rating 4.5 out of 5

Roni Loren makes it easy to fall in love with her characters and their stories. I was introduced to her writing with the first book in The Ones Who Got Away Series and I am hooked! I couldn’t wait to pick up this book and dig in. THE ONE YOU CAN’T FORGET is the perfect balance of serious and swoony and I absolutely loved it!

What I Liked:

+ I liked when the friends reconnected with their Bitching Brunches
+ The support and admiration Wes and Rebecca had for each other
+ Wes’s profession and how it was worked into the storyline - there’s just something about a chef
+ Rebecca’s decisiveness. She’s a force to be reckoned with.
+ The heat and the playful chemistry between Wes and Rebecca
+ The idea second and third chances are possible

As it is with any book, we bring our own experiences to reading and parts of this book were difficult for me to read. I felt a connection to Rebecca that I wasn’t expecting to experience. I could relate to her flashbacks and her fears and her confusion. But this didn’t keep me from enjoying the book, instead, it made my think, “Man, this author gets it.”

I really liked THE ONE YOU CAN’T FORGET and am looking forward to more books in this series!

4.5 Stars!

The One You Can't Forget is the second book in the 'The Ones Who Got Away' series by Roni Loren. This is the second book I've read that Roni Loren has written and I can now safely say, I am a fan!

Rebecca Lindt is a survivor with a chip as big as the world on her shoulders. She's lived her adult life hiding behind her work. Because when you work hard your demons and guilt are at bay. Rebecca is a survivor of the Long Acre High School prom shooting. *If this is a trigger for you, go into this novel expecting glimpses and flashbacks*

Wesley Garrett hasn't had the easiest life. He's dealt with parents who abused drugs. He's had numerous run ins with the law. He also dealt with a divorce that ended up with him losing the only thing that mattered to him, his restaurant, which ultimately led to his drinking problem. Now Wes is on the right track and sober. He's a cooking instructor for the troubled youth and he's on a mission to help kids like him who never had a chance.

My Thoughts:

When I started The One You Can't Forget, I didn't know what to expect. I knew from the previous book that Rebecca Lindt was the overachiever student of the group and that she was also the one shot by Trevor, one of the shooters at the prom. Other than that, I really knew nothing about this novel, except for the fact that I needed to read it!

I am completely blown away by the amount of emotion and fear I felt from Rebecca, It felt as if her feelings were my very own. Throughout this novel we learn that Rebecca is holding onto something huge. A secret that could ruin her reputation if it were discovered. The world views her as a heroine but what happens when they learn she's the villain of the story. This was an interesting concept. To be honest, I had a feeling I knew what the secret was from the very first mention of it. I knew....but still I was shocked. It takes a lot to shock me even when I know, It all comes down to The Emotion!

As for the romance,

Wes and Rebecca are so freaking adorable. There is a perfect amount of cuteness and playfulness added to all the turmoil and sadness that makes their relationship unforgettable.

I love a man who can cook... Wes is swoony and irresistible, while Rebecca is a tad bit uptight and reserved. I loved seeing Wes help Rebecca unleash the woman who was hiding under all her fear.

It was intriguing to see Wes and Rebecca fall in love given the fact they are both skeptical of relationships. With Wes's divorce and Rebecca being a divorce attorney, it made for some swoony, sexy, and downright awkward moments, given the fact that this isn't the first time Rebecca and Wes have met...

The reasoning behind why I dropped a 1/2 star is simply because I felt certain parts of the novel were dragged out.

Overall, Rebecca and Wes are a great addition to this series! The One You Can't Forget is easily a novel that I can recommend!

I’m going to gush a little about this one, y’all, so be patient with me, OK?

First of all, I’ve loved this author since I read Nice Girls Don’t Ride. I ADORED the first book in this series, The Ones Who Got Away. So when I saw this book on NetGalley, I clicked and begged for a copy faster than I’ve ever clicked before. I was expecting greatness, so the potential for disappointment was high. But it was even better than I expected. (Squee!!)
Just to be clear, you can read The One You Can’t Forget without having read the previous book in the series. This one stands alone nicely. (Although you should totally read The Ones Who Got Away because Finn is swoon-worthy. Trust me.) I love a good series of interconnected standalones, and this one fits the bill beautifully.

