The One that Got Away by Melissa Pimetel

Ruby and Ethan were perfect for each other. Until the day they suddenly weren't. Ten years later, Ruby's single, having spent the last decade focusing on her demanding career and hectic life in Manhattan. There's barely time for a trip to England for her little sister's wedding. And there's certainly not time to think about seeing Ethan there for the first time in years. But as the family frantically prepare for the big day, Ruby can't help but wonder if she made the right choice all those years ago? Because there's nothing like a wedding for stirring up the past . . .

My rating: 3/5
Thrilling, exciting and a whirlwind of emotions!

May contain spoilers!

PRICE $16.99 (CAD)

AUTHOR   Melissa Pimentel

It was my pleasure to receive a free advanced copy from NetGalley and Penguin UK.

Love and enjoyed it immensely.

Here is the thing about books, they (need to) take you somewhere, a magical land, a place where space and time don’t exist. That’s what I love about books. That is exactly where this book takes me. This is one of the reasons I liked it, oh so much. The mood and setting has carried me in a world only a few books these days can.

As I mentioned above, the setting and space and time had played a major part in the story. The book contains these two sort of parts to it. It occurs now and then a bit like in The Girl On the Train. It contains the end of a relationship and later its new beginning. The relationship of the main characters: Ruby and Ethan. Two different settings in two different times were narrated seamlessly, pretty well done! The book alternates between now and then, it simultaneously talks about the beginning, the end and then blends in a new beginning! You got to read it!

As the the synopsis says, the book happens during Ruby’s sisters, Piper’s wedding. We get to meet all these characters that are broken and lovely in their own way. The parents and the in-laws are by far my favourites, quickly followed by Charlie, Piper’s husband. They are funny characters and easy to connect with. Ruby and Ethan are both special in their own ways.  There are times you love them and times you want to shake them up and say c’mon!!!

Like Ruby and Ethan, the narration of the story makes you want to facepalm. Especially the “then” part of the story feels a bit fake. Ten years ago, they were completely different from each other. Like all twenty-something year old going off to college, they are young, naive and inexperienced in romance. Which I had mixed feelings about. I felt as if they were trying so hard to be in a relationship, it did not seem convincing. Their conversation were not as serious and their personalities did not get along well. On the other hand, the “now” part of the story was more realistic. The characters can relate with each other. The story starts to build, the “now” and the “then” start to interweave. You slowly get to see the author’s choice to make the first relationship seem so fake. It all makes sense at the end of the book.

At some point the book was so … predictable. The characters did have their pleasant side to them but they were stereotypical. The sport fanatic dad or the step-mom and everything that comes with it. Whilst the book doesn’t bring anything new, I must confess I enjoyed reading this book. As you can tell, I do go for cliched romantic books!

Oh before I forget, the cover is absolutely gorgeous! I would love to have the actual physical copy! To be honest, it attracted me enough to request this book. I know, I know it is shameful to judge a book by it’s cover! But this time it worked, the story is as good as the cover! To show you the cover I used my awful photoshop skills to put on the kindle! Ah, the struggles of having e-books! (More pictures here!)

Love,

Srishti, the one that will go away