Books about Second Chances

  1. A Christmas Carol

    by Charles Dickens
    A timeless tale of redemption and transformation, set during the Christmas season.

    The book is divided into five chapters, which Dickens titled " staves ". A Christmas Carol opens on a bleak, cold Christmas Eve in London, seven years after the death of Ebenezer Scrooge 's business ... (Wikipedia)

  2. See Me

    by Nicholas Sparks
    An exploration of identity, love, and second chances set against the backdrop of small-town America.

    See me just as I see you . . . Colin Hancock is giving his second chance his best shot. With a history of violence and bad decisions behind him and the threat of prison dogging his every step, he's ... (Goodreads)

  3. The Brooklyn Follies

    by Paul Auster
    An aging man's journey of self-discovery, revealing the beauty and complexity of life.

    60-year-old Nathan Glass returns to Brooklyn after his wife has left him. He is recovering from lung cancer and is looking for "a quiet place to die". In Brooklyn he meets his nephew , Tom, whom he ... (Wikipedia)

  4. Motorcycle Man

    by Kristen Ashley
    A biker and a single mother embark on a journey of love and adventure.

    Get ready to ride . . . Tyra Masters has had enough drama to last a lifetime. Now, she's back on track and looking forward to her new, quiet life. Until she meets the man of her dreams. The tattooed, ... (Goodreads)

  5. The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared

    by Jonas Jonasson
    An adventurous old man escapes a nursing home for an unexpected journey of self-discovery.

    Allan Karlsson is about to celebrate his hundredth birthday, and his retirement home in Malmköping is planning to throw a party. Allan is not interested. Instead, he climbs out the window and ... (Wikipedia)

  6. Replay

    by Ken Grimwood
    A man relives his life multiple times, each time making different choices.

    Jeff Winston was 43 and trapped in a tepid marriage and a dead-end job, waiting for that time when he could be truly happy, when he died. And when he woke and he was 18 again, with all his memories ... (Goodreads)

  7. Slightly Dangerous

    by Mary Balogh
    A woman's struggle to rebuild her life after a scandalous past.

    BONUS: This edition contains an excerpt from Mary Balogh's The Secret Mistress. All of London is abuzz over the imminent arrival of Wulfric Bedwyn, the reclusive, cold-as-ice Duke of Bewcastle, at ... (Goodreads)

  8. The Running Dream

    by Wendelin Van Draanen
    A teenage girl's inspiring journey to recovery and redemption after a devastating injury.

    An award-winning and inspiring novel. When Jessica's dreams are shattered, she puts herself back together—and learns to dream bigger than ever before., , Jessica thinks her life is over when she ... (Goodreads)

  9. Splendid

    by Julia Quinn
    A romantic tale of two star-crossed lovers, navigating family drama and secrets.

    There are two things everyone knows about Alexander Ridgely. One, he's the Duke of Ashbourne. And two, he has no plans to marry anytime soon... That is until a redheaded American throws herself in ... (Goodreads)

  10. All Things New

    by Lynn Austin
    In the aftermath of the Civil War, a young woman struggles to rebuild her life and find hope amidst the ruins.

    New Historical Novel from 7-Time Christy Award Winner! In the aftermath of the Civil War, Josephine Weatherly and her mother, Eugenia, struggle to pick up the pieces of their lives when they return ... (Barnes & Noble)

  11. The Bookshop on the Corner

    by Jenny Colgan
    A woman finds solace and purpose in a second-hand bookshop in the Scottish countryside.

    Nina Redmond is a literary matchmaker. Pairing a reader with that perfect book is her passion… and also her job. Or at least it was. Until yesterday, she was a librarian in the hectic city. But now ... (Goodreads)

  12. The Mistletoe Promise

    by Richard Paul Evans
    A chance encounter leads to a contractual relationship that blossoms into an unexpected love.

    A love story for Christmas—now a Hallmark Channel original movie—from the #1 bestselling author of The Christmas Box and The Walk. Elise Dutton dreads the arrival of another holiday season. Three ... (Barnes & Noble)

  13. The Longest Ride

    by Nicholas Sparks
    A bittersweet love story between two very different people, discovering that age is just a number.

    Professional bull rider Luke Collins ( Scott Eastwood ) meets Sophia Danko ( Britt Robertson ), an art student at Wake Forest University , after she attends a show. On the way home from their first ... (Wikipedia)

  14. Mind Game

    by Christine Feehan
    A thrilling paranormal romance of two people bound together through the power of love.

    Possessed of an extraordinary telekinetic gift, Dahlia Le Blanc has spent her life isolated from other people. And just when she thinks she's finally achieved some semblance of peace, her ... (Goodreads)

  15. The MacKade Brothers: Devin and Shane

    by Nora Roberts
    Two brothers, wrestling with their pasts, find redemption and love in a small town.

    The sinfully sexy MacKade brothers are back! New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts's reader favorites are once again breaking the hearts of women everywhere. Sheriff Devin MacKade watched – ... (Goodreads)

  16. The MacKade Brothers: Rafe and Jared

    by Nora Roberts
    Twin brothers Rafe and Jared MacKade embark on a journey of redemption and love.