Becca is a fabulous heroine. She’s a traumatized survivor of a high school shooting, but she didn’t let her fears, injuries, or PTSD hold her back. She went on to become a successful attorney. (And she’s really good at her job, so there’s a decent amount of competence porn in the story, which I LOVE.) She’s also an empathetic, giving person who doesn’t hesitate to put the needs of others above her own needs.

But while I loved Becca, I REALLY adored Wes as a hero. He’s made some mistakes in his past, battled some demons of his own, but he also didn’t let those mistakes/demons ruin his life. He’s hot and talented and quick-witted, and even though his romantic history isn’t the greatest, he isn’t a commitment-phobe who spent his post-divorce years whoring around town. (And THANK YOU to the author for making him a down-on-his-luck chef, as opposed to a Navy Seal, shifter, billionaire, or dom. Seriously, I can’t thank you enough!)

Wes also didn’t let his ego get in the way of accepting Becca’s financial help (not for his own gain, but for the kids he was working with as a charity project) at one point in the story, and that turned me on every bit as much as the sex scenes in the book. (Sex scenes, mind you, that were SUPER hot) That’s just something you don’t see every day in romance land. Wes was alpha without being a stubborn, jerkwad, alphahole. In other words, Wes is super high-class book boyfriend material.

Long-story-short, lovers of sexy, emotional, realistic romance reads with characters who act like grown-ups at all times (and who also happen to rock some delightful witty banter), should 1-click this book immediately. I can’t recommend it (and this series) highly enough.

There's an indescribable feeling about a story of personal redemption. This was my first Roni Loren title and you can rest assured that she is now a one-click author for me. Filled with danger, personal struggle, steam scenes, and triumphant successes; The One You Can't Forget is a heart stopping, pulse-racing romance!

Rebecca's life isn't what it should be. A survivor of her high school's tragic past, as an adult she's still coping with the stress and what amounts to PTSD from the shock and guilt of that fated day. A recent documentary of the event has pulled all of those nightmares to the forefront. When a late night attack sparks them again, a knight (technically two if you count the dog!) comes to her rescue and sparks another memory. Though their past maybe rocky, Emma and Wes have an undeniable chemistry that allows them to easily float in one another's orbit. Rebecca can't deny her attraction to Wes, as a man and as a friend. But her past is a demon that threatens to pull hr down under again. Wes will have to fight harder than he planned to keep this red-head afloat.

Wes is in shock when he realizes the woman he's saved and the woman's he's lusted over was a key factor is him losing everything he'd built. A nasty divorce that led to alcohol and depression and eventually a lost dream was all that was left of Wes's life. Now he's rebuilding and the last thing he needs is a woman who could only complicate matters. But there's a sweetness to Rebecca that he can't explain. He's incredibly attracted to her and finds himself falling head over heals anyways.

When a cataclysmic twist comes that I never expected...this book threw me for a loop and has me begging for more! Wes and Rebecca share more sweet than sexy but don't let that deter you; they steam up the pages whenever they're alone. Mix in Rebecca's desire to right wrongs against her past and Wes's faith in finding his future dream! This is a romance for all readers and one that will keep you grinning and gasping (for MULTIPLE reasons)!

This was my first Roni Loren book, although I wish I had read the first in the series to get more background on the Long Acre shooting. There were some connected characters, and of course the back story, but nothing that would leave you lost if you didn't read the first.

That being said, I found this to be an excellent read that tackled a lot of tough topics. Having been in high school when Columbine happened, I know that this story had a lot of similarities to that shooting. Things are much worse today, but my generation was the first to experience a mass school shooting, so this resonated with me. The book also spoke on the topic of child abuse, PTSD, alcoholism and bullying, so I admire the author for including so many topics that people tend to avoid.

Rebecca is now a high-powered divorce lawyer, but she was once a victim at the Long Acre massacre and she blames herself for what happened. So she works herself crazy at the firm to make partner, does everything she can for her dad's political campaign and avoids dating, all for the sake of what she feels is retribution for her supposed wrongs.

