There were some heavy topics in this book but overall it was a good read. Dual POV and alternating timelines, second chance romance. So much to love about this book!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC audiobook. This book was good and I liked the dual narrators and time jumps. However, at times it was hard to see where the story was leading and the ending felt rushed after all the buildup. Overall, not a bad read (or listen).

This book is deep, emotional, heartbreaking, and leaves you hopeful. I enjoyed this book.

It's a story about Clara and Benjamin who fall deeply in love. You get both points of view, which is a format I enjoy, so you get an understanding from both sides. This book had me laughing which turned to being sad and then to being hopeful, an emotional rollercoaster for the characters an the reader. Worth the read and will be recommending this book.


I did not like the narration as much I felt like it made the book drag so i ended up getting a copy to read on my own

Charlotte Rixon's "The One That Got Away" is a poignant tale of love and loss set in a charming coastal town. The story follows Emily, who reunites with her first love, Alex, after many years, reigniting old feelings and forcing her to confront past choices.

Rixon's narrative is authentic and heartfelt, exploring themes of regret, forgiveness, and the pursuit of happiness. The characters are relatable, and the novel's evocative prose transports readers to the picturesque setting, immersing them in its beauty.

"The One That Got Away" is a captivating exploration of love's enduring impact and the transformative power of forgiveness, showcasing Rixon's storytelling prowess and leaving a lasting impression on readers.

I got this audiobook for free in exchange for an honest review.

3 stars because of the audiobook. I felt like this took me FOREVER to finish and that's even with increasing the speed. Overall, the story is cute but with some intense rollercoaster. I don't know exactly how I feel because it did have some triggers but the audio felt like it dragged. I feel like I missed my chance to feel the connection of the characters and I'd like to give this book another shot by just reading it instead of listening to it.

This book really took me by surprise. I thought a young love book - how deep can this really go? And boy I was blown away!

Our main character, Clara meets Benjamin and both of their worlds are forever changed. They meet in college and experience love so intensely they know they are never going to be the same. 20 years later they are completely different people on different paths when there is a coming in the city Benjamin is in. Clara knows she has to see what happened and can't rest until she finds him.

This book is more of a drama than a romance to me but the romance is real and gritty with the truth about growing up mixed into it. The story has twist and turns and you wonder if their love would even be enough to overcome these obstacles and you wonder if you should even be rooting for them.

I recommend this book to anyone who wants a book that makes them question relationships and wonder what if. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book!

Not good not great! I think this book had the potential of being really strong, but lacked a lot unfortunately

Heartfelt and engaging, this is a recommended purchase for collections where romantic fiction is popular.

I accidentally posted a review for the wrong book. I come back soon with a review for The One That Got Away.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick. Our library purchased and our patrons have been checking out and and enjoying the book. I see it is a popular book club choice as well we hope to have more oppurtinies to support authors like them

Just loved this story, the characters and the setting. I was very invested in their story and kept me very engaged. I switched between reading and listening to the audiobook, I felt the narrator did a great job. Thank you for this arc in exchange of an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC!

This was a heavy story that isn’t a traditional romance. The story was engaging and compelling but unfortunately I did not enjoy the main characters, which didn’t allow me to enjoy the book as much as I wanted to. The final quarter of the book is when the story really picks up and questions are answered. This wasn’t quite my cup of tea but I can see how it worked for others.

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.

This was a complex love story and while I enjoyed it there were parts of this book that took me by surprise. I feel like there are quite a few trigger warnings that should be forewarned before readers dive into this book. I really enjoyed the characters stories and how they were reunited.

The One That Got Away tells the story of Clara and Benjamin, alternating between their college days in the early 2000s and twenty years later. The dual timeline and dual perspective was really well done.

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. The story is character driven, with Benjamin and Clara both having authentic flaws that make them feel like real people. Both characters make some pretty big mistakes but despite this I was still rooting for them.

There is a big secret that isn’t revealed until the very end, giving the book a little bit of a mystery feel too. Initially, I didn’t see what was coming at all.

This is definitely not your typical book about relationships and love. There’s so much more packed in; parenting struggles, marriage trials, aging parents, lifelong friendships and more. Please check for content warnings before reading. I enjoyed the book but I can see how there is a lot that could be triggering to some people (violence, suicide, sexual abuse, mental health issues to name a few).

I switched between the audio version and the physical book. The audio narration was well done, especially with the dual perspective.

Thank you NetGalley, MacMillan Audio and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced audio and physical copies in exchange for my honest review.

A captivating love story, "The One Who Got Away," offers a unique blend of character-driven narrative and multiple timelines spanning two decades. While heavy subjects are thoughtfully explored, some sections might feel slow.
This book is perfect for those who appreciate intricate timelines, character-driven plots, and are open to delving into complex emotions. Fans of romance intertwined with personal growth will likely find this an engaging read.
The narration was well done and easy to listen to at 1.5x speed. There are two separate narrators, one female and one male which adds to the storytelling.
Thanks to St Martins Press and Macmillan Audio for an early listen through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed reading this book. I didn't connect to the characters but I was so invested in the plot. I would definitely re-read this book, it reminded me of Sally Rooney and Collen Hoover's writing. Im not a fan of miscommunication trope but this book was well written.

2.5 but rounding down

Unfortunately this one didn’t really work for me. It started out strong with such potential but by the end it had lost me. I didn’t love or connect to any of the characters. While meant to be somewhat likeable, both Benjamin and Clara bothered me and I found very annoying. Their love and chemistry was far from believable. They honestly didn’t seem matched well to me so it was very hard for me to believe that they’d hold on to those feelings for 20 years. They didn’t seem well suited for each other so I struggled to connect to their relationship or longing. A lot of the story was also pretty predictable and didn’t leave me with strong feelings or emotions about the drama that occurs. The strongest emotional pull came from the last 30 minutes of the audiobook but overall it didn’t leave me feeling satisfied.

Thank you to St. Martins Press, Charlotte Rixon, and NetGalley for the advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

I really was glued to this book. The author did a wonderful job of creating a page turner with this one and I simply had to know what would happen next and how everything would be resolved. Ben and Clara meet in college and quickly fall in love. However, there are some secrets between them that seem harmless but eventually cause serious damage. One such secret leads to a mistake that sets them on a path away from one another that will last for twenty years. They both live their lives without the other person directly being a part of it and know that something is missing but can't seem to fix the issue. Then something drastic happens and Clara rushes to see if Ben is okay and their world is again turned upside down. Even though as a reader I was often frustrated by the things which kept them apart and felt they were things that could have been overcome sooner, I also realize that isn't necessarily the case. People don't always have the courage to put their true feelings on the line when they feel threatened or as if they don't live up to expecations. This could easily have led to misunderstandings and heartbreak.

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: A very well-done audiobook that kept me glued to it from start to finish. It was a wonderful storyline with solid narration. 4 stars

Thank you to NetGalley for early copies of both the ebook and audiobook.

I feel that this was more about soccer than the relationship. I liked Benjamin and his story but i was not fond of Clara. I could not relate to her and her behaviors.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC.