I received a copy of this sneak peek from Sourcebooks Casablanca through Netgalley. This is my honest review.

Like usual, I went into this sneak peek blind, having not read the synopsis before starting. It seemed pretty clear early on that this was going to be a second-chance romance (which I clearly would have already known if I'd read the synopsis, but the clues start adding up fast without that too). I can already predict how the romance aspect of this story will play out and the odds are that my predictions will be about ninety percent accurate, because the romance genre has rules that more often than not are followed to the T. That's not necessarily a bad thing though. When I want predictable, I know that the romance genre is there to help me out. It just is what it is.

What really has me intrigued by this story at this point in the game is why Finn is so sure that Liv would regret being with him. We spent most of the sneak peek in Liv's head, so I've got a pretty good idea of how the shooting affected her and what her coping mechanisms are. I could even relate to her coping mechanisms because they're the same ones I'd use after a break up. But Finn I do not get yet. It makes sense that the shooting would have affected him more deeply than Liv, because he was actually shot, but we haven't really seen how it has affected him, but the sneak peek has me curious.

So would I buy this book on release day? I can't really say for sure because it's several months away and I just don't know right now if I'll be craving predictable in January. The book will be going on my wishlist though because I really want to know what's up with Finn.

4,5 Stars!
In the past, I had only watched a few documentaries regarding school shootings and I even remember vaguely, as an 8year-old the Columbine massacre making headlines all over the world. But, The Ones Who Got Away doesn't deal with a shooting, no, it dives right into the aftermath of such a tragedy.

The pain, the fear, the regrets. The hero, the victims, the survivors. What happens when in an interview about a documentary recounting the worst day of your life, you meet again The One Who Got Away from you? Literally, Finn left Liv alone at the worst possible moment but it wasn't because he wanted to nor with any malice. It just happened and that could have cost her life.
Now 12 years later, after that fateful event, they meet again.

A letter in a time capsule Liv opens with her other three friends, all survivors, will make her reevaluate her choices and what her life turned into. Throw Finn to the mix, the boy-she-loved-turned-torment-man, and nothing can stay the same anymore. Liv masked her pain and dealt with it in many ways, in her college years by throwing caution to the wind and later on by leading a mundane n0-name life.

None of those tactics worked though and didn't help her move on until she found Finn... Finn who feels guilty towards Liv about so many things. Who devoted his life to finding and destroying people who made that school shooting possible. Finn who when it's all said and done will have to leave again by the end of the summer.

But by the end of the summer, nothing will be the same. This book is a romance at heart, it delts with a vicious crime right away but it's still funny, flirty, sexy and playful. I enjoyed it immensely and couldn't put it down and the few things that bothered me can be easily fixed because the book has six until its release date and that's plenty of time to make small adjustments.

All in all, I really loved this book, yes I wanted it to be a little darker but that's not its theme and I totally respect that. Although the pain lingers and it's evident throughout the narration, in the end, the hopeful message it's loud and clear. The characters are where they should be and there is even a silent promise for more.


THOUGHTS ABOUT THE BOOK

- I adored the past scenes, and actually wanted a little more of their initial story.
- The epilogue is great.
- I wanted more scenes with them as a couple.
- Dual POV.
- The writing for the biggest part flowed with ease.
- I was heartbroken with their story. And I couldn't deal with how he left her.
- I wanted some more
- The author proposes shelter-adoption when a character expresses the want for a dog and I always appreciate that.
- I liked all the main characters.
- Her family, on the other hand, was in the wrong. Plain and simple. After such a tragedy they still guilt-trip her on doing their bidding.
- There is also a continuity thing there with her mother's reaction towards her before and after, but let's just say that's what Liv needed to believe in the end.
- I loved Liv's exhibition.
- The banter between them was great, it gave depth to their relationship and really funny.
- The scene where Liv caught Finn having fun with himself was awesome...
- And now I have to praise those three other women.
- Kincaid is incredible, I want her as my best friend.
- Rebecca, surprised me so much!!! She is also amazing. The author did a great job with her because it could easily turn ugly there.
- Taryn, was very cute but I need much more time with her. The epilogue though gives her character so much more depth.
- Those four girls bonded at the same time Liv and Finn were torn apart, by the same disaster.
- I have a feeling this will turn into a series. Rebecca has a secret I want to know..

Survivors of a high school massacre reunite twelve years later for a documentary at the school. Not only does this drag up memories, it also rekindles past relationships, both friendly and romantic.
Finn is a hero who feels he failed the girl he loved and who is still trying to set things right by playing the unlikely hero. Olivia, a badass on the surface yet vulnerable inside, has done everything in her life on the safe side since that fateful day. After unearthing a letter she wrote as a senior, she is finally ready to throw off her shackles and take a chance on allowing herself to feel, and on being brave enough to live a life that scares her. These two come together to sort out their emotional baggage and find peace and forgiveness with themselves and each other. It's not easy, but a whole lot of messy, which is also the reality of a situation such as this.
The way the shooting was dealt with, including the perpetrators, victims and survivors was classy and detailed, focusing a lot on the survivors and what they've done with their lives. Nicely done.
Author's voice is unique and witty, her writing use of figurative language is creative but not strained or forced. Her words flow nicely, which lends to the interest of the plot itself.
This is a love story, of all kinds, which touched me deeply. As a balance, Loren infused enough levity and creativity to make a well rounded novel that was uplifting when it could have gone the other way.

Wow...
Fell in love with this story!
This is one of those stories that you need to understand the dark half to be able to appreciate the light. Yes, it's a fully functional romance book, however, the research that must have been done to pull it off is remarkable. Laughed and cried throughout the whole thing.
Job well done. Highly recommend!

