Sometimes you know you're supposed to wait to read an ARC because the release date is so far away, and yet... it calls to you, like a siren's song. "Just re-read Athena's book," the voice says. "You won't need to keep going..."

But obviously I did. And I loved it. I loved being back in Harlot's Bay, I loved seeing some of my favorite characters, and I loved this love story. The only thing I didn't love was the strong amount of miscommunication. At a certain point you just want to slam your head into something with how little these two communicate. Still worth the ending though, and well worth a read.

"Second Chance Romance" is the second book in Olivia Dade's "Harlot's Bay" series. Having read the first book, it was fun to see those characters again. This book is centered around Molly and Karl, who had a "will they/won't they" moment right after high school before a big misunderstanding split them apart. 20 years later, when an erroneous obituary for Karl runs in the paper, someone sends it to Molly who decides to come home and pay her respects. Upon returning home, she discovers that Karl is not dead after all. Now that they're both single and available, will they finally be able to have that romance that was denied them years ago?

I had high hopes for this romance, but I felt that it was a little rushed and the misunderstandings were overblown. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

I am not one who cusses, or enjoys reading books with cussing, yet it doesn't bother me in this one. It sounds strange to admit that it was charming at times, and truly reflected the main male character, I enjoyed this read and thank Netgalley for this free ebook ix exchange for an honest review.

I made it about 40% in and gave up. Both of the main characters were extremely immature and annoying to me. Also, they don’t see each other for twenty years and right away she wants to jump in bed with him, so it’s kind of insta lust, but not. It’s like this book doesn’t know what it wants. Life’s too short for boring Romance novels.

This book is so delightful - and sexy, and hilarious! I really enjoyed the humor and the love story was believable. Especially loved the grump of a hero.

First of all, Olivia Dade is always a solid read, which is the only reason I was interested in reading it because Second Chance Romance is literally my least favorite trope. But....Olivia Dade. So, ok. And, of course, it's really good! The second chance part is pretty weak (like, in a good way, for me) because they weren't partners as adults who are coming back together. Karl and Molly had massive crushes on each other in high school but never acted on them because they were also best friends and didn't want to ruin it. When Molly returns to Harlot's Bay thinking Karl has died, she and the very much alive curmudgeon start a new, adult relationship--with a 6 week time limit.

I think I have enjoyed other books by Olivia Dade better, but this is a good, entertaining read about two people who insist on putting their own barriers between themselves and happiness. There are, admittedly, some pacing issues, but I don't think it's a deal breaker. The side characters are great, and I'm hoping for a follow up book for the author of the monster romances that have figured prominently in this book and At First Spite (although it seems she might have moved on from this series). Recommended for a lighthearted, fun read.

As always Olivia Dade gave us two characters that were easy to empathize with and relate too...and super easy to love and root for 💜

I hope we get quite a few new books out of Harlots Bay 🥰

Thanks to Avon and Harper voyage and NetGalley for this arc!

I thought this story was so cute! First of all, thank you for normalizing the every day female body type. The majority of women are not skin and bones! This was such a quick read, I finished in one sitting! The whole thing made me smile. I recommend. 😀

But like, WHO in Harlots Bay will ever buy the Spite House? It will never happen. They gotta make it into an Air BnB or something.

Netgalley arc

I enjoyed reading this. Not quite a second chance romance because they didn’t have romantic relationship prior but did have basically 20 years of yearning due to miscommunication (not obnoxiously) I appreciated the growth of each main character and the importance of trust and what it really means. Really enjoyable and loves the body worship by each main character. True devoted worship and not in a tropy way.

High school best friends that have had feelings for one another, grumpy sunshine and second chances. This was a wonderful frothy read that I read so quickly because I was so invested in the characters!

Thank you for the chance to review! I absolutely enjoyed getting invested in the trope! I am over the moon that larger body types are finally getting the love and this book was everything it promised to be!

The amount of adorable quotes I highlighted early on in this book was crazy. The characters had a plethora of chemistry even back when they were young. It was nice to have dual POV and the guy be absolutely smitten the whole time. And having the FMC be a spicy monster romance audiobook narrator was a ton of fun.

I did have problems with this book that made it more middle of the road for me. The plot was semi-nothing besides “build trust with each other”, which makes for cute fluff but I wanted more substance. And what caused it to drag a little was that it took my least favorite trope of miscommunication and magnified it to be refusal to communicate. Compared to other Olivia Dade books, it wasn’t my favorite: 3.5/5.

