Second Act

A Small Town Beach Romance (The Parent App Prequel Novella)

By: Tess Thompson

Narrated by: Eleanor Caudill, Michael Gallagher

What happens when the kids put their single moms on a dating app?

Unexpected connections, heartfelt confessions, and the first sparks of second chances in this clean & wholesome small-town romance prequel.

Five kids. Five single moms. One unforgettable summer.

In the coastal town of Willet Cove, five kids have grown up side by side, bound together like family. Their moms—five single mothers who’ve built a found family of their own—have given them everything.

But as high school looms, the kids see what their mothers won’t admit: behind the laughter and busy lives is a quiet loneliness. And they’re determined to fix it.

The plan? Create dating profiles for all five women on a matchmaking app called Second Chance.

What begins as a secret experiment soon opens the door to truths, risks, and possibilities none of them imagined. Because sometimes it takes a child’s love to spark the second chance you never saw coming.

Heartwarming, emotional, and full of healing and hope, this novella launches The Parent App series of small-town romances about single moms, lasting friendship, and the second chances we all deserve.

©2025 Tess Thompson (P)2026 Blue Nose Publishing

Charming read

This is a sweet and charming quickie read. All of the children in this story are adorable. The events leading up to the children putting their single moms on a dating app may have been a bit disastrous. Yet the children had good intent.

Eleanor Caudill and Michael Gallagher narrate the audiobook version. Let me tell you that if you get the chance or enjoy listening to audiobooks that you will want to grab this book in the audio format. Eleanor and Michael both do really good jobs of voicing all of the characters. Each character did have their own distinct voice.

Love is starting to bloom when five adorable children sign up their single moms on a dating app. I did enjoy this novella. Another fun read by Tess Thompson.

Sweet beginnings!

Story - ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Narration - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Second Act is the prequel novella for The Parent App series. I absolutely love the idea behind this series. We are introduced to five teens who have known each other since, well, forever who sign their single moms up on a dating app. These moms have formed a little family, supporting each other through good times and bad. Plus, it's set in a small town by the beach...#winning. I can't wait for the rest of this series!

The narration is really good. Michael Gallagher and Eleanor Caudill do a fantastic job with all the character voices. 5/5 stars!