I was thinking about my favorite tropes (I have many!) and why they appeal to me so much. One that I really love is second-chance romances. This strikes me as odd for a pretty big reason: I used to not believe in them! I truly thought that if a couple broke up, it was a sign they were not meant to be together, and it was ridiculous for people to keep getting back together and breaking up again.
To be fair, my frame of reference was high school relationships. 🙂 It wasn’t until I started gathering adult-relationship data that showed me that the second-chance romance could really work.
What I love about the second chance in romance novels is that the two characters already have a frame of reference for each other. There’s a history there, and it is so rich, so explosive, and so poignant that it’s impossible to ignore. I especially like a second chance romance if several years have passed. It’s usually given the characters enough time to allow the pain to dull somewhat, and nostalgia to creep in. It’s also given them time to grow beyond whatever didn’t work out for them in the past.
Their chemistry has to be pretty high, too, if they’re willing to risk that pain to give each other another try. So I love that, too.
And there’s occasionally groveling. And pining. And a bit of angst. So those, with the chemistry and the shared backstory, are probably what I love most about second-chance romances.
How about you? Do you like or love the trope? Hate it? I’d love to know your thoughts!
Want to read one of my second-chance paranormal romances?
Exes and Exorcisms (out in February)
Dear 2021,
