Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
Second First Impressions
Second First Impressions | Sally Thorne
49 posts | 67 read | 39 to read
From the USA Today bestselling author of The Hating Game and 99 Percent Mine comes the clever, funny, and unforgettable story of a muscular, tattooed man hired as an assistant to two old women--under the watchful eye of a beautiful retirement home manager. 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 faade. Hilarious, warm, and romantic, Sally Thorne's novel delivers an irrepressibly joyous celebration of love and community for fans of 99% Mine and The Hating Game.
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
Pick icon
100%
review
Agabriv
post image
Pickpick

You just need to now yourself, to be confident and go for what you want and for this you need to be surrounded by people who believe in you. That is what Ruthie has around her. I could definitely picture tattooed handsome Teddy.

blurb
Garabrandtreviews

I am half through the audiobook and I started yesterday. It's so freaking charming and hilarious. I love these characters!

review
romcombc
post image
Mehso-so

What would you do if you were given a second chance to make a good first impression? A book sprinkled with re-dos, Second First Impressions follows the story of Ruthie and Teddy, two people whose initial encounter should have all but been forgotten (especially by Ruthie!)

quote
Jhullie
post image

Made me laugh 😂

Cazxxx Love 😂😂 1y
Megabooks 😂😂😂 1y
25 likes2 comments
review
OriginalCyn620
post image
Pickpick

Enjoyed this one! Ruthie is 25 going on 125, working and living in a retirement community, and playing it very safe. Then Teddy, the tall, tattooed, totally gorgeous, and totally not safe son of the new boss, shows up and upends Ruthie‘s ordered existence. Teddy, along with the office temp, a couple of meddling seniors, and some endangered tortoises, help Ruthie push out of her comfort zone.
#bookspinbingo - this is my #doublespin for this month

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 2y
53 likes2 stack adds1 comment
review
atl_scfl
Bailedbailed

Y'all... I just could not with this book. I loved The Hating Game by the same author so I was hoping this one would be good too. Nope. Jumped ship around page 25. Yes, 25. The main character had already annoyed me so much I just could not make myself proceed

blurb
julesG
post image

Only 13 more ends to weave in. It feels like I've been weaving in ends all day already (I haven't).

#audiobook is keeping me company

#MarvellousMarch #readathon @Andrew65

#KnittersOfLitsy #LitsyCrafters @curiouserandcurioser @Catsandbooks

Bookwomble Lovely colours ❤🧡💛💚💙💜 2y
DivineDiana Beautiful! I am finally learning to knit! Two lessons to date! Onward! 🧶 2y
wanderinglynn Ooh, can‘t wait to see what it looks like! 😍 2y
See All 6 Comments
julesG @Bookwomble thanks! @DivineDiana That's great! @wanderinglynn Uploading a picture in a minute 2y
Cathythoughts The colours are lovely 2y
Andrew65 Doing great on all fronts 👏👏👏 2y
68 likes6 comments
review
themonaisa
post image
Pickpick

I‘ve never heard anything about this book and OMG did I love it. So beautifully written; makes me want to run away to a retirement home and find love. The whole “being 25” plot really hit me where it hurt. I‘ve felt like Ruthie in a lot of ways I never noticed until now. Such a fun, warm, beautiful story 💕

2 likes2 stack adds
review
janeycanuck
post image
Panpan

I feel like Sally Thorne has a really misguided sense of how the business world works? Someone who is an assistant isn't going to be left in charge of a retirement community with a temp when the primary manager takes an extended vacation, not to mention the nonsense with Rose and her position in the parent company. That kind of ridiculousness distracts from the main story for me so this was a dud. I did like the turtles, though.

32 likes1 stack add
review
ScientistSam
post image
Pickpick

I've enjoyed every Sally Thorne book I've read, and while I didn't enjoy this as much as I remember liking The Hating Game, I still really enjoyed this.

