I enjoyed this book a lot! I loved the writing and it kept me reading. I fell in love with the characters and wanted to know why they broke up. I kept rooting for them throughout the book. I normally don't read romances, but this one kept me reading. Thank you for creating such a well-written, character-driven book.

This is the first book I've read by Charlotte Rixon and I enjoyed it.
The One That Got Away was a fabulous book with incredibly sweet and engaging writing.
Making me smile throughout and feeling nostalgic.

“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

St. Martin Press,
Thank you for your generosity and gifting a copy of this approved eARC!

Thank you to Charlotte Rixon and NetGalley for my e-ARC in exchange for my review.

The premise of this book sounds super cute, two people who fall in love separate for 20 years and then find each other again. The book opens with a bang, quite literally, and hooks you in. Out of all the characters in the book Benjamin was my favorite.
There were several things that I did not love about the book. Typically with romances I like them to be quick short reads with lighter topics discussed. The middle of the book felt way to long and there was too much information that didn't seem pertinent to the overall love story of Clare and Benjamin. The eventual coming back together of Clare and Benjamin at the end of the book seemed very off to me. If I was a parent who could not find her child after a major event has happened I would not be comforted or interested in talking to anyone, regardless of if I loved them in the past. Even though she was well written, I hated the character Clare, so it made half of the book unenjoyable to read.

I feel like I’m in the minority here, but this book wasn’t enjoyable to read at all. There was some Insta love from Clara that was an immediate turnoff for me. In fact, Clara was entirely unlikable. My dislike for her cast a shadow on the book as a whole, because it was hard to get passed. I thought the book was well written overall, but the author did choose to use phrases such as “he is going to” rather than the contraction “he’s going to” which might have made the writing more laid back and relatable. There were times it didn’t reflect how people really talk. I would like to thank NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity to read this advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book- thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the opportunity to review. Clara & Benjamin meet in those early days of University, both shy ,both uncertain and trying to figure out who they are and who they are meant to become. They struggle with their different backgrounds and interests and as they prepare to graduate a life changing evening sends them in different directions...

This author has written a cannot put down novel. Clara and Benjamin love each other. Friends and family cannot understand. Are they destined to be together? What happens in this romantic mystery? A tragedy…meeting again…a son…a husband…these characters come alive on the pages of this book. This author is talented and gifted at weaving a story where the present meets the past. What happened then? What will happen next? A husband waiting…a career…a family…friends…how did they lose each other. So many questions to answer…also who bombed the stadium? This book was sent to me electronically by Netgalley for review. Thanks also to the publisher and the author. I cannot wait to read more books by this author.