Second Chance Romance (2025) by Olivia Dade is the second book in the Harlot’s Bay series, set in that small town along the coast of Maryland. It features the grumpy baker Karl from At First Spite, and the one that got away, his high school one and only friend, Molly.
Molly is recently divorced, from her doctor husband (after she put him through med school, no less), and getting ready for renovations on the Los Angeles home she inherited from her grandparents. She’s an audiobook narrator. which would seem like a low-stress occupation, but instead her doctor has told her she needs to watch out for creeping high blood pressure. One day, her only link to Harlot’s Bay sends her a bizarre obituary for the one and only Karl Dean.
Karl’s life is full–he owns a popular bakery where he does most all of the baking; but people are always in his business. He finds it hilarious that because he closed the bakery for a week because of a case of influenza A, the rumor got started that he died, including an obituary that ran in the local paper. But it’s not funny anymore when , while baking in the kitchen, he recognizes that voice he can never forget–Molly Dearborn–in Harlot’s Bay! She rushed there when she found out he had died, but there he is very alive!
Now Karl is determined not to let her get away this time, and has to somehow get through her very considerable defenses. With the help of friends who know and love them both, and a 20th high school reunion looming at the end of Molly’s visit, can they find their way to each other?
As always, Olivia Dade writes fat characters who are comfortable with themselves, with their sexuality and attractiveness, and this time the leading male character, Karl, is also fat! I loved both characters–Karl is a cursing misanthrope with such a big heart, and Molly just has to get out of her own way and realize that yes, Karl is a man who she can trust with her heart. It’s also so funny! I love a pedantic character who can make fun of her own painful accuracy, and Karl’s creativity in being foul-mouthed amused me as well.
I highly recommend this fat-positive romance!
Reading While Fat 