I loved the first novel in this series, never read the second, and then read this novel as it was the one I was really most interested in. That being said, it was fine.

What I liked was the characters and the spice. That was really good and enjoyable and I enjoyed reconnecting with characters from the first novel.

What I struggled with is … what does Lucian actually do? He’s always in helicopters and doing fancy things but none of it makes any sense? His job(s)/company/everything he does? It doesn’t make any sense. The location and its proximity to DC never made any sense and that continued here as well. There was also just a lot going on and a lot of plot points going on as well.

I think I just wasn’t vibing with this as much as I wanted to.

I heard a lot about this book from friends and family and I assumed it was another cheesy romance book. ITS NOT. Okay, well, yes it kind of is but not cheesy in a bad way. Cheesy as in a sticky, creamy, oh so delicious way 😏🤤😅. I hadn’t read the first part of this series but I’d didn’t matter. I was thrown head first into this cruel and hateful enemies to lovers romance that captures even the coldest of hearts. I ship Sloane and Lucian so much my heart hurts.

I wish we got another book that went into more of their lives once they get back together 😭

My only critique is that sometimes the author can leave out some of the important details that make the book flow better like going into why Lucian’s mind snapped so fast and what he was thinking, and a little less back and forth with the petty arguments! Thank you Netgalley and the author for this read!

Sloane and Lucian seemed destined for forever when they were in high school, but life and misunderstandings got in the way. Now, 15 years later, they reconnect again after the death of Sloane's father. Lucian can't seem to walk away, even though he's never forgiven Sloane for a mistake in their past. Throw in a mob boss with a vendetta, a court case appeal, a small town library, and a hundred other secrets everyone seems to be keeping, and you've got a recipe for humor, heart, and thrills.

A second chance romance story, with two compelling characters. These two had great chemistry - even when the plot dragged a bit, the characters shone through. While I haven't read the first couple in the series, I totally understand the appeal. This one, unfortunately, seems like it wasn't the strongest of the trilogy. It felt like two books mashed together - both were great, but should have stood on their own.

Let's start with the fact that this book published almost 3 weeks ago and has a 4.51 rating on Goodreads with 57,000+ reviews. This means I am not alone in recommending the Knockemout series.💕. This is the third book in this trilogy. If you haven't read them yet, please start with the first one: Things We Never Get Over. These are meaty books with fantastic character development (lots of back stories) and an amazing found family of friends. The community and real families of the characters are also lovely. And there's an ongoing, engaging suspense-ish arc through the three books.

This is Lucian and Sloane's story and I have been waiting for it. You could feel the tension between them in the last two books and this one goes deep into the origin of their animosity and all that smoldering tension. Sexy small town library and ruthless corporate businessman. They used to be next door neighbors and friends but have been enemies for years. What happened? I loved seeing their story arc. And once they finally acted on that tension? 🔥🔥🔥Basically, I loved the emotional roller coaster and Lucian might be my new favorite book boyfriend. 💕💕💕 Read it!

Thanks to the publisher for sharing a copy with me. All opinions are my own.

Yes! Yes yes yes!!! We 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦 get Lucian & Sloane's story! I have loved the other two books in this story but this....this one doesn't want to give my heart back to me! 𝐒𝐮𝐢𝐭 𝐃𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐲 𝐋𝐮𝐜𝐢𝐟𝐞𝐫 has stolen it and locked it up!

𝙻𝚞𝚌𝚢 𝚂𝚌𝚘𝚛𝚎 has done an incredible job rounding out the 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘂𝘁 series and has left me not wanting to say goodbye! I have fallen hard for this series! This book was intense, funny, a little suspenseful and masterfully chiseled!

The spice and banter in this one was off the charts captivating! I loved it! Seeing Lucy with Sloane was just a fun ride for sure!

If I could give this book five thousand stars I would! Great job to the author and I can't wait to see what she has in store for us next!

