What do you think?
Rate this book
Always second choice
Not yet published
Expected 13 Jun 26329 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication June 13, 2026
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
When I received this ARC, I thought I knew what kind of story I was getting into. I was wrong. Lira writes pain the way only someone who truly understands it can - not loudly, not for show, but in that quiet, suffocating way that settles into your chest and stays there. 💔
Selena is not a perfect heroine and that is exactly why she broke me. She is every woman who loved too hard, waited too long, and still somehow found the grace to keep going. And Lucien- I cannot talk about him without giving things away, so I'll just say this: he reminded me that love, real love, looks nothing like what we're usually sold. Wow🌹Let me not discuss about what Kai did and then sacrificed - it's just so painful yet shows how love triumphs at the end. Just for this, you need to read this story to feel it....
This book made me sad, angry, it made me grieve and cry, and somewhere near the end it made me breathe again in a way I didn't expect and didn't know I needed. Sad yes but still they survived and all won in someway or the other. 🕊️
Lira, you handled deeply sensitive, deeply human experiences with so much care and respect; that doesn't go unnoticed. This story deserved to be told and you told it beautifully. I'll be thinking about these characters for a long time.
Thank you for trusting me with something this real.
I am leaving my honest review here! ♥️
Selena is not a perfect heroine and that is exactly why she broke me. She is every woman who loved too hard, waited too long, and still somehow found the grace to keep going. And Lucien- I cannot talk about him without giving things away, so I'll just say this: he reminded me that love, real love, looks nothing like what we're usually sold. Wow🌹Let me not discuss about what Kai did and then sacrificed - it's just so painful yet shows how love triumphs at the end. Just for this, you need to read this story to feel it....
This book made me sad, angry, it made me grieve and cry, and somewhere near the end it made me breathe again in a way I didn't expect and didn't know I needed. Sad yes but still they survived and all won in someway or the other. 🕊️
Lira, you handled deeply sensitive, deeply human experiences with so much care and respect; that doesn't go unnoticed. This story deserved to be told and you told it beautifully. I'll be thinking about these characters for a long time.
Thank you for trusting me with something this real.
I am leaving my honest review here! ♥️
Review of advance copy received from Author
I signed up to receive an ARC for this book, and honestly… WOW. This was an absolute rollercoaster of emotions. I devoured it in just over 24 hours, and let me tell you when a book hooks me within the first 5%, you know it’s good. And this was THAT good.
“You are a garden. Some people water you. Some people take your flowers and throw them on the ground. Your job is not to give more flowers. Your job is to stop giving flowers to people who don’t bring water.”
I have so many highlights in my Kindle, but this one stood out the most.
The story follows our FMC, Selena, who is currently living in London with her husband, Lucian. Through flashbacks, we slowly uncover her past as her sister’s wedding brings everything she’s tried to bury back to the surface.
Lucian’s dying wish is to make sure Selena gets her happy ending, even if it’s not with him 🥺 But after Kai completely shattered her heart, is her first love really who she needs?
I felt every single emotion throughout Selena’s story — the heartbreak, the raw vulnerability, the self-doubt, and the way she made herself small for the kind of love she thought she deserved. This book was deeply emotional from beginning to end, and that ending was beautifully devastating.
And yes… after all the emotional damage, we do get a HEA, and it was absolutely worth it.
“You are a garden. Some people water you. Some people take your flowers and throw them on the ground. Your job is not to give more flowers. Your job is to stop giving flowers to people who don’t bring water.”
I have so many highlights in my Kindle, but this one stood out the most.
The story follows our FMC, Selena, who is currently living in London with her husband, Lucian. Through flashbacks, we slowly uncover her past as her sister’s wedding brings everything she’s tried to bury back to the surface.
Lucian’s dying wish is to make sure Selena gets her happy ending, even if it’s not with him 🥺 But after Kai completely shattered her heart, is her first love really who she needs?
I felt every single emotion throughout Selena’s story — the heartbreak, the raw vulnerability, the self-doubt, and the way she made herself small for the kind of love she thought she deserved. This book was deeply emotional from beginning to end, and that ending was beautifully devastating.
And yes… after all the emotional damage, we do get a HEA, and it was absolutely worth it.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Wow. This book really takes you on a roller coaster ride.
Honestly, when I received this ARC I was excited. I was expecting a morally gray MMC and a second chance trope, but boy oh boy, it's not exactly like that. It was so much more. I certainly did not expect the book to end the way it did AND I'm happy I was wrong.
