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First Comes Love #2

Second Chance

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alternate cover edition of ASIN: B0097UX04M

Can two drastically different, imperfect people be perfect for each other?

It’s been four months since Gray and Dylan have seen each other. Dylan’s been traveling in Europe, while Gray has college, baseball, and a life rooted in one place. Gray’s determined to forget Dylan, the girl he fell in love with in First Comes Love. Besides, how do you make a relationship work with an independent loner?

Just when he decides he’s over her, Dylan makes an unexpected entrance back into his life, hoping their steamy romance can start right where it left off. Gray realizes you can tell your mind to do one thing, but you can’t always convince your heart to follow. Dylan realizes she finally has to make a choice between freedom and her relationship with Gray.

Hilarious, intense, inspiring, and emotional, Second Chance shows that love is a journey, and there are never clear road signs or maps to guide you along. You can only navigate with your heart.

239 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 7, 2012

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3638 people want to read

About the author

Katie Kacvinsky

13 books1,094 followers
I am publishing my latest book (in 2017) under the pen name KATIE RAY. Be sure to check out my other books (First Comes Love, Second Chance, Finally Forever, Awaken, Middle Ground, and Still Point), published under my legal name, KATIE KACVINSKY. You can find out more about me and my books at my website:
www.katieraybooks.wordpress.com

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 181 reviews
Profile Image for Aj the Ravenous Reader.
1,168 reviews1,175 followers
August 11, 2015
Call me hopeless romantic or maybe delusional but I honestly used to believe that love was enough. If it was a feeling so strong , it should have been enough to keep two people deeply in love with each other together. I'm learning more and more that it isn't and that really pisses me off.



What if choosing the person you love, the person who may be "the one" means giving up your dream and who you are? This is basically the line of this story. It was difficult to read about how the two characters I have come to adore struggle in the face of the toughest life choice they have to make.

Dylan , who has a winged spirit finds her true self when she travels. She wants to experience life in her own eyes.

"I want to find myself-the bits and pieces that are scattered in places and in people waiting to meet me."

Gray, who has just found a way back to his dream finally gets a little order back to his life and simply wants to keep it. He has just started viewing people other than his cynical eyes and hopes to maintain a sense of stability.

“Is it true that you need another person to be complete?”

They are two people who are absolutely perfect for each other but who have completely opposite goals in life.

Even though the premise is a bit heavy, the alternating POVs of Dylan and Gray maintained the easy, lovable and hilarious tone of the story. Both kept true to her/his character from the first book and I have Katie Kacvinsky to thank for that. Both POVs are equally riveting in completely different ways. Dylan’s is just heart melting, you’d want to quote everything she says.

“Life is a better story if you let it unfold naturally.”

She is also as hilarious as ever. LOL when she revealed her noble intentions about Gray to Gray’s mom. Gray’s is entertaining and sarcastic as ever and I really enjoyed his stubbornness, his attempt to cover his true feelings for Dylan. His dating disasters are so much fun to read.

And despite the story leaving my heart feeling like it will burst out of my chest (huge understatement), that I had to activate my tear ducts for a small release, I’m still going to say that the story of Dylan and Gray is now officially my most favorite NA story.

“Love is more like an accident than a plan. It’s more of a question than an answer.”

P.S. I'm in love with the covers of the books in the series. <3 <3 <3
Profile Image for Rachel Maniacup.
153 reviews91 followers
August 13, 2015
Reading this is like reading a dystopian or fantasy series because it's addicting! Yes,this book has this effect on me and it's my first time to feel this way in a contemporary-NA romance genre. So I guess,It's time for me to say that this series(THE FIRST COMES LOVE)is my favorite love story now. But don't get me wrong COLLEEN HOOVER, I still love you and your books,alright?^^

As a proof that this series is really amazing,just look at this sequel..I'ts getting better and better,and I loved it more than the first. And as you can see the title "SECOND CHANCE",it really is a story of a second chance for a relationship between two extraordinary people who are perfect for each other,but have different dreams and goals in life.

In this book,Dylan and Gray both learn selflessness in the most painful ways. Dylan,who's willing to put her own dreams and happiness on hold for Gray, and Gray who's also prepared and eager to let go of Dylan just to see and make her happy..In short,this is a true love,heart breaking story that leaves its outcome to fate..And this is the reason why I fell in love with this series,and loved the main characters even more.

I also adored the new characters in this book,especially Cat and Lenny. I enjoyed their company,as well as Gray's friends. Still,Dylan and Gray's character are the best because they're the strongest even in their weakest conflicts.

