Unlike most Jane Austen fans, Pride and Prejudice is NOT my favorite by her Austen novel. Nor are the other more popular novels: Emma, or Sense and Sensibility. My favorite Jane Austen is the lesser known Persuasion.

Of course all of her novels are fantastic and her heroines memorable, but none stood out to me more than Anne Elliot and her ever so charming, Captain Wentworth. So when I saw that the novel by Melissa Pimentel was a retelling of Persuasion, I was all eyeballs.

Ruby and Ethan were perfect for each other. Until the day they suddenly weren’t.

Now, ten years later, Ruby is single, having spent the last decade focusing on her demanding career and hectic life in Manhattan.

There’s barely time for a trip to England for her little sister’s wedding. And there’s certainly not time to think about what it will be like to see Ethan again, who just so happens to be the best man.

But as the family frantically prepare for the big day, Ruby can’t help but wonder if she made the right choice all those years ago. Because there is nothing like a wedding for stirring up the past (summary from Goodreads).

Retellings are sometimes tricky….especially when it’s a retelling of a work by a beloved author like Jane Austen. Honestly, I wasn’t sure that this was going to work but yet there are so few retellings of Persuasion because it’s not a ‘fan favorite’ story, however I was on board for better or for worse.

I don’t know that I would cast this book as a true ‘retelling’ but whatever it was, it worked. In my opinion, I didn’t really see the resemblance or even any recognizable ‘call backs’ to Persuasion and in may ways it actually lacked any real depth….but yet I really liked it and kept reading all the same!

If I am being honest, I would call this book a guilty pleasure. It wasn’t ‘high brow’ or even smart fiction, but yet it wasn’t a trashy romance either. I think the best way I could describe it is a ‘relaxing read’. It was one of those books that you know from the very beginning—even before you turn the first page—that the main characters are going to end up together and there will be a HEA for the heroine, so why keep reading or even bother with a book that you know how it will end? Because, it’s about the chase.

And that’s what this book was, a comforting novel that takes you on a chase and ends right where you expect it to—with two characters finding love and happiness. Sometimes you just need a feel good read and that’s what this was. It’s a book that you could take to the beach or the poolside of a hotel and find comfort and entertainment regardless if you know what the end is about.

Ruby and Ethan are well matched in the story and yet they each have their flaws to make them more relatable. Throughout the story I enjoyed watching their chemistry and romance grow. At times Ruby could be abrasive toward Ethan but it never felt entirely out of character for her either which made her feel ‘real’ to me.

If you are headed to the beach for Labor Day weekend, or even if it’s the dead of winter and you find ourself on the long plane ride and you just need something to distract you—something that you know will have a happy ending—-and you will like the characters, then this is a great option.

I went with 3.5 stars for this one because I didn’t feel like there was any resemblance to Persuasion and I felt that by marketing it as such was a little misleading but yet I enjoyed the story and characters all the same and the setting was pretty spectacular!

Book: The One That Got Away by Melissa Pimentel

Kindle Edition, 352 pages
Published September 22nd 2016 by Penguin
ASIN B01BWA0A88
Review copy provided by: Publisher/Author in exchange for an honest review
This book counts toward: NA

Hosted by: NA
Books for Challenge Completed: NA
Recommendation: 3.5 out of 5

Genre: Contempo lit, chick lit, women’s fiction, romance, retellings

Memorable lines/quotes:

The One That Got Away was such a bittersweet love story. It's story about facing your mistakes and owning up to the guilt and regrets to let go of the past and move on. I'd never pass up on reading a good second chance love story.

The countryside setting and castle wedding was beautiful and so dreamy. The characters were a jolly bunch. There's a fair bit of reminiscing of the past good times and a really good hook that had me dying to know. I needed to know what happened to Ruby for her to end things with Ethan when they were so sweet together. The moment I heard the truth though I kicked myself for ever wanting to know.

Like the synopsis says, Ruby and Ethan were perfect for each other. They're different but they were great together no matter what people thought. I'm somewhat let down we didn't get more scenes between them in the present. I wanted to see how they'd grown in their time apart. The other potential love interests liven the story but I wanted to see a lot more of Ruby with Ethan than we actually got. Maybe I'm just being selfish haha.

