Second Chances in New Port Stephen
Ratings7
Average rating3.9
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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A pleasant end of year surprise, a new to me author with a thoughtful, occasionally humorous romance between transmasc unemployed, recently sober comedy writer Eli and his cishet former BFF/boyfriend Nick, general manager of a restaurant and divorced dad. Eli hasn't visited his hometown of New Port Stephen, Florida in many years for a variety of reasons, hateful anti-trans legislation being only the most recent. The plot invests an equal amount of space to Eli's relationship with his inadvertently hurtful parents, Nick's love for and fears about his four year old daughter, and the peculiarities of a second chance at love with someone whose whole identity has changed.
Could have used fewer Big Misunderstandings, but there were plenty of scenes with the two MCs being kind to each other, which frankly goes a long way for me these days. The action takes place around the holidays but they're not the driving force for the plot. The real happy ending is that Eli and Nick's future together lies in a better, bluer state.
I don't normally like second chance romances but this one was phenomenal. I laughed and I almost cried and I absolutely love these idiots.
