Colton Gentry's Third Act

A Novel

By: Jeff Zentner

Narrated by: Charlie Thurston

This "story of love, healing, and second chances” (Emily Henry) from an award-winning author follows a down on his luck country musician who, in the throes of grief after a shocking loss, moves back home and rekindles a relationship with his high school sweetheart.

"A story of love, healing, and second chances ” (Emily Henry) following a down on his luck country musician who, in the throes of grief after a shocking loss, moves back home and rekindles a relationship with his high school sweetheart, from award-winning author Jeff Zentner.

Colton Gentry is riding high. His first hit in nearly a decade has caught fire, he’s opening for country megastar Brant Lucas, and he’s married to one of the hottest acts in the country. But he’s hurting. Only a few weeks earlier, his best friend, Duane, was murdered onstage by a mass shooter at a country music festival. One night, with his trauma festering and Jim Beam flowing through his veins, Colton stands before a sold-out arena crowd of country music fans and offers his unfiltered opinion on guns. It goes over poorly.

Immediately, his career and marriage implode. Left with few choices or funds, he retreats to his rural Kentucky hometown. He’s resigned himself to has-been-dom, until a chance encounter at his town’s new farm-to-table restaurant gives him a second shot at life: a job working in the kitchen with Luann, his first love, who has undergone her own reinvention. Told through perspectives alternating between his senior year of high school, his time coming up with Duane as hungry musicians in Nashville, and the present, COLTON GENTRY’S THIRD ACT is a story of coming home, undoing past heartbreaks, and navigating grief, and is a reminder that there are next acts in life, no matter how unlikely they may seem.

©2024 Jeff Zentner (P)2024 Grand Central Publishing

Critic reviews

“Reading Colton Gentry's Third Act feels like sitting down with old friends to your favorite home-cooked meal, reminiscing late into the night and laughing giddily by the time the sun comes up. It's warm and comforting, and brimming with a heady nostalgia that will transport you right back to your own youthful summers and life-changing firsts. A story of love, healing, and second chances that's not to be missed.”—Emily Henry, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Beach Read and Book Lovers

“Country music was born to tell stories and so was Jeff Zentner. Colton Gentry's Third Act is fueled by a broken heart, and a determination to heal through hard work, forgiveness, and grit—just like the very best country songs. Keep this one on repeat.”—Steven Rowley, New York Times bestselling author of The Celebrants

"What a book! A beautiful, hard-earned triumph. Jeff Zentner has delivered a story that is as raw as it is real, with dialogue that sings straight from the pages, and a redemptive love story that will make your heart ache. Charming and defiant, Colton Gentry’s Third Act will strum at your heartstrings as it tells its tale of redemption, transformation, and true love."—Christina Lauren, New York Times bestselling author of The Paradise Problem

Excellent Narration and Story!

Jeff Zentner has hit another home run with Colton Gentry's Third Act. I have loved every book he has written. This is his first book written for adults, and it does not disappoint!

Another winner!

Jeff Z has done it again. So many interesting ways to perfectly describe the ordinary in an extraordinary way had me scrambling for a highlighter!

Another great Jeff Zentner novel

I always enjoy Zentner’s style of writing. The descriptions of the food, the atmosphere, the rooms, and the people make it so you feel like you’re living in the world without it being too much and overwhelming the plot. The characters are always relatable and likable. And, he adds the best footnotes so you don’t have to worry about the sweet dog. Great narration too!

one of the best books of 2024!

5 surprising stars for Colton Gentry's Third Act! I had heard such rave reviews about this book I took a chance on it and could not believe how enjoyable it was! I think the reason I loved it so much is the reason others did as well - it's really not a Rom Com, at least not your run of the mill Rom Com. It's really a much more complicated but beautiful story about going home and grief and loss and sorrow and recovery - and forgiveness. I found the characters endearing even in their bad choices and bad luck and the relationships were authentic in their fragility. Overall, a heartwarming story that made me feel so happy for reading it. And that was rare in 2024. Highly recommend.

The twists and turns in the plot

Although the ending was a bit predictable I enjoyed the surprising plot twists. Very enjoyable read!

Lovely

This is such an uplifting, redemptive book! And it feels both like summer & fall wrapped up together. Zentner’s way of writing always has a poetic feel to it, and this one is no exception. I didn’t want to leave this little town of Venice, Kentucky and these people. I wanted to jump right into the pages and live there. The friendships, the inner struggles, and the romance all balance each other out in this lovely story.

Read It & Turned Right Around & Read It Again

Just loved it. Wonderful love story. Authentic. Absolutely lovable characters. Humorous. Poignant. Gotta love that country music!🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

Kentucky book that gets it right!

Set in a small town of Kentucky this book is an absolute delight. Although it covers some pretty heavy topics, I finished it wanting to hug it. And a special note for the author thank you so much for the footnotes!

Gorgeous writing

I absolutely love Jeff Zetner’s writing and this is another notch in the win column for him.

Another amazing story by the very talented Jeff Zentner

I loved this story. I loved the footnotes. I loved Petey. Jeff Zentner writes lyrically, his words creating stunning imagery in the simplest- and I mean that as a compliment- most relatable lives of his characters in the South. As a fellow Southerner, Jeff’s story of Colton and Luanne feels like coming home.