The Second Chance Romance!
A second chance at love. When I think "second chance romance", these types of scenarios come to mind:
- There is the missed opportunity, where our couple fails to reach coupledom, because of poor timing. It could be that one, the other, or both were already in a relationship, or maybe they moved away. Whatever the reason, there was something that kept them from acting on their feelings. Then suddenly fate or circumstances bring them back together and awakens those old feelings.
- The second type is what I think of as the do-over. The pair were together and for some reason parted ways. Now, they are back in each other's orbit, and willing to take that second shot at love.
- The previous two "types" assume the same two people are getting a second chance, but there are also the do-overs, where one person is getting a second chance at love, such as with single parent romance, widows/widowers, divorcees, etc. These give me a lot of the same payoffs as the previous two scenarios, but when it's between the same two people, it's even better.
- I always feel like the characters in this type of romance have a lot of history. It could be a long or short history, but there is something. I love getting to nose around in their pasts, which is only made better because their pasts overlap.
- I also feel like getting a second chance ups the stakes and the passion level. You either have the MCs, who are super leery of each other, or trying really hard, because they are not going to let that special person slip through their fingers again.
- Many of the MCs are wounded, and therefore, I feel a lot of empathy for them, and I want them to get that HEA.
- These stories tend to tug on my heartstrings and make me feel so many feels.
- Finally, I liked to believe we all get second chances. It could be a second chance at love or any other type of opportunity that may make us happy. These stories keep me hopeful and believing that I may still have a chance to attain those things I thought I missed out on.
These are few second chance romances that come to mind. Some are adult, NA, and YA.
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Do you believe in second chances? Do you have a favorite second chance type book (doesn't have to be romance)?
Let us know in the comments!
I'm a sucker for second chance romances! Usually I'm not for angst in books, but the angst in second chance romances is a good hurt! I totally love the pulling off the heartstrings. Bittersweet & The Mistake are two of my favorite books! I need to check out some of the others on your list. :)
ReplyDeleteAlthough I claim I am so low angst, I have enjoyed Jay McLean's books, and her characters are usually really angsty. I think she just does a good job putting enough humor in there and tons of swoon so I forgive it. Seriously, the True North books are the best Bowen has written. All three knocked my socks off, and I loved reading about Vermont!
DeleteI love anything angsty or that pulls at my heartstrings so I'm definitely all about second chance romances! The Mistake is a good one, for sure! Where She Went as well. Still bummed they didn't make that one into a movie too because I love it more than the first book. I'm drawing such a blank coming up with additional books that fits, but I'll probably be thinking about it all day now. lol
ReplyDeleteI am such a sap in my old age. In my teens, I loved the angsty stuff, but now, I like the HEAs and all that comes with them. Like, I love Hallmark movies, that alone should give you a good indication of how I work. For me, Where She Went was the better book. I loved Adam's voice, and would have been up for a good adaptation.
DeleteI like second chance romances, but I have a pet peeve that got worse with the last few I picked up: the hero had bullied/pushed the heroine around, but 5 years has magically erased that from the heroine's mind. Maybe I'm too petty, but it annoyed me SO much! When I put myself in the heroine's shoes I think "Why the heck would I want to be with someone who pushed me around and made me the laughing stalk of the school throughout middle school and high school?".
ReplyDeleteYou see, now I would probably be ok with it, IF he had atoned for his sins. That's like a compound second chance. If he hadn't changed and she forgave him, I would wonder, but I guess it would depend upon how the author wrote that part. I am a sap, and I would want forgiveness. This is a little bit of a hard sell for me, I would probably avoid it (as I have the book Bully, which everybody raves about), but I still like the idea of forgiveness.
DeleteI love second chance romances. I tend to go for the ones where the couple already know each other - so they dated or they were just friends at the time - and then they get together in the end. I like the history they have, so it's fine when they fall for each other quick. I'm also in agreement about a lot of them being wounded and being able to feel empathetic towards them.
ReplyDelete-Lauren
www.shootingstarsmag.net
Yes! The best are the ones where the couple have history. There is just something more intimate and familiar that comes across when you have that kind of couple.
