It was fast paced once they got together and it was very BAM!!!

I LOVED the found family and the real family this small town had, seeing the relationships happening in between was so sweet

Im intrigued to read Mayson and Poppy because i still have so many questions.

4 ⭐️

[Usha Phoenix · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Thanks to the author for giving me a chance to ARC read and review this book. Very grateful. Loved it and waiting to see how the rest of the series turn out to be.

I love books about second chances. Usually not for the same MC. I’m always of the opinion that someone who had hurt you in the past might hurt you again. So, there’s no reason to go back to them. But, well, this book had something very different in store for me. And I can say that I loved every ounce of it. Some parts were so emotional that it made me cry. It was smoking hawwwttt and I was literally sweating. OMG OMG OMG. Someone send me holy watahhh! hahahhahaha

An absolute 4.5 star read for me.

Plot & Content Summary

The Premise: Addie had run from the town to find herself… to reinvent herself. Eventually she does. But when she has to go back to her hometown, she comes face to face with her childhood crush Theo. And, it seems that the attraction they have for each other is unimaginable.
Setting: Banksia falls.
Key Themes: Second Chance in Relationship.

Analytical Breakdown

Plot:
Addie had run away from her hometown to explore the world. And we see what it costed her. Addie is very sorry about
Theo, on the other hand, had never left town. He is now a very hot firefighter and is doing his best to live his life.
I love the trope here where usually in second chance romances, it’s the guy who had made mistakes and wants to make amends. In this case, it’s Addie and not Theo.
OMG, I love the tension. And I LOVE the conflict. The chemistry and the tension between them is wonderful. Someone bring a fan for me. AAAAAAA I’m heating up. Love that scene where Theo and Poppy comes to Addie’s home and Addie…. I’m not gonna say it. AAAAAAAA 😳😳😳 🥵🥵🥵🔥🔥🔥
I love some good confrontation scenes. And I must say the scene where she meets that Jason, and then they go into the alley behind the pub. Dammmmn, I’m sweating. Someone bring me a glass of water AAAAA


Characters:
Addie: Addie is a person who had made mistakes and wants so bad to make amends.
Theo: Theo loves Addie so much and she had hurt him and now he can’t hold back his sarcastic responses. But their connection is inevitable.
Other Supporting Characters:
I love this whole family. Her brothers… their different personalities. Their mother is so awesome. And the grief they’re carrying and how grief can cause them to make decisions they might hate later on.
I love her friends. The one that she made when she was outside and the ones back in her hometown. Love them.
Brownie points for Scout. Such a cutie.




Pacing & Structure:
The pacing of this book is soooooo good OMG. I loved it. It did not drag anywhere. There were never a boring scene in this story. It flowed so well, so smoothly, that I ended up reading and finishing it so fast.


Writing Style & Tone: The writing style was fresh and engaging. It was never repetitive or draggy. I loved the characters’ voices were distinct and the characters were all interesting in their own way.
Emotional Impact: This made me cry. What else do you want to know?

Personal Reflection & Rating

What Worked (Pros):
The yearning. The chemistry and the angst OMG. I loved it.
The familial relationships were so good. The brother-siter bond and the way that someone’s decision could affect other people too and that coming back brings back the nostalgia…
I love how the story didn’t show the sunshine of every friends group. It also showed the darker moments where we might be the ones that hurt other people and are trying to make amends.
One of my favorite scenes which made me cry is Mayson going on his motorbike.
Love the platonic relationship between Theo and Poppy and how they stand for each other so well. I hate the concept that says girls and boys can’t be the bestest of friends without there being something between them. heck no. Please. So, the fact that they are best friends and have been best friends since ages without people accusing them and whatnot is so wholesome.
I’m not going into more details, but this is one of the absolute must reads for me.


What Didn't Work (Cons):
It’s a personal preference... I did not like the humiliation part. It didn’t work that well for me. I am usually put off by that, but again, that’s my personal choice.


Favorite Quotes: My favorite quote is NSFW. I’m sure you’ll know once you read this book haha
Ratings:
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 5/5
Emotional Impact: 10/5
Pacing: 5/5
Language: 4.5/5
Spice: 4/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Overall Rating: 4.5/5


Recommendation: Anyone who likes second chance romance where the MC earns the right to have that second chance… that they deserve it. With a bit of spice, of course. Absolutely recommended. A must read. Love love love!!!

