Things We Never Got Over

Knox Morgan leads a quiet life as a barber in the small town of Knockemout, Virginia, until Naomi Witt arrives looking for her twin sister. When her sister disappears with Naomi's car and cash, leaving behind an 11-year-old niece Naomi didn't know existed, she finds herself stranded in this close-knit community. Despite his determination to avoid complications, Knox becomes entangled in helping Naomi navigate her new role as guardian while she attempts to build a life in Knockemout. The two clash as Naomi's optimistic outlook contrasts with Knox's gruff exterior and tendency to keep others at a distance. Through family drama, small-town dynamics, and mounting tensions between Knox and Naomi, the story centers on themes of found family and second chances. Their reluctant alliance evolves as they face challenges together, forcing both characters to confront their fears about trust and vulnerability. The novel explores how past trauma shapes present choices, and examines the transformative power of community. Through its romance framework, the story investigates what it means to belong somewhere and to someone.

Readers praise the banter and chemistry between the main characters Knox and Naomi, with many highlighting the small-town setting and found family themes. The twin storyline and Knox's relationship with his niece receive frequent mentions as emotional hooks. Common positives: - Humor balanced with serious moments - Strong side characters, especially Waylay - Knox's grumpy-but-caring personality - Steamy scenes that advance the relationship Main criticisms: - Length (578 pages) with repetitive internal monologues - Naomi's initial characterization as "too naive" - Slow middle section - Some found the conflict resolution rushed Ratings: Goodreads: 4.3/5 (446,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (110,000+ ratings) BookBub: 4.6/5 (12,000+ ratings) Several readers note they finished it in one sitting despite the length. A common review theme: "The perfect grumpy/sunshine romance with depth." Some readers mention skimming middle chapters but still recommend the book overall.

It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey A Hollywood socialite moves to a small fishing town and clashes with a grumpy sea captain while finding her place in a close-knit community.

Hook, Line, and Sinker by Tessa Bailey A commitment-phobic music producer falls for her best friend's brother in a coastal town while working on a film project.

Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez A high-society doctor from the city becomes entangled with a small-town carpenter who shows her a different way of life.

The Simple Wild by K.A. Tucker A city girl returns to rural Alaska and rebuilds her relationship with her father while falling for a rugged bush pilot.

Fix Her Up by Tessa Bailey A former baseball player returns to his hometown and forms an unexpected connection with his best friend's sister who runs a party planning business.

🌟 Things We Never Got Over launched Lucy Score to #1 on the New York Times bestseller list, despite being initially self-published rather than traditionally published. 🌟 The book's setting, Knox, is a fictional small town in Virginia inspired by several real communities the author visited during her research. 🌟 The novel sparked a massive following on TikTok, with the hashtag #ThingsWeNeverGotOver generating millions of views and helping propel the book to viral success. 🌟 Author Lucy Score wrote the first draft of this book in just six weeks, though the editing process took several additional months. 🌟 The book's popularity led to a surge in demand for grumpy-sunshine romance novels, becoming one of the defining releases that helped popularize this romantic trope in contemporary fiction.