Second Chapter: Where First Love Gets a Second Chance: A MM Romance

by C.G. Macington

When celebrated science fiction author Thomas Winters returns to Harbour Point after fifteen years away, he's only seeking solitude to finish his bestselling space series. Instead, he finds Oliver Chen—the man who got away—now a widowed bookstore owner raising his thirteen-year-old daughter Lily.
As Thomas struggles with writer's block, young Lily becomes the unexpected bridge between these two men with unresolved history. A passionate fan of Thomas's books, she senses a deeper connection between her father and the author whose novels line their shelves.
In a small coastal town where private matters rarely stay private, Thomas and Oliver must navigate not only their complicated feelings, but also the challenges of building something new under the community's watchful eye.
Second Chapter is a heartfelt story about second chances, found family, and the courage to choose love—proving that sometimes the most important journeys lead us back to where we truly belong.

Genres: Second Chance

240 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 7, 2025

Reviews

[Meags · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

This second-chance M/M romance snuck beyond my emotional defences and made my heart ache in the best ways.

The story follows the enduring love story of (secret) high school sweethearts Thomas and Oliver. At eighteen, these two young men were heartbreakingly separated by distance and circumstances beyond their control; neither truly getting over their first, powerful love as lives evolved and the years went by.

Fifteen years later—where this story picks up—Thomas, now a successful sci-fi author, returns to the small seaside town of Harbour Point, desperately needing a place to recharge and rediscover his creative mojo, all the while desperately longing to see Oliver and hoping to reconcile their past connection.

Oliver is now a widower and a father to an exceptionally talented and insightful thirteen-year-old daughter Lily. They run the family bookstore together, having revitalised the business in the years since Oliver took over for his father. Life is plodding along uneventfully, but peacefully, until one day Thomas walks into the store and Oliver realises just how deeply and long-standing his feelings still remain for the boy he once loved and lost.

This story was just beautiful, start to finish. As someone who considers second chance romances as one of my LEAST FAVOURITE romance tropes, it takes quite a bit for me to be won over by a story with these central themes. But when the circumstances and the feelings are just right, I can be totally swept away by the longing and the enduring love of it all, as I was here.

The way Thomas and Oliver loved one another was so sweet and pure and eternal. Yes, Oliver “moved on” after their initial breakup, but I kind of loved the way his relationship with his deceased wife was handled here, especially liking the history of these characters shown in brief but meaningful flashback scenes, which helped to deepen the characters and propel their story forward.

I certainly found myself caught up in Thomas and Oliver’s love story. I hurt when they hurt and I smiled when they smiled; I felt their longing and their regrets and their hopes for the future so keenly, wishing nothing but happiness and togetherness for both of them, literally from the first scene they shared until they got their simple but worthwhile HEA.

I especially adored Oliver’s daughter Lily, who was very present and very welcomed within this story as the third official MC, with chapters of her own, full of delightful moments, touching insights, and plenty of character growth had by all. The way she connected to Thomas as a fan and aspiring writer herself was lovely to see, and I loved how she took it upon herself to play matchmaker, once she realised the depth of Thomas and her dad’s past connection. It was a refreshing change of pace from stories where MCs feel the need to hide their queerness and their blossoming relationships from their opinionated children. In this way, Lily was probably the best representation of a tween character I’ve seen in my romance reading in YEARS.

On the technical side of things, some feelings and sentiments felt a bit repetitive throughout the narrative, and later in the story there were a few inconsistencies in timeline that I found a bit jarring in the moment. But, honestly?! My complaints here are truly slim pickings, considering how much I adored this contemporary, second chance love story and it’s lovely and likeable three leads.

This is now the third C.G. Macington book I’ve read this year, and I must say, his stories are really vibing with me, proving easy to devour and memorable in their aftermath. I’m sure when 2025 ends, Macington will be at the top of my lists of new-to-me authors I’ve been absolutely stoked to discover. I can’t wait to see what he writes next.


***A special thanks to the author and publishers (via Book Sirens) for providing an ARC of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Smutty Sully]

Hahahaha, I love when authors report my reviews. 🤣

I really do.

Don't put all your cards on the table at once.

This note is for me and about me. My preferences. Me.

My reviews can be about me.

Requested an eARC from BookSirens but I won't be writing a review for this author.

And I didn't even rate the book, you're welcome.

The End.

Report that.

