I loved reading Olivia Dade’s latest book, Second Chance Romance! Karl and Molly go through the full second chance experience in this book, and I was there right alongside them the whole time. The development of trust between them again was so beautiful to see. Actions really speak so loudly in this book- especially when Karl’s words fail him!

Karl is the definition of grumpy but soft only for one person. The tender spot in his heart for Molly was so present in every moment. Even when he didn’t have the words to express his love, it was so clearly there. I love how he let Molly choose what she wanted, always. He took the time to relearn her cues and it was so lovely to see that develop for them both.

There is so much subtle body positivity in this book, and it made my heart so happy. The community of people around both Karl and Molly in Harlot’s Bay show up so wonderfully for them. Karl’s interactions with his best friend Matthew and his wife Athena made me laugh out loud more than worse. The depth of friendship and love there is undeniable and one of my favorite parts of this story.

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for the opportunity to read and review this book! I received a free advance copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I’m trying really hard to not drop the F bomb in this review. But dear god how can two characters be so freaking stupid. The amount of times I wanted to chuck my kindle across the room reading about these two idiots is insane. I really need to stop requesting Olivia Dade books because her writing style I believe just isn’t for me. But apparently I haven’t learned that lesson yet so I’m here suffering with a review of another one of her books.

I’ll admit I semi-enjoyed the first book in the Harlots Bay series and I had high hopes for this one because come on that synopsis sounded so good. Well the synopsis and its cover is the only good thing going for this book.

First big issue for me was the writing style. This is a dual POV novel which I have no issues with except split the POVs up between chapters don’t have the two POVs interchange in the same chapter and constantly switch around without warning anyone. It makes the entire reading process confusing and completely takes the reader out of the story. The freaking prologue being the worst offender. It took me way too long to figure out who was talking and retain any backstory on what the book was leading up to.

Next big glaring issue, Karl in my opinion is a walking red flag. Not only did he threaten to assault costumers at his bakery. But lying by omission to force Molly to stay in town. Just no, major icks. I can already hear some people say well he’s not as bad as Mollys ex. No he isn’t but both of them suck and Moly deserves so much better.

Which of course brings me to Molly. Girl I tried to like you, but have the personality of watching paint dry. I wish with all of my heart I liked you more but I felt no connection whatsoever.

I really wish I had nicer things to say about this book because I know so many people love this series. But sadly this isn’t it for me and I can’t in good conscience recommend it. Thank you though to NetGalley & Avon for allowing me to read and review it early.

This is the first book that I have read by this author. Can't say that I will read another one after this.

2.5/5

....I am not sure how I feel about this book as a whole but....

Let me just start off by saying this book was long, repetitive and wordy.
I thought about DNFing this book about 3 times, but I powered through it.
I don't think the idea of this story was bad, but I felt like the execution was way too much and by the time I got to the 40% mark I was starting to realize how long the book really was. We could have done without at least 6 chapters of information that added nothing to the story...

I will say this was an easy read, meaning that I felt like the flow was there, but it always got ruined by unnecessary information.
When I hit chapter 18 I was almost flabbergasted because I could not figure out WHY we kept mentioning that it has been two decades! It is mentioned multiple times in EVERY chapter up until then. LIKE WHY????

As far as the characters...

Molly, I liked the idea that she was an audiobook narrator. Her character wasn't bad but not one that I felt like I could relate to, she was kind of just there... just living her best life

Karl, I get the whole grumpy thing, but he was just annoying. I did not get the vibe that he was a business owner and had his stuff together. He came off as someone who just graduated college, if that. I don't mind the cursing, but it was way over done, like every other sentence... BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD. Take a step back and give him more of a personality instead of someone who just gets mad or just curses all the time... I felt like it overshadowed his strengths.

I guess them as a couple works but by the time you get to the end of the book, well towards the end of it like chapter 26 and on, I just did not care about them at all.

Their "spicy" scenes drug on to the point that they were just boring.

Less is more.

Just to be clear I didn't hate the book. I felt if it was taken back a few steps it would have been a better read, but those are just my thoughts.

If you loved, I love that for you, not for me unfortunately.

Second Chance Romance is everything I love about Olivia Dade’s writing—warm, heartfelt, and brimming with humor and emotion. This story perfectly captures the beauty of reconnecting with someone from your past, blending laugh-out-loud banter with moments that genuinely tug at the heart.

The characters are so vivid and real that you can’t help but root for them, especially Karl with his teddy bear outside and grumpy inside. His shared history with Molly gives the romance depth, and the way they slowly rebuild trust and affection feels organic and satisfying. Dade balances romantic tension with a healthy dose of self-discovery, making the ending not just about love between two people, but also about personal growth.

