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3.64 AVERAGE
3.64 AVERAGE
While I understand this probably wasn’t quite 5 star writing, sometimes a book just hits you right in the feels. And this one got me good. Super relatable on several levels. I feel like everyone has the one that got away.
Re-read March 2017 (unknowingly exactly 2 years after I first finished it!) and still love. I have re-read parts of this book over the years, but I'm pretty sure this is the first time I re-read cover-to-cover and I'm glad I did. There were certainly things I had missed the first time or understood better knowing what happens. Bethany Chase's writing style is also so unique and even though it's quiet, I still really enjoy it. And will Colin and the vet's book ever come out??
4.25 stars
The One Who Got Away was actually completely off my radar until my Top 10 Tuesday post last week about books on my spring TBR. It was on my TBR list prior to that, but I didn't have a galley to review and I probably hadn't even thought about it since I added it to my TBR list way back when. But thank god I rediscovered it, requested it on NetGalley, got approved, and had four hours on a train to the New York City Teen Author Festival to read it because it is a damn good book.
Obviously I love my YA, but there's something I've really loved lately about reading books about women my age or close my age. Sarina, who's 31-years-old, fits that bill perfectly. She's an up-and-coming, but successful architect in Austin, TX. She's been dating Noah for four years and even though he's spending the year in Argentina working she fully expects to marry him and live happily ever after once he returns. Then Eamon, a former Olympic swimmer she had a tryst with eight or so years ago comes back into her life. Eamon is good friends with her best friend/roommate Danny and after Eamon moves back to Austin, Sarina and Eamon reconnect and Sarina also starts working on remodeling the house Eamon buys.
Noah is the safe bet for Sarina, her dad was never in her life (although she has an amazing step-dad) and her mom died while she was in college so she's been searching for a family ever since. She is 100% postive that Noah can give her that family, but as she starts to reconnect with Eamon she questions if having that safety and security means not having real passion. The fact that there is a love triangle and cheating in this book was a concern and Sarina often acted in ways that were completely frustrating and honestly just stupid, but they were also incredibly authentic and believable. Towards the beginning of the story Noah is a great guy and there was a time when I worried Chase was going to change his personality to make him the bad guy, but luckily that didn't really happen (maybe a little). The questions the story raised about adult love and whether you need passion or security or what's really the best option were spot-on and handled really impressively. And yes, the romance was predictable, but really, what romance isn't predictable?
There are a lot of good things in this book, but there are three major strengths: the relationships, Sarina's career, and the city of Austin. There are two romances in this book, Sarina and Noah's and Sarina and Eamon's. For most of the book Sarina and Noah are together (but not physically together) and she spends a lot of time missing him and wishing he was there. Both of these romances, and the falling apart of the Noah one and the building of the Eamon one, were done really well. But outside of the romances the other friendship and family relationships were also handled beautifully. Sarina's friendship with Danny could have been the cliche gay best friend friendship and it wasn't. Sarina also has a great friendship with her college friend Nicole. Then there is Sarina's relationship with her step-dad which was amazing and her step-sister, which was a much smaller part of the book, but still impactful. Even the slightly contentious, but then cautiously friendly relationship Sarina has with Noah's mom was developed well and interesting to read about. This is also a book that does a great job of highlighting that there are families everyone is born into and families people create for themselves.
Sarina's career as an architect was also a really big and really great part of the book. Even though she's successful she's still operating on a pretty small scale so it was nice to watch her business grow. Not only was her work on Eamon's house featured heavily, but so is her work for a local spa and her pitch to design other locations for the spa as it expanded nationally. There were a couple times when there were a few too many architectural details thrown into the story, but overall it was cool to see a main character with such passion and drive for her career.
And then there was Austin. Austin is a city I absolutely love so I had my fingers crossed that Chase would do it justice. Luckily she did a great job with the city of Austin from restaurants and bars to the neighborhoods where people live to the shopping and even the things outside the city. I used to go to Austin all the time and it's been a while since I've been back but now I'm dying to go even more. My one issue was that Sarina took pictures while shopping in Uncommon Objects. Anyone who's ever been there (and I've spent hours in that story) knows how militant the workers are about you not taking pictures. (True story: last time I was there I found this far of teeth from an old dentist and I so wanted to buy it, but didn't and I'm still mad I didn't get it.)
