When Nell's brother-in-law walks out on her pregnant sister, it falls on Nell's shoulders to cover their mountain of bills. To do so, she must convince the owner of a secondhand bookstore to sell his property so she can earn a commission.
But when she visits the store, two unexpected things the owner offers her a job sorting the shelves—extra income!—and her childhood crush, Thomas Whelan, turns out to be the only other employee there. Only a fool would turn that opportunity down.
When Thomas reveals he needs help with his love life, it seems all too get an in with Tom by helping him prepare for his dates, recruit him towards her cause of convincing their boss to sell, get paid, and live happily ever after.
Except the more time she spends with Tom, the more she gets to him, to the bookstore that soon might not even exist, and its customers.
Set in a small town in the throes of gentrification, Second Chance Books is a novel that explores the power of love, literature, and community when it comes to changing and saving lives.