
Member Reviews

This book was totally captivating from the very beginning. It deals with some pretty heavy subject matter, but itโs all handled incredibly respectfully. Overall this was a beautiful book and I highly recommend it

๐ ๐ ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 3 ยฝโจโญ๏ธ
THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY
๐ค๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: contemporary romance
๐ 336 pages
๐๐บ๐ผ๐ท๐ถ๐: ๐ฌ๐ง๐ฃ๐ฑ๐ข๐๐๏ธโ๐ผโฝ๏ธโ๏ธ๐๐
๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐ถ๐ณ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐น๐ถ๐ธ๐ฒ:
โฝ๏ธ dual POV
โฝ๏ธ multiple timelines
โฝ๏ธ love at first sight/instant connection
Thank you @netgalley @stmartinspress for the #gifted copy!
๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ถ๐บ๐ฒ๐
THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY opens with an unforgettable start that immediately draws you in. The first chapter is gripping, setting the stage for a deeply emotional narrative. Told through dual POV across multiple timelines, the story explores young love & the profound sacrifices made for those we cherish. The shifting timelines between 2000, when Clara & Benjamin first meet, & 2022, when a devastating event has just unfolded, create a compelling structure that keeps you guessing.
The connection between Clara & Benjamin is heartwarming, & their sweet, instant bond makes it easy to root for them. I was particularly intrigued by how past & present events intertwined, with the narrative hinting at a pivotal moment in their shared history. The suspense built effectively, leaving me eager to uncover the full truth behind their story.
While the premise was strong & the dual timelines were intriguing, the pacing occasionally felt uneven. Iโm also not a fan of the miscommunication trope & this happened a few times in a major way. Though the book offered an engaging plot & tender moments, it ultimately lacked the lasting impact I hoped for. Still, itโs a good read for fans of poignant, timeline spanning love stories!
โ ๏ธ there are a few TWโs in this but listing may cause spoilers so DM me if youโd like to know!
๐ฃ๐น๐ผ๐: Benjamin & Clara meet in 2000 & feel destined for each other. A tragic mistake on their last night at university sends them on separate paths. 20 years later, Clara has a successful life but is unhappy, still longing for Benjamin. When a bombing occurs in the city where they met, sheโs drawn back to confront their past. As Clara searches for Benjamin, she wonders if itโs too late to fix what went wrong

Thank you, Charlotte Rixon, St. Martins Press, and Netgalley for an Arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Loved this story! I was so invested in the characters and by the end i was ugly crying!

This was a little disjointed, but a sweet story nonetheless. The characters' were not very believable to me and their personalities early on in the book really did not match as time went on.

I love a complicated love story/what if situations. This one checked those boxes for me and more. The One That Got Away by Charlotte Rixon took some dark turns, but it definitely leaves you thinking about the complex nature of love.
Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me.

This was an interesting read, though it did take a bit to come together with the dual characters, and past and present timelines.

This is not a love story, it's a story about first love.
Author Charlotte Rixon couldn't have described the book more aptly. This book was about Clara and Benjamin, and their romance throughout their college years. However, something happened that tore them apart, and now 20 years later, they reconnect. However, both are different people now and have moved on from their first love. Yet, they can't help but wonder what the other is doing and what could have been.
There is a lot of timeline shifting in this book, and though some of the present-day parts made me anxious to learn why Clara and Benjamin broke up, overall the mixed timelines really worked for me. I loved seeing the pair grow (though separately). Both characters were extremely flawed, though I felt that Benjamin was way too hard on himself and wouldn't allow himself to be happy. Clara came across as a bit spoiled and whiny at times, though she did have many traumatic experiences that formed her personality and responses to certain events. This novel included a TON of trigger warnings, yet they were handled well and added to the storyline. I was drawn into this book and found it hard to put down. I became annoyed with Clara when she made several mistakes that she acknowledged as she was making them. However, they created a lot of dramatic moments that kept me reading.
tw: infertility, rape (of child, of peer), cancer, bombing, violence, alcoholism, (probably more I am forgetting...)

The One That Got Away is an engaging, complicated and messy look at love, and the fallout of it ending and how life moves forward. I thought the exploration of timing and if things are meant to be was well done and interesting. Overall, this was a well written exploration of 'what if' that I recommend to readers who enjoy stories about life, love and exploring what could have been.
Thank you St. Martin's Press for the copy through NetGalley in exchange for a review.

This story of long lost love took some pretty dark turns. Spanning twenty years, we get a look at how Clara and Benjamin met and how they ultimately broke up and their lives thereafter. Did they pine for each other? Did they put their relationship in the past and move on with their lives? Life is complicated and sometimes we never truly part from those whom we really need. Especially when tragedy strikes. I enjoyed following Claraโs journey back to Benjamin as well as the several surprising moments in the storyline. Thank you NetGalley and St Martinโs Press for this gifted copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

This book was about right person wrong time. It was so nicely written. I kept wanting to know more and the storyline kept me interested. I really liked the dual POV and the jumping between the past and present.