[Krystal Kay Fealy · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review

Plot & Pacing
After nearly a decade of avoiding and healing, Addison Anderson finally returns to her small town, Banksia Falls. No longer the broken teenager she used to be, she feels thrust into the past. Especially when she stumbles into her childhood best friend (and ‘secret’ crush): Theo Delvaire, but he’s no longer the bleeding-hearted boy she first met. No, he's a bad boy who wears the scars she gave her when she rejected him at sixteen like armour. (Oh, and he's wickedly hot and the lead singer in his band.)
Theo has spent the last decade burying his feelings for Addison and pretending they never existed. So when Addison falls to her knees in front of him during a performance (accidentally), he's determined to avoid her. But his best friend and their small town make that task impossible.
What starts out as banter and payback quickly turns into something more intense and raw. “Because some loves never truly fade—and some storms are destined to return.”

When I first started this book, I didn’t think this was going to be my kind of book. But I was curious, and I don’t like DNFing books in the first few chapters, but the story's fast pace had me absolutely hooked by the 30% mark. The story gets absolutely unhinged (in the best way) after the 40% mark, and it has emotional moments, sex, and plot twists one after the other and stacked like a Jenga tower. It was so much fun and had just the right amount of crazy, unhinged drama you might expect from an episode of Home and Away.
There are a few things that I wasn’t 100 per cent a fan of, but all in all, I had a blast reading. I can’t wait to get my hands on the physical copy.

Characters
Poppy is Theo's best friend and one of Addie’s childhood friends. The best way to describe her is to compare her to a tornado crashing through everything and creating complete chaos. At the start, she felt underdeveloped and like she was created purely to further the plot (the couple's relationship), but as I got to know her, her character and personality started showing. I didn’t really like her at the start, but she’s grown on me a little; still not sure about her though. But I am curious about her and will definitely give her book a try.

Addison ‘Addie’ is obviously our female main character. For the first few chapters, she felt a little inconsistent sometimes. In retrospect, I realise that this is likely because her life was changing and she wasn’t sure how to handle it. This isn’t a massive thing, but it was something I noted while reading.
Besides that, I really enjoyed her character. She was fun, confident, and just this side of vengeful. (Chapter 3, iykyk). While I didn’t necessarily relate to her, I did feel for her. She had been through so much loss at a young age that I can see why she made the decisions she did. That's what makes her character feel so alive. She was raw and messy, and there's nothing more human than running away from your decisions and having them come back to bite you (sometimes literally).

Theo is our male main character. Initially, Theo's bad boy persona felt a little disingenuous, because it was clear he had a heart of gold. But once we delved into his point of view, that persona made a lot more sense and started to fit him better. After Addison's rejection, he had built his walls up and was determined to never let them fall again. That didn’t last very long once Addie was back in town, though and was basically obliterated after their first kiss.
I can now add another book boyfriend to my never-ending list because this man rearranged my already high standards. I won’t go into details because of spoilers, but let me tell you, this man was never not in love with Addie, despite what he deluded himself into believing.

Romance
Addie and Theo's relationship is heavily intertwined with their childhood. During the first few chapters, when they were having mini flashback moments, I wasn’t entirely comfortable with Addie and Theo's interactions being heavily sexual. It just felt a little weird because of how much the childhood versions of them were being brought up. But once the story started focusing on their current relationship more, that weirdness disappeared quickly.
If I had to sum up their relationship in three words, those three words would be sexy, unconventional and always. Sexy because, well, just read chapters 15, 20, and 21 to find out. Unconventional because once they accepted and embraced their feelings for each other, everything moved super fast. And always because they never really stopped loving each other, and they were always going to end up with others, no matter how long it took.

Prose
This book is very Australian. There is a lot of Aussie slang (some that I didn’t even know) and swearing. So, if you're not a big fan of lots of swearing in your books or in general (like me) or a non-Australian picking up this book, let this be your warning.

[Ellen Badman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eight years ago, Addison ran from her hometown after losing her father and grandfather in the same night. In her grief, she pushed away the people she loved most, believing that leaving was what she needed to become the person she wanted to be.

