Thursday, June 8, 2023

6.8.2023 - The Second Ending

The Second Ending by Michelle   Hoffman 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Ballantine Books for gifting me a digital ARC of this wonderful debut novel by Michelle Hoffman - 5 stars!

Prudence and her husband just dropped their youngest child off at college and Prudence is having a crisis.  She was a child piano prodigy, pushed abusively by her grandmother to be the best.  After a failed first marriage, she began writing commercial jingles and found much success.  She gets an offer to be on a piano duel reality show, but the attention it brings to her also brings her ex-husband to her door, demanding money over a discovered secret.  Her show rival, Alexei, is classically perfect but his upbringing has left him without friends or any kind of life away from the piano.  The show is the chance for each to prove something.

This was such a light, fun book yet one filled with an important message - it's never too late for dreams.  While Prudence comes across a bit snarky because she has no filter, I found myself rooting for both of these characters equally.  I loved how each chapter was a different song title and the love of music resonated throughout.  But mostly music for the love of music - something that can't be taught.  The ending was perfection!  Can't wait to read more from this author!

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