I wasn’t ready for this series to be over so I tried to savor this book as much as possible 🥹 I’m so excited that Lucian and Sloane’s story is finally here + that it lived up to my expectations!

💜 enemies to lovers
💜 grumpy/sunshine
💜 small town
💜 steamy 🌶️
💜 bickering + flirting

Lucian and Sloane grew up next door to each other + bonded over a shared secret. Lucy Score did a great job of slowly revealing pieces of information about their past that helps the reader understand why Sloane and Lucian feel the way they do about one another.

I lived for all of the scenes with Knox, Naomi, Nash, Lina, Stef, and Jeremiah 🥹 these characters have come to hold such a special place in my heart + I just want to be friends with them 😂

"Things We Left Behind" by Lucy Score takes readers back to the spicy-sweet town of Knockemout, Virginia, where Lucian and Sloane's fiery love story unfolds. This enemies-to-lovers romance is filled with passion, secrets, and two strong-willed characters who will captivate readers from start to finish.

Lucian Rollins is a determined and relentless mogul. He's on a mission to erase the dark legacy left by his abusive father, and he's willing to do whatever it takes to build his empire. Money and power are his shields against vulnerability, and he's convinced that he can handle anything life throws his way. That is until he encounters Sloane Walton, a feisty small-town librarian.

Sloane Walton and Lucian share a hidden history, one that fuels their mutual disdain for each other. Trust doesn't come easily between them, but sparks fly when their bickering unexpectedly turns into a passionate connection. The chemistry between them is electric, and their love story sizzles with intensity.

The heart of this story lies in the tension between Lucian's aversion to commitment and Sloane's desire to start a family. Their clash of desires forms the central conflict, and readers will eagerly turn the pages to see how they navigate this impasse.

Lucy Score crafts well-developed characters who feel real and relatable. Lucian and Sloane are both flawed and complex, making them compelling protagonists. Their banter is witty and entertaining, adding humor to their passionate encounters.

The setting of Knockemout, Virginia, adds charm and warmth to the story, providing a cozy backdrop for the romance to unfold. Score's writing style is engaging and easy to follow, allowing readers to immerse themselves in the story.

"Things We Left Behind" is a steamy and emotionally charged romance that explores themes of trust, family, and the power of love to heal old wounds. Lucy Score delivers a satisfying and passionate tale that will leave romance readers eager for more.

I absolutely loved everything that this book had to offer and it was such a beautiful conclusion to the series. I laughed and cried a little for this book, definitely the best enemies to lovers book I've read so far!

Thank you very much for the opportunity to read this book early! I really enjoyed it. I thought the writing was very well done, and the story kept me interested. I believe my students/patrons would also love this book and will be acquiring it for the library!

This book made me very invested in the characters and their relationship, even if I disliked certain parts of the writing style and some of the remarks that were made in the book, which shows that this book definitely met its goal. I yet again found a Lucy Score book altogether too long, as there was about 100 pages that could have been synthesized to make the pacing much better, but I really enjoyed the storyline and how the relationship between Lucian and Sloane developed. As a conclusion to the series, I think that it wrapped everything up in a very satisfying way and I enjoyed the friendship dynamics that were one of the focal points of the story.

My favorite installment in the series by FAR and about one of my fave literary couples! I loved this book from the very beginning till the very end. It has had everything I look for in a romance.

Thank you for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
I was DESPERATELY waiting for this book to drop! I read things we never got over and got glued! Loved the characters, loved the romance, great storyline. Second book came out, felt the same way. But let me just say there was something about Lucien’s dark broody character you just NEED more of so when I heard this book was coming I could not wait! It was everything I could ask for. Dark, broody, sexy. You finally get to hear about what happened between Sloan and Lucien that we’ve been waiting for ages to find out! Read it, just read it

I loved this series. Each book could be a stand alone, but better together. You really get a connection to all the characters. Lucian and Sloane have overcome so much, and are a very strong couple because of everything.