She left behind Theo and her other best friends. But she was also running from the fact that Theo had confessed his feelings for her, and she was terrified of what that might mean.

Eight years later, Addison inherits her grandmother’s home and returns to Banksia Falls with no real plan for what comes next. Then she walks into her local pub and sees Theo playing with his band.

Theo is no longer the boy she ran from. And he’s not entirely pleased to see her.

I received an ARC of Second Chances from the author in exchange for my honest feedback.

Goodness me, I loved this.

I went into Second Chances expecting a small-town romance, and while it absolutely delivers on that, there is so much more here. This is a story about grief and healing, the importance of the people who know and love you best, and a love that has survived years apart.

It’s fast-paced and incredibly easy to read, while somehow covering far more emotionally and plot-wise than I expected. The pace really suited Addison and Theo’s story and everything they had already been through together, while also setting up the next book in the series so well.

I didn’t expect to laugh, cry AND kick my feet like a schoolgirl, but here we are.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶️🌶️🌶️

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel so lucky to have been chosen as an ARC reader for this and holy shit did it have me utterly HOWLING with laughter. I was positively CACKLING throughout so much of the time I was reading this, and by GOD do I love Theo (and honestly the speed was speeding but I'm so not surprised, my partner and I didn't know each other until we were adults and within months he was tossing around ideas)

I do however question whether or not there were any Italian speakers, fluent or otherwise, involved in the use of a few Italian phrases when it came to the sensitivity speakers, as while I may not be a fluent speaker I do know a little, and the use of the masculine for 'il tesoro' regardless of the subject (who it was being used to refer to) instead of 'la tesoro' for example when it was being used for Addison, or the use of 'the il bambino' when 'le bambine' would have perhaps been more accurate when referring to the situation it was (being the feminine plural) instead of the masculine singular' but with the addition of the English 'the' preceding it when 'il bambino' translates to 'the baby' as is, so to me at least, it reads as 'the the baby' while simultaneously using the wrong gender and the singular instead of the plural for the situation in which it is used.

Overall I did genuinely adore the book and can't wait for the rest of the series to come out one by one and read the other stories yet to come as well.

[Emily Croker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review
omggg this was so unbelievably good!! First off, Addie and Theo, the tension and chemistry between them is so hot. You can just tell they've always meant to be together from the start.

This aussie romcom is just delivering everything from mutual pining to healing to going from friends to enemies to lovers!! This is just my kind of book.

Blurb
She left to chase her dreams. He stayed behind to mend a broken heart.

Eight years ago, Addison Anderson walked away from Banksia Falls determined to leave her grief—and everyone who reminded her of it—behind. After losing her father as a teenager, she pushed away the people who loved her most, including her best friend, Theo Delvaire.

When he confessed his feelings for her at sixteen, Addison did the one thing she knew how to do: run.

Now, after almost a decade spent in the performing arts, a shattered engagement, and the loss of her grandmother, Addison finds herself back in the hometown she swore she'd never return to. The plan is simple—start over, renovate the house she's inherited, and figure out what comes next.


As old wounds reopen and buried emotions rise to the surface, Addison and Theo find themselves caught between the heartbreak of the past and the undeniable pull that still exists between them. Because some loves never truly fade—and some storms are destined to return.

[Emma Woodward · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sommer…This by FAR is my favourite book you’ve written. The way it had me hook, line and sinker (iykyk)…I couldn’t stop reading. I laughed, cried, laughed, cried while laughing and grossly laughed out loud like a possessed animal. The ending left me wanting so much more from this series, and I cannot wait for you to write the next book for me to gawk over.

A couple of *spoiler free* quotes 🫢

“Everything happens for a reason, no matter how painful it may be at the time. It happens for us, to make us stronger. And baby girl, you are the strongest woman I have ever known.”

“The only firemen I’ve been up close and personal with are the ones I slip a fifty into their jocks.”

“I thrash around exactly like a fish stranded on land until I finally manage to drag myself upright, hair wild, dignity shattered into microscopic pieces across the concrete floor.”

“One wink: flirtatious. Two winks maybe I’d drop my panties. Five? I’m calling an ophthalmologist.”

