Synopsis from Goodreads:
Ainsley O’Leary is so ready to get married—she’s even found the engagement ring her boyfriend has stashed away. What she doesn’t anticipate is being blindsided by a breakup he chronicles in a blog…which (of course) goes viral. Devastated and humiliated, Ainsley turns to her older half sister, Kate, who’s struggling with a sudden loss of her own.
Kate’s always been the poised, self-assured sister, but becoming a newlywed—and a widow—in the space of four months overwhelms her. Though the sisters were never close, she starts to confide in Ainsley, especially when she learns her late husband was keeping a secret from her.
Despite the murky blended-family dynamic that’s always separated them, Ainsley's and Kate’s heartaches bind their summer together when they come to terms with the inevitable imperfection of relationships and family—and the possibility of one day finding love again.
Review:
This review will have spoilers. Do not read it if you don't want to know what happens.
I enjoyed this novel but it didn't really get interesting until after Eric dumped Ainsley and Nathan died suddenly, leaving Kate a widow. This entire story was full of "on second thought ..." moments.
On second thought, I will give you a chance and go out on a date with you even if you could be a psycho.
On second thought, I can't be with you any more, let alone ask you to marry me.
On second thought, Paige is a bitch and has been this entire time. How could I have been friends with her?
On second thought, he doesn't seem robotic. He seems shy.
On second thought, Daniel isn't just a hot firefighter. He's actually a really nice guy.
On second thought, I'm tired of being alone and not having someone touch me. What the heck? Sex, it is!
On second thought, Candy really does love me and doesn't think I'm an inconvenience that she has to tolerate.
On second thought, Eloise isn't a snooty, stuck-up bitch. She's one of the most strongest women I know.
On second thought, Eric is a straight-up dick for using me to his advantage.
You get the idea. You don't really see all of the "on second thought ..." moments until you're well into the book or even finished with it. I really liked that part of it. The reflection phase. I always do that when I finish a novel. I think back and consider the title while comparing it to what I just read. Do they jive? Is the title relatable to the story? In this case, yes. I loved looking back at all the little moments and seeing where the "on second thought ..." could be implied, if not outright stated.
This is a hefty novel coming in at almost 500 pages but, despite that, it reads fast once you make it through Nathan's funeral and Eric's break-up. Starting off, you have two main characters: Kate and Ainsley. By the time you get to the end, it feels as if there are four main characters: Kate, Ainsley, Jonathan, and Daniel. The novel never tells the story from Jonathan or Daniels' point-of-views but you still know enough about them to feel their importance. Ainsley is my favorite character, by far. She's so positive and upbeat and perky and friendly and I just adore her. Kate, I understand. She's reserved and not sure how to communicate her feelings. I get it. I'm more like Kate than I'd like to admit but I'd love to be more like Ainsley.
Well-written and relatable, On Second Thought earns 4 out of 5 stars from me. I'd recommend this to about 90% of the people I know.
*A physical copy was provided by the publicist, Little Bird Publicity, in exchange for an honest review.