REVIEW: Janae Sanders’ Second Time Around by LaQuette

Janae Sanders’ Second Time Around by LaQuette: What starts as a long-avoided reunion quickly turns into a collision of past feelings and present-day values.

Janae Sanders is firmly focused on her life as a single mom — her son, her friends, and staying far away from romantic disappointment. When her high school sweetheart, Adam Henderson, reappears at their 20-year reunion, the spark between them is undeniable… until real life steps in.

Adam’s role as the new school superintendent puts him directly at odds with Janae when her son’s arts program is cut, turning nostalgia into tension and forcing both of them to confront what they stand for now.

I enjoyed Janae Sanders’ Second Time Around for how grounded and emotionally mature it feels. This is a romance rooted in lived experience — divorce, parenthood, community responsibility, and the complicated reality of loving someone whose choices directly impact what matters most to you. LaQuette gives Janae a strong, clear voice, and her devotion to her son and her principles anchors the entire story.

The romance between Janae and Adam is layered with history, frustration, and undeniable chemistry. Their connection isn’t easy or idealized — it’s shaped by missteps, hard conversations, and the need for accountability. Watching Adam reckon with both his professional decisions and personal regrets makes the emotional payoff feel earned rather than rushed.

Tropes & Vibes I loved:

• Second-chance romance
• High school sweethearts
• Single mom heroine
• Ideals in conflict
• Strong friend-group support
• Mature, emotionally charged chemistry

Janae Sanders’ Second Time Around blends warmth, wit, and real-world stakes into a romance that proves love the second time around isn’t about rewriting the past — it’s about showing up better in the present. This book is perfect for readers who love smart, sexy second-chance romances, strong heroines with real priorities, and stories where love has to earn its way back.

Book Info:

Publication: January 6, 2026 | St. Martin’s Griffin | Savvy, Sexy, & Single Club

A single mom gets a second chance at love with her high school sweetheart.

Wary of love after divorce, Janae Sanders focuses on the best things in her life: her son James and her besties in the Savvy, Sexy, and Single Club. As for romance? Not today, Satan. That is, until high school heartthrob Adam Henderson crashes back into her life at their 20-year reunion. Sparks fly, but just when Janae considers dating again, the new superintendent of James’ school district slashes his beloved arts program. Instead of getting her groove back, Janae gets her protest on.

Returning home after twenty years, Adam jumps at the chance to reacquaint himself with Janae, the one who got away. But he’s nearly reached his limit, juggling a meddling father, school politics, and―unbeknownst to him―Janae’s ire. If he can’t get the head of the PTA off his back after cutting programs that were costing the district money, his debut role as superintendent and his love life hang in the balance.

When a school board meeting is called and they both realize they’ve been dating the enemy, Janae gives Adam two choices: restore the program or lose her. Adam proposes a third option: one weekend at his cabin to talk it all out―funding the arts, and old feelings too. When her girls cheer her on, Janae must decide if she’s willing to risk it all. Armed with sass, sarcasm, and a suitcase full of emotional baggage, Janae and Adam discover that sometimes love shows up in the most infuriating and unexpectedly sexy ways.