
Member Reviews

3.5/5 stars…The FMC’s ex-husband is a dick head and I’m glad he got told off but I wish it didn’t take so long for that particular scene to play out. The MMC gave “big teddy bear 🧸 but I’ll rip your throat out if you even look at her wrong😡” energy and I love that for the FMC. Bonus points for him having the biggest heart ❤️and being a kick ass baker👨🍳. This was a really cute story that touched on hard topics but gracefully. I wanted a bit more though.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
I thought this was a cute romance story set in a quaint town with some fun quirky side characters.

Olivia Dade novels never disappoint, especially if you are looking for plus size representation. I like that she often includes both an FMC AND MMC that are fluffy, as is the case here. No weight loss storylines or anything of the sort, just two people who appreciate those aspects of each other. There is a time jump initially as these are two people who knew each other in high school. I love that Karl is SUCH a grump and everyone knows it and Molly is straight shooting. This was a fun read and I hope to see more from Harlot’s Bay!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book! Below is my honest review.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
While this book was enjoyable, it doesn't quite feel like a second chance romance to me. Our main characters met in middle/high school and were close until senior year. They never dated but they had unspoken feelings for each other (though that wasn't clear to anyone because the guy ends up dating a girl for a couple of years--on and off, but still). Twenty years later, the girl returns back to their home town for his funeral, only to find out he's actually alive. He convinces her to stay so that he can build her trust with him again. She agrees. Then they fall in love with each other. It's more of a miscommunication trope than a second chance romance. I also didn't get best friend vibes from them when they were younger, so it was hard for me to connect the two romantically.

I was really enjoying this and was about halfway through when it disappeared. It seems to have archived early and I'm so sad! I have tried to download again to no avail.
I did really like the set up, humor, and angst of this one and will definitely borrow or purchase it, when available, to find out how it ends. Three stars only because i don't feel I can rate higher until I finish.

I've been reading Olivia Dade for years and always enjoy her witty, heartfelt stories. I'm not usually drawn to second chance romances, but this one turned out to be a pleasant surprise. Karl and Molly never officially dated, but there was definitely something there, until a silly misunderstanding sent them in opposite directions. Years later, an accidental obituary (!!) brings them face to face again, and sparks (and old feelings) resurface.
I really enjoyed the setup, unique, a little ridiculous in the best way, and the emotional journey as they navigate their history and lingering feelings. Molly, now a romance audiobook narrator (which I loved), and Karl, the grumpy local baker, are both charming in their own ways.
It’s a sweet, cozy read with plenty of humor and warmth. While the second chance trope isn’t my go-to, this one was genuinely fun and satisfying.
Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publishing house for the chance to read this book in advance.

This was such a breeze to get through because it was so funny and endearing every step of the way. We meet Karl and Molly as teens for a moment to see where their beginning happened, and then we're catapulted 20 years later. Karl was so foul mouthed and his threats were so creative, I loved that he was a plus sized baker that tried to seem like he hated everyone and everything but was really such a sweetheart under all that mouth. I loved that he recognized Molly's voice immediately and made it a ritual to listen to her audiobooks in his bakery every morning just to be close to her; his devotion to her (even before she entered the scene) was so sweet. Molly had been through enough with her douche of an ex so it was totally understandable what she really wanted from Karl to make her stay. I loved that she always dished it right back to Karl and nitpicked him constantly when he got mouthy, it was so much fun. Athena was another great sub character that added to the humor and wasn't annoying to have around. Karl's support system was great and they didn't let him get away with anything. I also really loved the communication for the most part, they didn't run from things and there wasn't a final chase scene because they actually were adults, rationalized things, and didn't make impulse decisions. I loved how it all came together in the end for them, though I wish her douche of an ex got more than he did; just desserts though honestly but what he was doing really was harassment at that point. The heat was nice but I personally wished for a bit more spice than what we got but it was still fine, they were so cute together and the way he loved her was just a giant heart squeeze. There was dual point of view which really added to the story and made it that much funnier. We also got an epilogue 10 years into the future which was quite a jump that doesn't normally happen, it wasn't much but a solidification on how happy they are and grateful they both are for each other which was lovely.

