A fitting end to an enjoyable series. It’s lovely to see such an ending for Holly Berry after the ups and downs of previous books. This could be read as a standalone but I would recommend reading the rest of the series. Lovely to see how grown up Hope is and how the others in the groups have moved on with their lives. Definitely very sweet!

Thank you Netgalley

I loved this story, but that’s not a surprise to me as I love this series and Hannah Lynns books. I am sad to say this is the last book, but am looking forward to where Hannah takes me next.

This is an emotional read full of longing, heartbreak,love, friendship , manipulation and hope. I love the message that we could all do with remembering, sometimes things just don’t work out, sometimes they do and either way there’s a reason ultimately, but friendship, community, support is always there.

I was really happy with the resolution for this (no spoilers here) and highly recommend the series to anyone wanting a gorgeous reading experience.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I just finished Happy Ever After at the Second Chances Sweet Shop by Hannah Lynn, and it honestly made my heart so happy. The setting in the Cotswolds is super cozy, and I totally fell in love with Holly—she’s such a sweet, strong character trying to balance everything from running her adorable sweet shop to figuring out love and family stuff.

It felt like a warm hug in book form, with just the right amount of drama and romance. If you’re in the mood for something light, heartwarming, and totally charming, this one’s a little gem.

The perfect end to a brilliant series which I would highly recommend. Read it in order or you will have no clue what is going on
Very well written, great characters , sad to see it finish .
Thank you to Netgalley, Boldwood Books and Hannah Lynn for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review

Thank you boldwood books, Netgalley, & Hannah Lynn for the e-arc. This was a sweet love story. I enjoyed this book. I wouldn't mind reading more by this author.

I have adored each and every book in The Second Chances Sweet Shop series and I'm absolutely gutted that it's over.

We've come full circle with Holly and see her through so many pivotal moments in her life. The highs, the lows and the heartbreaks and those moments of joy, so it seems a fitting end.

A return visit to Just One More is always welcome...who doesn't love a good old fashioned sweet shop where you can buy a paper twist of sweets, a sugar mouse or Humbugs from a jar?

It was so lovely to catch up with Holly and some old faces, some new. I have become so emotionally invested in these characters over time it's going to be hard to say goodbye.

A charming and enjoyable read.

Happy Ever After at the Second Chances Sweet Shop is the eighth book in the Holly Berry Sweet Shop series. I have not read any of the previous books, and will be doing so as soon as possible. I'm not going to lie, parts of the book didn't make sense to me but only because I think they must have referenced a previous book in the series. This didn't detract from the story since I mostly figured everything out but I would definitely recommend reading the Holly Berry Sweet Shop books in order.

Love is in the air in Happy Ever After at the Second Chance Sweet Shop, but it isn't necessarily the best type of love or the kind of love anyone is expecting. Her bestie, Giles, just announced his engagement to a new person to the group. Sienna and Giles haven't been together very long (in Giles relationship terms) but yet he drops to one knee in front of their entire friend group and asks for her hand. Now Holly is faced the reality that her friendship with Giles may change, and she finally admits what her heart has been trying to tell her all along. But she might be too late.

I really enjoyed this story. I may not have a lot of the backstory but I loved the path carved out for a second chance romance. Holly gets into a few situations where she's unable to stand up or defend herself, which only makes her eventual assertiveness shine. When she finally gets the chance, she lets the person know her feelings. I love Giles and completely understand where he's coming from regarding his engagement to Sienna. You can only wait for someone for so long before moving on and, in many cases, when the person finally recognizes their feelings, love sometimes just isn't enough.

Broken hearts, longing, and manipulation fill this story. The story is also filled with love, compassion, realization, friendship, and support. Sometimes things just don't work out, other times, they work out just like they should, and sometimes you get a mix of both. I've been in Holly's shoes and when I finally realized what my feelings truly were, it was too late. There wasn't any reconciliation or even coming back together as friends. That actually worked out for the best for me. Now I'm married to an amazing man and our relationship is much better than the one I thought I missed out on.

Leave it to me to start the series with the final book...Lol. I never used to be this way. I was very strict about reading books in order, but lately I just start a series as soon as I discover it. I'll go back to the beginning eventually, but I can't wait to meet the characters and explore the locations, and so now, I don't wait.

Lovely story. It’s the end of a series so better to start from the beginning and end with this one. The characters were very sweet and felt like a nice conclusion. There is some miscommunication bits that were a bit much but otherwise cute story.

I received an arc from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I'm sorry this is the last book as I've really enjoyed them.

After the heartbreak of the last book it was good that this one was lighter, but also not without drama.

It was great to be back with Holly, Hope and friends and we had a new addition in the form of Giles’s girlfriend/fiancée Sienna. Holly doesn't feel Sienna is the right person for Giles and unfortunately I didn't really like the way Holly treated her. She came across as nasty and childish at times.

It was nice that Holly and Giles finally have come the full circle and I'm glad we had a good ending for them both.

Thank you to the author, Boldwood Books and Rachel's Random Resources for my gifted copy and spot on the tour.

Happy Ever After at the Second Chances Sweet Shop by Hannah M. Lynn

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

After difficult times, Holly is finally adjusting to her new normal. Her daughter Hope is happy, she’s created a beautiful home, and an unexpected offer may mean fantastic opportunities for her sweet shop, Just One More.

But her sense of calm is shattered when best friend Giles drops a bombshell – a proposal to Sienna, a woman Holly barely knows and who isn’t right for Giles at all.

