The Ones Who Got Away, Roni Loren

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre:  Romance

This novel  is sort of romance, but of the thinking type, not the wham, clothes off/dicks in sort. There's a place for those of course, but so often in romance the sex becomes the story and not an adjunct to it - fine if that's what you want but many of us want that bit more. This book delivers that perfectly.

Thankfully we don't get the drama, the horror of events as they happen, but delivered in flashbacks, letting us see how each characters has dealt with events over the years. Or have they? When the four girls get together and open the time capsule they made shortly after the shooting we see that actually they've put much of their ambitions on hold, taken the safe route.
After events like that its easy to see why they opted that way, what we can't know is would they have taken that route anyway. When I look back at my teen ambitions I'm far from doing any of them, and I'd guess that's true for many of us. 

Liv though is at a crisis period at work, and looking at teen Liv's ideals makes her look closer at what she's doing.
Meeting Finn again too, she is still full of the same incredible attraction and he feels the same for her. Back then she was the girl from the wrong side and he was son of parents who wouldn't approve of their relationship, so they kept it secret. No-one else knows, not the three other ladies here for the show, one of whom was actually on a date with Finn at the shooting....
They weren't close freinds before but the girls sought each other out after, its an event that makes only those involved able to understand, and that kept them close. Since then they've drifted into their own lives but each seems to have been shadowed by the tragedy. Finn, he's especially focused, having built his life around the events, and now meeting Liv again he's at a crossroads. 

It was a great read, interesting looking at the same event through different perspectives, seeing what effect it had on each of them, seeing how they became "famous" even though that's the last thing they wanted. The bit where the hotel receptionist is trying to take pics of them to sell, making cash from what should be private is sadly so real, something that seems to happen all too often, and was a small section that brought more of the novel to life. It was the little touches like that which made it feel so real. We all hope never to get caught up in anything like that but for some people it becomes real, and the effects live on so long after the tragedy as passed. 
The romance was muted, but still very hot, very real and posed that perfect "what happens now? " moment - I really didn't know how Roni would end things, it could have gone a number of ways but for me was the perfect ending ;-)  
 
Stars: five, interesting, very real read.

ARC supplied for review purposes by Netgalley and Publishers

4 Real Life, Real Actions Stars
* * * * Spoiler Free
With all of the tragedies happening more and more... It was only a matter of time when a novel would use the idea of the High School shooting for an idea. This does it extremely well.

We are there when the surviving students come back after a decade. The time capsule is used to give us a way to see where these kids mentally were at the time of their 18th year. Now they are back... and we follow their seeing each other... and learning what each of them have done with their lives.

Did they try to make a difference with their lives... trying to live big for all those that didn't have the opportunities
Or did they run away and hide from what they experienced...trying to always be safe.

This touches the heart...and be prepared for the Kleenex need.

There is just something about second chance romances that I adore and this book was definitely no exception! I love this authors writing style and stories anyway but add in this emotional heartfelt story and it's amazing!!!

*I won this book on Netgalley for my honest opinion *

I am honestly sad to finish this book. This book was unbelievably wonderful. The dialogue was spot on - the chemistry was off the charts. Finn, can you be my boyfriend now? And boy, does the author know how to write some steamy scenes! Oh la la.

Finn and Olivia were survivors of a high school mass shooting. It showed the aftermath of what the “lucky” survivors ended up doing with their lives. It had a strong message that they weren’t going to let that one extremely scary and horrible event ruin the rest of their lives. It defined them long enough. I can’t say I blamed them. It’s a scary topic that you hope you never have to experience.

I absolutely 100% fell in love with their growing relationship. You knew it was going to happen. This book made me smile, cry, and made my chest physically ache.

Read this!!

I was only sent the first three chapters of this book via netgalley and would have really liked to read the rest. What I read was so captivating and time-worthy, it is I was cut off just when the romance was taking off. For what I read, tho, the book was 5 stars so far

This was a well-written and compelling story. While I have been having trouble lately connecting to main characters, I had no problem doing so with Liv and Finn. Their chemistry was undeniable and electric, but the story was also quite emotional. This was my first book by Roni Loren, and I look forward to reading more from her.

