Kate lives with her two children Roxy and Matt. When Davis Calder moves in next door things Kate's life is going to change in an unexpected way.

This book had an interesting premise but one that has been probably many times. I found the story at first just a family saga, mainly mother and teenage daughter relationship. Then the story progresses as Davis is thrown into the mix. From this point I was invested and wanted to see what was going to happen.

I enjoyed the book but I felt it needed something more. I was expecting a twist at the end which would have the given the story a bit of a wow factor but I was left slightly disappointed.

This is the first book for me by this author. I may read more in the future as I didn't dislike the book, just was expecting something a bit more. ( )

Told in the first person by Kate, a divorced woman in her late thirties who has a teenage daughter, Roxy, and a younger son Matthew. We meet Kate as she’s considering who to accept as a lodger, while also becoming increasingly frustrated at Roxy.

The overall theme of the book is about the strength of parental relationships. Kate is far from perfect and gets into power struggles with both Alistair and Roxy which seem unnecessary and frustrating. She speaks without thinking, and doesn't seem to get how to relate to a teenager. But she adores both her children and would do anything to see them happy.

At the midway point the inevitable is revealed, and there's something of a sordid element. But I kept reading, and Kate’s character develops as her priorities become clearer, and despite everything her loyalty and love as a mother trump everything.

The ending is a bit abrupt after a lengthy climax. Perhaps it’s inevitable that everything comes full circle; yet Kate has moved on, finding that some of the people closest to her are much more complex - and in some cases nicer - than she had previously realised.

Longer review here: https://suesbookreviews.blogspot.com/2023/07/the-second-husband-by-louise-candli... ( )

Predictable.

This was well enough written but rather predictable. One twist, about half way through, prevented the book from being totally mundane, but in spite of a dash overseas and some rather irritating conversation, the ending just resolved itself, with no help from the characters. It didn't help that the narrator of my audiobook version had a rather patronising, super-sweet voice.

Kate Easton has been divorced from her first husband, Alistair, for ten years, when he announces that his child support will have to be reduced and suggests that she split the flat and take in a lodger. Reluctantly she agrees and Davis Calder takes the room. He is peripatetic teacher, coaching teenagers through their exams, and offers to help Kate's daughter Roxy in her application for Cambridge University.
In spite of Kate's resolution to steer clear of men and concentrate on Roxy and her nine-year old brother, Kate is undeniably drawn to him.

Because I listened to the audio version, I fortunately missed the tag line spoiler, that was apparently on the book. But in spite of this, it wasn't too much of a surprise as there were plenty of suggestive hints in the narrative. The resolution of the resulting problem was totally ineffective as the issue, predictably, resolved itself, much as I had expected.

Not a bad listen to keep me awake on a couple of five-hour drives, but not something that makes me want to dash out and buy another book by the same author. ( )