Bottom Line: The One That Got Away is one of the few books I've gotten really excited for in 2015 so far. Bethany Chase isn't quite a Taylor Jenkins Reid, but she does do a stellar job of telling the story of one woman, in her early 30s, who's making her way through her career, romance, family, and friends. The relationships in this book are stellar as is the settings. Do yourself a favor and pick this up.
I received an electronic review copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley (thank you!). All opinions are my own.
This review first appeared on my blog.
4.25 stars
The One Who Got Away was actually completely off my radar until my Top 10 Tuesday post last week about books on my spring TBR. It was on my TBR list prior to that, but I didn't have a galley to review and I probably hadn't even thought about it since I added it to my TBR list way back when. But thank god I rediscovered it, requested it on NetGalley, got approved, and had four hours on a train to the New York City Teen Author Festival to read it because it is a damn good book.
Obviously I love my YA, but there's something I've really loved lately about reading books about women my age or close my age. Sarina, who's 31-years-old, fits that bill perfectly. She's an up-and-coming, but successful architect in Austin, TX. She's been dating Noah for four years and even though he's spending the year in Argentina working she fully expects to marry him and live happily ever after once he returns. Then Eamon, a former Olympic swimmer she had a tryst with eight or so years ago comes back into her life. Eamon is good friends with her best friend/roommate Danny and after Eamon moves back to Austin, Sarina and Eamon reconnect and Sarina also starts working on remodeling the house Eamon buys.
Noah is the safe bet for Sarina, her dad was never in her life (although she has an amazing step-dad) and her mom died while she was in college so she's been searching for a family ever since. She is 100% postive that Noah can give her that family, but as she starts to reconnect with Eamon she questions if having that safety and security means not having real passion. The fact that there is a love triangle and cheating in this book was a concern and Sarina often acted in ways that were completely frustrating and honestly just stupid, but they were also incredibly authentic and believable. Towards the beginning of the story Noah is a great guy and there was a time when I worried Chase was going to change his personality to make him the bad guy, but luckily that didn't really happen (maybe a little). The questions the story raised about adult love and whether you need passion or security or what's really the best option were spot-on and handled really impressively. And yes, the romance was predictable, but really, what romance isn't predictable?
There are a lot of good things in this book, but there are three major strengths: the relationships, Sarina's career, and the city of Austin. There are two romances in this book, Sarina and Noah's and Sarina and Eamon's. For most of the book Sarina and Noah are together (but not physically together) and she spends a lot of time missing him and wishing he was there. Both of these romances, and the falling apart of the Noah one and the building of the Eamon one, were done really well. But outside of the romances the other friendship and family relationships were also handled beautifully. Sarina's friendship with Danny could have been the cliche gay best friend friendship and it wasn't. Sarina also has a great friendship with her college friend Nicole. Then there is Sarina's relationship with her step-dad which was amazing and her step-sister, which was a much smaller part of the book, but still impactful. Even the slightly contentious, but then cautiously friendly relationship Sarina has with Noah's mom was developed well and interesting to read about. This is also a book that does a great job of highlighting that there are families everyone is born into and families people create for themselves.
Sarina's career as an architect was also a really big and really great part of the book. Even though she's successful she's still operating on a pretty small scale so it was nice to watch her business grow. Not only was her work on Eamon's house featured heavily, but so is her work for a local spa and her pitch to design other locations for the spa as it expanded nationally. There were a couple times when there were a few too many architectural details thrown into the story, but overall it was cool to see a main character with such passion and drive for her career.
And then there was Austin. Austin is a city I absolutely love so I had my fingers crossed that Chase would do it justice. Luckily she did a great job with the city of Austin from restaurants and bars to the neighborhoods where people live to the shopping and even the things outside the city. I used to go to Austin all the time and it's been a while since I've been back but now I'm dying to go even more. My one issue was that Sarina took pictures while shopping in Uncommon Objects. Anyone who's ever been there (and I've spent hours in that story) knows how militant the workers are about you not taking pictures. (True story: last time I was there I found this far of teeth from an old dentist and I so wanted to buy it, but didn't and I'm still mad I didn't get it.)