I love how the story ran parallel between the Now and Then. It was interesting and ironic to see how the future turned out from the past. The alternating POVs were essential in understanding Ruby and Ethan. Being inside their heads helped to make sense of their actions. Alongside them I felt an array of emotions at what they'd been through. None of it was easy. I prayed really hard for them to find happiness (with each other). Again, I might be selfish here :P

Ruby's confession made my heart ache. She made a mistake no doubt but I hated how it came about...it made me rage. A realistic portrayal of the ugly side of human nature.

My excitement for the book tapered a little when the story dragged towards the end. I also found it wrapped up a bit too quickly. After the struggles and enormous decisions the characters made, I was hoping to see a little of the after. An epilogue would've been fulfilling. Still, my heart is content at the possibilities.

The One That Got Away is a very mature second chance love story. Some things in life are worth the heartache. Thank you St. Martin's Press for providing me with a copy. I'm so happy I had the opportunity to read this book.

I so enjoyed this book. It was so entertaining and I loved the characters.

A great read that included romance, humor (quite a lot) and a little mystery. I sped through this book enjoying every moment.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

Originally posted on Forever Young Adult on 2017 August 24.

BOOK REPORT for The One That Got Away by Melissa Pimentel

Cover Story: Serviceably Cutesy
BFF Charm: Sassy Gay BFF
Swoonworthy Scale: 4
Talky Talk: Have We Met?
Bonus Factors: Rich People Travel, Katy Perry
Anti-Bonus Factor: Mystery Reasons
Relationship Status: Summer Fling

Cover Story: Serviceably Cutesy

I like the colors and the mansion in the background: it’s all very representative of the book, which is a plus; however, it’s not the kind of cover that would make me intrigued enough to pick the book up off the shelf if I wasn’t already looking for a contemporary adult romance.

The Deal:

Meet Ruby, a thirty-something, single, nose-to-the-grindstone New Yorker, living what she believes is her best life, which includes 60 hours work weeks and denying herself bagels (newsflash: You are NEVER living your best life if you deny yourself NY bagels!). She’s about to get on a plane to England for her little sister’s fairy-tale castle wedding to her ex-boyfriend’s best friend…and guess who’s the best man?

Enter Ethan, the son of a mechanic, who had his heart broken by Ruby ten years ago and remade himself into a multi-millionaire app developer with a string of beautiful girlfriends in his wake.

As soon as Ruby sees Ethan, she realizes she made a terrible mistake all those years ago. But how can she get Ethan to see she’s the perfect one for him now, after all the pain she put him through?

BFF Charm: Sassy Gay Friend



Ruby, bubby, look at your life, look at your choices. It would be tough to be friends with you, because a) I’d never see you (you work too hard, love) and b) when we would hang out, all I’d want to do is give you advice on how not to hate yourself.

Ruby was at her most likeable when she was dealing with all her family’s oddities; managing her wheelin’-and-dealin’ father, organizing her high-maintenance sister’s wedding, and bonding with her awesome step-mom. She has plenty of potential to earn a BFF charm once she sorts out what’s important in her life.

Swoonworthy Scale: 4

I was let down by the swoon. I was expecting many a fraught look and simmering sexual tension when confronted with past hurts, but Ethan was surprisingly genial in the present. He’s extremely generous with his money and modest when accepting gratitude, and while it was obvious why Ruby still liked him, I didn’t feel any angst when they were alone.

The main sparks came from the beginning of Ruby and Ethan’s love story, but since it was fairly straightforward—as we already knew they dated in the past—it wasn’t the magic I was looking for.

Talky Talk: Have We Met?

We learn about Ruby and Ethan’s past with a “now and then” format. I personally always have mixed feelings on this narrative device, but, overall, I think it worked well for this novel. There were a few “then” chapters where the focus switched to Ethan’s perspective, but we never got any of that in the present and I found myself wanting to hear more of his side, especially since he kept a lid on his feelings much of the time (see: Swoonworthy Scale).

This is a loose Persuasion retelling, and it hit some of the right notes: Ruby’s family’s fall from grace, a vacation by the sea in Brighton, old flames coming back into your life. But I didn’t find myself loving it as the present love story fell flat, plus much of Ruby’s sister, Piper, and her wedding shenanigans felt stale; we’ve seen this in dozens of chick flicks and chick lit books, and I would’ve enjoyed something more unique than secondary plot about a self-obsessed little sister who freaks out if everything isn’t perfect.

Bonus Factor: Rich People Travel



Ethan’s rich, and Piper’s fiancé is rich, so doling out what must’ve been beaucoup bucks to rent a fancy British castle for the wedding and a mansion for everyone to stay in is basically just a Tuesday. I’d like to visit England with these people.

