The Ones Who Got Away is a emotionally charged story about the true healing power of love. Unlike traditional romance novels, there were really two intersecting stories being told here: first love reunited 💕 and 4 women who bonded through terrible tragedy, working together to strengthen each other and take back their lives. Both were equally beautiful in their own ways.

Roni Loren took extremely heavy topics of gun violence and mental health and handled them with delicate grace. Instead of focusing on the evil, she put focus on the incredible resilience of her brave characters and their healing journeys. It was truly magical to watch them develop and fight to live their lives to the fullest.

The true beauty of the human spirit can be felt on every page, as this story shares an inside look at the power to keep going after the worst happens. This book made me feel all my feelings. There were times I wiped my tears away and others I laughed out loud. If you’re looking for an emotional & inspirational story of loss, healing, & love this book is a must read! Grab your tissues and prepare for an unforgettable journey 😭❤️

4.5 ⭐️ rounded up!

Thank you to NetGalley & Sourcebooks Casablanca for the opportunity to read this digital ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

The Ones Who Got Away by Roni Loren is a romance novel that deals with heavy topics such as gun violence, school shootings, anxiety and PTSD. Please check trigger warnings before reading. While it dealt with heavy topics it also had a message of live your life to the fullest and it inspires hope and healing after tragedy.

As a teacher and parent, this topic was very difficult for me, but Roni Loren dealt with it in a beautiful way. The characters are still affected by the tragic past and are healing in different ways. I liked the bond and friendship that was woven throughout the book.

Finn and Liv got a second chance 12 years after a deadly school shooting at their prom. Finn has held onto guilt about how he handled himself in the mist of the shooting. You feel how deeply he was affected. The emotions are evident beyond the page.

Liv is also trying to heal and feels stuck and wants to move past the trauma from her past. I loved how her healing manifested through her passion for art.

This is an emotional read and your heart gores out to all the characters and you want to root for them to thrive not just survive.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for allowing me to voluntarily read this book and give an honest review.

- second chance
- emotional read
- mental health reps

I struggled a bit connecting to the story and the characters with this one. I can see why so many people loved it, it’s heartfelt and emotional coming back from trauma, but it just wasn’t for me.

Synopsis: Twelve years following a school shooting during their high school prom, a group of classmates reunite for a documentary about the incident. Book 1 of the series follows Olivia and her second chance romance with Finn.

Thoughts: This was an emotional read full of flawed characters and depth. I appreciated how the primary focus wasn’t on the drama or angst between the love interest, but rather how they coped with trauma, how the media/bystanders treated survivors and how they each gained the courage to make the most of their life. An added bonus, and one of my favorite parts, was the friendship between Liv and her three classmates (who all have their own books). Their support for one another while balancing out the joys of life was healing.

Read if you like:
-Emotional romances
-Second chance love
-The process of coping with trauma
-Supportive female friendships