*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

I was excited to dive back into this world, after reading At First Spite. I loved seeing all the characters all over again. I had a harder time getting into this book as I saw Karl as being so cranky, I couldn't imagine him in a relationship. I'm glad I gave it a chance and enjoyed seeing him open up and see their relationship rekindle and heal. What an enjoyable read!

Olivia! My girl!!! You always seem to make us bigger girls feel so loved and represented!!! That’s why I love you! And Second Chance Romance is no different! Molly and Karl have my full heart! I do not think I will ever recover. Reconnecting their love after 20 years is so wild but omg it had me tearing up! The banter, the comedic relief in parts, the love, it was all so perfectly done and I need more!

I was really hoping to love this as much as I did the first one of the series but, unfortunately, it falls into a bit of that second book slump. It’s not bad by any means. It’s fun, quirky, and a pretty easy read. The tension in the first half of the book is excellent. Definitely worth reading to continue along with the series. But the first book is so emotional that this one kind of had me confused. Like it didn’t need to be as long as it is, maybe? I sort of had moments where I wasn’t sure why I was reading it. And it’s a comparison thing. If I hadn’t read the first, I probably would have liked this a lot more. But comparing it to the first…it just doesn’t hit. Molly comes across as…needing a therapist and a reality check when compared to Athena who overcame actual depression in her book. Karl was so great in the first book and I was so looking forward to his story and then he’s just kind of flat in this. Maybe it’s the way he talks but I had a tough time following his side of the dialog. And compared to Matthew, Karl isn’t as flushed out and well rounded as a character. I got: big, hot, burly, grump. And sure…that’s fun to read about but I expected him to have more dimension than just “sexy monosyllabic baker”. The seeds are there with the whole no woman having returned professions of love, and his need to control everything at work but they don’t grow the way the lonely thing does with Matthew. Neither does the whole thing with Molly’s health. I mean, hell, even more about the whole “I thought you were dead” thing would have been welcome. Again…I think the comparison to how good the first book is kinda hurts my view on this one. The banter is funny and the confrontation in the ending is worth sticking around for. But manage your expectations of these two because they’re not as deep as Matthew and Athena.


Thank you to Netgally for the advanced copy of this title!

I enjoy Olivia's characters and writing style. I just really wish that there was less smut in it (or even none at all)
But, just because it isn't for me, doesn't mean that they aren't good books.

Fun, funny read! Loved the characters, including the supporting ones. I have enjoyed Olivia Dade before. I continue to do so!

It was a cute story Molly and Karl are so cute ☺️ I love her confidence! I love a grumpy baker 🤭 their chemistry was so good!
4.0⭐️

A quick note: I haven't read book 1, and while that's not usually an issue for me in romcom series format, I did feel lost at sea for a lot of this book. Would not recommend reading this without book 1.

I always appreciate Olivia Dade's commitment to body positivity, and loved that she included the MMC in that as well. (Even Fat Girl Romances usually have very Henry Cavill MMCs.) This book had fun moments, and the inclusive spicy scenes were worth, but overall the chemistry between characters was more told than felt. I didn't particularly like either Karl (and his constant sentence fragments) or Molly (and her bizarrely complicated dialogue). YMMV though - more seasoned romcom readers might enjoy those character quirks more and feel the feelings!

In this second-chance romance, sparks fly and old wounds heal when grumpy baker, Karl, and plus-sized audiobook narrator, Molly, find themselves back together in the small town they spent their teenage years in.

After 20 years away, Molly returns after hearing Karl has tragically passed away. She is an audiobook narrator with a voice that Karl has secretly listened to for years.

When it’s revealed that Karl, once presumed dead, is very much alive, their reunion is anything but smooth. He’s prickly, gruff, and guarded—yet beneath the flour-dusted scowl is the same man she once admired. What begins as a hesitant reconnection slowly evolves into something deeper, as the two navigate past hurts, trust exercises, miscommunications, and a simmering chemistry that never truly died.

With cozy small-town charm, mouthwatering baked goods, this story is a heartfelt exploration of forgiveness, friendship, and the courage it takes to love again. It’s slow-burn, swoony, and sprinkled with just the right amount of sugar and spice.

Perfect for fans of grumpy/sunshine dynamics, body-positive heroines, and second-chance love stories that feel both grounded and deeply romantic. My main critique would be that at times Karl could be too grumpy and say things that were a bit cringe-worthy.

⭐️: 3/5

It was so awesome to read Karl's story. I love the dialogue between the two main characters. Because this is the 2nd book of this series, I was already so invested form book one. I love how Olivia writes stories about plus size girls because I feel included and it makes me feel seen. I could not stop reading this book. It made me laugh and definitely shed some tears. I can't wait to see if Olivia continues to add to this series.

2.5 rounded up.

The synopsis grabbed me and I have liked Olivia Dade books in the past; however, this was not for me.

The story moved way too slow, what plot there was felt boring and while there was some chemistry I just did not feel the connection between the main characters.

Thank you to Netgalley, Avon and Harper voyager and Oliva Dade for this ARC.

This charming second chance romance follows Molly and Karl, former best friends who reconnect 20 years later. I loved the plus-size representation and the strong chemistry between the leads.

This was a cute story. The miscommunication Trope is not my favorite and it seemed like all their problems stemmed from communication. The characters were really sweet. Overall, enjoyable and my first from this author. Thank you!