Bonus Factor: Katy Perry



Does anyone remember that ear-worm, “The One That Got Away” from Katy Perry? No joke, every time I think about this book, that song gets stuck in my head. *sings* The wha-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-one! If you like the song, then it’s a perfectly acceptable bonus factor, but I suppose if you hate it, then most definitely not. (If you don’t care for the song, you may still be interested to know that hottie Diego Luna co-stars in the music video. Go ahead, watch it on mute. I’ll wait.)

Anti-Bonus Factor: Mystery Reasons



In Jane Austen’s Persuasion, we know why Anne Elliot broke up with Captain Wentworth way back when, but in this book the author chooses to keep it a secret until the very end. The reveal is messy and problematic, and I didn’t like being kept in the dark. It didn’t seem like it added anything for the better.

Casting Call:



Oliver Hudson via Dawson’s Creek’s Eddie as Ethan and Katie Holmes as Ruby

I really wanted to envision Ethan as someone else, but due to word associations (Ethan/Eddie, local townie working as a bartender but wants to better himself, doesn’t feel good enough for his girlfriend) all my brain pictured was smarmy Oliver Hudson. Ethan is at least way better than Eddie, and it’s not like Hudson is unattractive.

And, Katie, well, in keeping with the theme...



Malin Ackerman via 27 Dresses as Piper

Except she didn’t steal anyone’s long-time crush and didn’t lie about liking to eat meat.

Relationship Status: Summer Fling

We could make this more than it was: a few drinks and some stolen nights, but I’d rather not dwell on the past, so let’s just shake hands and wish each other the best. No pining allowed.

FTC Full Disclosure: I received my free review copy from St. Martin’s Press. I received neither money nor peanut butter cups in exchange for this review. The One That Got Away is available now.

Is there one person in your life that things didn't work out and you wonder where they are or what could have been? This book is completely about the what if life had gone a different route and these two characters get to meet up and maybe discuss why it didn't and maybe it could now!

Ruby and Ethan dated briefly and things combusted and now they are brought together to celebrate the wedding of his best friend to her sister and they will get the chance to confront the past. They both had secrets and it was interesting when and how they shared them and the reaction to those secrets and maybe those secrets would have changed the past.

I absolutely adored this book. It reminded me of my favorite romantic comedy movie and I loved having these Americans in a Scottish town making ruckus and causing drama in a small town! If you don't read books that happen abroad, be warned that it does happen abroad, but it is all Americans so there aren't too many abroad terms and jokes and such.

The One That Got Away is not technically a YA novel, though it may appeal to YA readers. Keep in mind, however, that its intended audience is adult/new adult and so the situations and material (sex, drinking, etc.) are geared toward older readers.

Like the author, Persuasion is my favorite of Jane Austen’s books. However, I wouldn’t exactly call The One That Got Away a retelling. I don’t know about other readers, but when I’m told something’s a retelling, I look for the source material within the new book. In are some similarities, but a lot of key points are sort of missing. I wish it had been billed as a second-chance romance instead so that I spent less energy on looking for things that weren’t there.

I also dislike the word “retelling” because a comparison of authors also tends to follow, and, in this case, Austen is going to win every time.

That said, there’s a lot that does work in The One That Got Away. I usually don’t like a mix of first and third person in a single work, but in this case it works really well. At first, it’s a little jarring, but once you get used to it, the sense of separation is enhanced.

I enjoyed Melissa Pimentel’s main characters as well. Both Ruby and Ethan are nuanced and likeable. The other characters … not so much, but their quirks also serve to highlight Ruby and Ethan.

The One That Got Away is a nice romance that manages too never cross too far into the cheesy or over-the-top categories. It’s an easy read that fans of romance should enjoy.

I feel it is more of an adaption and a fun, flirty, fabulous one at that! I enjoyed this book from beginning to end. It is full of heart and soul and really is a great read. The second chance romance is one of my favorite book tropes because of Persuasion and The One That Got Away left me completely fulfilled in the end.
I loved this book! For any Janeite who loves a second chance, here is a a great modern for you!

The One That Got Away was written by Melissa Pimentel. This is a cute story that bills itself as a modern version of Jane Austen’s Persuasion. I don’t usually read a great deal of contemporary adult fiction, and I must admit that the Austen connection is what drew me to this book.

