I think this book being classified as a romance is where it went wrong for me. It was initially interesting, but then the amount of subplots became overwhelming and hard to follow.

DNF at 31%

I had to sit with this for a day to wrote the review. This was not an easy listen and is much heavier than the blurb describes. So many subjects that are difficult, may be triggering for some and are sadly and terribly happening way too often in the world. Clara and Benjamin, though very different have instant chemistry and believe they are forever. Forever doesn’t happen after a terrible event occurs and they go their separate ways and move on with their respective lives. Years later, when a terrible bombing occurs in his home town she is compelled to find him, though she is living a seemingly wonderful life with a fabulous husband, job and life. I love a what if, first love, reconnecting, figuring it all out etc storyline, but this was more and a lot heavier and for me made more difficult as I didn’t really connect with or like Clara all that much, but did enjoy the ending and wrap up. I enjoyed the current times/flashback style. A well written and compelling story with good narration.

This wasn’t quite what I was expecting, but I was drawn in almost immediately and decided to go along for the ride. This book has the feel of a Mhairi McFarlane novel (and if you know me, you know this is high praise). It does a fantastic job of showing the messy side of love and how heartbreaking a missed chance can be. I enjoyed this dual pov/dual timeline format and appreciated the way this “what could have been” story concluded.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for the gifted copies.

This audiobook was fairly easy to listen too, I was not a huge fan of the voice for the males main character, it did not feel authentic to me in feelings etc and the voice was not as enjoyable as some. Otherwise the audio was easy to follow and clear to listen to.


I have mixed feelings on this book , for me it was an average read. I liked the premise of the story two young people fall in love , a tragic event causes them to separate and move on , life goes on but they still wonder what could have been, a tragic event brings them back into each others lives. What I did not love was the females main character and the way she lived and directed her entire life. She for me was not very likeable. I guess that is a good thing if that is what the author intended. I think the book would be good for discussion in a book club….there is lots to talk about.

I voluntarily received a free advanced copy from NetGalley and all opinions are my own

The One That Got Away sounds like a second-chance romance, but it’s not

A few weeks ago, I binged back-to-back movies produced by women’s movie network about young women who were abducted but survived by outsmarting the kidnapper. They were disturbing but ended on a high note, and I was entertained. After I watched a couple, I was ready to move on but pressed play on one more while I folded laundry. In this one, the young woman was trapped in a basement for 30 years. This movie didn’t entertain me. It was too much trauma, too much time stolen from her. I couldn’t see a happy ending, even if she eventually got free and rebuilt her life.

You might be asking yourself, what does this have to do with Charlotte Rixon’s The One That Got Away book? Well, I felt similarly about this book. I usually love books about first loves, even flawed ones, who seek to find their way back to each other. I can read 1,000 books with this same trope in a row, but this one disappointed me.

So, what is this book about?
The One That Got Away is the story of Clara and Ben and how their college romance changed both of their lives. Individually, they had many issues–Clara was anxious and controlling, and Ben was closed off and self-loathing. Together, they were codependent, insecure, drank too much, and made all the wrong choices. This wasn’t “young love” being passionate and immature. Their relationship was toxic, and it finally hit a peak and irreversible toxicity one drunken night outside a club where ***SPOILER ALERT*** a sexual assault resulted in somebody’s death. Even though this caused the end of their whirlwind relationship, it wasn’t the beginning or the end of the traumatic events they faced throughout their lives. Alcoholism, mental disorders, grief, sexual disorders, child molestation, suicide, and mass violence are all part of this story, and it was too much for me.

The [physical] book was better
It was hard for me to follow the audiobook’s dual points of view (Ben + Clara) and timeline jumps. I had to switch to reading the physical book to understand the book structure and follow the timeline jumps. The author lays out significant moments of their relationship from each of their perspectives at the start of their relationship, ten years later when they reconnect over email at pivotal times of their lives, and finally 20 years after they met, when they reconnect after an explosion at a football stadium drives Clara to track Ben down.

Final thoughts
This book was provided in exchange for an honest review graphic
I think Charlotte Rixon set out to write a beautiful story of imperfect, broken people, but it relied too much on big external traumatic events to move the plot, taking away from the characters’ internal journeys. I couldn’t root for Clara and Ben or their love. I didn’t feel hope until maybe the last few pages, where I saw a glimpse of them finally letting go of their self-hatred and starting to love themselves.