So yes,AJ..I absolutely agree with you that this is the most adorable NA series!^^
Profile Image for moments-in-reading Reem.
403 reviews1 follower
November 4, 2013
*Spoiler alert*

Woow! the only way I can describe what I feel is that's it is exactly what Gray is feeling right now, I'm not happy about the ending but perhaps they will meet again, and it's just uuugh a wonderful book.
I loved it even more than the first one!
I can't wait for the next one!
"I stare out at the sunny horizon. And I’m surprised because I’m waiting for tears or pain in my chest but, instead, something heavy is lifting. It isn’t quite closure, but Lenny was right, I do feel better. I’m relieved Dylan understood so quickly. That she forgives me. In a way, this sets me free. So I throw the white piece of paper out of my car window and it sails like a bird into the wind. In the very back of my mind, there’s a tiny sliver of hope. Maybe we’ll meet again someday. Maybe Dylan’s been right all along. We can’t force it. We need to leave this one to fate."
The best words to describe Dylan are these:"Dylan will always be this butterfly in my eyes. Something beautiful I held long enough to be spellbound with what exists in the world. But the problem with butterflies is they flutter off, and you spend the rest of your time running and jumping after them and making an idiot out of yourself trying to catch them, only to come up empty handed and looking like a fool in the process. The point of it all is, they aren’t meant to be caught, and you would feel guilty trying to contain them. They’ll wither in your hands and suddenly you realize they’re beautiful because they’re free. They’re meant to be wild. Unattainable. Like they belong in a fairytale."
Profile Image for Henz.
237 reviews74 followers
August 22, 2015
I swear to God I’m an emotional wreck writing this review right now, I can’t seem to get the right words out and despite how broken I am with the ending it was still a fun read, I had a few laughs and swooned. I just binge the entire book and I’m anxious what would the final book be like.

While the first book of the series talks more about Gray and the exhilarating feeling of finding the right person and falling in love, SECOND CHANCE talked more about heartaches, in here we are able to know Dylan better through her cracks. Yes she’s not perfect you know...I don’t have wanderlust in me so I may not feel half of what she’s feeling about her need to be away and this made me ache for the couple. I love loner Gray, brooding Gray, jealous Gray, hot Gray but I didn’t like ….. but don’t worry Gray I still love you! …

The idea of happiness here when it comes to loving someone is being selfless. Because you need to see the other person shine and I admire this couple for doing what they need to do and that is to give up their own happiness.. only they have no idea what they did to my feelings, what about my happiness huh?!?.



“The sky’s falling in around me. Stars are burning souls, melting planets, flying comets spiraling towards the crash landing, clouds are ghost. The moon is a lonely unblinking eye.”
null
(*picturing Gray* then *cries in the corner*)

Profile Image for Zemira Warner.
1,569 reviews1,233 followers
May 2, 2014
It's been over a year since I last read First Comes Love. It left a lasting impression on me. I wasn't expecting much. Just another contemporary story I'll forget soon enough. Boy, I was wrong. It was a breath of fresh air among other new adult novels with insufferable characters and stupid, pointless drama. Don't you want to read a real story for a change? Why bring up obnoxious players with six packs and insecure, beautiful virgins in the picture? Read something genuine instead!

Katie Kacvinsky knows how write characters. They're real. They make us feel things. They are us. As far as I'm concerned, she can do no wrong. I really have nothing remotely negative to say about Second Chance which sucks for me because I love to complain about all sort of things. Everything was perfect!

Gray's back in college, playing baseball which Dylan's backpacking through Europe. They haven't seen each other in four months. Then Dylan comes back into Gray's life. He did try to stay away from her claiming he wants to be friends with her. Since that didn't work out well, they slowly start dating again. They are perfect for each other but that doesn't mean everything works out perfectly. Dylan's trying to change herself completely so she could stay with Gray. She stopped wearing baggy jeans, found a job, started dressing like a girl and so on. I knew what was going to happen next. Gray saw Dylan lost the spark and he sets her free. I really have no idea how's Katie going to work everything out in the end. Both of these characters have different goals in life-Gray wants to have a steady future while Dylan feels at home while she's roaming the world. I still want them to be together because I love both characters so much.

Another home run for Katie Kacvinsky. No pun intended. I can't wait to see how this all plays out. I'd love if everyone ended up reading these incredible books but I'm a realist and I know no one's going to read it if I start nagging so I'm just going to stop. Don't read it! Miss out Gray and Dylan! Go ahead! I dare you!

Profile Image for Heidi McLaughlin.
Author 123 books7,430 followers
September 10, 2012
Just saying this now SIMPLY AMAZING. Gray and Dylan define soulmates and true love.

So I bought this Sunday morning and finished... well Sunday morning. Needless to say I COULD NOT PUT THIS DOWN! Not that I would've because I love... LOVE Gray and Dylan.

I had no idea Katie was writing a sequel. Not many authors continue contemp stories which I find a shame because sometimes us readers what to know what happens after that HEA - not that Dylan and Gray had the average HEA, but they were close - especially for those characters.

So when Katie posted on Saturday that she just hit published, I was jumping up and down and continually hitting refresh on my kindle. I needed this story like I need Sprite Zero. In a nutshell, I was jonesing as soon as I found out.

We find Gray not dealing well with Dylan not being around. Actually, she's in Europe and doesn't know how to pick up a phone or write an email. Her absence is hitting him hard and Gray gets himself in a bit of trouble with his baseball coach and a small little habit called Mary Jane... the green stuff not a girl.

When his and Amanda's birthday hits, he hits rock bottom, pitches a game high as a kite, loses and his teammates let him have it. When his coach suspends him for two games and puts him on probation, he has to walk the straight and narrow.

Dylan was loving life in Europe until someone steals her luggage. Down and out she meets Cat at a bar in Switzerland who just happens to be from Albuquerque and knows Gray. Cat fills Dylan in and makes her see the light.

Dylan does what she does best. Forgets what's she's doing an hops a plane to Gray. And the reception is anything but welcome.

