I am a sucker for a good second chance romance. I love it. And honestly, it is hard to figure out why… But I think it comes down to watching the angst of the main characters and their struggle to grow and change. I also know - people really don’t love this trope sometimes so here I am discussing the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Second Chance Romance.
The Good:
The characters grow (often up) and change both on and off the page.
More often than not the first attempt for these romances happened when they were young. Like teenagers. And as I teach high school I can tell you - they possess no frontal lobes and often not the best at considering feelings or communicating. But sometimes it is college or even early twenties - are you who you were in your early twenties? I most definitely am not. People are inherently growing and changing beings and more often than not the fall out of that is that there is a difference in how you are able to connect and commit in a relationship. Sometimes they are adults though and they actually realize their mistakes or flaws and address them like a - gasp - grown-up.
There were outside forces that influenced the characters and are no longer a factor.
Outside factors in romance are more often than not family. Your family has a huge influence on you when you are young. You aren’t formed and often they are trying to form you into what they want or imagine you to be. In second-chance romance - a lot of families have meddled and always for the worse of the main characters. When that second chance comes around those darn meddlers are often far, far away for Reasons. And the immovable object is removed making way for True Love.
Groveling, Pining, and Angst Abound
We the citizens of Romanclandia love a Happily Ever After but we also tend to love to watch Pain (™). Second Chances tends to come with a fair amount of angst and pining and if we are lucky - groveling. I mean it is ALL OVER THE PLACE. And it is great. Suffer first - sexy later.
Automatic opposite of instalove
Second chance romances are the exact opposite of instalove. The characters know each other don’t just suddenly fall in love. There is a history and a shared past that makes the depth of connection feel more real and grounded.
Not the Right Moment
Life happens. Even in novels there are moments in our lives that are not the right moment for love to bloom and grow. People are grieving, or leaving or trying to put themselves together and can’t manage that and a relationship. Second chances allow them to find each other once again.
The Bad:
There are Reasons (™) that they aren’t together.
I hate the trope that the Hero or Heroine had a Secret (™) and for Reasons (™) couldn’t tell their love. This is bonkers. And annoying and ruins good second chance redemptions by excusing poor behavior. (Sometimes this is secret babies…**side eye**)
Needless self-flagellation.
You done fucked up and can’t handle it. Well - I can’t handle you. Seriously - why are you just taking this little thing and making everyone Sad (™) so that you can be Dark and Tortured (™) without any substance. This can also look like - “no I am bad for you.” I am not a fan of this either. You don’t get to decide for someone you love if you are good or bad for them to love in return.
The Ugly:
Assholes are sometimes - just assholes.
Sometimes no one has changed. And they are assholes then and they are assholes now. I just read an ARC that did this. Sorry - no. No second chances if you aren’t willing to do your part. And don’t be a meanie.
You didn’t fight for each other.
If you give up the first time? Why would anyone believe you would be willing to try the second time? You sometimes have to fight for love - especially in Romancelandia - so as the immortal Pat Benatar says - put up your dukes. There are cowardly characters who don’t and I have no patience for them getting another chance.
Well thanks for listening to me ramble… here are some of my favorite Second Chance Novels!
Rookie Move, Sarina Bowen (Honestly - she rocks second chance romances! There are a bunch to choose from.)
The One Who Got Away, Roni Loren
Lady Isabella’s Scandalous Marriage, Jennifer Ashley
Taken, Rebecca Zanetti (novella)
Born Wild, Julie Ann Walker (best read in series)
Let It Shine, Alyssa Cole (novella)
Jayce, C. M. Marin (best read in the series)
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