If you like friends-to-no-contact-to-lovers, burly men who are ooey-gooey for their love, or want to hear about lovely lattes and sandwiches, this one’s for you.

Having not read the first book, this one was still easy for me to follow. The humor in here was fun, and while it wasn't my ultimate romance I still enjoyed so much of it and the whole premise of the book was something I hadn't seen before! Nothing like a grumpy / grumpy romance. I appreciate the opportunity for this one!

This Olivia Dade book was a bit slower for me. The primis is interesting. I like the characters, but I think it lacks a lot of pulp. The story moved so quickly. I couldn't get as immersed as I have in the past. I think it was a little weak, especially for Olivia Dade.

Thank you to Avon/Harper Voyager and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to review Second Chance Romance by providing me with an ARC copy!
I enjoyed how emotional, romantic & funny the book was. The Banter between Karl & Molly keeps you on your toes. I also like how it did feel more up to date and modern than some books tend to be. Some of the book was a bit slow but once it started picking up it follows through. I did enjoy it! Great Job Olivia!

This is a second in a series, but standalone book, after Love at First Spite. Karl was a side character in that novel and is getting his story here. A gossip incorrectly reports that Karl is deceased bringing his estranged high school best friend home for his supposed funeral. They reconnect and heal some unspoken hurts from high school while deciding if they can make a relationship work. I am such a fan of romance with plus size characters. I liked that both main characters in this book were heavier and attractive. I love that Molly was the narrator of Karl’s famously weird romantasy books (even though I guessed it). I like that they acted like adults and were able to talk to one another about misunderstandings. Both characters were extremely likeable. But who wouldn’t love Karl, a man with a big heart as gooey as his pastries, who blusters so folks won’t know that. I love that Dade’s characters are never cool and their banter is weird but hot. I liked seeing Mathew and Athena again, he seemed to have loosened up a bit since we last saw him. Definitely a fun quirky novel. Good for fana of Jenny L Howe. Thanks to Net Galley and Avon Fiction for the eARC in exchange for my honest review of this book. 3.5 stars.

Karl y Molly nunca estuvieron juntos. Hubo un tiempo, justo después de la escuela secundaria, en el que parecía que finalmente podrían cruzar la línea de amigos a amantes... pero en cambio, un malentendido tonto significó que nunca volvieron a hablar. Molly fue a Los Ángeles y se casó. Karl se quedó en Harlot's Bay y compró una panadería.

La única conexión que la pareja ha compartido a lo largo de los años es dolorosamente unilateral: ahora divorciada, Molly narra audiolibros de romance monstruosos, y Karl es un oyente siempre diligente, aferrado a su única parte de la que se escapó.

Aún así, Molly no ha dejado atrás por completo Harlot's Bay. Cuando se entera de que el obituario de Karl ha sido al periódico local, un dolor inesperado la impulsa a subirse al siguiente vuelo a Maryland... donde encuentra a Karl muy vivo, víctima de nada más que un obituario accidental.

A medida que la pareja se reúne, finalmente resuelven su conexión perdida. Es cierto que Molly no está lista para volver a confiar, pero Karl está decidido a demostrar que es digno de su fe y devoción. Y a medida que su tiempo restante en Harlot's Bay se agota, Molly, la cínica habitual, podría descubrir que Karl, el gruñón gruñón de la ciudad, es imposible dejar atrás una segunda vez.




.

Lo disfruté, solo que la edad de los protagonistas no iba con sus comportamientos.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest

I am a huge fan of Olivia Dade and with this book she hit it out the park again. We get to reconnect with some familiar characters in everyone's favorite literary vacation spot, Harlot's Bay. I loved the pacing and the romance of the book. A plus sized heroine, a pinning hottie Entrepeneur, and a whole host of interesting townsfolk makes this a can't miss for me and I'm sure for many other readers as well.

I love Olivia Dade, and I really enjoyed this second installment of the Harlot's Bay series, We have our grumpy Gen X male main character who just wants to be left alone, finding his walls being crumbled by the bubbly and optimistic heroine with just as much emotional baggage as our MMC. It's a story that works. I chuckled a lot while reading this, I also found myself alternating between blushing and bursting into tears at the more emotional parts. Recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books for the digital copy!