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raisingself's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book is an angsty and slightly heartbreaking love story told in the past and present over 20 years in England. It touches on a lot of tough subjects so trigger warning for:
- Parent loss
- Mental illness/Mood disorder
- S. Assault
- Child abuse
- Depictions of class and inequality
- Violence
- Infertility
All of the things are in this book but oddly it was not triggering. It was a slow burn storytelling of young people I'll equipped for life finding and loving each other. It is not a traditional romance novel, in that it feels too realistic. The main characters too flawed. The realities of life too difficult.
This a book that people will with like or hate. It slightly reminds me of a better version of Normal People by Sally Rooney, which I disliked but this for all of its intensity, sadness and slow inwinding, I did enjoy. The book ends with a dash of tender hoepfulness, which I appreciate.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism and Death of parent
Moderate: Sexual violence, Mental illness, Alcohol, Child abuse, Abandonment, Classism, Bullying, Addiction, Cursing, Toxic relationship, Suicide, Terminal illness, Rape, Pregnancy, and Murder
Minor: Drug use, Toxic friendship, Pedophilia, Infidelity, Self harm, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Infertility
lololovesthings's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
2 stars (please check trigger warnings before reading).
It was a struggle for me to finish "The One That Got Away" by Charlotte Rixon. I almost did not finish it several times, but I persevered and pushed through to the end. I really didn't enjoy this book, which is odd because it seemed right up my alley. I love books that combine romance with drama and heavy subject matters (this year's "Adelaide" by Genevieve Wheeler is a perfect example). Unfortunately, despite a killer prologue that promised brilliant, beautiful writing, I think Charlotte Rixon dwells too much in the mundane for this novel to be successful. She starts with two annoying characters and makes them progressively more irritating as the book goes on. Main characters Clara, and to a lesser extent Ben, are just the most incredibly selfish people who don't dare deign to have a conversation with one another. Oh no, that would be too easy! Why communicate when they could lie, cheat, and make up excuses for their behavior?! Then, she adds an annoying and difficult-to-follow timeline on top of it. In the present time time-jumps, it is obvious to readers that Clara has not grown up or learned a damn thing in two decades. Here is an example of yet another book where a female character places herself in an unhappy life and marriage based on her own doing because she'd rather be unhappy than alone. Instead of just, you know, TALKING TO HER SPOUSE (which, I'll give Rixon credit, does eventually happen), she proceeds to be miserable for the better part of twenty years while pining for the one that got away. I *loved* a well-written flawed female character, but Clara grated on my nerves the entire book, and I know she went through some really, really traumatizing stuff, but she's a self-centered a$$hole way before the bad stuff happens. It's giving desperate midlife crisis. I couldn't get invested in her and Ben's love story because of her poor attitude and toxic behaviors. And Ben! IF YOU LOVE SOMEONE AS MUCH AS YOU CLAIM YOU DO, JUST FREAKING HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GAH! I feel like I am going batty sometimes with these characters who refuse to open up!
There are likely plenty of readers who will enjoy "The One Who Got Away," but it was not for me. It was too long, too slow, too grating, and too trauma-p0rny without any resolution or real purpose. I did enjoy Carl Prekopp and Katherine Press's audiobook narration, though. They are both wildly successful at bringing these characters to life.
Thank you to NetGalley, Charlotte Rixon, St. Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
It was a struggle for me to finish "The One That Got Away" by Charlotte Rixon. I almost did not finish it several times, but I persevered and pushed through to the end. I really didn't enjoy this book, which is odd because it seemed right up my alley. I love books that combine romance with drama and heavy subject matters (this year's "Adelaide" by Genevieve Wheeler is a perfect example). Unfortunately, despite a killer prologue that promised brilliant, beautiful writing, I think Charlotte Rixon dwells too much in the mundane for this novel to be successful. She starts with two annoying characters and makes them progressively more irritating as the book goes on. Main characters Clara, and to a lesser extent Ben, are just the most incredibly selfish people who don't dare deign to have a conversation with one another. Oh no, that would be too easy! Why communicate when they could lie, cheat, and make up excuses for their behavior?! Then, she adds an annoying and difficult-to-follow timeline on top of it. In the present time time-jumps, it is obvious to readers that Clara has not grown up or learned a damn thing in two decades. Here is an example of yet another book where a female character places herself in an unhappy life and marriage based on her own doing because she'd rather be unhappy than alone. Instead of just, you know, TALKING TO HER SPOUSE (which, I'll give Rixon credit, does eventually happen), she proceeds to be miserable for the better part of twenty years while pining for the one that got away. I *loved* a well-written flawed female character, but Clara grated on my nerves the entire book, and I know she went through some really, really traumatizing stuff, but she's a self-centered a$$hole way before the bad stuff happens. It's giving desperate midlife crisis. I couldn't get invested in her and Ben's love story because of her poor attitude and toxic behaviors. And Ben! IF YOU LOVE SOMEONE AS MUCH AS YOU CLAIM YOU DO, JUST FREAKING HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GAH! I feel like I am going batty sometimes with these characters who refuse to open up!
There are likely plenty of readers who will enjoy "The One Who Got Away," but it was not for me. It was too long, too slow, too grating, and too trauma-p0rny without any resolution or real purpose. I did enjoy Carl Prekopp and Katherine Press's audiobook narration, though. They are both wildly successful at bringing these characters to life.
Thank you to NetGalley, Charlotte Rixon, St. Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Infertility, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Suicide, Sexual assault, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Cancer, Violence, and Infidelity
cayv97's review against another edition
3.75
Clara and Benjamin meet during their first year of college. It’s instant sparks, the kind of love you will never forget. Unfortunately, this is not a love story. This is rather a story about love and how it makes and breaks you. You travel through 22 years of Clara and Benjamin’s relationship: passionate young love, a traumatic event that separates them, their individual lives, and all the broken hearts between. When an explosion happens in the city they fell in love in, Clara is convinced that she must go and find him.
💭Thoughts💭
I really did love this book, it was written so well and definitely kept my interest. I just wanted to shake both of these characters though! They were clearly very young which was part of their issue, but they just seemed not right for each other at all. Benjamin also seemed like such a dud- he could not get out of his own way.
.
⌛️Favorite Moment⌛️
My favorite moments were any with Benjamin, his son, and his dad. They all got along so well and it was so sweet to imagine these three generations together.
.
🎉 Theme Ideas 🎉
English football ( soccer ⚽️) played a huge role in this book. Watch a game with a pint of beer and some chips- whether they’re American potato chips or UK French fries!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Suicide, Sexual assault, Alcohol, and Rape
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