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A review by aralston08
The One That Got Away by Bethany Chase
4.0
I received this book for free from the author or publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
One of my friends posted a Waiting on Wednesday about The One that Got Away and after reading the blurb and seeing the cover I needed to get my hands on it. I was lucky enough to get an advanced copy from Netgalley for review.
I don't read a lot of women's fiction but I really think I should read more of it. I really liked The One that Got Away. I am someone who enjoys reading a character driven story. Don't get me wrong, I also enjoy a well-executed plot but there is just something about watching characters develop over a span of time that really speaks to me.
Sarina lives in Austin where she is a promising architect trying to make a name for herself. With her rising career and her relationship with Noah, she thinks she has it made. This all changes when Eamon (Ay-mon), her one and only one-night stand returns to town. They shared an intense weekend and then he just left without a word leaving Sarina confused and heartbroken. Even better, Eamon has decided he wants to contract her to help him find and remodel his new home...in Austin.
I love second-chance romances. I love when two characters had a fling or relationship in years past and then reconnect. It's interesting and exciting to see how they react to each other. With Eamon and Sarina it is quite clear that there is some unresolved tension. However, Sarina can't reconcile the Eamon that slept with her and then left her all those years ago with the Eamon standing in front of her now. And what about Noah? Sarina loves Noah. He's successful, attentive, and he loves her.
As the story progresses it became clear that while this is a romance, the story is truly about Sarina finding herself. More importantly, it was about Sarina learning to make decisions based on what was best for her and not what was expected. I really liked Sarina. She was funny and although the decisions she had to make were difficult, she did so with grace. I was glad that she was able to stand up for herself and that she wasn't a doormat.
There is a bit of a love triangle between Sarina, Eamon, and Noah and while it was clear to me who I wanted Sarina to be with, it was not that cut and dry for Sarina. Eamon had burned her, badly and Noah was safe and consistent and he obviously loved her. I was glad to see that Sarina had two really good guys vying for her, rather than one glaringly obvious choice. Both men had their faults, but they were both generally good people with a few minor flaws.
The connection and chemistry between Sarina and Eamon was obvious and I could definitely see why she was attracted to him. Eamon is smart, he's dedication, he's hot, and he says the most ridiculously romantic things but sometimes I felt like I was being told about their connection more than actually feeling it.
The One That Got Away was a witty, fun, and sweet second chance romance. I would recommend it to someone who enjoys stories of self-discovery with a romantic twist. I had the pleasure of reading a snippet from book 2 in this series and cannot WAIT to get my hands on it!
And on a final note, if my review didn't sway you to read this book I hope the first lines will:
Every woman has one. That name you Google at two o'clock in the morning. That intoxicating connection that somehow never solidified anything real; that particular memory you still visit every now and then, for that guaranteed hit of pure, sugar-packed dopamine. It's that story that starts with "There was this one time" and ends, reluctantly, with but I guess..."
Read this and other reviews at link: Teacups and Bookends Blog.
One of my friends posted a Waiting on Wednesday about The One that Got Away and after reading the blurb and seeing the cover I needed to get my hands on it. I was lucky enough to get an advanced copy from Netgalley for review.
I don't read a lot of women's fiction but I really think I should read more of it. I really liked The One that Got Away. I am someone who enjoys reading a character driven story. Don't get me wrong, I also enjoy a well-executed plot but there is just something about watching characters develop over a span of time that really speaks to me.
Sarina lives in Austin where she is a promising architect trying to make a name for herself. With her rising career and her relationship with Noah, she thinks she has it made. This all changes when Eamon (Ay-mon), her one and only one-night stand returns to town. They shared an intense weekend and then he just left without a word leaving Sarina confused and heartbroken. Even better, Eamon has decided he wants to contract her to help him find and remodel his new home...in Austin.
I love second-chance romances. I love when two characters had a fling or relationship in years past and then reconnect. It's interesting and exciting to see how they react to each other. With Eamon and Sarina it is quite clear that there is some unresolved tension. However, Sarina can't reconcile the Eamon that slept with her and then left her all those years ago with the Eamon standing in front of her now. And what about Noah? Sarina loves Noah. He's successful, attentive, and he loves her.
As the story progresses it became clear that while this is a romance, the story is truly about Sarina finding herself. More importantly, it was about Sarina learning to make decisions based on what was best for her and not what was expected. I really liked Sarina. She was funny and although the decisions she had to make were difficult, she did so with grace. I was glad that she was able to stand up for herself and that she wasn't a doormat.
There is a bit of a love triangle between Sarina, Eamon, and Noah and while it was clear to me who I wanted Sarina to be with, it was not that cut and dry for Sarina. Eamon had burned her, badly and Noah was safe and consistent and he obviously loved her. I was glad to see that Sarina had two really good guys vying for her, rather than one glaringly obvious choice. Both men had their faults, but they were both generally good people with a few minor flaws.
The connection and chemistry between Sarina and Eamon was obvious and I could definitely see why she was attracted to him. Eamon is smart, he's dedication, he's hot, and he says the most ridiculously romantic things but sometimes I felt like I was being told about their connection more than actually feeling it.
The One That Got Away was a witty, fun, and sweet second chance romance. I would recommend it to someone who enjoys stories of self-discovery with a romantic twist. I had the pleasure of reading a snippet from book 2 in this series and cannot WAIT to get my hands on it!
And on a final note, if my review didn't sway you to read this book I hope the first lines will:
Every woman has one. That name you Google at two o'clock in the morning. That intoxicating connection that somehow never solidified anything real; that particular memory you still visit every now and then, for that guaranteed hit of pure, sugar-packed dopamine. It's that story that starts with "There was this one time" and ends, reluctantly, with but I guess..."
Read this and other reviews at link: Teacups and Bookends Blog.