I love that we have a new characters to fall in love with. Katie has so much material to work with now, she could totally create a series out of these very lovable and great characters. Cat, Lenny, Miles, Bubba - I so hope she expands!

The big questions is, has Gray moved on?

I love Katie - she rocks my contemp world and YES there is a final installment of Gray and Dylan - THANK YOU BOOK LORD!!!!
81 reviews5 followers
September 14, 2012
I'm not great at reviews. At all. So here is an attempt to do to this book justice somehow.

Five stars aren't enough for this book. Let's say if I could I'll give it 2 thousand stars... Because that was AMAZING!
So Second Chance had officially joined his big brother First Comes Love on My Top 10 Favorite-of-All-Time-Books Bookshelf.

I didn't know there was a second book before yesterday. It took me like one nanosecond between the time of my discovery and when I rushed to Amazon to order it. That's on those days I bless Amazon for their Kindles. .Because I couldn't have waited more to read this. Okay. I fess up. I am a Gray and Dylan addict.
So when I knew it was within reach, I couldn't help myself I took a lungful of Gray and Dylan. And it was hilarious. Intoxicating. Exhilarating. Sensational.
It was like to find again long lost friends.
There are ones of the most beautifully painted characters. Because they are real. Their dialogues crack me up seriously. You are hanging right there waiting to what they are going to say next. They are unpredictable and that's where their charm is.
It's amazing to see how much alike they are but in the same time so different. How their minds go in the same direction, how they'll think the same thing but with a different perspective. The sarcastic angle of Gray and the much more brighter and optimistic of Dylan. Their personality completes each other's.

For me, there are the two different sides of the same coin. Even if they turn their back to each other, the other will never be far. Even though oceans separates them they'll always live with the ghost of the other. That's true love. That's soul mates.

Their story is beautiful. Their story is heartbreaking. For sure Dylan comes back but for how long? That's why Gray can't fall again for her or he'll end up heartbroken again. As for Dylan she loves Gray, but can she really settle down for good? Renounce to her freedom and being a "traveler"? That's what this book is about: finding the way back to your first love and the love of your life, figuring out where is your Home, growing up and finding a meaning to your life with or without the person you love.

Then there are the second characters. I love them all.

Then comes the end:*sighs*
I was like already? No! No!

And then I turn the page and I am all

Because there is a third book!


Profile Image for Alessia.
Author 21 books228 followers
November 18, 2012
Ho finito questo libro con le lacrime agli occhi.
La storia di Gray e Dylan è ancora più bella che nel primo libro.
Katie Kacvinsky ha creato due personaggi favolosi.
Sono felice che ci sarà un terzo ed ultimo libro. In caso contrario avrei passato il tempo da qui a Natale a piangere.
Profile Image for Katie.
21 reviews3 followers
December 29, 2015
Even better than the first book! Love it so much!
Profile Image for Christine Alibutud.
520 reviews84 followers
May 24, 2016
Four words for this book: I. can't. stop. crying.
description

Now I'm not quite entirely sure whether rereading Second Chance was a good or bad thing, especially since my tear ducts are screaming in pain! This book has moved me again! I remember when I first read this series way back, and I cried the most during the second installment. Well, it's no different this time around.

Gray and Dylan brought out emotions so raw from me. I'm not joking when I said my tear ducts are in pain because it really feels like that. I've ugly-cried so hard and I swear, my heart was physically in pain. Like literally. The love between those two are just so powerful and moving and touching and admirable and inspiring and just plain WHAT THE FREAKING HEART-WRENCHING IS THAT!!!???!?!?
"I learned something tonight. Love always finds you, no matter how hard you try to avoid it. It knows your hiding places. It’s smarter that you’ll ever be.

And love is patient. It waits. Sometimes it waits until you give up. Just to prove you wrong.

But sometimes I’d rather hide than feel this way because when I’m with her the chemical reaction is too strong. Sparks shoot off behind my eyes. It’s my own free firework show. But I don’t know if I want it. Fireworks scared me when I was a kid—the ashes falling from the sky, the screaming spectators, the flashing streaks of light and noise you could feel jostle the ground.

I imagined the fireworks could hit the stars. Could shatter something whole. That the lights could fall on me like boulders, crushing me.

That’s how you make me feel tonight. You. Crush. Me. Under your magnificent light show."

description

I know I've already read this, but it hits me harder the second time around. My tears are proof that this book is nothing short of amazing-ness. And that ending....I'm in pain, my friends! 5 stars!
description
Profile Image for Joy (joyous reads).
1,564 reviews291 followers
September 20, 2012


That is all. Harsh but gah!

Not even a promise of a third book could appease the pain of reading the first four chapters...and the last five pages of this book.

Sorry.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Eunice.
255 reviews515 followers
October 10, 2012
If it wasn't for that little note from Ms. Katie about having a third book in the end I might have been still in bed bawling my eyes out.

Review to come. :)
Profile Image for Karla Mae (Reads and Thoughts).
713 reviews147 followers
January 1, 2015
I think reading this book should come with a warning label:

CAUTION - side effects may include excessive swooning, accompanied by smiling from time to time, constant fool grinning, reminiscing steamy sweet scenes, withdrawal from the real world for awhile (sleeping and eating may be forgotten), endless bookmarking quotable quotes from the two awesome characters and deep sighs of contentment.