    Ten years later and the bad boy of the bunch had returned home. Appealing as ever, no even lovely Regan Joners, the town's reserved antiques dealer, was immune to Rafe MacKade. Regan claimed her ... (Goodreads)

  17. The Notebook

    by Nicholas Sparks
    A tender love story, spanning time, tragedy and redemption.

    The novel opens with Noah Calhoun, an old man, reading to a woman in a nursing home. He tells her the following story: The man stops reading the story at this point, and implies to the audience that ... (Wikipedia)

  18. Landline

    by Rainbow Rowell
    A woman reconnects with her husband through a magical phone line, revisiting their pasts and reevaluating their present.

    In 2013 Georgie McCool, a 37-year-old sitcom writer, tells her husband Neal she will not be able to spend Christmas with his mother in Omaha, Nebraska , as she and her writing partner, Seth, have ... (Wikipedia)

  19. Timequake

    by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
    A man is forced to relive the life he lived before, discovering the beauty of second chances.

    Vonnegut uses the premise of a timequake (or repetition of actions) in which there is no free will . The idea of determinism is explored—as it is in many of his previous works—to assert that people ... (Wikipedia)

  20. The Best of Me

    by Nicholas Sparks
    A romantic story of two young lovers, struggling to remain connected despite life's obstacles.

    In the novel, Dawson Cole returns to his hometown for the first time after twenty years to fulfill the last wishes of his dear friend and surrogate father, Tuck Hostetler. When he arrives, Dawson is ... (Wikipedia)

  21. Redemption

    by Karen Kingsbury
    A family struggles to overcome the pain of their past, finding hope and redemption in the process.

    The Redemption series won "Christian Retailing"’s 2005 Retailer’s Choice Award for Best Series! When Kari Baxter Jacobs finds out that her husband is involved in an adulterous relationship and wants ... (Goodreads)

  22. Restart

    by Gordon Korman
    A middle schooler learns to overcome his fears and learns to start anew.

    The amazing, New York Times, bestseller about what you can do when life gives you a second chance. Chase's memory just went out the window. Chase doesn't remember falling off the roof. He doesn't ... (Barnes & Noble)

  23. Barefoot

    by Elin Hilderbrand
    A woman's journey to embracing change and rebuilding her life after tragedy.

    Visiting Nantucket for the summer, three women seek peace and comfort as they cope with the challenges in their lives—from marriage, infidelity, and the mayhem of motherhood to scandal, tragedy, and ... (Barnes & Noble)

  24. Change of Heart

    by Jodi Picoult
    A convicted murderer is granted a reprieve when a victim's mother makes an extraordinary plea.

    A man, Jack, is killed by an impaired driving, leaving his wife, June, and his daughter, Elizabeth behind. At the scene of the accident, June meets Kurt Nealon, a police officer, who becomes a close ... (Wikipedia)

  25. The Last Letter from Your Lover

    by Jojo Moyes
    Two intertwining love stories across time, exploring the power of secrets and second chances.

    From the #1, New York Times, bestselling author of, The Giver of Stars, a sophisticated, page-turning double love story spanning forty years and an unforgettable, Brief Encounter, for our times It is ... (Goodreads)

  26. The Fourteenth Goldfish

    by Jennifer L. Holm
    A girl uses science to discover the power of family, friendship, and second chances.

    Galileo. Newton. Salk. Oppenheimer. Science can change the world . . . but can it go too far? Eleven-year-old Ellie has never liked change. She misses fifth grade. She misses her old best friend. She ... (Goodreads)

  27. Before I Fall

    by Lauren Oliver
    A high school student relives the same day over and over, learning to appreciate life.

    The story begins on a seemingly normal day for the popular 17-year-old Samantha "Sam" Kingston. On February 12, known as " Cupid's Day ," Sam goes about her day as normal with her three best ... (Wikipedia)

  28. Playing Easy to Get

    by Sherrilyn Kenyon
    A captivating romance between two people with dark secrets, full of unexpected twists and turns.

    New York Times bestselling author Sherrilyn Kenyon and rising stars Jaid Black and Kresley Cole unlock the pleasures and perils of embracing the boldest and most powerful of lovers — 100% alpha males ... (Barnes & Noble)

  29. Weekend Warriors

    by Fern Michaels
    A group of friends reunite after 25 years in a life-changing weekend of adventure and discovery.

    The first in an exhilarating new series following a group of extraordinary women who are out to see justice done ... a step at a time. Nikki Quinn is devastated when her best friend Barbara is ... (Goodreads)

  30. Hannah's List

    by Debbie Macomber
    After his wife's death, Michael receives a list of tasks to complete from her. As he completes them, he finds healing and love again.

    I want you to marry again. . . . On the anniversary of his beloved wife’s death, Dr. Michael Everett receives a letter Hannah had written him. In it she makes one final request. An impossible ... (Goodreads)

  31. Archer's Voice

    by Mia Sheridan
    A wounded, reclusive man and a young woman's journey to heal each other.

