Olivia Dade has my heart on a platter. I have read all of her books, and I love them all equally. They are sexy, funny, light hearted by not empty, with well rounded characters who I am swinging my feet for when they're finding love. I really recommend this book, but I recommend all of Olivia Dade's books because she's an icon!

I really, really wanted to love Second Chance Romance. I love it in theory - body positivity romance, 2nd chances, cute bakery, quirky small town. But, I just found both Karl and Molly so off-putting and unlikeable as characters, I really never cared about them getting their happy ending. Something about the way they interacted just made me grit my teeth every time. The misunderstandings weren't just cute anachronisms, they seemed to reveal serious issues with both of our protagonists, and it just made me sad that they were both nearly 40, and hadn't grown in any significant way. I don't know - maybe this one was just me, but I didn't think they worked. I'll definitely still be buying a copy for my library, as I know Olivia Dade has a solid fanbase, and I fully acknowledge that maybe, this one is just a personal taste issue. I'll also be checking out other titles by this author, because I did enjoy the the premise, and the tropes, and I think she's got other, more likeable characters in her.

This is such a fabulous series of funny, steamy contemporary romances full of heart and big emotions. I loved watching foul-mouthed but intensely kind and loyal baker Karl (a side-character in Love at First Spite) find his happy-ever-after with the whip-smart, pedantic, and hilarious woman he first fell for back in high school, when they messed up their first chance due to very realistic teenage awkwardness/lack of social sikills. Their adult reconnection is also full of relatably awkward moments but also SUCH an intense feeling of real emotional (and also physical) connection - these people really were made for each other. And I loved that, for once, both characters in a romance are plus-sized - I can't remember the last time I read a romance where the hero was, as well as the heroine! And the community around them is fantastic. So much fun throughout!

(And I really hope that the real-life "Sadie Brazen," whose popular monster romances run as a connecting thread throughout the series, will get her own romance next!)

Ok first of all, I love Olivia Dade. Her characters always feel like friends, and I love the size representation. This one, though, really did something that's a challenge: a grumpy/grumpy romance where neither felt like a jerk and neither seemed like they were changed by magic just for plot.

I am completely obsessed with this series! I want to move to Harlot's Bay and join the book club. I loved seeing more of Athena and Matthew whose story I absolutely adored and I am so excited for the stories this one set up!

I adored Karl and Molly as individuals and as a couple. Their chemistry was palpable and I loved how hard they each worked to be what the other needed. They both had things to work on and they stepped up and did it. Karl was so gone for her immediately and I loved it so much. If you are a fan of he falls first you'll love this and the second chance aspect is a fun twist.

This book was described as grumpy/grumpy and in some ways it is. Karl wins the grumpy award but Molly is also reserved just in a friendlier way. Their banter was so amazing. I was obsessed with Karl threatening to murder people and Molly explaining why his murder threats were unreasonable. Especially since absolutely no one took them seriously.

I cannot recommend this series highly enough. A book has never made me feel more seen than At First Spite and this one gave me so much joy in a time that was really difficult.

Thanks to Avon for providing me with an Arc. All opinions are my own.

I regret that so many things came up in my life recently that I could not devour this funny, romantic book in one sitting. I teared up twice, including at 13%–what magic is that?? Olivia Dade has an amazing ability to get you on the same, um, page with characters so fast.

He's a foul-mouthed baker who never expressed a positive emotion in his life. She's the reserved, kind-not-nice friend from high school who left before he could sort himself out.

And now she's back in town–you'll never guess why–and it's like no time has passed. Except they still have the same baggage, and then some.

This is mostly a book about getting in your own way, whether you mean to or not.

Second chance romances aren't usually my thing, but the work Dade does in the beginning to show the reader who these characters were, and are, sets the foundation for the rest of the book.

If I have to come up with a complaint, it's the title. In a town that's so full of hilarious puns, I'd love it if this book got the same treatment. (The first book, reasonably, is called At First Spite.) I hate this growing trend of naming tropes in titles unless the publisher's doing something clever with it (When Grumpy Met Sunshine, Time Loops and Meet Cutes). If "Second Chance Romance" has layers, I'm missing them, especially since the author character in the series would never.

Can I say thank you from the bottom of my heart to Avon and Netgalley for the chance to ARC read this book. When I tell you At First Spite changed my life? I'm not exaggerating or being dramatic. I was so excited for the chance to read Karl and Molly's story. This review is about to be all over the place, so stick with me!

First, we get to meet Sadie Brazen, and I'm in LOVE. I want to read all of her books. OMG. Molly, I love her, and Karl? I want to be Karl's best friend, our sweet cadbury egg.

I loved the backstory, and then Karl's undying love over the next 20 years for the girl he never got a chance with. Now that she's back? SWOON.
Matthew and Athena's story makes me cry everytime, and I promise I giggled and loved every little second we got of their continuation. But Karl and Molly? Can I pick up and move to Harlot's Bay???? PLEASE!! I loved Karl in At First Spite, listening to the Sadie Brazen novels and helping Matthew with his Chicken Man story :)

When Molly hears of Karl's untimely demise via an obituary, she finds herself back in Harlot's Bay, heading to Karl's bakery to ask about funeral arrangements. The news of his 'death' is quickly resolved and Karl and Molly find themselves face to face after many many years apart. Over the next few weeks, as Molly agrees to stay in town until their high school reunion, we get several heart warming trust sessions and a blossoming love story. They discover more about themselves, overcoming trust and insecurities, and just makes a beautiful second chance love story.

The way this book made me smile, laugh, cry, kick my feet, and just absolutely love every moment of it?! I couldn't and wouldn't put it down. I loved this book, and can't wait to put a copy on my shelf. Olivia, thank you for this masterpiece.

This was a sweet, funny love story with a host of crazy characters to round out the fun. Karl and Molly make their way through a lot of stuff, but despite their winding path, the destination is worth the hiccups along the way.