[Evelyn Bella (there WILL be spoilers) · Rating 3 out of 5]

So I hate Ollie lol.

I feel like Thomas tried, 15 years ago. Really tried. Offered not to go to UCLA. Offered to defer for a year.

Ollie said no. I think I get why. He had a sick father, and he wasn't ready to come out. He didn't want to be the reason Thomas didn't follow his dreams. Not the right timing. Fair play.

Thomas coped by writing about them. Not in a way that outed Ollie, mind you. Just vaguely.

And now Ollie's mad that Thomas left? Mad that he 'profited' off their story after leaving him behind?

Sorry but he literally pushed that man away. I think it's a weird thing to be mad at, especially because Thomas tried to fucking stay.

And what's offensive about your star-crossed lover clearly having failed to move on from you and instead building a career on writing science fiction about the two of you loving each other in every universe across galaxies?

Romance is wasted on Ollie.

It doesn't help that Ollie got married and had a child within two years of Thomas leaving, so how broken up were you over it, really?

It's giving mad for the sake of being mad.

I listened to the audiobook for this one, and unfortunately the narrator's voice was too similar for both guys.

As always, I hated the kid in this. Too THERE. Old enough to be a meddling interference, even though these two honestly needed the shove.

For two men who really didn't wrong each other in the past, they really struggled to get over their hang ups and just talk to each other.

My issue isn't Lily per se, I just dislike older kids in romance. But I did roll my eyes over two men who've had 15 years needing a teen to parent trap them into getting together.

I hated Ollie again for the fact that Lily was more eager to go to bat for his relationship with Thomas than he is.

Wasn't ready to come out 15 years ago and it sounds like he isn't ready now.

This continues a long history of my complicated relationship with second chance romances.

I don't know if it's me. I was a lot disappointed in Ollie at multiple points during this and by the time he got his head in the game he'd lost me.

Good thing Thomas is a LOT more understanding than I.

[Lu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow this was a fantastic read, absolutely brilliant. A truly special plot, especially thanks to a few remarkable elements imo. This is not only the beautiful story of Thomas and Oliver and their second chance, but Thomas's own story as a writer and his series and characters are central. Plus, Oliver's daughter Lily is absolutely a main character. She has a wonderful personality, plays an important role in the plot, and the book she works on, becoming a writer herself, is brilliant.
Just as in Emergency Contact I could see a thorough research to setup the medical background, Second Chapter contains extensive insights about a writer's work and development.

[Stacey T · Rating 3 out of 5]

**An emotional MM romance story (3.5) within a story** Thomas is an author struggling to finish the last book in his best-selling sci-fi series. Unfortunately, he hasn’t been able to write more than a few terrible paragraphs. His agent, editor, and publisher are pressing him for results, threatening legal action since they’ve already extended his deadline by several months. In a last-ditch effort to complete his book, he returns to his hometown and the love he left behind. Oliver takes pride in having transformed his father's failing bookstore into a success, especially with the help of his daughter, Lily. However, he still worries about being enough for her since the passing of his wife. He never expected that the boy he loved so long ago would walk into his shop, now a successful man and famous author. As old feelings resurface, Oliver struggles with how his daughter and their small town will react to this unexpected reunion. As the two reconnect and hidden secrets come to light, they must decide if they can create a new normal without hiding who they are. Will they experience the love they missed out on for years while building separate lives, or will their choices threaten to separate them once more?
I enjoyed how the author intertwined the main character's story with Thomas’s work of science fiction; however, it seemed unlikely that Oliver wouldn’t have pieced it together before the big reveal. I found the characters relatable and their chemistry palpable, and Lily’s role helped bring them together as a family. Her connection to Thomas through writing was especially endearing. My biggest issue was the timeline discrepancies in the book, where weeks sometimes felt like days and vice versa, which could have been resolved with more editing. Overall, it’s a very emotionally charged story about second chances and found family that will resonate with many readers. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Carol (§CoverLoverGirl§) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book I’ve read by C.G.Macington, the first being ‘Emergency Contact’, I’ve fallen in love with their writing style now.
In both books the research involved was so thorough and so different, here it is the world of Science Fiction and in the other it was Medical ER and all that trauma.

The story building here for Thomas and Oliver will wrap you up in beautiful words and descriptions that will stop you in your tracks,

“The past is the past and some stars burn too brightly to orbit for long”
“Dancers who know the steps but are afraid to acknowledge the music”

Thomas Winters is a successful science fiction writer who, after writing four best sellers in a series, now suffers writers block and is being hounded by his Agent and Publisher to write the 5th and final book to wrap up the series.

