Name: Samantha's review of The Ones Who Got Away by Roni Loren
Item: The Ones Who Got Away
Rating: 4
Author: Samantha

Roni Loren

"With a unique setup, a swoony hero and a lively cast of characters, The Ones Who Got Away is the best kind of second-chance romance! It's a great read."--SARINA BOWEN, USA Today Bestselling author of Good Boy A fresh new contemporary romance from New York Times and USA Today bestseller Roni Loren that will rock your world. Twelve years ago, tragedy struck the senior class of Long Acre High School. Only a small number of students survived, a group the media dubbed as The Ones Who Got Away. Now, web designer Liv Arias, along with the rest of the survivors, have returned to the small Texas town to tell their stories for a documentary. Which means Liv seeing former star-athlete and old flame Finn Dorsey. A lot happened between them that night and Liv is ready to end their decade-long rift and move on. But when her attempt at closure turns into a steamy kiss, moving on proves much more difficult than either of them thought... Liv's words cut off as Finn got closer. The man approaching was nothing like the boy she'd known. The bulky football muscles had streamlined into a harder, leaner package. The smooth face was now dusted with scruff, and the look in his deep green eyes held no trace of boyish innocence. A thousand things were in those eyes. A thousand things welled up in Liv. Praise for Roni Loren: "Addictive and intense."--RT Book Reviews for Nothing Between Us "The romance is...emotionally satisfying...and the characters are worth rooting for."--Publishers Weekly for Not Until You "What really sets this story apart is the emotional connection between the characters. As they both heal from their pasts, they grow together as a couple."--RT Book Reviews for Caught up in You

The Ones Who Got Away

Samantha

Lover of Romance 

This review was originally posted on Addicted To Romance

The Ones Who Got Away is the newest and most stunning release that Roni Loren has written, a book of raw emotion, sensuality and a tale about fighting for yourself and for love that is right in front of you!! 

What a story that this turned out to be!! I really had such a wonderful time reading this book. Now there were moments that I felt "slowed" down a bit, and is probably the reason why I took 3 days to read it!! Yeah, I think its mostly due to exhaustion and no energy, not the actual book itself or it might have been a five star read but my attention was just not very focused this week, oh well...It was still EPIC and I grew to fall in love with so many aspects of this darling story. But my favorite thing about the story was our main key players!!
 
 	 Finn Dorsey was the high school quarterback, came from a privileged family, but turned out to work for the FBI. A hero packed with vulnerabilities and struggles of his own. 
 	 Liv Arias, daughter of a landscaper, had a goth phase in high school and not the most popular, but is talented and smart and a workaholic. She has her own fears of the past that still haunt her. 
 
What a book this turned out to be, and every other reader is right that this book just pulls you in right away. Our emotional love tale begins with our heroine. She has returned to the town where the "event" happened. There is a pretty vital documentary being filmed and she is called in to be interviewed. She has to recall the painful part of her past, a past that still gives her horrible nightmares. We see how the "shooting" at their high school by a fellow student, marked these young people in different ways and we get to see how it effects them differently. Finn and Liv were once together in high school, but their relationship was a secret because of Finn's parent's disapproval of their relationship.

But one night, at a school dance, while Finn and Liv were making out in the closet, shooting started to happen and Finn runs back to his date and takes a bullet for her, but Liv was left alone and was left at the mercy of the shooter...alone. This event has haunted both Liv and Finn in different ways. Finn was tormented by the sound of gun shots but wanted to overcome his fear. He eventually was able to work for the FBI and has recently been undercover for two long years. But Finn is till tormented and we see how it effects him.

  Those sick assholes stole not just my friends’ lives but the could be’s from us. We never got to find out who we would’ve been otherwise. Before we were aftermath.

This story is where we see Finn and Liv start to reconnect, to realize what they had in High School was very real, and as they start to help each other heal, they also act on their physical attraction for each other. I found the set up very interesting. I liked how in different ways they fight for each other on an emotional level and that is so beautiful to see. Both Finn and Liv left things unsaid in their past and now we see that they start to realize how right they really were for each other, but the shooting changed everything for them. What I truly enjoyed seeing was the strong emotional bond that these two form. Of course, the sexy times were sensual and hot and will get you bothered just a bit. However, what really pulls you into the story and keeps you in tune with this pair will be the emotional intimacy that forms between them.