Wes is a former chef that lost his business to his ex-wife (thanks to Rebecca) and a recovering alcoholic. He's taking odd chef jobs and works at an after school program for troubled teens. He's come a long way on the road to recovery, but at first it seems as though he's just one step away from falling into a pit again. That's when Wes rescues Rebecca from muggers and the rest, they say, is history.

These two have incredible chemistry. Wes is the strong protective type, but he also has a vulnerable and sweet side that Rebecca adores. Rebecca is stubborn, that's for sure, but she has a big heart underneath that tough exterior as well and just wants to be forgiven of what she believes are her sins. They face some challenges together and for a while there, I was wondering if they'd work out. But the ending is very sweet and I love that things came together for them in the best possible way.

I enjoyed this one so much that I've already downloaded Book 1 to read :-)

3.5 Stars

Rebecca Lindt has been going through the daily grind ever since she survived the horrific high school shooting that made her and her friends some sort of heroic survivors. She has been holding in what happened to her and the people in that school for a long time. Her world resembles some sort of normalcy and perfection but it is everything but that.

Wes Garrett lost every single thing in the divorce. He now works odd jobs trying to put back the pieces of what is left of his life. Wes saves Rebecca one night and he tries to speak a friendship with her. They are from two different worlds but he doesn’t ignore the feelings he gets around her. Too bad, he discovers she is the reason why he lost every single thing.

As the two become friendly, Rebecca discovers that Wes is a great guy. She pitches in to help rebuild his dream. Wes is leery of Rebecca’s endeavors as he doesn’t want to be viewed as a charity case. Rebecca assures him that she just wants to help.

The connection with Wes and Rebecca is strong. I loved that he looked at Rebecca for who she was. He saw past her physical and emotional scars. He was there for her. I had a hard time getting to know Rebecca. She was frightened for most of the book and I got it. She has been through so much in life.

There is something about the way the author explained Rebecca’s secret and what happened to her in the shooting that left me wanting to get the full picture of what really went down that tragic day. In the first book, the author explained but we were learning through another couple’s eyes and they had tremendous guilt. This was different. Something was missing that I couldn’t connect to.

Rebecca’s father was a piece of work. Her whole life she had strived for excellency as he drilled into her. He barely could allow her any moment of happiness. I really despised him after he threatened her. Wes’s brother was only a bit more tolerable.

I am looking forward to reading other books in this series.

~ Samantha

4 Stars!!

Rebecca Lindt, survivor of Long Acre High School shooting, is a divorce attorney who holds a secret from her past that haunts her..
Wes Garrett, is in the process of rebuilding his life after losing his dream of opening a restaurant after his messy divorce..
One night, when Rebecca is being mugged, Wes ends up there helping her out at the time of need...
However, at first they dont realize that Rebecca was the attorney who helped Wes' ex wife with the divorce.. And when both Wes n Rebecca sort out their differences about that part of their pasts, more baggage from past come to threaten them..
I liked Rebecca and Wes.. They were strong and at the same time vulnerable..
We get to know more about the Ling Acre High School shooting incident in this book... Though this is a stand alone, its better to read it after the first book to understand the characters better..
I loved the first book and i cant wait to read the other books in this series!!

After reading and really enjoying the first book in this series, The Ones Who Got Away, I was really looking forward to reading this book. The anticipation was worth it. This book is really good. Rebecca and Wes are really good together. I really liked how supportive they were of each other. I also really liked the theme of forgiveness woven throughout the book. I'm really looking forward to reading the next book in the series. These books are going on my recommend list.

This is the 2nd book in the series, but can be read as a stand alone. Rebecca is another of the survivors of a high school shooting and it's 10 years later. I appreciate how Roni Loren depicts the after affects of the incident on the characters. Wes is also dealing with his own issues (addiction, failed marriage/business), but they meet unexpectedly and feel a connection that can't be denied. I really enjoyed the story!

