Review by jennysaisquois - Second Chance Romance

jennysaisquois 's review for:

Second Chance Romance by Olivia Dade

4.0

emotional hopeful medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This is the second of Olivia Dade's Harlot's Bay novels I've read, and it's just as delightful as At First Spite. As with all her romances, there's a good dose of wry humor in the romantic storyline. I also love that the importance of community and connection, beyond the romantic pairing, remains a focus in this series. Both main characters have trust and communication issues, and falling in love doesn't magically fix them - talking to and seeking help from friends, and learning from mistakes pushes them to grow and take risks individually and as a couple. The main characters push each other to resolve their issues but the work to actually do so is their own. Shoutout as always to Olivia Dade for writing sexy, confident plus size main characters where their size isn't an issue or a fetish, just another aspect of their selves.

Although this is the second book in a series, you don't need to have read the first to follow the story, but it definitely helps to understand the community of friends, coworkers, and neighbors who are an important aspect of the storyline.

I'd recommend the Harlot's Bay series to readers of romances that celebrate beautifully diverse bodies, experiences, and emotional journeys, like Talia Hibbert's Brown Sisters series and Gabriella Gamez's Librarians in Love series.

Content Warnings