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Second First Impressions is the most recent release from USA Today best-selling author Sally Thorne. It was published in April 2021 by William Morrow. We are introduced to Ruthie, a twentysomething who lives in a retirement community, and Teddy, a guy with a joy for life. We are introduced to the Parlonis, a pair of elderly women who love making mischief with their personal assistant.

A cover image of Second First Impressions by Sally Thorne for a book review.
Second First Impressions by Sally Thorne

Synopsis

Ruthie is an administrative assistant at Providence Luxury Retirement Villa and resides on-site in case of emergencies. She is in her mid-twenties but feels as though she is older than many of the residents she helps take care of.

Teddy is a happy-go-lucky kind of guy. While he may come from money, he prefers to do his own thing, even if that means growing his hair long and covering himself in tattoos.

They meet one night at the gas station, where Ruthie comes to his rescue. He thanks her but also laughs at her, making her feel angry. The next day at work, in walks the new boss and the man she rescued the night before. Little does she realize her life is about to be flipped upside down, as the man she rescued is the boss’s son in search of a job. And a job just became available, with the most eccentric residents.

The safety and security that Ruthie desires the most come under threat; will she have anyone to rescue her?

Positives

Renata is my goal when I become a senior citizen. Who am I kidding? I want to have her sass and attitude now! Of course, some of the things she says and does to Teddy could be considered sexual harassment, but it seems to be taken lightly and as if it doesn’t matter given the fact she is 91.

The description of Providence sounds lovely. In some ways, it reminds me of the neighborhood I live in. Except I don’t live in a retirement community, though many of my neighbors are retired.

Negatives

There is no set location given in the book. I know it’s not a big deal, but it helps me picture the location if I know where the book is set. Providence is mentioned throughout the book, but I am unsure if it’s just the retirement community or the town itself. Fairchild is mentioned a few times as well, but that is obviously a town, as it’s the location of the shop Teddy is hoping to manage.

The loose ends in the book are pretty well wrapped up, except for Ruthie’s relationship with her parents. Do they apologize to her and for the way they treated her in the past? Or do they still blame her?

Overall, Second First Impressions is an easy book to read. The story itself is 333 pages long, with another 10 added on with author notes and such. This is the first book I’ve read by Sally Thorne, but I feel I may pick up another one at some point.

A cover image for Second First Impressions by Sally Thorne for a book review.
Second First Impressions by Sally Thorne

Looking for some more books to read? Check out my other book reviews and my monthly reading wrap-ups.

2 thoughts on “Second First Impressions by Sally Thorne: Book Review

  1. Second First Impressions is on my TBR. I read The Hating Game by Sally Thorne, and absolutely loved it. It’s one of my favorite books. I’ve read reviews, and Second First Impressions doesn’t have the same rave reviews as The Hating Game, so I wonder if you’d like that better? I must get to reading this one, so I can see for myself if it’s as good as The Hating Game or not.

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