We've been told our whole lives not to judge books by their cover and Things We Never Got Over is a perfect example of that. The baby blue cover with dainty daisies scattered made me believe it would be a fairly tame romance novel by today's standards.
But, boy, was I wrong. Things We Never Got Over gave me everything I could want in a romance and more. It gives romance, spice, danger, heartfelt family moments, and jokes that are legitimately funny rather than cringy. (Kindle | Paperback)
In the following article, I've answered the questions I had before and while reading Things We Never Got Over, as well as put together a list of books like it to read next. (Warning: This article contains spoilers)
What Is Things We Never Got Over About?
Things We Never Got Over is a contemporary romance novel that takes place in a small town in North Carolina. When Naomi arrives to answer the call of her troubled sister, finds out she has an 11-year-old niece whose been abandoned and is in need of a guardian. Having run away from her wedding and with no plans, she agrees to stay in town and care for her niece. But she's not doing it alone. Naomi finds an unlikely friend in her grumpy, tattooed neighbor, Knox, who despite his protests and annoying attitude, just can't seem to stay away from her. The question is, how long can they resist the powerful attraction that pulls them together at every turn?
Is Things We Never Got Over Appropriate?
Nope - not a chance. Not only are the sex scenes explicit, but there is mention of drugs, violence, and domestic abuse, which means it should be kept for mature audiences.
How Long Does It Take to Read Things We Never Got Over?
It would take the average reader approximately 8 hours and 8 minutes to read Things We Never Got Over, according to How Long to Read.
What Are the Spicy Chapters in Things We Never Got Over?
Ever since reading the Twisted series by Ana Huang, my bar for spicy chapters has been set high. Fortunately, Things We Never Got Over delivered! If you want to skip through to the spicy chapters, then skip to Chapters 23, 28, 35, 38, and the epilogue.
How Old Are Naomi and Knox? What Is the Age Difference?
In Things We Never Got Over, Naomi is 36 years old and Knox is 43 years old, which means there is a 7-year age gap between them.
Is There a Sequel to Things We Never Got Over?
Yes - there is a sequel to Things We Never Got Over; two actually. Though both books focus on a different couple other than Naomi and Nash. Here is the official order of the books in the Knockemout series and the couple each book focuses on:
Things We Never Got Over - Knox and Naomi
Things We Hide From the Light - Nash and Lina
Things We Left Behind - Lucian and Sloane
Does Things We Never Got Over Have a Happy Ending?
While Lucy Score does keep us guessing until the last minute, I'm happy to report that Things We Never Got Over has a happy ending. In the end, Knox saves Waylay and Naomi, after which he proposes and they all move into Liza J's big cottage. In the epilogue, we then find out that while they struggled with infertility issues, after five years they were able to adopt two sisters - a toddler and a newborn.
Is Knockemout a Real Place?
If you were hoping that Knockemout was a real place and that you'd get a chance with one of the suspiciously attractive men, you'll be disappointed to find out that it is not real. It's a fictional place made up by Lucy Score, but was no doubt inspired by existing small towns in North Carolina.
5 Books Like Things We Never Got Over by Lucy Score
When you finish a book as good as this one, it can be easy to fall into a bit of a reading slump. To help you keep that from happening, here are my top five recommendations for books like Things We Never Got Over to consider reading next.
1. Life's Too Short by Abby Jimenez
I've come across Abby Jimenez's contemporary romance, Life's Too Short, before but it wasn't until I was researching similar books to Things We Never Got Over that it dawned on me just how alike the two books are. If you read this description, I'll think you'll quickly see what I saw: "Vanessa Price quit her job and planned to travel the globe. That was until her half-sister gives Vanessa custody of her infant daughter. The last person Vanessa expects to show up offering help is the hot lawyer next door, Adrian Copeland. After all, she barely knows him. No one warned her that he was the Secret Baby Tamer. Now she's feeling things she's vowed not to feel. Because the only thing worse than falling for Adrian is finding a little hope for a future she may never see."
2. All Rhodes Lead Here by Mariana Zapata
Like Things We Never Got Over, Mariana Zapata's book, All Rhodes Lead Here takes place in a small town and features a hot, grumpy landlord as the male main character much like Knox. According to one Reddit commenter, the book "follows the story of Aurora who, after a terrible breakup, moves to a small town in the mountains. There she meets Tobias Rhodes, who is her landlord. The things I loved about the book were, A) the setting, B) how well Zapata builds up the secondary characters and their relationship to the FMC, and C) a hot MMC who is kind of a grumpy lumberjack, for those of you who are into the sunshine and grump this definitely fits the bill. And I STAN a silver fox."
3. To Hate Adam Connor by Ella Maise
Between Things We Never Got Over and To Hate Adam Connor, both books have the hate-at-first-sight, neighbors-to-lovers, slow burn, and single-parent tropes. Not to mention, it's equally, if not more spicy. Yet, despite all these similarities, when you read To Hate Adam Connor, you won't feel like you're just reading a repeat. If you haven't heard of it, here's a synopsis: Adam Connor is a recently divorced, Academy Award-winning actor who just moved in next door with his kid. Lucy Meyer can't help herself, she just has to get a peak of him. So, she pulls up a ladder and sneaks a peak into his yard. That's when she spots his son drowning and decides to hop the fence to save him. Adam doesn't take this well and has her arrested for trespassing. While he might be mad at her, his son wants to be friends with Lucy, and as the two grow closer, the hate they felt begins to turn into something else entirely.
4. Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover
Did you fall head over heels for Knox? Were you totally smitten by the way he took on the role of a father figure for Way and loved her? If you did, then you need to meet, Ledger Ward, the male main character in Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover who also just so happens to own a bar like Knox. Heads up, this book will make you cry but the ending will make all those tears feel worth it. Here's a brief description: "After serving five years in prison for a tragic mistake, Kenna Rowan is hoping to reunite with her four-year-old daughter. But the bridges Kenna burned are proving impossible to rebuild. The only person who hasn’t closed the door on her completely is Ledger Ward, a local bar owner and one of the few remaining links to Kenna’s daughter. But if anyone were to discover how Ledger is slowly becoming an important part of Kenna’s life, both would risk losing the trust of everyone important to them."
5. The Simple Wild by K.A. Tucker
Things We Never Got Over is highly rated and well-loved on GoodReads and Amazon but so is K.A. Tucker's small-town romance book, The Simple Wild. What I love about recommending this book is that not only is it like Things We Never Got Over in some ways, but it's also part of a multi-book series, so if you end up loving it, there's more just like it. Here's a brief description: "Calla lives a busy life in Toronto but when her father calls to tell her his days are numbered, she decides to brave the roaming wildlife, the odd daylight hours, and even the occasional outhouse for a chance to reconnect. When she arrives, she meets Jonah, a quiet, brooding, and proud Alaskan pilot. As time passes, they form a bond, which is dangerous given that is not in Alaska to stay and Jonah will never leave. It would be foolish to kindle a romance, and yet, it's not that simple."