We get introduced to the Long Acre survivors right in the beginning. They were not friends in high school due to social differences but were brought together by the tragedy at the school. I liked that even though they lost touch they reunited years later to open the time capsule together. Their bond seemed to grow stronger during the book and I liked the differences in personalities. Liv and Finn's history makes the current relationship flare hotter and I do mean HOT. The cover of the book perfectly illustrates a scene in the book. The parts with them together have great banter. Liv finally comes out of the cocoon she's been in since the tragedy and I liked seeing her find herself and her dreams again. I received a free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Such a good read, capturing both happy and sad emotions and thought provoking reasonings of the human ability to heal and live to the utmost joy.

I love this book and I can't wait to read the entire thing! Thank you so much for the sneak peak! I will be at the bookstore the day it comes out. LOVE IT so far!! Great story and characters.

Emotionally compelling story

As always Roni Loren did not dissapoint. Unlike her other two series I've read and loved sex is not one of the main themes. Instead this was an emotionally riveting glimpse into the lives of teenage survivors 12 years after a massecure the night of Prom. There is such depth of character to both the primary and secondary characters. You feel their loses yes, but also the hopefulness of learning how to move forward to a happier life.

One of the best books I've read in a long time.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by NetGalley.

Would love to read something by this author again! The story was well thought out and the characters were very likable!

I only read one chapter. What I read was interesting and would like to read the rest

loved this book. dropped everything to start it and read in one sitting. I've already read it twice

This book tells the story of Olivia Arias and Finn Dorsey. Both´re survivors of a terrible high-school gym masaker, 12 years ago. After they had lost sight of themselves they met each other again at the scene to take part in a report on the masaker. These revived the sounds and memories of this horrible prom night. Every survivor found his own way to work through the experience. The one better, the other worse ...

This book is a very emotional story about love and friendship, personal development and the retrospective view from the perspective of former high-school teens.

Through Olivia and Finn you learn how a traumatic experience can change one's life and still subconsciously influence its decisions. For a few weeks they decide to help each other with their current problems. With time they discover that they are still suffering under the events of this time. After all these years, they still feel drawn towards each other and decide to give in to their feelings and found the love that they believed lost. But love is often not easy. Both fight with their inner demons - caused by their respective trauma. Nothing is so hard as to break through the protective barrier...
- Their love to each other is very intense, beautiful and informative.

Chemistry is paramount to a great romance novel, and Roni Loren has managed to encapsulate an intense amount of it between the main characters, Liv and Finn. The back drop of tragedy from a mass shooting at their high school, adds to the emotional turmoil deftly written about in this amazing novel. Fans of Sandra Brown will enjoy the character development, quick-moving plot, and steamy romance. I devoured every page, and can't wait to live it again.

Liv and Finn are both survivors of a terrible tragedy that happened during their senior year of high school. It tore them apart and they haven't seen each other in years.

The little bit of the book I read in the chapter sampler is fabulous! You can feel the pain, sadness, and strength of the characters as they meet up 10 years later.

I am looking forward to reading more!

Interesting excerpt. Not my usually type of genre, but this one does have something I can see romance readers really loving.

This was a sneak peek of this book that is coming out in January 2018 and it was really, really fantastic. Since it was only a sample, was only able to read the beginning but am definitely going to read the rest of the story once it becomes available. This is the story of a truly disturbing shooting that takes place at a high school in small town Texas 12 years earlier....the survivors are brought back together all these years later to help with a documentary being filmed on the shooting and it tells the story of Liv (Olivia) and Finn and how that unforgettable night has affected all aspects of their lives since. It's a difficult subject but so well-written you want to know how the story ends, if these people can finally put some more of their demons to rest and get on with the lives they had planned on back when they were teenagers.

I want to thank the published and NetGalley for providing with a sample ARC for this book.

I will give it 4,5 stars for now. I have read 3 chapters of this book and I am so excited to see what happens next! The bad thing is that this is being released in 2018, so 6 more months to go, I guess. Liv and Finn are the main characters and oh my, you could almost feel their chemistry during these few pages. I'm not going to spoil anyone. The tragedy that drove them apart will somehow draw them back together.

I want to see more of Liv, because she is traumatized obviously, but still she remains as strong as she can be and has definitely matured from that event that changed her life. Then, Finn is the typical mysteriously gorgeous guy that she should not be involved with, but we all know where that leads...I want to see what has he been up to since the tragedy, since there are hints in the first 3 chapters, but there is definitely more to his story too.

I haven't read anything by Roni Loren, but judging from this sample her writing is really good and seems to be able to create solid romance stories. I would certainly check out her other books, but I cannot wait till The Ones Who Got Away is released! If you're into romance, check this one out when it's released on January 2018!

The synopsis really intrigued me. After Netgalley generously sent me a sneak peak. the three chapters made me even more eager to read this book.

I did jot connect emotionally, maybe just not enough for me to feel connected.

<i>I received an excerpt of this book (just the first 3 chapters) via NetGalley. Content might change upon edition. </i>

What a tease this small sample of the book is. Just a small pick to whet our appetite and leave us starving for more. I can't hide the fact that reading the summary of the story left me very much intrigued because I really am a sucker for second-chance novels.

<b>"On one hand, this felt comfortable. They'd always talked easily with each other. But at the same time, they were strangers now. Strangers who had this big, breathing beast between them."</b>

The chemistry between Liv and Finn is palpable, it vibrates around them, there is too much history and unresolved matters between them. I literally can't wait to get my hands on the book once it's published.