REVIEW: Second Chance Romance by Olivia Dade

Second Chance Romance by Olivia Dade: Karl and Molly were never more than friends… but right after high school, it almost happened. A silly misunderstanding tore them apart, sending Molly to LA to get married and Karl to stay in Harlot’s Bay running his bakery. Years later, their only connection is painfully one-sided: Molly narrates monster romance audiobooks, and Karl is her devoted, secret listener—still holding onto the one that got away. When a mistaken obituary sends Molly rushing back to Harlot’s Bay, she finds Karl very much alive—and exactly as infuriating and irresistible as she remembers.

SECOND CHANCE ROMANCE was a tender, imperfect body-positive story. What I love about Olivia Dade’s writing is how she balances humor, heart, and tension so effortlessly. She makes you root for the characters, laugh at their missteps, and ache with them in all the quiet, tender moments where love isn’t perfect — it’s real.

After years of missed timing, private heartbreaks, and life not going the way either of them planned, Molly and Karl’s romance feels real. Just two flawed, vulnerable people confronting regrets, fear, and the weight of time. Karl carries years of quiet longing behind a gruff exterior; Molly carries self-doubt and the scars of past heartbreaks. But when they start reconnecting, the walls slowly come down. Their attraction builds through shared memories, honest conversations, and the courage it takes to give love a second chance.

The small-town setting of Harlot’s Bay, with its quaint streets and colorful locals, adds the perfect layer of cozy. This story isn’t just about finding love again — it’s about rediscovering yourself, embracing your worth, and daring to open your heart to hope once more.

Tropes I loved:

• Friends-to-lovers
• Second-chance romance
• Grumpy, guarded hero meets softhearted heroine
• Small-town charm
• Healing, growth, and self-rediscovery
• Body-positive

SECOND CHANCE ROMANCE is heartfelt, messy and hopeful — a story that reminds you a first shot at love doesn’t have to be your only chance.

Book Info:

Publication: November 25, 2025 | Avon | Harlot’s Bay #2

In the second installment of USA Today bestselling author Olivia Dade’s Harlot’s Bay series, a mistaken obituary leads to the reunion of two former high school crushes. Sparks fly in this hilarious grumpy/grumpy romance, packed with Dade’s signature body positivity and a delicious amount of spice.

Karl and Molly were never together. There was a time, right after high school, where it seemed like they might finally cross the line from friends to lovers…but instead, a foolish misunderstanding meant they never spoke again. Molly went to LA and got married. Karl stayed in Harlot’s Bay and bought a bakery.

The only connection the pair has shared over the years is painfully one-sided: Now divorced, Molly narrates monster romance audiobooks, and Karl is an ever-diligent listener, clinging to his only piece of the one that got away.

Still, Molly hasn’t totally left Harlot’s Bay behind. When she hears that Karl’s obituary has run in the local paper, unexpected grief prompts her to hop on the next flight to Maryland…where she finds Karl very much alive, the victim of nothing but an accidental obituary.

As the pair reunite, they finally hash out their missed connection. True, Molly isn’t quite ready to trust again, but Karl is determined to prove himself worthy of her faith and devotion. And as her remaining time in Harlot’s Bay ticks down, Molly, the habitual cynic, just might find that Karl, the cranky town curmudgeon, is impossible to leave behind a second time.