Ruby lives and works in NYC, and has dedicated herself wholeheartedly to her career in advertising. As the story begins, she is preparing to travel to England for her little sister’s dream wedding. There’s just one problem- Ruby’s ex-boyfriend is going to be there as well because he’s best friends with the groom.

Ruby and Ethan shared a whirlwind romance during the summer after she graduated from college. Ruby’s father is a real estate mogul, but she had big plans to move to NYC and start her advertising, while he worked at a bar and helped his father in his car repair shop. Despite their different backgrounds, they had a wonderful summer together, but their relationship didn’t last long after she moved away.

Well, ten years later, and Ethan is a tech mogul who is now a multi-millionaire. Ruby is not sure what to expect when they meet again. What can they possibly say to each other after ten years?

This is a cute story. The narrative is divided into chapters that take place “now” and chapters that take place “then”, the latter of which provides the reader with insight into how their relationship formed and subsequently fell apart. These two sets of chapters are interspersed throughout the present-day narrative, which is a bit maddening because I was constantly left wanting to know what happens next.


I would recommend The One That Got Away to fans of contemporary women’s literature. While there are some more serious moments, this book is mostly a romantic comedy. Despite prodding from a friend back in the United States, Ruby’s goal is not solely to win Ethan back. Ten years is a long time, and her main purpose is to support her sister. But Ruby does regret the way things ended with Ethan, and old feelings are hard to stifle. I’m familiar with Persuasion, but I was left wondering if this story would end in the same way as the classic that inspired it. I am looking forward to reading more books by Melissa Pimentel in the future.

I received a digital copy of this book from Netgalley/the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

The One That Got Away is a modern adaptation of Jane Austen’s Persuasion, a classic tale of love revisited. Melissa Pimentel reimagines Persuasion in her own way, turning quiet and humble Anne Elliot into determined and witty Ruby Atlas. Captain Wentworth has evolved into Ethan Bailey, a Forbes magazine featured technology entrepreneur, who, I was happy to discover, treated Ruby much more warmly than Wentworth treated Anne after their angsty decade apart (I love Captain Wentworth, but even he acknowledged that he was rather cold to Anne).

The One That Got Away alternates between the present, where Ruby and her ex Ethan are awkwardly reunited for a week in England to celebrate the wedding between Ruby’s sister and Ethan’s best friend, and past flashbacks covering Ruby and Ethan’s short, but passionate romance. Ruby is forced to confront her lingering and unrequited feelings for Ethan while surrounded by her family and their own erupting problems, all the while suffering over the real, secret reason she broke up with Ethan ten years ago.

When I first heard about this novel from a friend, I knew I had to read it. Persuasion is one of my top five favorite novels, and therefore it’s practically sacred to me. I’ve read three other Persuasion retellings, as well as two blog retellings, and the only time I was disappointed was while reading For Darkness Shows the Stars. I won’t give any spoilers, but Kai alters something that I didn’t agree with ethically.

I thoroughly enjoyed The One That Got Away. Ruby was an entertaining narrator, and her and Ethan’s relationship felt real and bittersweet. I was pleasantly surprised by how Melissa Pimentel improved the minor characters, specifically Ruby’s family, and strengthened relationships instead of severing them as I had expected.

Read This Book If…

…you are open to retellings of classic literature.
…you are not opposed to cursing and sexual references in books (I’d rate this book PG-13, with a generous dose of the f-bomb).
…you enjoy unrequited and lost love stories.
…you are in a slump and need a book to lift your spirits!

2.5 stars? I adore Persuasion , so I was really excited about this. Unfortunately... I was pretty disappointed. The writing was solid, and the book started out well. Ruby's voice was great, and I would have rated this higher if the entire book had been in her POV. But the switch to semi-omniscient 3rd person in the flashback chapters slowed down the narrative in a way that really didn't work for me. (It actually made me want to put the book down, and more than once I was tempted to DNF.) As the plot progressed, the POV shifts got more and more distracting. I also felt like most of the side characters needed to be significantly more fleshed out. Many felt like generalized stereotypes with no depth.

(Spoiler warning: this might be my own personal bias, but any adaptation of Persuasion that doesn't have *some version* of Wentworth's letter is going to be a pass for me. Ethan's 'confession' to Ruby at the end felt like a poor substitute that missed all of the emotional beats.)