Well written, moving story

Roni Loren's The One's Who Got Away series is sadly very timely in light of the tragic multiple school shootings this year.
Rebecca's story comes across very authentic, her pain, her regrets her grief. Wes too has his share of pain and regrets and I though the back stories and the romance were both handled well. While an unlikely pair they both grow and it becomes evident they belong together.
Roni Loren handled a very delicate and heartbreaking subject well.
I received an advance reader copy from Netgalley.

Such a deep interesting series. "The One You Can't Forget" is part of a series called, "The One's Who Got Away" about a group of students who managed to live through a school shooting. The one's who survive all have some form of PTSD and have been working on their issues as the series begins and they start to reunite. "The One You Can't Forget", is the second book in the series and focuses on Rebecca Lindt, one of the survivors of a gunshot wound by the school shooter. Rebecca's assumptions about her life changed after the shooting. She thought she was focused and in love with a boy who loved her. After the shooting she realized that she was more out of control than she thought she was and they boy she was planning her life around only saw her as a friend.

Rebecca grew up and became an extremely controlled and regimented adult who doesn't allow a lot of spontaneity in her life. One day, on her walk home she is attacked and mugged and is saved by a dog and a random man. The random man is named Wes Garrett, a failed restauranteur with a connection to Rebecca that he doesn't know about.

This is a relatively intense book about two seemingly opposite people making a strong connection. They have deep conversations and visibly grow together while both acknowledging the tragedies in their past. A supremely hopeful book. Would highly recommend.

Wow!!! This 5 star story was so amazing that I had a difficult time to put it for very long.

Rebecca is a survivor from a tragic event. Years later she stills feels guilty over the event. Wes is a recovering alcoholic who’s trying to regain his dreams. Those dreams where shattered by one stupid mistake. One night while Rebecca is being mugged, a stray dog and a stranger come to her rescue. 2 trouble souls that will heal each other.

This is such an amazingly written story. I was hooked from the very first page read to the very last one. It was a captivating tale of forgiveness. Beautifully written with a seamless plot. I loved these wonderful characters. Bottomline is this is a must read.

This is the second story in The Ones Who Got Away but it can safely be read as a standalone. It does come with an HEA. I strongly recommend this story.

Last year I got the chance to read an advance copy of The Ones Who Got Away, the first in this series. I really enjoyed the first in the series, and was already looking forward to the chance to read about Liv's friends. I was so excited when the second in the series focused on Rebecca!

The Ones Who Got Away focuses on a group of women who survived a high school shooting 12 years ago. The first one focused on Liv finding her way back to the man she loved all those years ago. The One You Can't Forget also focuses on reuniting Rebecca with someone she knew a few years ago, but this is not a second chance romance. Years ago, Rebecca helped Wes Garrett's ex-wife take him for all he had. But then Wes saves her during a mugging, she kisses him the first night they meet, he doesn't recognize her at first, and then they're off! 

I honestly think The One You Can't Forget was better than the first book in the series, even though we see less of the friend group as I was hoping for. Rebecca and Wes are so sweet, their banter is great, and their chemistry is off the rails. I still feel a little uneasy about the entire concept of the series, but I do love this relationship and how Roni Loren makes it work, and I'm sure I'll be reading the next one.

With a storyline that’s especially relevant now comes this emotionally intense tale about the defining moments in a person’s life. Balancing the past with making a satisfying future readers will find themselves fully immersed in this story where many of the words and deeds were like a punch to the gut. By the turn of the final page readers will be left exhausted, put through the emotional wringer, but uplifted by the sense of love and acceptance the book’s conclusion inspires.

