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Second First Impressions: A heartwarming romcom from the bestselling author of The Hating Game Paperback – 7 April 2022
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'A truly adorable, heart-warming, swoon-worthy love story' Beth O'Leary
The latest swoonworthy romcom from the bestselling author of TikTok sensation The Hating Game
First impressions aren't always what they seem . . .
Ruthie Midona is twenty-four (going on ninety-four) and fully committed to her job at a luxury retirement village. Keeping herself busy caring for the eccentric residents means that Ruthie can safely ignore her own life - what little there is of it.
Teddy Prescott is practically allergic to a hard day's work. When he rocks up as the retirement village's newest employee, Ruthie is less than impressed. The last thing she needs is a distraction as irritating (and handsome) as this selfish rich kid. Lucky for Ruthie, her favourite pair of mischievous residents need a new assistant to torture... so she hands over Teddy, ready for them to send him running.
Except Teddy may be about to surprise her - not just by surviving the old women's antics, but by charming Ruthie so much, she starts to remember that there's more to life than work.
And just maybe, her second first impression will lead to the love of a lifetime . . .
PRAISE FOR SALLY THORNE
'Hilarious, heartfelt, smart and sexy . . . everything I want in a romance' Sarah J. Maas
'The warmest, coziest, sweetest book of the year, an absolutely perfect blend of humour and heart' Emily Henry
'Funny, sexy and instantly unputdownable' Paige Toon
'Charming, self-deprecating, quick-witted and funny' New York Times
'Bursting at the seams with love (and hate) and heart' Christina Lauren
'One of the most delectable rom-coms I've ever read' Entertainment Weekly
'Lovely' Bella
- Print length352 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherPiatkus
- Publication date7 April 2022
- Dimensions12.6 x 3.4 x 19.6 cm
- ISBN-10034942893X
- ISBN-13978-0349428932
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From the Publisher
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Product description
Review
Distraction (n): Something that turns your attention away from something you want to concentrate on. See: Teddy Prescott.
Ruthie Midona is twenty-four (going on ninety-four) and fully committed to her job at a luxury retirement village. Keeping herself busy caring for the eccentric residents means that Ruthie can safely ignore her own life - what little there is of it.
Teddy Prescott is practically allergic to a hard day's work. When he rocks up as the retirement village's newest employee, Ruthie is less than impressed. The last thing she needs is a distraction as irritating (and handsome) as this selfish rich kid. Lucky for Ruthie, her favourite pair of mischievous residents need a new assistant to torture... so she hands over Teddy, ready for them to send him running.
Except Teddy may be about to surprise her - not just by surviving the old women's antics, but by charming Ruthie so much, she starts to remember that there's more to life than work... Could Teddy be far more than simply an unwelcome distraction?
Book Description
From the Back Cover
Distraction (n): Something that turns your attention away from something you want to concentrate on. See: Teddy Prescott.
Ruthie Midona is twenty-four (going on ninety-four) and fully committed to her job at a luxury retirement village. Keeping herself busy caring for the eccentric residents means that Ruthie can safely ignore her own life - what little there is of it.
Teddy Prescott is practically allergic to a hard day's work. When he rocks up as the retirement village's newest employee, Ruthie is less than impressed. The last thing she needs is a distraction as irritating (and handsome) as this selfish rich kid. Lucky for Ruthie, her favourite pair of mischievous residents need a new assistant to torture... so she hands over Teddy, ready for them to send him running.
Except Teddy may be about to surprise her - not just by surviving the old women's antics, but by charming Ruthie so much, she starts to remember that there's more to life than work... Could Teddy be far more than simply an unwelcome distraction?
About the Author
Product details
- Publisher : Piatkus; 1st edition (7 April 2022)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 352 pages
- ISBN-10 : 034942893X
- ISBN-13 : 978-0349428932
- Dimensions : 12.6 x 3.4 x 19.6 cm
- Best Sellers Rank: 754 in Erotic Photography
- 12,644 in Romantic Comedy (Books)
- 33,016 in Literary Fiction (Books)
- Customer reviews:
About the author
![Sally Thorne](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/S/amzn-author-media-prod/9l07rae43kkk4i0m59ifr6o47e._SY600_.jpg)
Sally Thorne lives in Canberra, Australia and spends her days writing funding submissions and drafting contracts (yawn!) so it's not surprising that after hours she climbs into colorful fictional worlds of her own creation. Sally believes that romance readers are always searching for intensity in their next favorite book - and it isn't always so easy to find. The Hating Game is her first novel.
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings, help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyses reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the characters in the book to be caring, cute, and adorable. They also describe the storyline as excellent, well-written, and intense. Readers also mention the atmosphere as a giant hug, with humor and warmth on the pages.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the characters in the book to be realistic and cute. They also mention that the dialogue is realistic and internal voices are always present.
"...As always, the supporting characters are well-rounded and fully formed, with distinct voices. These are not filler characters here...." Read more
"...What I loved about this book is the vulnerability of the characters and the skilful way the author conveys emotions. This story was simply beautiful...." Read more
"...Sweet, funny and all the characters are charming...." Read more
"...Ruthie and Teddy are too cute...." Read more
Customers find the storyline excellent, delightful, and a brilliant escape from reality.
"...and I’d say a warm, cosy rom com novel with a gentle, lighthearted storyline is definitely one of my guilty pleasures...." Read more
"...This story was simply beautiful. And the chemistry between Ruthie and Teddy leapt off the page. Loved this book!!!" Read more
"...The plot is simple. Ruthie is 25 going on 125 and works at a retirement village...." Read more
"...This is a lovely story...one I’ll read again, like her other books.Ruthie and Teddy are too cute...." Read more
Customers find the writing style well-written, cosy, and intense. They also appreciate the author's skillful way of conveying emotions and making sentences sparkle.
"...book is the vulnerability of the characters and the skilful way the author conveys emotions. This story was simply beautiful...." Read more
"...I love everything she writes and the way she can make a sentence sparkle; e.g. "The knowledge that my cuddle-bug soulmate might be just there, under..." Read more
"...Sally is such a talented writer who manages to give her narrating characters such a unique, and authentic voice...." Read more
"Well written, cosy yet intense rendering of a perfect love story. Difficult to put down. Characters you will adore. Loved it." Read more
Customers find the atmosphere in the book to be warm. They also describe it as a giant hug of a book.
"...Second First Impressions is a giant hug of a book. There's so much humour and warmth on the pages, something I think we ALL need right now...." Read more
"...No… but that’s okay! It was comforting, happy little read and I’m more than happy to continue on this rom com journey...." Read more
"Well written, cosy yet intense rendering of a perfect love story. Difficult to put down. Characters you will adore. Loved it." Read more
"A cosy, wonderful read..." Read more
Customers find the book has a lot of humor and warmth on the pages.
"...Second First Impressions is a giant hug of a book. There's so much humour and warmth on the pages, something I think we ALL need right now...." Read more
"...Teddy is as lovely as Joshua and Ruthie is as engaging as Lucy. Sweet, funny and all the characters are charming...." Read more
"...It was sweet and funny and heartwarming.Perfect" Read more
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Top reviews
Top reviews from United Kingdom
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It's a sign of a great author when they don't rest on their laurels and write the same story trope repeatedly (especially when their debut novel became the quintessential example of Enemies-to-Friends-to-Lovers). Each of Sally's three novels have distinct characters, with distinct personalities, and distinct voices. What they do all have in common is Thorne's realistic dialogue and internal voices that I, as a reader can always identify with. There's often an almost breathless quality to the internal dialogue of her female protagonists and I feel as if they can read my mind.
Second First Impressions is a giant hug of a book. There's so much humour and warmth on the pages, something I think we ALL need right now. Ruthie is so relatable as someone who hates change yet craves something... more. And, while physically Teddy isn't my ideal 'book boyfriend', I fell totally and utterly head over heels in love with him by chapter six, after his first day working at Providence Retirement Villa, and my crush only got stronger from there. As always, the supporting characters are well-rounded and fully formed, with distinct voices. These are not filler characters here. Each person is integral to the story and perfectly placed. From to the delightfully wicked Renata, and her ever patient 'sister' Aggie to the fabulous Melanie and her Sasaki Method; they all bring the story alive. I had to pace myself reading the book (I could very, very easily have read it in one sitting) because I honestly didn't want it to end. That said, now that I have finished it, I can't wait to read it again. I genuinely think that this is one story I will be reading over and over again. Essential reading.
Overall Rating: can I give it ❤❤❤❤❤❤??
Heat Rating: 🔥🔥
Emotional Rating: 😂😂😊😢😢🥰😍
I’m a bit of a sucker for a romantic reality show - (think Love is Blind, Married at First Sight Australia 💖) and I’d say a warm, cosy rom com novel with a gentle, lighthearted storyline is definitely one of my guilty pleasures. Does this make me a hopeless romantic? Possibly…
This book follows a similar concept as The Hating Game - two seemingly mismatched singles thrown together in unusually high stakes circumstances. I devoured this novel on one cosy Sunday. Is it the best book I’ll read this year? No. Will I remember this book in a few weeks time? No… but that’s okay! It was comforting, happy little read and I’m more than happy to continue on this rom com journey.
I procrastinated starting this book on release day because I wanted to savour the feeling of still having it to read. I knew once I started it, I'd inhale every word, but I'm also not someone who can wait once something is released.
The plot is simple. Ruthie is 25 going on 125 and works at a retirement village. For the first time ever, she has people her own age on-site - Mel the temp, and Teddy, the new owner's son who can't quite get past his reputation as a charming rascal. While they work on making Ruthie feel 25 for once, Renata and Aggie, 91 and 89 respectively, steal every scene they're in as chief trouble makers at Providence retirement village. Cue: a warm hug of a book that is full of cute. I can't recommend it enough if you like even a sniff of a romance book. It's a 10/10.
Top reviews from other countries
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Maybe I'm a bit of a hypocrite because I judge others who say they don't like a book because a character is weak, or a character takes a decision away from another character. I feel like I may be a bit of a hypocrite because I can't enjoy books with cheating in them. Reading books with cheating in them makes me feel off. I get a bad taste in my mouth, and my whole body tenses up. Should I be judged? I guess the whole crux of the matter is I have got to stop judging others when what is chocolate and sunshine for me, could be dry toast and dreary for others.
Second First Impressions was chocolate and sunshine for me. I absolutely LOVED every second of the journey and was so sad when this story didn't go on forever. I loved both Ruthie and Teddy for their originality and all of their give and take. They were far from perfect, but their growth throughout was something that I enjoyed seeing play out. When we started the journey, Ruthie was all about the give and Teddy was all about the take. By the end, we realise that life is all about giving and taking.
Ruthie is a tidy girl who tries to do everything the right and careful way. Teddy is brash, self-centred, beautiful, and does whatever will make him happy. Together, they seem mismatched but it's not long before you realise that each has a little desire to be like the other. I admired Ruthie for protecting her heart against someone whom she knew had the power to break her. I also admired her for her strength in accepting that she couldn't ignore the feelings he provoked. It was so sweet to see them both confide in each other and become each other's protectors. I loved that Teddy acknowledged his shortcomings and wanted to learn from the best, in how to become a giver. I liked that they both went out of their way to make the other feel accepted and loved.
If I could find one teeny tiny fault in Second First Impressions, it was the way the author left the conflict between Ruthie and her parents unfinished. I wanted Ruthie to tell her father that he was a sanctimonious jerk and demand an apology for the treatment she received. I hated his critical holier-than-thou attitude and approach. I did not blame Ruthie for losing her faith considering his double standards around forgiveness. I felt bad that Ruthie was parented so badly by such supposedly 'good' people. I just wanted her parents to be apologetic for making her feel ashamed, unworthy, and unloved.
The sign of a truly good romance is when I can have tears in my eyes and still love it. I loved that Ruthie faced her challenges and decided to take control of her life. I loved that Teddy, who seemed to be happy taking, taking, taking, ended up loving to give, give, give. I found real contentment that both Ruthie and Teddy were happy with their choices and seemed to thrive from facing their challenges.
I can't say it enough, I LOVED everything about this story. The main characters were lovable, original and perfect for each other. The additional characters enhanced the storyline and I would LOVE for Mel to get her own love story. Maybe I'm getting old, but I enjoyed the subtlety of Sally Thorne's love scenes. It was descriptive without being overly graphic, with the emotions and feelings described in a heartfelt way. It was like no other love scene I've read. Almost clean but not quite. I was treated to the connection, not the physicality, which will make Second First Impressions the perfect audiobook re-read/listen.
If you're looking for a sweet and captivating love story, I don't think you could do better than Second First Impressions. I highly recommend and will definitely re-read and listen to it in the future.
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The font's good too.
![Customer image](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/common/transparent-pixel._V192234675_.gif)
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Reviewed in India on 19 November 2022
The font's good too.
![Customer image](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71gO3sXzuoL._SY88.jpg)
![Customer image](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/518pCcHGtPL._SY88.jpg)
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I love all her books - hate that I already read all there is by Sally Thorne. I hope there'll be more soon!
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