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Things We Left Behind by Lucy Score

48 reviews

bribreez's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

*Check Trigger Warning & Beware Potential Spoilers (*Must read previous books!)

5⭐️/ 4🌶️

OH. MY. GOODNESS! THIS HAS BEEN A HIGHLY ANTICIPATED STORY! From the small crumbs sprinkled throughout the first two books in the series, the moment has finally arrived… SLOANE AND LUCIAN’S BOOK! WOO! We’re back in the small town of, Knockemout, and I couldn’t be happier! Obviously my favorites from the previous books such as, Naomi, Knox, Nash, Lina, and the rest of the gang were part of the story. Lucian and Sloane’s dynamic had always been, “I hate you”, enemies vibes, or so I thought… especially with some past and present chapters to show in depth what happened between Lucian and Sloane that ultimately caused them to despise one another. The good old small town vibes, hilarious shenanigans, snarky banter, heartfelt moments as well as some emotional ones all encapsulated Sloane and Lucian’s story.

I feel like I’ve been waiting SO LONG FOR THIS BOOK! Phew, thankful the wait was over, and I was so excited! I obviously love and adore all the characters from this series, but Sloane and Lucian have been two characters I’ve been dying to learn more about! Especially with Sloane and Lucian’s snarky banter, enemies dynamic, and basically all the incredible tension that implied there was beneath the surface between Sloane and Lucian that I couldn’t help enjoying haha. Lucian was the epitome of grumpy, serious, powerful, and possessive (specifically with Sloane), whereas Sloane was the fellow bookworm enthusiast who dreamed of falling in love, getting her happy ending, but also enjoyed insulting and antagonizing Lucian to no end. A grumpy/ sunshine romance with lots of sass, attitude, and a whole lot more was everything and more that Lucian and Sloane brought to their story.

YASSSS FOR FRIENDSHIPS! Lina, Sloane, and Naomi all continuing to be the best of friends was such a wonderful thing to see! Not to mention seeing them all get into shenanigans together and of course further show how much they deeply cared for one another. I also loved seeing Lina became more caring and I guess affectionate when it came to her close friends especially considering she use to be such a “lone wolf” type of woman, but not anymore since she had Sloane and Naomi by her side. Even with Sloane dealing with the loss of her dad, and ongoing stuff with Lucian, it was nice to see Lina and Naomi supporting her through it all, and just being the best people. Definitely enjoyed seeing the friend group/ found family in this story strong as ever and making me all happy and wishing I could hang out with the girls too!

I seriously cannot get over the past chapters, they revealed so much about Lucian and Sloane’s past with each other! I wasn’t expecting the past to show just how much Lucian experienced in his own home compared to Sloane’s. If there’s one thing I loved from Sloane’s family, it was their openness and warm hearts that embraced Lucian as one of their own. For Lucian, to be surrounded by Sloane’s family growing up, it was an escape from his own home and got to be around kindhearted people who actually cared deeply about him, which was heartwarming to see. Seeing teenage Sloane and Lucian was cute, since it showed them at the beginning of what would later transform into something more loving, but also filled with hatred years later as adults.

If there’s one of the many things I love in romance books, it’s the build up. Lucian and Sloane had their differences and sizzling chemistry, but once they FINALLY INITIATED a spicy scene together, that was when it got even HOTTER! The tension was present all throughout the beginning, and it had me at the edge of my seat WAITING FOR ANY TYPE OF PHYSICAL OR VERBAL AFFECTION! In Sloane and Lucian’s case, it was more insulting each other while being so snarky in the midst of their heated moments! Lucian was a Suit Daddy indeed, and surprise surprise he also had BDE! Sloane could vouch for that as she got a front row seat to what Lucian had been packing the whole time. Once the spicy scene happened, my jaw dropped and I was SHOOK WITH THE WAY LUCIAN ROLLINS HAD ME BLUSHING LIKE A DANG SCHOOL GIRL! This man legitimately told Sloane they needed to have a safe word, as well as the cherry on top that left me flabbergasted…

“…I need you to relax. You don’t have all of it yet.”

SHUT THE FRONT DOOR LUCIAN! OMG OMG! I’M TELLING YOU LUCIAN WAS BDE, A DOMINANT ALPHA MAN WHO WAS BURNING UP WITH DESIRE OVER SLOANE!

