I think the popular romance books might have me in their clutches. First, I went through the Ali Hazelwood books, then I finally started the Windy City series, and now Lucy Score’s Things We Never Got Over has left me with a romance book hangover. I don’t even mind! It is certainly worthy of its high praise and popularity, and you know as soon as i read it I was going to want to binge read the rest of the series.

Bearded, bad-boy barber Knox prefers to live his life the way he takes his coffee: Alone. Unless you count his basset hound, Waylon. Knox doesn’t tolerate drama, even when it comes in the form of a stranded runaway bride. Naomi wasn’t just running away from her wedding. She was riding to the rescue of her estranged twin to Knockemout, Virginia, a rough-around-the-edges town where disputes are settled the old-fashioned way…with fists and beer. Usually in that order. Too bad for Naomi her evil twin hasn’t changed at all. After helping herself to Naomi’s car and cash, Tina leaves her with something unexpected. The niece Naomi didn’t know she had. Now she’s stuck in town with no car, no job, no plan, and no home with an 11-year-old going on thirty to take care of. There’s a reason Knox doesn’t do complications or high-maintenance women, especially not the romantic ones. But since Naomi’s life imploded right in front of him, the least he can do is help her out of her jam. And just as soon as she stops getting into new trouble he can leave her alone and get back to his peaceful, solitary life. At least, that’s the plan until the trouble turns to real danger.

It’s a small-town romance that puts the small in small town. Everyone knows everyone and there are no secrets – especially not when the new girl and one of the town’s gruff bachelors start testing the waters. I think this story has solidified my enjoyment for small-town romances. There’s something really nice about not seeing the big city with the rat race lifestyle choking up the plot line. I like the slow, simple living element to these stories. I like the fact there is an escapism aspect, both in circumstances and its location, as it makes it feel immersive for me as a reader. While I don’t read for escapism, I can appreciate it when it comes around. The small-town setting is also fantastic for concepts like “there are no secrets”, “there is no hiding” and “the truth will come out” which I can see unfolding later in the series.

Naomi is a fantastic character – she’s flawed and vulnerable until she learns how to put herself first, put her feelings first, and do what she wants to do. She has people pleasing tendencies (don’t we all) and she will do whatever she can to protect those around her, but she is also not afraid to put her foot down and get her way. Kill them with kindness is definitely her motto. Put her put against Know and there is more than 500 pages worth of content possible. I am genuinely excited to see their relationship continue to blossom in the next few books. And let’s not forget about Waylay, an absolute gem, and the core of the story. She is so sweet and smart and she made me feel all sorts of emotions.

Things We Never Got Over is iconic, it is everything you want in a story, and it is one of the hard-hitters in adult romance at the moment. It is a staple first book in the series, one that frames the series so brilliantly and getting establishes a lot of future interactions, conflicts, and opportunities, and I cannot wait to continue with Things We Hide From The Light.