Author: Michelle Hoffman

Publisher: Ballantine Books

ISBN: 9780593599136

Two music prodigies facing personal crises agree to compete on a new reality TV show focused on dueling pianos. As they each get ready to go on the show, they realize the only way their talents can really shine is if they deal with their darkest fears. Author Michelle Hoffman offers readers a deeper look at the music performance world in the somewhat successful book The Second Ending.

In Arizona, Prudence Childs is adrift. She’s just sent her younger child off to college, and now she’s an empty nester. Her husband, Stuart, adores her but is busy in his career in the investment world. Prudence wishes she could find something to take away this weird version of the baby blues. 

The fleeting thought of returning to the piano comes to mind, but Prudence immediately nixes it. A child prodigy, Prudence traveled the world and played for many VIPs, all before her teen years. It’s taken decades to undo some of the conditioning that her cruel, overbearing grandmother ground into her. Prudence loves the piano—nowhere else is she as free or as creative—but Granny Childs caused enough damage to make Prudence question herself, and now the former child star wants nothing to do with Mozart or the rest of those guys.

She hasn’t completely left music behind. With her fine-tuned ear, Prudence created ad jingles for some of the biggest brands. The job allowed her to put herself through school and gain independence in those early years when Granny Childs told Prudence she couldn’t do anything on her own. She’s proud of those jingles, even if they aren’t exactly concert-hall material. With both kids gone now, though, Prudence is realizing that maybe she misses the concert hall a little.

Across state lines, Russian piano sensation Alexei Petrov is wrapping up the newest season of his reality TV show where musicians battle it out on pianos. Audience votes determine who wins, and people tune in every week to see the gorgeous Alexei put the musicians in their place. A quirky concept that no one predicted would take off, the show has made Alexei a star and given classical music a reboot.

But Alexei isn’t happy. In fact, he doesn’t feel much of anything. He’s too busy practicing and performing to do much more than, well, practice and perform. His mother, Tatiana, did what she had to do to make sure Alexei developed his talent. His musical prowess allowed the family to escape the oppression in Russia for a better life. Now Tatiana, Alexei’s de facto manager, believes Alexei needs to pay his parents back for all their sacrifices. Which means both financially and musically.

Prudence and Alexei are both facing burnout, but they both undergo circumstances that reveal why they can’t quit the piano just yet. Also, they’ll both have to compete on the TV show if they want to keep their secrets intact and their reputations pristine. As they practice and prepare, they realize maybe the way to get back to their music is to go forward, face their greatest fears and their biggest naysayers, and allow their talents to soar.

Author Michelle Hoffman builds levity in the dual point-of-view storyline. Readers will chuckle at some revelations and challenges that Alexei and Prudence face, which hide the tragedies of their childhoods. The spotlight stays on both characters in the present, but the sadder moments of their earlier years keep edging into view from the shadows.

Although the book alternates between Prudence and Alexei, an omniscient narrator steps in frequently to tell readers what’s happening. Sometimes the omniscient narration works; sometimes it doesn’t. This unevenness might force some readers to go back and reread sentences in order to move forward, causing them to be pulled out of the book completely.

Also, at times the book feels like it’s skating across the surface of its plot. Some of the side characters—Prudence’s octogenarian piano teacher for one—deserved more development and time on the page. There’s also the question of Granny Childs. She terrorized Prudence in her childhood, but gets no time on the page in the present, which may lead some readers to wonder about her. 

Overall, the book provides a lighthearted read and some lovely surprises. The relationship between Prudence and Stuart is sweet, and Alexei’s pining for his one true love will endear him to readers. Those looking for a beach read set in the world of classical music might enjoy this one. I recommend readers Borrow The Second Ending by Michelle Hoffman.