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Marrying Her Was Easy Losing Her Was Hell: A Second Chance Romance
Cade Rivers married Sage Holloway when they were both twenty-two and broke. She was pregnant, scared, and he thought he was doing the right thing. Seven years later, he's still acting like marriage is a burden he's carrying.Sage works double shifts at a grocery store while Cade plays video games and complains about being "trapped." She handles school pickup, doctor visits, and bedtime stories for their six-year-old daughter Lily while he goes out with friends who treat their wives the same way.
Every month, Sage asks if they can talk about their problems. Every month, Cade says "later" and turns up the TV volume. She's drowning in responsibilities while he acts like being a husband and father is optional.
The final straw comes when Lily asks why Daddy never comes to her school events. Sage realizes she's been a single mother in a marriage, making excuses for a man who doesn't even try.
She doesn't leave dramatically. She just stops trying. Stops cooking his favorite meals. Stops doing his laundry. Stops pretending everything's fine when people ask.
Cade doesn't notice until the divorce papers arrive.
Suddenly he's facing every-other-weekend custody, child support payments, and an empty apartment. His friends aren't calling as much. His mom won't speak to him. Even his coworkers look at him differently.
Meanwhile, Sage enrolls in community college. Gets a better job. Starts smiling again. Lily thrives with her mom's newfound confidence.
Cade wants his family back, but Sage has already grieved their marriage. She's not angry anymore—she's just done. And that terrifies him more than any fight ever could.
Perfect for readers who've ever felt invisible in their own lives, this emotional journey explores what happens when someone finally chooses themselves—and the devastating wake-up call it creates for those left behind.
Every month, Sage asks if they can talk about their problems. Every month, Cade says "later" and turns up the TV volume. She's drowning in responsibilities while he acts like being a husband and father is optional.
The final straw comes when Lily asks why Daddy never comes to her school events. Sage realizes she's been a single mother in a marriage, making excuses for a man who doesn't even try.
She doesn't leave dramatically. She just stops trying. Stops cooking his favorite meals. Stops doing his laundry. Stops pretending everything's fine when people ask.
Cade doesn't notice until the divorce papers arrive.
Suddenly he's facing every-other-weekend custody, child support payments, and an empty apartment. His friends aren't calling as much. His mom won't speak to him. Even his coworkers look at him differently.
Meanwhile, Sage enrolls in community college. Gets a better job. Starts smiling again. Lily thrives with her mom's newfound confidence.
Cade wants his family back, but Sage has already grieved their marriage. She's not angry anymore—she's just done. And that terrifies him more than any fight ever could.
Perfect for readers who've ever felt invisible in their own lives, this emotional journey explores what happens when someone finally chooses themselves—and the devastating wake-up call it creates for those left behind.
271 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 1, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 22, 2025
Family Healing
A book about a couple who married due to unexpected pregnancy. This book narrates their journey from a chaotic family of three that was destined to explode. After the explosion (metaphorical) it was all about growing, make themselves better, so they become better parents.
The ending was unexpected but definitely meshed with the rest of the story.
A book about a couple who married due to unexpected pregnancy. This book narrates their journey from a chaotic family of three that was destined to explode. After the explosion (metaphorical) it was all about growing, make themselves better, so they become better parents.
The ending was unexpected but definitely meshed with the rest of the story.
December 11, 2025
second chance romance… where????
Yeah this is the definition of not what a second chance romance is!!!
There is no second chance, no romance. It would have been worth the time wasted reading it, if they actually got the so called second chance but they didn’t.
Also I get he was absent the entire marriage but I don’t think he had to move his life because he thinks it’s whats best for their daughter. He made the effort and put in the work but that doesn’t mean he had to agree or uproot his life. Not saying I didn’t appreciate that he did that, because that’s more than a lot of parents would do for their kids but I don’t like how he did all this and proved he changed only to read they didn’t end up together!!! It peeved me that I wasted money buying this book based on the second chance romance and didn’t get what I paid for!!!
Yeah this is the definition of not what a second chance romance is!!!
There is no second chance, no romance. It would have been worth the time wasted reading it, if they actually got the so called second chance but they didn’t.
Also I get he was absent the entire marriage but I don’t think he had to move his life because he thinks it’s whats best for their daughter. He made the effort and put in the work but that doesn’t mean he had to agree or uproot his life. Not saying I didn’t appreciate that he did that, because that’s more than a lot of parents would do for their kids but I don’t like how he did all this and proved he changed only to read they didn’t end up together!!! It peeved me that I wasted money buying this book based on the second chance romance and didn’t get what I paid for!!!
January 13, 2026
very happily surprised
I don’t usually leave reviews and I didn’t expect much from this book but I was completely sucked into the story. I LOVE the journey of Cade being a total loser to being the best dad ever and having an amazing co-parenting relationship w his ex and even her bf. It didn’t just gloss over things and wasn’t boring. It made me fall in love w him as a dad and so proud of him completely turning his life around. I honestly don’t know of many, if any, men who would do that. Definitely going in my re-read list.
I don’t usually leave reviews and I didn’t expect much from this book but I was completely sucked into the story. I LOVE the journey of Cade being a total loser to being the best dad ever and having an amazing co-parenting relationship w his ex and even her bf. It didn’t just gloss over things and wasn’t boring. It made me fall in love w him as a dad and so proud of him completely turning his life around. I honestly don’t know of many, if any, men who would do that. Definitely going in my re-read list.
August 22, 2025
timeline was crazy
The book seemed out of order at times - had the daughter going to the dad’s house twice for the first time - made it tricky
Also this is finding new romances not second chance with the original (which is what I thought with second chance romance description)
The book seemed out of order at times - had the daughter going to the dad’s house twice for the first time - made it tricky
Also this is finding new romances not second chance with the original (which is what I thought with second chance romance description)
November 6, 2025
couple gets divorced, how they raise a child, no romance, no second chance
If you like how a couple gets divorced and how they make it work to raise their daughter afterwards then this book is for you. There's no romance there's no second chance honestly wasted my time.
If you like how a couple gets divorced and how they make it work to raise their daughter afterwards then this book is for you. There's no romance there's no second chance honestly wasted my time.
September 23, 2025
Disappointing
Several plot issues, lack of professional editing, and advertised as a second chance romance.
No romance, no second chance, no HEA.
Several plot issues, lack of professional editing, and advertised as a second chance romance.
No romance, no second chance, no HEA.
September 25, 2025
ok
It could be better with better editing there were inconsistencies along with too much repetition. I am glad Sage and Cade both grew into better stronger versions of themselves
It could be better with better editing there were inconsistencies along with too much repetition. I am glad Sage and Cade both grew into better stronger versions of themselves
October 2, 2025
Warm characters and heartfelt change… Learning to put yourself first and figuring out hard stuff with grace is important…
PPC found on Kindle gotta do your research…
PPC found on Kindle gotta do your research…
December 11, 2025
nice book
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews