🏷️ Second Chance Romance
75 entries tagged with this trope
It Ends with Us
Colleen Hoover · 2016
Lily thought she'd never end up like her mother. Then she meets Ryle — and Atlas comes back. This book will make you angry, sad, and hopeful all at once.
The Midnight Library
Matt Haig · 2020
Between life and death there's a library. Each book lets you try a different version of your life. Nora gets to see every 'what if.' Made me cry on a plane.
People We Meet on Vacation
Emily Henry · 2021
Alex and Poppy are best friends who take a trip every summer. Two years ago something went wrong and they haven't spoken since. One more trip to fix it. The tension between 'we're just friends' and 'we've never been just friends' is unbearable.
Happy Place
Emily Henry · 2023
Harriet and Wyn broke up six months ago. Nobody knows. Now they're stuck at their annual friends' trip pretending to still be together. Every fake touch, every shared bed, every almost-confession is agony.
Love and Other Words
Christina Lauren · 2018
Macy and Elliot were childhood best friends who fell in love through words. Something tore them apart. Now they've run into each other again. The dual timeline reveals what happened piece by piece.
The Bromance Book Club
Lyssa Kay Adams · 2019
Gavin's wife is leaving him because he's bad at... everything romantic. His baseball teammates secretly read romance novels to learn how to be better partners. They form a book club. It's as delightful as it sounds.
Final Offer
Lauren Asher · 2022
Cal and Lana have history — a painful one. Now he's back in her lake house trying to buy it, and she's not selling. Two broken people who never stopped loving each other fighting over a house and their feelings.
Normal People
Sally Rooney · 2018
Connell and Marianne orbit each other from school to university. They're together, then apart, then together, then apart. The miscommunication is painful because it's so real. Rooney writes love like a wound.
The Mistake
Elle Kennedy · 2015
Logan screwed up. Grace isn't giving him a second chance easily. His grovel game is STRONG though. The redemption arc romance of the Off-Campus series.
Reminders of Him
Colleen Hoover · 2022
Kenna just got out of prison. She wants to see her daughter. The whole town hates her for what she did. Ledger is the only one willing to see past it. The most emotionally devastating CoHo — and that's saying something.
The Love of My Afterlife
Kirsty Greenwood · 2024
Delphie dies and meets her soulmate in the afterlife. Then she's sent back to Earth with 10 days to find him — alive. Bridget Jones meets It's a Wonderful Life. Pure joy on every page.
The Ex Hex
Erin Sterling · 2021
Vivienne cursed her ex after a bad breakup. She didn't think it was real magic. Nine years later, Rhys is back and everything in town is going haywire. Cozy witch romance with autumn vibes for days.
Give Me a Reason
Jayci Lee · 2025
A modern retelling of Persuasion where Korean actor Anne Lee regrets breaking up with Frederick Nam a decade ago. When they end up in the same wedding party, sparks fly all over again.
I Think They Love You
Julian Winters · 2025
A queer second-chance romance where Denz must prove he's responsible enough to take over the family business. His fake boyfriend? The man who broke his heart. Funny, flirty, and full of heart.
People We Meet on Vacation
Emily Henry · 2021
Poppy and Alex have been best friends and vacation buddies for years. After a falling out, one last trip might be their chance to fix everything—or lose each other forever.
What a Duke Dares
Anna Campbell · 2013
Camden and Pen have a complicated history. When they're forced together on a dangerous journey to Constantinople, old wounds and new passion collide.
People We Meet on Vacation
Emily Henry · 2021
Poppy and Alex have been best friends and vacation buddies for years. After a falling out, one last trip might be their chance to fix everything—or lose each other forever.
Book Lovers
Emily Henry · 2022
Literary agent Nora is tired of being the other woman in romance novels. But when she keeps running into brooding editor Charlie in small-town North Carolina, life imitates art.
The Bromance Book Club
Lyssa Kay Adams · 2019
When Gavin's marriage falls apart, his friends introduce him to their secret weapon: a book club where they read romance novels to become better husbands.
Things We Do in the Dark
Jennifer Hillier · 2022
Paris's perfect life unravels when her celebrity husband is found dead. With a dark past threatening to surface, she must decide how far she'll go to protect her secrets.
Things We Never Said
Samantha Young · 2019
She vanished nine years ago without explanation. Now she's back in the small town she fled, and the man she left behind isn't exactly rolling out the welcome mat.
Love Redesigned
Lauren Asher · 2023
She's a famous interior designer who comes home after a public breakdown. He's the childhood rival who bought up half the town. Sparks, arguments, and renovation metaphors ensue.
Love and Other Words
Christina Lauren · 2018
Macy and Elliot were inseparable growing up — sharing a closet full of books and unspoken feelings. Then something happened and she vanished. Eleven years later, he walks back into her life.
People We Meet on Vacation
Emily Henry · 2021
Poppy and Alex are best friends who vacation together every summer. Two years ago, something happened and they stopped talking. One last trip to fix it. Emily Henry at her most charming.