Karl y Molly nunca estuvieron juntos. Hubo un momento, justo después de la preparatoria, en el que parecía que finalmente pasarían de amigos a amantes... pero, en cambio, un malentendido absurdo hizo que nunca volvieran a hablarse. Molly se fue a Los Ángeles y se casó. Karl se quedó en Harlot's Bay y compró una panadería.
La única conexión que la pareja ha compartido a través de los años es dolorosamente unilateral: ahora divorciada, Molly narra audiolibros de romances monstruosos, y Karl es un oyente siempre diligente, aferrándose a su única parte del romance que se le escapó.
Aun así, Molly no ha abandonado por completo Harlot's Bay. Al enterarse de que el obituario de Karl ha aparecido en el periódico local, un dolor inesperado la impulsa a tomar el siguiente vuelo a Maryland... donde encuentra a Karl con vida, víctima de nada más que un obituario accidental.
Al reencontrarse, la pareja finalmente resuelve su conexión perdida. Es cierto que Molly aún no está lista para volver a confiar, pero Karl está decidido a demostrar que es digno de su fe y devoción. Y a medida que se agota su tiempo en la Bahía de la Harlot, Molly, la cínica habitual, podría descubrir que Karl, el cascarrabias del pueblo, es imposible de dejar atrás una segunda vez.
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Es un libro ligero por lo que no esperan la super historia de amor.
Tanto Molly como Karl son algo inmaduros, pero son perfectos juntos y siempre pudieron estarlo, solo que ambos tenían miedo al rechazo y nunca le dijeron al otro sus sentimientos por lo que la vida paso y los separa. Y cuando una equivocación los vuelve a reunir, Karl sabe que esta es su última oportunidad para poder demostrarle que él es el indicado.
Gracias NetGalley por el ARC.

Olivia Dade delivers another charming love story in Second Chance Romance. Molly and Karl’s reunion is equal parts snarky, steamy, and emotionally satisfying. Their grumpy/grumpy dynamic is refreshing, and Dade’s trademark humor and body-positive rep shine through. A few pacing bumps aside, this was a cozy, feel-good read I thoroughly enjoyed.

Will a mistaken obituary lead these star crossed lovers to a happily ever after? Find out in this sweetly poignant book about the one that got away and getting a second chance to make it happen.
The characters are delightful, from plus size Molly, a baker by day and monster romance narrator by night, and Karl, who didn't know it but were each other's one and only. The story is unique and wonderful and sad and all in between about what ifs and could've beens.

I have not read any of Olivia Dade's books (depite seeing them everywhere), so this is my first one, but I really liked it and plan to read more! First of all, I love that she has plus size/fat representation in this book (as well as her others) and this time, BOTH main characters are plus size. I love this, because this is something you don't often see and I really resonated with this. I also am not a huge fan of the second chance romance trope, but I think this was really well done! Molly and Karl knew each other as teens and were good friends, but then there's a misunderstanding and they lose connection for a long time. Then, Molly reads Karl's accidental obituary and finds herself back in town. Karl makes it his personal mission to prove to Molly that he's a good guy, and that she belongs in Harlot's Bay. I love that he baked for her, took care of her, and swore like a sailor. Molly is sweet but sassy, and she is so witty. Their banter was hilarious and you could feel their chemistry! I will be reading At First Spite next, because I really enjoyed this book and want more from Harlot's Bay and Olivia Dade.
Thank you to NetGalley, Olivia Dade, and Avon for the eARC of this book.

Second Chance Romance by Olivia Dade is a sweet reunion story with just the right blend of humor and heart. A mistaken obituary reunites grumpy baker Karl and cynical audiobook narrator Molly after years of silence and sparks fly.. ✨
Their chemistry is great, the banter is top notch and the emotional payoff is satisfying, even if the pacing drags slightly in places.
I also loved the body positivity!!
A deliciously feel good read with charm, spice, and second chance swoons!

