Book Summary and Reviews of The Bookshop of Second Chances by Jackie Fraser

Book Summary

A woman desperate to turn a new page heads to the Scottish coast and finds herself locked in a battle of wills with an infuriatingly aloof bookseller in this utterly heartwarming debut, perfect for readers of Evvie Drake Starts Over.

Thea Mottram is having a bad month. She's been let go from her office job with no notice—and to make matters even worse, her husband of nearly twenty years has decided to leave her for one of her friends. Bewildered and completely lost, Thea doesn't know what to do. But when she learns that a distant great uncle in Scotland has passed away, leaving her his home and a hefty antique book collection, she decides to leave Sussex for a few weeks. Escaping to a small coastal town where no one knows her seems to be exactly what she needs.

Almost instantly, Thea becomes enamored with the quaint cottage, comforted by its cozy rooms and lovely but neglected garden. The locals in nearby Baldochrie are just as warm, quirky, and inviting. The only person she can't seem to win over is bookshop owner Edward Maltravers, to whom she hopes to sell her uncle's book collection. His gruff attitude—fueled by an infamous, long-standing feud with his brother, a local lord—tests Thea's patience. But bickering with Edward proves oddly refreshing and exciting, leading Thea to develop feelings she hasn't experienced in a long time. As she follows a thrilling yet terrifying impulse to stay in Scotland indefinitely, Thea realizes that her new life may quickly become just as complicated as the one she was running from.

Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!

1. The setting of the Scottish coast is intrinsic to this book. Discuss the ways in which the setting functions as a character in the novel and how each of the human characters relates to it.
2. What specific themes does the author emphasize throughout the novel? What do you think she is trying to get across to the reader?
3. How do Thea and Edward change, grow, or evolve throughout the course of the story? What events trigger such changes?
4. What do you think the author's purpose was in writing this book? What ideas was she trying to get across?
5. What did you think about the ending—were you satisfied or disappointed with it? How do you picture the Thea and Edward's lives after the story closes?
6. How did ...