Selena is hard not to root for, even though she is not perfect - like everyone, she's human. I think that many women will see themselves in her, especially when they were in their high school/collage years. Loving someone so much that you are constantly waiting to be chosen by them is tiring and heartbreaking and Lira really did a great job portraying the ache, the yearning, the exhaustion. I honestly feel emotionally drained after reading this, I can't even count how many tears I've cried.
The only problem I have with this book is the fact that the trauma in this book can be triggering to people who experienced it, so some kind of trigger warning in the beginning would be nice. Also, in some parts of the book I felt like characters were teleporting from place to place without explanation, for example, Selena was sitting on her towel at the beach and suddenly Kai is running towards her in the water. Not sure if I misread it but it happend a couple of times. Still, I highly recommend this book.
Honestly, when I received this ARC I was excited. I was expecting a morally gray MMC and a second chance trope, but boy oh boy, it's not exactly like that. It was so much more. I certainly did not expect the book to end the way it did AND I'm happy I was wrong.
Selena is hard not to root for, even though she is not perfect - like everyone, she's human. I think that many women will see themselves in her, especially when they were in their high school/collage years. Loving someone so much that you are constantly waiting to be chosen by them is tiring and heartbreaking and Lira really did a great job portraying the ache, the yearning, the exhaustion. I honestly feel emotionally drained after reading this, I can't even count how many tears I've cried.
The only problem I have with this book is the fact that the trauma in this book can be triggering to people who experienced it, so some kind of trigger warning in the beginning would be nice. Also, in some parts of the book I felt like characters were teleporting from place to place without explanation, for example, Selena was sitting on her towel at the beach and suddenly Kai is running towards her in the water. Not sure if I misread it but it happend a couple of times. Still, I highly recommend this book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Just finished Always Second Choice and I swear this book reached into my chest and ripped my heart out in the best possible way.
This one hit hard. If you’ve ever loved someone more than they loved you, always felt like the backup option, or constantly ended up second best, this book is going to absolutely wreck you. The heartbreak, the self doubt, the quiet kind of pain she carries through this story all felt so raw and real.
I felt every emotion right alongside her. There were moments that genuinely hurt to read because of how relatable they were, but watching her slowly heal, grow, and finally start putting herself first was honestly beautiful.
The emotional tension in this book was everything. The spice was both steamy and emotional at the same time, which made every moment hit even harder. And the second chance romance element? Perfect.
Lira Darkwaters wrote something that felt honest and real without making it unbearably heavy. I finished this in one sitting because I physically could not put it down.
If you love emotional romances full of angst, healing, heartbreak, and hope, you need to read this one. I’m still thinking about it.
This one hit hard. If you’ve ever loved someone more than they loved you, always felt like the backup option, or constantly ended up second best, this book is going to absolutely wreck you. The heartbreak, the self doubt, the quiet kind of pain she carries through this story all felt so raw and real.
I felt every emotion right alongside her. There were moments that genuinely hurt to read because of how relatable they were, but watching her slowly heal, grow, and finally start putting herself first was honestly beautiful.
The emotional tension in this book was everything. The spice was both steamy and emotional at the same time, which made every moment hit even harder. And the second chance romance element? Perfect.
Lira Darkwaters wrote something that felt honest and real without making it unbearably heavy. I finished this in one sitting because I physically could not put it down.
If you love emotional romances full of angst, healing, heartbreak, and hope, you need to read this one. I’m still thinking about it.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is a story of healing and finding yourself. It has tragedy, betrayal, and heartbreak in especially the flashback and diary scenes.
You have Lucien who knows he is dying and wants his wife to live a happy life after him. He was such a good man to her even though the one aspect that took a point away was trying to give her to someone who didn't deserve her. Selena is someone who gives EVERYTHING while getting nothing until Lucien. You have friends who were terrible and cheaters.
This is heavy in the flashbacks and it gives you the moments that took away her shine. Then when it comes back you see how she is taking everything back and owning it. It truly showed that there will always be someone who appreciates your effort and care when other people didn't. She is a beautiful soul and it was truly so hard to understand how she put up with all of it for so long.
I am happy with how it ended but it also felt like not everyone ended up owning how they abandoned or hurt her. I think if there was a bit more with her cousin and old friends acknowledging that then it could have been perfect.
