Olivia Dade does it again. This time her feel good romance follows a cantankerous baker male mc, and a spicy book narrator. It's a second chance romance sure to sweep you off your feet. Both characters have to overcome their past and learn to communicate so that they don't loose the chance to finally be together. There's lots of bickering and hilarious threats to go around for everyone.

Another ARC from Netgalley. Second Chance Romance wasn’t the book for me. There were some funny parts but were a bit over the top. I really expected more from the story. There were some oddities like the book club books that didn’t click with me. I didn’t hate it, but I did struggle to want to finish it.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this book.
Second chance, romance by olivia Dade. I give it a 4⭐️& a 3🌶 I think this is a cute book. This is the second book in the series. I did not read the first one before reading this, but it was still enjoyable to read and follow along with the storyline. The way the characters interacted and witty banter with each other that was cute and I loved how when they did reunite again, they fell right back into their old selves like no time had passed. I definitely think that If you like
- second chance Romance
- overcoming past trauma
- humor
- struggles with self-worth
Just to name a few then you would like this book

Thank you to Avon Books/Harper Collins, Olivia Dade, and NetGalley for this ARC. I was over the moon when I received the approval as I loved the first book in the Harlot’s Bay Series, “At First Spite.”

I thought this was such a cute book and a great follow-up in the series. If you thought the first book was a delight, you’ll really love this one as it answers some interesting questions I had about Karl from book #1.

This book follows Karl, a chronically grumpy and introverted baker that communicates mostly in grunts. Enter the FMC Molly Dearborn, a shy and nerdy woman who has had her heart broken and learning to let people in. She also happens to be Karl’s high school crush and best friend. This is a story of yearning, learning to love after heartbreak, and also trust. They get their second chance through an unfortunate miscommunication - Molly hears that Karl is dead so she comes to get closure and really confirm that he’s gone. But it’s one that will make you laugh, cry happy tears, and be a little flabbergasted (in a good way) with the characters’ communication skills sometimes.

I will say, this book has quite a bit of language due to the main character, Karl and his personality, but it fits his character.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC. I always really enjoy Olivia Dade's books and this was no exception. Olivia Dade never shies away from taking on some big issues and always does them justice through her characters and their struggles. There were times when I was getting a bit frustrated with some of the characters and their development (or lack of), but it made them more real. Nothing ever comes easy or quick, even if you would like it to, and furthermore the characters ended up getting there in the end.

Second Chance Romance is a tender, heartfelt story about love, forgiveness, and the courage to start again. Olivia Dade has such a gift for writing characters who feel real—flawed yet lovable, with emotions that resonate deeply.

The romance between the leads is both swoony and thoughtful. Their history adds layers of tension and vulnerability, making every interaction feel charged with meaning. I loved how Dade balanced witty banter with genuine emotional growth, showing that love isn’t just about sparks—it’s about trust, communication, and choosing each other again.

This book is the perfect pick if you enjoy romance that combines warmth, humor, and depth. Fans of second-chance love stories will find this one deeply satisfying and hard to put down.

Second Chance Romance was such a warm, heartfelt read. Olivia Dade always brings so much heart and humor to her stories, and this one was no different. I loved the way she explored rekindled feelings and the messiness of second chances—it felt authentic and emotional without losing that charm and wit she’s known for.
The characters had great depth, and I really appreciated the way their history shaped the tension and chemistry between them. At times the pacing felt a little slow, but overall, the emotional payoff made it worth it.
If you enjoy romances with humor, heart, and a focus on forgiveness and growth, Second Chance Romance is definitely one to pick up.

I've tried, but I I can't get into this. I've read several of Dade's books before this and given all of them 4 or 5 stars, but this one's a DNF. I will still read books by her though.

I went back and forth on my feeling with this book. Initially I had a hard time getting into it, then around the 15% mark it started to pick up and I really liked the dynamic between the two MC's. They we're funny and the banter was good. Around 70% I found myself frustrated. What was good banter, felt repetitive, The MMC became whiny and manipulative. And throwing in "health problems" with a curvier FMC felt lazy.
I went into this book completely blind, I haven't read the first one in this series, but didn't feel too lost in this and like its needed to read Second Chance Romance. I'm new to this author and will give her another chance!

I always eagerly await an Olivia Dade! I loved revisiting my friends in Harlot's Bay, and meeting Molly was wonderful. Definitely loved this second chance story and I can't wait to see who's next!

This is an adorable friends-to-lovers story with strong second-chance vibes—though it felt more like a rekindled romance than a true "second chance at love," which was a bit unexpected given the title Second Chance Romance. Still, I really enjoyed it! The main characters were lovable and refreshingly imperfect, which made them feel real. Karl was sweet even when he was all wrapped up with his bakery. Molly is imperfect but that made her even more relatable. It's the perfect cozy read for fall, and now I have to go back and read the first book in the series ASAP!

I read this book without having picked up the first in the series, so I may have missed some of the initial charm and context of Harlot’s Bay and its quirky cast of characters. While some of the personalities felt a bit over-the-top for my taste, I can see how returning readers might enjoy the eccentric community.