Rebecca Lindt was the good girl in high school, successful and liked by all. Behind that facade though was a lonely girl longing to be someone else. With her mother’s abandonment, and her father’s exacting nature, she struggled to do what was expected of her and beat herself up when she couldn’t measure up. A single decision and act of rebellion though caused her her biggest moment of regret, haunting her to this day and leaving her the survivor of a school shooting. Years after the event Rebecca’s still struggling with the memories of that day, remembering her part in what happened, and living a regimented life in an attempt to make amends. It’s another single moment that irrevocably changes everything for her when an armed mugger has a stranger rushing to her rescue and setting her on a path of self-discovery. It’s a journey that’s a bit rocky at times, a bit romantic too, but definitely full of heart-wrenching emotions. When readers first meet Rebecca she’s wound tightly, walking the straight and narrow path, trying to live up to her father’s expectations. The fairytale that she once saw for her life was snuffed out, not only by the school shooter but by her parent’s failed marriage and all the other dissolving marriages she sees everyday as a lawyer. She’s grown far too accustomed to loss, is tired of putting herself through the pain, which has led to her closing off her heart. With her sexy savior, Wes, all the emotions she’s kept locked away come rushing to the forefront. He makes her question everything, fuels her passion, and has her opening her heart to possibilities she buried long ago. At the start theirs is a fun and flirty romance of friends that quickly becomes more. As the temperature heats up in their interactions so to does their emotional connectivity as she makes greater strides in opening up. Though Rebecca’s a strong-willed heroine on her own it’s Wes who pushes her to really start living and it’s their formidable support of each other that leads to such a richly rewarding conclusion.

Wes Garrett was once an up and coming chef on the cover of magazines and destined for the top until a brutal divorce left him with nothing. In a single moment he lost his restaurant, his credibility, his self-esteem, and he further humiliated himself by becoming an alcoholic. Years later he’s still trying to recover from all that he lost and longing to find something that fulfills him. When rushing to a woman’s rescue one dark night he has no idea that she’s the one who ruined him, but by the time he finds out he no longer cares in a romance that catches him by surprise. He and Rebecca start out as unlikely friends but quickly grow closer as they push each other out of the complacency that they’ve fallen into. She might want them to remain just friends with benefits but it’s clear he wants more and it’s his romantic words and deeds throughout their time together that pulled at my heartstrings. Wes is one sexy beast, rough around the edges and with a checkered past, but he has a heart of gold that endeared him to me. His self-esteem is at a low point when readers see him but by supporting Rebecca, and by her support of him, he finds the happiness that’s been alluding him since he lost his restaurant. The happiness their coupling fueled showed in his confidence in speaking out about his feelings for Rebecca and led to a heartfelt speech that was truly romantic and exactly what you want a book boyfriend to say. On a whole, he’s the highlight of this story for me and his perfect imperfections have me dreaming of him still.

This is a powerful story that focuses on the power of a single moment. How that moment defines us and affects us drives the characters in this book and easily pulled me into the narrative. The romance between Rebecca and Wes was well done with fun and flirty interludes balanced with more emotionally intense and scorching encounters. They were a formidable pair despite all their differences and it’s those differences that made them complete. The support they gave to each other helped them work past their pain to find a satisfying and cheer-worthy HEA. Surrounding this appealing main couple was a cast of compelling secondary characters, some we’ve seen before and some that are new. Rebecca’s girlfriends were on the scene for supportive girl talk and to remind readers of the painful past that binds them. To make this an even more emotional read is the introduction of an abused teen spiraling out of control who Rebecca and Wes are determined to help. Steven’s story made my heart ache as the emotional and physical abuse he endured was vividly depicted. While his story gave Rebecca a chance to redeem herself in her own mind, and showed Wes where his path was meant to go, it was a bit distracting as the book headed towards its conclusion. The message conveyed is ultimately a powerful one but its inclusion took a soap opera-ish turn towards the end. On a whole though this was another well-written romance from Ms. Loren with its timely subject matter and heartfelt romance. I’m now left with a smile on my face, courtesy of a sweet and sexy epilogue, and waiting for the next installment in this satisfying series.

3 1/2 Stars!

✦ CW: School shooting; alcoholism recovery (hero); abuse (teenage character)
✦ Divorce lawyer
✦ Chef hero
✦ She was his ex’s lawyer -- oops
✦ Emotional like book 1 but I didn’t love this one as much
✦ It was a bit slow/uneven pace for the story
✦ Slow burn, fairly hot though quick scenes
✦ I hated her father and what he was willing to do/how he treated her and her trauma
✦ Also, not very happy with how she feels guilty for "being the cause" of the school shooting all those years ago -- she embarrassed one of the shooters in front of the school and believes that set him off. Can we not?! That's not how this works. And especially after the last shooting we had, where the fucking father of the shooter tried to pull that same BS about the girl who "embarrassed and bullied" his son? NOPE. Did not like that showing up in this book. The two are not connected, of course, this book was written last year (at least) but it was a slap in the face to read about it nonetheless.


