Second Edition Book Review
Once, I thought loving Josephine Sutton would be the ruin of me. Now, I know that my end would come from living with the knowledge I could have loved her, but ruined it.
Synopsis
In retrospect, it might not have been the wisest idea to hand in my v-card to a hot librarian I picked up at my mother’s cocktail party.
In my defense, the man has a French accent, gray hair, and knows a lot about books. The cards were really stacked against me making good choices, folks.
I was probably naïve to expect a call after that, but when he didn’t, it hurt to accept he didn’t feel that same connection I did.
If that isn’t a sign you need to make a change, I don’t know what is. Too bad the “change” I get is six months in a remote French chateau, working as a nanny to an adorable little girl. Who happens to be the daughter of the single dad I had sex with in a grocery store parking lot.
Ellis Delvaux has made it clear he isn’t interested in a relationship. Unfortunately, when you’re a hopeless romantic spending that much time with someone you’re attracted to, in what might be the most beautiful place on the planet, things happen.
And sometimes, to avoid those things happening, you come up with a list of rules to facilitate six-months of secret, no strings attached sex with a man who is as off-limits as it gets.
What could go wrong?
REVIEW
Cleo White’s Second Edition is a beautiful love story with a delightful blend of charm, sensuality, and emotional depth. The story’s premise hooked me immediately—a chance encounter with a dashing, older librarian with a French accent spirals into an exquisitely complex romance set in an idyllic French chateau. The setting is pure cottagecore bliss, and White’s imagery makes it easy to get lost in the serene, picturesque world she’s created.
Our main characters, Jo and Ellis, are so well-crafted and relatable. Jo’s journey from a burnt-out people pleaser to someone who begins to understand and prioritize her own happiness is both heartwarming and empowering as a fellow people pleaser (who is just now, in my 30s, working on trying to find my own happiness). Ellis, on the other hand, is the perfect blend of swoon worthy and grounded—a mature, professional man dealing with the struggles of single parenthood to a wonderful little girl with autism and the complexities of love after divorce. Their chemistry is palpable from the start, and their evolving relationship feels so authentic and compelling. White also did a good job of objectively portraying Ellis’ ex-wife, and I enjoyed reading about Ellis’ daughter, Zoe, and his mother as well, both of which clearly love him.
Another thing I adored about this book were the relationships between Jo, Ellis, and Zoe. These connections felt genuine, wholesome, and added a layer of depth to the story that went beyond just romance and sex. The balance between Ellis’ role as a loving father and a romantic partner/“daddy” is handled tastefully, making their journey towards a second chance at love both sizzling hot (believe me, it’s pretty *spicy*) and even more poignant, especially given the parallels between a couple of the characters’ stories and actions.
Overall, Second Edition is a captivating read with excellent character development, beautiful symbolism, and a love story that feels both real and enchanting. Cleo White’s writing is absolutely charming, making her one of my new favorite authors and Second Edition a must-read recommendation for fans of true love, hope, second chance romances, and well-done age gaps.
Content warnings include miscarriage, death of a parent, depression, suicide, infidelity, and child abandonment.
Expected publication date is 14 August 2024.
Author Profile
Cleo White’s affinity for all things dramatic and hopelessly romantic began the day she was born, which happened to be in the middle of a record-breaking snowstorm on Valentine’s Day. Her love of literature came soon after, and she spent the better part of her childhood with both a book and a notebook full of unfinished stories in hand. Later in life, she found a love of writing spicy books with complicated characters and dysfunctional family drama. Cleo currently lives in Vermont with her husband and two daughters. When not writing, she can be found hiking, gardening, painting, and consuming excessive quantities of caffeine.
TL;DR
- Rating: 4.5 stars | Genre: Contemporary Romance | Pages: 284
- Single dad/nanny, age gap romance, forced proximity, second chance romance, praise and daddy kinks
- A beautiful love story, both real and enchanting
- Setting is pure cottagecore bliss (idyllic French chateau)
- FMC’s journey is both heartwarming and empowering
- MMC is the perfect blend of swoon worthy and grounded
- Absolutely adore the author’s writing style
- CWs: miscarriage, death of a parent, depression, suicide, infidelity, and child abandonment
