The Second Chance Cinema - by Thea Weiss (Hardcover)

About the Book

"At the end of a cobblestone alley, shrouded by fog and empty storefronts, lies a glittering magical cinema, with 'The Story of You' presented on the marquee. Ellie and Drake, a newly engaged couple, stumble upon it while walking around their city late one night. Ellie, a dreamer who has made a career of writing about nearly forgotten businesses, is immediately intrigued. Tickets in hand, they make their way into the deserted red-velvet auditorium and to their great surprise, see projected before them memories from their respective pasts. Risk-averse Drake is reluctant when Ellie insists they return to the cinema, but he finally concedes. There's a moment she's haunted by from her past that she doesn't fully remember. If she could only watch what happened, then maybe she'd finally know she wasn't to blame. Meanwhile, Drake is concerned that Ellie will get the wrong idea about a past relationship from what she sees on the screen. As their memories inch closer to the day they met, they realize they both have been keeping secrets from each other"--

Book Synopsis

The Midnight Library meets Romantic Comedy in this emotional, heartwarming debut novel where an engaged couple stumble upon a magical movie theater that plays formative memories from their lives, showing secrets they both have been keeping from each other.

At the end of a cobblestone alley, shrouded by fog and empty storefronts, lies a glittering magical cinema, with The Story of You presented on the marquee. Ellie and Drake, a newly engaged couple, stumble upon it while walking around their city late one night.

Ellie, a dreamer who has made a career of writing about nearly forgotten businesses, is immediately intrigued. Tickets in hand, they make their way into the deserted red-velvet auditorium and to their great surprise, see projected before them memories from their respective pasts.

Risk-averse Drake is reluctant when Ellie insists they return to the cinema, but he finally concedes. There's a moment she's haunted by from her past that she doesn't fully remember. If she could only watch what happened, then maybe she'd finally know she wasn't to blame. Meanwhile, Drake is concerned that Ellie will get the wrong idea about a past relationship from what she sees on the screen.

As their memories inch closer to the day they met, they realize they both have been keeping secrets from each other. With their wedding on the horizon, Ellie and Drake will be forced to answer: do you need to love who someone was, to love who they are now?

Brimming with nostalgia, heart, and a dash of magic, The Second Chance Cinema is both an enchanting escape and a thought-provoking examination of how our past shapes who we are.

Review Quotes

"Charming and clever, this intriguing debut is a must read!" --Evie Woods, bestselling author of The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris

"Delightful, heartfelt, and utterly engrossing, The Second Chance Cinema offers a magical glimpse into the perfectly imperfect aspects of love, commitment, and how to reclaim the past to find happiness in the present." --Margarita Montimore, USA Today bestselling author of Oona Out of Order

"Weiss's debut novel pulls back red velvet curtains to reveal an auditorium filled with nostalgia and a thought-provoking analysis of how the past shapes the present. This story seamlessly moves from past to present, dwelling upon the importance of love, grief, personal fears, and genuine acceptance. This tantalizing escape is more than a magical theater; it leads readers to consider the weight of past decisions and long-held secrets." --Library Journal (starred review)

Weiss, in her debut novel, shows the destructive power of secrets and the healing power of vulnerability and acceptance in relationships. Readers will root for Drake and Ellie in this sweet and charming story of second chances. --Lynnanne Pearson, Booklist

"First-rate debut from Weiss. Weiss supplements the accomplished plotting with realistic character work, focusing on how the couple is impacted by the film's revelations. This tugs at the heartstrings." --Publishers Weekly

"Funny, beautiful, and surreal." --Kirkus Reviews

"The Second Chance Cinema is a beguiling, bittersweet performance of love and memory, stitched together with velvet, celluloid, and wonder. A dazzling debut that invites you to sit back, press play, and reconsider everything you thought you knew." -Hayley Gelfuso, author of The Book of Lost Hours

"Magical, cozy, and romantic; The Second Chance Cinema gets two thumbs up!" --Meg Shaffer, USA Today Bestselling Author of The Lost Story

About the Author

Thea Weiss is a copywriter and screenwriter who previously contributed to the Twilight franchise. She lives in Denver with her husband, daughter, and dachshund--and loves going to the movies when she's not writing. The Second Chance Cinema is her first novel. Find out more at WrittenbyThea.com or follow her on Instagram @WrittenbyThea.