Things We Never Got Over
Things We Never Got Over
A grumpy, guarded man and a sunny, optimistic woman clash and connect in unexpected ways in their quiet hometown. He's been burned before and doesn't believe in second chances, but she sees something in him worth fighting for. Their slow burn romance is witty, steamy, and deeply moving.
Everything You Need to Know About Things We Never Got Over
Naomi arrives in Knockemout, Virginia with a mission: rescue her twin sister who's stuck in what Naomi suspects is an abusive relationship. Instead, she crashes into Knox, the grumpy bar owner with a reputation for not taking shit from anyone. He's skeptical of her plans, she's frustrated by his stubborn resistance, and neither of them can stop running into each other. Their forced proximity in a small town where everyone knows everyone else's business turns their bickering into something neither expected. It's a slow burn that sneaks up on you.
Lucy Score's gift is making small-town dynamics feel lived-in and genuine. Knox is genuinely grumpy, not the performative kind, but the exhausted kind, and watching Naomi chip away at his walls is satisfying precisely because it takes time. The secondary characters in Knockemout are distinctive enough that they feel like real people, not just supporting props. The town itself becomes a character: tight-knit, gossipy, but fundamentally good.
The romance doesn't overshadow the real plot: Naomi's concern for her sister. That thread doesn't get sidelined for kisses, which gives the book actual weight. The ending feels earned rather than convenient.
Implied domestic abuse (sister's relationship, not graphic). Alcohol use (bar setting). Brief violence.
Naomi's sister's situation does get resolved, the resolution is less dramatic than expected but more realistic. Knox and Naomi do get together, but the book leaves room for their relationship to continue growing beyond the final page. The ending is bittersweet in places, which is unusual for the romance genre.
Perfect for readers who love grumpy/sunshine dynamics with genuine emotional stakes. If you enjoyed small-town romance that doesn't feel saccharine, or Lucy Score's other work, this is essential. Fans of forced proximity will love it. Not ideal if you prefer high-heat romance (this is moderate spice) or if you want pure escapism without real relationship messiness.
First book in the Knockemout series. Standalone romance, though characters carry into subsequent books. You can start here without any prior knowledge.
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