Her trademark wit is here in full force, along with steamy scenes that make you believe in the power of second chances. It’s the kind of book you close with a smile on your face, a warm feeling in your chest, and a tear in your eye.

If you enjoy smart, swoony romance with genuine emotional stakes and characters you want to be friends with, this is a must-read.

I’ve read all of Olivia Dade’s books but this one might be my favorite. Always love a grumpy love interest but I ended up falling in love with all the characters.

I would 10/10 recommend this book. The setting alone has me hoping for more in this series but I truly love these batch of characters.

e-arc provided by Netgalley

This was a really sweet book and maybe one of the only second chance romances I have enjoyed/has something I personally would forgive (although calling this second chance is a bit of a stretch to me). There was something in the 3rd act that I was worried was going to piss me off more but was resolved/dealt with in a good/quick way.

Molly and Karl's story is fun, smart and heartfelt. It's very grumpy-sunshine, but never annoyingly so. Molly is more pragmatic than sunshiney, but Karl is a walking, swearing, murder-threatening red-headed rain-cloud. I found Molly and Karl's primary conflict to be highly relatable and understandable. The men in her past are trash, through no fault of her own. And Karl's never really felt connected to his past relationships, despite his clear adoration for his family and community.

It was really poignant when Karl helped Molly see her past in a new way that lets her stop beating herself up. When you do more thinking than talking, it can create a story in your head that lacks outside perspective. And Karl helps Molly see a different perspective.

Second Chance Romance is everything fun and sweet about romance novels. And very importantly, Karl has thighs like tree trunks.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I love Olivia Dade, especially because she writes about plus size women! This is another sweet and spicy romance by her…. You won’t be disappointed!

Oh how much I love Olivia Dade's books. She writes such good spicy books that really so much love for her characters. I love the main characters in this book and I was so happy when I learned that she was writing another book for this series. I enjoyed the first book and this one is just as lovely. I loved to read more about Karl and the love story that he was due. I love stories of grumpy people who perfectly match each other. Not everyone has be rainbows and butterflies, and I am glad that we can have stories about people who aren't. I would recommend this book to everyone and especially people who read the first book in this series, At First Spite. I hope Olivia writes more books in Harlot's Bay. There are plenty of people in town that still need their HEA.

Thanks NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book.

Second Chance Romance is a delightful and heartwarming story that perfectly captures the excitement and challenges of rekindling love. Olivia Dade’s witty and engaging writing makes the characters come alive, with chemistry that feels genuine and earned. I loved the balance of humor, emotional depth, and relatable moments, making it a satisfying read for fans of contemporary romance. It’s a feel-good book about forgiveness, growth, and the power of love’s second chances.

Thank you Netgalley and Avon Harper Voyager and Olivia Dade for the ARC of "Second Chance Romance."

Second Chances in Harlot's Bay Olivia Dade, a USA Today bestselling author, brings readers back to Harlot's Bay with her novel, Second Chance Romance. This is the second book in the Harlot's Bay series. Dade is known for writing romances, and she actually grew up as a self-proclaimed nerd who loved reading romance novels. Second Chance Romance tells the story of Molly and Karl, two people who had a connection in high school but never quite made it work. A simple misunderstanding caused them to drift apart, and they haven't spoken since. Molly moved to Los Angeles and got married, while Karl stayed in Harlot's Bay and opened a bakery. Despite the distance and time, Karl never forgot Molly. He secretly listens to the monster romance audiobooks she narrates, clinging to this one-sided connection to the woman who got away. The story kicks off when Molly hears about Karl's obituary in the local paper. Thinking he's dead, she's overcome with grief and immediately flies back to Harlot's Bay, Maryland. But when she arrives, she finds Karl very much alive! It turns out the obituary was a mistake. This unexpected reunion gives Molly and Karl a chance to finally talk about what went wrong between them all those years ago. They begin to hash out the missed connection and lingering feelings. Molly, now divorced, is hesitant to trust again. But Karl is determined to show her that he's worthy of her love and devotion. He's ready to prove that he's changed and that they deserve a second chance. As Molly's time in Harlot's Bay winds down, she starts to realize that maybe, just maybe, she can't leave Karl behind again. Despite her cynicism, the cranky baker might just be the one for her. Second Chance Romance promises a hilarious and heartwarming story with plenty of spice. It explores themes of second chances, forgiveness, and the enduring power of love. With Dade's signature body positivity, this novel is sure to be a hit with romance readers.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

I’m giving this a 2/5. I did enjoy the plot, but I couldn’t connect with either of the main characters. I love a good grumpy male character, but I didn’t care for Karl. I don’t mind swearing, but I felt it was over the top when he did it.

