This is the book in the series I’ve anticipated the most, but it just fell a little flat for me unfortunately. From the rest of the series you knew that Sloane and Lucian had a super estranged relationship and we all were wondering, “WHAT HAPPENED THEY HATED EACH OTHER SO MUCH?!”

For 20 years they’ve held this grudge/hatred towards each other and honestly, I don’t really know why Sloane hated him. We figured out why Lucian held the grudge though.

Chapter 18 is where I really started getting more emotionally connected which turned me off a little because it took almost half the book to be like okay now we’re getting somewhere. I think the book could’ve been shortened a ton for sure.

I did love the alpha male - touch her and die sentiment and you start to see Lucien crack his hard shell. He opens up a lot to Sloane and it melts my heart he’ll do whatever for her once he realized it’s ok to love her. I also loved the suspense in it with Anthony Hugo (the mob boss) even though it was a little predictable with how everything went down. And how at 80% through of the book everything was so rushed.

Needless to say, this wasn’t my favorite in the series but I did like how everything was neatly wrapped up in a bow to end the series.

When a librarian and her childhood crush turned enemy, a mean vengeance-seeking mogul are forced to finally face their past and the brewing feelings between them, can they finally work it out or will a more sinister element destroy any chance of a relationship between then? Lucian Rollins has made it his life's goal to move on from his abusive father's shadow and become a wealthy vengeance-seeking mogul who has made himself cold and ruthless, he never wants to be vulnerable and out of control again, except he just can't seem to do that when in the presence of a certain busty and perky librarian who gets under his skin like no one else. Sloane Walton loves her job, she loves her friends and family, but who she doesn't love is Lucian "Lucifer" Rollins who hates her. Sloane is a librarian who's beloved father has just passed and now she's dealing with the grief of his loss and the fact that she wants to start a family of her own, yet she can't seem to get away from her childhood crush turned enemy after she betrayed him when they were teens and now he's determined to hate her. Lucian and Sloane are forced to spend time together because they share the same friends but also because Lucian is close to Sloane's parents, as if they were his home, yet Lucian has never forgiven Lucy for betraying him and now years later they still can't stand one another. Yet when Sloane's own life is threatened, Lucian will do whatever it takes to protect her, even if it means leaving the one person who's stolen his heart, yet it definitely will be impossible. What started off as a only physical relationship soon becomes more, but can Sloane handle Lucian if he leaves her again, and can Lucian finally admit that he's been in love with her this entire time?? This one was definitely a long read, like its 500 pages of yearning and back and forth, the banter between them was great, but it took over 200 pages for me to actually like Lucian at all. He definitely gets better by the end and you can kind of get where he's coming from but geez. Sloane was a great protagonist, I really did adore her. Overall, it's a fun read and if you enjoy the friends to enemies to lovers trope, the grumpy x sunshine, and such, then this is for you!

*Thanks Netgalley and SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books, Bloom Books for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

I can't believe it's over 😭 I love Knockemout and all the characters in it. Lucian and Sloane were fire 🔥 just like we all hoped. The banter was SO GOOD. I absolutely loved the back and forth. Also, just the quippy one liners of the random new characters were so hilarious. I was laughing out loud at multiple points. This book was the spiciest one of the series. SO MUCH SPICE. Too much spice though? Not to me. But maybe for those who prefer fade to black or only one or two explicit scenes. I really liked the twists in the on going mystery of the series. I definitely didn't see it coming. This book was THICC but it didn't seem long. Overall, this was one of my fav books of the year.

Thank you to Bloom Books and Rick Hambright for a copy of this ARC.

Thank you Bloom for the advance copy. Excuse me as I fangirl all over this book.

Things We Left Behind by Lucy Score is everything I dreamed it would be and more. I was entranced by it. I could not put the book down. It consumed my weekend.

Sloane and Lucian’s story is three books in the making. THREE! Sloane is a sassy librarian who has a secret history with Lucian, the complicated suit daddy with baggage as big as the sun. I expected their story to be of epic proportions and Lucy Score delivered it with perfection. She even provides a few chapters of the past so readers get the entire backstory.

Oh and TWLB is STEAMY. I give it 4 🌶️s. It is by far the steamiest of the series (see bottom of review for all closed door modifications).

I am truly going to miss Knockemout but it warms my heart to know that Lucian and Sloane, Knox and Naomi, Nash and Lina are out their living their best lives.

