Severely disliked both main characters, which made it hard to root for them. I finished this book, but just barely.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review!

When her newsroom erupts with activity and reporters start rushing out to the scene of a bombing at the local football stadium, Clara can't just run out..... and one of the people being interviewed in the early minutes is a man she hasn't seen in twenty years.. A man who happens to be the love of her life.

Right off the bat I loved that this was one of the more unique situations for finding each other again that I've seen in second chance romance. It's pragmatic and a little gritty and it really grounded the book and made it less like a Hallmark Channel movie and more like a real story. I absolutely loved that! I also loved how the present day story line remains realistic and complicated, rather than having two people just bump into each other and move on like the intervening decades didn't happen. It was all just very believable, which as a cynic I really appreciated.

This book did drag for me for a little bit in the middle, and I did find Clara to be annoying at times, but overall it was awesome! I'm not sure I agree with recommend it for Colleen Hoover fans since there's next to zero shock or sex, but the Jill Santopolo recommendation is spot on. HIGHLY recommend for her fans as well as those of Renee Carlino!

This book took a minute to get excited about. Charlotte Rixon, thank you for writing this book, I would love to know how much of this book relates to your real world experience just as much as the characters in the book. The beginning started out slow and I got the feeling it was like Clara, learning how to write her first novel, it drastically improved as the book progressed. I enjoyed the story line of how family holds tight no matter what and how true love always has a very special place in your heart. Thank you #NetGalley and @MacMillan Audio for giving me the opportunity to pre-listen to this publication. I Loved the narrator of this book, worth the read - or in my case - listen.

Second chance romances are a fun trope. I have definitely wondered what happened to someone in my past. Not necessarily a love interest but there are other lost relationships I have wondered about. This book gave a fun perspective on lost relationships. It was a quick entertaining read.

Gosh, I wanted to love this so much! Unfortunately, it missed the mark for me :( From the beginning, it was very challenging to understand the narrators with their heavy accents.

The cover and title definitely gave me romance vibes but this story was laced with much heavier topics and sadness for the main characters. So many triggers - which is real life! But felt like it overwhelmed the takeaway of the story altogether.

Many thanks to NetGalley and McMillian Audio for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

could be interesting for someone interested in reading about failed relationships, toxic relationships, and obsessive behavior.

I had high hope for listening to "The One That Got Away" and enjoyed dual narrators Carl Prekopp and Katherine Press. However; I felt the story was too similar to a book I read this past year and was turned off from the characters/storyline at the 60 percent mark. I didn't feel connected to Clara or Benjamin and wanted Clara to connect back with her lost love. While this book definitely seems like a romantic story, I would say that it is definitely more contemporary fiction.

I wanted to love this story. The concept is sweet: first love. Shit happens and their lives went in different directions, but they never got over each other. The story is how they find each other again.

The book is definitely not a romance novel. It’s quite dark. It has a lot of possible triggers (PTSD, bombing, s*xual abuse, divorce, infertility, infidelity, etc). It was a bit hard to keep up with the various timelines as it jumped from past to present, from his perspective and hers, sharing his story and her story.

However I do like that, even when they reconnect, it’s realistic. They don’t just “jump into bed and all is good again”. They know they have to get to know each other again, because they are no longer the same people. But finding each other again helps heal wounds and helps them make hard decisions for their lives to move forward.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you NetGalley and McMillan Audio for the audiobook version of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

I very much liked this novel. Read beautifully and more than just a romance novel - it was life. It was falling in love, making many mistakes, challenges with dating, marriage, parenting, alcoholism, trauma, self-esteem, and more. But while this novel did approach all these challenging topics- it wasn’t cliche, it wasn’t overdone but the characters were believable and well written. I hoped the entire book for a happily ever after together for Clara and Benjamin even while circumstances kept them apart.

Trigger warnings : child sexual assault, death, violence, addiction and cancer.

This is a heavy story but an overall good story. If you’re looking for a light fluffy romance this isn’t it. This is a real, deep, intense story that will make you think long after you’re done reading. I listened to the audiobook and do have to say that I was not a fan of the narrators but that’s my personal preference as I have a hard time with British/Scottish narrators with heavy accents because I have a hard time understanding them. That’s why I gave the book 4 stars.

Thank you Macmillan and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advanced copy!

This book has heavy topics so I would suggest looking at trigger warnings. Its a good story but has some down moments. I would still recommend this book and will real be reading more of her books. I really enjoyed this audiobook. I'm glad I get to read the physical book and listen to it. It gives you different takes on it for some reason. I really enjoyed it. I would definitely recommend both versions.

Thank you NetGalley and McMillian Audio for allowing me to read this ARC for my honest opinion.

I don't know that I would try to box The One that Got Away into a category like "romance" but I can appreciate what the author did here. Are the main characters unlikeable and flawed? Without a doubt, Do they make a lot of the blatant mistakes and miscommunicate fiercely in a way we were all guilty of once upon a time? Yes. They are gritty,naive and go through heavy traumas and life changing circumstances. Through it they remain drawn to that magnetism of first relationships and the realm of what-ifs. It doesn't pretend to be perfect. It's human instead.
There are several TW, including child sexual assault, parental death, childhood cancer, fatal violence and addiction.
If you are looking for a cookie cutter happily after ever, maybe pass on this one.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for a gifted copy