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A Smart Girl's Guide to Second Chances

A new romantic comedy from the author of The Love Contract, perfect for fans of Beth O'Leary,...

Steph Vizard

$24.99

Paperback

Forthcoming
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English
HarperCollins Publishers (Australia) Pty Ltd
30 September 2025
What happens when the man who broke your heart reappears just before your wedding?

The new romantic comedy from award-winning author Steph Vizard for fans of Beth O'Leary, Mhairi McFarlane and Lizzy Dent.

To Do List

1. Replace decapitated groom cake topper

2. Complete twenty-page questionnaire for second-choice celebrant

3. Break family curse

4. Ignore ex-boyfriend / current client

Rebecca, a super-smart consultant, is determined to defy the family marriage curse, which claims no woman marries their first fiance, and prove that Matt is The One.

Although the wedding planning lurches from one disaster to the next and she has to steer a major work project before the big day, Rebecca is sure she can stay on top of things. That is until Alex – the ex who dramatically broke her heart at Oxford University – reappears in the boardroom as her new client. How dare he still be as infuriatingly clever and hot as before? And since when did he start wearing shirts with collars?

As Rebecca's past and present collide, she realises her choices can't be resolved with a trusty pros and cons list. Before she makes it down the aisle, she'll have to finally come to terms with the age-old question: head or heart?

Praise for A Smart Girl's Guide to Second Chances

'A fun, perfectly executed romcom that plays cleverly with the idea of missed connections and what-ifs ... Vizard's characters are intelligent thirty-somethings whose personalities work against the stereotype of the emotionally naive or unstable female protagonist so often seen in coming-of-age romances. Readers who enjoy multilayered plots that extend beyond the novel's central relationship will enjoy the triumph of friendship in Vizard's sophomore novel ... Readers of Emily Henry, Abby Jimenez and Mhairi McFarlane will be swept away by A Smart Girl's Guide to Second Chances, an Australian romcom that deserves the bestseller status of its international counterparts.' Books+Publishing

'I haven't been this gripped by a love triangle since Mark Darcy and Daniel Cleaver. Smart, sweet and oh so satisfying' Karina May, author of That Island Feeling

'Steph Vizard once again pulls off a highwire high concept mash-up of delectable romance tropes - love triangle, second chance, A CURSE - and grounds it with deeply human, loveable characters. Think Richard Curtis, via Melbourne, with a dash of Oxford glamour and lens-flared young love. This is a sparkling, cinematic and satisfying modern romance, deftly written.' Clare Fletcher

'A standout. Sharp, witty and utterly charming, I devoured this in one day. An absolute joy to read, from the first page to the last. Perfect for fans of Mhairi McFarlane' Jessie Seaborn, author of Isn't It Nice We Both Hate the Same Things

'Warm, witty, and delightfully romantic. A Smart Girl's Guide to Second Chances will tug at your heart and leave a soft lump in your throat. With whip-smart dialogue, tender moments, and an ending that truly feels earned, Steph Vizard knows exactly how to keep readers turning pages well past bedtime. Curl up, and enjoy every heartfelt twist.' Holly Brunnbauer, author of What Did I Miss?
By:  
Imprint:   HarperCollins Publishers (Australia) Pty Ltd
Country of Publication:   Australia
Dimensions:   Height: 210mm,  Width: 135mm,  Spine: 23mm
Weight:   315g
ISBN:   9781460767061
ISBN 10:   1460767063
Pages:   336
Publication Date:  
Audience:   General/trade ,  ELT Advanced
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Forthcoming

Steph Vizard is an Australian writer and lawyer. After studying literature at Oxford University, she worked in publishing in London. Her debut romantic comedy, The Love Contract, won the 2022 HarperCollins Banjo Prize and has been optioned for a TV series by a major UK production company. She is a connoisseur of salt and vinegar chips and lives with her family in Melbourne.

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