Sidewalk Whispers

The Second Story Bookshop

Written by Denise Hunter

Narrated by Kim Churchill

Published by Thomas Nelson

Release Date: 10.07.25

Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance

3.5 Stars!

The Second Story Bookshop by Denise Hunter carries all the charm and undercurrents you expect in a small Southern town where history runs deep, grudges last longer, and the bookshop on Main Street holds more than just stories. Shelby Thatcher’s inheritance comes with strings: half ownership belongs to Gray Briggs, the man the town mistrusts and she vowed never to face again.

The setup is ripe with small-town tension—sidewalk whispers, old wounds that resurface with a glance, and a community that often chooses sides without knowing the whole story. I felt the weight of those dynamics. The threads of hometown loyalty, shame, and belonging gave the story a steady heartbeat.

By the final chapters, the town that once felt heavy with old wounds began to shift in quiet, unexpected ways. Those closing moments carried more warmth and depth than I’d felt anywhere else in the book—where grace brushed close enough to touch, and love held the kind of strength that could mend what time alone never could. For being a Christian fiction book, the spiritual thread felt more like a whisper carried on the wind than the steady heartbeat of the story.

I received a digital version of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review nor paid to do so. This is my honest and unbiased review. My thoughts and opinions expressed in this book review are my own. My review focuses on the writing, narration, and story’s content, ensuring transparency and reliability.