Bottom Line: The One That Got Away is one of the few books I've gotten really excited for in 2015 so far. Bethany Chase isn't quite a Taylor Jenkins Reid, but she does do a stellar job of telling the story of one woman, in her early 30s, who's making her way through her career, romance, family, and friends. The relationships in this book are stellar as is the settings. Do yourself a favor and pick this up.
I received an electronic review copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley (thank you!). All opinions are my own.
This review first appeared on my blog.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The One That Got Away is a delightfully charming debut novel by Bethany Chase. It is a sweet, funny and poignant story that I absolutely LOVED and highly recommend to fans of contemporary romances.
At long last, Sarina Mahler has her life together. Her architect business is beginning to taking off and she is almost engaged to her boyfriend of four years, Noah, who is a lawyer currently working on a project in Argentina. She is finally ready to face her roommate's best friend Eamon Roy for the first time since he walked out her without explanation after a brief fling seven years earlier. Although she wants to limit contact with the man who broke her heart, she agrees to work for him when he needs an architect to renovate his fixer upper. Sarina is dismayed to discover she is still drawn to Eamon, but with picture perfect Noah ready to take their relationship to the next level, which man will she choose?
Sarina is a vivacious, witty thirty something who has a lot going for her. She has a great network of friends who are supportive while at the same time, they are brutally honest with her when she needs advice. Although her mom passed away years earlier, she is still very close to her stepfather. Sarina's relationship with Noah is comfortable and safe but they are beginning to feel the strain of their yearlong separation. Sarina is a little surprised at how easily and quickly she and Eamon pick up their friendship despite the hurt feelings she still nurses from their abrupt break up. The spend a lot more time together than she planned, but she enjoys his company too much to give up. When her relationship with Noah hits a major snag, she is torn between staying with the safe choice or risking her heart again.
In Eamon's defense, he was young and still in college when he unceremoniously dumped Sarina. He was intensely focused on his training for the Olympics and he had some tough choices to make about his future. During the intervening years, Eamon matured, overcame a horrific accident and achieved his dream of becoming a gold medal Olympic swimmer. He is now retired and beginning the next phase of his life and he is ready to put down roots. He is rather enigmatic about what he wants from Sarina so it is understandable that she has doubts about his intentions. He tries to be patient as she sorts through her options, but Eamon also pushes her to get off the fence about what (and who) she wants.
The relationship between Eamon and Sarina is slow building but there is no denying the chemistry between them. They both respect Sarina's relationship with Noah but Eamon and Sarina definitely enjoy one another's company. They eventually sort out what went wrong the first time they dated but Sarina remains committed to Noah despite the doubts that are starting to creep in about her future with him. Sarina comes to a crossroads after a tragic loss and while this clarifies what she needs to do next, she still has doubts about following through with her decision. This leads to a misunderstanding that could have been avoided if she had been more honest.
The One That Got Away is an engaging novel with a wonderful cast of likable characters. Bethany Chase puts a unique and refreshing spin on a familiar plot and the resulting story is absolutely marvelous. An overall warm and witty debut that leaves me impatiently awaiting her next release!
At long last, Sarina Mahler has her life together. Her architect business is beginning to taking off and she is almost engaged to her boyfriend of four years, Noah, who is a lawyer currently working on a project in Argentina. She is finally ready to face her roommate's best friend Eamon Roy for the first time since he walked out her without explanation after a brief fling seven years earlier. Although she wants to limit contact with the man who broke her heart, she agrees to work for him when he needs an architect to renovate his fixer upper. Sarina is dismayed to discover she is still drawn to Eamon, but with picture perfect Noah ready to take their relationship to the next level, which man will she choose?
Sarina is a vivacious, witty thirty something who has a lot going for her. She has a great network of friends who are supportive while at the same time, they are brutally honest with her when she needs advice. Although her mom passed away years earlier, she is still very close to her stepfather. Sarina's relationship with Noah is comfortable and safe but they are beginning to feel the strain of their yearlong separation. Sarina is a little surprised at how easily and quickly she and Eamon pick up their friendship despite the hurt feelings she still nurses from their abrupt break up. The spend a lot more time together than she planned, but she enjoys his company too much to give up. When her relationship with Noah hits a major snag, she is torn between staying with the safe choice or risking her heart again.
