The Vintage Shop: 'Hot buttered-toast-and-tea feelgood fiction' The Times

Product Information

After the death of her beloved mother, Lou sinks her savings into opening her own vintage clothes shop in Frome, Somerset, the same town where 70-something newly divorced Maggy realises how empty her house feels now she’s on her own. Will combining their efforts help Lou, Donna, and Maggie find the answers they're searching for and offer a second chance at a new life for each of them? The story of the three women was superbly woven together with drama and humour. At times it was an emotional read but overall it was just a gorgeous story of new discoveries, family, friendship and community. Lou’s fellow traders were a fabulous bunch, welcoming and helpful, especially in times of crisis. Even when the story moved away from Frome, my interest moved too – I was so invested into these characters lives. These three women, across the generations form a friendship and they come into each others lives at just the right time. Lou learns more about the yellow dress, Donna learns more about her past and Maggy learns more about herself.

It’s amazing how much joy an article of clothing can bring you, and this single yellow dress connects 3 ladies across different generations. The author shared the street that this book was based on, you should go see it as it’s lovely to be able to picture the actual street in Frome. Maggy is in her 70s and facing life as a new divorcee. Her children now have children of their own and while she loves being a grandmother, she is starting to wonder what happened to the woman she used to be. Thank you so much to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy of this book, all thoughts are my own. Although this won't be a memorable or stand-out read for me, I do recommend The Vintage Shop of Second Chances as a delightful little respite for those who enjoy Women’s Fiction, giving your mind a nice little break from the constant 'flow' of unwanted information that goes in one ear and out the other. "Choose the flow", I say, just like I did and I hope, if you decide to partake in this easy-to-read-story, you enjoy meeting Lou, Donna, and Maggie as much as I did! For Maggy, she is facing life as a 70-something divorcee and while she got the house, she's not sure what to fill it with now her family have moved out. The new vintage shop in town sparks memories of her past and reignites a passion she's been missing...Donna, thought she knew her whole life until some news reveals that what she knew was a lie. With only a photo of a woman in a yellow dress, she finds herself crossing the Atlantic to a vintage clothing shop in Frome. Among the cobbled streets of the Somerset town of Frome, Lou is embarking on the start of something new. After the death of her beloved mother, she takes a deep breath into the unknown and is opening her own vintage clothes shop. I liked all three main characters in The Vintage Shop of Second Chances. I had a real soft spot for Donna and her brusque manner. She could come across as rude or abrasive but I really liked her as a character and found myself empathising with her.

Among the cobbled streets of Frome in Somerset, Lou is about to start something new. After losing her mother, she knows it's time to take a chance and open her own vintage clothes shop. Donna’s life in a small town in Upstate New York is shattered by a family secret the only clue to her origins a faded photo of a girl in a yellow dress. Told from multiple third person POVs there were also undiscovered letters threaded into this story of sisterhood friendship and love. S uch a warm and wise story about female friendship and vintage fashion. A joy to read!' ALEX BROWNI’d like to thank NetGalley and Orion for approving me for an ARC of this book. I buddy-read this with a few of my Tsundoku Squad friends and I think it’s safe to say that we all enjoyed it.

Maggy, newly divorced, over seventy and treated as a commodity by her children, mainly when it comes to looking after the grandchildren, needs some colour in her life. Having been left the house in the divorce she is simply rattling around in a grey world. Drawn into the new vintage clothes shop by a bright yellow dress which reminds her of some boots from a time gone by, Maggy discovers colour in her world again. This was an absolute joy to read. I did have to stop a number of times as I couldn’t read through the tears, both sad and happy, as I was completely absorbed in the lives of Lou, Donna and Maggy. Among the cobbled streets of the Somerset town of Frome, Louis embarking on the start of something new. After the death of her beloved mother, she takes a deep breath into the unknown and is opening her own vintage clothes shop. Lou, having returned to Frome to nurse her mother through her final days is embarking on a new adventure a second chance to have the life she really wants. With her passionate love of all things vintage, especially clothing Lou opens a vintage clothing shop. Inspired by the yellow dress of her mothers which she proudly displays in her new shop. They come to realise life is short, and should be lived to the full. Wear the yellow boots if you want to, no matter what your age!

I happily immersed myself in this joyous read which has plenty of emotional and touching moments. It’s a story of friendship, family, womanhood and sisterhood, and giving yourself a second chance at living a colourful and wholesome life. I loved the imagery of clothing to tell a story about someone and how wearing something bright and cheerful can change one’s mood. I love Lou’s sense of fashion and style!