Thomas wrote this series as his own love story from 15 years ago when he fell in love with Oliver Chen but had to leave his small town of Harbour Point to find success. Oliver was heartbroken but when Thomas didn’t return as promised, Oliver has made his own life, married and has a 13 year old daughter, Lily, who is an avid fan of Thomas’s books. Lily gets to have her own POV here and has a prominent role in how this story plays out. She is one very smart, perceptive thirteen year old.
Oliver has often wondered about the opportunity he missed by staying behind in Harbour Point instead of leaving with Thomas when he asked him.
To wrap up the love story in the series and hopefully undo the writers block, Thomas has to return to his hometown hoping that he will find a HEA between the two characters he has created that represents his and Oliver’s teenage love story.

Thanks to Lily there are moments where they are slowly recognising the music and taking some dance steps together. It made me smile, because it was easy for them to rekindle the loving feelings which they had been sharing through their eyes only.

I wondered at the connection the author has with the names Winters and Chen, the MC in ‘Emergency Contact’ is Doctor Winters and there re two medical staffers one a Professor Chen the other, Dr. Chen, neither are related.

What I really liked about this author’s writing so far is the way it made me feel like a good friend and they were sitting in front of me telling me a story about a pair of mutual friends and their romance.

This is a recent release and I’d love to hear what others think about both or either of these gorgeous MM stories. Well worth some of your precious reading time.

[Marharyta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second Chapter by CG Macington
MM Romance

💕 When I first read the blurb to this book, I immediately knew I would love it. A second chance romance? My favourite! A single dad? Swoon! And then CG Macington had to throw in an Asian bookstore owner and my heart died.

Thomas is a great character. Like many of us in our youth, he had dreams. Big dreams. And that included getting out of their small town. Thomas was going to make it big AND come back for Oliver. But he never did. And sometimes, as your dreams reach further and further away, you lose sight of the things you left behind. And even if you do succeed in making your dreams come true, they can be hollow and lonely without the one who gives it all meaning.

Oliver is a quiet man. He works hard. He loves big. He's pragmatic, which, okay, I 100% relate to. But Thomas left him guarded when he went off to college. He may have moved on and created a successful life for himself, but a part of him never healed.

The way the author used Thomas’ book series as a parallel for his life with Oliver was beautiful. The memories, the hidden messages, all his thoughts and desires embedded in every word and every scene.

The use of Lily, Oliver’s 13 year old daughter as a third POV was brilliant. She is just as much of a main character as the other two. Her own literary growth and relationship with her father - as much a part of the book as Thomas and Oliver. Absolutely loved this book.

[Angi · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many aspects of this book were utterly amazing. The main character and his need to escape where he grew up leaving behind his true love. How their lives evolved until they found each other again. This book had my on an emotional ride I wasn’t ready for, but the journey as it unfolds and the story develops is beautiful. I loved the characters. The honesty in the raw pain and feelings. Guilt and regret. Finding true happiness. Reading this book make sure you have tissues and time. I never put it down. This was an incredible book and I loved it.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thomas is the author of a famous Sci-Fi series. He is contracted to write his next & final book of the series. Thomas is lost in writer's block & can't decipher how to do his ending. He decides to go back to his hometown hoping to find the creativity & ending to his novel come back to life. Coming home also means he just might see his first & only love Oliver Chen & how his life had turned out. A gripping heartwarming, second chance book. A gripping heartwarming, second chance book. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was so well written that I could give it more than 5 stars. I found myself so into the book that I didn't realize it was almost 5am when I finished it. The story flowed for me. I could picture Oliver, his daughter Lily and Thomas as I was reading. They were all strong characters, and I adored them. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. For me this was a special book, and I strongly recommend reading.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thomas & Oliver
Rating: 3.7⭐

- Author/Bookstore Owner
- Second Chance
- Childhood Friends/Lovers
- Single Dad
- Small Town
- Widower
- 15yr Separation

This was a sweet second chance read, where two people find themselves again and each other in the process.

Thomas has been struggling with writing his next book in the series and has now returned home to the small coastal town he thought he would never return to. It's been 15 years but he never stopped thinking about Oliver and leaving him behind. Oliver is now a widower and single dad, running his bookstore in the town he never left all those years ago.