It was difficult to read this story, having been in school during Columbine. Now with kids of my own, the worry is a thousand-fold. However, it brings a measure of hope and peace to read a story about the survivors of a mass shooting being able to move forward and embrace life. This author perfectly captures the struggles and survivor's guilt that is felt in the wake of tragedy. Also, each character is given a small piece of happily ever after, that leaves the reader with a lighter heart.

It took me awhile to read this book because of the subject matter. I knew it would not be an easy book to read. What I didn't realize was how the story would just grip me and make me keep reading. I loved the characters (even the flawed ones) Finn and Olivia were secret not lovers, but make out buddies. They did really like each other in high school, but Finn knew his father would highly disapprove of her because her father was his landscaper. The story tells how after many kids were shot, some drifted away, some tried to make the world better and some never left. When a reunion happens, 5 people realize they still have things to do, relationships to straighten out, and lives to live. It was a wonderful story, heartbreaking at times, uplifting at others. I'm very glad I was given the opportunity to read this very well written book.

I can’t even begin to review this book right now. I need some time to process. My heart is heavy and full, I’m full on ugly crying. This book wrecked me. I’ll be back with a more coherent review. For now, I just need to sit with it.

*ARC received from publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW

It is safe to say that this is one of the most memorable, poignant, heart-wrenching books I'll read this year. This is only my 3rd book by this author but I think after this one, I'll have to get really serious about doing a deep dive into her backlist. She's THAT good.

Without delving too much into the bones of this book - it's about second chances, redemption, about understanding the fragility and brevity of life and making it count. And its about aftermath. The aftermath of a mass school shooting that leaves permanent scars, literal and metaphorical, on those who survived. Finn and Olivia are the two main characters of this book, who were at their high school prom when their lives changed irrevocably. 12 years later, they're back at the scene of the worst day of their lives, reliving memories best left forgotten for a documentary to help raise money for the victims' families.

This book isn't an easy book to read. It's not lighthearted or comedic. It's tough, brutal, unfortunately relevant and timely. These characters, beautiful and strong, fragile and cracked and resilient, are emblematic of many people who exist in the real world. Their struggles are real, their dreams are poignant, and ultimately, their will to survive and not just survive, but thrive, is filled with hope. It's about a journey towards finding happiness, which the book tells us is the ultimate revenge on those who pulled the trigger. An idea that is at once incredibly simple and incredibly complex. I'm giving this book 5 stars - it's not a book I can reread again. But it's a book that I hope many people will pick up. It resonates on a deeper level and it will stay with me for a long, long time.

Absolutely loved this book! Consumed it whole,couldn’t put it down! Excellent read! Highly recommend

The Ones Who Got Away is a tragic story. When your last year of High School the only thing you should be worried about are SATs, and life after High School. However, for a few attending Long Acre High School, anything was but life as usual.
Only a small number of students survived the massacre that occurs. And now a decade later, a documentary is being made to document what those few survivors are up to now.
This was a gripping tale, especially what is going on in the world today. I certainly connected with the characters in this second chance at love romance. Roni Loren did an excellent job of handling the sore subject matter.
I will recommend this story to any readers who enjoy angst before the characters see their HEA

Another fantastic story from Roni Loren! I could not put the book down. The concept, a class reuinion 12 years after a mass shooting, is unique and certainly provides built in angst and drama. It made the characters instantly interesting. I wanted to find out how the shooting affected them, what their lives have been like since and how messed up they still are. The characters are well fleshed out and I could not wait to see where the story went. Now, I can not wait for the next story in the series.

"Overnight, they'd become members of the same club. A club no one would ever want to join."

"She'd found these women. Her tribe. And maybe, just maybe, her way way back home after all."

I remember when I first read the synopsis for this book, I was completely moved by it. I got chills. I knew that this book was going to be a difficult read, but there was just something about this book that was begging me to read it. So, when I finally did get my hands on this book, you can bet I devoured it. My eyes were glued to the pages and my emotions were a total mess. 

