The One That Got Away hooks you from the first page and doesn’t let go until the end. It’s a fast-paced, steamy read that I really loved.

The premise is a little eye-rolly – a luxury matchmaking service set in a Spanish hotel where your perfect match is guaranteed – but I found that the prose drew me in and I forgot the improbability of it all. After all, who wouldn’t want to find the perfect partner in a gorgeous hotel in the warm Spanish sunshine? Heck, where do I sign up?

The thing that I loved most about The One That Got Away is there is a clear reason that the relationship didn’t work the first time and – even more importantly – Stella and Max discuss it like adults. Although there is a delightful amount of steam, the new relationship grew realistically. Both pushed the other’s comfort zone but without any discomfort. Nudging is a better word than pushed, actually.

Both Stella and Max were very likeable characters. As a romance, I knew there would be a happy ending but I still rooted for them. (Kind of like Apollo 13 where you know the ending but are still engrossed? Awful analogy, but it’s the best I’ve got.)

My only quibble with this book is the epilogue. I know that Spring was setting up book 2 here, and that hook works, but it feels a bit tagged on. Maybe a teaser of Jasmine’s story would have worked better? But I know not everyone reads teaser chapters. All that said, it didn’t take away from the main plot and I am looking forward to the next one.

Interesting concept, funny moments, but I found it hard to get through. The first scene was off-putting. Almost out the book down there tbh

This was my first book by this author and i really enjoyed it! I'm starting to really love second chance romances so much. I loved max and Stella so much they were hotttt. Also who doesn't love the one room trope at a hotel?!

A bit like "Bachelor in Paradise" without the juvenile shenanigans. I've never considered spending two entire weeks at a luxury resort but I found myself getting rather envious.

I enjoyed this read immensely ... BUT ...

It was a rather cruel cliffhanger leaving me so concerned about Jasmine.

When is the follow-up book due🥺?

Spicy, male female, dual point of view, second chance, contemporary romance. Perfect length sweet book in a gorgeous setting. Good pacing with humor and chemistry. This was my first book by this author and I'll be checking out her back catalog asap.

I have read a few books lately where the initial cue meet for the two characters were enemies-to-lovers and some have felt forced. But these two, Max and Stella, everything worked. Miscommunication and silence led them to where they are now. On a love island, not like the TV show *shudder* but a paradise. From the second they meet up, you can feel the sexual tension, the sizzle despite their dislike for each other. But this book had a different feel to it, one I adored. Both are down-to-earth, flawed and just so loveable. They are people you know, love and respect. They could even be you, with their behaviour. None of this book felt forced, faked or unbelievable.

But one thing I have to comment on is that phone call at the end!!! Please tell me there will be more! I mean it seems crazy to include it. I kept looking at the timer on the audiobook, and it had 2 minutes left, there was no time for a resolution and now it's floating in the ether - WHAT CAN THIS MEAN!?!

I blitzed this audiobook in one day, yes that's right one day! I forgot that I was listening sometimes, more like I was watching, or a part of it....well maybe not for all the scenes - damn that sizzle! I have never read anything by Olivia before but Blimey, she knows just what you want without you even knowing you want or need it - I LOVED IT!! give me more!!!!

One of my favourite romance books this year!

Such a unique twist on second chance romance! Love Stella & Max’s dynamic in this blind date / trust the algorithm setting. This is a heartwarming story navigating the complexities of relationships, then vs. now.

From the very start, I was completely invested in seeing what would unfold between Stella and Max. The vivid descriptions of the Spanish setting made me feel like I was right there, soaking in the beautiful sights and atmosphere.

There are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments throughout the book. Stella and Max were both endearing, well-developed characters, and their witty banter was spot-on. I adored their chemistry, and even the side characters, like Stella’s mom, added charm to the story.

Of course by the end I wanted to know more about the budding storyline between Jasmine and Alejandro. The cliffhanger left me feeling some kind of way.

I loved this book! I actually read it sitting on the beach, and it was a great beach read! I love a good second chance romance, and this one did not disappoint! Max and Stella were fun characters, and this book had a lot of sweet and spicy moments that kept me reading! Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

First, I want to thank Olivia Spring, Boldwood Books, and Rachels’s Random Resources for providing me with this book so I may bring you this review.

