"The Ones Who Got Away"

A full book review of "The Ones Who Got Away" by Roni Loren.

The Ones Who Got Away is a new contemporary release about the re-connection of a former high school (secret) couple twelve years after they survived one of the deadliest school shootings in history. In a day and age when the occurrence of such tragedies is becoming more and more common, this story really tears at the heart.

*Please do not read past this point if you haven't read the book, as it contains spoilers*

"I, Olivia Arias, promise the Class of 2005 that I will not waste the second chance that I have been given, that I will honor all the people we lost by living my life to the fullest … I won’t play it safe. I won’t be practical. I’ll live a passionate life and date passionate guys and see the world so I can take pictures of it. I promise, Class of 2005, to live the life that scares me."

One of the ways in which Arias differentiated this story was by focusing not on the shooting itself, but on the aftermath. It deals with the pain, the fear, the regrets, and the guilt it still had on the survivors twelve years after the tragedy took place. The story opens strongly with the survivors returning to Long Acre for a difficult reunion - to participate in a documentary about the shooting and 'The Ones Who Got Away'. Olivia and Finn, who's unresolved relationship ended abruptly as a result of the tragedy, come face to face for the first time in over a decade, and as you can imagine from any contemporary novel, sparks fly. Although I loved the way Arias captured the initial angst and chemistry the two felt upon seeing each other again, I didn't particularly like the way she developed their relationship for the remainder of the story. Not only was it very rushed, but there also was not much story about them together as a couple, which left me questioning the supposed depth, connection and yearning between the two.

On the same note, I also feel Arias could have done a much better job with developing the secondary characters - i.e., Kincaid, Rebecca, and especially Taryn (who only appeared in two short scenes and wasn't given much importance in either). The trio could have added more to the story and made it more grounded, especially given the promise the group made to stay in touch and rekindle their friendship. Nonetheless, I am excited to see how their relationship will evolve and grow throughout the rest of the series.

What I liked most about the story was the way in which Olivia tackled her fears and stepped out of the safety net of her comfort zone. It takes a lot of courage to willingly leave the comfort of the known for the risk and fear of the unknown, even when you know you're making the right choice. Yet, Olivia, despite all that she had gone through in the past (or maybe because of it) was able to take the next step and make the change she needed to her life. For me, it really hit close to home, and really made me appreciate her as a character much more.

As a whole, the story was extremely heart-breaking but hopeful, showing us that we have the power to overcome even the hardest and scariest of circumstances. We all have the ability to reach for our dreams, we just have to be brave enough to take it.