A sweet, angsty sub-genre of romance books. Second chance romances are hidden behind the flashy enemies-to-lovers and age gaps and forced proximity tropes. But these have always been the most evocative and squeal-inducing romance reads for me. There is history between the two characters. It’s typically a little messy, and sometimes even heartbreaking, but there is an unbelievable level of tension and angst because these protagonists knew each other intimately. These books often include flashbacks or dual points-of-view to help reveal what happened the first time around.
And they are hot.
Like butterflies in your stomach. Brimming with excitement over will-they, won’t they the second time around. It’s that can’t-eat, can’t-sleep, reach-for-the-stars, over-the-fence, World series kind of stuff (name that movie) all wrapped up in a book.
So without further ado,
5 SECOND CHANCE-ROMANCE BOOKS to add to your tbr
- Love & Other Words by Christina Lauren
Macy is a successful pediatric resident planning her wedding to an equally successful man when she runs into the past love of her life, Elliot. Flashbacks reveal that Elliot was once Macy’s entire world. They were childhood friends who fell in love through their shared love for books and conversation. But an incident a decade prior tore them apart, and they haven’t spoken since.
Possibly the most emotionally fraught of all the second chance romances I’ve ever read. Elliot is the ultimate book boyfriend, and their mutual love for books is like a little treat for the reader. Have tissues ready though.
- Same Time Next Summer by Annabel Monaghan
Sam is engaged to her picture-perfect dermatologist fiance, Jack. When they decide to visit her family’s summer house on Long Island to look at wedding venues, she runs into the only other person she’s ever loved: Wyatt. Wyatt is staying at his beach house for the summer. He’s playing guitar and surfing, like nothing has ever changed. But everything changed for Sam when they broke up 14 years ago. Wyatt’s presence dredges up old memories and feelings, and Sam is forced to make more than one choice.
I could not put this down. Wyatt & Sam’s dynamic was electric. I mean from the very first words they speak to each other in the present you know these two have unfinished business, and I could only keep turning pages to figure out if it gets resolved.
- Every Summer After by Carley Fourtune
I recently reread Every Summer After to see how it holds up and my god, does it ever.
Persephone (Percy) gets a phone call from someone she hasn’t heard from in a decade that forces her to return to the small lakeside oasis her family used to spend their summers, where she runs into the first man she ever loved. Another dual-POV with flashbacks to her teenage summers spent at the lake with Sam, this book is the essence of being a teen. In all its awkward, nostalgic, passionate, life-altering (or so it feels when you’re 16) moments.
Arguably, my favorite second chance romance of all.
- Happy Place by Emily Henry
Harriet and Wyn met in college and had a picture-perfect love, until they didn’t. Though they recently broke up, they have decided to keep it a secret (HA) from all their friends for the sake of peace and harmony at their annual friend get-together. The tension between these two with a break-up this recent is oh so good. I could quite literally feel the prickliness and emotional uncertainty, and of course, being trapped in a house together gets as complicated as you would expect.
- Count Your Lucky Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur
Margot and Olivia had one crazy, hot week together as seniors in high school and then hardly spoke again, until Olivia is asked to be the wedding planner for Margot’s best friend’s wedding, and then a series of unfortunate events forces Margot to offer her spare room to Olivia. This one has some laugh-out-loud funny moments. It involves less flashbacks than your typical second-chance romance since it was only one week they were together compared to an entire prior relationship. The chemistry between these two is palpable and the dynamic of Margot’s friends all rooting for her to find a love adds a cozy layer to the romance. A fun, second-chance, sapphic romance.
So if you’ve ever had a moment of what if thinking about your first love, or perhaps you did indeed rekindle with the one that got away, or maybe you can’t relate at all but the tension and banter between two characters with history just does it for you – one of these second chance romance reads might just be for you.
