The gentle pastel colours of the cover of “The One that Got Away”, and probably the novel’s title, leads you to believe you’ll be delving into a classic romance story, but this has a lot more grit than you might expect.

This book is about the story of Benjamin and Clara. They fell in love at University, were somehow torn apart, and now a big event many years later has Clara looking for Benjamin. What happens next? There’s a lot more to it than I initially expected while reading. This book isn’t a light and fluffy women’s rom-com or fiction, there’s some weight to it. What I didn't: For as well as the characters were developed in this book, I wanted closure and the epilogue didn't leave me feeling satiated. But, it felt real and true Clara and Benjamin- flawed people with immense regrets who have taken their time to move past and to the moments that have shaped them as a couple. I enjoyed this book very much. Second chance romances are always one of my favorites. I liked the dual POV’s, the suspense of wondering if the 2 main characters would end up together, and the writing. This was the first time I’ve read a book by this author. I found it to be entertaining although there are some heavy topics in the book. This didn’t feel like a romcom to me, it was more women’s fiction. I definitely recommend this to other readers. What I liked: The writing in this book was so beautiful. The dual POVs and alternating timelines kept me up all night reading because I needed to know what the other character was experiencing after getting half of the story. I genuinely cared about who Clara and Benjamin became and what happened after their paths diverged. Bookended by tragedy, the way the story builds to both the events of 2002 and 2022 left me emotionally damaged- but in the best way.

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Readers who enjoyed "The Girl He Used to Know" and "Normal People" will probably connect with this book as well. It was compelling and gripping. I gasped at parts; it felt more like a thriller or mystery at times. The characters were so realistic and gritty, full of texture and growth. This book is full of emotion, and I was happy to follow these characters. The book has a lot of angst, especially in the earlier timeline, but it’s all well-written and I grew to care for and root for these characters. We get a dual point of view, which I’m a major fan, and a multiple timeline. Both these aspects work wonders and are extremely well made, keeping the reader interesting until the end. The chapters are short, which also adds to this interest as readers, as we are frequently changing and getting to know the characters. He inhales deeply his jaw tensing. It’s never enough whatever he says to her- however much love he shows her it won’t fill the hole she has inside her. She is a chasm of need. It makes him sad. It makes him feel like he is failing her.”

This is not a cheerful second-chance rom-com, but it does give us a look into the lives of two characters who are ordinary. And that's a good thing seeing as how most of us are normal, ordinary, relatable human beings ourselves. I got divorced last year,” Natasha says. She looks down at her own naked left hand. “Sometimes I think I miss my ring more than I miss my ex.” I received this ebook via NetGalley in exchange for a honest review and I would start by thanking everyone involved in allowing me early access. If you’re looking for an emotional story full of emotion and tense subject matter The One That Got Away will captivate you.

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There are traits of both characters that I can recognise in myself when I was their age and it's both embarrassing and amusing in equal measures. The One That Got Away was just great! I love the present and past timelines and the anticipation of what happened to pull apart the main characters while trying to reunite them in present time. The One That Got Away utterly blew me away. It was the kind of book that makes me want to stand on a rooftop and shout how amazing it is to the whole world! I laughed a lot- I cried a lot. It was emotional and intense, it moved me. It was as close to perfection as you can get and a story I will never ever forget. Both Ben and Clara are emotionally vulnerable going through typical teenage issues resulting in lot of miscommunication between them.

This wasn't the light hearted read that I had anticipated. But I struggled to put it down none the less.Going into this I expected a light-hearted romance. This book is not that. It’s a story filled with emotion and follows Clara and Ben who fall in love at university. They sadly grow apart due to varying factors and circumstances, but they always stay in each others minds and hearts. Clara and Benjamin are college students who met at a club and had a first love worthy of songs. They’re meant for each other; they are soulmates but too many things went wrong. They go their separate ways. After 20 years, Clara sees Benjamin and she needs to reach out to see if what could’ve been can still be, but is it too late? Does he feel the same way?

These characters are complex. In the earlier timeline, they are young, passionate, and a bit immature; in the later timelines, they are more guarded and mature, just like most people. I loved these characters, but I was annoyed at their sometimes rash decisions in the earlier timeline, and like many of us when we were young, they didn’t always make good decisions. But, they felt authentic to me. and their love story is raw, passionate, and possibly everlasting. There are a lot of serious topics covered in this book, and it goes to show how every small action has a reaction. Not in this book. This is a dual POV story, which is something I have always been fond of, and Rixon made both characters feel extremely raw and gripping. When it comes to the plot there is almost nothing I can say about it. I hope everyone will do the same to keep things from getting spoiled. The story is an emotional roller coaster from start to finish. But really, give this book a chance. I thought it was excellent.

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This was more emotional than I expected it to be. I liked reading this though. Clara was not a very likable character in my opinion. The story was relatable and I think it’s important to talk about heavy topics. I thought this was very well written and overall enjoyed this book! I devoured this book! This story follows Clara and Benjamin for over 20 years, and the way the story flits between timelines leaves you hooked and wanting more. Ratcliffe said of the book (and of Bravo Two Zero), "[It is] insensitive on [Ryan's] and [McNab's] parts to hide behind pseudonyms when they named their dead colleagues in their books, in deliberate contravention of the Regiment's traditions.". [7]