The Ones Who Got Away by Roni Loren is one of my favorites of her books

Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. This post contains affiliate links. That means we receive a small commission at no cost to you from any purchases you make through these links.

OMG I don’t know where to start.  If I could summarize this review in one message to you is to stop reading this and just go get this book.  The Ones Who Got Away gave me everything I expect from a Roni Loren story and at the same time surprised me with the depth and emotion it was able to bring out in me.  It’s just a story you will be immersed in.  I know this review won’t do this book justice just know it’s one of my favorite Roni Loren books and I’m already a fan so that makes me super giddy and excited for this series.

This plot of this series centers around a group of survivors from a high school mass shooting.  The topic, the way it’s approached and the feelings this book evoked are intense.  Guilt, regret, PTSD, broken live and broken promises.  This first book is a deeply emotional second chance love story, but also a story of personal healing which added so many delicious layers.

The hero and heroine were in a secret relationship in high school because parents, and maybe even society, wouldn’t have approved of their love back then.  She was the goth girl, daughter of the landscaper.  He was the athlete, popular and from a rich family.  But they were just kids then and who knows how things would’ve turned out.  Then tragedy marked their lives and took them on very different paths then what they had planned.

Now back in town for a documentary about the shooting, Liv and Finn reconnect for the first time in twelve years.  Their chemistry is so sizzling, just thinking about it makes me want to re-read the book.  It’s the force that drives every interaction, every look.  The longing, the regret.  I guarantee you’ll be sucked in by their story and care for these characters as much as I did.

I thought the balance Ms. Loren had in this story between the romance, the obstacles they have to overcome to be together, and the personal healing that each still has to go through as well was all done so flawlessly.  It made the characters come alive and drew me in completely.  And it was so beautiful to see Finn and Liv become different people right in front of our eyes as they get more comfortable together.  Almost like seeing what they were like 12 years ago.

Just get this book.  It’s an enthralling contemporary romance and I know you won’t want to put it down just like me.  I, personally, am dying for the next one. 

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