3.5

In a world where Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice sees a myriad of retellings, the thing that first caught my attention about The One That Got Away is the fact that it's a retelling of Persuasion. Immediately I thought it was nice to see a different Jane Austen book receive some love. However, in the case of full disclosure, while being supremely knowledgeable about the premise of Persuasion, I have never read the book (I know! For Shame! I will rectify this as soon as humanly possible). Regardless, this fact in no way diminishes my enjoyment of The One That Got Away. What it boils down to it this:

Ruby and Ethan met one summer after Ruby graduated college when she was home, just before she was slated to start a new job in New York City. They decided to do the long-distance thing once Ruby left. Everything seemed perfect. That is, until it wasn't anymore.

Now, flash-forward ten years later and Ruby and Ethan are brought together again at the wedding of her sister, Piper, to Ethan's best friend Charlie. The first encounter proves to be a bit awkward between them, but as the week plays out leading up to the wedding, Ruby admits, to herself at least, that she still has feelings for Ethan, but does Ethan still have feelings for Ruby? If so, will they be able to work out what happened between them in the past, so they can have a future?

The One That Got Away was completely readable for me. Meaning, I didn't have to force myself to pick it back up after setting it down. And I was genuinely looking forward to seeing how everything played out in the end. There's a lot that was left unsaid between Ruby and Ethan from so many years ago, and Melissa Pimentel offers readers glimpses of the "Then" mixed in with the "Now". I enjoyed the back-and-forth, seeing how things progressed leading up to Ruby and Ethan breaking up interposed with what is happening with them now, seeing if they can get back together again.

However, most of the time, I found it difficult to actually like Ruby. She's closed off to the point where she comes across a little snippy and judgmental, and sometimes just plain mean to those around her. We see this as she deals with other people in the wedding party. There's a reason for this (all linking back, of course, to the events that lead up to the break-up), but I felt like the quirks about her personality were almost taken too far. When she does show that she is an actual nice, compassionate person, I liked her a lot more. I think we could have still understood how / why Ruby somewhat shut down without so much snark about her. But this may also be because we only get her point of view in the "Now" portions of the book. There's no one else to soften her character for us by taking the spotlight.

While Ruby was a bit of a hit-or-miss for me, I really loved Ethan throughout the whole book. This again, is probably because we only get his perspectives in the "Then" sections of the book, plus in some well-place email correspondence sections. We don't get in his headspace too much, like with Ruby, but we clearly see how much he loved Ruby back then. Part of the anticipation of waiting to see if Ethan and Ruby can be together again is the fact that Ruby (and therefore readers as well) don't know what Ethan is thinking in the present. He's kept somewhat of a mystery while we piece together all the information.

Overall, I found The One That Got Away to be a pleasantly sweet read. A good, quick read that doesn't take itself too seriously.

Read this as a good chicklit novel of second chance romance which happens to use Persuasion as a guide. Ruby and Ethan are in their 30s (so happy to see slightly older characters in this genre) and are thinking about what might have been. They are both successful, albeit unhappily, and now, thanks to Ruby's sister's wedding, they have a chance to explore why they split and how the future might look differently. Austen fans will o doubt quibble about all sorts of things but honestly, it's a light entertaining read that can stand on its own. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Try this one for a relaxing read.

Persuasion is my favorite Jane Austen novel but I am by no means a purist. When I read a retelling of her work, I want to be swept away by the story. Sure, there needs to similarity or at least obvious homage but I’m less interested in how true it is to the original work. Retellings should take inspiration from the source material. They don’t need to recreate it word for word or scene for scene.

To that end, The One That Got Away lands firmly in the Good Adaptation camp. Granted, it’s been several years since I last read Persuasion but as far as I can tell, the important beats all made their way to TOTGA.

Ruby is a workaholic in her early 30s and living a rather sad life in NYC. Things have not turned out the way she hoped. This is compounded by the fact that she’s going to Scotland for her younger sister’s wedding where her Ruby’s ex-boyfriend will be the best man. Her ex who has made quite the name for himself since she broke up with him.

As the novel progresses, we are treated to glimpses of Ruby and Ethan’s past relationship from Ruby’s first person POV. (The rest of the novel is third person.) They were madly in love and you know something bad must have gone down to break them apart. I may or may not have muttered, “don’t do it, Ruby!” at a few different points.

Of course, Ethan isn’t perfect but he was so perfect for her, in both his past and present iterations, that you can’t help but root for these two to find their way back to each other. For much of the novel, this seems a dicey proposition. But it’s based on a Jane Austen novel and so you can be pretty sure a Happily Ever After is on its way.