First Comes Love totally blows my hopeful romantic heart away and knowing that Gray and Dylan's story would continue on this book I can't help but feel overly joyous and ecstatic. The thing about these two people is that it's just so easy to read their story and immerse on their own world. When reading it’s not always that easy to be involved with its characters and its setting and its plot. But with the story of Dylan and Gray everything just seems to fly by. I thought my reading of First Comes Love was fast but nothing compares on how easily I finish this second book about them.

Gray shows great maturity on this story. He learns to give way to things and accept things on how they should really be. It's really heartwarming for me to see him accept Dylan's future. He is willing to set her free and not hold her back on the things he think she should be doing.

Dylan on the other hand never fails to amaze with her randomness. (The way she told people how she's a 'full-time star doodler' and she takes pictures from a squirrels point of view). I love her for being random and also for being willing to change things to stay with Gray. She’s willing to sacrifice things just to have him with her and seeing her in that way makes me realize that her love for Gray great and I really don’t know how to describe it but I think her love for him was much..

Gray and Dylan were the epitome of love for me. They prove that despite the differences they have, they can still be together. And if they're really meant to be, nature will work on its own course and make them be with each other. I feel every heartache, happiness, excitement and even the rage that they feel. Second Chance was another big quote book for me and I honestly find myself bookmarking almost everything they say. Haha.

Honestly, I get a bit teary eyed after reading it. Though things work out for both the characters, I still want more. And this craving for more was rewarded when I saw that there would still be more of Dylan and Gray and I just can't wait for it!!

Katy Kacvinski created a story that is too good to be true at the same time it’s too good to be true that you want to have it for your own. Despite the turns and bumps on the relationship, you want to have that one of a kind love that Dylan and Gray have and I admire the author for that. The story she created here was one of a kind for and it was very easy to love. Sigh. I just want more of Dylan and Gray. I’m really a hopeful romantic and I just can’t wait for them to have their own dose of Happily Ever After.

I remember saying that First Comes Love is one of the best YA read for 2012 and I want to add that Second Chance was another best YA read of the year. It was really fun reading about Dylan and Gray. The ride I take with them while reading this still makes me laugh, cry, analyze things and fall in love all over again. :)
Profile Image for Janhvi.
382 reviews135 followers
November 8, 2012
Second Chance is the sequel to First Comes Love. I'd read First Comes Love a few months back and thought it was a stand alone with a decent ending. Though it did leave you wanting for more. So I was pleasantly surprised to see Second Chance come out. I really liked Gray and Dylan so I was quite excited to see where they're stories were leading to.

Second Chance starts off a few months after First Comes Love. Dylan has been traveling in Europe while Gray is in college trying and not succeeding with getting over Dylan. Just when he thinks he's over her Dylan makes an impulsive decision and goes to see Gray. This puts a major dent in Gray's plans to get over Dylan because try as he may he can't help being pulled in her web.

One of the major reasons I like this series is because of Gray and Dylan. They are so real and intense. Each one of them has their own set of flaws yet they get each other perfectly. You get to understand their feelings and emotions more in depth than the previous book. Their journey is exhilarating and intoxicating.

You also get to meet a great set of secondary characters in this book. Combine that with Dylan's randomness and Gray's sarcasm it makes for a great read. Though there were times I found myself frustrated with their behavior. But things just were going in such a way that you could justify it. It was heartbreaking.

Katie Kacvinsky's writing style is just so elegant and beautiful and mesmerizing. It is one of the first things in the book which completely pulled me in. She is a fabulous author who brings the book and characters to life. The ending to Second Chance has left me desperately craving for more. Luckily there IS a third book called Finally Forever in which I hope we finally get a happy ever after for Dylan and Gray.
February 18, 2013
actual rating: 4.5

give me a minute to stop crying *goes into a final sob*

if First Comes Love was awesome this is double awesome. This broke my heart in pieces over these two stubborn people.

This book starts about 6 months after the events in First Comes Love. Dylan is again on one of her journeys to find herself. Gray starts to get angry over this long period of travel and without keeping contact. He starts to move on but unfortunately (or is it fortunately?) Dylan makes and re-appearance in his life. Gray is still angry with her for leaving behind but will the flame of first love die quickly?

Gray said something about Dylan at the end of this book that is so true. He said that she's like a butterfly never meant to be caught. That is true to her character. And through the events of Second Chance, Gray himself comes to peace with that. Also, Dylan now realizes that you can't change yourself for anybody, especially those who love you. So, this was a great insight into the kind of love Gray and Dylan have, which in my eyes is E.P.I.C.

why the -.5 star?

well, I felt the writing has changed a bit than what it was in Book 1. I thought I was reading a different series for sometime.

