If You’d Chosen Me: A 90s Small-Town Second Chance Romance

by Acacia Warmerdam

He was her first love.
She was the one who stayed.

Danny Whitaker has spent years building a life that feels steady. A bakery. A routine. A future she chose for herself.

But before all of that, there was Scott Reynolds.

The boy who always looked at her like she mattered.
The boy who never actually chose her.

Growing up in a small town means nothing ever really disappears. Not the lake. Not the memories. And definitely not the people who almost changed everything.

Because Danny remembers it all.
The late nights. The quiet moments. The way he softened only for her.
And the slow, undeniable realization that being almost loved is not the same as being chosen.

Now, as their lives begin to move in different directions, Danny has to face the truth she has spent years avoiding.

Some love stories do not end.
They simply never begin.

And sometimes, the hardest thing to admit is that the person you thought was yours… never was.

This is not a second chance romance.
This is a story about growing up, letting go, and choosing yourself when no one else will.

Perfect for readers who
• Small town settings with emotional depth
• The one who got away
• Quiet longing and slow-burn tension
• Coming-of-age romance
• Bittersweet, character-driven love stories

489 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 1, 2026

Reviews

[Kaitlyn Raasveld]

Ugh the yearning, was chefs kiss. I love this book. It’s so good, the plot flowed and the characters were enticing and I needed to know how it ended.

[Melanie]

This ARC was an emotional and heartwarming read that perfectly blended 90s nostalgia with a beautiful second-chance romance. The story explored themes of self-discovery, healing, and learning to move forward after being denied love, all while showing the power of having people who truly support and believe in each other. I loved how the small-town community came together during difficult times, creating a strong sense of connection and belonging that made the story even more impactful. The romance felt genuine and heartfelt, and the characters' personal growth was just as compelling as their journey back to one another. Adding to the atmosphere was an incredible soundtrack of music woven throughout the story, which enhanced the emotions and perfectly captured the nostalgic feel. A touching, uplifting, and memorable read from beginning to end.

[Gabriella]

Everyone should read this.

Everyone should read this, especially heartbreakers. Just wow. I have read hundreds of books a year the past few years, mostly various romances (fantasy, contemporary, rom-com, historical, paranormal), and I can confidently say that none of them were quite like this. Definitely worth a read, it takes the reader on an emotional journey. I rarely cry when reading, but this book strummed my tear strings pretty early on. Prepare to have your heart wrenched, but I swear it’s worth it.

Closed door romance
Emotional depth and growth, realistic character growth
Heart wrenchingly angsty
HEA with wonderfully extended Epilogues that soothe your heart after the angst
Cute humor
M/F, 90s setting

[Steph Hasell]

I love a second chance romance and this was definitely that. What I loved was that Scott worked hard to deserve another chance with Danny.

Some bits felt a bit too drawn out and although I love an epilogue, there were too many in this book.

The illustrations were an added bonus.

One comment would be that maybe the author hadn't quite researched children of Georgia's age - when she spoke I did cringe because instead of a 5 year old she sounded like a 2 year old (I know children develop differently but this felt off)

[Deborah]

This is a beautifully written book with well developed characters I was so intrigued by I found it hard to stop reading!!
I loved the music dotted throughout the story and the time this book was set.
It was a slow burn book so if you are looking for a quick read save this for later.

*I received an advance review copy of this book, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Lydia Gainous]

so goood

I loved this! I was in a chokehold for the first 60% of this book. I also loooved that Danny didn’t immediately forgive Scott for being horrible little punk when he was younger. There was quite a bit grammatical errors and I would’ve loved for there to be a little more depth in the characters but overall very good! I could’ve done with a couple less epilogues 😂

[Rose Fraser]

This is a new-to-me author, and I will read more from her. It was a very good story. The characters were given room to grow and develop. Both were great characters, but I especially liked that we were allowed to see the vulnerability of the male protagonist.

[A]

AI. If you chose AI, you chose AI.

[J Nicole]

DNF on page 5. Based on the cover, I didn’t go in with high hopes, but third person POV, *AND* head-hopping within the first 4 paragraphs, and it’s a hard no for me.

[Heather Morebeck]

great story!

I really loved this! Well written and fun read. Story line was enjoyable. Characters were good. I really enjoyed this book.

[Wendy]

I really enjoyed this book. It followed them throughout high-school to adulthood.