7 Second-Chance Romance Novels to Fill Your Always Be My Maybe Void

August 12 2019
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What if you met The One years ago but couldn’t make a relationship work, or—worse yet—never even revealed your true feelings for that person? While a depressing concept in real life, it’s a positively juicy one in romantic fiction: just ask anyone who’s watched Always Be My Maybe this summer. (Haven’t seen it yet? You should fix that!) The delightful Netflix rom-com stars Ali Wong and Randall Park as Sasha and Marcus, two thirty-somethings who made a total hash of things as awkward, lovestruck teenagers but get a second chance at a future together when they reunite as slightly less awkward, still lovestruck adults. Once the credits roll, you want nothing so much as to gorge on more second-chance-at-love stories. When that happens (and it will), here are 7 romances you can turn to.

This post was originally published on GetLiterary.com.

Swear on This Life
by Renée Carlino

Many people would be honored to learn they’re the inspiration behind a bestselling novel. Struggling writer Emiline is not one of them. It’s not that she isn’t as enthralled by the story as the next person (she is). It’s not even that she’s jealous of its success (okay, maybe a little). It’s that the characters and events have been ripped from her own past, a past that only one other person shares: the mysterious debut author J. Colby, a.k.a. her former best friend and first love, Jase. Emiline is determined to track Jase down so that she can give him a piece of her mind...and to find out why, exactly, he felt compelled to write a different ending to their story. Brace yourself: Swear on This Life brings the feels.

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Swear on This Life
Renée Carlino

Booklist, Top 10 Women’s Fiction of 2016

Goodreads Best Romance of August

Redbook.com’s “20 Books by Women You Must ReadThis Fall”

Popsugar’s “21 Fiction Reads to Add to Your Fall Reading List”

Bustle’s “11 New Romance Books Perfect for Summer Beach Reading”

Brit+Co’s “16 Must-Read Adult Books Out in August”

Sunset magazine’s “Bookmark this: Your ultimate summer reading list”

From USA TODAY bestselling author Renée Carlino (Before We Were Strangers), a warm and witty novel about a struggling writer who must come to grips with her past, present, and future after she discovers that she’s the inspiration for a pseudonymously published bestselling novel.

When a bestselling debut novel from mysterious author J. Colby becomes the literary event of the year, Emiline reads it reluctantly. As an adjunct writing instructor at UC San Diego with her own stalled literary career and a bumpy long-term relationship, Emiline isn’t thrilled to celebrate the accomplishments of a young and gifted writer.

Yet from the very first page, Emiline is entranced by the story of Emerson and Jackson, two childhood best friends who fall in love and dream of a better life beyond the long dirt road that winds through their impoverished town in rural Ohio.

That’s because the novel is patterned on Emiline’s own dark and desperate childhood, which means that “J. Colby” must be Jase: the best friend and first love she hasn’t seen in over a decade. Far from being flattered that he wrote the novel from her perspective, Emiline is furious that he co-opted her painful past and took some dramatic creative liberties with the ending.

The only way she can put her mind at ease is to find and confront “J. Colby,” but is she prepared to learn the truth behind the fiction?

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MENTIONED IN:

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By Heather Waters | August 12, 2019

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Hate to Want You
by Alisha Rai

Livvy and Nicholas never had a chance. Despite their never-ending hunger for each other, the feud between their families meant they could never go public with their relationship. So the star-crossed lovers had to take what they could get: one secret night together, once a year. Now, though, everything has changed: Livvy has come back home to stay, and their arrangement can’t withstand the scrutiny of a small town divided by scandal. Of course, maybe what they really need is to put the past behind them and make a fresh start.… If you wanted to see Always Be My Maybe dial up the angst, Hate to Want You will satisfy.

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Hate to Want You
Alisha Rai

Livvy and Nicholas never had a chance. Despite their never-ending hunger for each other, the feud between their families meant they could never go public with their relationship. So the star-crossed lovers had to take what they could get: one secret night together, once a year. Now, though, everything has changed: Livvy has come back home to stay, and their arrangement can’t withstand the scrutiny of a small town divided by scandal. Of course, maybe what they really need is to put the past behind them and make a fresh start.… If you wanted to see Always Be My Maybe dial up the angst, Hate to Want You will satisfy.

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7 Second-Chance Romance Novels to Fill Your Always Be My Maybe Void

By Heather Waters | August 12, 2019

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Stars in Their Eyes
by Pema Donyo

People change and grow apart; it’s a fact of life. That said, there’s no reason that destiny can’t throw you right back together again when the time is right. That’s exactly what happens when screenwriter Owen Matthews and actress Iris Wong find themselves working on the same film years after their ambitions and family situations set them on wildly different paths. They’ve grown older, but are they wiser too? Can they find a way to balance their enduring feelings for each other with the careers they’ve worked so hard to succeed in? Set in 1920s Paris, Stars in Their Eyes is perfect for anyone with a hankering for reunited lovers with a historical twist.

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Stars in Their Eyes
Pema Donyo

This beautifully sweeping story of dueling ambitions and restless hearts in the roaring twenties will captivate fans who loved the romance of the Oscar-winning film La La Land and Paula McLain's bestselling novel The Paris Wife.

The bohemian salons and wild cabarets of 1920s Paris are just the place for Owen Matthews to pursue his writing and make the right connections in the literary scene. But six years after leaving Los Angeles and the love of his life, he still strives for success. Penning a new screenplay for his friend’s film might just help keep the lights on a bit longer in the City of Lights.

Iris Wong is used to sacrifice and rejection as an Asian-American actress. She’s determined to take full advantage of her new leading role in a Parisian silent film—and the director’s romantic interest in her. Playing the game almost guarantees she’ll be able to break through the industry’s racism and become the silver screen star she’s dreamed of being since she earned her first nickel as a Hollywood extra.

When these two star-crossed lovers unexpectedly reunite, they get a second chance to reconcile their hearts’ desires with their dreams of fame and fortune.

Sensuality Level: Behind Closed Doors

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7 Second-Chance Romance Novels to Fill Your Always Be My Maybe Void

By Heather Waters | August 12, 2019

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Back to Your Love
by Kianna Alexander

Second time’s the charm in the sweet romance Back to Your LoveDr. Imani Grant has come a long way since Xavier Whitted broke her heart 10 years ago. With medical school behind her and her own dermatology practice to look forward to, she’s on top of the world, at least professionally. If she’s a little lonely, well, she doesn’t have time to dwell on it. At least, not until she agrees to be a bridesmaid in yet another wedding and discovers she’ll be sharing wedding-party duties with Xavier. The years melt away the more time they spend together, forcing Imani to admit she’s as drawn to him as ever. Which works perfectly for Xavier, who’s on a mission to win her love again—for good this time.

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Back to Your Love
Kianna Alexander

Second time’s the charm in the sweet romance Back to Your LoveDr. Imani Grant has come a long way since Xavier Whitted broke her heart 10 years ago. With medical school behind her and her own dermatology practice to look forward to, she’s on top of the world, at least professionally. If she’s a little lonely, well, she doesn’t have time to dwell on it. At least, not until she agrees to be a bridesmaid in yet another wedding and discovers she’ll be sharing wedding-party duties with Xavier. The years melt away the more time they spend together, forcing Imani to admit she’s as drawn to him as ever. Which works perfectly for Xavier, who’s on a mission to win her love again—for good this time.

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MENTIONED IN:

7 Second-Chance Romance Novels to Fill Your Always Be My Maybe Void

By Heather Waters | August 12, 2019

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Love and Other Words
by Christina Lauren

I mention this book a lot, but it’s really good, so I make no apologies. Like Always Be My Maybe, Love and Other Words starts out by introducing two young next-door neighbors who end up becoming inseparable best friends. For years, Macy and Elliot nurture a beautiful friendship that grows out of their shared love of books. When their feelings for each other grow deeper and more intense as teenagers, they’re sure nothing can tear them apart. But then life gets in the way, as it’s known to do, and suddenly 10 years have passed. Can they put the past behind them and finally embrace the future of their dreams...together?

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Love and Other Words
Christina Lauren

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Bittersweet
by Sarina Bowen

Griffin Shipley will never forget the brief but steamy fling he had with Audrey Kidder back in college, but he never thought he’d see her again. He definitely never expected to find her stuck in a ditch near his family’s Vermont orchard, where she’d been headed to try to sweet-talk him into selling his harvest for half price in order to save her own job. As it turns out, they’ve both underestimated each other, and Audrey’s time at the Shipley family farm gives them a chance to reevaluate—and accidentally fall in love. But when reality intrudes, can their relationship endure? You’ll root for Bittersweet’s Griff and Audrey just as hard as you did for Marcus and Sasha.

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Bittersweet
Sarina Bowen

Griffin Shipley will never forget the brief but steamy fling he had with Audrey Kidder back in college, but he never thought he’d see her again. He definitely never expected to find her stuck in a ditch near his family’s Vermont orchard, where she’d been headed to try to sweet-talk him into selling his harvest for half price in order to save her own job. As it turns out, they’ve both underestimated each other, and Audrey’s time at the Shipley family farm gives them a chance to reevaluate—and accidentally fall in love. But when reality intrudes, can their relationship endure? You’ll root for Bittersweet’s Griff and Audrey just as hard as you did for Marcus and Sasha.

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MENTIONED IN:

7 Second-Chance Romance Novels to Fill Your Always Be My Maybe Void

By Heather Waters | August 12, 2019

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