This was a brilliant read. As soon as I started reading this book I just knew I was going to love it. Highly recommended

The one that got away by Annabel Kantaria.
Everyone has one. An ex you still think about. The one who makes you ask ‘what if’?
A good read although I found it slow i read it. 3*.

The One That Got Away by Annabel Kantaria is a compelling and easy read which was gripping and twisted throughout.

Description
Everyone has one. An ex you still think about. The one who makes you ask ‘what if’?
Fifteen years have passed since Stella and George last saw each other. But something makes Stella click ‘yes’ to the invite to her school reunion.
There’s still a spark between them, and although their relationship ended badly, they begin an affair.
But once someone gets you back, sometimes they’re never going to let you go again…


Perfect example of why an ex should stay an ex.
At over 300 pages this is a decent size read, something you can get stuck into and keep those pages turning.
One of those books that will keep your interest the whole way though.

This book had similarities to others as mentioned in the reviews. Only small similarities. Even so I couldn’t put it down. Deranged characters, good story which was possibly a little unbelievable but still a very readable book.

A great page turner that hooked me from the first few pages.
This is the story of Stella and George, and starts with a school reunion.
Loved the twist.
A fab holiday read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

I had requested this book as I was grabbed by the synopsis. It sounded dark and something that I would usually enjoy. It turned out that this was more chick-lit than the psychological thriller I had been expecting. The characters were pretty one-dimensional and unlikable and the story seem pretty poorly written.

I managed to finish the book but I'm sorry to say that the ending was pretty underwhelming.

The One That Got Away tells the story of Stella and George. The two of them had been in a relationship during school before a bad break up had the two of them go in different directions, now meeting for the first time in years at their school reunion it's clear a spark is still there, but are they any good for one another?

This is a relatively quick review as I think talking too much about the characters or revealing anymore about the plot would spoil the book for anyone planning on picking it up.

I picked up this book at the end of April and I was really looking forward to it, I think I said in a WWW Wednesday post at the time I was excited to pick it up as I wanted to read something dark and twisty - unfortunately I was disappointed.

It certainly wasn't because the book wasn't dark and twisted, it was, and I genuinely felt it was well written and the plot had a great range of twists and turns but I just didn't like the characters and for such a character driven plot it's a problem. I found both Stella and George to be unlikable, so I found I couldn't really invest in what was happening, logically I knew it was terrible but I just didn't care. I found myself almost skim reading towards the end because I wanted to know how it finished after reading so far through it but I wanted to get it over and done with.

Would I Recommend?

I wouldn't say don't read it, if you like dark and twisted thrillers it may well be the book for you, it felt well written with just enough clues to leave you guessing. I thought the plot was interesting, it's an idea with a lot of potential I just really disliked both the main characters.

This was my first book by Annabel Kantaria and I would read more if given the chance. This is a book you are able to read very quickly to find out what happens next. It’s commercial women’s fiction at its best, the type of book you grab to read on the beach It is written in such an easy style that it becomes compelling reading and although this book is classed as more of a psychological thriller, the books merits are more about the writer’s ability at good characterisation and clever plotting. However, I guessed the ending half way through, hoped there would be some other reveal, but sadly not so. This was fine as the characters were like friends by the end of it and I would have been quite happy reading more and watching them go about their everyday life.
I did enjoy this book although the predictable storyline isn’t anything new and the ending like so many others in this genre. It's a kind of Girl meets boy again, Boy can’t resist girl — hurl a few obstacles in there and a wife with the two protagonists finding it hard to resist each other after years apart, and hey presto there’s the plot. The book is hard to review without giving too much away but suffice to say the ‘twist’ happens when it is revealed that things are not necessarily what they seem and you don't have to be a rocket scientist to guess it well before it happens.
This is the type of book you whizz through and laugh out loud at.
I would recommend this book particularly if you are a fast reader and if you enjoy light reading and a bit of va-va-voom with your Horlicks at night or with your pina colada by the poo!.

Thanks, NetGalley and Harlequin Uk for the chance to read this book.to attend her
Fate is a funny thing, just when you thought the past was behind you Stella decides (against her better judgment) to attend her school reunion.
This could be a big mistake as in doing so she is reunited with the once love of her life George. They have not seen each other for 15 years and George is now married.
Stella and George embark on an affair.
I do like how this book dedicates a chapter to each character. Over all I did enjoy this book and can honestly say I did not see the twist coming.

We've all got that one Ex we still think about. C'mon. We all do it. Wondering "what if..?" and curious about where they are now and if they still think of you too...maybe minor-stalking their Instagram and dissecting their taste in interiors and holiday destinations.....(just me?)

Stella and George haven't seen each other in fifteen years, when a school reunion invitation pops up and brings them back together. Both have successful careers and George has since married. The spark between them however hasn't dimmed over the years; they just can't resist each other and embark on an illicit affair.

Secrets, lies, deceit and manipulation are all explored within this book and although it's pretty clear what is actually going on, knowing doesn't detract from the intrigue and in fact only makes you want to see how it all plays out. Very much in the vein of Gone Girl, you'll love this if you enjoy a modern domestic drama with some good old fashioned power play and revenge.

A cautionary tale which reminds us that if someone is in our past, they're usually behind us for a good reason. Four cwtches. Get your copy here. (Link)

Utterly compelling and just a little unsettling.... I'd worked out what was going to happen well before it actually did, but this didn't detract from the story. Alternate perspectives from both Stella and George build tension and create atmosphere.

A rattling good read from an author you can rely on!

4* from me.

