I’m a huge Libby Page fan so it was great to be transported into this fictional community full of interesting characters, relationships and friendships.

Uplit is one of my favourite genres to read - they provide a good dose of reality and even if the ending is not a 'happy ever after' they're always incredibly satisfying. For me, the fact that they reflect real life, without ever losing that all-important sense of hope, is what makes it such a life-affirming genre to read.

Libby Page is a leading light in this genre and her books never fail to leave with me with an enormous sense of contentment. This particular one has the colour yellow at its heart. I'd never describe it normally as one of my 'favourite' colours, but my associations with the colour are such that it felt particularly poignant when I was reading this book. Lou's mother has recently died and that sense of the loss of a close parent-child relationship pervades all strands of the book and is seen from different perspectives. For me, it brought back memories of losing my father. Seen through a lens of twenty plus years, my emotions are no longer as raw, but I recognised them in Lou. For Lou, it is a yellow dress that keeps her mother alive. For me it is yellow roses. After my father's death, I found out that he always referred to me as his little ray of sunshine and my mum had chosen yellow roses for my wreath because of this. Since then, my husband has always bought me yellow roses when he thinks I need reminding to smile. The yellow dress has a similar effect on Lou.

Colour is hugely important throughout the book and I found it particularly interesting when Lou explained why she chose such colourful outfits. As I type this, I'm sitting in my usual Writer in Residence spot in Brightlingsea Lido Cafe, having just had a conversation with a lady wearing a rainbow jumper. My jumper is similarly bright and we've just been discussing the importance of wearing bright clothes in Winter, as a way of keeping our spirits up. When I was teaching, I always made sure my top, shoes and make up followed the same colour scheme; back then the colour was a kind of armour. I was putting on the person I needed to be in the classroom.

By the time I got to the end of book and my reflections upon it, I'd come to the conclusion that the book itself had had a similar effect on me to wearing brightly coloured clothes. It doesn't solve any of life's problems, it doesn't resolve the energy crisis, it has no effect on the cost of living crisis, but what it can do is make you forget them, just while you're inside its covers. And actually, do you know what? Sometimes that's enough.

Having loved Libby Page’s first three novels I couldn’t wait to read The Vintage Shop of Second Chances. I was delighted when I received an ARC from Orion through NetGalley. As expected, this was a book with a big heart and it did not disappoint.

After the death of her mother, Lou opens up a vintage clothes shop in Frome - the town where she grew up. Her shop is full of beautiful vintage items that she has hand picked, but there is one item that is not for sale, a yellow dress with embroidered flowers that belonged to her mother. This dress has pride of place in her shop and is also the centrepiece to this beautiful tale of loss, family, friendship and second chances.

The dress brings Maggy and Donna into Lou’s life at a time when she needs them the most. Maggy is drawn into the shop by the yellow dress and Donna by finding it on the internet; the only clue to a family secret. Although at different stages in their lives, these three women provide each other with the support they need, to embark on their own second chances.

I loved this book! It’s beautifully written and the subjects of grief and loneliness are handled with the care that they deserve. I find Libby Page’s writing hugely comforting as she really gets the magic of people coming together and the importance of community. All of which makes The Vintage Shop of Second Chances such an uplifting read.

I highly recommend picking up a copy of this book when it is published on February 16th 2023, in fact pick up two copies and give one to a friend or loved one, as it is guaranteed to bring them joy.

The Vintage Shop of Second Chances is a quintessential Libby Page novel- a heart warming read filled with hope and likeable characters.
It centres around three women- Lou who is grieving the death of her mother when she opens a vintage clothes shop in the Somerset town of Frome, Maggy her landlady who is adjusting to divorce in her 70s and Donna, living in upstate New York who discovers long hidden family secrets.
I love the way the author brings their stories together and weaves the novel around a vintage yellow dress that connects them all. The author deals with grief sensitively but this novel is a celebration of life, new beginnings and friendship. It's also a celebration of the beautiful town of Frome and the author's love for it shines through.
An enjoyable read that I'd recommend.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