The plot moved at a slower pace than I’d hoped, and the constant miscommunication between the characters started to feel repetitive after a while. Karl seemed too grumpy for me to be interested in his relationship with Molly.

Thank you to met galley and the publisher for the advanced copy. #SecondChanceRomance #NetGalley

Another fabulous take by Olivia Dade - I love the connections to characters from Love at First Spite but this could easily also be read as a stand-alone. The bakery descriptions were so vivid, and the ramifications of the protagonists' previous friendship really added authenticity to the story. I can't wait for more books in this series!

I was so excited to return to Harlot’s Bay for another spicy tale! In the second book of this series, we follow Karl and Molly’s love story, starting from high school through adulthood. This was a fun read (with plenty of spice), but I just didn’t find myself as in love with this couple, compared with Athena and Matthew’s story.

Karl and Molly met in high school and became close friends, but never anything more before Molly moves across the country. Twenty years later, when Karl’s obituary is accidentally run in the local paper, Molly flies back to her former home to say goodbye…only to find that Karl is very much alive. And he is not going to mess up the chance to reconnect. As they get closer, they have to determine if they want to rekindle what they once had before Molly heads back west.

Like other books by Dade, this one flew by. I feel like I finished this in record time! I really love how the author is so body positive and takes a lot of care with crafting her characters in this way. She is also did a great job promoting safe sex in a fun way and sex positive vibes throughout. The spice is always fun in a Dade novel! However, I found myself really frustrated by both characters throughout because of the over reliance on the miscommunication trope. Toward the end, it felt very repetitive and I just wanted more from both of the characters. There were also a few moments that focused more on telling me about their chemistry, over showing me, so I didn’t feel fully invested in their relationship even at the end. I think this one just wasn’t for me. YMMV with this one!

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC!

Review: 4/5 Stars
This second-chance romance was heartfelt, funny, and full of charm! I loved the chemistry between Molly and Karl—their banter had me laughing, and the dual POVs made it easy to connect with both characters. I especially appreciated the plus-size rep, which was handled so well for both leads.

The small-town setting gave it cozy, comforting vibes, and the plot had just the right mix of emotion, spice, and humor. While I wasn’t a fan of the miscommunication trope (they definitely could’ve talked things out sooner), the story still felt well-paced and satisfying.

It’s a mature romantic comedy with a "grumpy and grumpy" dynamic that really worked. Fans of second-chance and small-town romances will probably love this one!

Thanks to NetGalley and Olivia Dade for the eARC! Expected publication: November 25, 2025.

CW: strong language, sexual content

I didn't realize this was part of a series but now it makes sense why the world and the side characters felt so lively and fleshed out, which were the highlights of the book for me. the central relationship was lacking - I felt like you could see every miscommunication coming from 50 pages away and it all felt a bit stale. the author's note in the acknowledgments talks about how hard it was to get this book onto the page and I feel like you could tell.

3.5 ⭐️ | 3🌶️
I was thrilled to be selected for an ARC of Second Chance Romance, especially after loving the first book in the series. This time, we follow Karl and Molly—a pair whose banter, sarcasm, and Karl’s signature grumpiness kept me entertained throughout. Molly, however, isn’t exactly sunshine to his grump. Instead, she’s more of a black cat with a sprinkle of bubbly energy, which I actually really enjoyed.

While I liked the story overall, the prolonged lack of communication between them became frustrating. I understood their hesitations and emotional baggage, but at times it felt like their chemistry didn’t fully hit the mark. The tension would build, but it rarely gave the payoff I was hoping for. A little more vulnerability earlier on might have helped their connection shine.

That said, there were plenty of things I loved: the protectiveness they showed toward one another, the way blunt honesty came across with genuine care, and the warmth of Karl’s circle embracing Molly. The spice was enjoyable, though it leaned a bit more on telling than showing.

Overall, this was a good read—heartfelt in moments, witty in others, and with characters who clearly adored one another, even if they made me want to push them toward therapy along the way.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I really enjoyed the plot and the body positivity aspects of this book. Each main character had their own ‘thing’; Karl’s was swearing and threatening violence and Molly’s was calling him out with facts. I couldn’t stand Karl. He swore way too much. At the end when he finally tells someone off using his threats it seemed like he was just talking because it happened so much.

4.5⭐️ Molly goes back to a town she lived in a few years as a teen for the funeral of Karl, her friend and secret crush. Turns out, Karl is not dead and he bargains with Molly to stay in town for 4 weeks until their reunion. Molly is willing to get involved in a short term fling, but doesn’t trust Karl for more. Karl is convinced he can get Molly to trust him and stay in town permanently. This is dual POV and Karl’s POV is pretty hilarious a lot of the time. Molly’s inability to trust is valid and the growth of her relationship with Karl is inspiring. I definitely recommend this book!

I was hot off of reading AT FIRST SPITE so I dove right into this second book in the Harlot’s Bay Series and this one… was even better than the first! SECOND CHANDE ROMANCE wasn’t as tortured as some second chance romances get so it felt a little lighter and more *real* The book was super well-paced, funny, and equal parts sweet and spicy. Olivia Dade always has plus sized FMCs but this one the MMC is as well which felt special. My rating: you should read it 🙂‍↕️