Oliver and Lily are going about their life when Thomas drops right into it. Lily is a HUGE fan of Thomas' work and she is a firecracker in this story! Of course she meddles, sneaky thing, and helps these two see what's right in front of them. I liked how they all helped each other heal and grow throughout the book. I loved the way Oliver's relationship with his late wife was handled here, especially with the brief flashback scenes linking everyone's history.

There are bits that felt stretched longer than they should've and drag or became repetitive, but overall not too distracting. As much as you want to be mad at Thomas many times throughout this book, you still understand that they were teenagers when they split up. Big decisions had to be made when they were in high school and still trying to figure themselves out.

Content Warnings (may contain spoilers):
- Graphic sexual content between consenting adults
- Explicit language
- Parental abandonment (past; off-page)
- Mentions death of SC due to cancer (past; off-page)
- Mentions of abuse and parental intoxication (past; off-page)

I received a free copy of this book via the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Verse: No
HEA: Yes
POV: Dual, plus a few chapters from Lily's POV
Breakup: No
Cheat: No
OM/OW Drama: No
Ages: 33 & 32

[Fae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second Chapter is a brilliant second-chance romance between famous author Thomas and his high school sweetheart Oliver. You’ll want to read this one, I’m giving it a very strong recommendation. I read it all in one evening, and it involved tears, cheers, and a much too late bedtime. I simply could not put it down. My 4.5 out of 5 would be a solid five, except for some noticeable repetition of lines and some time incongruity that made me pause and run things back to see if I missed something.

Plot

Second-chance romances aren’t always my thing. But I vibed with this one fully. Famous author Thomas Winter’s career has taken him far from Harbour Point where he grew up, and he never looked back. His feelings for closeted Oliver, who he left behind, haven’t ever gone away. He’s kept his love alive and well, because basically the whole story he has spent 15 years writing and gaining fame over is about his love for Oliver. It’s not very subtle.

He’s having major issues writing the last book in the series. His writers block is extreme. Everything feels fake. His agent, his editor, and most especially his publisher are at the end of their rope. So, he finds himself going home to Harbour Point to work. How his agent chose his hometown randomly seems a bit of a stretch, but it works for the narrative the author is crafting. Since the main character in his books is just a fictionalized version of Thomas himself, there’s a parallel with the story playing out this way.

Once he arrives, it doesn’t take him long to reconnect with Oliver, who he is surprised to discover has a 13-year-old daughter, Lily.

Characters

Thomas

Thomas is a bit of a mess. But he’s an enjoyable mess. Thomas has not been back to his hometown since he grabbed the chance to leave when he got accepted into college. Now he’s back, and he’s anxious about his writer’s block. Being back in Harbour Point brings back all the nostalgia and a new perspective. Thomas has enjoyed success with his space-opera book series that he started writing while still in high school. He bounced his initial ideas off Oliver. But when he got accepted into college, Oliver pulled back and let him go.

Oliver

After Thomas left 15 years ago, Oliver decided to be the traditional, perfect son that his father needed him to be. He dove deeply into the closet. He navigated his father through illnesses and took over the family bookstore when his father passed. Oliver married Sarah. Sarah died of cancer three years ago. Even though theirs wasn’t a romantic love, they were each other’s rock and best friend. Oliver has been lost and drifting ever since while trying to help his daughter deal with her mother‘s death.

Lily

Lily is my favorite in the whole book. Lily is Oliver‘s daughter.

Thomas’s books, which he wrote basically as love letters to Oliver, acted as a buoy, a life jacket for Lily, who is also a huge creative sort. She loves science fiction and has stories of her own bubbling inside her.

Sarah

Sarah is nearly a fourth MC because she is a driving factor in Lily’s motivation to write a story, which brings the main characters closer together. So why not, Sarah gets her own paragraph, too. Sarah knows Oliver is gay, but their solid partnership leads them to get married and start a family. They have Lily. Sarah got sick, and ultimately passed on.

Glows

Romantic

Oh, how this story is romantic. The parallels between what needs to happen in the book Thomas is trying to write and what needs to happen to settle Oliver and his history are heart-swelling and lovely. Thomas’s character is stuck because Thomas hasn’t faced his past.

He’s spent 15 years running away. He’s resisted coming home in the same way his character, Captain Elian, needs to in order to finish her story. To finish their story, Thomas needs to return to Oliver. They have to find one another again.