Finally, those who love you, won't even try to change who you are, but drive you to be yourself. That much I figured out myself.
Profile Image for Komal.
131 reviews50 followers
November 14, 2013
I wish the first book was a standalone. Or that the series only comprised 2 books. I liked this book but I had some issues with it. Dylan annoyed me a lot in this second instalment. She was stupid to think that Gray would've waited for her after she upped and left him like that to go back to wandering aimlessly all over the world. I couldn't also stand the fact that Lenny defended her to Gray. This wasn't the Lenny Gray introduced us to at the beginning of the book.
I have mixed feelings about the ending. On one hand, I didn't like it because it was the result of a lot of drama between Gray and Dylan. First he doesn't want her (which is totally understandable), then they get together and then they break up. On the other hand, I liked it because Dylan's letter made me realise that maybe they weren't meant to be together after all. Maybe she was only supposed to bring Gray back to life (like she did in First Comes Love) and then leave. And I thought, what a great ending. Heartbreaking, but it makes sense to end the series like that. And then I turned the page, and what do I see? A THIRD BOOK. A FRICKIN LAST INSTALMENT. AS IF THE DISAPPOINTMENT BOOK TWO BROUGHT WASN'T ENOUGH ALREADY. So yeah. 3 stars because the ending would be appropriate only if this series was a duo but the fact that there's going to be a last book ruined everything. I don't know how Katie is going to bring them back together without them being one of those messed up couples we see in crappy NA books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Trini.
269 reviews41 followers
November 9, 2012
WOW! It’s really weird but I’m both emotional but pacified by the ending of this book. This is a rear reaction for me but I think it’s because I really get these two main characters. Well at least I feel I do.
Dylan is Dylan. She is unique, talented, artistic, abstract, free thinker and sees the whole world as her playground. Holds nothing back and loves life to the fullest. Loves everyone!
Gray. He’s strong, loyal, athletic, hopeful, loving, understanding and accepting. Wants the full package when it comes to love, especially with Dylan. Loves only Dylan!
These two are well developed characters dealing with an unorthodox relationship. I think the two major issues they face in Second Chance is compromise and sacrifice. How much are you willing to give up to be with your soul mate but it still doesn’t seem to be working out. No matter what you try. What then?
There are so many things I liked about this book. Dylan’s artistic vision for one, all the characters and their dialog, plus the epic emotions from Gray and Dylan’s relationship. This book was so hopeful the whole way through and I have so many wishes for the next book. I can’t wait to see what happens. This is one of the best books I’ve read this year but a warning for you all once you start reading it. Keep a tissue box nearby. LOVED IT!
Profile Image for Anncleire.
1,339 reviews98 followers
November 20, 2012
“Second chance” è l’incredibile seguito di “First comes love” una delle storie d’amore più belle che abbia letto in questo 2012 ricco di incredibili novità letterarie che mi hanno letteralmente conquistata. Questo libro è uno di questi. Non fatevi ingannare dalla copertina poco appariscente perché questa è una di quelle storie che ti prendono alle spalle, che finché non ci sei dentro con tutte le scarpe non ti colpisce. Ma io ne sono rimasta folgorata fin dalle prime righe.
Quello che ho apprezzato di più è proprio il fatto che non finisce tutto “a tarallucci e vino” come direbbe mio padre, ma i due devono affrontare i problemi reali che derivano dai loro caratteri contrastanti e poco concilianti. Gray deve affrontare il viaggio, la convivenza con altri ragazzi, l’allontanamento dai suoi genitori e dalla sua città natale per iniziare l’avventura del college giocando a baseball e cercando di dimenticare Dylan che praticamente non si è fatta più sentire. Ma come fai a dimenticare quello che consideri l’amore della tua vita?

Recensione completa sul mio blog:
http://pleaseanotherbook.tumblr.com/p...
Profile Image for Sherna.
484 reviews50 followers
April 17, 2015
"...falling in love with you is like jumping out of an airplane with no parachute. It’s fun as hell, a rush of adrenaline, until the inevitable crash comes where you leave and my heart splatters all over the ground.”


You know when you try a food for the first time and you get lucky because it so freaking good? This is like, the book equivalent of that. So, so good
Profile Image for Kat.
71 reviews42 followers
October 16, 2012
Gray:
“I think falling in love should come with a warning label: CAUTION—side effects may include breaking up, accompanied by heartache, severe mood swings, withdrawal from people and life itself, wasted hours obsessing over bitter reflections, a need to destroy something (preferably something expensive that shatters), uncontrollable tear ducts, stress, a loss of appetite (Cheetos and Dr. Pepper exempt), a bleak and narrow outlook on the future, and an overall hatred of everyone and everything (especially all the happy couples you see strolling hand-in-hand, placed on your path only to exacerbate your isolation and misery). All above reactions will be intensified with the consumption of one or more alcoholic beverages.”

Dylan:
“I think falling in love should come with a warning label: CAUTION—side effects may include sporadic singing in public (specifically Celine Dion covers), emotional intoxication, constant fool grinning, stomach flipping, eye twinkling, heart palpitations, sweaty hands, jittery feet, lack of sleep, giddiness, deep sighs of contentment, sexual fantasizing, uncontrollable bouts of happiness, and the need to help everyone else around you fall in love so they can experience this blissful state.”

The story takes place four months after Dylan and Gray's last meeting. Dylan is currently backpacking in Europe, seizing the day and all, while Gray is not dealing well with their separation. If absence makes the heart grow fonder, for Gray, it makes the heart grow distant & cold. As Dylan's luggage was stolen while she was in Switzerland, she meets Cat, a fellow American who happens to be at the right place and time as her. Also, Cat happens to know Gray and she dishes his current situation: he is currently on probation and was suspended for two games. As Dylan realizes that Gray is not dealing so well without her, she packs up her bag and flies back to Albuquerque. When she meets Gray again,he was nothing near welcoming to Dylan. He does what he do best, he closes himself up and build walls in order to avoid being hurt. Dylan is determined to win his heart again and hopes that Gray still has feelings for her...