You have Lucien who knows he is dying and wants his wife to live a happy life after him. He was such a good man to her even though the one aspect that took a point away was trying to give her to someone who didn't deserve her. Selena is someone who gives EVERYTHING while getting nothing until Lucien. You have friends who were terrible and cheaters.
This is heavy in the flashbacks and it gives you the moments that took away her shine. Then when it comes back you see how she is taking everything back and owning it. It truly showed that there will always be someone who appreciates your effort and care when other people didn't. She is a beautiful soul and it was truly so hard to understand how she put up with all of it for so long.
I am happy with how it ended but it also felt like not everyone ended up owning how they abandoned or hurt her. I think if there was a bit more with her cousin and old friends acknowledging that then it could have been perfect.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Always Second Choice - Lira Darkwaters
⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️
This story follows a woman who's always been second choice. Forever the giver, never the receiver.. Always supporting but never being supported.
Overlooked and overshadowed. That is, until she met a man that helped her reclaim her power, her self worth and loved her just the way she is. As if he could see who she truly was.
I won't lie.. I foresaw the Book ending one way, and I am grateful it did not go that way.
The ending was sad... but those flashbacks? They were heartbreaking. I genuinely cried along with her.
It got religious towards the end..no reference of any religion til a certain point, which is fine.. it just felt a bit unnesseacary to say certain things..but again, everyone has different views and all that. It didn't ruin the overall book, it just felt randomly placed (for me anyway).
I did enjoy this book. I genuinely could not put it down. Definitely reccomend!
⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️
This story follows a woman who's always been second choice. Forever the giver, never the receiver.. Always supporting but never being supported.
Overlooked and overshadowed. That is, until she met a man that helped her reclaim her power, her self worth and loved her just the way she is. As if he could see who she truly was.
I won't lie.. I foresaw the Book ending one way, and I am grateful it did not go that way.
The ending was sad... but those flashbacks? They were heartbreaking. I genuinely cried along with her.
It got religious towards the end..no reference of any religion til a certain point, which is fine.. it just felt a bit unnesseacary to say certain things..but again, everyone has different views and all that. It didn't ruin the overall book, it just felt randomly placed (for me anyway).
I did enjoy this book. I genuinely could not put it down. Definitely reccomend!
Review of advance copy received from Author
*I received an ARC of this book*
I don't quite know how to start this. The last 50 pages, the culmination of the journey we've been on with Selena, Kai, and Lucien earnt the fourth star in my rating. There were times I struggled with the timeline and plot points as there was some repetition and errors on consistency. However, ultimately, the sheer amount this book made me feel meant it definitely wouldn't be lower than three stars and the resolution gave me so much hope that four stars was only fair. Written in multiple perspectives, we follow Selena and her loves- one damaging, one healing. We read flashbacks to help carry the current story and we go on an emotional rollercoaster- one consisting of corkscrews, loops, invisible drops, plummets and anything and everything else. I felt anger, hope, frustration, longing, a chapter of full comic relief. This book is raw and painful but ultimately hopeful. There's one hell of a twist and a redemption arc like no other.
I don't quite know how to start this. The last 50 pages, the culmination of the journey we've been on with Selena, Kai, and Lucien earnt the fourth star in my rating. There were times I struggled with the timeline and plot points as there was some repetition and errors on consistency. However, ultimately, the sheer amount this book made me feel meant it definitely wouldn't be lower than three stars and the resolution gave me so much hope that four stars was only fair. Written in multiple perspectives, we follow Selena and her loves- one damaging, one healing. We read flashbacks to help carry the current story and we go on an emotional rollercoaster- one consisting of corkscrews, loops, invisible drops, plummets and anything and everything else. I felt anger, hope, frustration, longing, a chapter of full comic relief. This book is raw and painful but ultimately hopeful. There's one hell of a twist and a redemption arc like no other.
May 18, 2026
ARC Review
This story follows Selena and her husband Lucien, a loving couple living in London.
Selena returns to the US for her sister’s wedding, and is straight away forced to face her past and ex boyfriend: Kai.
Lucien, knowing he is dying and his time is limited, tries to plan a reconnection between them both.
Bad points:
On the technical side, the writing didn’t always land for me, and parts of the plot felt like they could have used a bit more depth or research. It pulled me out of the story, which is a shame because the emotional premise is strong.
The writing itself felt a bit robotic, and the dialogue is nonsensical in parts. The characters are quite flat, and there isn’t much spectrum of emotion coming from them. It’s all or nothing.
Good points:
The premise of the book is good, the vibes, the emotion and the heartbreak.
