Chapter 2: A Dating App for People Who Have Lost a Spouse

The Short Version: Dating after the loss of a spouse can be hard, but Chapter 2, a dating and community app, is easing the way. Its founder, Nicky Wake, lost her husband in 2020. When she discovered there were no online dating options for widows, Nicky built Chapter 2 as an online space where widows can meet others who know firsthand what it means to lose a spouse. For all its challenges, dating after a spouse's death can be empowering.

Census Bureau figures show that among U.S. adults older than 75 who were ever married, 58% of the women and 28% of the men have lost a spouse at some point in their lives. Older people lose spouses at higher rates than younger people do, but it can happen at any age.

Users who've lost a spouse tend to know plenty of senior dating platforms, but online dating can be harder for younger widows and widowers. Plenty of other people on dating apps may not grasp the particular experiences and outlook of a widowed person who's trying to date again.

This is where Chapter 2 steps in. Nicky Wake founded Chapter 2 as a combined community, resource, and dating app. After her husband's death, when she decided to start dating again, she found online dating almost unwelcoming to singles who had lost a spouse.

Nicky's online platform lets widows and widowers find community, dates, and more.

“After some of the world’s most disastrous dates, I thought to myself that there must be a dating app for widows,” Nicky said. “I thought it was natural because we’re uniquely placed to understand each other, but I just couldn’t find anything.”

A Community and Dating App in One, Built by Widows

Nicky said that when she felt emotionally ready to date again, the online dating pool didn't seem to match what she wanted. “After you get over the initial grief and shock, I felt like I was too young to spend the rest of my life alone,” she said. “So I decided to get back out there, and try the online dating thing.”

To Nicky, online dating felt like the Wild West, and she went on a handful of disappointing dates that didn't go anywhere. Dating after losing a spouse is hard for many layered reasons, and Nicky felt those difficulties keenly on her first try at online dating.

Losing a spouse makes dating hard in lots of ways, and Chapter 2 is making it easier.

“You know, if you walk into my house, it’s full of pictures of my late husband,” Nicky said. “My house is full of memories of my husband, my heart is full of memories, my head is full of conversations I’ve had with and about him. It takes a big person to deal with that.”

Dating after the loss of a spouse takes a certain balance. A widow or widower never stops loving, honoring, and missing the spouse they lost, but that doesn't mean their hearts and minds have no space for a new love.

Nicky saw that singles who've lost a spouse understand one another in ways other people can't, and that's how the idea for Chapter 2 came about. “I went online, I checked the App Store, I checked Google Play, and I couldn’t find anything for widows,” she said. “I wanted to create something authentic.”

Connecting Through Grief

Chapter 2 has strong dating features, but Nicky built it to do far more. Beyond dating, the app gives widows support and resources while they cope with losing their spouse, along with tools for building community and getting organized.

Nicky said a prerelease for users in the United States is rolling out; for now, Chapter 2 is available in the United Kingdom. Like other dating or community apps, it lets users build a personalized profile.

Chapter 2 was built to link widows with dates, resources, and community.

Users can apply search filters and look through profiles. Because Chapter 2's approach to dating centers on authenticity, users are encouraged to be upfront from the start. Profiles should spell out what users want in a relationship, plus as much of their dating history as they're comfortable sharing.

After matching, users can chat and start building connections. Chapter 2's community forums cover a range of topics, including dating and losing a spouse. Users can visit the forums to express their feelings or read posts from people in similar circumstances.

Forums, Blogs, and More on Chapter 2

Chapter 2 welcomes every single who has lost a spouse, LGBTQ+ people included. Chapter 2 uses the word “widow” for anyone who has lost a spouse, whatever their gender identity.

Online dating can be hard to find your way through. Nicky's goal was for Chapter 2 to be as easy to use as it is robust, striking the ideal balance between a user-friendly interface and a wide range of features. Every part of Chapter 2 exists to smooth the path to dating for widowed singles.

Widows will find a wealth of resources on Chapter 2.

For singles ready to explore new connections, Chapter 2 offers a simpler path. Returning to dating after losing a spouse is challenging, and Nicky said having a community around you that understands the struggle helps enormously.

“Chapter 2 can bring you whatever you’re looking for,” Nicky explained. “It can be many things. It can be a relationship, a friendship, or companionship—it’s about stepping back out there and seeing what’s possible.”