Second Chances in New Port Stephen

Second Chances in New Port Stephen

T.J. Alexander

Enjoyment: 5.0Quality: 5.0Characters: 5.0Plot: 4.5

A trans man returns to his Florida hometown for Christmas after his career goes up in flames, only to cross paths with his high school ex in this charming rom-com about family and second chances from the author of the “delectable” (Time) Chef’s Kiss.Eli Ward hasn’t been back to his suffocating hometown of New Port Stephen, Florida, in ages. Post-transition and sober, he’s a completely different person from the one who left years ago. But when a scandal threatens his career as a TV writer and comedian, he has no choice but to return home for the holidays. He can only hope he’ll survive his boisterous, loving, but often misguided family and hide the fact that his dream of comedy success has become a nightmare. Just when he thinks this trip couldn’t get any worse, Eli bumps into his high school ex, Nick Wu, who’s somehow hotter than ever. Divorced and in his forties, Nick’s world revolves around his father, his daughter, and his job. But even a busy life can’t keep him from being intrigued by the reappearance of Eli. Against the backdrop of one weird Floridian Christmas, the two must decide whether to leave the past in the past…or move on together.


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  • carolineslibrary
    Dec 17, 2024
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  • corycatelyn
    Mar 09, 2025
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  • yarncrone
    May 01, 2025
    Enjoyment: 5.0Quality: 5.0Characters: 5.0Plot: 4.5

    An absolute delight of a story about second chances and going home (and, spoiler, home can be a place AND a person), as the blurb says, but also of aging, of being known, of loving another person at their core, of changing. As a middle aged person myself, it was the best kind of surprise to read about bodies becoming softer, life becoming quieter, even sex changing, all in a way that felt warm and happy, not something to dread. There is also, of course, the huge change of Eli's transition which is foundational to the story, alongside Nick's changing understanding of his own sexuality. Nick's earnest efforts to learn how to understand and support Eli as a trans man are pitch perfect examples of how all of us should do these things. Similarly, his journey to discovering his own queerness later in life is gentle and is lovingly supported by everyone around him and it's so heartwarming. I don't always love second chance romance because the idea of continuing to harbour feelings for someone you dated and moved on from years before lost meaning for me in my late 20s. But this story gets it right. Eli and Nick didn't just date in high school. They've known and loved one another their entire lives - their relationship, even in high school, was based on a deep understanding of one another and that makes that adult relationship feel completely believable for me. This story is in turns sweet, funny, and very very human. There's conflict that feels neither over-simplified nor overblown. Nick's relationship with Laurie is such a beautiful example of respectfully coparenting. Eli's parents are trying super hard and love him so much and also sometimes get it wrong. Like humans. There's even a third act quasi-break up (my kryptonite) but it's short and meaningful - it doesn't feel like unneeded drama inserted for drama's sake. These two are both working through some things, and do a pretty good job of communicating about that, for the most part. I loved everything about this story and absolutely recommend it.

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