This story was gripping, poignant, and foreboding. It touches on a lot of heavy life subject matters that can be triggering and there are so many, for example; suicide, bomber, sexual assault, alcoholism, death of a parent, fertility issues, and manslaughter, just to name a few. I appreciate that the author handled these subjects with as much care and sensitivity as possible. This story is very character driven and non linear. I personally love non linear/dual timeline plots, I find them more immersive than linear plots. I loved this story and I instantly fell for Benjamin. I greatly sympathized with his character, he reminded me so much of Connell from Normal People. To me Clara was a bit unlikable but I found her state of ennui and her constant indulging in reminisce very relatable. This book had a lot of dark parts but were perfectly balanced with moments of beauty in the simplicity and realism of the characters.
I recommend to anyone who can stomach all the triggers, to fans of second chance romance, to fans of Normal People, and to those of you that relish in the heart wrenching stories, like I do.

*Thank you so much to NetGalley, St. Martins Press, and of course Charlotte Rixon, for allowing me to read this E-ARC.

I honestly didn't enjoy reading this book very much, If it wasn't an ARC I wouldn't have finished it. It wasn't until I was 60% done that I wanted to keep reading. Issues I had include poor character development, glamorizing toxic behavior in relationships (though the characters seem to realize this later), clunky writing, switching from past to present quickly and between the two main characters was at times disorienting, and the supporting characters (friends and significant others) were one dimension/didn’t add much.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a copy to review.

A heart-warming yet emotional story about two people who were meant to be together, but with a devastating mistake their paths diverted. Clara and Benjamin met and fell in love, but then were separated. Life takes them on different paths but they never do forget one another. When a bombing happens in the city where they first met, Clara is forced to confront the events that tore apart.

This was a really good book that will make you laugh and it will make you cry!

The One That Got Away by Charlotte Rixon was a truly captivating read from start to finish. I found myself completely engrossed in the story of two young lovers, Clara and Benjamin, and their struggles to make sense of their feelings for each other in the face of personal tragedies. I felt I could relate to the characters, both as college students and now later in life.
I especially appreciated the way the story ended as it closed the proverbial loops of Clara and Benjamin's falling out and also Benjamin's son's role in the present-day timeline. The language used was distinctly British and though it was a little rough in places, it flowed together nicely. All in all, it was an engaging and powerful story that I couldn’t put down.

Beautiful heartwrenching angsty romance. I loved the second chance aspect. It was both painful and beautiful to read about this couple and their torrid past,and the attempts to salvage what they lost.

for fans of sally rooney’s normal people, this second chance romance follows clara and ben along storylines both presently and from days past. when a soccer stadium is bombed, clara, who knows benjamin has barely missed a home game in 30 years, impulsively travels to the town they first met, to see if he is okay. as present events unfold, we learn more about the early days of clara and benjamin’s relationship, and the twenty years in between their breakup and the current events of the book.

i really loved this book and the close examination the author took to first love, and how early relationships are so often filled with projections, miscommunications, overreactions, and jealousy, as each person is also still figuring themselves out. i related strongly to clara and was endeared to benjamin right away.

my only critique of this book would be that as such a driven, perfectionist, i find it hard to believe that clara would “settle” for someone safe, as she describes her husband thom, or stay with them for so long when the relationship was clearly not serving her. however, overall, i loved this book and its reflective, hopeful tone.

thank you to netgalley for the arc, provided in exchange for an honest review.

This was a beautiful and emotional story that dealt with some very heavy topics. This was definitely not a light romance but it will still make you smile. It’s a story about the power of first love, the repercussions of mistakes that are made, and how a tragic incident can bring people back together. Highly recommended.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you to net galley and St, Martens Press for this ARC.

This book takes place over a span of 20 years with many flashbacks to the past. It is told in a dual POV and is a second chance story set in the UK. There are a lot of heavy topics that are covered in this book: IVF, Suicide, Cheating, Death, Rape, Abuse, Bombing, Mental Health, Alcoholism, and Manslaughter.

Originally I thought this was going to be a light, airy romance but this is not the case.

I had a hard time finding the main characters Clara and Benjamin likeable. Their relationship seemed awkward and I never really felt like they were in a "romantic" relationship. They had so many issues but never had a "deep connection" to one another.

3/5

To say it was quite a riveting read for me would be selling it short. I simply loved and enjoyed it. I loved how gritty and raw both the writing style and characters were. And so was voice’s of the characters. I can’t wait for it to be out and about in the world so that I can start recommending it!!

TLDR Plot Synopsis: A tragic event brings together a couple who hasn't seen each other in almost two decades. Revisit the past through their relationship and see what led to their demise.

Spoiler Free Review:
I really enjoyed this one! I'm not usually a big fan of books that are character driven rather than plot-driven, but this one was enjoyable. I liked the time jumps and how they allowed me to see character progressions. Sometimes it's tough for me to read about teenagers because it's difficult to relate to their thought processes, but this did an excellent job of looking back in reflection. I think fans of Sally Rooney's 'Normal People' would really enjoy this. There was more plot in this one with a tragic event that is unfolding, but most of the book is focused on the characters.

The One That Got Away by Charlotte Roxanne tells the story of Clara and Benjamin when they first meet at college and also 20 years later. The story goes from present day and the back to college days to give the reader more information. It’s a good story line and totally believable. I like the characters. They have some flaws but find their way through life and circumstances. I would recommend this book. Thank you NetGalley for letting me review this book.

