First Love, Second Draft by Becca Kinzer

First Love, Second Draft is Becca Kinzer’s latest release. It is set in a small town in Illinois and will be released on April 15, 2025. Gracie is well, not graceful, and has managed to hurt herself to the point where she needs help. No one else can help, and she’s too stubborn to ask anyway. In steps Noah, her ex-husband, ready and willing to help. The problem is that Gracie is on a work deadline and is too distracted with Noah around.

I want to thank Tyndale Fiction and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of First Love, Second Draft. However, all opinions expressed here are solely mine.

Synopsis from Goodreads

Rom-com writer Gracie Parker hasn’t written a bestseller since she and her husband, a major league baseball star, divorced five years ago. On thin ice with her publisher—and with a looming deadline—Gracie couldn’t have picked a worse time for a painful injury that has her flat on her back. At this point, she’d accept help from anybody… except her first love and ex-husband, Noah Parker.

The baseball season has just ended in massive disappointment for Noah. He’s facing the stark reality that he gave up everything for a career that’s let him down, and that it might be too late to get back the one person he should’ve held on to. So when Gracie’s nephew calls, saying Gracie’s looking for a tenant for her next-door rental, it feels like it’s meant to be.

All Gracie cares about is turning in her manuscript on time, which is directly at odds with Noah’s attempts to win her back, even if she is slightly charmed by his kindness. But can people ever really change? Then Noah throws a curveball that could give Gracie the extension she needs, but it will mean working directly with Noah, something she’s not sure she can face. With no other choice, and everything on the line, Gracie must decide if it is too late for a second draft of their own love story.

My Opinions

The concept of First Love, Second Draft is intriguing and sounds like a great read. First loves, who parted ways after 20 years together, yet are still in love? Sounds like a bumpy road ahead if they’re going to get together. But it also sounds like it could be a fun ride. Sadly, it didn’t work out that way for me.

Gracie and Noah parted ways under uncomfortable circumstances. Gracie felt he wasn’t supporting her and wasn’t there when she needed him the most. After finishing the book, I ask her, “When did you support him and be there when he needed you?” She held on to her resentment towards Noah for over five years, and continued to push him away after he arrived to help her during her recovery.

The dialogue between Gracie and Noah, especially in the book’s first half, was unbearable. I understand Gracie didn’t trust her heart with him around, but the way she spoke to him felt more like a bratty child than a 40-something woman. Once they started talking and, more importantly, listening to each other, the book became much better, so much so that I read it in a couple of hours.

Another thing that took me out of the story was the added romance between Matt and Rachel. I understand we should see a parallel between them and the main characters, but it broke up the flow of the main story. And were the accidents needed?

Do you enjoy reading sports romance? What if it contains a second chance romance? Even better if it’s a clean romance, meaning there’s nothing sexual in the book? Then you may enjoy reading First Love, Second Draft.

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