For all the ways that Lucian was capable of dismantling companies, single handedly destroying careers, and ruling his own empire, when it came to Sloane, there was nothing he wouldn’t do for her. As much as I enjoyed the insults and back and forth arguments between Lucian and Sloane, it got exponentially better when Lucian truly opened up about Sloane. All those times Lucian was insistent that he and Sloane didn’t like each other, he gave off, “I’d burn the world down for her” vibes. Especially towards the middle/ ending, seeing Lucian go alpha protective over Sloane was unlike any other time when he bossed her around or went dominant alpha. Lucian always believed in order to protect those in his life (a.k.a. Sloane) he needed to keep his distance, but when Sloane was faced with danger, Lucian got a big wake up call that Sloane meant the world to him. Basically, Lucian got a mean old kick to the head to realize that Sloane was the one for him, and he was going to do anything and everything to ensure her safety. Also, that moment when Lucian took care of Sloane after the library fire was so sentimental and ugh just made me feel all the feels for Lucian being a Lowkey softie for Sloane!

ROUND OF APPLAUSE BECAUSE LUCY SCORE WROTE ANOTHER AMAZING STORY! Lucian and Sloane’s story was one I had been waiting the longest for, and it was well worth the wait. Getting to the root of what led to Sloane and Lucian becoming enemies was a mix of shocking and unexpected. Give me, grumpy/sunshine, small town, humor, found family, and a whole lot of heart in a book, and that’s chef’s kisses for me! Sloane was my fellow book girlie, but also packed a punch with her sassy attitude and welding the power to make even the strongest men fear me or in Lucian’s case become obsessed with her. Seeing all the smallest details come together in Lucian and Sloane’s story was eye opening and down right romantic! I mean, finding out all the things that Lucian had done for Sloane all the past years just showed how much he deeply cared for her despite him seeming like he “hated” her. I cannot get over how much I adored this book! Once again getting to see my favorite characters and the found family was so heartwarming to see. I was laughing, smiling, swooning, surprised, excited, at the edge of my seat both from the unexpected dangers Lucian and Sloane had to deal with. The way this whole story flowed was perfect! I think Lucy did a wonderful job bringing to life Sloane and Lucian’s enemies dynamic and snarky insults which were humorous and entertaining to read. Of course, I got a bit emotional especially towards the end seeing everyone in the midst of their happiness and truly all that they had overcome. The ending had me feeling emotional seeing Lucian and Sloane happily getting married, but then the bonus epilogue absolutely made me cry tears of joy from all the love and sentimental value which Sloane, Lucian, Naomi, Knox, Lina, Nash, and their families are created together. Definitely a great way to end the series, but it’s never goodbye for me, just a see you later until next time because I will DEFINITELY read this book and series again! Bravo, Lucy job well done, and as always absolute perfection reading your stories which bring so much happiness!

Content Warnings

moendchen's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Auch als stand-alone absolut überzeugend!

„Things we left behind“ ist zwar der dritte und letzte Teil einer Serie, jedoch haben die ersten zwei mich nie sonderlich gereizt und wurden somit gekonnt ignoriert. Der Abschluss hingegen wirkte zu interessant, um ihn mir entgehen zu lassen und ich bin glücklich ihm eine Chance gegeben zu haben.

Sloane ist eine sympathische und wortgewandte Frau Ende 30, die sich nach dem Tod ihres Vaters auf Ehemannsuche begibt und dabei permanent ihrem stinkreichen und verboten gut aussehenden „Erzfeind“ Lucian über den Weg läuft. Dass der Gute ihr Nachbar und Kindheitsschwarm war, ist nicht sonderlich hilfreich für ihre Gefühlslage und ihr verstaubtes Sexleben. Bis es mehr als hilfreich ist und schon geradezu zu Verbrennungen führt.

Die Dynamik der Zwei hält den Leser von Anfang bis Ende im Bann und lässt einen sowohl schmunzeln, ärgern und schwärmen und übertrifft jegliche Nebenhandlung.

Wer die ersten zwei Bänder auslassen möchte, um direkt zum Dritten überzugehen, kann dies getrost tun. Man liest sich schnell ein, bekommt ein sehr gutes Bild von der Freundesgruppe und den Hauptcharakteren der vorangehenden Bänder und der bänderübergreifenden Krimistory, die meines Erachtens stellenweise langatmig und unnötig verknotet war.

Die Autorin hat ein Talent dafür, hitzige Dialoge und Liebesszenen zu schreiben und springt geschickt zwischen POVs und Zeiten hin und her. Dennoch muss man sich auf ihren Schreibstil einlassen, da dieser öfters schon mal kitschig werden kann und einen vergessen lässt, dass die Geschichte von 40-Jährigen handelt und nicht von temperamentvollen 20-Jährigen.

