Is there anything messier than falling for your boyfriend's brother? (Okay, maybe my kitchen after taco night, but emotionally speaking? No.)
I picked up One That Got Away because I needed a break from Paw Patrol reruns and frankly, a brooding soccer star sounded like exactly the kind of escapism my Tuesday needed. I'm a sucker for second-chance romances, and Karina Halle usually delivers the kind of angst that makes me feel things other than "exhaustion." But let's be real—this one was a bit of a wild ride. And not just because of the plot.
The Messy, Angsty Forbidden Fruit
Here's the setup: Ruby is a sports journalist. Luciano is the hotshot captain of Real Madrid. The catch? He's her boyfriend's brother. (Yikes. Pass the popcorn.)
I love a good forbidden romance. It's the kind of drama I can enjoy because I don't have to clean it up. Though honestly, the dramatic tension in Mansfield Park makes this look like a playground squabble—forbidden love hits different when there are actual social consequences. The tension between Ruby and Luciano is palpable. Heavy. Seven years of pining and guilt, and Halle writes that gut-punch feeling really well. You know that feeling when you want something you absolutely shouldn't have? That's the whole vibe here.
But—and there's always a but—it is heavy. If you're looking for a light, fluffy rom-com to listen to while folding laundry, this isn't it. This is "sit in the car for an extra 10 minutes to process the angst" territory. The "dating the brother" trope is tricky, and honestly, sometimes it felt a little icky? But I powered through because, well, the chemistry was there.
The Voice in My Head (And Why It Sounded Like Dracula)
Okay, we need to talk about the narration. Because this is where things got... weird.
Samantha Cook does a great job as Ruby. She's clear, emotional, totally solid. I believed her. But Jeremy York as Luciano?
Look, I don't want to be mean. I really don't. But Luciano is supposed to be this sexy Portuguese soccer god. So why did he sound like he was about to sell me life insurance in Transylvania? The accent was... a choice. It leaned way more "Count Dracula" than "European Football Star."
I actually had to bump the speed up to 1.5x just to smooth out the edges. At 1.0x, it was distracting enough that I kept picturing him wearing a cape instead of a jersey. It pulled me out of the steamy moments, which is a tragedy because there are plenty of steamy moments. (Earbuds required, ladies. Do not play this on the school run.)
Who's This For (And Who Should Skip)
Grab this if you love high-stakes family drama and sports romance with real emotional weight. Skip it if you need your narrators accent-perfect, or if you're looking for something light—this one demands your full attention and maybe a glass of wine.
My Verdict Over Cold Coffee
If you can get past the accent—or if you're less picky about audio performance than I am—the story itself is gripping. Emotional, messy, and definitely not boring. Halle knows how to write yearning.
But for me? The narration hurdle was a bit high. I finished it (mostly during nap time, fingers crossed the baby stayed asleep), but I think I would've enjoyed this one way more if I'd actually read it on my Kindle instead of listening. Maybe sample the audio first to see if you can handle the vampire-soccer-player vibe. Just keeping it real.
