The Ones Who Got Away by Roni Loren is a romance novel that deals with heavy topics such as gun violence, school shootings, anxiety and PTSD. Please check trigger warnings before reading. While it dealt with heavy topics it also had a message of live your life to the fullest and it inspires hope and healing after tragedy.

As a teacher and parent, this topic was very difficult for me, but Roni Loren dealt with it in a beautiful way. The characters are still affected by the tragic past and are healing in different ways. I liked the bond and friendship that was woven throughout the book.

Finn and Liv got a second chance 12 years after a deadly school shooting at their prom. Finn has held onto guilt about how he handled himself in the mist of the shooting. You feel how deeply he was affected. The emotions are evident beyond the page.

Liv is also trying to heal and feels stuck and wants to move past the trauma from her past. I loved how her healing manifested through her passion for art.

This is an emotional read and your heart gores out to all the characters and you want to root for them to thrive not just survive.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for allowing me to voluntarily read this book and give an honest review.