Second chance romance books are not everyone’s cup of tea, but they are surely mine. One of my favorite books has this trope, and when done right, these books are so emotional, so full of yearning that you can’t resist them. Of course, finding the ones where the original reason for breaking up isn’t something ridiculous, or at the very least still true when the couple rekindles their relationship is so hard.
But I read so much of this trope that find them I did. Below you’ll find my favorite second chance romance books (the very best, might I add), so I hope you love them as much as I did.
Persuasion by Jane Austen
“You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope. Tell me not that I am too late, that such precious feelings are gone for ever. I offer myself to you again with a heart even more your own than when you almost broke it, eight years and a half ago. Dare not say that man forgets sooner than woman, that his love has an earlier death. I have loved none but you. Unjust I may have been, weak and resentful I have been, but never inconstant.”
This is the classic of second chance romances, the quintessential story of lovers being brought back together after circumstances (and bad choices) have torn them apart. Anne and Wentworth were deeply in love years ago and were meant to marry, but someone talks Anne out of it because Wentworth wasn’t a rich man.
Now, years later, Anne is still unmarried and unhappy, but Wentworth is back, now with money and respect, and she’s forced to spend time in his company as other people try to set him up with other women. It’s heartbreaking and hopeful, and so, so good!
You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle
“But you still haven’t said you love me.”
“That’s not true.”
“You haven’t.”
“I say it all the time, I just say it very, very quietly. I tell you when you’re in another room, or right after we hang up the phone. I tell you when you’ve got headphones on. I say it after you shut the door behind you. I say it in my head every time you look at me.”
This is my favorite contemporary romance book of all time. In it, Nicholas and Naomi are engaged, but the wedding prep and life together isn’t all Naomi hoped for, and she wants out. It seems Nicholas wants out too, but neither will back out of the wedding first, so they begin a prank war that may or may not make them see each other as they truly are, no filters or lies. And that leads to some interesting things. Just go read it, it’s a legendary book, and so funny too! You can also take a look at my full review here.
Happy Place by Emily Henry
“He’s become my best friend the way the others did. Bit by bit, sand passing through an hour glass so slowly, it’s impossible to pin down the moment it happens. When suddenly, more of my heart belongs to him than doesn’t, and I know I’ll never get a single grain back.”
This book made me believe in Emily Henry again. I loved Beach Read, then hated People We Meet on Vacation and Book Lovers, but this book brought me back into the fan fold again.
It follows our two main characters, Harriet and Wyn, who broke up six months ago, and now they’re both coming to a friend-cation, where they find out two of their friends are getting married. Too afraid to mess everyone’s joy up, they pretend to still be dating, even though their hearts are still broken and raw.
But being forced to spend time with each other might also make them have some difficult (and much needed) conversations. I cannot tell you how many times this book made me cry or at least tear up. I loved the story, loved the themes and the romance was so full of yearning and melancholy and regret and swoon. You can see my full review of Happy Place here.
Seven Days in June by Tia Williams
“One thing,” she whispered, her lips by his jaw. She didn’t want anyone to overhear. “Before I forget.”
“What’s that?”
“Stop writing about me.”
Only Eva could’ve noticed the change in his expression. She saw the flinch. The slow, satisfied curl of his lip. His bronzy-amber eyes flashing. It was like he’d been waiting years to hear those words. Like the girl whose pigtails he’d been yanking during recess all year had finally shoved him back. He looked gratified. In a voice both raspy and low, and so, so familiar, Shane said, “You first.”
Seven Days in June feels both so literary and so swoony, you won’t know what hit you! Our heroes are both writers — the heroine writes spicy vampire stories, and the hero snobby litfic — but they have never met since their whirlwind affair when they were teenagers. Now they finally see each other again at a panel, and this first interaction is so steamy (no better word for it) without them ever touching. The heroine also has a chronic illness and a daughter, so if you’re looking for something relatable, give this one a try.
All of Us Murderers by KJ Charles
“It came to something when you found yourself hoping that the footsteps you heard were ghosts.”
If you’re up for some historical romance with a sprinkle of horror, mystery and gothic vibes, All of Us Murderers is the book for you.
It follows Zeb, who heads to his cousin’s house after a dreadful break up and still-ongoing recovery from it in London. He’s never met the cousin and he normally avoids his family, but the cousin was so persistent and seemed so nice that he actually goes.
But then he finds that his ex, Gideon, is also there, working as a secretary, and worse, his whole family is there. Unfortunately, much as he wants to escape almost immediately, the house is so isolated and set in such a dangerous area that he can find no way out which only pushes Gideon and him together. See my full review of this book here.
Old Flames and New Fortunes by Sarah Hogle
“Why did you have to be so pretty? It’s such a waste, whenever I have to look at anything else. The worst part is I’ve always known it, had to go too many years looking at too many other faces. Knew the whole time what I was missing. Knew that being satisfied with anyone else would be impossible.”
Old Flames and New Fortunes is a cozy romance that leans very fantastical. It follows a family of witches who have a flower-slash-candle-slash-bookshop (every girl’s dream) in a small town.
This first book is about Romina who once had a boy she loved desperately but then something happens and they’re torn apart. Now he’s back in town and seriously after her, determined to rekindle their relationship while she’s scared of heartbreak and busy trying to save their shop. You can see my full review of this book here.
Final Thoughts
I hope you found the second chance romance of your dreams on this list. I love all of these books so much that I cannot recommend them enough, but if you happen to dislike all of them, just drop me a comment below and I’ll help you find something you’ll love based on your specific needs. If you prefer to browse on your own, some of the best places to start are these:
- You can find my favorite romance books of all time here.
- And my favorite fantasy romance books are here.
- I read a lot of historical romance, so you can find the very best I’ve read here.
- Plus, some excellent slow burn (if that’s what you like) here.
- If you want rom-coms only, you should try my favorite contemporary romance books.
- And if you prefer high-brow literature but still some swoon, you can find my favorite classics with romance here.
What’s your favorite second-chance romance book? Let me know in the comments and let’s chat!
