I just loved this story, The characters and setting were perfect and I became so invested in the story.

. . . ⭑ ⭑ ⭑ ⭑ ⭒
This was an unexpectedly immersive read. I didn’t have any expectations when picking it up, which I think is such a great way to embark upon a read. Building a book up or down in your mind before you turn the first page can alter how read and interpret it. All to say, that being unassuming when it came to this read definitely worked in its favour.

A romance story of sorts, more so a tale of long-lost, but not long-forgotten, love. Centering around Clara and Benjamin during their university days and formative introductory into adulthood, the two find each other, fall into love, and then come apart, but never fully severing their emotional ties to one another.

Told from alternating POVs and variable timelines, this book showcases the lasting impact we can have on one another, and intensity of the relationships we can form.

There are definitely some trigger warnings in here, and it’s not a lighthearted read, but it’s engaging, immersive, and hopeful.

A debut novel worth reading, ‘The One That Got Away’ came out in August, and if you missed it, you should check it out.

~👩🏻‍🦰

Just loved this story, the characters and the setting. I was very invested in their story and kept me very engaged. Thank you for this arc in exchange of an honest review.

The One That Got Away was a bit slow for me. When we finally discover what has kept Benjamin and Clara apart, I was annoyed at Clara and sad for Benjamin. While I had to find out the details of the bombing the book starts with, I wasn't rooting for them to get back together. I was very invested in Benjamin's life and how he was raising his son. I would have loved a book just about them.

Benjamin and Clara fell hard for each other, but a terrible accident on the last night of university tears them apart. Twenty years later, Clara has a successful career and a husband, but when she sees a terrorist attack on the news, she has a horrible feeling that Benjamin could have been involved. Her fear leads her on a journey to find Benjamin and the piece of herself that she buried 20 years ago.

The story jumps back and forth through time between 2000 and the present day (as well as the years in between) so that the full story of what happened between Benjamin and Clara isn’t revealed to us until near the end. It’s a story about first loves, how they can shape you, and how they may never entirely go away.

I enjoyed the premise of the story, and it was a quick read, but it felt as though the author was trying to do too many things at once. It’s a love story, but it’s also a bit of a sports story, an abuse story, a substance abuse/mental health story, and a story about a failed marriage. And I would have loved for the story to be all of those things, but the story doesn’t dive deeply enough into any of these elements to feel effective. My main problem with the story though is that I never bought into the relationship between Benjamin and Clara. I couldn’t make sense of their attraction to one another, they fought constantly and never resolved their issues, and I never got a sense that they had a deep connection, so it was hard for me to imagine Clara not being able to let go of the relationship for 20 years. That being said, I did enjoy the story, and I think those who enjoy romance will find it a quick read with a different angle on familiar story elements.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This one was a little too predictable for me. The story had potential, it just fell a little flat for me sadly. Still worth the read and checking out!

I received a complimentary copy of this book "The One That Got Away" and all opinions expressed are my own. I listened to the audiobook. I had previously downloaded the kindle book which I did not finish because it just wasn't for me. I tried the audio book and although I finished, it still wasn't a book that I liked.

I did not know what I was in for with this one!
Is this a romance? It definitely explores the thoughts and feelings of two individuals in a relationship, but Charlotte Rixon's story goes so much deeper.
This book at its core is a character study. How do we as humans evolve based on the experience of our past? How does our past affect our response to present situations and circumstances? How will what we're going through currently affect the future we may have?
I was so compelled by our main characters as we weaved through different periods of their pasts, while also exploring their present. Rixon walks the line with these characters. We love them at times and are frustrated by them at others. There are moments when they're not likable, but that plays into the realistic portrayal of human beings.
I don't think this is a perfect story. There are aspects of it that feel forced, feel out of place, feel like they're reaching and in doing so take away from the core message of the story. But I definitely enjoyed the ride through these character's lives.

I received an electronic ARC from St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are completely my own.

I connected with both Benjamin and Clara right away. However, they his novel is much heavier than the synopsis led me to believe. Readers should know that there are several difficult topics covered in this novel, not only a fictional bombing.

I did appreciate the author’s writing-style, but this novel just became too heavy. It seemed like everything that a character can face in a novel was written about. I get that life is messy, but how much can two people, and the people they love take?

This book was not at all what I expected. I wouldn't call it a romance, and even calling it a love story is tenuous. It's a story about two mixed up young people who made several mistakes that caused their relationship to end. Twenty years later, there's a chance they may reunite.

I liked Ben more than I liked Clara, and I liked the last part of the book more than the first. The book opens with a shocking scene and through the course of the book, we are led to think that it was this person, then that one who was responsible, but we are wrong. We finally get the whole story about what exactly happened.

The writing style is not for everyone, but I did enjoy the book, for the most part. I look forward to reading the author's other books.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the chance to read and review this book. All opinions expressed are mine and given freely.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy. This book was a real page-turner. The tragedy in the first chapter is fully revealed in the end, and the dual timelines and dual perspectives keep the reader engaged. Hints are dropped throughout about a tragic event that changed the course of lives and relationships. The love story was interesting and fully developed .

Well written, very compelling story. A love story.

This book takes you through the life and love of Clara and Benjamin. How they met and what happens along the way. The life after first love and possibly moving on. Then the meeting again after so many years. What will happen. Will she make the right decision. Will he.

This story is told from two timelines and two povs. Clara and Benjamin both tell their story. While I was not crazy about Clara she is a vital part of this story. It's not the kind of story you expect it to be either. Yes it's a love story but also so much more. There is a what happened? A who done it? And that ending.. That wonderful ending.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc. This is a winner.

