Twelve years after the tragedy that hit their highschool, the survivors called “the ones who got away” are asked to come back in their hometown to film a documentary about it.
Among the survivors is Olivia, who faced the danger in the eyes. She still suffers from PTSD and throughout the book we discover how much this event affected and shaped her life. While meeting her former classmates, she realizes that she has not lived to her fullest and broke the promise she made to herself.
One of her acquaintances is Finn, proclaimed hero of this event who was hurt while protecting his date. We also get to know, page after page, what happened to him and how much it influenced his adult life.
The thing is Olivia and Finn were seeing each other in secret in high school and the documentary is the first reunion they have had since the disaster. They are both learning about each other and matters left unspoken are brought up to life.
For those who want to know about the tragedy here it is written in white : SPOILER AHEAD !!!
Two classmates of Olivia and Finn showed up during prom and shot the people they deemed were happy, thus deserving to die. Finn and Olivia were talking in a closet when the shooting started. Olivia was in the closet,alone, when one of the killer found her, aimed at her and spared her at the last moment. Finn was shot in the shoulder while protecting his date Rebecca in a corridor, after leaving Olivia.
I really like this romance, everything was dealt with appropriately, the tragedy was not a ploy, almost everyone dealt with their issues in a sensible and adult manner. It was a pleasure to read a love story about two adults, who are acting as such and not spoiled children.
The drama at the end was unnecessary IMO, I wanted to smack Finn in the head.
I will probably check the next book in this series, I want to know what happens next for the new couple.
Sounds like an interesting topic to use for a romance novel. May have to branch out from my historical romances and give it a try!