“Maybe it’s not the doors that open in our lives, but the doors that close that define us. That guide us. Because they force us to move on. Instead of thinking about what we lose, look at what we can gain.”
Profile Image for M.
906 reviews30 followers
November 12, 2012
Please Note: If you haven't read First Comes Love, be forewarned there are probably spoilers! Oh, and go pick up a copy!

It's a fairly strong endorsement for a book that when I finish reading it, and find out there's actually a sequel, I buy it without question. With Second Chance, I needed to know what happened with Gray and Dylan, and it was actually hard for me to sit at my desk at work and not dive right into it.

We pick up months after their departure at the end of First Comes Love. Dylan has taken off to gallivant around Europe, while Gray's been pining for her. He's struggling in his academics and personal life, and takes up smoking weed to kill the loneliness. When he decides to try and turn it around, there are more than enough college women around who'd like to give him a hand. He's ready to say goodbye to the memory of Dylan for good -- or so he tells himself.

Meanwhile, Dylan finds herself in a precarious situation, out of money, out of a place to stay. But magically, through a few coincidences and several hours of uncomfortable, dirty sleeping arrangements, Dylan finds herself at Gray's doorstep.

Literally.

Gray's friends are amazed that this is the girl he's been pining after all these months -- she's raggedy, boyish, and could absolutely use a good shower. But it doesn't take long for Dylan to wear everyone down, and they warm up to her. Everyone's falling in love with her, except for the one person she came back to find. Gray's still furious and frustrated with her, and the two of them resume that sexy tension they shared in First Comes Love. Soon enough, despite Gray's resistance, the tension becomes strong enough to bring them together into that same love-blind haze as before. But when it comes down to it, Gray fears it might not last. Dylan, after all, is Dylan.

So where does that leave them?

Above everything else, Dylan and Gray's characters together are the strongest, most memorable part of Second Chance. Apart, they're frustrating. Really, really frustrating. Like I wouldn't want to be friends with either of them, like I would probably turn Dylan around and push her out the door so she didn't come back. Gray's stubborn and carries an air of too serious and no-fun-at-all, while the Manic Pixie Dream Girl traits from Dylan in the first book are magnified. And where that annoyed me in First Comes Love, it worked so well with the story in Second Chance because Gray called her on it, and even her recognized it. Dylan's refusal to grow up and be a big girl are the driving forces in the conflicts, and that carries us right through to the tearful, heartbreaking end.

My favorite part about First Comes Love was Katie Kacvinsky's way of describing the southwest. Having been to so many of the places she described for the first time just around when I read it, I was enamored with them, reliving my trips along with Dylan and Gray. Their exploration of the southwest was what built their relationship for me, and it was sad to not see that strength outlines in Second Chance. But where the first was the story about how they fell in love, this is the story of how Grey grew in the relationship.

Lucky for us, there's a third book on the way -- and hopefully, that will be the story of how Dylan finally grows up.
Profile Image for Trish.
12 reviews
April 12, 2014
I'm crying right now....This is just....this is..wow...perfection....
They're so perfect for each other!! T_T..I'll be waiting for book 3, hopefully Dylan will come back to Gray then they'll live happily eva after.... I am so in love with their story (like srlsly u don't know how in love I am). I find it very inspirational, magical and red (I love the word red, it can substitute many words like anger, love, hurt, grudge, lust, and other strong emotions). I love the thought that Dylan doesn't use cellphones bcuz it's too impersonal, I love the thought that they just left off what they had and just rely on what the future holds. Even though it's so obvious that they are crazy for each other they just let it go but that's the thing about destiny (cliche but I believe in the thought of it) like if you are really for each other, you don't need to search for him/her, it will happen, in time (tho it did not happened in the second book).. I think it's also cool bcuz Dylan needs time, she needs to discover herself (like most of us). It's about that connection that can never be broken or taken away, memories and feelings for each other, .... I think second book is as amazing as the book one even though the author (I love the story, you and your story more :>) left us hanging, not satisfied and wanted to read the third book after I just finished the second one (oh I was like what the frick woman, give me the third book NOW! I wanna read it! I wanna find out how it ends!!! Pleasee show me, pleasseeee, pleasseee T_T). I'm excited like what will happen if they see each other again, would it happen like the first time? Or they would just look at each others eyes for a minute and just grab each other and just devour the moment and let it all go? What will the scene be like? Did Gray moved on and found another woman? Will it happen in a coffee shop? Either way, I know it will be great because Katie is a great writer. I am expecting for more, I am expecting a lot more in book 3! (oh boy,that's right! I am damn excited)

------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Just replace him with her and it clearly sums up the story <3)

Loving him is like driving a new Maserati down a dead-end street
Faster than the wind, passionate as sin ending so suddenly

Losing him was blue like I'd never known
Missing him was dark grey all alone
Forgetting him was like trying to know somebody you never met
But loving him was red
Loving him was red

Remembering him comes in flashbacks and echoes
Tell myself it's time now, gotta let go
But moving on from him is impossible
When I still see it all in my head
Burning red
Loving him was red

- Red by Taylor Swift
Profile Image for Damaris (GoodChoiceReading).
611 reviews225 followers
November 7, 2012
Second Chance takes you back into the lives of Dylan and Gray and their struggle to keep their love going.