The romance is fairly by the book, but it WORKS. Oh, how it works. Their love seems big and true and inevitable from the very beginning. What doesn’t make sense to me is why Thomas doesn’t see that this is what he needed to break through his writer’s block from the beginning. Maybe he is just in denial.

Lily’s Story

The story Lily writes for the Young Authors competition is literally so gorgeous and compelling. I want to read it. Like I would purchase a book of the story that she writes today, yesterday, two weeks ago. It’s beautiful. It’s absolutely beautiful. So, if the author just came up with that idea to flesh out their side character’s plot, wow.

Note to the author: You need to write Lily’s book. Publish it, because it’s beautiful. You should also go ahead and write the Captain Elian series because I would read that, too. But make Elian a man because I hate straight fiction, hah.

But could a 13 year-old write that book I doubt it. It’s not out of the realm of possibility, but I would strongly doubt That that doesn’t make it a bad plot. It’s a book and the story works too adds to the journey that Thomas and Oliver are on in a way that isn’t subtle, but it’s very effective.

Parallel Character Development

Much like Lily’s story, I want to read the series Thomas writes. I love the details that are described, the characters, the overall plot that’s mapped out. I want to read it. And it makes the story come alive, like Thomas is a real author. It’s one thing to say that the MC is an author, and then have it never come up again, and it’s another to have details about what the MC writes play a huge part of the plot. This was so well done.

Yes, the main characters are thinly veiled iterations of Thomas and Oliver. What Thomas needs to do to get his life back on track is what Captain Elian needs to do too. The journey Captain Elian and Thomas have taken in their lives is parallel to one another. Yeah, it’s not subtle but it doesn’t even matter because it just works.

Grows

Not Subtle

It can be a glow and a grow, okay? I mentioned already that the metaphors and connections to their real-life love story are in no way subtle. I mean, the navigator's name is Chen, which is Oliver‘s last name. The whole town is represented in Thomas’s books, albeit with a space-façade over the real-life thing.

Pacing and Time Inconsistencies

There are a few occasions where a character mentions something time-specific that conflicts with something that has already been established. It was enough to make me stop and search the text for keywords to make sure I didn’t miss something. I didn’t, there are just some inconsistencies.

For example, at one point they mention that the deadline for Lily’s story is tomorrow, but then time passes and it’s mentioned again, and she’s still working on it. It seemed like time passed oddly a few other times that I am not remembering off the top of my head.

Do You Know or Not, Friend?

And then there’s Oliver’s whole freak-out. At one point, Oliver acknowledges that he has known all along that the series is all about him and Thomas. Which is why it surprises me when, later in the book, Oliver has a complete freak-out at a sci-fi convention when confronted with this fact.

If he knew about it all along, if he read the books and picked up on the not so subtle parallels with his life and Chen, with Thomas and his love story, it totally doesn’t make sense for him to lose it after he had previously expressed his understanding that the whole book the whole book series is Thomas’s love letter to him.

I digress, that’s one of the reasons that it’s getting four and a half out of five instead of a solid five.

Phrases Being Repeated

I am nitpicky about this, but I dislike it when an author repeats phrases. Two intimate scenes had very similar verbiage, and I think readers notice when words and phrases are repeated. It takes the reader out of immersion and makes whatever is happening on page feel less important. And since it was an intimate scene, it pulled me out.

Lily’s Maturity

Seeing as I teach 13-year-olds and Lily is 13, I am largely skeptical about how mature, advanced, and unselfish Lily is written. It’s true that Lily is described as a very intelligent child. For what it’s worth, I have taught thousands of 13-year-olds in my career.

The prose that Lily writes in her story is extremely advanced for a 13-year-old. I’m not saying that a 13-year-old couldn’t write like that, but most 13-year-olds that I have taught could not achieve the level of storytelling and prose that Lily can.

But, this is a thing, people. Authors often miss the mark when it comes to writing children in a realistic way. Either they write children far too mature or far too immature. They’ll write very young children as speaking in full sentences and doing things autonomously at 2 years old. I’ve seen older children written as far too advanced.

It seems it’s often the case that adults don’t know how children act if they’re not actively around children all the time. That might be a little bit of what’s happening here. However unrealistic I think Lily may be, Lily is still my favorite character in this book.

