Max is a successful businessman following in his father's footsteps. When he comes to Max insisting on an arranged marriage, Max decides it’s time for a break. He goes off the grid and finds himself in Penrose Beach, a small, charming tourist town. He's captivated by the town and the cafe owner who saved the day when she picked him up after his rental car ran out of gas.

Max Bauer’s Second Chance is a great summer read! The setting very well could have been my favorite part of this book. Penrose Beach is a small town in California, right next to the ocean. The town is filled with a small, close-knit community. They have a busy tourist season during the summer, so they are working to prepare for the crowds. Perfect summer vibes.

I enjoyed the characters in the book. I think Lila, Avery’s niece, was my favorite. I loved her sense of humor right from the very beginning. The way she labeled Max a serial killer or hard-core criminal as soon as they picked him up off the side of the road was an amusing joke that continued throughout the book. I loved the hidden identity aspect of the story with Max keeping his billionaire status to himself.

The romance between Max and Avery felt a little slow. In all honesty, it was probably very realistic. Especially considering the circumstances of the two involved. Max lived on the other side of the country. Avery had her hands full. I can see why she didn’t want to start anything. But it almost felt like she barely even considered a relationship with Max until right before she found out he was rich, and then once she knew, all she was thinking was how she couldn’t be his wife… If there had been a little more romance, I think I would have liked it better.

I appreciated the journey Max took throughout the book. He was a serious workaholic who spent his whole life living up to his father’s expectations. I loved how he learned life didn’t have to be that way. He came to Penrose Beach and had the chance to learn what made him happy away from his 90-hour work weeks.

Overall, Max Bauer’s Second Chance was a cute story. I’d definitely recommend you add it to your summer reading lists!