When I first started reading it I was a little worried that it would be one of those back and forth relationships and that it would just drag out until the very end. I was wrong and I am so happy with the outcome of things.

Gray is tired of waiting for Dylan. He decides that he will no longer sit around and be depressed and love a girl who is so out of his reach. The book starts with Gray and his struggle to move on. My heart broke into so many pieces for him. He loves Dylan so much and he tried really hard to deal with the distance and wait for her. Eventually it just became too much for him and it was affecting his everyday life.

When Dylan finally returns Gray feel anger, but happiness all at once. He gets so torn between being with her or letting her go. Dylan decides that Gray is the love of her life and that maybe it's time to settle down and stop traveling and see where things can go with Gray.

Gray and Dylan go through so many struggles and I went through them all right along with them. Things were made clear between the two from beginning to end and they both accepted and respected what the other wanted.

Dylan is a character that is so easy going and doesn't dwell on things or let things really bother her. She is a free spirit and is open to everything. She doesn't judge and she definitely doesn't care what others think about her. I absolutely love her! She was a lot of fun to read. There was nothing about her I hated. Gray is not far off and he is just the perfect guy. Their reactions to each other and certain things in their lives were so believable. Gray and Dylan could be anyone you know in real life.

I want to go on and on about how realistic this book is and all the emotions I went through while reading it. I fell in love, had my heart broken then put back together, wanted to cry for both Gray and Dylan, and I also wanted to slap the two. They wanted to make each other happy at no matter what cost and it was heart breaking, but so good!

No secret I give this book 5 out of 5 stars. I love Katie Kacvinsky and the way she can bring two characters to life with words. Also, a huge five stars for the way she can pull me into her world and feel like I am a part of it. She is on auto-buy for me no matter what genre she writes.
Profile Image for lisa.
2,108 reviews304 followers
March 10, 2015
I started this 2 hours before I left campus to go home. And I finished it on the bus on my way to the LRT station, the book was really short, only 113 ebook pages.
Now.

WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT ENDING

I honestly didn't expect that twist at all. I just gaped at my phone and people started to get off the bus and I couldn't move because WHAT IN THE WORLD WAS THAT

IT DID NOT JUST END LIKE THAT OMG


And I was immediately consoled by the fact that there is a third book. Thank God. My heart cannot take that ending, really.


Now,
the book was really short. The story picked up around six months after the ending of the first book. Gray was a mess, because Dylan was away again, seeing the world and not keeping in touch. So he decided to pull his life around again (after moping around messing with pot for 6 months) and decided to work on getting over Dylan.

And suddenly she decided to drop by and into his life again, so cue

*here we go again by Demi Lovato, lol.

I understand how Gray felt. Being left behind sucks. So yeah...I kinda get it that he wanted to get over Dylan because he felt that he was the only who cared. And they weren't in a r/ship, so he couldn't exactly complain.

And I understand Dylan too. She loves Gray, that is undeniable. But she also wants a lot more for herself, she has this amazing plans and ideas and things she wants to do, and that doesn't include settling down and tying herself to one person. I see Dylan as this little ball of energy, she cannot stay still at one place, she has to move around and everywhere.


I still love Gray's voice, and Dylan's too. Their heads are fun places to be in. This book is basically about Gray trying to ignore the pull Dylan still has on him because he wants to keep his heart safe again, poor baby, and Dylan trying to make amends for sth she didn't do enough and seek Gray's forgiveness. It's fun to see them trying to work into and get to the their old position(?) again that is with each other.


Really, they belong to each other. I never love a couple so hard, aside from maybe Percabeth.

I'm typing out this on my phone rn so my battery is low so. Yeah.
End of sorta-review.
Profile Image for Karla.
85 reviews61 followers
March 5, 2013
Sometimes you fall in love with the most unconventional person. At the most unreasonable timing in your life. At the worst point in your life. And despite all of that, it was exactly what you needed. This is the basic story of the relationship between Gray and Dylan in the first book of this series, First Comes Love.
And all I can say is, the first book is no comparison to how this book completely shattered me.

Second Chance starts of six months after the ending of First Comes Love, and Dylan is travelling across Europe with very limited communication between the two over the past few months. Gray is depressed and bitter over Dylan's constant in-and-outs in his life and comes to the conclusion that despite the fact that he may love her more than anything, he didn't want to wait for a girl who was never going to be there.

And long story short, she comes back. She fights for him. For them. She changes every aspect of herself to fit into his picture perfect life. Because she loves him.

But Gray know Dylan better than anyone. He knows her dreams and her wishes and every aspect about her. Most importantly, he knows that she is selfless in their love as he was bitter and guarded.

And at the end of the day, there is a right time for love. A right time, a right place, a right moment. And for Dylan and Gray, it just wasn't at this point in their lifetimes.