In Eamon's defense, he was young and still in college when he unceremoniously dumped Sarina. He was intensely focused on his training for the Olympics and he had some tough choices to make about his future. During the intervening years, Eamon matured, overcame a horrific accident and achieved his dream of becoming a gold medal Olympic swimmer. He is now retired and beginning the next phase of his life and he is ready to put down roots. He is rather enigmatic about what he wants from Sarina so it is understandable that she has doubts about his intentions. He tries to be patient as she sorts through her options, but Eamon also pushes her to get off the fence about what (and who) she wants.
The relationship between Eamon and Sarina is slow building but there is no denying the chemistry between them. They both respect Sarina's relationship with Noah but Eamon and Sarina definitely enjoy one another's company. They eventually sort out what went wrong the first time they dated but Sarina remains committed to Noah despite the doubts that are starting to creep in about her future with him. Sarina comes to a crossroads after a tragic loss and while this clarifies what she needs to do next, she still has doubts about following through with her decision. This leads to a misunderstanding that could have been avoided if she had been more honest.
The One That Got Away is an engaging novel with a wonderful cast of likable characters. Bethany Chase puts a unique and refreshing spin on a familiar plot and the resulting story is absolutely marvelous. An overall warm and witty debut that leaves me impatiently awaiting her next release!
I really enjoyed this! It has everything I love in a in a fun, contemporary women's fiction. I am so excited for the author's next novel. Full review to come.
Full review:
I really, really enjoyed The One That Got Away, author Bethany Chase's debut novel. It has all the ingredients I love in what I consider really good women's fiction and a very satisfying read.
I'm not going to summarize what the book is about because the synopsis did a really good job of that. I'll just jump into my thoughts.
Sarina. I liked Sarina--she was likable, smart, confident and witty. She has great friends, a loving boyfriends (albeit he's currently abroad), her architecture practice is taking off--she basically had a pretty good life. She's far from perfect, though, and there were instances when I thought she acted more like someone in her mid-20s than her 31 years. But now that I think about it... we're close in age (I'm 28) and both at that point in our lives where we feel like we know what we want with our careers, we're on the right path, and it's starting to take off, but we don't have the responsibilities of marriage and kids. So, she can still go out during the weekends, party with her friends and have a drink (or three) guilt-free.
I do love her easy relationship with her stepfather John. Their mutual love for her mom, their shared love for architecture, how they both celebrated her successes and despite them living far away from each other, they still have that connection. I just loved that!
Noah and Eamon. They're both good men. I was unsure about Eamon at first though. We're in Sarina's first person POV the whole time and he's one of those flirty, charming types so I wasn't sure what his intentions were until it became glaringly obvious. Then, I felt sorry for him because he really, really liked Sarina but she was with Noah.
As for Noah, he wasn't my type of guy so I never warmed up to him. We differ in opinions about women's role when it comes to children versus careers so he irritated me at times. But he was a good guy. I felt really bad for him.
Emotional infidelity. I liked Sarina overall, but all the emotional infidelity going on with her rubbed me the wrong way. She was attracted to Eamon (and vice versa) but because she was with Noah they developed this great friendship and I loved that. They would hang out, have a great time and there was always this sexual tension between them. Then, there were times when Sarina was upset with Noah and they kind of cross the friend line a little bit and her rationalizations were flimsy at best. I found myself screaming at one, Break up with Noah already! You keep saying you love him but you don't love him that way! Gah! I hate cheating of any kind and as I reader I was very torn. I wanted to root for Sarina and Eamon because they're so good together, but then there's still poor Noah who was also good guy in his own way.
Other things I loved. I really enjoyed all the other secondary characters, especially Sarina's group of friends. Theirs was was the kind of friendship that makes me want to use the #friendshipgoals. As someone who loves to watch HGTV, I found the whole building design/renovation fascinating. I really want to see Eamon's house when it's all finished. Hmmm... I wonder if the author has a Pinterest and had some visuals in mind for his house? The One That Got Away is set in Austin and it sounds like a fun city and I like the contrast the author made of Austin and Sarina's hometown of Floyd County, Virginia. I looked up pictures of both places and I fell in love with Floyd's small-town charm.
