TLDR Plot Synopsis: A tragic event brings together a couple who hasn't seen each other in almost two decades. Revisit the past through their relationship and see what led to their demise.

Spoiler Free Review:
I really enjoyed this one! I'm not usually a big fan of books that are character driven rather than plot-driven, but this one was enjoyable. I liked the time jumps and how they allowed me to see character progressions. Sometimes it's tough for me to read about teenagers because it's difficult to relate to their thought processes, but this did an excellent job of looking back in reflection. I think fans of Sally Rooney's 'Normal People' would really enjoy this. There was more plot in this one with a tragic event that is unfolding, but most of the book is focused on the characters.

The One That Got Away by Charlotte Roxanne tells the story of Clara and Benjamin when they first meet at college and also 20 years later. The story goes from present day and the back to college days to give the reader more information. It’s a good story line and totally believable. I like the characters. They have some flaws but find their way through life and circumstances. I would recommend this book. Thank you NetGalley for letting me review this book.

Okay first off this book covers a lot of very heavy topics and I cannot think of a single time that you’re prepared for any of the topics that are about to be discussed, so bear that in mind when you go to read this. I did not like Clara at all, especially in the college chapters. Honestly they both annoyed me, but I really loved Lauren and Aiden. I thought this would be more of a second chance romance, but I don’t think it is. It’s a very heartfelt story, and I really enjoyed it. It was a good book, a lot heavier than I anticipated, but it was good. Thank you NetGalley for the arc!

Benjamin and Clara meet in college. They are both deeply flawed people and their relationship is messy. After a tragic mistake one night their relationship ends. Twenty years later another tragedy brings them back together.

I enjoyed the way the author told the story from the alternating points of view both both Benjamin and Clara. I have to admit that I really didn’t like either character though. I didn’t feel a deep connection between them and as a result wasn’t really invested in if they ended up together or not. The more interesting relationships were between Benjamin and his dad and Benjamin and his son. Benjamin said he wanted a simple life surrounded with those he loved. I feel he achieved that more with those relationships than he did with Clara.

I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley and the publisher in exchange for my honest opinions.

This was such a beautiful, sad, yet realistic story that I enjoyed reading so very much! Yes it dealt with second chance love, but it was deeper than that! Clara and Ben from two complete different worlds and opposites in character meet in Uni (university). What turns into a sweet romance eventually because of trust issues and insecurities starts packing secrets from both parties. Then one night it all changes and their lives are thrown into different directions. I loved the character development of each character and this story actually had a good plot. Told in 3 different times of their life and dual POV. Young love that could have been more if not for two young adults growing up and making mistakes. I loved how the author touched on subjects that others dare to include into stories with a storyline like this one. The ending was well thought out and ends with hope, people trying to accept and be proud of their accomplishments, and love themselves first. Please read trigger warnings before: Violence, Deaths, Bombing/Suicide, Child Abuse, Love and Loss, Marital Issues, Child Abandonment, and Alcoholism.

Thank you NetGalley for this well written ARC.
My first book ever by Charlotte Rixon and hopefully not my last !

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I give The One that Got Away 3.5 stars.

It was a compelling story. I enjoyed the characters, plot, and the writers writing style.

I felt like the book could have been shorter though. There were a few chapters towards the end that felt like they were dragging out. I found myself skimming.

The ending of the book (present day storyline) with the bombing felt a little out there too.

I also found the title made me think this book would be more of a romance, but it skewed drama.

All in all, it was an enjoyable read.

Thank you for the opportunity to read.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC by this talented writer!

This was one of the best books I have read in the last year. The author manages to prevent readers from knowing the details of two major events until the end. I loved the development of the characters of Clara and Benjamin. The heightened emotions and responses in a first love are so well captured here. The desperation and urgent need to be together as they try to navigate life is so relatable. This is no romcom. This a book with serious issues and serious consequences and tackles difficult subject matter. I could not put it down.

The One that Got Away is a heartfelt portrayal of making mistakes and growing up. The story is about Clara and Benjamin who fall in love during college in 2000. One night their lives are turned upside down. Twenty years later, Clara is unhappily married , has a great job and a good life, but she can't forget about Benjamin. A bombing in Benjamin's town brings Clara back there. Clara goes through all the emotions of their past relationship, and all the emails they wrote to each other. This book made me laugh as well as cry. I felt like I was taken along for the ride with Clara and Benjamin. I recommend this book for anyone looking for an emotional charged read that will stay with you long after your done reading.