  I’m never going to be that guy who left you vulnerable again. I can’t offer much these days, but I can promise you that. I’ve got your back, Livvy

At first, its more of a "fling" type of relationship, but they both realize how much they love each other. However, Finn is about to go on an assignment at the end of the summer and it's his dream assignment, of making sure those that supplied the weapons in the shooting are brought down. So there is a difficult dilemma that erupts between them. Because Finn will be going undercover soon and it could be a "long" time, even years. Liv has to do some pondering because she will need to make a decision if what they have together is strong enough and worth enough to wait for their "chance" and if they will fight to be together.

 

There were so many feels in this book, that I didn't know whether to laugh or cry in this one. And this is where you see the true talent that Roni Loren has. Because when an author can evoke such reactions in a story, truly shows her capabilities in penning a beautifully written love story and this tale was one of the most riveting I have read in a long while!!

As a side note, a true plus to the story was the friendship between four women. I LOVE the fun times and how supportive they are of each other. They have all lost people close to them in the shootings, and it has created such a close-knit bond between them. The ways that they individually have struggled but come together during this rough time for all of them is simply fantastic and I can't wait for Rebecca's book because we see certain characteristics to her personality and history, that I was like "WHAT??!" I need her book and NOW. I just know there-there is something major that wasn't revealed and I want to know. So I can't wait for June to roll around so I can grab this one up!! So stay tuned for what I imagine will be a fantastic addition to a whirlwind of series.

A truly epically emotional story that keeps you tuned in and magically addicted to the very end!! A TRUE GEM!!

  

  Broken glass still made art.
Sometimes the most beautiful kind.






[foogallery id="48663"]

Cindy

This was a powerful and tragic story line. It was a bit tough for me to get through because of the subject of the book but nevertheless it was well written. I loved the characters and the romance between the them.

Lauren Sullivan

Trigger Warnings: Descriptions of school shooting, panic attacks

All the feels. Seriously, all the feels. I read this pretty much non-stop in an afternoon, with a box of tissues next to me.

I’ll address this first off: this is hard subject matter (romance in the aftermath of a school shooting???), but I think Ms. Loren handled it impeccably. As a trauma survivor myself, the descriptions of the survivor’s guilt and panic attacks, the overreactions to innocuous triggers, were very realistic. I think it helps that this was set more than a decade after the actual shooting, when the characters involved have had time to grieve and heal.

“Even after all the years that had passes, Finn still seemed able to get her mind off things. When her mom was going through chemo and everything was doom and gloom at home, Finn could somehow figure out ways not just to make her laugh, but to do so in a way that didn’t make her feel guilty for feeling a moment of happiness.”

Liv and Finn haven’t seen each other for twelve years, not since the school shooting during their senior prom that fractured their lives. Both are still scarred, physically and mentally, and while they think they’ve “gotten over it” and have fulfilling lives, their run-in with each other at a documentary interview for the anniversary of the shooting leads to a reevaluation of their lives. Surprisingly enough, their attraction is still there, and the reunion of the survivors leads to some uncomfortable realizations for Liv of how far short she’s fallen from her teenage vow to live her life to the fullest for her classmates who didn’t get that chance. Finn, an undercover FBI cop just coming out of a two year mission, has rented a lakeside house in order to take some mandated R&R, and Liv decides to spend some summer weekends with him rediscovering her passion for photography instead of slaving away at her job as a web designer. Because, of course, they can keep things between them “just friends,” right?

“I could babysit the hell out of you, Finn Dorsey. I know who you used to be. You don’t get to become a bad guy. I will make you do slumber-party things like play charades or watch crappy nineties movies or incessant reruns of Friends. You won’t be able to fight your old goofy side. It will emerge like a freaking butterfly and smother scary Finn.”

Liv and Finn’s relationship is sweet and sexy. I loved how the growth of their relationship mirrored both Finn and Liv re-learning themselves and letting go of their fears. Painted as the hero, for supposedly saving his prom date’s life, Finn has thrown himself into his FBI job with the goal of shutting down the group that sold the weapons to the school shooters, to the point where he’s subsumed the rest of his life to that goal. Liv originally self-medicated with alcohol and one-night-stands in college, but now works long hours as a web designer, with no time for anything else. As their relationship deepens, they realize that maybe, just maybe, there’s something more to life than revenge (motivated by guilt) or just “having a good job.”