I’m not a huge fan of the miscommunication trope and for as many times they did their communication exercises, neither one could tell each other how they loved the other, drove me crazy.

When I requested an ARC of this book I didn't realize it was second in a series so Second Chance Romance was my first Olivia Dade book. Everything about the description screamed right up my alley. Plus size rep, Baker x Spicy Audiobook Narrator, Accidental obituary, I was immediately sold. Unfortunately upon starting the book I was almost immediately disappointed.

First there was the extremely long prologue. I understand wanting a prologue to "set the scene" for why Molly and Karl lost touch and why Molly never came back to Harlot's Bay but it just felt like it dragged on far too long. When we finally cut to the future I was immediately put off by Karl. I'm all for a good lovable grump character but he just came across as a total dick. As the book goes on we learn more about the few people he cares for and good things he does but his attitude never gets better. Then there was Molly who just seemed kind of all over the place.

When they finally see each other and we realize this is 20 years passed the prologue I was shocked. The way these characters were behaving I expected them to be early 20's not pushing 40. Every adult in this book behaved like they were still stuck in high school and it made it really hard for me to stay invested in the story. This is a story I likely would have DNFed if it weren't an ARC.

I know Olivia Dade has other series and I would be open to trying one of those but it's safe to say Harlot's Bay is not for me!

I was really excited going into this book. The premise had everything I usually love: old friends, a long-lost connection, and a second chance sparked by a hilarious mistake. The idea of someone listening to their long-lost love narrate monster romance audiobooks? Honestly, that setup alone sold me.

And there were definitely things I appreciated. I loved that the main characters were in their mid-thirties and living real, established lives. Karl running a bakery and Molly narrating monster romances felt fresh and specific, and I appreciated the representation of full-figured characters written with such body positivity. Their individual arcs, especially the emotional baggage they were both carrying, felt authentic, even if a little heavy at times.

That said, the middle of the book lost me. After the fun and engaging setup, the story just… stalled. The miscommunications between Karl and Molly, while believable at first, started to feel repetitive and dragged the plot down. I kept waiting for the momentum to pick up again, but it never really did.

Still, the ending was easily my favorite part. It wrapped up the story so beautifully and gave me that full-circle feeling I was hoping for. All the emotional threads came together in a really satisfying way.

In the end, this was a solid read, but not a standout for me. I appreciated the heart behind it, even if the execution didn’t fully click.

My copy of this book was provided by NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I was really excited for Karl to get his own story, but a part of me feels that this one was a bit of a letdown from the first book in the series. I had a hard time really connecting with Molly and was a little disappointed in the way she treated Karl because of how other people in her past treated her. Overall though, it was an enjoyable read for me—just a tad sad I didn't like it as much as "At First Spite."

“Second Chance Romance” is the first book I have read by Olivia Dade. The cover is what interested me. I enjoyed reading about a mature relationship. I thought this book was so cute and steamy!

Thanm you Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this advanced copy for my honest review.

4 stars. I live OD. Her writing is always worth the read. Second chance for nog so high school sweethearts was perfection. The banter and jokes were totally OD. I quite enjoyed joked the characters and found my self rooting the on. As always I love that she reps thick ladies

Olivia Dade has written some of my favorite romance, but second Chance Romance fell a bit flat for me. The banter was almost relentless and the narrative jokes also were too frequent and heavy handed. Hoping this is a one off, because I’ve never had this issue wi5 any of her other stories. Will certainly try whatever she does next in hopes of getting back on the right track. FWIW, I was excited to read about this grumpy-grumpy second chance couple, and am always here for Dade’s representation of fat bodies in romance. If the humor could have been dialed down a notch or two this would have been great.

I loved returning to the world of Olivia Dade's Harlot's Bay! Second Chance Romance is a delightful...well...second chance romance between two high school not-quite-sweethearts, whom life has jerked around, and who are now licking the wounds of the past couple of decades. I loved seeing them work their way back to trusting each other — particularly Molly, whose trust issues are both rampant and very valid. It was the type of emotional rawness I love in a romance novel. I was swimming in this one for days!

This book is classic Olivia Dade and is every bit as good as her other titles. Come for the body-positivity and stay for the grumpy baker who's into paranormal erotica. The main characters and side characters were all great fun to read. I somehow missed book one in this series, but am looking forward to going back and reading it, now. As usual, Olivia Dade is not for the faint of heart when it comes to spice, so be ready for that. I'm looking forward to seeing what else the residents of this little town will be up to next.