The One That Got Away: A DI Heather Filson Novel

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In The One That Got Away, Rixon captures masterfully the magic and devastation of first love, as well as the all-consuming aftermath of heartbreak...a powerful exploration of the relationships that shape us, this is a nostalgic, fierce and utterly spellbinding read." An entertaining story, well written. We see two time zones - when both C & B met in college and then, 20y later.

I’m freelance,” the woman says, holding out her hand. “Holiday cover. I’m a sub. Nice to meet you. I’m Natasha.” Ratcliffe, Peter (2000). Eye of the Storm. England: Michael O'Mara Books Limited. p.427. ISBN 1-84317-052-3. I'm in my 40s and in the middle of a very big change in my life and my family's life. Perhaps this novel is for people who are at a point in life when they're reviewing their choices and making new ones. 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!Initially I thought this was going to be a bit of a light hearted, predictable romance and it was far from that. It was well thought out and delivered and a thought provoking and enjoyable read. At one point in the novel I really wanted to plead with the author not to make my worst fears come true for one of the more likeable characters. One of the things I enjoyed about this was the fact there were twists and turns that weren’t overplayed for dramatic effect but kept you guessing. One of my big bug-bearers, however, is when there are these huge hints that something has happened but you’re not going to be given the details until later. It’s like having a conversation with a friend who assumes you know everything about their life before you met them and you feel awkward to ask. I hate it when novels say things like “and of course, nothing was ever the same since that great big thing happened and changed everything”, and then blithely skip on. I’m sure there is a better way! So the drip feeding of information kind of bugged me. I also found the two lead characters not exactly likeable and couldn’t quite understand their all consuming, time eclipsing love, however, who does understand other people’s romantic affairs? And the author sort of touched on this at a writers group which made me think this was conscious. The only other thing was the strange inclusion of Newcastle City which had me perplexed for a short time, but I’m assuming it was to avoid confusion with any elements being factual.

If you’re looking for heart wrenching angsty love then The One That Got Away by Charlotte Rixon should be your next read. I’m not sure how I feel about this one. I binged it in one sitting as I was compelled to find out if the characters got their HEA. The whole plot of this book is really original and I thought the present day story (including the opening chapter) was brilliantly real and hard hitting. It was perfect way to hold the story together.

When Benjamin and Clara first meet, they both feel it. They are meant for each other, meant to be together - even if the start of their relationship is awkward, even if they fight and behave irrationally and lose themselves in each other. God no, it’s duller than dull, Clara thinks, but instead of saying so narrows her eyes to examine this Natasha, her deep brown eyes and neat frame. Where has she seen her before? Clara wonders how old she is. Impossible to tell. These characters are so relatable. There is no fanfare with them - what you see in them is what you truly get as the storyline builds, in its ebb and flow manner. Oh, yes. I know,” Natasha says. “Thanks. It was nice to meet you. Bit weird, but if you fancy lunch sometime—I’m here for a month. I don’t really know anyone. It’s the first time I’ve worked for a newspaper.”

Clara’s eyes widen. A bit bold of her. She looks at Natasha’s hands, but there’s nothing on either ring finger, just a gold signet on her thumb. 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. Twenty years later, another tragic situation leads them to cross paths with each other again. The question is, can they overcome all the pain of their past or will they say goodbye to each other forever? There are a lot of serious topics covered in this book, and it goes to show how every small action has a reaction.Normal People meets Love and Other Words in this fabulous contemporary romance set in England. Told in alternating POVs and timelines between 2000 and 2022, the story of Benjamin and Clara's relationship is raw, passionate and heartbreaking and I can't wait for readers to get their hands on it in early 2023. We follow them through college in this dual timeline which also sees them 20 years on in their very different but similarly unhappy lives. WOW THAT WAS SO GOOD!!!!! I only saw the cover and title, and thought straight away that this is my kind of book. I am so fascinated by stories like this, where someone cannot let go of their past and has to revisit it. Clara doesn’t want to tell her the truth; that she thinks engagement rings are patriarchal relics, and that if it weren’t for Thom’s job, she wouldn’t even wear one. Full of both humor and heartbreak, The One That Got Away is the story of one woman’s discovery that, sometimes, life is what happens when you leave the blueprints behind."