Read if you like:
• friends to enemies to lovers
• spicy, steamy romances
• binge-able books
• “Good girl”

Closed door modification: 20, 21, 23, 28 29 30, 42

Ahhh. What am I supposed to do with my reading life now!?!?!

SLOANE AND LUCIFER. Sorry, SUIT DADDY. Sorry, LUCIEN. This book was worth the wait, in my opinion. I absolutely adored TWNGO, but was slightly let down with TWHFTL. I didn't love the "only she can fix me" trope when what Nash really needed was therapy. And to not make a woman feel like she had to be with him or he would spiral. I digress. Sloane and Lucien were perfect, and their shared back story and trauma made the "enemies to lovers" that much sweeter. I won't lie, I could have used a scene of their first fight after the THING happened. I would have loved to see the first time she called him Lucifer. I also wanted a scene in which Lucian found out what Sloane did and what it cost her. Hearing his inner dialogue would have really helped set up why he kept his distance for so long. Overall, this was a perfect ending to these characters and I am so sad to see them go.

I'm sad this is the last in the series. The story between Lucian and Sloane was the one I'd been waiting for since the very first book. It was fun to read the back-and-forth between the two characters and it is also VERY steamy.

The friendships and found family within the stories were what solidified my love for this series. I'm sad the serires has come to an end.

4 stars. I enjoyed Things We Left Behind, but it was my least favorite of the series, which I think will put me in the minority, because I can totally see this being many's favorite. In my mind, I was really hyping up Lucian and Sloane as a couple, because we got so much delicious tension in the previous books. And to be fair, that delicious tension is totally present in the first half of TWLB (which I'd say is a bit of a slow burn). That said (and I can't believe I'm saying this), sometimes they were almost too mean to each other for my preference. Some of the things they said, I feel like I would have had a hard time bouncing back from. TWLB, like the other books in this series, is thick. But for the first time, I felt the length. I normally love slow burn, but the first half of the book felt a little too stagnant and slow for my liking. That said, once the pair finally got together, things really picked up for me. I read the first half of the book over about 3 days, and the second half in 1.

I felt like TWLB was a bit different from the first 2 books, because in my opinion, the bad guy/ mystery aspect of the plot felt less than in the previous books (or maybe I'm just not remembering the earlier books well enough and it was the same with those too). And if I'm honest, the way things reconciled were a little anticlimactic. So for me, this felt more like a character-driven romance, with the plot playing second fiddle. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it's just different from the first 2 books, which I felt like were equally character and plot driven. Sloane also had some personal things going on in this book that made it feel like a more emotional reads than the others (I def had some tears in the epilogues- so kudos to Score because I don't tear up easily).

What did I love? I loved Sloane, just like I loved Naomi and Lina. That girl group is hysterical and Sloane is a total badass. And also a librarian, which as a fellow bibliophile is probably the coolest job in existence. I loved the steamy scenes between Lucian and Sloane, and I also loved the vulnerable scenes. I also enjoyed the flashbacks (which if you follow my reviews is something I never say) and I felt like they were essential to understanding the Lucian and Sloane dynamic. I also loved Lucian's grovel/ mea culpa grand gesture. Believe me, it was grand. And I really REALLY loved the 2 epilogues and also how Score wrapped things up. All in all, if you're a fan of the series, I do think you'll enjoy this one (I did). If you're new to the series, I would recommend reading in order. Even though each book follows a different couple, events from the previous books definitely play a role in this one.


Thanks so much to Lucy Score, That's What She Said Publishing, and Bloom Books for sending me an advanced copy in exchange for my review.

Was this the most amazing thing I have ever read? No not really. Did it pass the time and was fairly enjoyable? Sure! Average plot with average characters. The romance was okay. I don’t think I will remember this book in a couple of days.

I missed book two in the series, but I loved the first and last. If you are a romance junky and can tolerate the swoon of an enemy to lovers, this book is for you!
Sloane and Lucian are found…against their will in each other’s company during Sloane’s father’s funeral. Their on and off relationship leaves bitter feelings and fiery sparks ignite. Their reconnection is in an awry kind of way. The scenes are hot and intense with a great combo of characters!
Thank you NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Things We Left Behind is the third book of the Knockemout series of interconnected standalones and is Lucien and Sloane’s story. This was one of my most anticipated reads this year and it did not disappoint! Favorite. Freaking. Book. Of. The. Year!!! Suit Daddy was everything I was hoping for and more! He was broody, an alphahole, protective, possessive and a man of few words. And Sloane just loves to push his buttons and get joy from getting under his skin. Seriously, these two could stand to be around each other without arguing about something. The banter between them had me cracking up and saying just screw already! The sexual tension was the best I’ve ever read…and the spice was chef’s kiss! Lucien and Sloane will forever be one of my favorite book couples!

