Perfect read. Well written with the perfect amount of character development.

Rereviewed as reviews aren't showing

The One That Got Away by AJ Pine

I love the childhood friends to lovers trope so much, so I was super excited to read this when it popped up on Netgalley. However, even though it's one of my favorite tropes it wasn't enough to make me love this book. I didn't feel like the reason they were not together in high school was a good enough one. Jamie had her and then pushed her away and said they should just be friends. And why? Well, I won't spoil it but it was dumb. So now it's been years and these two are still best friends, but they refuse to talk about the night in high school when everything almost changed for them. And then we enter the same love triangle that was a thing in high school. I just didn't buy it. People grow up, they move on, they become different people. They don't all just sit in a holding pattern like this. And, again, Jamie doesn't fight for her. He wants to and her thinks he is, but he's not. And multiple characters are confused or frustrated by this. The drama! It's painful! The lack of communication was super annoying, and not something I can understand when these two have been friends for so long. I cannot stand plots that are driven by a lack of communication. There were some fun and swoony moments, but so often these moments were twisted around to create more drama. The writing was fine, but not incredibly noteworthy. I'm sure others will love this book! I love road trip romances, and that part was fun at times. The needless drama between two people who have been best friends forever kind of ruined it for me, though.

Wow this book was just so good and so easy to get lost in. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and I just didn't want the story to end. I just couldn't get enough of these wonderful characters and I just loved getting to see their journey. I will most definitely be reading more stories from this wonderful author.

amie and Brynn were best friends in high school. He used to have a crush on her but she thought she wanted another guy, Spencer. When things didn't work out with Spencer due to a nasty microbe, Jamie came to her rescue and they kissed. Things soon fell apart, however.

Fast forward ten years. Jamie still wants Brynn, although he's dating another woman, Liz now. There is a high school reunion and Brynn wants to hook up with Spencer again. Eventually Jamie and Brynn go on a road trip that Jamie sees as his last chance to tell her how he feels. However, things don't go quite as well as he thinks they could.

I enjoyed the friendship between the characters and the nicknames, the banter, the Monkees references, the accidents that happen, but at times the conflict that they both manufacture in their heads gets a little annoying and you want to slap some sense into them..

I would consider reading something else from this author.

I got a review copy from Netgalley although I'm a little late for the party, this was first published in 2016.

I thought this book sounded so great. Unfortunately, it was not for me. I got about half way through, and then I had to stop reading it. I know others enjoyed it. So I would recommend checking out their reviews for it!

Roadtrip!

Besties, Jamie and Brynn have a good thing going. But can it be something great?
Jamie wants it to be great, Brynn wants the status quo.
This is two journeys, their long friendship and the ten years after the kiss (love the flashbacks to high school) and they present day roadtrip where Jamie tires to show Brynn they can be more. Of course there are many bumps along the way.


Recommend for a long, slow burn, friends to lovers.

i really enjoyed getting to read this book! it was so precious and cute and fun! i'm so glad netgalley chose me to read this before everyone else. thanks so much netgalley!!

This was a lot of fun to read. All the events led up to a great ending. The characters were amazingly built. They were a lot of fun to read about.

I was excited to dive into this one because the plot sounded fun and like a great friends-to-lovers trope.
I loved Brynn and Jamie’s friendship and personalities. They felt very real and that made this a fun read.
I expected this read to be a little predictable, but it unfortunately got to a point that I was getting a little annoyed.
There were so many highs and lows with Jamie and Brynn’s emotions that it was repetitive. There was a lot of redundancy in the book that made it drag on a bit.
It was enjoyable enough to keep me interested but I didn’t love it.

The One That Got Away is the first book in the Kingston Ale House series and the first I have read by this author. I really enjoyed the book. It was well written and had a fun road trip storyline. The characters were charming and easy to fall in love with. Jamie Kingston had loved his best friend Brynn Chandler since high school but after their first kiss, his home life fell apart. He feared losing Brynn as a friend and he stepped back into the friend zone. Now ten years later he has regrets and has one more chance to win her over. He is taking her on a road trip to California. Brynn’s heart was crushed when Jamie told her he only wanted to be friends after their first kiss. She buried her feelings for him years ago and won’t let herself think of that night. As they travel across country, her feelings start to expose themselves again. Can they overcome their fears before it’s too late and reveal their feelings for each other?
I received an ARC from Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The One That Got Away

I found myself really having a tough time routing for Jamie (the H) in this story. He’s been in love with Brynn for years, and she’s been in love with him, but in high school, he put her firmly in the friend zone. Now, when he decides it’s time to accept her as a potential partner, he lets her believe he is still in a relationship! Yet she still sleeps with him (I was really disgusted by that). I found myself routing for them, then cursing them. I also found that they seemed to draw drama around them to the detriment of any progress. With this time in history, my patience level regarding whining and drama seems to be non-existent.