Recommendation

I give this book a very rare 4.5 out of five stars. It’s nearly perfect. It is gorgeous. It is a second chance romance, which I incidentally don’t usually like so it’s even more remarkable that I give this one, a strong, strong recommendation.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[PelicanFreak · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wow, there’s a lot to unpack here.

An incredibly sweet story with very poor execution, if I had to summarize simply. I would strongly recommend having this professionally edited, or at the very least using a strong proofreader and an astute beta reader. (Though one need not be astute to pick out all that’s off here.)

There are too many examples of terrible continuity to list so I’ll give the gist:
Something would happen … but then it never happened … oh but then it’s always been a thing again. Or maybe … a deadline is “tomorrow”, but weeks later they’re still working toward said deadline.

Grammar—
There were many, many instances of proper grammar, but too many instances of poor grammar that I was taken out of the story too frequently. So it wouldn’t be fair to say the whole story’s grammar is poor, it’s just … too many mistakes when unchecked.

Also, what is with the “somewheres” being excessively abundant? I’m not sure if it was written this way, or a pronunciation issue, since I listened to the audiobook.

“... somewheres else.”
“Will you go somewheres with me?”
“...it’s somewheres.”

Come on. This also took me out of the story too frequently.


Many things were done well, and I don’t want to drone on—this just seems like a case of an author who is a good storyteller, but not a strong writer, paired with failing to use a professional team.

What I liked:
Lily, a very wise-beyond-her-years 13 year-old.
I’m not sure it was the most plausible, but I did enjoy her at any rate.

What I loved:
The small town vibes.
The feels between the two leads.
Writing talk! Lots of good points were made here.


Overall:
“It’s okay.” [Which translates into 2 stars on Audible, per their rating system, and 3 stars everywhere else.]

Would I read more by this author? I’d be open to it, as I said, they do have strengths for sure. But I’d hope they develop their skill and hire some help first. Professionalism is important to me in books, especially indie books because a lack thereof gives the entire industry its bad reputation.

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️



🎧 Audio:
The overall sound quality was good, though the narration itself wasn’t strong. It wasn’t bad, per se, but it also wasn’t good. Many words were mispronounced, routinely. And for the most part, this was read emotionlessly, sounding a little too bot-like for my tastes. Another ‘It’s okay’. For me on this end.

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

[Sara Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read . Thomas and Ollie reuniting after 15 years. Written in 3 POVs (Ollie, Thomas, and Lily).

Thomas was a top tier MC. He made his presence know to Ollie but gave him space to process his return. ❤️❤️ I mean come on he place breadcrumbs throughout his books in hoping Oliver read them. He just wanted Ollie to know he was still thinking about him. He let Ollie set the pace for their relationship.
***Ughhh someone write my love story!***

Ollie confused me at times because he was struggling with the past and present. I did like the twist with Ollie's marriage. He knew he would never love someone the way he did Thomas so he built something different. He found a best friend to live alongside who understood him.

The flashback were a nice addition.

I'm not a fan of kids playing such a big role in a romance but I think her maturity sold it for me. She was a sweet and insightful little matchmaker.
The school issues with her dad coming out were well written. I loved that most people stepped up and stood by them.






I do have some questions though so spoilers....
If Ollie's wife knew he was gay(and in love with Tommy) did they conceive Lily naturally? It doesn't matter either way it but the book doesn't detail their relationship. It just says they were best friends and she was great with the store.

How is a 12 year old running a book/coffee store alone? There was mention of an employee near the end but I got the impression she was there alone. (IMO 15 would have been a more believable age.)

I don't understand the convention scene. When Ollie found out fans knew Navigator Chen was based on someone from his home town he freaked out and left. My question is.. Why freak out? He stated multiple times he knew the books were written about him. Was it because other people were realizing it was Ollie and he was still hiding the fact he was gay? If she why hold hands with a famous person in public?


My only big issue...
It blew my mind that Lily snuck off to see her favorite author, went inside his house and exchanged numbers with him. I understand that it is fiction but how did she not get a lecture from her dad? He knew the man 15 years ago people can change a lot in that time....

[Cas ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to StoryOrigin and the author for providing me with a review copy of the audiobook — this in no way influenced the following review.

First, I would like to say that the story itself is decent. The plot isn’t drawn out or overwraught with drama/angst, and it’s a pretty straight forward “successful *career title here* returns home and gets back together with their childhood sweetheart” story. Both MMCs are generally likeable and interesting enough on their own too. The writers block manuscript deadline angle was just enough pressure that the story wasn’t boring as well.