“You don’t need a babysitter, but maybe you could use an old friend who knows the original color of the paint beneath all those layers life has slapped on you.”

I loved Liv’s tribe – a group of women who survived. Though they weren’t friends before the attack, they ended up in the same counseling group and supported each other through their grief in the following year. However, they’ve all become nothing more than friends on Facebook, but reunite again during the documentary shooting. As Liv spends more time back in her hometown, she doesn’t just reconnect with Finn but also with these friends, and when the inevitable heartbreak happens, they’re there to help pick her up again.

“I realize the high of happiness I feel this summer with you will come with an equal level of sadness when you leave… But it’s two sides of the same coin. You don’t get to have only one side or the other. You have to put the whole thing in your pocket and take both, or you get nothing at all. I don’t want to live with empty pockets anymore.”

For the subject matter, this book is not that drama-ridden. Does that mean that some things were wrapped up a bit too patly? Yes, but I think I prefer that to sending the characters through the wringer again. Trust me, I already used up plenty of tissues reading this book! Beyond that, though, there’s plenty of humor to balance it out, as Finn and Liv have a deliciously playful side that was a joy to read. Overall, this book is an uplifting story of healing and letting go of fear.

Oh, and that gorgeous cover photo? Actually reflects a scene in the book.


  


There was a few chapters of the next book, Rebecca’s story, at the end, and now, OF COURSE, I’m dying for the next book. Highly recommended!

I received this book for free from Bookish First in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Becky

I finished a book and enjoyed it!

This book was started during a week long reading slump that was looking to linger. I wasnt actually optimistic I'd make it through the books because of it. Thankfully, I was wrong. I usually am about these things.

I instantly piled Liv from the very first page. She was tough and fun and so very flawed. She survived a tragedy that everyone knew of and she didn't always have her sorted brave face ok. Liv was scared to live (because who isn't and we don't all have a major past trauma as a good excuse) but seeing Finn and old friends was the push she needed to look at her life and I enjoyed reading that journey.

Finn should have been charming from the start, he certainly had his moments, but I found him very frustrating as he kept trying to get Liv to love her best life and recognise her brilliance and talent but always seemed to fail to take his own advise. Small choices and thought she has throughout the book had me wanting to shake him so he'd see sense. That being said I did enjoy him and Liv together. They were a great couple they really were.

Totally Addicted to Reading

How does one move past the tragedy of witnessing one’s classmates being murdered and knowing you are one of a few survivors? 

What life changing decisions would make in a situation such as this?

It has been twelve (12) years since Olivia Moreno aka Olivia Arias witness such a tragedy. A tragedy, which changed her life forever. Since that day, she has tried to survive in our own way. The scars from this tragedy is deeply buried, and she has tried throughout the years to move past the painful memories. She would come to learn however, moving past the painful memories would not come easy. When asked to take part in a documentary designed to pay tribute to her fallen classmates she accepted, especially as the proceeds were going to the victims ‘family. What she never counted on was her present colliding with her past in the form of her high school sweetheart Finn Dorsey.

Finn Dorsey has his share of demons from his past. Demons created by the tragedy, which struck Long Acre High School twelve years ago. He never forgot the girl who owned his heart in high school and seeing her twelve years later made him realise she still had the power to bring him to his knees. He knew establishing a reconnection would be painful as he was determined to take down the people responsible for placing the guns in the hands of the perpetrators behind the Long Acre High massacre. Guilt played a significant role in his decision to go after the gun suppliers. However, he would discover life has a way of putting a wrench in even the best-laid plans.

The Ones Who Got Away is a story which has the capacity to tug on your heartstrings. From the first page, I knew I would be in for an emotional and intense journey. I loved the fact the story did not just focus on the romance between the protagonists. The author explored both the positive and negative effects the tragedy had on the survivors. Their emotions leapt off the pages, and I had no problem relating to their pain and fears. It all appeared so realistic.

The story demonstrated the importance of surrounding ourselves with persons who will inspire us to be better versions of ourselves. Olivia’s circle of friends who shared the memories of the tragedy provided her with this support system. It further showed how they tried to move on from the tragedy several years later.

