I’m in two minds about this book. On the one hand I enjoyed the story and that alternating chapters were past and present so you could understand what happened. On the other hand I can’t decide if I enjoyed the ending. It was expected to a certain extent, and I did reach for the tissues but I can’t decide if I enjoyed the ending or not. Thank you for accepting my request.

Unfortunately this book was not for me, it was a bit slower than I would like and it just didn't hold my attention. I am sure other people will love it!

Unfortunately, I was unable to read this book due to a formatting issue.

My review is based on the blurb.

Quite possibly the most emotional lead up to a wedding day ever. Lizzie is facing the most difficult decision of her life, who really is The One? Cried my eyes out.

I am no longer interested in reading this book as I currently read more fantasy then i do romance or chick lit.

Initially I thought this book seemed fairly formulaic and although I was enjoying it, there wasn’t anything earth shattering. However the last 15% of the book turned it into something that I wasn’t expecting and which made it stand out a bit

Not your usual chic lit book, this one will have you reaching for the tissues. A good read especially how the story flicks back from past to present giving you an insight into the characters.

This was such a beautifully written, romantic and heartwarming novel, I was so pleased that I requested it. When I read that it was 'the most emotional read of 2018', I got cold feet a little bit because I'm just not a fan of reading novels that make me cry! However, having said that it was a beautiful read and one that I'm glad I requested.

Lizzie is about to get married to Josh, who she thought was 'The One', however ex Alex comes back on the scene and throws a spanner in the works and now has Lizzie questioning everything. It's clear that Lizzie still has feelings for him, but will she play on them? Or will she continue to marry Josh?

One thing I enjoyed about this novel was that we kept going back to the past where Lizzie and Alex was dating, then in the next chapter we'd go back to the present and see what's happening now and we can somewhat relate to how she is feeling and why she's feeling so conflicted and confused.

This novel is just so heartwarming and such a romantic story. It's quite lighthearted in places but then there are some deeper parts too that will have you hooked. A great story about love.

Really enjoyed this book. Lizzie is a likeable character and comes across so well. The ending was a little predictable but really well written. There were tears and my heart really went out to Alex all through the book.

A romantic story about following your heart. This book told the story of the two relationships, Lizzie and Alex and Lizzie and Josh. Lizzie is weeks away from marrying Josh when her ex boyfriend comes back into her life. What will Lizzie decide? This is a well written romance that might require a few tissues!

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

I received a digital ARC of this book from netgalley.

I was expecting this to be an everyday run of the mill romance novel with a happy ending. This novel is so much more than that! It is a romance but is also such an emotional read. It has a few twists in it that aren't expected and which add to the emotion of it.

Most people have "the one that got away" but what would you do if they came back into your life? And what if they told you a secret that changed everything and made you question everything about your life now? I really felt for Lizzie in this book as she was in a very difficult situation. I honestly don't know what I would have done in her shoes.

As a debut novel this is excellent and I would happily read any of her future books if this sets the standard.

'The One', is an emotionally intense story. From reading the blurb, I imagined a romantic comedy but there's more angst than humour, and this increases as Lizzie's wedding draws relentlessly closer.
In the beginning, Lizzie is happy finding the wedding dress of her dreams, but she cannot silence the echoes of her past life. The story counts down to her wedding day but chapters from her university life more than a decade ago are also explored, informing her current actions and state of mind.
Reading this story, Josh does not seem like the ideal partner for Lizzie, he has good qualities but doesn't seem willing to let Lizzie be her true self, so even before Alex comes back, she has doubts. As the story progresses you discover her break-up with Alex was not straightforward. Vividly written, the flawed characters compliment the realistic storyline perfectly. The believable ending is hopeful, if not happy and leaves you a little sad but satisfied.
I received a copy of this book from Harper Impulse via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Lizzie is weeks away from marrying Josh, but then her ex Alex turns up out of the blue.
She has to decide whether to go ahead with the wedding or not. I liked how the book flicked back to when she was with Alex and gave the background to the story.
An emotional read.

The One is a romantic and touching read that will have you reading whenever you can.
This was a lovely read with the most real characters I have red about, it was that good that I do feel they re very real!! The chapters alternate between now and before which worked really well as it allowed the story to develop at the right moment and also giving you chance to really get to know Lizzie and her fiancé, Josh in the now parts and also to get to know younger Lizzie and her boyfriend, Alex in the then chapters.
I was totally invested in this novel and as the story progressed I had absolutely no idea which way this was going to pan out and I have to admit I didn't think it was going to be as harsh as it was. The final chapters were well written tying everything up neatly and leaving you with a smile on your face but a tear in your eye.
I would like to thank Netgalley and HarperCollins for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.

Oh my what a story. The emotions, intensity of the events in the story hit you hard and unexpectedly. It was unputdownable, I had to keep reading to know the fate of the characters.

As intense as sometimes life truly gets and makes us feel a million different emotions just because of the One (person).

Very touching and not a lightweight chick lit book like I was expecting. Have read a couple of books lately and have been disappointed so this was a pleasant surprise. Well worth a read.

The One,  Maria Realf

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre: Romance

I should have known when I saw the Jojo Moyes comparison. There's a reason I haven't read Me before You, I read to relax, to enjoy. I love books which are full of angst, which move me to tears, where it looks like there's no solution....but at the end I want happy, I want the solution, I want all the angst to have been worth it, and most of all I Need a HEA. Or at the very least a HFN, that gives the possibility of ever-after. This book, like Me before You, doesn't give that.
Its am amazing emotional story, full of characters that feel real, flawlessly written and a gripping story. But the end though....when its that kind of ending I feel flat, cheated, bereft. Real life has too many endings like that for me to want to read them too. Sadly the subject hit very close to home too, and I don't chose to read books that end this way. My bad, I was thinking the blurb meant the Jojo Moyes writing style not the emotionally sad, gutting ending.

Its one of those times when I can see just how subjective writing is, this book is written erfectly, others adore it, can't stop praising it and yet me? That ending just killed all appreciation. There were parts I loved, but ending that way overtook all of that, and left me feeling wrenched emotionally without the positive buzz a HEA brings. For me thats not a good way to end my reading.

Stars: Three, I didn't like the ending, big time dislike, and yet some parts of the story were perfect so I've taken a middle stance, a decent read but not one I can personally rate higher.

ARC supplied for review purposes by Netgalley and Publishers