I Love This Trope, Sub-Genre, Setting is a new feature on my blog in which I discuss a trope, sub-genre or setting that I love and tell you about books that are shining examples of said trope, sub-genre or setting. Feel free to play along and please let me know about your favorite books in this realm and whether you like this trope, sub-genre and/or setting as much as I do!
Today I am spotlighting the trope of: Second Chance Romance, which I would loosely define as any book where a couple is reunited after a long separation, sometimes from childhood. The BEST in this trope is, of course, Persuasion by Jane Austen - so good!
I have to confess that I love this trope in nearly all of its iterations! I love it when a couple wants to reunite and/or has a second chance after a break-up. It's especially satisfying when there is significant character growth in the meantime such that the romance can now work and/or take off. Of course, second chance romances don't always have a happy ending! I know there are a ton of books that I'm missing/haven't read so please let me know!
What's your favorite second chance romance?!
All of these titles sound Amazing! I don''t usually read romance but enjoy movies with that second chance theme.
ReplyDeleteTori @ In Tori Lex
The Law of Moses is my favorite second-chance romance. I finally read Persuasion about 2 years ago, because I am determined to read all the Austen novels, and I really enjoyed it. Ha! Thief is in a category all its own. Tarryn Fisher is evil in the LMWL trilogy. I think I binge read the books in, like, 2 days last year. I definitely need to read some Karina Halle and Renee Carlino at some point. Great post!
ReplyDeleteOh I love this trope so so much!!! Before We Were Strangers is definitely my favorite. That book just totally resonated with me for some reason. I loved Him and The Law of Moses as well. Great post!!
ReplyDeleteI love second chance romances! The Sweet Gum Tree is one of my favorites. I also love Thief and Before We Were Strangers. I also liked The Unwanted Wife, Out of Breath, Seduction and Snacks, and Fall From India Place.
ReplyDeleteI admit, this is one of my absolute favorites as well not to mention I see some of my favorite reads too! I really love the friends to lover trope as well. ;)
ReplyDeleteI haven't read many books with this trope, but I do love it and Persuasion is my favorite in the category as well. We have great taste :)
ReplyDeleteThe Sweet Gum Tree was a book I had to read in one sitting because it stressed me out so much, but I did like it. After the Night, Sins & Needles, Love Me With Lies series, all great 2nd chance romances! I think my most recent love is Rookie Moves by Sarina Bowen. I was surprised how much I loved it! I've never read the book, but Persuasion (the one with Amanda Root) is one of my favorite Jane Austen's! Great post, Eva! :)
ReplyDeleteI like this trope too, even though I'm not a romance reader I do read some YA contemps and I like romance in my fantasy/ scifi stuff. the thing about the second chance romance is a lot of times the characters have grown, like you mention, and it's fun to see how they relate to each other when they've changed or are older. I think we can all relate when we see someone we haven't seen in a while and it's sometimes awkward- that tension can be great in a romantic relationship in a book. :)
ReplyDeleteTwo YA books that come to mind are Emmy and Oliver (not that they were romantically involved in their childhood, but still) and Not If I See You First. This IS a very satisfying trope! Who doesn't need a second chance every now and then?
ReplyDeleteI love this trope! The Sweet Gum Tree is one of my favorites of all time. I loved The Paper Swan, too. I need to read The Law of Moses!!
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Eva! One of my favorite books with this trope is A Wish Upon Jasmine (La Vie en Roses #2) by Laura Florand. I also enjoyed One & Only (Canton #1) by Viv Daniels and So Over You by Gwen Hayes.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy reading second-chance romances!
ReplyDeleteI love second chance romance and I think it may originate with persuasion as I really loved that book and then it's grown as I've discovered more romance reads. I didn't realise a couple of these books were second chance romance and I have them sat unread on my Kindle so I need to get reading them pronto.
ReplyDeleteA couple of classics with this trope: The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim - involving multiple women whose love lives are reborn after a magical trip to Italy. The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Goudge - considered a children's novel, but a main story thread is the reconciliation of two lovers who quarreled long ago.
ReplyDeleteI love this trope so much! Mostly because ther eis already history and cheistry with the couple. One of my favorites is The Trouble with Love by Lauren Layne :)
ReplyDeleteNereyda│ Nick & Nereyda’s Infinite Booklist
I'm a huge sucker for this trope too. Of course, now that I'm thinking about it I can't think of any examples. I even glanced through my Goodreads Read list. I know I've read plenty of these, but they must be hiding! :-)
ReplyDeleteNicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
Oh my gosh, Eva! Second Chance romances are my favorites, too! Because there is just something so incredibly sweet about getting another chance with the one that got away. There is already chemistry, and maybe even love still, but the characters still need to figure things out and get to know each other again. *swoon*
ReplyDeleteLexxie @ (un)Conventional Bookviews
Second chance romance is easily one of my favorite tropes! I've only read three from your list: Him, Thief and Sins & Needles but I loved each of them. I have SO MANY favorite second chance romances, I don't even know where to start with recommendations. Bittersweet by Sarina Bowen is one of my favorites. Others of note: Rookie Move (also by Sarina Bowen), East of Redemption by Molly Lee, Roman Crazy by Alice Clayton & Nina Bocci, Into the Wild Blue by Chanel Cleeton, Appealed by Emma Chase and the Remember trilogy by T. Torrest. (You just have to read the whole trilogy in order to get to the second chance.)
ReplyDeleteI could go on and on and on but I won't. :)