Our heroine has some major scars from her past, giving up her dreams to play it safe working in a retirement community. The community has great characters, including her BFF and the love interest. They get our heroine to venture out of her comfort zone and find love on the way. #romantsy
4❤️

Soubhiville You know how sometimes your eyes play tricks on you and you think a picture or word is slightly different than what it actually is when you double take and really focus? I thought the author‘s name was Salty Thorne and I was totally into that. 🤣 oops. (edited) 2y
ScientistSam @Soubhiville 🤣🤣🤣 2y
48 likes2 comments
review
Nalbuque
post image
Pickpick

I‘m torn on this one. I‘d say that for 80% of the ride, it was pretty…meh. Predictable plot, tiresome characters, weak dialogue. But, since I‘ve been on a wee bit of a slump, and every (straight) rom-com I‘ve read recently felt similar, I just kept pushing thru. At the end, I found myself getting excited for the story, and for me it finished on a positive note, leaving me in high spirits. Overall, it coulda been much shorter, but hey, I‘ll take it

Vansa That's how I find all Sally Thorne books, including The Hating Game! The good reviews baffle me! 2y
Nalbuque @Vansa I didn‘t realize it but I bailed on the hating game when I read it months ago! Like, I dno, she writes such lonely sad characters but there‘s not enough development, or explanation, and then rather than empathizing I find myself disliking them. 2y
Vansa Actually, that's true-she creates characters and then doesn't give them an arc at all! 2y
16 likes3 comments
blurb
mcctrish
post image

Gotta plow through my library stack so I can start to read my Christmas stack

36 likes1 stack add
review
StellaDz
post image
Pickpick

I will forever love Thorne. Taking a simple idea (terrible first meeting) and turning it into a quirky, laugh/snort-out-loud, sweet romance is what I‘m expecting and getting with Thorne. The cast of characters in this novel is amazing: meddling old rich ladies; a mess of a hot man; safe, reliable Ruthie... and many endangered turtles.

It was the light read I needed, and I didn‘t look up from the pages until it was done.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

7 likes1 stack add
blurb
janeycanuck
post image

This dog is not taking the time change well. I love being stared at for an hour before dinnertime.

#dogsoflitsy

TrishB Awww 🐶❤️ 2y
IuliaC 🥰😍🐕 2y
TheSpineView Love the staring game!❤🐶 2y
See All 12 Comments
Soubhiville Time change is the worst time of year! It‘s really hard in the morning, as I feed my crew as soon as I get out of bed. That face though- adorable! 2y
AmyG What a cute photo. ❤️ 2y
CoverToCoverGirl Fantastic pic! Those eyes…. 🤩 2y
wanderinglynn Such a cute face! ❤️🐶 2y
ICantImReading Sooo cute!! 2y
Deblovestoread That face! Too much cuteness! 2y
janeycanuck @Soubhiville Oh, that sucks! This one will stay in bed as long as you let her so it‘s just dinner that‘s a challenge! 2y
Hooked_on_books That‘s hilarious! 😂 2y
49 likes12 comments
review
BookNAround
post image
Mehso-so

The straight-laced Ruthie, a good girl trying to make amends for something in her past, falls for the bad boy (ish) son of the new owner of the retirement community Ruthie works at. The characters‘ chemistry is rather lacking and some of the descriptions are very repetitive but loved the quirky old ladies. Full review at https://booknaround.blogspot.com/2021/07/review-second-first-impressions-by.html

review
Ash.on.the.line
post image
Pickpick

I liked this one. All the silly things that feel unrealistic work together to jus be a feel good book. Reliable Ruthie working at a retirement village and the new owners son Teddy who is a bit of a mess and stays next door to Ruthie to work there for some cash. Opposites and lots of great humor with retirees who need an assistant, and yes there are turtles! Not as steamy as her previous books if that‘s what you‘re looking for.

review
Between2Novels
post image
Pickpick

I absolutely loved this book so much. It was swoon worthy and so quirky and funny at the same time. This is another book with witty dialogue and I‘m so here for it. It was a perfect read ❤️❤️
#secondfirstimpressions #sallythorne

review
JenD1
post image
Pickpick

August reading update.

review
lanecannon
post image
Mehso-so

I thought this book was "meh". It felt very surface level floof.

review
bethbleil
Pickpick

4.0 stars

review
Bookbugworld
post image
Mehso-so

Here's my non-spoiler review : https://bookbugworld.com/review-second-first-impressions/

This is a fun one time read. Click the link to know more.

blurb
Sharpeipup
post image

My husband decided to hide from me while I was reading. 🤣😂

Tamra 🤣 3y
36 likes1 stack add1 comment
blurb
BookishMarginalia
post image

#CurrentlyReading

Tortoises!