People We Meet on Vacation
Emily Henry · 2021
Poppy and Alex are polar opposites who vacation together every summer — until two years ago when everything went wrong. She has one trip to fix it. Emily Henry at her most charming.
Love and Other Words
Christina Lauren · 2018
Macy and Elliot were best friends who shared books and secrets in a closet turned reading nook. Then something happened and they didn't speak for eleven years. Dual timeline perfection.
Happy Place
Emily Henry · 2023
Harriet and Wyn broke up six months ago. Nobody knows. Now they're stuck at their annual friend group vacation pretending everything's fine. Emily Henry weaponizing nostalgia and heartbreak again.
Wild Love
Elsie Silver · 2024
Ford Grant returns to Rose Hill after a public scandal. Rosalie is the single mom who doesn't have time for his drama. Small-town second chance with a kid who steals every scene.
Love Redesigned
Lauren Asher · 2023
Dahlia returns home after a public meltdown. Julian is still there. Still annoying. Still desperately in love with her after all these years. He-falls-first-and-never-gets-up energy.
Tom Lake
Ann Patchett · 2023
Lara tells her daughters about the great love of her life while they pick cherries during the pandemic. It's Our Town meets Patchett's elegant prose. A meditation on first loves and the lives we actually choose.
The Bromance Book Club
Lyssa Kay Adams · 2019
A baseball player's wife kicks him out. His teammates reveal their secret: a book club where they read romance novels to save their marriages. The premise is hilarious. The emotional beats are surprisingly real.
Happy Place
Emily Henry · 2023
Harriet and Wyn broke up months ago. No one knows. Now they're stuck at their annual friend group vacation pretending they're still together. The angst is EXQUISITE. Emily Henry weaponizes nostalgia.
Static
galfoy · 2020
The war is over, but Hermione Granger is not all right. When Draco Malfoy shows up on her doorstep, she discovers the road to healing is not a journey she has to walk alone.
Choices
bionically · 2018
In a world where the war never ended, Hermione and Draco must make impossible choices. Their past haunts them, but their future depends on each other.
All You Want
senlinyu · 2020
Eight years later, they meet again. Some wounds never fully heal, but some loves are worth the pain.
Wait and Hope
mightbewriting · 2020
Hermione wakes up with no memory of the last few years. Draco is there, claiming to be her husband. The slow reveal of what she's lost is devastating.
The Timeline
Lyanna_Targaryen · 2019
Hermione gets thrown back in time and has to navigate the war knowing what's coming — and Draco Malfoy keeps showing up where he shouldn't be.
Turn
Saras_Girl · 2013
Harry gets to see what his life would've been like if he'd made different choices. Including the one about Draco Malfoy. Saras_Girl at her absolute finest.
An Entire Reality
Quicksilver_ink · 2018
Reincarnation AU across multiple lifetimes. They keep finding each other, keep losing each other. If you like 'Cloud Atlas' vibes mixed with Reylo, this is your fic.
Your Name on Every Wall
Sena · 2014
Steve finds Bucky. Bucky doesn't remember Steve. The process of remembering is brutal and beautiful and will make you feel things you weren't prepared for.
Thermotemporal Equations
Brill · 2017
Time travel fix-it where Steve goes back to save Bucky. The science-meets-feelings approach works incredibly well. Every timeline hits differently.
Love and Other Words
Christina Lauren · 2018
Macy and Elliot were childhood best friends who fell in love through words. Then something tore them apart. The dual timeline slowly rips your heart out.
Happy Place
Emily Henry · 2023
Harriet and Wyn broke up months ago but haven't told their friends. Now they're trapped at the annual group vacation pretending everything's fine. The 'we're pretending we're still together' angst is exquisite.
Love Redesigned
Lauren Asher · 2023
Dahlia returns home broken after her TV show tanks. Julian, her childhood rival, is rebuilding the town. They're forced to work together and he's been in love with her since they were kids.
Happy Place
Emily Henry · 2023
Harriet and Wyn broke up months ago but nobody knows. Now they're stuck pretending at their annual friend group vacation. The tension is excruciating in the best way.
Wait and Hope
mightbewriting · 2020
Years after the war, Draco and Hermione keep almost happening. Mightbewriting captures the ache of near-misses and timing that never lines up. Beautiful and painful in equal measure.
Done and Dusted
Lyla Sage · 2024
Emmy comes home after a panic attack ends her rodeo career. Luke, her brother's best friend, has been waiting for her. Small town western romance done perfectly.
The Ex Vows
Jessica Joyce · 2024
Georgia and Eli broke up two years ago but now they're best man and maid of honor at the same wedding. A week of forced proximity and unresolved feelings.
Happy Place
Emily Henry · 2023
Harriet and Wyn broke up months ago but haven't told their friends. Now they're stuck at their annual group vacation pretending everything's fine. The angst is exquisite.
Normal People
Sally Rooney · 2018
Connell and Marianne orbit each other through school and college. They keep almost getting it right. Rooney writes desire and miscommunication like no one else.