3.5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this book. After reading the premise this sounded like my favorite type of book ever-- first love, second chance. That is what this book is, but its not a romance and its very messy. Ben and Clara were high school sweethearts who broke up for some reason. We get their intersections into each other's lives over the course of 20 years and all of the good and bad that happens to them as individuals and as a couple during those times. The multiple timelines made listening to this on audio a little confusing, but I don't think it would've been so if I couldve seen it in print. My biggest complaint about this book is that I felt no chemistry between the characters and I didn't really love either of the characters. I couldn't really ship them as a couple because of the distance I felt from their relationship as well as my lack of endearment for either of them. The book starts with a bang (literally) in present day as Clara hears a report of a bombing at a soccer game that she knows Ben will be at. She goes back to try to find out if he's okay but on the way we travel back in time to see their relationship development. If we could've kept some of that momentum going I feel like this book would've been much better. The last quarter or so of the book, we find out what happened that tore them apart and FINALLY I felt some emotions out of everyone aside from the somewhat normal fights, jealousy, etc that this couple just kept sweeping under the rug. I wonder if I would've enjoyed this book more in print as then I would be spending more time with the couple and maybe that would lead to an intimacy or connection I just didn't feel via audio. Overall, great premise but just an okay execution for me.

I honestly loved how this book is not your typical love story. It was a story of growing up and growing apart for the two main characters. There was true inner growth in the a few characters not just Benjamin and Clara. I found myself heartbroken in some parts of this book but overall I was content with the ending.

I was pulled into this story immediately but then it felt like it just went on and on.

I enjoyed each characters story on how their lives went down the paths they did but the ending felt rushed and it wasn’t what I wanted for them lol

This book def made me think of someone I dated who was def the one that got away!

The narrator did a great job!

This book is a cute second chance romance that also has a little mystery in it. Clara and Benjamin meet at university. On their very last night there, something tragic happens that make them part for 20 years.

This novel jumps between both past and present. The story does contain a lot of heavy topics. Like manslaughter, cancer, IVF, sexual abuse, spousal abuse and so on.

This novel was beautifully written and I enjoyed an unusual type of romantic spin.

I listened to the audiobook and the narration was good. It flowed well together.

Thank you Netgalley, Macmillan audio and Charlotte Rixon for the opportunity to listen to the audio recording.

Well, this was an interesting read. The One That Got Away is definitely not a love story in my opinion.

The book has six parts and spans 20+ years. Clara and Benjamin meet at university in 2000. After they begin dating, they are almost inseparable, except when Benjamin watches or attends football (soccer) games. Football is a point of contention in their relationship (also a point of contention between George and Benjamin and Benjamin and Aiden). Clara is very insecure and has trauma from her childhood. Benjamin has his own trauma and insecurities.

Current day Clara has a solid job and a huge rock on her ring finger but is very unhappy. She is unhappily married to Tom. Clara’s friends are having babies while she is constantly thinking about the one who got away, Benjamin.

Grown up Benjamin has overcome many obstacles, including the fateful night in 2002 that ended his relationship with Clara. Benjamin is a father, trying to give his son, Aiden, a stable, good life. His son is also an avid football fan, both playing in and attending the local professional games.

An event occurs in 2022 that throws Clara and Benjamin back together.

It seems like 2023 Clara and Benjamin are on the right path and may get their happily-ever-after, but this is where the story ends.

The majority of the novel was about a bunch of unhappy people. But I did want to know what happened in the end (did they reunite?), and I was cheering them on the entire time.

I think this book is a sold 3.5 stars. ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️1/2

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced audio copy of The One That Got Away in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Unfortunately this was a miss for me. I had really high hopes based on the description but did not end up enjoying this. I wish the author much success with this book. While I did not enjoy it I am sure others will.

Thank you NetGalley for this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

This was such an unusual story of a young love torn apart, but never forgotten, and rekindled years later. I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Carl Prekopp and Katherine Press, and it took me a minute to get into the story, but once I was there I couldn't stop listening. Ben and Clara have a somewhat toxic relationship in the beginning yet they really do love each other and finding their way back to the love after twenty years is a poignant moment in time. The in-between is such an interesting journey and I enjoyed seeing the different directions their lives took.

I loved the idea of this one as a second chance love story. Overall the narration was great and it flowed well, but I found myself not enjoying aby of the characters. The majority of this book was just a dark cloud of sadness over semi-likeable people. Unfortunately this was a miss for me.