Overall, it could be a very good book with developmental and line edits from a professional editor.
This story follows Selena and her husband Lucien, a loving couple living in London.
Selena returns to the US for her sister’s wedding, and is straight away forced to face her past and ex boyfriend: Kai.
Lucien, knowing he is dying and his time is limited, tries to plan a reconnection between them both.
Bad points:
On the technical side, the writing didn’t always land for me, and parts of the plot felt like they could have used a bit more depth or research. It pulled me out of the story, which is a shame because the emotional premise is strong.
The writing itself felt a bit robotic, and the dialogue is nonsensical in parts. The characters are quite flat, and there isn’t much spectrum of emotion coming from them. It’s all or nothing.
Good points:
The premise of the book is good, the vibes, the emotion and the heartbreak.
Overall, it could be a very good book with developmental and line edits from a professional editor.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received this as an ARC from the author.
OK 4.5 stars — and I’ll tell you why.
First: I appreciated that Lucien was a love interest. That man is a gem and I loved him. His kindness, confidence, and the way he loved Selena was genuinely lovely to read.
But my biggest issue was Selena herself. What a doormat. And Kai? I hated him so much. He never truly loved her, and I felt that through every page. It felt more like he liked having her there and hated losing access to her when she finally pulled away.
And Selena just kept letting him back in. A man with almost no redeeming qualities. I was honestly glad when she finally ripped into him at the end.
This is not your classic second-chance romance. At times it’s painful to read — not because of the writing, but because of how toxic the former relationship feels. And honestly? I didn’t like Lucien’s plan at all either.
Still, I read the whole thing in one sitting, which says a lot. Thanks for the ARC!
OK 4.5 stars — and I’ll tell you why.
First: I appreciated that Lucien was a love interest. That man is a gem and I loved him. His kindness, confidence, and the way he loved Selena was genuinely lovely to read.
But my biggest issue was Selena herself. What a doormat. And Kai? I hated him so much. He never truly loved her, and I felt that through every page. It felt more like he liked having her there and hated losing access to her when she finally pulled away.
And Selena just kept letting him back in. A man with almost no redeeming qualities. I was honestly glad when she finally ripped into him at the end.
This is not your classic second-chance romance. At times it’s painful to read — not because of the writing, but because of how toxic the former relationship feels. And honestly? I didn’t like Lucien’s plan at all either.
Still, I read the whole thing in one sitting, which says a lot. Thanks for the ARC!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I don’t often cry while reading, but this book had me shedding a tear or two. What an emotional, heart wrenching journey filled with pain and incredible character development. It felt like the author ripped open my heart, pulled out all the emotions living there and wrote them onto the page. I connected so deeply with Selena because I have been that girl, and so many of her thoughts felt painfully familiar.
And Lucian? Quite possibly one of the biggest green flag MMCs I’ve ever read. An absolute gem of a character from beginning to end and he deserves everything.... even if he does come up with some really bad ideas.
"I picked you because in a room full of people your beauty is the only one I see"
And Lucian? Quite possibly one of the biggest green flag MMCs I’ve ever read. An absolute gem of a character from beginning to end and he deserves everything.... even if he does come up with some really bad ideas.
"I picked you because in a room full of people your beauty is the only one I see"
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
Nope, I definitely did not cry(I did). I finished this book in two days and felt every possible emotion while reading it. One minute I was angry, the next I was heartbroken, and then somehow angry all over again. This story completely wrecked me in the best way while still leaving me hoping Selena gets her HEA.
“God took the sunshine from me and gave me a storm because I only appreciated the storm. And my karma was watching my sunshine shine on another man.”
This book hurt, healed, and shattered me all at once. Absolutely unforgettable.
This was my very first ARC review and I will definitely recommend it.
Always Second Choice — By Lira Darkwater
⭐ 4.5/5 - Star Rating
🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3 - Spice Level
“God took the sunshine from me and gave me a storm because I only appreciated the storm. And my karma was watching my sunshine shine on another man.”
This book hurt, healed, and shattered me all at once. Absolutely unforgettable.
This was my very first ARC review and I will definitely recommend it.
