Review: Second Chances at the Board Game Café

Second Chances at the Board Game Café by Jennifer Page
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Three and a half stars.

Taylor is a single mother of a child, Max, who is just that little bit 'different' from the other children. He is mathematically gifted, socially awkward, doesn't like sport, and very particular about things being predictable eg always fish fingers on a specific day of the week, vegetables not touching the meat etc. Since Max's father decided he wasn't cut out for fatherhood Taylor has given up on her dreams of being a fashion designer and settled for making repairs and alterations from her cramped rented flat. She is desperate to move, and would like to move Max to a closer school where he wouldn't be bullied as much, but Max is adamant he doesn't want anything to change.

Harry is an accountant. He is also quite literally a train spotter, a loner, someone with a set routine, even dressing for the office when working from home. His favourite hobby, aside from watching Michael Portillo's train journeys on TV, is playing train related board games at the Board Game Café. After his last girlfriend used him to fix things around the house then dumped him for being boring he's been a bit reticent around women.

Initially, when they meet, Taylor thinks Harry is a typical grey boring accountant, and she much prefers the flashy estate agent Tarquin with his sharp suits and colourful outfits, but she quickly comes to realise that Tarquin is actually a well-dressed creep who promises much and delivers little, while Harry is kind and thoughtful. But Taylor is convinced Harry would never be interested in a woman with a child, especially one like Max. Whereas, for his part, Harry thinks no-one as beautiful and talented as Taylor could possibly be interested in a train spotter.

After Taylor upcycles a pair of jeans which Harry accidentally asked her to cut six inches off, instead of six centimetres, by adding a tartan flare and pockets, she is persuaded to start an upcycling sewing class above the café and put on a fashion show at the local school to showcase her talents, which might win her more interesting work that replacing zips and taking up hems.

This was a heart-warming cosy romance, Taylor has been brought up not to be beholden to anyone and so her kind friends, customers, and neighbours have to find creative ways to help her (like putting on a fashion show), and Taylor has to learn that help isn't always given out of pity.

So sorry I seem to have missed the second book featuring schoolteacher Jo.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.

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