This is a fascinating love story about Benjamin and Clara's passionate yet tumultuous romance. Spanning two decades, the novel masterfully captures their heart-wrenching separation due to a life-altering mistake. Fast forward to the present, Clara's successful yet unsatisfying life is shaken by a bombing incident that leads her back to where it all began. Rixon's adept narrative alternates between past and present, delving into themes of trauma and redemption. What truly elevates this experience is the superb audiobook narration by Carl Prekopp and Katherine Press. Their voices breathe life into the characters, intensifying the emotional connection. In print and audio, this story offers a poignant exploration of love's complexities and the chance for redemption.

Thank you, Net Galley for the arc for this book.

Feel really torn about my overall feelings for this book is it’s marketed as a romance but it’s more of a mystery that happens to be about two people who were once romantically entangled, and are reconnected 20 years later. At times the timeline was a bit hard to follow and the angst and feels didn’t come across as much as I would’ve liked them to.
Both characters have some interesting character flaws and are at times not as likable, not sure if the author did that intentionally to show growth and maturity between Younglove an adult, but it wasn’t as much character growth as I would’ve hoped for.

There are a lot of triggering topics mentioned throughout the story, but overall it was the mystery of what what has happened and where are we going is the driving force behind the plot line.

Solid 3.5 stars

I am a big fan of second chance romances, but had hard time getting into this story. I didn’t really connect with the characters or their intimate love story.

They were young, just starting university, when they met. They were from two different environments and socioeconomic classes, She was idealistic and craving attention; he was shy and a huge football fan. This book tells the story of first love, a devastating mistake, and a reunion decades later. I especially liked the character of Benjamin, who has depth and intelligence and common sense. I found Clara to be less likable, but also saw a lot of myself at that age--clingy, romantically-focused. The story is woven between past and present, the reader not knowing what separated them until well into the book. We learn snippets at a time, but in the end, that seems like good construction. I particularly liked the way deep emotions were portrayed, as if we could truly feel what the character was feeling. An excellent book--one of the best I've read this year.,

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for sending this audiobook for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

I want to start by saying, the story itself was lovely and although I listened on audio, I could tell that Charlotte's writing is absolutely beautiful! I will definitely check out more of her work in the future!

(Also, check the trigger warnings if any apply to you, as the story touches on many hard and sensitive topics like r*pe, s*xual ab*se, cancer, etc. )

The One That Got Away was a lovely tale of second chances and creating the life you want for yourself, even when you feel stuck where you are. It shows that no matter who you are, where you come from or where life has taken you, you must do what will make you happy and bring you joy. It has second chance romance with a first love, past and present perspectives, as well as dual POV with chapters in both the male and female main characters, point of view. I was not a big fan of the FMC, Clara, as she had some pretty toxic tendencies and could be hard to deal with at times. While she struggled with anxiety, something I personally understand and deal with, she used that as an excuse for her poor choices and behaviors, which was not fair to those around her. Benjamin, the MMC was lovely and the sweetest soul. The thing I had the most trouble with is that the main source of all the issues seen in the character's relationship was miscommunication! If they had just been honest with each other and expressed what they were each going through, the entire story would have been different.

Even still, I loved the story and truly enjoyed my time listening to it!

Thank you to Charlotte Rixon, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for allowing me to review this wonderful story.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of this book by Charlotte Rixon and wonderfully narrated by Carl Prekopp and Katherine Press - 4 stars!

In the present, it's 2022 and a bomb has just gone off in a stadium full of fans. In the past, it's 20 years prior when Clara and Benjamin meet at university and begin a relationship only to break apart. In the present, Clara is not quite happily married and Benjamin is raising his son. When Clara hears about the bombing, she fears Ben was at the stadium and drops everything to go there.

Told in a multitude of timelines and from the POV of both Clara and Benjamin, we learn about their relationship, their break up, and the fact that they could never let the other completely go. There are a lot of trigger subjects here, both past and present. Neither character is extremely likable, but they feel real. They behave badly, they make mistakes, they wish for do-overs. Sounds like real life. I really liked Ben's son - the best character in the book. The bombing was the opening scene and kept the tension high throughout.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC. I love a second chance love story! But this one was a little had to follow with the timeline. And I just couldn't et invested in the characters.