Writing and plot. The One That Got Away is author Bethany Chase's debut novel and I am very impressed. The concept of The One That Got Away wasn't original, but it read fresh. Ms. Chase is an excellent writer--I found her writing to be very coherent, straight-forward and engaging and I was sucked in from chapter one and I kept turning the pages late into the night. I mentioned my dislike of infidelity but I still really, really enjoyed it a lot despite having some elements that I normally avoid. This novel will definitely not be my last novel by Ms. Chase. Actually, after reading the excerpt that was included in the paperback edition, I'm very much looking forward to her next novel, which will feature Eamon's brother Colin and Sarina's veterinarian and friend Hilary.
Overall. The One That Got Away is reminiscent of Emily Giffin's earlier works (Something Borrowed and Something Blue--I'm not a fan of her newer books) and Catherine McKenzie's (her novel Arranged is one of my all-time favorite women's fiction title) novels. If you're a fan of rom-com type of women's fiction, then I highly recommend this one, and with summer coming up, add it to your list of pool-side reads.
Full review:
I really, really enjoyed The One That Got Away, author Bethany Chase's debut novel. It has all the ingredients I love in what I consider really good women's fiction and a very satisfying read.
I'm not going to summarize what the book is about because the synopsis did a really good job of that. I'll just jump into my thoughts.
Sarina. I liked Sarina--she was likable, smart, confident and witty. She has great friends, a loving boyfriends (albeit he's currently abroad), her architecture practice is taking off--she basically had a pretty good life. She's far from perfect, though, and there were instances when I thought she acted more like someone in her mid-20s than her 31 years. But now that I think about it... we're close in age (I'm 28) and both at that point in our lives where we feel like we know what we want with our careers, we're on the right path, and it's starting to take off, but we don't have the responsibilities of marriage and kids. So, she can still go out during the weekends, party with her friends and have a drink (or three) guilt-free.
I do love her easy relationship with her stepfather John. Their mutual love for her mom, their shared love for architecture, how they both celebrated her successes and despite them living far away from each other, they still have that connection. I just loved that!
Noah and Eamon. They're both good men. I was unsure about Eamon at first though. We're in Sarina's first person POV the whole time and he's one of those flirty, charming types so I wasn't sure what his intentions were until it became glaringly obvious. Then, I felt sorry for him because he really, really liked Sarina but she was with Noah.
As for Noah, he wasn't my type of guy so I never warmed up to him. We differ in opinions about women's role when it comes to children versus careers so he irritated me at times. But he was a good guy. I felt really bad for him.
Emotional infidelity. I liked Sarina overall, but all the emotional infidelity going on with her rubbed me the wrong way. She was attracted to Eamon (and vice versa) but because she was with Noah they developed this great friendship and I loved that. They would hang out, have a great time and there was always this sexual tension between them. Then, there were times when Sarina was upset with Noah and they kind of cross the friend line a little bit and her rationalizations were flimsy at best. I found myself screaming at one, Break up with Noah already! You keep saying you love him but you don't love him that way! Gah! I hate cheating of any kind and as I reader I was very torn. I wanted to root for Sarina and Eamon because they're so good together, but then there's still poor Noah who was also good guy in his own way.
Other things I loved. I really enjoyed all the other secondary characters, especially Sarina's group of friends. Theirs was was the kind of friendship that makes me want to use the #friendshipgoals. As someone who loves to watch HGTV, I found the whole building design/renovation fascinating. I really want to see Eamon's house when it's all finished. Hmmm... I wonder if the author has a Pinterest and had some visuals in mind for his house? The One That Got Away is set in Austin and it sounds like a fun city and I like the contrast the author made of Austin and Sarina's hometown of Floyd County, Virginia. I looked up pictures of both places and I fell in love with Floyd's small-town charm.
Writing and plot. The One That Got Away is author Bethany Chase's debut novel and I am very impressed. The concept of The One That Got Away wasn't original, but it read fresh. Ms. Chase is an excellent writer--I found her writing to be very coherent, straight-forward and engaging and I was sucked in from chapter one and I kept turning the pages late into the night. I mentioned my dislike of infidelity but I still really, really enjoyed it a lot despite having some elements that I normally avoid. This novel will definitely not be my last novel by Ms. Chase. Actually, after reading the excerpt that was included in the paperback edition, I'm very much looking forward to her next novel, which will feature Eamon's brother Colin and Sarina's veterinarian and friend Hilary.