*Thank you to Avon, Olivia Dade and Netgalley for providing me with an E-ARC of "Second Chance Romance" in exchange for an honest review *
This was super cute!! (And hot!!) I loved Karl and the fmc's interactions!

DNF’d around 60%. I tried really hard to get into the story but at this point in the book i was getting very bored and skimming. I don’t think there’s much happening and I’m just unsure how i feel about Karl. There’s not been much give with his character despite him supposedly so in love with her. I also don’t really love reading romance in third person because it kinda feels removed from their story for me.

I thought the story was really cute. The couple was absolutely precious. I just felt like it was a little more awkward then I typically like my romances. They were super likable and I’m happy that they ended up together. It just felt like a very odd way to get there and that might be because second chances aren’t always my thing sometimes I’m like well you should’ve given up the first time, but I did end up rooting for the couple in the end so it was a good read just not one of my favorites.

This one just couldn't hold my attention. I tried to go back to it multiple times and I couldn't get into it.

I love everything this author writes and I was so happy to get the opportunity to read this book. The dynamic between the main characters was funny and sweet and very spicy as well. Would highly recommend if you enjoy second chance romance, friends to lovers and golden retriever MMCs.

AHHHHH what is this book and how do i get more. Like this book hit in all the right places and left no victims behind. IF this is not on your TBR add it like yesterday!

The premise and the story itself was good overall, but something about it felt very flat. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but the characters didn’t seem… vibrant enough? Yes, I say that despite Karl’s constant swearing.
The swearing is another thing: I’m a truck driver. I’m no stranger to “colorful” language, but even I found this excessive. It honestly made it hard to read. It got in the way. What should have been a 4- or 5-day read for me (considering my availability to read is limited) took me 14 days. That’s not good. A well-placed word or phrase is one thing, but wow. And not “wow” in a good way.
•𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘈𝘷𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘝𝘰𝘺𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸.•

The title speaks for itself! A fun and spicy Second Chance Romance! 3.5/4 stars
Back in High School Molly and Karl never made the step from friends to something more, after years of friendship, just when things start to seem like they could happen, a misunderstanding leads to a complete cut off from eachothers lives. Molly never really felt more at home than back in Harlot's Bay, even though she only spent a few years there in HS. When news of Karl's bizarre murder bring her back, she finds him not only alive but thriving after all these years. Desperate for a second chance, Karl is willing to do everything to prove to Molly that she can trust him and give Harlot's Bay a real chance as home and convinces her to stay until their HS reunion. But alot can change a person in 2 decades and Karl might not be able to undo all the trauma Molly's encountered since their time apart.
Thoughts and Potential Spoilers:
This book is capital F.U.N!! Such a fun read with a quirky cast of characters that leave you laughing out loud! The second book in a series, but can easily be read as a standalone without being lost. Karl and Molly are the ultimate Grumpy Sunshine dynamic, with Karl being the absolute perfect, curmudgeon hermit, except he runs the towns most popular bakery/cafe and EVERYONE loves him, even though he answers in grunts. Molly is the sunshine in the duo though she's a tad sassier than the normal grump sunshine dynamic, but I loved her quick wit and banter! The way the two instantly fall back into a playful dynamic and rhythm?! Ugh so good! The wild cast of side characters make the book that much more enjoyable as well! Karl says it over and over again but truly a town full of nosy busybodies! Similar to the town dynamic in Lovelight Farms or Dream Harbor series! Though there's a bit of miscommunication in the book, there's also a lot of brutal or bold honesty and even when miscommunication happens, its quickly resolved! I ALSO LOVE THE REPRESENTATION!!! So many curvy and happy bodies within all these characters and as a curvy girl myself it was so bleepin refreshing to read!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Avon for this Arc