UPDATE: Done ✅ 👍🏼

WanderingBookaneer I was about to start it! Let me know when you‘re done. 3y
Clare-Dragonfly 😂😂😂 3y
AlisonM Just finished this one today. I have a question about the ending… I don‘t think it‘s a spoiler…. in the epilogue she makes reference to his red #50 tattoo on his hand. What is the significance of that? (edited) 3y
66 likes2 stack adds4 comments
review
MaidaMalby
post image
Pickpick

4.5 stars

I laughed and I cried. When the writing brings a lump to my throat and a pinch to my heart, it means the book receives ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.

review
WonderlandMind
Mehso-so

I wanted to like this book but it fell so flat for me. I had no connection to either of the characters and genuinely did not feel any connection between them. I loved Sally Thorne‘s The Hating Game and this was a disappointment.

review
MarriedtoMrT
post image
Pickpick

I‘m usually all-in for an alpha but I have a soft spot for the loveable doofus (see Good Boy by Bowen and Kennedy) so Second First Impressions called to me. Add in that it gave me serious “if Eleanor Oliphant was actually a romance” vibes (but, like, less intense) and I was sold. It‘s a slow, low simmer with a great cast of characters.

review
BookLove4Ever
post image
Pickpick

This one was so sweet and funny. I didn‘t like Teddy at first but he became lovable in the end. He‘s kind of a slacker, but then he starts acting like a grown ass man. The two main characters have family issues and I can relate to the fact that it messes you up in early adulthood (and maybe longer). Ruthie is so sweet and you can‘t help but cheer for her as she also lets go of her past to move forward to find happiness. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

review
tracey38
post image
Mehso-so

Finished this audiobook last week. I was a bit disappointed in it as I loved the 2 other books by this author. I just didn't really get the romance. I didn't click with Teddy or feel him as a love interest. Maybe because these characters are in their 20s and I'm now in my 40s. But he just seemed too into himself and I didn't see any growth from him. He just made this big show at the end and that was it for me. 👇

tracey38 I did like the overall story other than the relationship. I liked the retirement center, the two old ladies were a hoot. I was interested enough to finish. But still disappointed in it as a romance overall. 3y
19 likes1 comment
review
Loreen
Bailedbailed

It may just be me, but I can‘t with either of the MC of this one. I‘m DNFing at 26%.

review
TheAromaofBooks
post image
Pickpick

Mixed feelings on this one, leaving it as a soft pick. I liked the two main characters & felt like they were a good balance for each other, but the snarky best friend/coworker really got on my nerves & I felt like she crossed the line & became condescending towards Ruthie, acting like Ruthie was just too sheltered & backwards to really know what she wanted from a relationship.I'm also personally a bit over having a character's Tragic Back Story ⬇️

TheAromaofBooks (cont'd) be because of a horrible “religious“ father. Can we please stop having background characters be “Christians“ just so you can talk about how hypocritical they are? Thanks.

But on the good side, there were some really fun characters & moments. I would have loved more interaction from some of the other residents, but the ones we did get were adorable. This book was borderline so-so for me & definitely nothing like The Hating Game, but an ⬇
3y
TheAromaofBooks (cont'd) okay one-off read. I'm sure I'll still check out whatever Thorne writes next!!

Almost forgot - between this & my chapter-a-day reads, I'm sitting at 585/700pgs for my #AnyWayYouReadathon goal!! @Eggbeater @kimmypete1 @MidnightBookGirl
(edited) 3y
76 likes2 stack adds2 comments
review
Lauram
post image
Pickpick

What a week! I read two books, listened to an audiobook, and had chocolate cake for dessert tonight. It‘s been a long time since I‘ve read a contemporary romance novel and I thought this book was great. I only wished that I didn‘t have work or obligations to interfere with reading.

DivineDiana Don‘t we all! I could read 24/7! 😂 3y
58 likes1 comment
review
Wildly_Bookish
post image
Pickpick

Just finished this one. Sally Thorne is definitely one of those authors that I will literally buy any book they come up with. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

review
BayouGirl85
post image
Pickpick

This was lovely with a great message. Sometimes people aren't always what they seem. Second first impression can turn things around.

May Book 6/25 #LitsyLove #bookspin @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Yay!! Glad you enjoyed this one - it's on my list for this month, too!! 3y
34 likes2 stack adds1 comment
review
MartinaLove
post image
Mehso-so

3⭐ Good
I really wanted to like this book. It was good but in my opinion the story had so much potential but not much happend.
Some scenes were enjoyable and funny but sometimes they were also pointless. Teddy acted like a teenager. I felt like I was reading a book about two teenagers instead of two adults.
I liked that Teddy was working hard for two ladies from the retirement home and I enjoyed the friendship between Ted, Ruthie and Mel.

blurb
MartinaLove
post image

I am not fully invested in the story yet.
I really loved The Hating Game by her. So I hope the story will get better. 📚

PS: Excuse my dog and all his toys 😂

review
Preciouz29
Pickpick

This was a super easy and fun read, but it was....slower and didn‘t burn as hot as her other books. I didn‘t feel the need to rush back to this book, but once I was reading, it was so easy to just keep going. But, I didn‘t have the overwhelming need to get to the next page or chapter.

review
sebrittainclark
post image
Pickpick

3/5

This was a sweet romance. I loved the Parloni's, but the story over-all wasn't as fun for me as some of the other books I've read by Thorne.

58 likes1 stack add
review
Annie1215
post image
Pickpick

Had a fun day traversing some of my fave spots around the city (and some new ones!) though it‘s been well over a year since I‘ve walked that many blocks at once and my legs aren‘t happy 😅I‘m trying to ease out of my home post-vaxx

I love everything Sally Thorne and jumped at this new release. This one came along as I tackled the subway properly for for the first time in a year...and I proceeded to pull an all nighter to finish!

#bookspinbingo

TheAromaofBooks This one just came in at the library for me so I'm excited to read it!! 3y
Jemgirl2014 I have this on on Audible. Can't wait to dive in! 3y
Annie1215 @Jemgirl2014 it was very sweet you‘ll like it! 3y
Annie1215 @TheAromaofBooks can‘t wait to hear what you think! 3y
Jemgirl2014 @Annie1215 So glad to hear! 🤗 3y
64 likes2 stack adds5 comments
review
MaggieCarr
post image
Pickpick

Half way I nearly gave up, pacing was at a turtle speed. Persisted and enjoyed the ending, even thought it was all a little too tidied up with all the details and perfect ending. 90% chase, close door romance with just the ending a little more discriptive. Loved the Parloni duo and their antics.

review
GirlWellRead
Mehso-so
blurb
sebrittainclark
post image

1. Second First Impressions by Sally Thorne and Fitness for Every Body by Meg Boggs

2. Never Put a Cactus in the Bathroom by Emily L. Hay Hinsdale

3. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab

#weekendreads @rachelsbrittain

review
thegirlwiththelibrarybag
post image
Pickpick

I was on the fence about Ruthie for the first 5 chapters - but we got there! Sally Thorne is hilarious and had me laughing out loud, many times. I liked that they were friends first (friends that were crushing pretty hard on each other but still) and that encouraging and believing in your people was such a central theme...

#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks free space

charl08 Thanks for posting this. I've put in my pre-order (it's not released here yet). 3y
thegirlwiththelibrarybag @charl08, I somehow didn‘t know Sally Thorne had a book coming out this year - just happened to see a post by her Australian publisher and got myself to the nearest bookstore... hope it‘s not a long wait for you! 3y
TheAromaofBooks Yay!! I have this one on reserve at the library so hopefully it will come in soon!! 3y
69 likes3 comments
quote
thegirlwiththelibrarybag
post image

“At some point soon, I‘m going to be having a romantic candlelit dinner. At the same time, you‘re going to be sitting in your very own tattoo studio writing ‘live laugh love‘ down a girl‘s back in comic sans”

“That‘s the most disgusting thing you could possibly say to me,” he splutters.

Reggie Lol 3y
51 likes1 stack add2 comments
blurb
Beachesnbooks
post image

My tentative April TBR! Will probably try to pick up at least one BOTM title also. #tbr

blurb
nitalibrarian
post image

I read 15 books in January. The tagged was my absolute favorite, with Blood Heir and Much Ado About You close behind.

I read
11 Romances
1 Urban Fantasy
1 YA Fantasy
1 Fantasy
1 Historical Mystery

CoffeeK8 What a great set of books! 3y
25 likes1 comment
review
nitalibrarian
post image
Pickpick

Late night (for me) review. Just finished this one. ❤️🐢

20 likes1 stack add
blurb
nitalibrarian
post image

I'm starting off my 2021 reads with (hopefully) a bang. I loved The Hating Game so much and I'm hoping I get the same pleasure out of her next book. #currentlyreading #ARC

Happy New Year!

erinreads Can‘t wait for this one to come out! 3y
CarolynM Happy New Year 🎉 3y
19 likes2 comments
blurb
Jemgirl2014
post image

I'm confused. The hardback/paperback comes out September 29th 2020 but the Kindle edition comes out January 1 2021. So not fair. This has something to do Amazon's fued with the various publishing companies? I preordered the Kindle version but I may recommend it to my public library instead. It sounds real cute!