I thought this book was going to be a romance. It is and isn’t, but mostly it isn’t. There are so many difficult topics in this book and it ends with such a heaviness. I predicted almost every horrible thing which almost made it worse. The writing style is interesting with the various timeline jumps and writing from the perspective of both characters. I know not every book is for everyone, but I had wanted something lighthearted and this was not it. Also, there are so many trigger warnings in this book.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ACR in exchange for my honest review.

Where do you like to spend time alone?

For me I like to wake up earlier than everyone else, and slowly drink HOT coffee while I scroll through my phone. On days where someone wakes up early and interrupts my alone time, my whole day is just messed up.

Two years together.
Twenty years apart.
One day to change their story.

In the year 2000 Benjamin’s world is turned upside down when he meets Clara. He just knows they’re meant to be together. But things fall apart one fateful night.

It’s twenty years later and Clara turns on the television and sees a bombing in the city she first met Benjamin. She has a loving husband and wonderful job, but she feels destined to be with Benjamin. She races to the site of the bombing to hoping to find him.

Clara is forced to confront the reasons she and Benjamin split and reckon with what she is willing to give up to get what she thinks she needs.

This was an interesting read, though it did take a bit to come together with the dual characters, and past and present timelines. I enjoyed it, it just took me a while to fully get into it. I am glad that this one wasn’t labeled a romance, but there is a romance at the heart of this book. Its more an exploration of love, versus falling in love.

Make sure to check your triggers with this one. There are some heavy ones here such as alcoholism.

Check this one out August 15th.

Thank you to the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, @stmartinspress, Netgalley, @netgalley, and the author for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is not your typical "romance" novel. For that reason I really enjoyed it. It tackles the imperfection of first love, college life, family relationships, complicated friendships, and how those primitive years can shape your life. This story reaches out to those who are still wondering "what if" yet trucking forward in life. The character development is well done and it was fun for me to watch these characters throughout 20 years of their lives. The author creates characters you care about and an ending that leaves you wanting more and hopeful.

The story was easy for me to follow, the timelines seemed to show a steady progression to where we find these characters today, while highlighting important years in flashbacks.

*Lots of heavy topics ranging from child abuse, alcoholism, sexual assault, etc. I usually don't like books that end up having too many heavy topics in it, but the author is gentle with the subject matter and gives it the importance it deserves without being graphic.

Thank you to NetGalley, St.Martin's Press, and Charlotte Rixon for this advanced ecopy in exchange for my honest review.

1.25/5 stars! This book had so much potential. The premise was interesting and set things up for a beautiful story of healing and growth and finding a second chance at love. The problem was the FMC was horrid. I actively hated her, even knowing she was not even real. I kept telling Benjamin to run in the opposite direction. Additionally, there was no depth around the characters. I think the author has some good ideas but needs a great deal of work.

I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

I’m sure there are a good number of people who’ve wondered how life could have been different with a different partner or former love. After all, not everyone‘s first love is their “one true love.” Was interesting to get to explore that, though this book wasn’t exactly what I was expecting per the description…

Still appreciated how the story evolved, and how the “long lost love” came to pass. There’s a point in the book, sort of a spoiler alert, here, where one of the protagonists receives feedback that the way she’s written a character is too much, rendering her unlikable. And, I felt that way for a bit about said character. I feel like the author could’ve unpacked and helped the reader better appreciate or understand why the main character is/was as she is… because the reasons provided didn’t quite get me there.

There were a heap of heavy subjects in this book, but they were well addressed and somehow stayed realistic. Maybe a few TWs are due though: illness, loss of parent, alcohol abuse, assault, other violence to name a few.

Overall, enjoyed the book and basically read it in a single sitting. Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Charlotte Rixon for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I'm struggling with writing a review of this book because my opinion changed throughout the course of reading it. I didn't like the first third of the book. It told the love story of two college students, Ben & Clara. I understand they were young, flawed and immature, but I just found them annoying. In fact, I didn't really like any of the characters. I also just didn't feel a real connection between Ben & Clara.

I liked that the chapters are short and told in alternating points of view of the two main characters. The first chapters cover both the beginning and the end of the story. It isn't until about a third of the way through that we learn about the middle of the story. This was an interesting way to tell the story, which I enjoyed. Whle dealing with many sensitive issues including cheating, sexual abuse, alcoholism, death of a parent, suicide, cancer, IVF, and manslaughter, the book was dark at times.

I felt it was well-written and I was happy with the ending. Without giving anything away, I felt it was a very realistic conclusion. Thank you to Net Galley for the opportunity to read the ARC of this book.

Be sure to check trigger warnings (which include alcoholism, death of a parent, cancer, sexual assault, violence, suicide bomber, manslaughter…)
It’s a story of growing up, being separated and a long time in between finding each other again. The story is told in two POVs, and alternates between past and present. The main characters didn’t excite me as a couple, but I still felt drawn to the story and rushed to find out how it concludes. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced reader copy!

THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY is a heartbreaking yet hopeful love story that is riveting from the very start. A poignant novel of two beautifully flawed people who are meant for each other. Benjamin and Clara's story is honest, real, and raw. Benjamin and Clara are both so pure yet struggle with their insecurities, fears, and mistakes, making them all the more relatable and human. While ready to commit and plan their future together, one incident will affect the rest of their lives.

How do two people move forward in their lives when their hearts are so tightly entwined with the past? It's remarkable to see how much Bejamin and Clara evolve and grow over twenty years, yet at the same time still longing for their time together twenty years ago. To think what they've both had to endure, admit, overcome and almost lose to end up back in each other's lives.

I think this book made me feel just about every emotion including happy, sad, angst, angry, charmed, frustrated, shock, anxious, hopeful and more. The author knows exactly how to pull the feelings right out of you. First time reading this author and could not be more pleased! Looking forward to reading more of her work.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

<i><blockquote><b>A simple life with people I love. That's all I've ever wanted.</i></b></blockquote>
The One That Got Away is an honest, heartfelt portrayal of growing up, making mistakes, making up, and finding hope in the direction life takes you.

Benjamin and Clara meet in 2000 in college. Benjamin is a shy, awkward boy learning the ropes of University. Clara on the other hand is confident, buoyant, and fun. They fall into a deeply interconnected relationship. Growing and loving one another. Like any relationship, some things don't mesh. Clara can't handle Bejamin's love for soccer. She's still young, insecure.

On one fateful night, their lives, the trajectory of their futures, their dreams are shattered. There is no way to come up for air in this endless sea of heartache.

20 years later, Clara is married, but unhappy. She has the job, a kind husband, but she can't shake the feeling of Benjamin and what happened, what could have been.

A bombing in Benjamin's town draws Clara back to his small English town. In the days that pass, Clara explores the chaos of their relationship. The emails they wrote to one another over the years, and the thoughts she was never able to shake.

The story is divided between Clara and Benjamin, through various years leading up to the bombing--the side stories are important and interesting.

The One That Got Away is a poignant story that explores very complex issues like infertility, grief, loss, alcoholism to name a few. I thought Charlotte Rixon has a very important story to tell. It is passionately executed with characters that a reader can easily attach to--it is an honest story and I couldn't put it down.

4.5/5 stars

I'm not sure what I was expecting this book to be about but I was surprised, pleasantly so. Reconnecting with a long-lost love is something I always find interesting to read about and this book was no different. While both main characters weren't people I could really relate to personally they were both interesting, especially how they navigated their relationship.

The bombing starting off the book was unexpected and really set the tone for all the "what ifs" to follow. It left you wondering, for a long time, who was responsible. Then you figured it out, you were sure of it, and then nope, you were wrong. Then you keep reading and you figure it out ... again, and then nope, you're wrong again. I liked that it wasn't just put out there and actually made you think, even if you were wrong. I couldn't stop wondering who the "bomber" was even when I wasn't reading the book.

I also appreciate that the book didn't have a typical HEA. Some people will probably hate that but I think the ending was perfect for the story and the characters.

3.5 rounded up to four stars. More later! Need to process

The One That Got Away is the story of first love: it’s hopes, dreams, and flaws. This novel has multiple timelines over the course of 20 years. There’s also a duel pov. I’m not a fan of either Clara and Benjamin for much of the book. They were young, too young perhaps when they fell in love. Clara’s clingy and demanding. Benjamin’s so unsure of himself that he comes across as unable to make decisions. Lots of secrets. However, both grow up and by the end I was rooting for both characters. This story’s multiple timelines were confusing at times. I’m not sure all were necessary? I kept waiting for more of the why they weren’t together, what had gone wrong? It is revealed, but not until later in the book.
This is a good second chance love story. The last third of the book is much better than the rest. I did want more at the end! Is there hope for a sequel?

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Charlotte Rixon (author) for allowing me the privilege of reading this ARC. All opinions are my own.

OMG!!! I LOVED this book! I just saw it on NetGalley and "asked" if I could have the opportunity to review and am SO thankfuly I had that opportunity. The author had me always wanting more to see whether Clara and Benjamin were going to be together in the long run or not. The suspense, love, loss, the stages of parenting, addiction, abuse and things that you see happening all around us in the world today, made me want to continue to read. I would encourange anyone who enjoys a good love story, that still has a taste of the past, present and future, as well as things in-between, to grab a hold of Charlotte Rixon's book and a cup of coffee and don't stop until you are finished. You will love this novel!