Cross-country game of Romance Chicken

Jamie and Brynn belong together. Everyone can see it, they each believe it, but the catch (and the whole crux of the story) is that neither believes that the other believes it, and neither wants to be the one that risks the friendship by declaring themselves only to face rejection. So yes, the plot and the resulting HEA are a bit predictable, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.

Our faith in the story's trajectory is only surpassed by Brynn and Jamie's faith in their friendship, despite the underlying tension. I really enjoyed the minor ups and downs as the road trip from Chicago to LA forces them to confront their feelings, their doubts, their insecurities, as well as all the things that have sustained them over the many years of their friendship. Even when they're certain the romance can't work out, the friendship is always solid, and I appreciated the stability of that foundation.

The writing is superior, the humor is only slightly outpaced by the love and physical expression of it, and the HEA is joyously triumphant. Highly recommended. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

This is your regular misunderstood romance after 50% in I needed a change. Miscommunication and misunderstood feelings. Beginning is good middle began to drag. DNF.



**************************I received an ARC from Net Galley for my honest review.**************************************

This is a story about the true test of friendship. Brynne and James had been friends since middle school. That friendship had been tested ten years ago and was once again been tested more than ever. As they realize their feelings for each other go deeper than just platonic friendship, they have to get rid of all the fear that is keeping them from reaching for the moon. The story is filled with emotional highs and lows as they sort through their messy feelings. They are both lucky enough to have people in their corner who help them find their way to love.

The One That Got Away is the first book in the Kingston Ale House series by A.J. Pine. A lovely friends-to-lovers romance that is sure to pull you in and leave you wanting more. Pine's trademark writing style is smooth and witty.  The characters are well-written and develop at a steady pace that makes it easy to get lost in.

I have had this book on my TBR list for a long time and I wish I hadn't waited so long to read it!

Jamie and Brynn have been best friends since high school. There was one moment where they had a chance to become more, but it didn't work out. Now 10 years later they may have a second chance if they can learn to trust their feelings.

This was a really fun book with the friends to more trope I enjoy, a road trip, and stumbling blocks for the couple that felt realistic and not overly angsty.

Both Jamie and Brynn make mistakes but their love for each other is evident. I liked getting glimpses of their history together without the plot getting bogged down with too many flashbacks of extra details. They both struggle with communication which I sometimes do not like in books, but it was done well here.

A number of secondary characters were introduced, too, as part of their friends group. They added some humor and acted as sounding boards for both Jamie and Brynn. I am looking forward to reading their stories in the next three books in the series.

Thank you to the author for providing an ARC for an honest review.

A captivating story with heart, humour, passion and emotions. These characters have a connection that is so magnetic and genuine - you will find yourself rooting for them to get their HEA! Would recommend

3.5 Stars
Best friends from childhood Aways have that moment... you know the one... when each of them all of a sudden realizes they are boys and girls and hormones are happening. It is a curious time and when the kiss happens, a decision must be made... to they admit their attraction or stay friends...

She pulled back and he hid his love from her.

Time has passed, they are adults and she is wanting a real relationship in her life. She is looking for the one. He sees this is his only chance to show her He is Her One. He offers a two-week road trip and hopes to show her what is right in front of her.

Will she see it or is she blinded by the security of friendship...

Loved this second chance love story, but there were times I wanted to smack both leads upside the head! Jamie and Brynn were funny and heartbreaking at the same time. While everyone else could see their more-than-friends connection, they of course were totally oblivious.
I loved the banter between these lifelong friends, and Brynn’s sister Holly made me laugh out loud! This is my first AJ Pine book but it will definitely not be my last! Can’t wait to read the next Kingston Alehouse book!

The story of Brynn and Jamie. Despite being friends for so long, they don't talk about the kiss they shared 10 years ago.

When Jamie realises that he might lose Brynn for ever, they set off on a road trip with the hope that she realises that he is the one for her. Will his plan work?

Looking forward to reading more from this author.