Okay first off this book covers a lot of very heavy topics and I cannot think of a single time that you’re prepared for any of the topics that are about to be discussed, so bear that in mind when you go to read this. I did not like Clara at all, especially in the college chapters. Honestly they both annoyed me, but I really loved Lauren and Aiden. I thought this would be more of a second chance romance, but I don’t think it is. It’s a very heartfelt story, and I really enjoyed it. It was a good book, a lot heavier than I anticipated, but it was good. Thank you NetGalley for the arc!

Benjamin and Clara meet in college. They are both deeply flawed people and their relationship is messy. After a tragic mistake one night their relationship ends. Twenty years later another tragedy brings them back together.

I enjoyed the way the author told the story from the alternating points of view both both Benjamin and Clara. I have to admit that I really didn’t like either character though. I didn’t feel a deep connection between them and as a result wasn’t really invested in if they ended up together or not. The more interesting relationships were between Benjamin and his dad and Benjamin and his son. Benjamin said he wanted a simple life surrounded with those he loved. I feel he achieved that more with those relationships than he did with Clara.

I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley and the publisher in exchange for my honest opinions.

This was such a beautiful, sad, yet realistic story that I enjoyed reading so very much! Yes it dealt with second chance love, but it was deeper than that! Clara and Ben from two complete different worlds and opposites in character meet in Uni (university). What turns into a sweet romance eventually because of trust issues and insecurities starts packing secrets from both parties. Then one night it all changes and their lives are thrown into different directions. I loved the character development of each character and this story actually had a good plot. Told in 3 different times of their life and dual POV. Young love that could have been more if not for two young adults growing up and making mistakes. I loved how the author touched on subjects that others dare to include into stories with a storyline like this one. The ending was well thought out and ends with hope, people trying to accept and be proud of their accomplishments, and love themselves first. Please read trigger warnings before: Violence, Deaths, Bombing/Suicide, Child Abuse, Love and Loss, Marital Issues, Child Abandonment, and Alcoholism.

Thank you NetGalley for this well written ARC.
My first book ever by Charlotte Rixon and hopefully not my last !

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I give The One that Got Away 3.5 stars.

It was a compelling story. I enjoyed the characters, plot, and the writers writing style.

I felt like the book could have been shorter though. There were a few chapters towards the end that felt like they were dragging out. I found myself skimming.

The ending of the book (present day storyline) with the bombing felt a little out there too.

I also found the title made me think this book would be more of a romance, but it skewed drama.

All in all, it was an enjoyable read.

Thank you for the opportunity to read.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC by this talented writer!

This was one of the best books I have read in the last year. The author manages to prevent readers from knowing the details of two major events until the end. I loved the development of the characters of Clara and Benjamin. The heightened emotions and responses in a first love are so well captured here. The desperation and urgent need to be together as they try to navigate life is so relatable. This is no romcom. This a book with serious issues and serious consequences and tackles difficult subject matter. I could not put it down.

The One that Got Away is a heartfelt portrayal of making mistakes and growing up. The story is about Clara and Benjamin who fall in love during college in 2000. One night their lives are turned upside down. Twenty years later, Clara is unhappily married , has a great job and a good life, but she can't forget about Benjamin. A bombing in Benjamin's town brings Clara back there. Clara goes through all the emotions of their past relationship, and all the emails they wrote to each other. This book made me laugh as well as cry. I felt like I was taken along for the ride with Clara and Benjamin. I recommend this book for anyone looking for an emotional charged read that will stay with you long after your done reading.

I thought this book was going to be a romance. It is and isn’t, but mostly it isn’t. There are so many difficult topics in this book and it ends with such a heaviness. I predicted almost every horrible thing which almost made it worse. The writing style is interesting with the various timeline jumps and writing from the perspective of both characters. I know not every book is for everyone, but I had wanted something lighthearted and this was not it. Also, there are so many trigger warnings in this book.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ACR in exchange for my honest review.

Where do you like to spend time alone?

For me I like to wake up earlier than everyone else, and slowly drink HOT coffee while I scroll through my phone. On days where someone wakes up early and interrupts my alone time, my whole day is just messed up.

Two years together.
Twenty years apart.
One day to change their story.

In the year 2000 Benjamin’s world is turned upside down when he meets Clara. He just knows they’re meant to be together. But things fall apart one fateful night.

It’s twenty years later and Clara turns on the television and sees a bombing in the city she first met Benjamin. She has a loving husband and wonderful job, but she feels destined to be with Benjamin. She races to the site of the bombing to hoping to find him.

Clara is forced to confront the reasons she and Benjamin split and reckon with what she is willing to give up to get what she thinks she needs.

This was an interesting read, though it did take a bit to come together with the dual characters, and past and present timelines. I enjoyed it, it just took me a while to fully get into it. I am glad that this one wasn’t labeled a romance, but there is a romance at the heart of this book. Its more an exploration of love, versus falling in love.

Make sure to check your triggers with this one. There are some heavy ones here such as alcoholism.

Check this one out August 15th.

Thank you to the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, @stmartinspress, Netgalley, @netgalley, and the author for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is not your typical "romance" novel. For that reason I really enjoyed it. It tackles the imperfection of first love, college life, family relationships, complicated friendships, and how those primitive years can shape your life. This story reaches out to those who are still wondering "what if" yet trucking forward in life. The character development is well done and it was fun for me to watch these characters throughout 20 years of their lives. The author creates characters you care about and an ending that leaves you wanting more and hopeful.

The story was easy for me to follow, the timelines seemed to show a steady progression to where we find these characters today, while highlighting important years in flashbacks.

*Lots of heavy topics ranging from child abuse, alcoholism, sexual assault, etc. I usually don't like books that end up having too many heavy topics in it, but the author is gentle with the subject matter and gives it the importance it deserves without being graphic.

Thank you to NetGalley, St.Martin's Press, and Charlotte Rixon for this advanced ecopy in exchange for my honest review.