It is crazy to think I hadn’t even started Lucy Score’s Knockemout romance trilogy three months ago, and here I am using the books as metrics for how good a romance novel is. My review for Things We Never Got Over was posted around two months ago, and I have not been able to look at a romance book the same way. Reading the Knockemout books and The Windy City Series at the same time is like getting sucker-punched at every turn, so I might be a little dazed throughout this series review, but let’s get into it.

Things We Never Got Over follows Naomi, a woman running from her own life at the brink of a massive change, who arrives into town after her twin sister asks for help. Should she have known it was a trap? Maybe. Did she get fooled anyway? Yeah. Was she expecting a niece out of it? Absolutely not. After the immediate conflicts regarding her twin sister’s actions getting in the way between Naomi and a much deserved cup of coffee, Naomi finds herself at the mercy of the gruff, handsome barber and town hero, Knox, and his floppy basset hound, Waylon. Alongside Waylay, her smart yet closed-off niece, Naomi settles into Knockemout on a temporary basis to get some normalcy back in their lives, but trouble is always near with her sister lurking about.

Things We Never Got Over starts the series off so well, and it stands as one of the best romance novels I have read. The size might be intimidating for some, but once you get to know the characters, setting, internal and external conflicts, and the town dynamics, reading the novel is a breeze. The novel is indirectly split into sections where the layers and immediate relationship conflicts and plot are spaced out. These books are definitely not slow-burns as there is a lot of stages to go through and many spicy scenes. But they do contain several overarching themes, ideas, and concerns that span the whole novel. Things We Never Got Over has fantastic character development, and the romance plot developments feel well paced, meaningful, and effective for the storytelling. Things We Never Got Over gets an easy 4.5/5 from me.

Things We Hide From The Light follows Lina and and Nash, characters who have secrets and darkness in their past. The events of Things We Never Got Over haunt Nash, and there is a part of him that will forever be changed because of it. Lina, the confident and sultry returning guest of Knockemout and new friend of Naomi’s, is here for a reason, but she can’t tell anyone what that is. Not only could it put her job on the line, but it could tear apart the friendships and and tentative relationship she has created. Worst of all, it would hurt Nash the most, and he’s already been through so much.

I really like how Things We Hide From The Light navigates trauma in a romance setting. Especially given the circumstances, Things We Hide From The Light shows a different side to Knockemout, a darker side, and highlights the inner turmoil the characters are going through. While all may seem right on the surface though, there is a struggle happening behind closed doors, and Nash and Lina find themselves being drawn to each other in their shared experiences. Things We Hide From The Light contains spicy scenes, as is to be expected from this series at this point, but they aren’t ill-fitting for the situation the characters are in. The internal conflicts between Nash and Lina makefor great tension points and the overarching story plot is enriched with drama as a result. There is also great character development overall, and Things We Hide From The Light earns a 4.5/5 as a result.

Things We Left Behind follows Sloane, Knockemout’s shortand fiesty librarian who has taken Naomi under her wing, and Lucian, long-time mysterious moody money man of Knockemout. Throughout the series, we have been seeing a lot of animosity and tension between these characters, and finally we see it bubble over amid the rush to the finish line, the final revelations coming to light, and the last conflicts unfolding on page that threaten not only Sloane and Lucian, but Knockemout as a whole. Will Sloane and Lucian be able to put aside their differences to work together, or will the jaggard pieces of their past prove too tender to let go.

Things We Left Behind requries a lot as a final ovel, not only in terms of the immediate relationship between Sloane and Lucian, but the whole series wrapping up in this novel. That means the tension has to be high, the action and stakes building, putting everyone and everything at risk, and the interactions between Sloane and Lucian need to be punchy. The spicy scenes are certainly there, and the intimate scenes between them show great character development and internal conflict being addressed. I don’t mind these two, their strong enermies-to-lovers arc, and the point they end at. I do have some grievances with a few stages of that journey, which you can read in the individual review ,but overall Things We Left Behind is a great novel. I give it a 4.5/5. It is a lower 4.5/5 than the others, but a 4.5/5 nevertheless.

Overall, Knockemout earned a 4.5/5 rating which is pretty shocking coming from me considering I never thought I was much of a romance reader. I think Knockemout has converted me, and with the increase in romance novels coming out of my library requests, I think it is safe to say it is a perminent change. If you haven’t read the Knockemout romance series yet, I highly encourage you to do so. The stories are full of significant relationship developments, incredible characters, a beautiful setting, and exciting drama.