For Giles’s sake, she tries to make peace with Sienna, throwing herself into wedding planning. But as everyone else cheers on the ‘happy’ couple, Holly’s left questioning whether her doubts are about them – or about something in her own heart…

My Opinion

This is a series that I am definitely not reading in order but I have had no issues following the plot – although I would recommend reading the books in order. With this series Hannah Lynn has become a must-read author for me. Happy Ever After at the Second Chances Sweet Shop was a sweet, charming read with some great characters. Hannah Lynn has once again written a lovely book.

Rating 4/5

I have read another book in this series and want to go back and read the rest now. Seeing your friend engaged and planning to marry someone you don't like is always going to be a challenge. This book takes us there with bells on and through a few hurdles in along the way. A great read.

I actually can't believe that this is the last book in the whole series! I loved every installment This time Holly finds out that her best friend Giles is getting married and she isn't best pleased that it's to the one girl she doesn't like!

I'll say no more because it really is a joy to read and find out yourself

Even though i've read the whole series I do believe it could easily be read as a stand alone. Just a cosy hug of a book!

Highly recommend

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me a copy of this book to review.

This was a fun chick lit novel, and I enjoyed it a lot. I am looking forward to reading more by this author.

I hate to see the series end. The author has written a book about acceptance of another one's choice for a spouse. Hope has to learn to accept Sienna, Giles choice for a wife even though she doesn't think that she is the one for him. The gang is all here in the book.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and the Publisher and leaving a review by my own accord.

This is a last book in a series of interconnected stand alones and as the title suggests, it was so sweet! This was the first one that I have read in the series and I want to go back and read more! A wonderful mix of emotions and I love a short, sweet read. 4 stars! *I received a complimentary ARC from the author/publishing company via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts & opinions are my own.

This was the first book I had read in this series. Although I picked up the story and the characters, there are mentions of previous events which clearly had a bearing on this story. I enjoyed this book, but I prefer other authors in this genre, but that might be because I picked up this series part way through. Thanks to NetGalley for my ARC, this has not affected my review.

Happy Ever After at the Second Chances Sweet Shop by Hannah Lynn is a charming, cozy romance that delights with its blend of heartfelt second chances and sugary whimsy. Set against the backdrop of a quaint small-town sweet shop, the novel finds its magic not only in confections but also in the possibility of new beginnings and unexpected love.

The story follows Holly, who, after Evan’s death, has settled into a new norm—one marked by resilient acceptance and the occasional eye roll at her good friend Giles as he dates a string of women who never quite measure up. That is, until Giles suddenly proposes to his latest girlfriend, a woman who is, for all intents and purposes, clearly the wrong match for him. Holly’s reaction—a mix of genuine concern, lingering jealousy, and disbelief—adds a delicious twist to the story, which make me to question why she feels so conflicted when it seems that Giles should be the one learning the true meaning of love.

This book is crisp, engaging prose breathes life into the sweet shop and its colorful cast of characters. Familiar faces and quirky interactions—like Holly’s exasperated amusement at Giles’s dating escapades—create an atmosphere that is both light-hearted and emotionally resonant. The book is a fun, quick read that revels in the charm of everyday life, reminding us that sometimes the sweetest moments come wrapped in the complexities of friendship, loss, and love rediscovered.

Overall, it is an uplifting celebration of love, resilience, and fresh starts—a delightful treat for anyone in need of a little extra sweetness in life.

I haven’t read the earlier books in the series, but this one completely swept me off my feet! It’s everything I love in a cozy romance—heartfelt, charming, and full of small-town warmth that makes you want to curl up with a cup of tea and read in one sitting.

Holly is a beautifully written character—resilient, relatable, and so easy to root for. Life seems to be falling into place: her daughter Hope is thriving, her sweet shop is gaining momentum, and things feel… settled. That is, until her best friend Giles announces he’s engaged to someone Holly barely knows—and doesn’t quite trust. As Holly tries to support him, plan the wedding, and ignore her growing doubts, she starts to realize that maybe she’s been overlooking what her own heart has been trying to tell her.

Even without reading the previous books, I had no trouble connecting with the characters or the story. Yes, it has those comforting, predictable beats—but that’s exactly what makes it such a delight. It’s like stepping into a warm hug of a story, filled with love, growth, and the magic of realizing your heart’s true desire. A five-star comfort read I absolutely adored!

Unreal history and Chemistry.

This one gets my award for most mixed feelings. There was so much good about this book. There was:
Humor
Grief
Close knit group of friends
Single Mom
He Falls first
Only One Bed
The history between the Holly and Giles leads to chemistry that is undeniable and you can't help but root for them.

If it wasn't for the cheating. It's just not my thing. I can't stand it and it makes things so messy and usually makes characters get a little crazy and it was the only thing that I just truly did not enjoy about this story.

All other parts of the story were great!!!

Thank you to Net Galley, Boldwood Books, and Hannah Lynn for letting me read an ARC of this book!

As this is the last book in a series of 8,life has moved on a few years since we last read about Holly. She is still running her old fashioned sweet shop in her village, her daughter is at school and life is going well.
Holly then discovers that her best friend Giles is getting engaged without telling her. Giles has had lots of on off girlfriends so why is he choosing to marry the very one that Holly dislikes.
All her friends know why Holly is so annoyed but Holly just doesn't seem to get it.
Lots happening in this final book and lots of fun moments.
I have loved this series and hope I find the time one day to read it all over again.