WOWZERS!!! Olivia Spring spices things up in The One That Got Away!! Ohh those naughty scenes she wrote were extremely juicy!! This is a whole new side of Olivia we had not seen before-and I loved it. She has a true gift writing like this and I hope she writes more like this.

I loved the cover design designed by Rachel Lawson the graphics were fun and represented the book well.

If you are looking for a fast paced, addictive, fun, sexy, easy read then you need to put this on your tbr list.

Ohh Olivia you naughty girl you! I was not expecting the book to start out the way it did!! I had an evil smile on my face and a little chuckle as I was reading it! I should mention I was reading this while taking my Dad to a medical appt. So…It was a little awkward.

The relationship that Stella had with her Mom I felt was so incredibly special. You don’t see many Mother Daughter bonds like this written in books.

This has a little bit of everything from rom com, second chance romance, hott steamy sex, and a lot of twists and turns nobody saw coming!

Back in the day I used to love making mix tapes. In this book Stella and Max were asked to make mix tapes for eachother with songs of how they were feeling for eachother during that day. I am a huge fan of 80’s and 90’s and they picked some amazing songs including one of my favorite bands NSYNC!

3.5⭐️

This light summer read gives off Love Island, First Dates vibes. Set in gorgeous Spain, the descriptions of the hotel, villa and the tourist attractions will make you yearn for the Iberian Peninsula.

This follows the story of exes, Stella and Max, who found themselves ‘matchmaked’ at the love hotel.

I love the idea of the hotel and the matchmaking. It brings a refreshing side to the online dating experience.

The chemistry between these two, even after a decade apart, was off the chart. The spice was good and I enjoyed it.

I enjoyed the dual POV and the back story of the characters and the funny names for the hotel staff was brilliant.

If you enjoy second chance romance, forced proximity then you will enjoy this.

Dual POV, second chance romance (it's been yearsssss so is it really a second chance when they both still had to grow up?)

Love Island meets Love is Blind and you have this book.

Wasn't fully invested, but this was a cute idea.

If you like reality dating TV shows this is a book for you.

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books Publishing for my DRC.

3.75 ⭐
1.5 🌶️
Tropes: second chance, matchmaker


Nestled in the heart of Spain is the Love Hotel where men and women can book a two week stay where luxury matchmakers will help them find ✨the one✨
Max, former footballer turned CFO of a beauty products company signs up at the insistence of his best friend, Colton. Unbeknownst to him, Stella, who Max dated 12 years ago is gifted a trip by her mom who wants her to break out of her funk and get laid, and they are matched together. Will they work through the past and fall in love again?


The One That Got Away is a really cute book with a unique storyline that I enjoyed! I wish it was still summer because this would’ve been a great read for lounging on the beach. The chemistry between the two MCs was perfect. Definitely recommend.

What a fantastic spicy second chance romance. The first paragraph pulled me immediately in, funny and steamy for sure.
Dual POV this follows Stella who's fed up with disastrous dates, her mum signs her up for The Love Hotel, a luxury matchmaking service where a perfect love match is guaranteed. Stella isn't interested but rather than upset her mum she takes the opportunity for a couple of weeks in the sun.
When she arrives she discovers her match is non other than her childhood sweetheart Max who dumped her, she's still very attracted to him but he's her nemesis so nothing will happen.
I absolutely loved this second chance romance with a good amount of laughs and alot of spice mixed in.
I'm hoping we can return to the Love Hotel as their was reference to Jasmine towards the end which was left on a cliff-hanger.
Thank you NetGalley, Olivia Spring and Boldwood for this ARC, all opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book. These opinions are completely my own

A spicy little imagery vacation. Perfect tor the cooler days so one can transport themselves to Spain with our protagonists.

My only complaint is that this service does not exist and if it does I'm apparently too poor to know about it

The One That Got Away was a perfect blend of second chance romance, swoon-worthy chemistry, and a fun vacation escape! Max and Stella’s story completely stole my heart from the moment they were reunited. I love a good "I never stopped loving you" plot, and this book nailed it. The way they reconnect felt so natural yet charged with all the unresolved feelings from their past.

The setting of The Love Hotel was also a standout! I mean, who wouldn't want to visit a luxury matchmaking resort in sunny Spain? It felt like its own character in the story, and I could feel the heat—not just from the weather, but from the sizzling tension between Max and Stella. The spice level was exactly what I hoped for and added just the right amount of heat to their rekindled romance.