The Knockemout series is second to none! Sloane and Lucian's story was such a perfect and satisfying end to my glimpse into the lives of these characters and their beloved town. Like the rest of the series, I couldn't put this book down and have since recommended to just about every romance reader at the library, which feels fitting given Sloane's profession.

I adored Sloane and Lucien. They had such an emotional past and they really had to work through a lot to finally find true love and happiness witj one another.

As always, Lucy writes amazing side characters and it was so good to see many of them again. It was very bittersweet to finish this one too because I know our time in Knockemout is over 😥😥😥. I loved how everything was wrapped up and I can’t wait to see where we go next!

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

Read this if you like:
📚 Second chance romance with a difficult past
📚 Bookworm meets bad boy
📚 Small Town romance with some big city moments

The third and final installment to the Knockemout series. Sloane and Lucifer have been a side attraction throughout both previous books and we finally get some answers.

I personally found book 2 to be better than this one. Its absolutely a personal opinion, but its all come down to mysteries and secret keeping. I'm not a huge fan of unspoken pasts. Its used as a tool to keep a reader going, and it works, but that doesn't mean I like it. And the past between these two is so muddy. Its very very hard not to side with one over the other. Someone is pretty boneheaded for holding an incredibly misaligned grudge for over 20 years. The other could be faulted for allowing it, but I'm just glad it FINALLY came out and was resolved.

The current focus of suspense was ok. It really took second place to the interpersonal drama. It was good. It was what alot of people guessed it would be. Its all wrapped up on a bow. I'm glad everyone has their closure and HEA.

The Knockemout series, featuring Sloane and Lucian, is a small town romance that has left readers enamored with the cast and town. The series explores their history and their childhood friendships, leading to a passionate and intense relationship. The chemistry and tension between the main couples are unmatched, and Lucian even refers to Sloane as a good girl.

Thanks Netgalley for a free copy for an honest review.

The Knockemout series has been an absolute hit with me! I've been looking forward to reading Sloane and Lucian's story since I finished the first book, and it definitely lived up to my expectations. Their story had everything I could have asked for and more. I was hooked from start to finish. Sloane and Lucian's witty, angsty, and emotional chemistry was just perfect. The tension between them was off the charts, and their bickering throughout the series was just the icing on the cake. It was great to see all of my favorite Knockemout residents again, especially the hunky and hot leading men. I loved how the mystery carried through all of the stories and was resolved in the end. Lucy's bonus epilogue was the perfect way to wrap up the story. All in all, it was the perfect conclusion to this fantastic series! It’s a must read!

Thank you, @netgalley and @read_bloom, for the opportunity to read an eARC of this book.

Things We Left Behind is the final chapter in the Knockemout series, following the tortured history of Lucian and Sloane and the tension that’s been building in previous books.

Very similar in style to the first two novels, Score once again uses the enemies to lovers trope, and it got a little overplayed. I appreciated that we didn’t have to wait the entire book for the “big secret” between our main characters, but honestly… the secret was really ho-hum. There was no rational reason these two should have hated each other as much as they did. It just didn’t seem believable. A friendship dissolving makes sense, but the hatred, no.

Overall it was entertaining. It wrapped the mini-crime thread up well enough, had the familiar and amusing banter amongst the friend circle, and of course delivered the smut the stories are known for.

*I will give a trigger warning for abuse. It’s not overly graphic, but a presence in the book for sure.

Thank you SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books and Netgalley for this ARC copy.

This was a hard book for me for some reason. I have read the other 2 books in the series. I usually really enjoy Lucy Scores books. Sloane and Lucian have always been my favorite characters but this book felt a bit off for me. I love their charged energy and the angsty sexual tension between them. The storyline and flow of the book left me wanting for more. I didn't like the slow pace of this book and was left disappointed throughout the majority of the story. ⅗ stars. It was a good book just not great like the others that came before it. Thank you Netgalley for sharing this book with me in exchange for my honest review.