Where the author lost me, personally, is the daughter. This story has far too much kid for my tastes. I was really thrown off by the multiple, often very long, chapters written in the daughter’s POV. I don’t like kids in my spicy romances, with a few exceptions, and this was just… so much kid. She meddles, she has her own subplot with her writing, there’s a bunch of drama for her once the MMC’s get together… It’s just way too much screen time for me and even though she’s obviously not involved in their intimate moments, it feels icky to me how much she *is* involved/mentioned. This is very much a personal preference though, so other people might not be bothered by it or might even enjoy it.

In terms of the audiobook itself, the narration was good. I would’ve liked a little more differentiation between the two MMCs because it was sometimes difficult to tell who’s POV we were in because the swap between the two didn’t have much of a break/pause and if you’re not paying close attention you’ll be like “wait, isn’t this the other guys chapter?” There are some odd pronunciation things and wonky pacing issues but both of those things could also be the writing itself so I’m hesitant to blame the narrator. His voice was nice though and I would listen to him again!

[Naito Diamond · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read C.G. Macington before, so I knew going in that Second Chapter would be a treat—and it absolutely was. This is one of those quiet, beautiful stories that settle deep into your heart, set in a small town that feels as familiar and comforting as the characters themselves. Macington truly knows how to breathe life into tropes, making them feel fresh through the strength of their narrative voice.

The second-chance romance between Thomas and Oliver is heartfelt and tender. Thomas, a sci-fi writer struggling with writer’s block, returns to his hometown after fifteen years and finds that his old teenage crush, Oliver, is now running a cozy bookstore—while raising his daughter, Lily.

One of my favorite elements of the story was the decision to include Lily’s point of view early on. Watching a teenager become a matchmaker is always a joy, and Lily’s bond with Thomas is both charming and emotionally resonant. The scenes where Thomas encourages her creativity and helps her write are especially touching.

If you’re a fan of small-town second chances, found family, or single-dad warmth, Second Chapter is the kind of slow, comforting romance you’ll want to savor. Highly recommend.

[Lori Wilen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another amazing 5 star book by C. G. Macington. I think I have found a new favorite author to add to my ever growing list. I had read one other book by this author and was the best MM book that I had read since Red, White and Royal Blue. This book is up there with those. The story was beautifully crafted and made me interested in Science Fiction which is a miracle in itself. C. G. Macington is either a fan of Sci. Fi. or he researched it very well. The writing was wonderful with many chuckle out loud moments and others where I had to quickly grab a tissue for the tears down my cheeks. Tender with understanding and beautiful characters. Conversations that were wonderful to read that they felt so very real. I have to mention again how believable and beautiful the characters were in this book. I also appreciated the sensitivity and thought that went into this book and the discussion of a difficult topic which wasn't even the main one, that of death. I highly recommend this book and I believe that like me you will want to read more by this author. I thank the author and publisher for my ARC and the opportunity to review it and was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[DJ McCready · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book by this author I have read and it was an excellent introduction to his work which I will be looking forward to reading more.

The story is believable and obviously given the science fiction tied in with real science took a great deal of research but the real story is in the love that Thomas had for Oliver and Oliver's aversion to admitting he was gay. Second Chapter is about how they reignite their relationship with the help of Lilly (Oliver's only child). Thomas had left his home town to study and had not returned in 15 years while Oliver married, as it turned out mostly for mutual benefit more than love but his wife had died when Lilly was 10.

Lilly is the star of the story - she believes in stars, writes about stars and has read all four of Thomas' books about stars and space travel. She is a perceptive 13 year old (I have had two of my sons and a couple of grandchildren be like that at an early age) and feels the attraction between Thomas and Oliver and actually works as the matchmaker.

The genre of a single man with a child falling in love and coming out is one I love but this one really gets beyond that to the meaning of family.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fell in love with this book and the characters of Thomas, Oliver and Lily. You could feel the love between Thomas and Oliver from fifteen years ago, through the years between even though they didn’t see each other, until the old longings were still there once Thomas returned. The tentative reaching toward recapturing that relationship, while still holding back some to prevent being hurt again, was so real and honest as both men tried to believe that being together again was possible, if they worked for it hard enough. Lily was an integral part of the story, her connection with Thomas and her writing, his offer of help when she needed it, and the beautiful message that was her story just added to the emotional satisfaction of this reader. It is a beautiful book about forgiveness, facing your fears, finding your voice, and learning what family is and what it means when seeking happiness. There are so many beautiful parts and messages in it, I found it to be quite uplifting in many ways. It is beautiful story for Pride month and acknowledging and embracing who you are.