    When Bree Prescott arrives in the sleepy, lakeside town of Pelion, Maine, she hopes against hope that this is the place where she will finally find the peace she so desperately seeks. On her first ... (Goodreads)

  32. Playing for Keeps

    by R.L. Mathewson
    A romance novel following a single father's journey of love and redemption.

    Done with being the world's biggest pushover, Haley decides that things are going to change starting with the aggravating neighbor who has too much charm and not enough restraint. What she didn't ... (Goodreads)

  33. A Bend in the Road

    by Nicholas Sparks
    A story of redemption and healing, as a man and woman find a way to move past their shared tragedy.

    Miles Ryan's life seemed to end the day his wife Missy was killed in a hit-and-run accident two years ago. As deputy sheriff of New Bern, North Carolina , he not only grieves for her and worries ... (Wikipedia)

  34. The Peach Keeper

    by Sarah Addison Allen
    A woman returns to her small town to uncover secrets of her past, while a mysterious stranger holds the key to unlocking them.

    The New York Times bestselling author of The Girl Who Chased the Moon welcomes you to her newest locale: Walls of Water, North Carolina, where the secrets are thicker than the fog from the town’s ... (Goodreads)

  35. The First Phone Call from Heaven

    by Mitch Albom
    Small town receives messages from beyond the grave, as a mysterious force brings closure to the living.

    The First Phone Call from Heaven tells the story of a small town on Lake Michigan that gets worldwide attention when its citizens start receiving phone calls from the afterlife. Is it the greatest ... (Goodreads)

  36. Evening Class

    by Maeve Binchy
    A group of strangers come together to learn Italian, forging relationships, finding love and understanding.

    Among the many evening classes starting all over Dublin is an 'Introduction to Italian'. On the surface it could be just one of hundreds in which some students will succeed and some will fall along ... (Goodreads)

  37. On Mystic Lake

    by Kristin Hannah
    A woman's journey of self-discovery, mending her broken heart and learning to forgive.

    Annie Colwater’s husband has just confessed that he’s in love with a younger woman. Devastated, Annie retreats to the small town where she grew up. There, she is reunited with her first love, Nick ... (Goodreads)

  38. The Search

    by Nora Roberts
    A romantic suspense novel about a woman who must confront her past to save her future.

    To most people, Fiona Bristow seems to have an idyllic life: a quaint house on an island off Seattle's coast, a thriving dog-training school, and a challenging volunteer job performing canine search ... (Goodreads)

  39. The Next Always

    by Nora Roberts
    Romance blooms between two people in a small town, as their lives intertwine.

    The historic hotel in Boonsboro has endured war and peace, changing hands, even rumored hauntings. Now it’s getting a major facelift from the Montgomery brothers and their eccentric mother. Beckett ... (Goodreads)

  40. Faithful

    by Alice Hoffman
    A young woman's journey of healing and redemption, grappling with the power of faith and love.

    From the New York Times bestselling author of The Marriage of Opposites and The Dovekeepers comes a soul-searching story about a young woman struggling to redefine herself and the power of love, ... (Barnes & Noble)

  41. Chesapeake Blue

    by Nora Roberts
    Romance between two former lovers rekindled amidst the backdrop of a charming seaside town.

    Seth Quinn is finally home. It's been a long journey. After a harrowing boyhood with his drug-addicted mother, Seth had been taken in by the Quinn family, growing up with three older brothers who'd ... (Goodreads)

  42. Before I Die

    by Jenny Downham
    A teenage girl's journey to live life to the fullest before succumbing to a terminal illness.

    Tessa is diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia . Despite four years of chemotherapy , she has discovered that her cancer is terminal and her doctors give her a short time to live. Tessa, with ... (Wikipedia)

  43. It Had to Be You

    by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
    A romantic comedy of a woman trying to find her true identity and love.

    What if a woman who knows nothing about sports inherits a professional football team? The Windy City definitely isn't ready for Phoebe Somerville, the outrageous York knockout who’s taking over their ... (Goodreads)

  44. A Redbird Christmas

    by Fannie Flagg
    A man discovers a newfound joy of life and love in a small town in Alabama.

    From the beloved author of Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe comes her latest New York Times bestseller–a new Yuletide classic about small-town America and larger-than-life wonders. ... (Goodreads)

  45. Fools Rush In

    by Janice Thompson
    A young woman impulsively marries a stranger in Las Vegas, leading to a series of comedic mishaps and unexpected romance.

    Bella Rossi may be nearing thirty, but her life is just starting to get interesting. When her Italian-turned-Texan parents hand over the family wedding planning business, Bella is determined not to ... (Barnes & Noble)

  46. Before We Were Strangers

    by Renee Carlino
    Childhood sweethearts reunite after 15 years, rekindling their love and uncovering secrets from the past.

    From the USA TODAY bestselling author of Sweet Thing and Nowhere But Here comes a love story about a Craigslist “missed connection” post that gives two people a second chance at love fifteen years ... (Barnes & Noble)

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