Second Chance is the story of just that: a second chance for a relationship between two extremely different people who fell in love in the span of a summer. It is a story of heartbreak, of dreams, of fate. It the story of Dylan, a free-spirit young woman who fell in love with a boy and was willing to put her own dreams on hold for him. It is the story of Gray, a young man who learns of selflessness in the most painful of ways. It is the story of Dylan and Gray, a couple who is still searching for the right moment for their love.

And the best part? This story isn't over yet.
Profile Image for Zoe and the Edge.
674 reviews68 followers
November 12, 2012
I was cringing for the first half of this book. But when they work things out, it's back to happy feelings and yay, this is amazing. I liked this book because there are the regular teenage mistakes and blunders but the author really lets you understand it all.

Dylan and Gray are not on the same page. He thinks she's abandoned him and Dylan thinks Gray is happily living his life. They both know they're in love but Gray has decided he prefers boring and reliable over spontaneous and flighty.

I wanted to be mad a Dylan but she's just so clueless I can only credit her with “dumb”. Dylan really does love Gray. She just doesn't understand what he needs. Sometimes in her efforts to keep him happy, she does just the opposite. But she's still Dylan. Fascinating, random, rambunctious Dylan and she can light up a room by her energy and her craziness. Gray's friends love her. They like what I like, Dylan always has a good time. She's cheerful and entertaining and fun.

I like Gray. He's a self-deprecating, “If life came with an audience, mine would be laughing hysterically right now.” but strong, character. He made me smile. While he acknowledges he radiates happiness just by being in Dylan's presence, he's had enough of being left behind. He makes a good point and I felt sorry for him. He makes mistakes, and he does try to move on. He's still a major catch so he has an endless list of girls he can choose to move on with. Problem is, they are all stereotypically horrible horrible girls.
Profile Image for Sónia.
821 reviews51 followers
November 5, 2015
I don't think I can put into words how much I'm hurting right now, I can't remember crying this much since The Wrath and The Dawn. This book wrecked me within the last twenty pages or so. I knew it was bound to happen, I was starting to get mad at Gray for allowing Dylan to change, if this didn't happen I know I'd hate Gray with all my heart so this is bittersweet. I'm drained right now, this was an emotional rollercoaster, one that it's both smile-inducing and heart-shattering.

I'm overly attached to these two characters, it's not even healthy. Watching them be spontaneous and creative, free-spirited together and then face the reality that even though they're soulmates, meant to be, they don't have the same goals in life, the same dreams. And ultimately that comes between them. It's heartbreaking.

God I feel like I'm repeating myself. I'll take a nap before getting my hands on the third installment, I don't think I have the emotional ability to have my heart broken a third time in less than 24 hours.
Profile Image for Liza Wiemer.
Author 5 books741 followers
Read
May 26, 2013
<3 <3 <3 <3 <3<3 <3 <3 <3 <3<3 <3 <3 <3 <3<3 <3 <3 <3 <3<3 <3 <3 <3 <3<3 <3 <3 <3 <3<3 <3 <3 <3 <3<3 <3 <3 <3 <3<3 <3 <3 <3 <3<3 <3 <3 <3 <3<3 <3 <3 <3 <3<3 <3 <3 <3 <3<3 <3 <3 <3 <3<3 <3 <3 <3 <3<3 <3 <3 <3 <3<3 <3 <3 <3 <3<3 <3 <3 <3 <3<3 <3 <3 <3 <3<3 <3 <3 <3 <3<3

What can I say except I once again fell in love with Dylan and Gray and cannot wait for Katie Kacvinsky's last book in this trilogy, Finally, Forever.

Things that I love about this series:

1. How quirky Dylan is.

2. How Gray accepts and loves Dylan the way she is and doesn't want to change her.

3. That there is hope for this once-in-a-lifetime, ever-after type of love.

4. Gray's awesome friends.

5. Sweet romance. Even though my heart was left aching in Second Chance I have HOPE for Dylan and Gray - see #4.

6. A series that crosses between the YA and NA market!

Thank you, Katie. Looking forward to the last book.
Profile Image for Shreeka.
330 reviews
April 24, 2014
well.. the ending sucked...
“Because from my personal experience, Dylan, falling in love with you is like jumping out of an airplane with no parachute. It's fun as hell, a rush of adrenaline, until the inevitable crash comes where you leave and my heart splatters all over the ground.”
though Dylan may seem selfish, i dont blame her..Gray's right she is like a butterfly, they are not meant to be caught.. But that didnt mean i was happy how things ended. My eyes teared up at the end. Ive still got my hopes up though because there's a third book coming soon!! :) CAn i just say Katie Kacvinsky is an amazing writer, because there are probably a million life quotes in both the books that were all so inspiring.. :)
Profile Image for Dawn   Nicholson.
178 reviews38 followers
May 27, 2013
** 10 Amazing Stars **

'Maybe it's not the doors that open in our lives, but the doors that close that define us. That guide us. Because they force us to move on. Instead of thinking about what we lose, look at what we can gain. I know Gray closed this door to force me to open up all the other ones inside me. Outside of me. Around me. And now I'm stepping through'~ Dylan ~

I want to say so many things about this book, but I know if I do I will give out too much of the story for those who havn't yet read this... This is so good, AMAZING!! Actually.. Even better than the first book. I feel both Happy and Sad after this.. I am SO SO relieved there is another book to follow... HURRY KATIE... PLEASE!!
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