If you like…
💋 Small town romance
💋Broody musicians
💋 He fell first
💋 Second chances
💋 Aussie humour
💋 90s/2000’s vibes


The playlist…gurl…vibed so hard with the journey 💋

Please add this to your TBR. Sommer, as I said, you’ve smashed this out of the park and over the willow tree 😉

[Nikita Lavelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of advance copy received from Author

Sommer apologises for the tears shed, but not the ugly snort… and honestly, that is SO true. 😂 There were definitely plenty of tears and, yes, an ugly snort or two!

I fell in love with Second Chances pretty much straight away. Once I got into the story, I really didn’t want to put it down — although real life rudely made me a few times!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

It was fun, emotional, and had me completely invested in the characters. I loved watching Addie and Theo’s story. There was something so enjoyable about watching them find their way back to each other.

It was fun, emotional, and had me completely invested in the characters. I loved watching them find their way to their HEA, and I’m so happy they got the ending they deserved. ❤️

I can’t wait to get the stories of the other couples we meet in this book. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing where their own stories take us!

Would I read this one again? Absolutely. And would I probably cry again? Also absolutely. 😂

A fun, emotional read with a HEA that left me smiling. 💕

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

If you like:
Small town romances
He fell first
Second chances
Aussie humour
90/2000’s vibes
Broody musician/fireman

You should definately give this one a go! 💕

[Teagan || tbrteagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Sommer’s first step into contemporary romance and I am absolutely blown away.

This book introduces us to Theo and Addie who you will of course fall in love with but we are also gifted with Addie’s wonderful three brothers, a charming Australian small town setting, and a small but mighty trio of friends whose group chat I want to be added to!

Addie’s family is big and filled to the brim with so much love that it falls off the pages and covers you with warmth. I adore Addie’s Mum- I can’t wait for you to meet her.

Addie’s small town childhood friends reunite with her again as an adult but have the pleasure of getting to know her again, as she, like so many of us has stitched herself into a new version of who she once was. This was so relatable, and probably my favourite side story- watching Addie shine as the woman she now is.

Sommer’s storytelling captures the ‘found family/made family’ feeling spectacularly. By the end I felt like I knew the side characters well and I am absolutely feral to read all their stories!

Addie’s family has loved and lost and Sommer takes you by the hand and allows you to feel all the beautiful bittersweet feelings that come with love, forgiveness, second chances and new beginnings.

I laughed, I cried! I unlocked a new spicy kink!

[Karen Bowness · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is one wild Aussie ride and I am totally here for it!

It’s got sass, it’s got spice, it’s got toys 😉, it’s got crazy Aussie humour and slang, but most of all, it’s got a fabulous cast of characters! Addison and Theo, our MCs, missed their moment back when they were teenagers - too much grief had Addison running scared and running away. A return home to the small town she grew up in brings all the feelings back and their chemistry is off the charts! Theo was heartbroken but has never forgotten his complete and utter love for Addison. Did I mention Theo is a singer in a rock band AND a fireman!!

I really loved how making new memories helped them all to overcome the pain of past grief and bring peace to a family that really needed it - all with a very healthy dose of humour!

With Addison finding redemption with her old friends and reconnecting with her brothers, each one has their own story going on that combines perfectly with the MCs. I hope we get to see some of their continued stories in future books because they are all so great!

Fabulous book - that’s all 😉

Thank you Sommer-Lee for the advanced copy.

[Anisa Worthington · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a RIDE!

I love Sommer's writing style, and she pulled none of her punches in this second chance rom-com. This was everything I wanted, and then some.

The nostalgia, the emotion, the music, the SEX 🤭

The only time I stopped reading was to laugh because my GOD those jokes and one-liners were perfect and so relatable.

But ... Is that not what rom-coms are about?
That's why I read them. To have fun and escape into a dramatic story. And I was able to with this book.

I even cried! 👀

But beyond that, I also kept hope. If Addie could do what she does in the book, then maybe I can to with my life and goals. She was inspiring, in all aspects. So I'm thankful to Sommer for creating a character, a world, like this one for others to grow and learn from too.

And also, to remind everyone that sometimes the answer IS to let loose and have fun 😆

But truly, reading about these characters and their hope at restarting life so many years later was a breath of fresh air amongst novels I've read lately.