Initially I didn't like the fact this book wasn't written in the first person, which is my preference. I got past that though, and I'm glad I did because I loved the story and the book is very well-written. I'm not going to rehash the plot, but I loved the way the three women's stories were linked. Lou was a lovely character, as was Maggie. I loved the stories behind the vintage clothes, the way Maggie reinvented herself, and what a poignant story Eleanor had. With thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review Libby’s new book.
This is another great addition to her library. Loved the story - full of family history, friendship, secrets and colourful clothes.
Will be recommending

This was an enjoyable read. I have to admit that I prefer 1st person storytelling and it took me quite a while to adjust. However, the plot was beautifully woven together and I was really moved at some points, especially with the flash backs to help fill in the details. It certainly highlights that things aren’t always how they seems, and appearances can be deceiving. Loneliness is not exclusive to anyone and even those who smile and chat can be lonely on so many different levels.
The characters really touched me and I found I could identify with all three ladies at some point. I have a feeling they will stay with me for quite some time.

The Vintage Shop of Second Chances is a novel to warm the heart. It ticks a lot of boxes - strong female characters, the voice of women of different generations, and the strength of friendship ,family and community. I loved the concept of a shop giving clothes second chances, and the joy of fashion memories. I have such vivid memories of what my mum and her friends wore in the sixties and seventies.. How I wish I had kept some of the classics!
The book deals sensitively and believably with grief (always important to me) and is uplifting and comforting. I read it wrapped up warm on a cold and snowy Sunday and it was perfect.
I really liked The Lido and I think this is just as good.

I was aware of Libby’s work but this was the first book I actually picked up to read, and it grabbed me instantly.

The characters are gorgeous. I won’t name them all, but I will focus on the three POVs we have. Firstly there’s Lou - who I suppose is the main character as the vintage shop in question is hers - in her 30s, vibrant and very passionate. Then we have Maggy, in her 70s, feeling a bit lonely but hiding an exciting past. And lastly there’s Donna who comes with a hard shell but has a soft centre. I’d say Maggy was definitely my favourite character and Donna my least, with Lou sat in the middle. But I was fully invested in all three women and their stories.

It was so much more moving than I thought it would be. The description of grief is gorgeous. And again, it’s layered. There’s physical grief from losing a loved one, grief in terms of being unable to raise a child, grief in losing a love, a job or a home. That sounds like a lot of grief, but it’s so well done that you can empathise but you’re not overwhelmed.

It really hits you with the emotion. The highs are high and the lows are low. You’ll find yourself laughing and crying at the same page. You’ll definitely be needing a tissue to hand. But I spent the whole thing with a smile on my face, even if tears were streaming down at the same time.

I loved the description of vintage clothes. It may sound frivolous in a story with so much more depth, but it’s not. This shop and it’s contents mean so much to the community. It’s so much more than “just” clothes. You can feel the stories in these clothes and you have the same passion Lou has for them.

It is a real story of love. First loves, lost loves, wrong loves, love for family and for friends and for strangers, love for things and places, and love for yourself. It shows that the term “family” is multi layered. We have our related family, our friends, new friends and old friends, our community, and even strangers, can make up your family.

I read it in December, and it comes out in a February, notoriously quite dark, cold, damp, sad months (winter happens to be my favourite time of the year), but it’s so heartwarming and uplifting that it’ll bring sunshine to any long evening.

It is so gorgeous that I just wanted to keep reading it forever.

I loved Lou's and Donna's and Maggy's stories coming together in this gloriously visual novel. Wonderful characters and an uplifting and absorbing read from first to last. Highly recommend.

An enjoyable read that reminds us all of the power not only of family but community. A frequent reminder in Libby Page’s writing but it’s nevertheless important. Each new novel gives us something new and I for one want to have dinner at Maggie’s, Coffee with Beth and browse the Vintage Shop of Second Chances agin soon.

Such a feel good read! Loved the concept of giving second chanced to people and clothing too. It is told from different points of view with a back story that makes everything make sense. Even though theway the relationships progress is quite fast, I enjoyed reading how the characters developed and changed for better. The ending left me satisfied.

Really enjoyed this book have read one other byvthis author and was really good gives great descriptions the whole way through very enjoyable.