Love Redesigned
Lauren Asher · 2023
Dahlia returns to her small town after a public breakdown. Julian, her childhood enemy, is still there and still infuriating. The enemies-since-kindergarten energy is unmatched.
Tom Lake
Ann Patchett · 2023
A mother tells her three daughters about her summer romance with a man who became a famous actor. Cherry picking in Michigan, memories unfolding — it's Our Town meets nostalgia perfection.
Hello Beautiful
Ann Napolitano · 2023
Four sisters and the man who marries into their family. Decades of love, betrayal, and reconciliation. Oprah picked this one and she was right — it's an instant classic family saga.
Love Redesigned
Lauren Asher · 2023
Dahlia returns to her small town and runs straight into Julian — the boy next door she has years of unresolved tension with. He's grumpy, she's chaotic, and the renovation competition is just foreplay.
Never Never
Colleen Hoover & Tarryn Fisher · 2023
Charlie and Silas wake up with no memories of who they are or why they were together. Every 48 hours, it resets. The mystery is addictive and the romance threading through it is heartbreaking.
Happy Place
Emily Henry · 2023
Harriet and Wyn broke up months ago. No one knows. Now they're trapped at a group vacation pretending everything's fine. The tension of faking it while being devastated? Chef's kiss.
The Ones Who Stay
SageMcMae · 2018
Fix-it fic where Ben Solo survives. The hard work of redemption when the galaxy hates you. Rey stands by him but it's not easy. Realistic post-war recovery that earns every moment of healing.
Happy Place
Emily Henry · 2023
Harriet and Wyn broke up six months ago but haven't told their friend group. Now they're sharing a bedroom at the annual vacation. Pretending everything is fine has never been this painful or this swoony.
Love and Other Words
Christina Lauren · 2018
Macy and Elliot were inseparable childhood friends who fell in love—until a devastating betrayal tore them apart. Eleven years later, a chance encounter brings back everything they buried.
Normal People
Sally Rooney · 2018
Connell and Marianne circle each other from secondary school in Ireland to university at Trinity College Dublin. Their connection is undeniable, but timing and insecurity keep pulling them apart.
Happy Place
Emily Henry · 2023
Harriet and Wyn broke up months ago but haven't told their friends. Now they're sharing a cottage for their annual group trip. Pretending to still be together. What could go wrong?
Reminders of Him
Colleen Hoover · 2022
Kenna Rowan served five years for a mistake that cost her everything—including her daughter. Ledger Ward is the only person willing to give her a second chance. Raw and gutting.
Malibu Rising
Taylor Jenkins Reid · 2021
One legendary party. Four siblings. A lifetime of secrets. Set in 1980s Malibu with the kind of family drama that keeps you turning pages at 2 AM.
Love and Other Words
Christina Lauren · 2018
Macy and Elliot were best friends who shared a closet full of words and secrets. Then something tore them apart. Eleven years later, she walks into his coffee shop.
People We Meet on Vacation
Emily Henry · 2021
Alex and Poppy are polar opposites who take annual vacations together. Two years ago something went wrong. One more trip to fix everything.
Just Last Night
Mhairi McFarlane · 2021
Eve's world shatters when tragedy strikes their tight-knit friend group. In the aftermath, buried feelings and secrets surface that change everything she thought she knew.
The Bromance Book Club
Lyssa Kay Adams · 2019
A baseball player's wife kicks him out. His teammates invite him to a secret book club where they read romance novels to save their marriages. Peak comfort.
Yerba Buena
Nina LaCour · 2022
Sara and Emile meet at a San Francisco restaurant. Their connection is instant but the timing is wrong. Years pass. A gorgeously quiet sapphic love story.
The Do-Over
Lynn Painter · 2023
Emilie is stuck reliving Valentine's Day on loop. The only other person who knows? Nick, the boy she can't stand. Groundhog Day meets rom-com perfection.
A Holly Jolly Ever After
Julie Murphy · 2022
A former child star and a Christmas movie director collide on set. She's trying to reinvent herself. He's trying not to fall for her. Holiday magic meets Hollywood chaos.
Love and Other Words
Christina Lauren · 2018
Macy and Elliot were everything to each other growing up. Then something tore them apart. Years later, they collide again, and all those buried feelings come flooding back.
The Bromance Book Club
Lyssa Kay Adams · 2019
After his wife asks for a divorce, Gavin joins a secret romance book club run by Nashville's most macho athletes. They use romance novels to save his marriage. Hilarious and wholesome.
Love and Other Words
Christina Lauren · 2018
Macy and Elliot were everything to each other as teens. Then something happened and she walked away. Eleven years later they meet again.
Happy Place
Emily Henry · 2023
Harriet and Wyn broke up months ago but nobody knows. Now they're stuck pretending to be together for one last friend group vacation.
Reminders of Him
Colleen Hoover · 2022
Kenna gets out of prison and wants to reconnect with her daughter. The guardian standing between them is Ledger — and they shouldn't feel anything for each other.