Loved it.
Need book 2 ASAP!

[Jess | Earbuds & Epilogues · Rating 5 out of 5]

I inhaled this book in days and I loved it. I love all the characters (except that one bitch and 2 dickheads), love their relationships/friendships, I love all the little Aussie nuggets that only Aussies will get.
Addison returns to her home town after 11 years and crashes, literally, into the bloke whose heart she broke very publicly before she left. Theo might have held onto that grudge, he might still have feelings for her, he’s definitely a sexy singing fireman.
The friendships with her besties are repaired and it’s like she never left and none of them went through a bunch of emotional shit in those 11 years. I love the banter throughout from all the characters, including the mums! I was absolutely tapping my toes and giggling like a teenager for so much of this but it wasn’t without the emotional dips too and there were tears, some happy ones too. Keep the tissues handy at the end. Frothing for the rest of the series! 5 stars, no notes.
I was given an ARC of this book and this is my honest review

[Tash F · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much Sommer for the opportunity to read this as an ARC read. To say I enjoyed this book is an understatement. I woke my partner up so many times laughing and jumping around and kicking my legs while reading in bed. From the throw backs to MSN group chats, the Aussie banter, slang and references such as ‘Marge, the rains are here.’ But chapter 9 is definitely the part I reacted to the most. Oh and how can we forget about Jerry 🐙.

In this Aussie Rom-Com we meet Addie, FMC, returning home to Banksia Falls from heart break and grieving the loss of her grandmother. When she left she cut ties with almost everyone she called her bestie. In this small town will she be welcomed back, will her friends forgive her for pushing them away and running after the death of her father and grandfather on the same night? Will her brothers and mum welcome her with open arms? This is fast paced and you’ll fall in love with the side characters that you’ll be hanging to get your hands on the next book of the series like me!

[Rachs_Bookish_World · Rating 4 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed this story. I love a small town romance and one set in Australia, I couldn’t go past it!
Addie and Theo had great chemistry and their relationship was super sweet. Also unbelievably hot 🥵
Their second-chance romance was full of banter, forgiveness and hope for a better future. It made me laugh and smile (and cry) multiple times. A true rollercoaster of emotions.

I also really enjoyed all the friend and family characters and I am excited to see the relationships that bloom in the next books. Poppy, River and Lo all deserve their own happy endings.

I loved a lot of the Aussie references, blue light discos, gum trees and Aussie parmi’s at the local pub. However there were a few that felt abit forced and out of place. Words like minge and fanny and slag, I understand why they were used and they did make me giggle but I also didn’t feel like they fit in with the rest of the book. They kind of felt thrown in for shock value rather than actually needed.

That being said, I did enjoy this story quite a lot and am keen to continue the series in the future.

[Marissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second Chances is a fun, spicy romance that delivers all the warm and fuzzy feels while still giving its characters the space to navigate their emotions and experiences.

I absolutely LOVED reading this!

I laughed, I felt sad, I cheered for Addison, and I felt the weight of loss and grief alongside all the ups and downs of small-town romance.

And whilst the spice is definitely spicing in this story, there's a genuine emotional depth running throughout, particularly when it comes to Addison and her journey. There was a moment when I had no idea where the story was heading, and it had my heart in a vice grip! I was glued to the page.

This story has everything I love about a fun second chance romance, but it was the ending that became my absolute favourite part! I was laughing out loud, and by the time I turned the final page, I felt so incredibly satisfied.

What a fun, heartfelt and thoroughly enjoyable read!

I received this story as an ARC, however, this review reflects my honest thoughts and feelings, shared voluntarily.

[AJ Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best way to describe this would be a story that delivers a relationship between laughter and emotional damage. There were many times I had to stop reading because I was seriously laughing way too hard. Other times, I'd want to cry, whether it was from the sure pain described or from the happiness spilling off the pages. Then the spice, I mean you can just guess what 10 years of yearning could do to two people. 😉

The story follows Addie and Theo. Throughout it, you learn the why and how of Addie's departure and what made her return. You'll also get to know just how much it affected Theo and see how he fights tooth and nail to not let the feelings resurface. You gotta love a good slow burn that is absolutely inevitable.