This sentence, taken from the blub—story about growing up, growing apart, the people who first steal our hearts, and the surprising, winding roads that love can take us on—sums up this story perfectly. Do any of us really forget our first love and wonder what our life would be like if that relationship would've just worked out?

Clara and Benjamin are very much in love and have hopes for the perfect life together, until it all goes wrong. As they each live their separate lives, they can't forget about what they had. Twenty years later, another tragedy throws them together and are the sparks still there?

I enjoyed The One That Got Away and was totally rooting for this wonderful couple. They aren't perfect by any means but then, who is? The goal is to be happy in your life and I was hoping for the best for them. I look forward to reading more by this author.

Every once in a while a book comes along with such a grabber of a first line that it pulls you in and doesn’t let you go until you’ve finished, and this book fits that bill.
This is the love story of Clara and Benjamin. They met in 2000 during their first year of University. They couldn’t have been more opposite of each other, and yet they knew they were meant to be- until they weren’t. Told third person from each of their perspectives and told during multiple years (not always in consecutive order) Charlotte Rixon tells a beautiful story of first loves and how they’re never forgotten.
This is a very character driven book filled with topics such as sexual assault and alcoholism. The characters Ms. Rixon created are very real and sometimes hard to like because of that. That being said, the reflections they have on their past selves add so much to the realistic nature of this story.
This is not your typical romance and as such there is none of the typical predictability that is often found in books of that genre. This is, however, a very realistic look into the lives of first loves and the fallout of their breakup. This is Charlotte Ricon’s debut novel, and what a debut it is. I can’t wait to see what else she has to offer in her career. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy. This hit the shelves August 15th.

The One That Got Away by Charlotte Rixon was a decent read but not a memorable one for me. While the theme of the book is Clara and Benjamin’s relationship, this book fits more into the contemporary fiction genre than a true romance novel. If you're reading this book thinking you're getting a lighthearted second chance romance, you're in for a wild ride. While I think the author had a good idea with the story, it wasn't my cup of tea.

This one was a bit of a let down for me!

There were many things that didn’t work for me in this one. The timelines being all over the place was really confusing, as you had to manage 2 POVs along with time jumps.

There were also many many things that I was not expecting, like cheating (both emotional and physical) and child abuse. Sure it made the book more emotionally impactful and dramatic, but it also left me with a bad feeling.

I also just didn’t get on with the characters, so sadly it was a miss. But if you enjoy a second chance romance about finding your way back to your first love despite growing apart, then give this one a try!

THE TIME LINES FELT A BIT CONFUSING.

I REALLY WANTED TO LOVE THIS AS I AM A HUGE FAN OF SECOND CHANGE ROMANCE BUT IT JUST DIDNT DO IT FOR ME, SADLY.

Thank you to St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC!

This was not what I expected when I requested this book. I was expecting a sappy love story, but found something much more. Clara and Benjamin are pulled together, but driven apart so many more times. I felt as though in reading this book there was such a lesson in how keeping secrets can continue to drive wedges. We saw that in many of the relationships (don’t want to give any spoilers!!).

Ultimately, I felt that the author, Charlotte Rixon, did a beautiful job of tying in sensitive subjects without them being the only focus, areas such as sexual assault, manslaughter, infertility, bombings. I gave this book a solid 4⭐️. I would say that I enjoyed the book, though I found the main character, Clara, to be a bit whiny feeling. It fit in regards to the story line. However, I generally prefer strong female main characters and she didn’t really shine through as one till the very end when she shows up for Benjamin and Aiden.

I really liked how this story was laid out. There's present day and chapters in the past with two narrators. This book was pitched as a romance, which I suppose it sort of is, but it is much more than that. This would fall under domestic drama, too, I think. Benjamin and Clara meet at uni and immediately fall in love. Something happens, though, and we aren't sure what until towards the end, but there's a slow build up to it. But there are important side stories going on in each of their lives that add meat to the story and help explain how life sometimes gets in the way.
I think there was too much introspection on both of their parts. "It's all my fault" "I'm a failure" "If he loved me" etc etc etc. This book doesn't need all that filler. Lay off the receptive inner thoughts.
It is a good read and I do recommend it.

Clear came from a very rich upper background. Benchman came from like a working class background. Benjamin mcclair when they were both at the universities.. Claire was standing outside a bar and Benjamin offered to take her home. Benjamin had another friend who did not Like C l a I r e. Benjamin was a very confused man and he liked football. But he also had a drinking problem.. He tried so hard to be everything to everybody. Claire and benjamin hit it off. Claire wanted him to do better in life. So she helped him get jobs through her father.. Benjamin r Benjamin was very secretive about his past. Where I have problems too. But she seemed to manage everything like a perfect machine.. They were like soulmates until something tragically happened. When they left the University, everybody was partying that night. Because they were graduating the next day. Richard, who started it because claire slept with him one time to get back At Benjamin He was watching the football games and drinking with his buddies. And things just seem to get crazier and crazier.. He could not reach claire so he decided to go looking for her. Richard was pestering claire and benjamin who had a temper went off on him. Benjamin ended up in jail. It cost the punch killed richard. So benjamin started a new life after getting out of prison, and he went back to his parents house. Things were not easy from there either. Because he got a woman pregnant, and he was trying to raise his son because His ex girlfriend did not want him to do with the child. And it was really interesting how they talked about drinking sexual abuse in this book. His son was experiencing that through football with this coach. Claire and benjamin somehow found a way together because of the bombing of the stadium. Claire was Was married to a man named thompson, but they had a lot of problems in the marriage and claire was not very happy. Her best friend, laura had children, and she seemed to be really happy with her husband. In this book re You'll find out what truth love is. And soul mate is because it seems to be tied together at the end of the book.