The ending tied everything together so beautifully. Without spoiling anything, it left me completely satisfied and rooting for their future. I also couldn’t help but be intrigued by Jasmine, and I’m really hoping we get to know her story next!

Thank you #Boldwood books & #Netgalley for an early copy of #The One Who Got Away.
OMG what a fantastic, sexually liberating read!
What a wonderful idea of a Love Hotel, match made in heaven and in idyllic surroundings in the sunny climate of Spain, what more could you need?
Stella & Max have been sent to The Love Hotel by family/friends and want to make the best of it, even when they realise their love match is not new to them and is actually their ex!
There follows a lot of frustration, some unwittingly sexual and mishaps galore.
Had some proper laugh out loud moments, embarrassing and emotional but much more sizzling chemistry in the forefront.
Loved The Romance Library and this blew me away, I have found my new favourite author, @OliviaSpring roll on the next book and catch up on your previous books!

One that Got away

I love Olivia Springs. Her writing is so amazing. She truly knows how to set up a scene and give you all the important pieces. The One that Got Away is a prime example of this. This book was very well written and really showed her versatility in writing characters with differences. I loved it soooo much!!!

I just want to say that the “Love Alchemist” is so funny and cool. I thought this was the coolest name for Jasmine’s role.

Max and Stella where a match made in heaven. I found myself loving every moment of their story. I think the idea of a love hotel is so cute, and I really appreciated all the things that they had to go through during their visit. I think the cutest moment was when they were going on their hiking trip and he held her hand because he knew she was afraid of heights. That moment made me cry so hard. The funniest moment was when they went to their massages and I’m not gonna spoil it but it’s just so funny how that turned out. I think overall what I really appreciate it about this book was the different things that showed up. There was some grief and some loss on both ends. There was also some uncertainty about Love but I really loved how Olivia showcase how both characters deserved love from each other.

Max is a great book boyfriend. He really did know Stella, and I felt like his character really grew. I’m sad that he felt like he had to break her heart to uphold his family. He pigeon hold himself into being a person that he didn’t want to be, but when Stella was in his life or around him, he was the person that should have been. And I just felt like his character development was really great. Stella was also just adorable. Her internal monologues really had me laughing so hard, because I knew that this girl was not going to be able to give up Max. By the end of the book all you want to do and continue to see them progress. Even though it takes them a second to fully get everything going, by the end of the book you are not disappointed. Also shout out to her mother lol she’s probably the funniest person next to her friend Sammie.

Something that really tugged at my head was when Max was scared of watching Football again and Stella went through lengths and stages to help him feel comfortable. I bawled like a baby. It was so heartwarming. I love books that showcase how with time, we all can heal.

The plot was amazing and the spice was just right! I really want to see Jasmine find love as well !!!

Thank you, Olivia for allowing me to read this book. I have loved your work so much and also thank you to Net Galley for allowing me to review this

Happy publishing day! Thank you NetGalley for the ARC read in lieu of my review.

The One That Got Away is a steamy-second chance romance that will hook you until the very end. What would happen if you showed up to The Love Hotel: a luxury matchmaking service for your perfect match is guaranteed, only to find your perfect match is your ex? Stella had just about given up on love until her mom convinced her to take the holiday. Max, who has prioritized his business over love was sent away from his best friend/colleague to take a break from the grind and find love. When the pair end up at the same dinner table their rocky ending is brought back full circle and will be put to the ultimate test. No refunds at The Love Hotel, but will there be love in the end?

Super cute second chance romance with entertaining MCs and a steamy holiday away! Such a quick and fun read, definitely recommend!

What to expect:
- Second chance romance
- Spain setting
- Couples Retreat
- Playlist
- Wholesome vibes

The One That Got Away by Olivia Spring is a fast-paced second-chance romance book. It is perfect for those who love sweet, spicy, fast-paced books!

I had a great time reading this! I love the concept of The Love Hotel: a luxury matchmaking service where a perfect love match is guaranteed! Imagine spending a ton of money on the matchmaking service just to be matched with your EX.

I enjoyed this book a lot! The group activities that Stella and Max had to participate in initially were amazing! It was awkward and cute! My favourite parts of the book were the playlist they had to make for each other and the memory book they had to create! It was soooooo adorable and unique! I loved the wholesome vibe that this book had.