I didn't know what to think when I dove into this book; but was pleasantly surprised at how addictive this read became. Couldn't put it down! I thoroughly enjoyed this book- thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the opportunity to review

The One That Got Away by Charlotte Rixon is a deeply moving exploration of love, regret, and self-discovery that spans over two decades. The novel draws you into the world of Benjamin and Clara, whose intense connection at university feels like a perfect match. However, a critical mistake on their last night together sets them on very different paths. Fast forward twenty years, and Clara, now leading a seemingly successful life with a high-profile career and a handsome husband, finds herself unfulfilled and haunted by the memories of Benjaminโthe love she fears she might have ruined.
The story takes a poignant turn when a bombing in the city where their romance first blossomed forces Clara to confront her past. This traumatic event pulls her back to a time she has tried to forget, pushing her to address the emotional wounds and unresolved issues that have lingered for years. Through Claraโs journey, Rixon explores the enduring nature of first love and the pain of missed opportunities with a deeply reflective and nostalgic tone.
One of the novelโs strengths lies in its portrayal of Benjamin and Clara as deeply flawed and emotionally complex individuals. Rixon captures their vulnerabilities and strengths with authenticity, making their struggles and regrets feel profoundly real. Their imperfections are central to the storyโs emotional impact, creating a narrative that resonates with anyone who has grappled with past decisions and lost loves.
The novel's reflective and somber tone mirrors the emotional depth of Claraโs journey. The pacing is medium, allowing for a thoughtful and gradual unfolding of the characters' inner lives and their personal growth. While the mood of the story leans towards melancholy, it is also interspersed with moments of hope and potential redemption.
In reading The One That Got Away, I found a deeply personal and introspective look at how our pasts shape our present selves. Charlotte Rixonโs narrative is both heartfelt and compelling, offering a touching exploration of enduring love and the quest for reconciliation. Although the story's reflective nature might not suit everyoneโs taste, it provided me with a moving and thoughtful reading experience that stayed with me long after I turned the final page.

I typically don't mind books that jump around in time between different character's POVs, in fact I often enjoy reading from multiple POVs. However, something about this had me a bit confused with all of the jumping around since it jumped around to numerous different years while also switching characters. I also found both main characters absolutely irritating. They could've been developed much deeper to fully grasp their trauma and problems to make them more palatable. Overall, this book was an easy read but had an average plot for me.

I snjoyed This book. It was well written. I was able to engage with characters and plot. I would Read another book by this author and I recommend This book.

This powerful novel by Charlotte Rixon will stay with me for a long time. The emotion of it touched me deeply. Rixon deals with very sensitive topics and some people may not find it suitable. Be sure to read the trigger warnings before proceeding. The One That Got Away will be added to my book collection in hardback. That's right, it's that amazing!

3 stars! While my interest was piqued when I read the synopsis of the book, something was missing to me. I never quite affiliated with the characters and well, I breathed a sigh of relief when the novel was over.
I received an advance digital review copy of this book; all opinions are my own.

Jumping between their perspectives, as well as from present day to significant years in the past in each of their lives since they met, The One That Got Away takes you on an emotional journey. I was not expecting the heaviness of a lot of the story. And it wasn't just the bombing, but rather the different situations both Clara and Benjamin found themselves in over the years. There was a lot of trauma for each of them.
Clara from the past and Clara from the present really felt like 2 different characters. I understand that there was a traumatic event in between the two and twenty years, but her entire personality, from being emotional and spontaneous and even insecure, to a more subdued individual. Benjamin and Clara's relationship felt more sexual than a deeper connection, so both of them being hung up on the other felt a little much.
Overall, the story kept me engaged and there was a twist in there toward the end. I just struggled to relate or feel any sort of connection to the main characters to make me truly emotionally invested to the story.
It covers a variety of difficult and emotional topics, so check your trigger warnings.

This book took me a while to read. It was not a page turner. the last 25% kept me the most captivated. I appreciated the story and growth from the FMC. The MMC annoyed me in the beginning but had different feelings by the end of the book.

I wanted to love this book more than I did. Maybe because the complexities of the relationship between Clara and Benjamin hit a little too close to home, or maybe because second chance romances aren't usually a trope I'm drawn to, but either way, the story was well-written, and the characters were easy to connect with, and I found myself ultimately rooting for them. The development and ultimate crumbling of their relationship and lives was very much right person/wrong time, and it was heartbreaking. Reading as the two of them tried to navigate the unfortunate hand that life dealt each of them made my heart ache for them.
The back-and-forth timeline jumps were a little difficult to keep up with however.

My heart just overflows with the emotions that their stories and actions wring from me and their stories settle so deeply in my heart, I feel like I know these characters personal. Utterly BRILLIANT writing