Cole beautifully unfolds Ivan and Sofie’s relationship by imbibing every encounter with a delicate mix of memory and immediate physical chemistry. Second-chance romance isn’t easy to pull off, because the author has to convince you that characters have a complex history without relying too heavily on summary and flashbacks. The key for second-chance romance is the impact of the separation, and whether two characters can reform their relationship, despite what they have endured in the interim and now endure in the present. They don’t necessarily have to have a romantic history – they can be enemies, friends, or lovers, or anything in between. This trope involves the leads reuniting at the beginning of the story after years apart. If you look back through my blog posts, you will find that the romances I tend to love most usually fall underneath the second-chance romance umbrella. Second-Chance Romance, Always My First Choice As with any good novella, the only thing wrong with this story is that it’s too short, because in Cole’s expert hands, Sofie and Ivan grow back together in a story of resistance, passion, and empowerment. Sofie has spent her life adhering to her father’s notion of what a proper Black woman should be and act like, and Ivan’s career as a boxer makes his appearance at a meeting touting nonviolence a bit suspect.

In this stunning novella, childhood friends Sofie Wallis and Ivan Friedman run into each other after years of separation at a meeting for nonviolent protesters in 1961. I could recommend any number of her beautifully written stories, all of which feature diverse characters finding fulfilling relationships perfectly tailored to their intricate personalities, but I have to talk about my favorite story of hers, Let It Shine. If Alisha Rai’s stories of small-town romance propelled me headlong into the genre, then I can credit Alyssa Cole for making me a lifetime disciple. I had originally planned on posting this recommendation last week, but because I am a proponent of celebrating romance every day of the year, I figured I’d wait a couple of days and send you all a dose of love after the chocolatey, red-petaled euphoria of Valentine’s Day had fully waned.

Let It Shine by Alyssa Cole