Best Second Chance Romance Books You’ll Love
Dreaming about the one that got away? If so, second chance romance books deliver all the emotions you crave—nostalgia, longing, sizzling chemistry, and heartwarming happily-ever-afters. Whether it’s rekindling a high school fling, reuniting after years apart, or finding your way back after heartbreak, this beloved romance trope offers both passion and emotional payoff.
In this ultimate list of the best second chance romance books, you’ll discover swoony reunions, messy make-ups, and witty banter that keeps you hooked. From small-town love stories to modern rom-coms set in podcast studios and hockey rinks, these novels prove that love can be even sweeter the second time around. Additionally, as you read along, you’ll find stories packed with vulnerability, longing, and just the right amount of drama to keep you turning the pages. Whether you’re in the mood for a cozy, heartwarming slow burn or a high-stakes reunion filled with fireworks, there’s a second chance romance here that will completely sweep you away.
Even better, several of these romance books are available on Kindle Unlimited, so you can dive into these emotional reads without spending extra. If you’re not a member yet, you can start a free trial here and begin reading instantly—perfect for adding a few more second chance romance books to your TBR.
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Best Second Chance Romance Books
Every Summer After by Carley Fortune
If you love nostalgic summer romances, this one’s for you. In Every Summer After, childhood best friends turned lovers who reunite years later after a painful falling out. With its mix of lakeside vibes, heartfelt flashbacks, and a bittersweet journey to forgiveness, it’s a second chance romance that delivers all the feels.
Well, Actually by Mazey Eddings
For a fun and chaotic twist on the trope, Well, Actually blends fake dating with a messy exes-to-lovers reunion. When a talk show host and her podcasting ex are pushed into a PR stunt, sparks fly, banter sizzles, and old feelings resurface. This one’s perfect if you like your second chance romances with plenty of humor and heat. Read my full review here!
Happy Place by Emily Henry
Emily Henry delivers an emotional gut-punch in Happy Place, where college sweethearts turned exes reunite during their annual friends’ trip. Forced to pretend they’re still together, they navigate complicated friendships, buried feelings, and the ache of almost-love. With a stunning coastal setting and Henry’s signature wit, it’s a incredible take on second chance romance. Check out my review here!
Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren
If you adore emotional, character-driven love stories, Love and Other Words is a must-read. It follows childhood best friends turned first loves who part ways after a devastating split. Years later, an unexpected reunion stirs up old memories and forces them to decide if they’re ready to risk their hearts again.
Forget Me Not by Julie Soto (Kindle Unlimited)
For fans of grumpy-sunshine dynamics, Forget Me Not pairs a determined wedding planner with her grumpy florist ex. When they’re hired to collaborate on a high-profile celebrity wedding, unresolved history and undeniable chemistry spark tension—and maybe a second shot at love.
Rewind It Back by Liz Tomforde (Kindle Unlimited)
Rewind It Back combines sports romance with emotional depth. A rising interior designer takes on her dream renovation project, only to discover her client is her hockey star ex. As they work together, old wounds resurface, first love memories flood back, and they’re forced to confront whether their story is truly over.
The Words by Ashley Jade (Kindle Unlimited)
If you love your second chance romances with rockstar drama, The Words hits all the right notes. Years after a painful betrayal, a rising music star and the girl he left behind are thrown together on tour, giving them one last chance to face the past.
Seven Days in June by Tia Williams (Kindle Unlimited)
Blending heat, humor, and heart, Seven Days in June follows two bestselling authors with a complicated past. Years later, after a whirlwind teenage romance, they unexpectedly reunite at a literary event. Consequently, sparks fly once more, igniting passion, playful banter, and a week that could ultimately rewrite their story for good.
The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling (Kindle Unlimited)
For a magical twist on second chance romance, The Ex Hex delivers charm and chaos in equal measure. When a small-town witch’s breakup curse backfires, her ex returns—and they must join forces to save the community. Along the way, undeniable chemistry brews right alongside the magic.
Left of Forever by Tarah DeWitt
Full of heartfelt emotion and coastal charm, Left of Forever follows a divorced couple who first fell in love as teenagers. Now a bakery owner and a firefighter, they take a road trip along the California coast to see if their relationship deserves one last chance—or if it’s time to let go for good.
Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan (Kindle Unlimited)
In Before I Let Go, love, grief, and healing intertwine in a deeply moving second chance romance. Divorced co-parents and business partners start to question if their marriage ended too soon, as lingering feelings turn into something impossible to ignore.
The Pairing by Casey McQuiston (Kindle Unlimited)
For a flirty, sun-soaked romance, The Pairing serves up a delicious mix of travel and tension. When estranged exes unexpectedly reunite on the same European food and wine tour, their playful hookup competition soon leads to the realization that, in fact, they might not be as over each other as they thought.
Final Offer by Lauren Asher (Kindle Unlimited)
Brimming with tension and nostalgia, Final Offer reunites childhood best friends turned lovers turned exes at a picturesque lake house they both claim to own. As summer unfolds, they must not only confront old wounds but also face the love that, in truth, never really faded.
Count Your Lucky Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur
In Count Your Lucky Stars, fate—and a little bad luck—throws a wedding planner back into the orbit of her former best friend and first love. When she needs a temporary place to stay, close quarters turn into undeniable sparks, leaving her to wonder if it’s time to risk her heart again.
The Ex Vows by Jessica Joyce
Full of banter, mishaps, and heart, The Ex Vows follows estranged exes who must work together to save their best friend’s wedding after a string of disasters. Along the way, unexpected teamwork sparks old feelings, and eventually, their race against the clock turns into a journey of rekindled passion that’s impossible to ignore.
Untying the Knot by Meghan Quinn (Kindle Unlimited)
In Untying the Knot, years of marriage have left a once-passionate couple at a breaking point. When a woman serves divorce papers to her former baseball star husband, he refuses to sign—and instead launches a mission to win her back.
You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle
Sharp, witty, and laugh-out-loud funny, You Deserve Each Other follows an engaged couple on the verge of a breakup who launch a sabotage war to call off their wedding. But in the chaos, they rediscover why they fell in love in the first place. Soon to be a major movie starring Penn Badgley and Meghann Fahy.
The Shaadi Set-Up by Lillie Vale
The Shaadi Set-Up reunites high school sweethearts six years after a painful breakup when her meddling mother sets them up to work together flipping a house. Determined to prove she’s moved on, she signs up for a matchmaking website with her current boyfriend—only to be matched with her ex instead.
The Mistake by Elle Kennedy (Kindle Unlimited)
In The Mistake, a thoughtless slip pushes a college hockey star to the brink of losing the girl he can’t stop thinking about. When he is determined to make amends, he discovers she’s no longer the shy freshman he remembers—and now she’s the one calling the shots.
Wildfire by Hannah Grace (Kindle Unlimited)
Wildfire sparks when a passionate one-night stand leads to an awkward surprise: the two are working together as summer camp counselors. With a strict no-fraternizing rule in place, resisting their growing attraction might be the toughest challenge of the summer. Check out my review here!
Your Turn: Share Your Favorite Second Chance Romance Books
Overall, these second chance romance books deliver all the chemistry, vulnerability, and heart you could want in a love story. Whether you’re a fan of fake dating, small-town charm, or high-stakes reunions, there’s something here to make you swoon.
Have you read any of these books? If so, drop your favorites in the comments — I’m always looking for more second chance romance books to add to my own TBR. And if you’re in the mood for more trope-based reads, make sure you read my 20 Popular Romance Tropes You Either Love or Hate list too!
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