„Things we left behind“ ist ein gelungener Liebesroman, wie man ihn nur noch selten liest und ich kann ihm jeden weiterempfehlen, der mal wieder Lust hat auf etwas kribbeln.

Content Warnings

memoirsofabooklover's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

My most anticipated read/release of the year and it did not disappoint. It was the perfect ending to the series and my new favourite book. I loved the first two books but the tension and torrid-pasts of Lucian and Sloane had been building for 1100 pages or so and I couldn’t wait to delve into their characters. I loved that we got some chapters set in the past (which differs from the previous two books where the mcs didn’t have a past with each other) and as usual, I loved that the chapters flitted between both mcs so you get both of their perspectives. Lucy wrote their backstory perfectly, it was heart-wrenching and felt like a valid enough reason to make them true childhood friends-to enemies-to lovers, but it didn’t make the characters irredeemable. Their history, present, and character growth in this book were incredible to read, would recommend it to everyone. Perfection!

Content Warnings

cmab's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

My favourite of the three!

Content Warnings

sami_leigh's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️.5/5

It was strange, having a secret with the boy I’d once loved and now sharing it with the man I couldn’t stand.

I should be the one sitting across the table from her. I should be the one taking her home, waking up next to her. Reading what she was reading. Yelling at the evil cat. It should be me in her life.

And for the first time in my life, I felt like the hero instead of the villain.

“Loving you has been a touchstone for more than half my life.”

🌸 First person dual POV
🌸 Enemies to lovers
🌸 Second chance / childhood friends
🌸 Both have secrets & stories behind their mutual hatred
🌸 Representation of working through trauma and anxiety associated growing up in domestic abuse
🌸 Nickname 🥹
🌸 Found family
🌸 Banter 👌🏻
🌸 Tension & spice 🥵
🌸 Small town vibes
🌸 ‘Touch her and I’ll kill you’ vibes
🌸 He. Falls. HARD.
🌸 Well established secondary characters; Knox & Daisy (Book 1), Waylay (Book 1), Nash & Lina (Book 2), Stef & Jeremiah, Emry, Maeve.
🌸 MC growth; overcoming past trauma, trust, risking a relationships & family, priorities, communication, self worth.
🌸 Epilogue
🌸 Bonus epilogue 10 years later

Available in audiobook, ebook and paperback.

⚠️ Violence (moderate), gun violence (explicit), death of a parent (past), death, blood (minor), parental abandonment, medical trauma (moderate), cancer (past, not MC), domestic abuse (past).

Content Warnings

lizzie_b99's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

I haven't read the second title in the Knockemout series, but I definitely preferred this one to the first novel. Given their extensive history together, Sloane and Lucian's relationship seemed much more believable to me than Naomi's and Knox's (not that I don't love them, I do, the ending just seemed a bit fast given the time frame). I love Sloane/Lucian's banter and chemistry, and damn is this book steamy! I would have liked the epilogues to be a little more drawn out

so that we could see a bit more of the life Sloane/Lucian build together. It felt a little rushed, like we got the precis of the main events in everyone's lives before the series was drawn to a close. Given the jump in time and the new characters who are introduced, the extended epilogue could have been a bit longer.

I do wish Score would expand upon Jeremiah and Stef's relationship and Maeve and

Kurt's

. I think these could potentially be turned into their own novels, which would add to the diversity of the series since as is it focuses on the relationships of straight white people. Maybe Score felt like those weren't her stories to tell, but I would've liked to see more from those characters.

My main critique is that the ending seemed a bit fast. I expected the final confrontations with Hugo to be a bit more drawn out. Some of the writing in this section leaned a little too heavily on tropes/stereotypical bad guy vs good guy dialogue than I'd like. Also, although the novel frames it in a cutesy, proof of love sort of way, Lucian's refusal to leave Sloane alone (despite her numerous objections) after the library fire made me uncomfortable. We're supposed to root for him because it's a romance novel, but if anyone acted like Lucian did in real life we'd call them a stalker and a danger to the person they "loved". I wish the other characters objected more to Lucian's behaviour at this point because refusing to give a person the space they ask for is not an expression of love.

Content Warnings

clairee3's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful lighthearted tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Content Warnings

biaaaa's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Content Warnings

graceev's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? N/A
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

4.5

Content Warnings

lunahale's review against another edition

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emotional funny mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

yes, i know the smut scenes are fantastic, and we all know that line but i’m blushing giggling kicking my feet at “let me wash your hair.” lucian fucking rollins, the man that you are. the enemies to lovers was really doing its thing in this book, too. especially when

they were literally insulting each other on their wedding day as a way to calm down. icons.

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