Review: Second Chance Romance – Olivia Dade
A Harlot’s Bay Novel
Narrated by Stephen Dexter & Joy Nash
Olivia Dade returns to Harlot’s Bay with a grumpy/grumpy second-chance romance that starts with one of the most delightfully unhinged premises I’ve read in a while: Molly flies home after seeing Karl’s obituary… only to discover he’s alive, irritated, and very much still the one who got away.
Karl and Molly were never officially together in high school, but they were absolutely almost. A misunderstanding sent them in opposite directions for twenty years—Molly to an eventual divorce and a career narrating monster romances, Karl to a quiet baker’s life in Harlot’s Bay where he listens to her audiobooks just to hear her voice. Their reunion forces them to confront the heartbreak they avoided for decades.
What worked for me:
- Body diversity handled with ease. Dade writes fat characters without centering their bodies as “the issue,” which felt refreshing and grounded.
- Karl’s characterization. He’s a classic small-town grump with a caretaker heart, and his devotion—to Molly, his staff, his community—was lovely to watch unfold.
- Molly’s healing arc. Her reluctance to trust again makes sense given her past, and I appreciated the space the book gives her to rebuild her confidence.
- Harlot’s Bay and its people. The townsfolk, the chaotic book club, the bakery crew—every side character added charm and color.
- The spice. No notes. Dade brings the heat every time.
Where it didn’t land for me:
- The prose reads surprisingly “Classic Lit” at times—elevated language, long paragraphs, a style that felt at odds with the modern, small-town setting. Some readers will love this; I struggled to connect with it.
- Chemistry feels more told than felt. I wanted more yearning, more tension, more emotional punch for a second-chance story.
- Pacing drags, especially as Molly circles the same emotional beats. Her hesitancy is completely valid, but the repetition slowed the momentum.
- Communication issues at midlife felt a bit too adolescent for my taste.
The audio performances: Stephen Dexter and Joy Nash are warm, engaging, and genuinely enhance the story. The narration is a strong point.
Overall:
A cute, low-stakes, well-intentioned second-chance romance with standout representation and great heat. While the stylistic choices and pacing didn’t fully work for me, I think many readers—especially fans of small-town charm, older protagonists, and gentle emotional arcs—will enjoy this a lot.