Overall. The One That Got Away is reminiscent of Emily Giffin's earlier works (Something Borrowed and Something Blue--I'm not a fan of her newer books) and Catherine McKenzie's (her novel Arranged is one of my all-time favorite women's fiction title) novels. If you're a fan of rom-com type of women's fiction, then I highly recommend this one, and with summer coming up, add it to your list of pool-side reads.
It's hard to resist the tempting premise of THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY, because just as the first line in the book says, "Every woman has one." For a simple, quick read that isn't too complicated or particularly life changing, this is your book. I fell in love with Eamon alongside Sarina, and their chemistry and playful banter were steaming and endearing.
I just wish Sarina hadn't been so frustratingly stupid! She made obvious mistake after mistake, assuming things horribly and making bad choices just to elongate the plot. Part of the reason I read it so fast was just so I could get to the resolution and been done with Sarina's annoyingly incorrect thoughts. Overall, I enjoyed it, and that is for one reason: Eamon Roy.
I just wish Sarina hadn't been so frustratingly stupid! She made obvious mistake after mistake, assuming things horribly and making bad choices just to elongate the plot. Part of the reason I read it so fast was just so I could get to the resolution and been done with Sarina's annoyingly incorrect thoughts. Overall, I enjoyed it, and that is for one reason: Eamon Roy.
Love triangle, cheating and superfluous comparisons abound. So not the book for me.
Originally posted on Gone Pecan
We all have that one person that we think we could have really made a life with. Sometimes we still yearn for another shot at, to have the perfect happiness that you’re sure this person will bring to your life. For Sarina, it was Eamon Roy, though the extent their relationship ended up only being one night. Seven years later, Eamon is back in Austin (whoo hoo, TEXAS!), and though Sarina has a serious boyfriend, she still feels connected and unbelievably attracted to Eamon.
This book was fantastic. I loved Sarina. She could be me or my best friend. She’s smart and a talented architect, and a great friend, and she is funny and has an up for anything attitude. I understood her attraction and mild obsession with Eamon, though I cringed about her long-distance boyfriend not knowing about Sarina and Eamon’s past. That didn’t stop me from wanting her boyfriend to be a complete douche who does something inexcusable and ultimately gives Sarina an excuse to ditch him for Eamon…but I digress.
I really enjoyed getting to know Sarina. This debut author reminded me of my favorite women’s fiction authors and she definitely deserves a space right besides Emily Giffin and Liza Palmer. I can’t wait to read more by her. I know that there is a sequel to The One That Got Away and I am quite anxious for it (give it to me already). It’s a book that I would recommend to my friends who like women’s fiction. It’s fun and the characters are charming (I especially loved her step-father). This book lets you live vicariously through Sarina as she gets her second chance.
We all have that one person that we think we could have really made a life with. Sometimes we still yearn for another shot at, to have the perfect happiness that you’re sure this person will bring to your life. For Sarina, it was Eamon Roy, though the extent their relationship ended up only being one night. Seven years later, Eamon is back in Austin (whoo hoo, TEXAS!), and though Sarina has a serious boyfriend, she still feels connected and unbelievably attracted to Eamon.
This book was fantastic. I loved Sarina. She could be me or my best friend. She’s smart and a talented architect, and a great friend, and she is funny and has an up for anything attitude. I understood her attraction and mild obsession with Eamon, though I cringed about her long-distance boyfriend not knowing about Sarina and Eamon’s past. That didn’t stop me from wanting her boyfriend to be a complete douche who does something inexcusable and ultimately gives Sarina an excuse to ditch him for Eamon…but I digress.
I really enjoyed getting to know Sarina. This debut author reminded me of my favorite women’s fiction authors and she definitely deserves a space right besides Emily Giffin and Liza Palmer. I can’t wait to read more by her. I know that there is a sequel to The One That Got Away and I am quite anxious for it (give it to me already). It’s a book that I would recommend to my friends who like women’s fiction. It’s fun and the characters are charming (I especially loved her step-father). This book lets you live vicariously through Sarina as she gets her second chance.