Looking forward to the next book, but for now book 1 is still my favorite by a long shot. This series won't work for everyone because it deals with a school shooting. I get that, please take care of yourself first.

3.75 stars--THE ONE YOU CAN’T FORGET is the second instalment in Roni Loren’s contemporary, adult THE ONES WHO GOT AWAY erotic, romance series focusing on the survivors of a mass shooting the night of their senior prom-Finn Dorsey, Olivia Arias, Rebecca Lindt, Taryn Landry and Kincaid Breslin. This is thirty-one year old divorce attorney Rebecca Lindt, and chef Wes Garrett’s story line. THE ONE YOU CAN’T FORGET can be read as a stand-alone but I recommend reading the series in order, or at the very least book one, for backstory and cohesion as the details about what happened are revealed in THE ONES WHO GOT AWAY.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Rebecca and Wes) THE ONE YOU CAN’T FORGET follows the building relationship between thirty-one year old divorce attorney Rebecca Lindt, and chef Wes Garrett. Rebecca is a survivor, albeit a survivor with physical and emotional scars, and it is these scars that control so much of her life. When Rebecca is mugged on the way home from work, her would-be rescuer is the man she destroyed in court a few years before. Enter chef Wes Garrett, and the man with whom Rebecca would fall in love. What ensues is the building relationship between Wes and Rebecca, and the potential fall-out as Rebecca believes she is not worthy of a happily ever after.

Rebecca struggles with the guilt and shame of surviving a shooting she blames on herself. From the outside, Rebecca is a successful attorney but looks can be deceiving as our heroine is unable to let go of the past. Rebecca battles her attraction to a man whose own demons may be a threat to their growing relationship, a threat perceived by someone in charge. Wes Garrett lost everything to divorce, a few years earlier, including the restaurant business he no longer owned. Working with at risk-youth, teaching them survival skills in the kitchen, Wes is hoping to one-day open his own curb-side business. Meeting Rebecca Lindt brought with it the painful memories of a time he wished he could forget.

The relationship between Rebecca and Wes begins when Wes becomes our heroine’s knight in shining armor. Their attraction to one another is immediate but Rebecca recognizes our hero as the man she all but destroyed a few years earlier. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and intense without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

THE ONE YOU CAN’T FORGET is a story of one woman’s inability to let go of her guilt, and one man’s struggle to move on from the past. The premise is edgy, engaging and entertaining; the romance is seductive and provocative; the characters are broken, surviving, colorful and lost.

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley

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Loved it!
This is my first book by Roni Loren.

What I liked:
The writing style
The characters
Part of a series: The Ones Who Got Away
Standalone
HEA
Epilogue

I look forward to reading more from this author and the other books in this series.

he One You Can’t Forget by Roni Loren is the second book in The Ones Who Got Away series following a few of the survivors of a Columbine-type school shooting at the imaginary Lone Acre High School. The One You Can’t Forget reintroduces us to Lone Acre survivor Attorney Rebecca Lindt and new character chef Wes Garrett, who should not like each other or even have the interaction they do. They have legit, real world reasons to stay away from each other—but then there would be no story. A mugging brings Wes and Rebecca together for the second time years after their first encounter so they don’t immediately recognize each other. When they do recognize each other, they have the choice to work off of past impressions or their present experiences.

Sometimes stress and chemistry can get you the benefit of the doubt, but what you do with it, is work. This isn’t just a story of opposites attract, that’s too easy. I love that Loren doesn’t go down the easy route of insta-love or even jumping on an imaginary “third date rule” to let her characters act on their chemistry. Instead she lets them get to know each other, choosing over and over to create a new relationship, to have phone conversations, and brilliantly, they share a major project together. They work together. Through this project, they are able to take their relationship from light and superficial to meaningful and substantial.

