A review by stevienotnicks
Things We Left Behind by Lucy Score

dark emotional funny tense slow-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

4.0

Do you ever put off reading the last book in a series because you don’t want it to end? 

I fell in love with the characters from Knockemout when I read book one last year. I also always love a good grumpy MMC, and they are ALL delivering! In book three, we explore the complicated relationship between Sloane and Lucian, something that has long been hinted at in the previous books.

One of my favorite things about this series is that these stories are so much more than just smutty romance. There is a single thread of plot that ties these three together, but there are also complex subplots surrounding the MCs of each book. This one covers some extremely heavy topics like domestic violence and grief, both of which are, in my opinion, handled with the utmost care. 

The banter between Lucian and Sloane added a layer of humor that broke up the seriousness of these topics so well. I love their friends to enemies to lovers storyline and their mutual “hatred” made for some hilarious one liners and led some extremely steamy scenes. 

While I generally enjoyed this book, there are a few things that weren’t my fave. First, there is absolutely no reason ANY romance needs to be nearly 600 pages long. At times it felt like the author was doing way too many subplots at once and diverting from the main story sometimes felt disjointed and pointless. Secondly, the men of Knockemout can be quite misogynistic at times and when those instances happen, I instantly cringe. 

All in all, though, this was an excellent read. Sloane was so easy to relate to as a bookworm and someone who truly wants to make the world a better place. I believe she and Lucian are perfect for each other and I was so giddy watching them fall in love. I’ll be sad to say goodbye to these characters, but felt like this was a satisfying end. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings