Second Chance

One of the very most wonderful books in the world is Straight Talking - Green's debut. Green, Freya North and Marian Keyes were staple reading in my late teens and twenties: 3 authors I was always genuinely excited about when opening the first page of their latest book. Everyone knows that lovely feeling. Where you know a group of strangers will, in the space of 300 pages, become people you adore, and take you on a journey that will make your world more colourful.

The latter 2 authors are still writing gems; Green, though, appears to have lost the desire to write anything beautiful, and it's genuinely disappointing.

This is so desperately formulaic. The dialogue is clunky; the characters are cardboard (the main character's husband, Marcus, especially, is almost a characiture) and the initially promising premise quickly devolves into something mundane.

The editing is very peculiar. One minute, people are breaking apart from grief over having lost someone they love, but within 30 seconds, they're grinning at each other shyly. Huh? That really does happen in here. It's like it was written non-sequentially. Or perhaps she put it down for months, having forgotten what she'd just written. Either way, the continuity is bizarre.

Equally, it lacks the humour and quirkiness of her previous efforts. There isn't a single laugh out loud moment in Second Chance; there's a few quick chuckles, but nothing that raises it above any other book you'll forget within 5 minutes of finishing.

It's just not a very good book. It's sort of smug, and a little lazy and doesn't feel like British chick lit by a British author. It feels like an American trying to emulate it, and getting it completely wrong.

Finally, on a personal note, I found her using a terrorist attack as a "topical" plot-point very uncomfortable, and opportunistic. I don't want to bang on too much about that as it's probably very arbitrary, but it's not a level I ever would have expected Jane Green to stoop to. Chick lit is fab, and covers some serious issues, but as a genre, it lacks the gravitas to effectively cover an issue as destructive, consuming and evil as terrorism, and the ways in which it has affected the world.

So ultimately, if you're a fan of Jane Green, this will probably disappoint you dreadfully. If you're looking for something wonderful to snuggle up with on a cold Sunday afternoon, I'd recommend either Freya North and Marian Keyes, or Green's earlier books... but not this.

Enjoyed this book. (0/0 people found this helpful)

I have only read one of Green's previous book and was bought this for Christmas. Having just completed the book, I have to say I did enjoy it. I found the initial theme to be an excellent starting point, with the group of friends reunited over the death of a school mate, and I thouroughly enjoyed watched the lives of these people unfold before me. I particuarly enjoyed the story of the actress and her lover. However, I felt some of the characters were slightly glossed over compared to the others and recieved much fewer pages. I liked how Green closed the book, and giving a good summary of each character and what had become of them. Overall I feel this is a good book for girls who like a light, holiday type read. Its not too taxing on the brain, easy to follow, and enjoyable.

brilliant and satisfying! (0/0 people found this helpful)

I realy enjoyed this book! I couldn't put it down and was very sad when I actually ended it. It made me re-think just what is important in MY life. I found this book not to have the "feel-good", obvious, conclusion, but proves that death can re-unite and change, for the better, a group of friends who come together afer a long time, after the death of a close mutual old school friend.Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A little disappointing (0/0 people found this helpful)

I absolutely love Jane Green, Jemima J is of my favourite ever books and has been re-read thousands of times! However, I can safely say this one will not be in my re-read pile. It look me long enough to get through it the first time!
I agree with the comments from other reviewers, I felt that it had been published without being edited. It just didn't seem finished. There are some words that were used over and over again within just 1 page, like she had ran out of adjectives to use and just kept using the same one!
Plus the way Tom & Wills mother spoke, does anyone really speak like that - even if they are very fond of you?!
It was pretty predictable, although the initial idea was a good one.
The whole thing just felt quite amateurish, not her usual standard.

Is this really Jane Green? (0/0 people found this helpful)

Oh dear. This is so disappointing. Really looking forard to a new Jane Green and then we get this. The plot starts off with a good premise and then goes in to freefall, the characters, particularly Marcus are wooden and we just don't care about them. Please Jane, this one should have been abandoned. I found it hard to even finish it. Sorry.

Jane Green

Reader Reviews:

Was this actually written by her? (1/1 people found this helpful)

Enjoyed this book. (0/0 people found this helpful)

brilliant and satisfying! (0/0 people found this helpful)

A little disappointing (0/0 people found this helpful)

Is this really Jane Green? (0/0 people found this helpful)

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