Eli is heading back to Florida for the holidays, and while he expects to be generally uncomfortable as a Trans man in transphobic hell, he doesn't expect to run into his high school sweetheart Nick and find the flames still burning. This was so stinking cute. Nick is so thoughtful and it's really nice to see someone explore their sexuality later in life without the fear and stigma. The chemistry between the two is off the charts, but their interactions with family and friends (excluding the walking stereotype) are heartwarming. I loved watching Eli work through his issues with his parents, and their response almost made me cry. If you're looking for a queer light and fluffy beach read, this will be right up your alley.

Title: Second Chances in New Port Stephen
Author: T.J. Alexander
Genre: Romance
Rating: 4.00
Pub Date: December 5, 2023

I received a complimentary eARC from Simon & Schuster Canada via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted

T H R E E • W O R D S

Funny • Nostalgic • Warm

📖 S Y N O P S I S

Eli Ward hasn’t been back to his suffocating hometown of New Port Stephen, Florida, in ages. Post-transition and sober, he’s a completely different person from the one who left years ago. But when a scandal threatens his career as a TV writer and comedian, he has no choice but to return home for the holidays. He can only hope he’ll survive his boisterous, loving, but often misguided family and hide the fact that his dream of comedy success has become a nightmare.

Just when he thinks this trip couldn’t get any worse, Eli bumps into his high school ex, Nick Wu, who’s somehow hotter than ever. Divorced and in his forties, Nick’s world revolves around his father, his daughter, and his job. But even a busy life can’t keep him from being intrigued by the reappearance of Eli.

💭 T H O U G H T S

Second Chances in New Port Stephen is the third book I've read from T.J. Alexander and they are an author I will continue to read for simple pleasure. Each of their books offers me something different and contain underrepresented characters. This one with a holiday twist.

Told from the POVs of Nick and Eli, this middle-aged, interracial, second-chance romance was an absolute delight. The character development is fantastic and the moments with Zoe were so sweet and wholesome. It was also encouraging to see the evolution of Eli's family from start to end.

Despite touching on the current anti-trans legislation and growing anti-trans sentiment in Florida, the author manages to keep the narrative lighthearted, even while tackling some serious topics. I greatly appreciated the honest exploration of sobriety as an ongoing process. There are also some hard (and necessary) conversations throughout the book.

Although it is set during the holiday period, it could easily be read at any point of the year. The festive season doesn't play a crucial role in the plot and its easy to forget it is even set during that timeframe.

Second Chances in New Port Stephen was such a refreshing way to kick of Pride month. The conversations in T.J. Alexander's books are relevant and informative, I always come away having learned something. I am looking forward to reading their latest release Triple Sec and whatever else they write in the future.

📚 R E A D • I F • Y O U • L I K E
• second-chance romance
• queer romance
• mid-life romance

⚠️ CW: sexual content, transphobia, alcoholism, death, death of parent, car accident, anti-Asian racism, divorce, cursing, xenophobia, outing

🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S

"I've concluded that I need to stop worrying so much about what the future holds. I want to be happy when I can be." 

I signed up for this book at the library the moment I found out it was a thing at the end of Chef's Choice. I loved it and it was a wonderful book. It's so great to have an author doing sex scenes with trans bodies and having a character who isn't having a gay panic about his potential not-straightness. TJ Alexander keeps up with their typical "if these characters just asked a blunt question, a lot of stuff would be quickly resolved", but it works best in this book due to the Christmas nonsense that keeps us all too busy sometimes as well as with one of the character's potentially dealing with a huge upheaval in his life at the same time he misunderstands a conversation.

I look forward to the next book that TJ Alexander might come out with.

*I received a copy of this eARC via  NetGalley*
What a beautiful second chance love story! Nick and Eli were such a wonderful couple to watch fall back in love after many years apart and a vast amount of life changes in those years. The honest portrayal of families, and the range of unsupportive to oblivious at times to trying really hard was affirming to read. No matter how old you get, your family can push your buttons like no one else. I love the supporting characters and only wish we had gotten more of Nick’s coworkers. 

Overall this was a cozy feel good read that addressed the hardships of being queer and/or BIPOC in an community where that is not as accepted as it is elsewhere. It also showed a beautiful love story between two people who, despite time and distance, have always had a lasting connection.