The Second Love of my Life by Victoria Walters

Name: The Second Love of my Life
Author: Victoria Walter
Format: paperback
Pages: 320 pages
Release date: April 7th 2016
Publisher: Headline Review

Teaser

In the Cornish town of Talting, everyone is famous for something.

Until recently Rose was known for many things: her infectious positivity; her unique artistic talent; and her devotion to childhood sweetheart Lucas.

But two years ago that changed in one unthinkable moment. Now, Rose is known for being the young woman who became a widow aged just twenty-four.

Though Rose knows that life must go on, the thought of carving out a new future for herself is one she can barely entertain. Until a newcomer, Robert, arrives in Talting for the summer...

Can Rose allow herself the chance to love again?


My thoughts

I don’t think love is about letting go; it’s about treasuring it whilst you have it in your life.

I don’t know why but I had been putting off reading this book for months, and I am of course now kicking myself, as it is an amazing book. I adored Walter’s prequel The Summer I Met You and I knew The Second Love of My Life is going to be as brilliant as this.

Let me tell you about the story first. In The Second Love of My Life we meet Rose Walker. Rose had the perfect life. She lived in a Cornish town near the coast called Talting, with her childhood sweetheart Lucasy who she had married two years ago. In Talting everyone is famous for something. Rose was known for being a very talented artist but then your heart gets broken already after reading the prologue (I am not spoiling anything as it’s known fact from the blurb). Their happy life gets literally crashed when Rose husband Lucas suddenly and unexpectedly dies in a car accident. Now Rose now was known for being the young woman who became a widow aged just twenty-four. Rose used to be happy and carefree, such a contrast to the person that she is today. We follow Rose’s journey of slowly coming back to life after meeting with a newcomer to Talting, Robert. It is time for her to release that it’s ok to move on. Can Rose allow herself the chance to love again?

I am surprised this is Victoria Walter's first book. From reading this I would have said she had been writing for years. It’s not often I can say a whole book drew me in and had me engaged from start to finish. Before starting this story, I had been having concentration issues with a few of the books I had started reading, so was wondering if it was me or them, but I had no such problems with this book. It's a story of loss, grief, but at the same time, rebuilding a new life and letting love in your heart again. This book is incredibly moving, and I often found myself tearing up at things that happen throughout the book. Rose was a great leading character. I know how it is to lose someone you love at a very young age, probably that is why I could connect to Rose and her destiny so much. I loved many things about this novel, one thing was that even Lucas was dead; his presence was in the story all the time.

The Second Love of my Life is a powerful debut novel, a book that will stay with me for a long time. I don't recommend this book. I insist you read it, I promise you it won't let you down. I’m SO looking forward to Victoria Walter’s next book. If it is anything like The Second Love of My Life, than it is sure to be another hit.