Ruby was a complex character and I must admit I didn’t always like her. I could relate to her though, particularly her perplexity over just how her life had turned out this way. She moved to NYC believing it held all the answers and there she is all these years later holding onto a dream that failed her at every turn. She could have made so many different choices but part of adulthood is making mistakes and hopefully eventually learning to unmake them.

The secondary characters are wonderful and crazy-making and keep the story propelling along. Ruby and Piper’s stepmother was especially well developed and my heart went out to her for the precarious place she was in with the girls and their father. It cannot be easy stepping into an already made family and especially not when things remain that way for decades.

When Ruby and Ethan finally have the conversation they should have had years ago, it was such a relief. Not because they said or did all the right things but because communication is key. Always. In everything. You can’t control how other people will respond to what you say but you owe them the courtesy of your side of the story, especially when it comes to romantic relationships. Only then can you determine how or if to move forward. Watching Ethan figure out his next steps afterward and then make his move made my heart sing.

This was such an enjoyable twist on Persuasion!

Ruby pulls herself away from her busy New York City life and career to attend her baby sister’s wedding in England. She’s not that happy to be going, but not because she doesn’t want to see her sister get married. The best man happens to be her ex-boyfriend, Ethan. Ruby and Ethan were in love and they thought it was to be forever, but it didn't turn out that way.

It has been ten long years since Ruby saw Ethan and much has changed in that time frame. Ruby has a successful career in New York City, while Ethan became a wealthy entrepreneur. One thing hasn’t changed, Ruby's attraction for Ethan is still very much alive. However, she fears he is no longer interested in her and who can blame him? Too much time has passed.

This is a re-telling of Jane Austen’s Persuasion. I never read the original Persuasion so I had no expectations about what this book would be like. If the original is anything like this one, I have some good reading to look forward to.

The One That Got Away is a light read, perfect for the beach. It’s fast-paced with a variety of different characters. Some will make you laugh, others will bring tears to your eyes.

I loved Ruby and Ethan, but Ethan would definitely be my favorite. He is the type of guy a woman would want in her life. I couldn’t understand why Ruby let him get away in the first place. “Second chance” stories are good, though, and I enjoyed this very much. It’s a “feel good” type of story that will bring a smile to your face after the final page is turned.

Ruby Atlas lives in Manhattan and is an account director for a busy company called BlueFly. She’s also been working hard to get into shape as she is heading to her sister, Piper’s, wedding being held in a castle in the UK. Her ex-boyfriend, Ethan Bailey, will be there too. He has now become quite wealthy as a type of tech guru, and living in London.

When she arrives in the UK, she meets up with her parents, sister and others. Ethan is there as he is the best man. While everyone is involved in their own little world, Ruby is taken with Ethan’s good looks but he acts very cool toward her.

Ethan and Ruby seem to get along fairly well as they are together during the days before the wedding until she overhears him tell someone that he feels is it truly over between them and he doesn’t think they could ever get back together again. This devastates Ruby because she was beginning to fall in love with him again.

As the story unfolds, we learn what happened to break up Ruby and Ethan and how it has kept them apart all of these years. Is there a way for forgiveness to allow them to make a new start?

This story is told in the present and past so that we learn about the past between Ruby and Ethan. The frustrating thing about this story is that we don’t learn what broke them up until late in the story which makes it hard to build sympathy for them. It’s a clever enough story but not one that I would care to read again.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Thank you for allowing me to receive an ARC of this book. I had some trouble staying connected to the characters and the plot in this story. I am choosing to not review it at this time as I don't want to deter any readers from purchasing the book and reading it. I completely understand that just because I didn't end up loving the book doesn't mean others won't. I am still more than happy to help promote it on my blog. Thank you again for the opportunity to read it.

Like most readers I picked up The One That Got Away due to its marketing as a modern retelling of Jane Austen's Persuasion. The One That Got Away had some of the themes from the original, but quite frankly did not live up to expectations. This was light and fluffy, starting strong, but ultimately devolved into a story that I ended up skimming by the end. Unlike the original, I thought the reason for Ruby and Ethan's separation were rather contrived and kind of dark in comparison to the rest of the books light and fluffy tone. And, those reasons were wrapped up way too quickly to be satisfying.