There are some heavy subjects in this book so check the trigger warnings. It will have you on the biggest emotional roller coaster of your life! The friendships that these characters form are what dreams are made of…I want them as my best friends! I have loved this series so much and am sad to be saying goodbye to some of my favorite characters. Thank you Lucy for another amazing story!

Another excellent book from Lucy Score that finishes her Knockemout series. This was my most anticipated one in the series and Sloane and Lucien do not disappoint. Though some of the pacing was a little off for me, the romance more than makes up for it. I’m sad to be leaving Knockemout behind, but Lucy Score is an author I’ll be continuing to follow.

It's really rare that an end to a trilogy and the culmination of an epic enemies-to-lovers build-up pans out, but this one knocks it out of the park. I'd been eagerly awaiting this couple since the beginning, and it was worth it. Funny, sweet, and spicy, it was a perfect vacation read, with some darker elements that gave the characters a solid storyline and save it from becoming saccharine. I already want to re-read this, and I'll miss this group of friends and their weird, therapy-inducing adventures.

<i>Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this in exchange for an honest review. You saved me months of waiting. Now I can continue to wither and pine after my very own Lucian. </i>

I have read almost everything Lucy Score has written. I have been waiting very impatiently to read the third book in the Knockemout series. I was not disappointed!!!! I have been dying to read Lucian and Sloane's story since book 1. Why do they hate each other? Why can't they seem to leave each other alone at the same time? The title is fitting as we learn how Sloane and Lucian try to leave each other behind. Does having history with someone mean that you should keep them in your life? At what point is it just too much and time to walk away forever? I loved that this book continued to weave together the threads of the two previous books. The threats to Nash, Lina, Naomi, Knox, Sloan, and Lucian continue to build in this story until you aren't quite sure who will be left standing at the end. This book totally hit me in the feels. As a blonde librarian myself, I can't help but love Sloan. I did not expect this to be such a tear jerker, but it was! I still can't decide which book is my favorite...I loved them all. It might be this one. Lucy Score needs to write Maeve's story next!!!

A fun follow up in the saga of Knockemout. There has been a lot of build up waiting for Lucien’s story and this sure did deliver! Fans of this series will be pleased with Score’s latest entry. It will be a great treat for readers coming off the high of summer and still looking for an escape.

After the death of her father, smalltown librarian Sloane Walton decides it’s time to find her own happily ever after. Her neighbour, Lucian Rollins, is a hotshot mogul hell-bent on seeking vengeance and building an indestructible empire. Sloane and Lucian are enemies and yet, they share a secret history with each other. After Sloane’s attempts at online dating go awry, Sloane and Lucian develop a temporary truce and “enemies with benefits” arrangement. But, when old threats reappear, Lucian learns that it’s harder to protect Sloane from a distance. Can Lucian shed his hard exterior and convince Sloane to give him a real shot?

Things We Left Behind is the third and final installment in the Knockemout series, and whilst each book focuses on a different couple, the books should be read in order as the main action continues throughout the trilogy. Things We Left Behind is a spicy contemporary romance with dark and suspenseful elements featuring the grumpy and sunshine, enemies with benefits, enemies to lovers, and forced proximity tropes. This would be perfect for fans of books like Dark Succession by Katee Robert or Twisted Love by Ana Huang and themes include secrets and lies, self worth, love and sacrifice, life and death, good versus evil or light versus dark, family, justice and injustice, and crime. Potential trigger warnings include wrongful incarceration, physical abuse, violence, cancer, death of a parent, and arson.

Firstly, the plot reminded me of one of my current favourite songs, “Electric Touch (Taylor’s Version)”. It was great to jump right into the story without a lot of preamble because Lucian and Sloane were already introduced in Things We Never Got Over and Things We Hide from the Light, plus all my favourite main characters from the Knockemout universe still played key roles! Lucian’s morally grey personality was enjoyable, whilst Sloane has some serious book loving energy, which I think a lot of readers will connect with. Lucian and Sloane’s soulmate-like connection was stunning and reminiscent of the popular paranormal romance novels like A Court of Thorns and Roses and From Blood and Ash. There are also some totally swoonworthy moments involving a cherry blossom tree!

Things We Left Behind had a fair number of flashbacks sprinkled throughout the novel outlining teenage Lucian and Sloane’s history. Even though they were needed, I’m personally not a big fan of flashbacks and felt like they were a little drawn out, but I do think that readers will enjoy finally figuring out Sloane and Lucian’s secret, yet alluded to history. Lastly, some of the smaller plot twists were a little obvious, which was disappointing, but there was also a big twist that I didn’t see coming!

Even though it wasn’t my favourite in the series, Sloane and Lucian’s enemies to lovers romance definitely did not disappoint. Things We Left Behind is perfect for fans of morally grey love interests, suspense, and spicy “enemies to lovers” romances.

Lucy Score never disappoints with anything that she creates. A master at telling romance at its finest, she’s an autobuy author of mine for a reason. Absolutely loved this story as much as her others!

I am new to the author and didn’t realize this is the third in the Knockemout series. I felt like I started in the middle and but quickly realized it was more the writing style of jumping into the story. The book opens as Sloan Walton is preparing for her fathers funeral. She lives in the town of Knockemout and loves being a senior librarian. She is surprise when Lucian Rollins arrives for the services. He was the boy next door growing up. He has become a very ruthless multimillionaire business. He always wants to be in control after growing up with an abusive father. It turns out that he has always remained in contact with her parents and helped as her dad was dying of cancer.

This is a childhood friends turning to enemies eventually finding love romance. For me the writing style in the beginning was overly dramatic. But slowly I was drawn into caring about the relationship and original break up between Sloan and Lucian. And when it gets steamy there is extra gusto to the story. There are threats to Sloan for some work she is doing and Lucian goes alpha male in his desire to protect her. I like the story and the friend group. Both Sloan and Lucians best friends are coupled up and were the MCs in the previous books. They add some lightness to the story and are the confidants and encouragers.

Score seems to be a writer that likes to tell her books in a longer fashion. At almost 600 pages I could have edited a lot out of the story. She even adds in two epilogues. I enjoyed the book and if my TBR pile wasn’t so large I’d go back and read the others in the series. I will also look for future works. Thank you to Sourcebooks, Bloom Books and NetGalley for the ARC and I am leaving an honest review.

A good conclusion to the series. I admire how you can see the author’s writing development as you continue to read her novels, and I would say this one is the best written. It is very readable and the banter between the characters is great, but it could be a little shorter. I also enjoyed the friendships we see develop with the characters.

3.75⭐️

•••

THANK YOU BLOOOM BOOKS FOR SENDING ME THIS ARC 🫶🫶🫶🫶🫶🫶🫶🫶🫶🫶🫶🫶

Things we left behind is the last installment of the Knockemout series and it was one of my most anticipated release of this year and it did not disappoint! This book was filled to the brim with humor and a sucker punch of sadness here and there.

Sloane and Lucian’s banter was the funniest thing ever. Their story was easy to get into and it was something I didn’t expect. Their history with each other went so much deeper than I expected. We got some chapters of their past and I absolutely loved the parallels between the past and present.

This book IS the definition of SLOW BURN. Because it was so so soooooo slow. It was frustrating at times but I managed.

I loved the relationship between the main characters and the side characters. The friendships, the families, the FOUND FAMILY was so heartwarming. The found family in this series is one of my favorites.

Sloane and Lucian kept bantering and I was cackling every other page and highlight literally the whole book bc it was so funny and I had a really good time but then…

They had sex and everything kind of felt meh after that.

Lucian was such a dick and he has his reasons but it was sooo annoying. For a 592 page book I would’ve expected more groveling.

Also his way of going about a relationship was… interesting. I mean it was definitely unique! Okay but seriously what the heck 😭😭 it was a very Lucian thing which was kind of ridiculous but funny nonetheless.

I got kind of bored because this book was so LONG. But anyway cute things started happening and I was like “oh it would be perfect if the book ended here” but this BS with *redacted* happened and I was so close to just giving up BUT it was worth it in the end because that epilogue and bonus epilogue made me so emotional and I realized that this was the end of the knockemout series and I was just 🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲

THAT EPILOGUE AND BONUS EPILOGUE. GUYYSSSSSS I WANT TO CRY.

If you liked the previous two books I’m sure you’ll love this one! Okay byeeeee

I understand why people love these books so much I really do but these men are not for me. Lucian breaks up with Sloan and then once again the woman’s life is in the balance because score can’t write an original thing and he changed his mind and wants to be with her after she almost dies. Then Lucian becomes possessive and tells Sloan that they are together and she has no choice and at some point she just stops fighting it. I don’t like stories like that. Consent is important to me.