Book Review: The Vintage Shop by Libby Page

The Vintage Shop (also known as The Vintage Shop of Second Chances) is the fourth novel by Libby Page, released in 2023.

I’d previously read two of Libby Page’s previous novels, The Lido and The Island Home and really enjoyed them both. I was therefore thrilled to be offered an advanced copy of The Vintage Shop of Second Chances via Netgalley.

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Genre: General Fiction

Author: Libby Page

Buy: Amazon | Waterstones

Published: 2023

Plot

After the death of her mother, Lou is finally taking a chance and opening her own vintage shop in her hometown of Frome, Somerset. She decides now is the time to chase her dream and embark on something new.

Meanwhile in New York, Donna has found out the woman she believed to be her mother actually adopted her as a baby. This makes Donna question everything she thought she knew about family and she is keen to find out more about her birth mother.

Maggy is in her 70s and facing life as a new divorcee. Her children now have children of their own and while she loves being a grandmother, she is starting to wonder what happened to the woman she used to be.

One yellow vintage dress brings these women together as they try and find the answers they are searching for and unlock a second chance at a new life.

The Vintage Shop Book Review

I don’t tend to read a huge amount of ‘feel good fiction’ or ‘up-lit’ as it’s sometimes known. I’m a bit of a weirdo who likes being emotionally devastated by a book! However, I do have a soft spot for Libby Page’s books.

I’d finished Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver before this one so it was certainly a change in pace! But sometimes you just want to read something uplifting and inspiring.

I liked all three main characters in The Vintage Shop I had a real soft spot for Donna and her brusque manner. She could come across as rude or abrasive but I really liked her as a character and found myself empathising with her.

I really liked the resolution to the story surrounding Donna’s mother. I don’t want to say anything that might be considered a spoiler but I will say it made me cry!

Overall, I really enjoyed The Vintage Shop of Second Chances. The story was slightly predictable but I honestly don’t mind that in a book like this. It was a moving story of sisterhood, family and community and I loved the motto of ‘live life colourfully’.