BLOG TOUR: The Second Chance Supper Club by Nicole Meier @NMeierwrites @SuzyAPBookTours @LUAuthors #thesecondchancesupperclub

I love books about sisters so much. The bond between sisters is truly stronger and more complex than many other relationships. Sisters can be the most loving but also the most combustible relationships. Sisters can be at odds and also fiercely loyal. I know this in my soul, I have a sister myself. And I bet we would both say no one can get to us like the other can, but we love each other no matter what.

The Second Chance Supper Club by Nicole Meier is a heart-warming story of two sisters who have not only lost touch with each other, but have lost their way a bit in life. When they come together in an unlikely circumstance, they find that together, they can heal and move forward in love.

About the Book

Two estranged sisters reunite in an emotional novel of family, forgiveness, lost hope, and new beginnings.

They had a forever bond, until a sudden tragedy thrust them apart. Now, each at a crossroad in her own life, two sisters’ paths are about to intersect.

Broadcast journalist Julia Frank has it all: a career, an ambitious fiancé, and the hard-won respect of her peers. Until a ruinous decision destroys her reputation, puts her job at risk, and sends her reeling toward the only soul left to turn to: her estranged sister, Ginny.

The owner of a clandestine supper club hidden in the Arizona desert, Ginny Frank has a lot on her plate. The last thing she wants is more drama—or the burden of nursing her younger sister’s wounded ego. But family is family. Besides, Ginny can use the help in more ways than one, and she’s going to make sure Julia pulls her weight.

As a tenuous reunion reopens old wounds, Julia and Ginny have no choice but to confront the pain and betrayals of the past. Will working to keep the secret supper club running be just what they need to find common ground and a path toward forgiveness, or will the increasing stress push them even further apart?

Reflection

One thing I really loved about the way Meier wrote this novel is that though it was narrated by both sisters, Julia and Ginny, it wasn’t split evenly in alternating chapters. The first several chapters in fact were told from Julia’s perspective and were so gripping, that I was glad they weren’t broken up for the sake of keeping it even in terms of the two stories. This is a risky move, because it could easily have been ineffective! But Meier nailed  the structure of her book, and its one that clearly took quite a bit of thought.

When we open, Julia’s anxiety is palpable. She awakes late and is rushing to get to work. She immediately gets called into a meeting where she’s told she isn’t bringing in enough viewers, which is obviously media speak for “you’re too smart and leading with your brain instead of your boobs and we can find a younger, sexier co-star for a male lead who will dress the part.” I thought the tension in that entire scene leading up to the on-air incident was so expertly written. I could feel it!

As Julia’s life crumbles in what feels like a single moment, I was glued to the book, unsure of what I would do if I were her. When that leads her to her sister Ginny’s house in Arizona, I knew that this felt like rock bottom to Julia. To call Ginny and Julia estranged feels like an understatement! As the narrative switches to Ginny and we see where she has come after she left her highly successful career as a chef in New York to run an underground supper club in her house, I wanted to know what happened. What caused this? And Julia arriving mid-meal, with Ginny’s daughter Olive driving away…well awkward doesn’t begin to cover it!

Through their own need to rely on one another, I loved seeing the sisters work to heal their relationship. And it wasn’t easy! But it happened eventually the way it does with sisters. Each knowing they love each other, while not totally being over the hurt feelings and skepticism that it will last. I loved the moments with the food, where we really saw how different Ginny and Julia approach life. They are both hard workers and career-driven women, which I was really happy about. Not a weakling to be found in this family!

I think readers will love learning the story of these two women—these two sisters—as much as I did. I don’t want to say too much beyond the set up, because I found the whole concept of the supper club and what Ginny was doing to be fascinating. I was equally as interested in Julia’s career and life in New York, and I was so curious how it would all come out. And you do get a satisfying ending but of course I’m not going to tell you what it is! You’ll have to read it!

A book for women. A book for anyone with a sister or even a sister-like friend who knows what it is like to have a falling out and still fiercely love each other. A beautiful story of healing, sisterhood, food, careers, love, loss, and recovery.

About the Author

Nicole Meier is the author of The House of Bradbury, The Girl Made of Clay, and The Second Chance Supper Club (out September 2019). She is a native Southern Californian who pulled up roots and moved to the Pacific Northwest, where she lives with her husband, three children, and one very nosy Aussiedoodle.

Visit her at www.nicolemeierauthor.com .


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Thank you to Suzy for my spot on the tour! And thank you to Suzy and Amazon Publishing for my copy. Opinions are my own.