Second First Impressions by. Sally Thorne | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

Title: Second First Impressions

Author: Sally Thorne

Format: eBook (borrowed)

Pages: 352

Publication Date: 4/13/21

Publisher: William Morrow

Categories: Romance, Contemporary

Distraction (n): an extreme agitation of the mind or emotions.

Ruthie Midona has worked the front desk at the Providence Luxury Retirement Villa for six years, dedicating her entire adult life to caring for the Villa’s residents, maintaining the property (with an assist from DIY YouTube tutorials), and guarding the endangered tortoises that live in the Villa’s gardens. Somewhere along the way, she’s forgotten that she’s young and beautiful, and that there’s a world outside of work—until she meets the son of the property developer who just acquired the retirement center.

Teddy Prescott has spent the last few years partying, sleeping in late, tattooing himself when bored, and generally not taking life too seriously—something his father, who dreams of grooming Teddy into his successor, can’t understand. When Teddy needs a place to crash, his father seizes the chance to get him to grow up. He’ll let Teddy stay in one of the on-site cottages at the retirement home, but only if he works to earn his keep. Teddy agrees—he can change a few lightbulbs and clip some hedges, no sweat. But Ruthie has plans for Teddy too.

Her two wealthiest and most eccentric residents have just placed an ad (yet another!) seeking a new personal assistant to torment. The women are ninety-year-old, four-foot-tall menaces, and not one of their assistants has lasted a full week. Offering up Teddy seems like a surefire way to get rid of the tall, handsome, unnerving man who won’t stop getting under her skin.

Ruthie doesn’t count on the fact that in Teddy Prescott, the Biddies may have finally met their match. He’ll pick up Chanel gowns from the dry cleaner and cut Big Macs into bite-sized bits. He’ll do repairs around the property, make the residents laugh, and charm the entire villa. He might even remind Ruthie what it’s like to be young and fun again. But when she finds out Teddy’s father’s only fixing up the retirement home to sell it, putting everything she cares about in jeopardy, she’s left wondering if Teddy’s magic was all just a façade.

This was a fun book that involved a 25 year old girl who dresses like the residents at the retirement home she works at. It doesn’t help that she lives there on site, will she ever get out of Providence? The elderly residents, especially Renata, are wild – as wild as she can get in her scooter! I used to work at a retirement home so I felt like these residents were spot on with the humor and boldness – not sure I knew a resident who wanted to torture boys so much though! 😅 Then comes along a long-haired, charming, gorgeous young man, Teddy, who is basically punished to live there but turns out it’s what the retirement home needed!

I love how fleshed out Ruthie is – she is a pastor’s daughter, estranged from her parents- trying to make a living working and living at the retirement home. She’s nice, organized, neat, loves lists and is 25 going on 95! Most people would say she is bland, but not Teddy – apparently she’s his type! Ruthie doesn’t have a social life but she is kind, always very giving and chill, even though she also sometimes has panic attacks. I enjoyed her interactions with her coworker Melanie, I had a few laughs! She is awesome and probably my favorite character in this book. Renata is funny as heck and I love what she reveals in the end.

Speaking of laughs, my favorite scene in the whole book was the thrift shopping scene. So much chaos, it had me cracking up!

Teddy is not the usual, brooding love interest. No, this boy has player energy with the hair, the smiles, the jokes – he is full of charm, charming Renata of all people who is basically torturing him (he is her errand boy!). Teddy is disorganized in life, which makes sense why Ruthie would want to take care of him right? He was fun but I can see why Melanie was trying to scare him off of Ruthie haha.

I think the love story between Teddy and Ruthie is sweet because really they became friends before lovers. I like how Teddy is attracting to her because she’s basically his opposite and he wants to take care of her. And Ruthie wants to take care of him but is aware he isn’t the type to stay…so she was brave enough to jump into the uncharted waters for him.

Although Teddy is beautiful with his tattoos and long hair, and he is super funny (like he’d seriously be someone I’d hang out with) he is definitely the kind of guy I wouldn’t trust or would lose patience with because he is so flighty! He is always joking, it’s hard to know if he is sincere at times or selfish and trying to manipulate others to get his way. I was team Melanie on this all the way – I wanted Ruthie to stay far away from him!

There is a happy ending and Teddy even made up with his sister Rose – that wasn’t quite believable to me though. It happened so fast!

Why you should read it:

• it’s a sweet love story/opposites attract
• the secondary characters are so much fun
• happily ever after feels

Why you might not want to read it:

• Teddy comes off as a player and that kind of guy who needs to be taken care of (it annoyed me a little lol)

My Thoughts:

This is the first book I’ve read from this author and I saw reviews saying that it isn’t as good as The Hating Game. So I guess having no expectations of this book was good for me? I enjoyed Ruthie and Teddy’s budding relationship. Melanie and Renata were my favorite parts though, they were so funny. Teddy is that kind of guy who would turn me on with his good looks, humor and charm but turn me off with his lack of direction and commitment but overall I thought the story was cute!

📚 ~ Yolanda