This was a great read and I raced through it in a damp rainy afternoon ! All the major carachters were flawed , some more than others . Stella and George were childhood best friends and young lovers , though it didn't work out when George met Ness and moved on . They meet again at a school reunion and don't ignore the spark that is still there after 15 years , the story is told from both perspectives and had me hooked , it was twisted and dark but very entertaining , I will certainly look out for the other books by Annabel , thank you for the opportunity to read this

This is a strange book, character-wise I mean. I kept changing my minds about the three main characters throughout the book, screaming at them one minute, sympathising with them the next! In some respects, it was the ideal book for me. Character driven to say the least! As secrets and lies were uncovered, as layers pulled off, leaving certain things exposed, I drank in every word I was reading.
Stella and George were schools sweethearts. Then something happened to force them apart. Stella receives an invite to a school reunion and, against her better judgement, clicks "yes". As they meet again some fifteen years after their last meeting, the spark is still there. Trouble is, George is now married. The flame is rekindled and they pick up where they leave off, and thus begins the start of a very slippery slope. Who is chasing whom? What grudges are still there? Will love conquer all or will it all implode around them? Who is writing the script they are all playing out?
As already mentioned, this book was very much driven by the characters. They were well drawn initially and then rubbed out and redrawn several times during the book as certain scenes played out. What first appeared to be happening swiftly got all turned onto its head as secrets came out. I lost count of the number of times I gasped throughout the story; as I saw things for what they were rather than for how they appeared. As the darkness descended on all involved. It definitely tugged at my emotions as I got swept up in the intrigue.
The atmosphere was tense throughout, quite dark in places and at times, rather claustrophobic. This also ramped up the tension nicely throughout.
On the face of it, it's an easy read but there are hidden depths to it too. It was definitely a book I didn't want to put down as I did get very invested in the characters and really needed to find out what happened. And when I did, as I turned the final pages, shock after shock was deftly delivered, leaving me reeling at the end.
This is the first book I have read by this author but on the face of what I read, I am definitely interested in checking out her other books.

My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

This is the first book by this author I have read. It was a dark and at times disturbing story. At first it seemed like a typical love story but soon took a turn into a very different direction. It has been well written and I thought giving the points of view of both characters was a very good way of capturing both sides f the story. The ending was in my eyes a bit of a let down however it does leave you wanting more!! !!!

An unmissable read, with twists and turns throughout. It took me away from my 'comfort zone' of chick lit and historical novels and into the world of psychological thrillers. Starting off almost like a standard piece of women's fiction, it suddenly changes gear and grips you as the story unwinds. It wasn't at all what I was expecting, but it actually turned out much better. Loved it!

The one that got away centres around a couple reuniting at a school reunion after 15 years apart, the book explores the aftermath of this from both peoples perspective. This was such a well written book with such a good storyline which kept me hooked throughout...without giving anything away, I was never quite sure the direction it would take but each one it did was excellent!!!! Loved every part of the book would definitely recommend if you want books that are emotion led and keep you guessing what's going to happen.....

A Facebook-organised school reunion after fifteen years is hardly top of Stella's to-do list but she is intrigued as her ex, the renowned businessman George Wolsey will be there. Ever since they split up at the age of eighteen, in rather acrimonious circumstances, they have not been in contact, but that night changes everything. Embarking on an affair built on a web of lies, it soon becomes apparent that once someone gets you back, they may never let you go...

On paper, this is not the sort of book I would usually read, but after being enthralled by Annabel Kantaria's last book, The Disappearance, I had to give this one a go. I am so glad I did even though I am now suffering from lack of sleep through not being able to put it down!

At the start of the book, my heart went out to Stella, a woman who, despite her highly successful catering company, has always been missing something from her life. George, on the other hand, came across as a bit of a playboy, a 'jack the lad' who is used to getting everything his own way. When they met at the reunion, I cringed as he tried it on with Stella despite his wife, Ness, being in the same room. Ness appeared to be the sort of woman content with turning a blind eye to her husband's misdemeanours as long as she was able to wear the finest clothes and receive the latest cosmetic procedure.


What happened next completely shifted my opinion of all three characters as Annabel Kantaria gives a masterclass on how we can't always know what goes on behind closed doors. Appearances can certainly be deceiving and this is definitely the case in The One That Got Away as George descends into a spiral of despair and Stella's manipulations come to the fore. By the end of the book, my opinions of the characters had changed so much that I was willing George to return to the philandering ways we experience at the start.


My only concern was the ending. Don't get me wrong - it was a very unexpected and worthy finale, but I really wanted a different form of closure for George. That is just my personal opinion though!

(Review will be posted on gobuythebook.wordpress.com and Goodreads nearer to the publication date).

I was given an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest and independent review.
Stella and George, childhood friends then romantically involved as young adults meet up again (against her better judgment) after 15 years following a school reunion. Their relationship is up and down but I don't want to give any spoilers away.
The characters are complex but very well written. I started off disliking George but ended up feeling sorry for him. Sometimes everything is not what it seems!
I couldn't put this book down as I had to keep reading to see where it was going. A twisted story which kept me hooked, even though I guessed what was happening about halfway through. Slightly disappointing climax, felt it was all a bit rushed.
3.5***

My second book by Annabel Kantaria and I will read more if given the chance. These are books to be read quickly to find out what happens next, although this book is more of a psychological thriller than the previous one (which was the 'family secret' type). The only problem was that the ARC I was given had manywordsstucktogether and it was difficult to read at times.

I enjoyed this book which is hard to review without giving too much away. It starts with a school reunion, Stella, a successful company's owner and chef, meets George again, they had a love affair in their teens which ended badly. George has become rich and successful and is married to Ness. But he can't resist Stella. And Stella does not seem to be able to resist George. But things are not what they seem.

I have read quite a few books of strange couples who play dangerous power games and one of them shows psychopatic traits to some extent. This fits well in that genre, although it will surprise you at least once. And I am not going to spoilt it here.