I can't wait to see what happens next because the side characters definitely will find a space in your heart. I'm rooting so hard for River, and I hope she receives all the love she deserves.

[Paige · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sommer I mean this with love. Fuck you 😂😂 I didn't go to sleep till 3:45am due to your book! How dare you write a story with tension, then with so much heat and the last third I cried 5 times 😭

Addie comes back home to her small town after being cheated on by her fiance. She has history there, she has her best friends who she stopped speaking to and a guy who meant more to her than she realised but broke his heart at 16.
Now? Theo is in every definition of her ideal man.

Theo and Addie have so much tension between them it literally flies off the page 🥵 Theo may be sweet but in the sheets? Loves to throw Addie around... And the sassy and strong Addie? Cannot get enough!

I don't want to spoil the ending BUT holy shit Theo is the best and I adore him 😮‍💨😮‍💨

Cannot wait to see Lo and Hudson's book, oh and River and Archer is absolutely going to be a thing (teacher x parent) and don't get me started on finding more about Poppy and Mayson 🥰

[Kindle Book Worm By The Sea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow this book had everything, smut, grief, friends, family, small town, everything I could want from a book.

Addie upped and left town 8 years ago chasing dreams while running from grief, pushing everyone out of her life, that is until she finds Jake cheating on her. She returns to the small town to live in the house she inherits from her grandmothers.

Theo’s heart belonged to Addie the day he set eyes on her under the willow tree all those years ago. They were inseparable, until she pushed him away after he told her his feelings.

Will her friends ever forgive her, can she make amends with her brothers, and can her and Theo the man bun wearing, tattooed hunk of a man he’s become ever get on speaking terms?

I laughed, cried and blushed, definitely going to look at fine china differently from now on!

Thank you Sommer for the ARC of this book. I can’t wait to read the rest in the series and hear the brothers stories!

[Danisbooklife · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

First loves, years of heartbreak, small-town romance and the chance to find your way back to the person you never really stopped loving?

There’s something about a second-chance romance with a childhood best-friends-to-lovers storyline that just hits differently. Addison and Theo have so much history, and the fact that their story is tangled up in grief, lost time and feelings that never truly went away makes this such an emotional premise.

Add in returning to your hometown, forced proximity and two people who have some serious past hurt to work through, and you’ve got all the ingredients for a romance that makes you want to scream at the characters to JUST TALK TO EACH OTHER or don’t 👀 iykyk

Sometimes finding your way forward means going back to the place—and the person—you left behind. Sommer writes this so well, I loved it.

If you love small-town romance, first love and the kind of second chance that comes with a whole lot of history, this one deserves a spot on your radar.

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolute 5-star masterpiece!

This book delivered absolutely everything, and I freaking loved it!

As an Aussie, I could not get enough of the setting, the banter and everyday sayings (a few I even use myself) had me completely laughing out loud. I connected so deeply with this story.

Beneath all the incredible humor, there is a core of raw emotion, deep love, family and a friends who become family dynamic that is just next level. It is crazy, chaotic, and completely perfect.

And Theo, the MMC? I think I am officially in love. Everyone needs a Theo in their life! The chemistry and the spice are absolute chef’s kiss.

The book is beautifully written. The flashbacks and backstory sections for both the FMC and MMC are perfectly placed, giving a flawless full picture of their history. I found myself adding so many annotations while reading.

I laughed out loud, I cried when I absolutely wasn't expecting to, and I just can't express in words how much I fell in love with this world.

[Shazz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was beautifully funny. It's the only way I can describe it. I laughed, like giggling, kicking my feet laughing, especially when Poppy, River and Addie were together.

The relationships between friends & family dynamics were absolutely beautifully written.

The characters quickly become someone you're invested in and want to see succeed. The speech Mayson makes, had me in tears. There are parts in this book that made me cry, not from grief but happiness.

This book is so well written you cannot stop reading it.
Lo is the best friend everyone needs, and that one friend you can't have on loud speaker when they call! Lol

This was a 5 star read for me and I would highly recommend it. I will definitely be not only buying a trophy copy, but will be buying the rest of series when it releases.

[Rae K-B · Rating 4 out of 5]

If I could convince you to read this on the playlist alone, I would try that, however I am thinking you want more than that, so here we go. (will also do my best to spoiler free).