I enjoyed the pace at which the romance developed. Olivia and Finn shared a bond that survived twelve years of separation. I enjoyed their interaction with each other and I thought they were perfect for each other. Despite the attraction, which sizzled between them, they were wary of risking their heart. Pursuing the physical aspect of their relationship seemed the safer bet. Will they be able to move past their fears and embrace all that love had to offer?

Conclusion/Recommendation
The Ones Who Got Away is a powerful story of love, second chances and dealing with the aftermath of tragedy. With the perfect blend of passion and emotion, this story will stay with me for some time. I can easily say this is my favourite so far for 2018. I am eager to discover what next is in store with this series.

b.andherbooks

Liv and Finn were making out in a janitor's closet during prom when they heard gunshots. Finn left Liv to find his actual prom date causing Liv to be discovered but allowed to live by one of the shooters while Finn was shot (and survived).
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!

Twelve years later, Liv, Finn, and other survivors reconnect after all agreeing to be part of a documentary. The horrible experience brought some of them closer together, including Liv and a group of three girls, but completely killed any chance of Liv and Finn having a real relationship. 

Now adults, Liv and Finn still feel a magnetic pull to one another, but each still struggle with their own issues that clearly mean they probably shouldn't even try, but they cannot resist.

A sweet and emotional romance that never felt schlocky or over-wrought. I appreciated the journey of both characters and how they finally found their way to one another. I also really appreciated that the girl who Finn took to the prom instead of Liv was given complete agency and wasn't a "villain." I ate up the the tension between Liv and Finn. Phew.

Find this review and more at 
  kimberlyfaye reads.


I'll admit, I had absolutely no idea what I was getting myself into when I first picked up The Ones Who Got Away. I have this habit of requesting or buying a book and then not reading the blurb or anything about it before I start reading. That's exactly what happened here, so I didn't this book was about the survivors of a school shooting. That's an emotional subject for me, but that didn't stop me from reading (and loving) this book. It was addictive and I couldn't read it fast enough. 

Olivia and Finn were everything. My heart broke for the tragedy they endured in high school. It broke nearly equally for the fact they were separated so long. I got it though. Things were complicated. One thing was for sure, however, there was absolutely still something between them. It didn't take long for both of them to realize it either. What ensued was a swoony and sexy second chance, amidst the memories of the classmates they lost and everything that led up to that fateful night. (And what came after, naturally.) 

The Ones Who Got Away could've very easily been an overwhelmingly emotional book. I'm glad it wasn't though. Don't get me wrong, the book wasn't without emotions, but I didn't feel like I was drowning in them either. I feel like there's a fine line between sensationalizing the events of a tragedy like the one the Long Acre students endured and paying respect to them and the impact they have on the survivors. Roni found the right balance here. There were sad moments, but there was more hope than fear or sadness. 

I'm so glad this book kicks off a new series. I was in no way shape or form ready to give up the Long Acre characters. I'm a greedy reader who wants ALL THEIR STORIES. (Or, at the very least, the stories of the women who are closest to Olivia.) 

I received a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

FAVORITE QUOTES

"To the outside world, this was a tragedy. Something people discuss over dinner, shake their heads at, or get political about. To us, this was our life, our school, our friends." 

"It's been a long day and a lot of memories. I think we both just got carried away. We can't do that."
"Kiss?"
"No. Pretend we're the people we used to be. Those people don't exist anymore. They're ghosts."

Sally Salinas

3.7 stars.. I really enjoyed this book. Follows 5 characters Olivia, Finn, Kincaid, Rebecca & Taryn. This story focuses on Olivia & Finn's history and present. The characters are reunited during a reunion of sorts. A horrible high school tragedy that brings the cast of characters together and has them re-examining their lives. The story is heartbreaking and lovely. The history back in high school for Olivia & Finn is sad and watching them reconnect is beautiful. This is a slow burn romance kind of and you can see the heartbreak coming but its endearing and made me cry regardless. However seeing them rekindle what they had was funny. Seeing the friendship between the women in this story is amazing. Also, seeing how the group is dealing with the past tragedy and how is still affects them was heart wrenching and endearing. Looking forward to Rebecca's story next. Got this book for review through bookishfirst.

Samantha &
The Ones Who Got Away by Roni Loren

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