Favorite Romance Books in Each Trope: Second Chance Romance

If it seems like all I read is romance lately, you’d be right. It’s a genre that makes me so happy and I love falling further into it, discovering new writers and tropes I love. I used to firmly believe that enemies to lovers was my favorite trope, where the main characters do not get along and the tension is constantly filled to the brim.

But as I’ve read more, I’ve discovered a love for Second Chance Romance as well. The stakes are just as high, sometimes there’s a little enemies to lovers mixed in or even friends to lovers. If you’re looking for some recommendations, I hope these help you find some new favorites to add to your reading!

What I’ve Read

A Lot Like Adios by Alexis Daria

I love Alexis Daria’s books and flew through A Lot Like Adios. If you follow me on Instagram, you’ll know I loved it. It follows Gabe and Michelle, who were best friends in high school and after graduation, share a passionate kiss. But when Michelle discovers that Gabe is planning on leaving their home in New York for California, they lose tough. 10 years later, Gabe is back. So what’s next?

The Bromance Bookclub by Lyssa Kay Adams

This is one of the books I crave rereading often. It’s about Gavin and Thea, parents of twins who have been struggling to connect, emotionally and physically. Thea wants a divorce and Gavin is determined to show her he deserves a second chance. Enter the Bromance Book Club, a group of men who read romance novels in order to better understand the women in their lives.

Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren

This is one of Christina Lauren’s most popular books and it may fall more on the side of general fiction than romance, but it’s still a beautiful love story. Macy and Elliot were the best of friends but lost touch as adults. Now they’re strangers to each other but Elliot is determined to make the most of their chance encounter and discover what caused Macy’s decades long silence. It’s also told is alternate timelines!

Twice in a Blue Moon by Christina Lauren

The first half of this book follows the main characters as teens and the second we meet them again as adults. It’s about Tate and Sam who fall hard and fast over two weeks as teens, when Tate trusts Sam with the biggest secret she has. But when the secret comes out, that broken trust leaves Tate broken and angry. Can they have a second chance at love?

Love Her or Lose Her by Tessa Bailey

High school sweethearts Rosie and Dom were the perfect couple but these days Rosie feeels like she doesn’t know the man she married anymore. Her friends suggest a marriage boot camp and they go all in on finding that spark once again.

Say You Still Love Me by KA Tucker

I will go to grave saying that KA Tucker knows how to write a man. This book is told in dual timelines following two characters who fell in love as teenagers at camp and a bad break up led them to lose touch. Years later, a chance encounter in a new city reunites them and perhaps they can get some answers as to who influenced their break up.

The Player Next Door by KA Tucker

Another KA Tucker written man who made me swoon. This is a small town second chance romance between Scarlett and Shane who knew each other in high school when he was the star quarterback who broke her heart. Scarlett thought that 12 years was long enough before returning to town and that Shane would be long gone, but he has put down roots far deeper than she realized in Polson Falls.

Fumbled by Alexa Martin

The Playbook series Is one of my favorites! This is the second book in the series and it’s about Poppy, a single mother who moved across the country when she was sixteen and pregnant to find a new life all her own. But when she reunites with TK Moore, her high school sweetheart and current NFL superstar, a second chance at love may be possible if they can overcome the secrets they’ve kept from each other.

The Girl He Used to Know by Tracey Garvis Graves

This book made me weep and smile at the same time. It’s another second chance romance told in dual timeline. so we see the first chance and second chance. It’s about Jon and Annika who dated in college and had an emotional break up. They meet again years later and try to be friends, but the tension. and passion might be too much.

Once Ghosted, Twice Shy by Alyssa Cole

I love Alyssa Cole’s books and this is a novella in the Reluctant Royals series. It follows Likotsi who had a whirlwind of a time on dating apps on her last trip to NYC. Now she’s back in the city with her boss, the prince, and runs into the woman who broke her heart.

YA

Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson

This BOOK. It ripped by heart out. It’s set a lake town in the Poconos and follows Taylor as she returns to the place and people she left behind at thirteen years old. Now at seventeen, she’s reconnected with her best friend and first boyfriend, who is a lot cuter at 17 than 13, while she grapples with some devastating news regarding her father’s health.

On My TBR

Cruel Prince by Ashley Jade—High school bully romance (dark)

Queen Move by Kennedy Ryan

Strawberry Summer by Melissa Brayden

Hate to Want You by Alisha Rai

RoomHate by Penelope Ward