Seriously, it was totally bizarre to me to see how glossed over Ruby's reason for breaking up with Ethan was. Was no one else bothered by the fact that Ruby's former boss had taken advantage of her when she'd been drinking? It was like a non-issue and I kind of felt that it was a much bigger deal than it was portrayed to be. The fact that Ruby's "mistake" with her boss wasn't unpacked really bothered me. I got the sense that its implied that Ruby did make the choice to sleep with her boss, but the fact that she was drunk really calls that into question and I think it is a really big deal. The fact that this is revealed at the end of the book also skewed the light and fluffy tone for me.

The One That Got Away was a disappointing read for me. Yes, there was some great flashes of wit, but it didn't live up to my expectations or the depth that is apparent in its source material. Couple that with an unsatisfactory ending, and I just can't say that I enjoyed the book.

Ruby and Ethan were childhood sweethearts who eventually broke up. Fast forward 10 years later and they meet again at Ruby's sister's wedding. After getting through that awkward phase of seeing each other again after so many years, does that flame rekindle or do they decide it's better to leave well enough alone? Hhmmm...
I was very excited to be able to review this book so I think my expectations were a little too high.
When I first started reading it, I was loving it but then it seemed to get bogged down with the "Now" and "Then" of the book. As soon as I was enjoying what was happening with the "Now" part of it, the book reverted right back to the "Then" part. Some readers may enjoy that, but personally, I'm not a big fan of too many transitions.
I liked the book but I didn't love it. There were definitely funny parts of the book (especially with Ruby's stepmother, Candace) that I truly enjoyed but the main characters seemed a little bland to me.
It was a good book, not a great book.
Thank you to Netgally and St, Martins Press for the ARC in exchange for a an honest review.

Ruby and Ethan met shortly after she graduated from college. She's preparing to leave their Boston suburb home for a job in advertising in New York City, so their relationship starts off with the clock ticking.

It also starts off with Ruby at something of a socioeconomic advantage. Her father is a big real estate guru, she lives with her father, stepmother, and younger sister in a mansion, and she has a college education. Ethan lives with his father, a mechanic, and has no interest in college. For now, he's content working as a bartender.

Ten years later, Ruby and Ethan are not together, and they're about to see each other for the first time in nearly a decade at the wedding of her sister and his best friend at an English castle.

Ruby has concerns.

For one thing, she worries that maybe she might still have feelings for him. And for another, she's worried that he has no feelings for her whatsoever.

If this sounds familiar, it's because Melissa Pimentel is telling a modernized version of Jane Austen's Persuasion, with Ruby as Anne Elliot and Ethan as Captain Wentworth. You will recognize Ruby's father's fragile health, as well as his social-climbing aspirations. Pimentel does keep you wondering about why Ruby broke up with Ethan; she takes a detour from Austen with that thread.

I got hooked on this book right from the start. I liked Ruby, and I sympathized with her. I liked Ethan, too. Even knowing Austen's book beforehand, I still felt surprised by some of the plot points Pimentel uses, and I swooned over the romance. Just like Auten did, Pimentel makes me cry. I worried for Ruby. Would she figure out the cause of his discontent? Would she find within herself what it takes to be happy?

Pimentel's pacing isn't always as tight as it should be. Sometimes she gets bogged down in details that don't advance her plot or characters, which can distract you from Ruby and Ethan. Despite this, though, I enjoyed the heck out of this book. Even if you have no idea who Jane Austen is, I think you'll like this one. It's sweet, heartfelt, and will give you The Feels.

I've loved Jane Austen since I read my first book by her years ago and after that, I was hooked and had to read all of them. And while Pride and Prejudice will always be a favorite of mine, Persuasion is right up there with it. It is hard to resist Captain Wentworth and all his charm.

I am never one to turn down the chance to visit an old classic with a new modern spin and even though ore often than not I've been burned by Pride and Prejudice retellings, I thought it was just about time that I read a Persuasion retelling.

This was a cute and a very much modern take on the classic and while it was a good weekend escape read, it didn't quite live up to Anne and Wentworth but then again, that really is something very much hard to accomplish.

I sort of wish the author instead of calling this a retelling would have just called it a second chance romance because after all, more than anything, that is what this story is and I think lovers of Austen. While they will like it, will have a hard time comparing the two stories with each other and not feeling the slightest bit disappointed that it isn't something more.

But if you can look past all of that and instead focus on the heart of the story, two people who meet too young and just weren't ready for each other yet, to later come back together and try again, you will enjoy this story and maybe even love it.