They need that trust because the fallout from the mugging presents a situation that we can see miles off. There is no hinting or foreshadowing; any intelligent reader will see it coming. Loren was so successful in getting me to like her characters, however, that instead of being tense over a plot point, I was tense wondering how they were going to handle it, how it would affect their new relationship. Loren handled it plausibly. Thank you. The story is tied up with a tidy bow in the epilogue and we have a hint to the third installment.

There are character tie-in’s to the first book which introduced the series, but The One You Can’t Forget is solidly a stand-alone book if you missed the first one. The reader isn’t left feeling like there’s large amounts of pertinent background information or gaps to try and fill-in on their own. I’m looking forward to book three.

My Rating: A, Loved It

I liked this book. But I didn't love it. It's taken me days to finally sit down and write about it because I don't have any strong feelings towards it. It was very well-written and as a first-time reader of Roni Loren I have quickly become a fan of her work. However, the subject and plot were just middle-of-the-road for me, with the typical drama that I've come to expect from a contemporary romance series. I wasn't blown away, but I wasn't exactly disappointed either.

I didn't read the first book of the series, but I don't think that greatly impacted my feelings with this book. Sure, I wish I would have had a little more background information on the characters and their past, but this book is fully capable of standing on its own.

Out of the four women in the series, I think Rebecca will be the one I feel most apathetic about. Her rigid, closed-off personality was definitely a result of past events in her life, but as a reader, I didn't find her to be very likable or fun to read about. The back-and-forth of her actions and emotions toward Wes became redundant toward the later chapters and left me a bit bored.

Wes was actually a very likable character and despite his "checkered past," he really couldn't have been more of a knight-in-shining-armor type of guy....which made the comments by his brother Marco and Rebecca's father all the more annoying. Nothing like being a grown adult and having others tell you how to live your life.

Now, their relationship. It might have been my least favorite part of the book because I'm so over the whole dynamic. It fell flat for me, maybe because I wasn't a huge fan of Rebecca. Or maybe because it was just another book beating a dead horse with this cliched romantic set-up, with nothing unique or surprising about it.

So overall, this was a decent book that fit right into this genre. The backstory concept is unique and interesting, but unfortunately, that same quality did not hold true for this specific plot. So why the 4 stars? Because the author really pulled through with her writing and although the drama is generic, the narration and dialogue are top-notch.

*I received a free ARC by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

As soon as I finished The Ones Who Got Away, I began the countdown for The One You Can't Forget. I was fortunate to get an eARC and I dove in pretty much the second I got my hands on it. I was so curious about Rebecca's story from the lead up in the first book. Plus, I really just wanted more of this series in general. It's such an interesting concept and one that's quite relatable and timely. I fell totally in love with Rebecca and Wes and their story. I basically inhaled this book, not allowing anything to distract me once I'd started it. 

Both Rebecca and Wes were great characters. Opposites to the core, you wouldn't necessarily think they would work as a couple, but you would also be wrong. They had intense chemistry from the start, and somehow, the broken pieces they each carried fit together wonderfully. There was so much more to each of these characters than what'd you saw on the outside. I loved getting a deeper look at both of them. Wes gave Rebecca the push she needed to find something she was truly passionate about, and also helped her get over the guilt she still carried as a result of the shooting so she could really start living again. 

My heart ached for both Rebecca and Wes throughout this book. Despite the subject matter, it wasn't overly angsty or heavy. It was basically "just right" if you ask me. There were plenty of smiles and swoons to go with the sexy times and all the feels I felt. I enjoyed getting this piece of the Long Acre bunch story and I can't wait to see what comes next. If it's anything like the first two books, I'm going to continue really enjoying this special series. 

FAVORITE QUOTES

Surviving a tragedy didn't make you magical. It made you tough. Not special. Just lucky.

"Goodbye? That... felt like the opposite of a goodbye, Rebecca. That felt like a whole lot of hello."

"There aren't that many things in life that are pure pleasure. Think about it. The list is short—food, sleep, sex. They're meant to be enjoyed. Why ruin it with all that guilt?"

Home had never felt like this. Like the right key sliding into the matching lock. Like forever.