The Ones Who Got Away is a compelling and unique story. It is a story of horrific tragedy and those who are left to deal with fall out. Each person dealing with their past in their own way. Liv was a total mess, barely hanging on and I could only imagine what the anniversary to these events would do to her. And Finn...He was no longer the golden boy. His life forever changed; thinking of nothing else for the past few years than revenge. However, all that is about to change when Liv re-enters his life. He's never forgotten Liv. She is the one that got away, the one that always managed to consume his thoughts despite how dark his mind currently is. I was drawn to Finn and Liv. Their pull was intense and so intriguing. I wanted nothing more than for these two to find some light in the dark, some happiness in a world that they don't understand anymore....

The Ones Who Got Away is an intense and difficult story. It is a second chance story on many levels....A second chance at life. Finding hope amongst the pain. Learning to move past the pain and regret. Accepting that you are a hero, even when you don't feel like one. Understanding that is ok to feel guilt about surviving, but not letting that guilt destroy your life. This story is filled with so much hope and shows the true beauty that can come from horrific circumstances. And in the end, this is a story about love and when you're offered a second chance at love, not letting it pass you by. 

The Ones Who Got Away is a very emotional and tough story. I applaud the author for tackling such an intense story-line. I thought that she handled it very well and I loved how real and honest she made the characters. The characters are complex, but easy to relate to. Their emotions are very palpable and their story just heartbreaking. Despite the tough subject matter, this really is a great love story.  It took me by surprise in the best possible way and I just loved every moment of it. This is my first book by this author and I look forward to discovering more from her in the future.

I only received a portion of this book, so it is hard to have a full opinion on the story. I think from what I was able to read that if I had been sent the whole book I would have read it to the end. Due to the tragic story at the beginning I'm not sure that I would buy the book to read.

This was my first Roni Loren book, but definitely not my last! This book deals with tragedy that I'm afraid we're seeing all too frequently. In fact, my timing of reading this was just after the Las Vegas shooting, so our world had recently been rocked by a real life tragedy. I enjoyed getting to know these characters and seeing how the event changed their lives, even years later. The documentary Liv, Rebecca, Taryn, Kincaid and Finn are a part of brought them back together. It reminded them of good and bad times. They are reminded of what their younger selves wanted to do after the wake of such tragedy. Liv decides to go after what her younger self wanted. Finn offers her something neither one of them expected and their journey was heartbreaking, bittersweet, sweet and provided ALL THE FEELS!

I don't want to give away this story but I will tell you I enjoyed the friendships, their sadness and the fact that they experienced something so terrifying but it didn't completely break them. It made them stronger. This group of people weren't friends before the event happened, but they were working on maintaining that friendship. I completely devoured this book and couldn't put it down! HIGHLY recommend this read.

I found this book slow going and I found it hard to get into.

I just couldn't get into this book... It wasnt my cup of tea and it wouldn't hold my attention...

I was provided a sneek peek at this story by Netgalley and what I have read leave me wanting to read more. I will update my review when I have read the completed book

The Ones Who Got Away is a emotional, touching read. The storyline was intriquing and well written. From the beginning to end I was enthralled by it. The characters were realistic, and they showed true emotions and spirit. Not sure how I would deal with the aftermath of witnessing something like that.

I received this sneak peek from Netgalley and I will definitely be looking for the full novel when it comes out to read!

Please note: I received a copy of THE ONES WHO GOT AWAY from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the publisher and author.

Five stars and here’s why:

This book left me speechless! It’s been two days and I am still thinking about this book!

Roni Loren wrote a fast-paced, heart-wrenching story about surviving a high school shooting. “The Ones Who Got Away” were the survivors of a school prom shooting and the book follows Liv and Finn, two of the ones that got away, several years later. What transpires in this book is not only a love story but also a story of survival and perseverance and most of all, hope. This book had all the feels. It’s a highly intense, emotional rollercoaster ride, and I couldn’t put it down. You won’t be able to either. Highly recommend!