DeleteI didn't think I was a sucker for a second chance romance but it turns out I've read quite a few and loved them so maybe I am. I do love that when it comes to a second chance one (or both) parties are a little warier of falling but then chemistry and spark is already there because of their history. It makes it more interesting seeing them get past whatever stopped them working the first time. There are a few on this list I've not read and some I own and not gotten to so I may have to treat myself to some romance soon.
ReplyDeleteYou're right. That is an interesting part of many second chance romances -- getting over it and moving past it to try and build something new and better. Yes, I like those too. I have only read romances this week, so I am on cloud nine drowning in all this awesome swoony stuff.
DeleteI love second chance romances - whether it's the same couple getting another chance at happiness or if it's a character due a HEA after a break-up/divorce/death/etc. Doesn't matter how, but I love seeing someone finding love and having that HEA after previous heartache. And you shared some good examples. Where She Went was a good one (and I actually liked it just as much if not more than If I Stay). I really need to read The Mistake. I can't believe I haven't continued the series after loving The Deal so much. And Bittersweet is so high on my TBR. I can never get enough of Sarina Bowen. Great topic, Sam!
ReplyDeleteExactly! Everyone deserves their HEA. I am a big softie and I just want everyone to find happiness. Seriously, Bowen's True North series is her best, in my opinion. The three stories are so different, but the common thread is the fantastic Shipley family ties. Another family that needs to adopt me.
DeleteI love second chance romance - it's actually one of my favorite romance tropes (I have a lot).. my fave is the one where they grew up together or the big brother (or sister) best friend where they couldn't be in a relationship but met up again years later.. :)
ReplyDeleteI loved The Mistake by Elle Kennedy! :) One of my favorite historical romance with this trop is How to Woo a Reluctant Lady by Sabrina Jeffries.
One year at BookCon (maybe 2015?), Gayle Forman gushed about how she loved all the tropes, and I was right there with her. I love so many too. Yes, the best friend's brother/sister is a great trope and forbidden things are always more delicious for me. I am slowly reading some historicals. I hit up a Julia Quinn a little bit ago, and actually really liked it. I have to check out Jeffries too.
DeleteI really like second chance romances. I think that it is such a great way to speed up a romance just a bit...so much better than insta love. They have a history and know something about each other. This and friends to lovers seem to work best for me.
ReplyDeleteExactly! It is a brilliant way to avoid the instalove stigma, and friends to lovers is another of my faves.
DeleteMy favorite second-chance romance is Jane Austen's Persuasion. I don't read a lot of second-chance romances, but this one always gets me. Like you said, this trope means the characters have a lot of history and that's more opportunity for an author to play with. Will have to check out these recommendations. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI have to confess, I have only read books inspired by Persuasion. When I was younger, I tried to read the old school romances, but was not into it. Maybe I should try again (since it's been about 30 years!)
DeleteI do enjoy second chance romances! I think like you, I like the idea of everyone getting second chances. And since it doesn't happen enough in real life, I love to read about it. I've read Where She Went, but I am going to have to check out some of the others, because now you have me really wanting to read one of these! Great post!
ReplyDeleteExactly! I like to believe there is a do-over, start-over, and forgiveness waiting for everyone. Reading about it keeps my hopes alive. If you liked Where She Went, you would probably like Just One Day. They spend one day together, and then the rest of the book is how their encounter affected her life, and the next book about how the encounter affected his life, and finally in the novella is the culmination of it all. I loved what Forman did with this series.
DeleteI LOVE second chance romance novels! <3 One of the longest-drawn out second chance romance novels I can think of is Cecelia Ahern's "When Rainbows End", which was one of my favourite books for a long time! :D In fact, I'm long overdue for another reread of that one haha.
ReplyDeleteCass @ Words on Paper
That must be her thing, because Love, Rosie was so frustrating and painful. I loved every second of it, but AARRRRGHHHHH! It span like 35 years.
DeleteI don't read romance, but I sure know my [real life] relationship was a second chance one! So you are totally right about there being a history and power in that kind of storyline. Definitely a good storyline to follow if you want a lot of feels :)
ReplyDeleteAww, my heart is exploding!!! That's awesome and thanks for sharing.
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