The vintage shop of second chances - Libby Page

Another smashing book from Libby Page! I have read all of Libby's previous books and this one was equally as captivating, she has a great knack of drawing the reader in and transporting them into the lives of her characters. I was fully invested in Maggy's, Lou's and Donna's interlocking stories. Overall it is a lovely uplifting story of love, loss, friendship, family and beautiful vintage clothes!

Thank you very much Orion Publishing Group and Netgalley for the e-arc in return for my honest opinion.

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.
Meanwhile, in upstate New York, Donna has just found out some news about her family which has called into question her whole upbringing.
Three women searching for answers and linked by a yellow vintage dress embroidered with flowers, which has the potential to unlock a second chance at a new life for each of them.

Libby Page writes such wonderful feelgood reads - with her first novel, The Lido, she was one of the earliest “up-lit” authors – and this continues with The Vintage Shop of Second Chances, her fourth novel. When I picked it up to read I was feeling as Novemberish as the cold, wet, grey weather outside, but with its vibrant yellow cover and its uplifting storyline, this was just the burst of winter sunshine that I needed.

The female characters are all well realised and believable. There is gentle, sensitive thirty-something Lou who has a love for vibrant retro clothing; super-neat, super-organised 60 year old Donna who has control-freak tendencies, and 70 something newly divorced Maggy who is somewhat taken for granted by her family. Three women at different stages of life, who have all faced blows which have rocked the foundations of their world. With support from each other they confront their various challenges and in so doing find new friendships, new opportunities and new leases on life. Their blossoming relationship is beautifully rendered, as they get to know each other and gently empower each other too.

With its key themes of female friendship; loss; second chances in life; making the most of opportunities that come your way; families (those you are born into and those you create with people you choose); community; home (its where the heart is) – and a love of Vintage clothing! – it is the loveliest of reads, with a hugely satisfying ending and the life-affirming message that it is never too late to start again.
A delightful, heart-warming read.
Thank you to Netgalley and Orion for an advance reading copy in exchange for a fair review.

I was lucky enough to be approved for a Net Galley copy for an honest review.

I love how the story explores variations on 2nd chances. Family, freindship and relationships lost through divorce or circumstance and of course a second chance for pre-loved clothes.

I feel that we see the characters question what it really means to be themselves and it was lovely to be able to take that journey with them. In some cases this was a literal journey to the other side of the Atlantic is search of answers and also a spiritual journey to rediscover the person they thought they'd lost.

It also explores how we dealt with loss, both in terms of possessions, identity and grief and it was beautiful to see the power that stories and indeed clothes, can have.

Heartwarming and heart felt, truly a delight!

I picked this book as I had heard good things about Libby Page and her previous books.
I have recently discovered yellow as my favourite colour and this sunshine book full of bright colours and hope was a delightful read.
Lou and Maggy make friends when Lou moves into the spare room, and Donna, is a ‘random stranger’ who comes into Lou’s vintage clothes
Shop and becomes a central character. It is full of Friendship, family and the trust and love of good supportive friends.
Stories are told, truths are shared and secrets are uncovered.
A lovely read.
Thanks to #NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ahead of publication in exchange for an honest review

This is a book that will hurt your heart but also make it soar . You are engrossed by the story straight away and are totally invested in all the characters.
Losing and finding,yourself, family and friends are key to the storyline.
I loved this book and finished it in one sitting.

A lovely read that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy. Lou moved back home to look after her terminally ill mum and when she died, Lou decided to open the shop of her dreams selling vintage clothing. Maggy, after a Clong marriage and with grown-up children who use her as a regular babysitting service, has just got divorced and, now, in her 70s, is feeling alone. Donna, in America, has just discovered something that makes her question everything she ever thought she knew about her family. This is the story of these three women and how a yellow dress that belonged to Lou's mum and is hanging, in pride of place, in her vintage shop brings them together. Lou and Maggy are characters that you warm too, Donna, for me, not so much. It is full of the importance of friendship, second chances and finding new paths. It's a story that tugs the emotions and yes, at times it is predictable but sometimes it's just the sort of book that you need.

such a delightful book! I romped through it in a couple of days, and it is a perfect touch of escapism and wish fulfillment. I loved that the older characters were fully rounded - more so than the younger, to be honest - which isn't always the case. Recommended.