Second Chances is a lovely book about just that - second chances; not only in love but also in friendships, life and being happy. After some tough life experiences at a young age Addie decides a fresh start is needed and leaves the small-town life behind.... or so she thinks. Fast forward almost a decade later where life hasn't exactly played out as she hoped and something has brought her back to Banksia Falls. Theo has moved on from the girl who first broke his heart or so he thought, until she shows up where his band is playing. The sparks fly between the two in all the right and wrong ways.

The tropes:
✨ Second Chance Small Town Romance
✨ He Fell First
✨ She Ran Away
✨ Forced Proximity
✨ Mutual Pining
✨ Friends to “enemies” to lovers

What I enjoyed:
✨ The characters are diverse, well written and fun.
✨ The situations are honestly what you expect to find in that of a small town.
✨ The slow burn and the sudden flames (going for the intentional fire reference)
✨ The playlist
✨ The friends and family
✨That scene
✨The banter

Sommer-Lee did a great job in covering healing from childhood traumas whilst also giving the right balance of spice, romance and friendship. There were moments that the story did feel a little rushed and faster paced than what was probably needed, but it didn't take away from the story in any way. The Aussie humour was on point and perfectly sprinkled throughout the book.

This story had me swooning, laughing and in tears and yet I don't regret a minute of reading it. I cannot wait for the rest of the series to follow the stories of the romances that we had little droplets of in this book.

[whatcaityreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 Stars
Set in a small Australian town, this story follows Theo and Addison, whose relationship was shattered by a mistake Addie made during one of the darkest periods of her life after losing her father. Fast forward ten years, and they're thrown back into each other's orbit, carrying all the hurt, resentment, and unresolved feelings from the past.
I was hooked from the very first chapter and couldn't put it down. The tension between Theo and Addie was palpable, and I loved the will-they-won't-they dynamic that kept me turning the pages. Their history felt authentic, and watching them navigate old wounds while confronting their lingering feelings made for an emotional and engaging read.
The small-town Australian setting added plenty of charm, and both characters were easy to become invested in. While I thoroughly enjoyed their journey, I did feel like their relationship went from 0 to 100 quite quickly once they finally gave in to their feelings. That said, the chemistry between them is undeniable, and readers looking for plenty of spice will not be disappointed because this book definitely brings the heat.

[Emma Clouten · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️ 🌶️🌶️🌶️


Girl you wrote an amazing book from start to finish I was absolutely obsessed I laughed, I cried well more like sobbed in parts. I thought the pacing was great. This book has everything in it tension, chemistry, spice, angst and a bloody great plot. I really loved Addison I thought she was very relatable and real I loved watching her grow throughout and the love she has for Theo I think we all wish for love like that.

Now Mr Theo that man knows how to please from words to actions he absolutely adores Addison like she’s the only thing that matters my heart broke in a certain chapter but I’m glad it had a happy ending

These two were perfect for each other the love they have for their family and themselves is adorable.


I received this book as an ARC in return for my honest review

[Jackie Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second Chances is Addison and Theo’s fast paced second chance love story set in the small town of Banksia Falls. This is the first book I have read by this author but it won’t be the last.
Addison left after losing her father and grandfather on the same night what she didn’t realise was in her hour of need she pushed away the people she loved most. But now eight years later she is finally home after inheriting her grandmothers home. So what happens when she walks into the local pub and comes face to face with Theo playing with his band. Theo confessed his love for her before she left so will he still feel the same all these years later…….
This book touched me on so many levels, I smiled, I swooned, I cried and at times I laughed out loud. The characters are strong,their story has depth and it didn’t take me long to become invested in them.

[Bronwyn Wilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holy spicy toledo. This book is really good. We have country towns, second chances, spice and family reunions.
Addie returns to her childhood town to move into her grandmothers house. She reunites with family and friends she hasn't seen in years including the boy who had a crush on her but she broke his heart.
The coming back together of everyone is so emotional. But the coming together of Addie and Theo is filled with emotion, passion and connection.
This book is genuine with some hilarious moments and a few great lines.
My favourite part is all the secret chats that get created and hidden from different people with the town.
This book is so good, I'm not usually a contemporary romance but this made me laugh out loud and cry. I look forward to the other books in the series.