I received an advance copy from the author and this is my voluntary review.

[Colin Salmon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Romance is not my usual genre to read in, but I found that I really enjoyed this story. The characters are well fleshed out right from the beginning and the writing is excellent. The story flows and pulled me in from the start. I'd particularly pick out the fact that these are more mature characters who come with a lot of back story and history for praise. It's intriguing to learn more about their past and it's refreshing to see a story like this about people in a later stage of life. The role of Oliver's daughter in the story is particularly powerful and handled sensitively, without falling into tropes or clichés about his relationship with her mother and what that meant to him.

Whether you are interested in romance or not, I'd recommend this as a hidden gem from an indy author!

[Gavin Stephenson-Jackman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thomas left Harbour Point and Oliver behind 15 years ago to pursue his literary career, but he's been writing his lost love the whole time. Now he's struggling to write the final instalment and is back in Harbour Point. Oliver has taken over the family business and is raising his teenage daughter alone. When Thomas walks into his bookstore it rekindles a love that never stopped in both men, now it's trying to figure out how to make it work. Second chances don't always come around but when they do they can be wonderful.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Sara Sigler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thomas is in a slump so he goes home to see if it will help him write the 5th book in his series goes to the bookstore that Oliver owns. Lily, Oliver’s 13 year old daughter recognizes Thomas and they talk about different plots in the books. Oliver remembers Thomas sneaking into the store after closing to stay away from his father he would read or write, they used to be close in school but he tells Lily it’s not true. Thomas’s books the main character is fashioned after Oliver, he left town on a scholarship was gone for 15 years. Lily gets them together a couple of times and Thomas shares that the books were written about them but Oliver has to decide how to handle it.

[A Bookworm In Chile · Rating 3 out of 5]

his was an undeniably cute story. It's a fairly standard second chance romance, with two lovers brought together after circumstances tore them apart years ago who find their love to be as strong as ever. Very much like a Hallmark film. What I didn't quite care for is that I felt there hints of blame being left at the feet of Thomas, the successful writer whose departure for college kicked off a 14- year seperation. It's not explicitly stated, mind you. Oliver, the one who was left behind, even deems it as having been necessary at one point in the book. Still, the way things play out and certain character reactions later in the book seem to contradict that. This doesn't seem to have been intentional (and I honestly maybe my interpretation is off) but it still left something of a bad taste in my mouth. Additionally, I'm also not sure I would recommend the audiobook's voice. He wasn't bad, per se, but I did find his reading to be a bit flat.

[Saskia Veldhuis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook - a very consistent narrator with a really enjoyable voice.
Story - I found a lot of the deep ideas about writing and the topics in the works by the writing characters very interesting. Thomas was a very appealing character, but I didn't really like Oliver - the latter was the one who refused to have a relationship with Thomas because he didn't want to come out, and didn't want to now either. The cover picture looks to me like the characters were still teenagers, not 15 years later in their second chance. The use of bits of writing to have flashbacks was really fitting.

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Returning to your hometown and facing the love you left behind 15 years before not knowing the reception you'll get, that's Thomas, a famous author, while the man he left behind has been quietly running his Fathers book shop. Lots of angst here but a beautifully touching tale as two men struggle with emotions and a teenage daughter seems to have it figured out.

[b00ks_in_nature · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5
This is a second chance romance with a blurb that drew me in. It was executed fairly well, with some pacing and phrasing issues/inconsistencies. I enjoyed the characters, especially Lily. She is a big part of the book, so if you don't like books with kiddos, skip this one. However, I think you'd be missing out. Overall very enjoyable.

[Amanda Reeves · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second Chapter is a really sweet read about Thomas and Oliver. I loved how we also got some POV from Lily, who is a really important part of the story. I really enjoyed this second chance romance.

[Mogi B · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the second chance romance. And how both characters grew with the challenges that faced them. The main character’s daughter was such a nice touch. Probably one of my favorite characters.— It’s always good to find your way back to your first love.

[Ciellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again a brilliant book.

many lessons to learn about rejection.

All people want acceptance, feeling safe and wanted.

[Kirsty Barrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent. Good pace, and well written characters. Very good way to spend some down time.