Always Second Choice — By Lira Darkwater
⭐ 4.5/5 - Star Rating
🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3 - Spice Level
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book absolutely gutted me! It was so rough to read how much Selena gave to Kai growing up and how he took it all for granted. Then you read about the absolute love and devotion her husband has for her and you can't help but want to run Kai over with a bus. Selena's love for her husband was the purest and deepest a love could hope to be and it was so nice to see her express it. It was fun to see the banter and relationships between Selena and her family as well as Lucien when he met everyone. You get to meet the older Kai but I felt no love for him after reading the past POV. I was not expecting to see how things went down in the end but LOVED the ending!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Well, I was promised a devastating read and Lira fully delivered. I thought I knew what I was preparing myself for but it turns out that was not enough as I cried for a good 5 minutes at the ending.
Selena is extremely relatable for any of us that never felt good enough or always felt like a backup option and may we all be blessed with a Lucien, regardless of how long that is for.
There's trauma, healing, heartbreak, twists and a never ending emotional rollercoaster that comes with no safety belt. This standalone is an amazing book that will hit you in all of the feels and I highly recommend giving it a read if you like your love stories to come with emotional baggage.
Selena is extremely relatable for any of us that never felt good enough or always felt like a backup option and may we all be blessed with a Lucien, regardless of how long that is for.
There's trauma, healing, heartbreak, twists and a never ending emotional rollercoaster that comes with no safety belt. This standalone is an amazing book that will hit you in all of the feels and I highly recommend giving it a read if you like your love stories to come with emotional baggage.
Review of advance copy received from Author
🖤ARC REVIEW🖤
WOW. WOW. WOW.
I am so happy and and absolutely distraught at the same time.
I signed up for this ARC because I love second chance romance. Boy howdy, I didn't expect what I got.
Lira wrote this book with so much description that I fell for Lucien, that my heart bled for Selena, that I hated AND loved Kai. And while the book ended, my tears didn't.
4⭐️:
While this book was VERY good, it can be triggering to people in some. Know that the mention of Suicide and child loss do come up.
Sometimes I felt like there was so much description and movement that the plot was lost due to my confusion.
WOW. WOW. WOW.
I am so happy and and absolutely distraught at the same time.
I signed up for this ARC because I love second chance romance. Boy howdy, I didn't expect what I got.
Lira wrote this book with so much description that I fell for Lucien, that my heart bled for Selena, that I hated AND loved Kai. And while the book ended, my tears didn't.
4⭐️:
While this book was VERY good, it can be triggering to people in some. Know that the mention of Suicide and child loss do come up.
Sometimes I felt like there was so much description and movement that the plot was lost due to my confusion.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Arc Copy Review
Wow… this book… I don’t even have the words to describe it. I don’t think I have ever loved or cried so much for a book. From beginning to end the entire story is so well written and just transports you to this little world. The love Lucien has for Selena is something most people can only dream of finding. The raw emotions, the love, the pain, the sorrow, the happiness, all of it, is just unbelievably beautiful.
Wow… this book… I don’t even have the words to describe it. I don’t think I have ever loved or cried so much for a book. From beginning to end the entire story is so well written and just transports you to this little world. The love Lucien has for Selena is something most people can only dream of finding. The raw emotions, the love, the pain, the sorrow, the happiness, all of it, is just unbelievably beautiful.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I dont even know where to begin..
The hurricane of emotions this book made me feel...incredibly heart broken, loved and cherished.
The author did such a good job and projecting the main characters, their emotions, their motives. It was unbelievably good. I know this is a book I'll definitely never ever forget. Its engraved in my brain!
The hurricane of emotions this book made me feel...incredibly heart broken, loved and cherished.
The author did such a good job and projecting the main characters, their emotions, their motives. It was unbelievably good. I know this is a book I'll definitely never ever forget. Its engraved in my brain!
Review of advance copy
Oh boy I need a lie down after finishing this book 📕 what an emotional rollercoaster it was such a heartfelt story easy chapters and different points of view I loved this book. Selena Kai and Lucien the love betrayal dram loss was in floods of tears 😭 at the end middle such a good read beautiful story well worth a read.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book was heartbreaking and beautiful. There were so many gut punches and betrayals. I felt so incredibly sad for the fmc throughout the book but was so happy that she was able
To have her HEA. I would highly recommend this book.
To have her HEA. I would highly recommend this book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Review of advanced copy received from Author
Be prepared to ugly cry with this utterly heartbreaking story of betrayal, love, hopes and dreams and an epic ending with a few laughs and heartwarming moments along the way. Would highly reccomed!
Be prepared to ugly cry with this utterly heartbreaking story of betrayal, love, hopes and dreams and an epic ending with a few laughs and heartwarming moments along the way. Would highly reccomed!
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews