This is the first book I’ve read with a female-to-male (FTM) transgender character. Anyone who follows Jay Northcote knows that he is transgender. While I understand this story isn’t autobiographical, I have to think that some of the more descriptive prose must come from first-hand knowledge; it just feels really authentic.

Putting aside the fact that this is a story about a transgender character, it’s simply a great second chance story. While the two lead characters weren’t really romantically involved when they were younger, they were best friends and Nate, before his transition, had a crush on Jack that Jack never knew about.

In addition to being a great story, that uses one of my favorite romance tropes, I also found the details about being a transgender man very informative and educational. There are a lot of things that I just never gave a lot of thought to and I’m glad that Jay didn’t skimp on the details.

I also learn a lot of British terms by reading books from Jay Northcote; I enjoy that they aren’t set in the U.S. and that my vocabulary is always enriched reading his stories. ?

I almost forgot to say how much I enjoyed the fact that Second Chance is a story with MCs in their mid-forties. Don’t pass this one up folks.

Reviews for Jay Northcote

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A hint of cigarette smoke carried on the wind caught Nate’s attention, and he realised he wasn’t alone. A hunched figure sat on a bench by the church. Wearing a heavy coat with the hood up, their head hung low staring at the grass between their feet rather than at the landscape stretched out before them. A cigarette hung from bony fingers that protruded from black fingerless gloves. As Nate watched, the man—because Nate could see his face now—raised his head to take a long drag before stubbing the cigarette out on the bench.A shock of recognition made Nate’s heart jump, thudding erratically.

Jack.

Torn between conflicting urges to approach and flee, Nate stared at him, powerless to move.

How many years had it been since Nate had seen him? At forty-five Nate found each year passed faster than the one before. It must have been twenty years at least since he’d seen Jack, maybe more, and longer still since they’d spoken properly. Their last meeting had been nothing more than an awkward exchange of greetings when they ran into each other in the village pub one Christmas. The distance between them had cut Nate like a knife, so different to their teenage years when they’d been best friends, and almost inseparable.

Jack slumped forward again, letting the cigarette butt fall from his fingers. He put his hands over his face and Nate recognised despair and hopelessness, because they’d been his companions in the past. Acting on instinct, he approached.

“Sorry to intrude,” he said, pausing in front of Jack. “But are you okay? Is there anything I can do?”

Jack jerked his head up in surprise. His pale cheeks flushed as he shook his head. “Not really. Just having a bad day. You know how it is… or maybe you don’t.”

“I do.”

Nate studied him. The years had changed Jack, of course, but the essence of him was still the same. Sharp features, the strong nose Jack had always hated, even more defined with age, but more balanced now with dark stubble and the lines that the years were beginning to carve around his eyes and mouth.

As Jack stared back, Nate realised there was no recognition dawning on Jack’s face. To Jack, Nate was a stranger. Five years on testosterone had changed Nate to a point where Jack couldn’t see the person Nate had been before. Normally this was something Nate was glad about, but now he felt a pang of regret.