📖 Overview
Nash Morgan returns to his position as police chief in Knox County after recovering from an injury, only to face both professional challenges and personal complications. His path crosses with Lina, a newcomer to Knockemout who carries secrets from her past while working as a tattoo artist.
The small-town Virginia setting provides a backdrop for a romance that develops amid family dynamics, workplace tensions, and unresolved mysteries. Nash and Lina must navigate their growing connection while dealing with their individual struggles and responsibilities within the tight-knit community.
The story continues the world established in Things We Left Behind, expanding on themes of healing, trust, and finding connection despite past traumas. At its core, this romance explores how vulnerability and honesty can lead to deeper relationships, even when hiding feels safer than opening up to love.
👀 Reviews
Readers rate this romance follow-up to Things We Never Got Over at 4.4/5 on Goodreads (108,000+ ratings) and 4.6/5 on Amazon (31,000+ ratings).
Readers praise:
- The slow-burn relationship development
- Authentic portrayal of small-town police dynamics
- Depth of secondary characters
- Mental health representation
- Balance of humor and emotional weight
Common criticisms:
- 500+ page length feels too long for some readers
- Less engaging than the first book
- Multiple reviewers note repetitive internal monologues
- Some find the pacing slow in the middle sections
Many readers specifically mention connecting with Nash's PTSD struggles and Knox's caring approach to his recovery. Several reviews note the authenticity of the police force dynamics, though some found the procedural elements slowed the story.
One frequent comment from negative reviews: "The first 30% and last 30% were great, but the middle dragged with too much introspection."
TikTok and Instagram reviews highlight the emotional impact and steamy scenes while acknowledging the slower pace.
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Thank You for Listening by Julia Whelan Two audiobook narrators find connection through online messages while dealing with family obligations and career pressures.
Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez A city doctor and small-town carpenter bridge their different worlds through a relationship that challenges family expectations and social status.
Hook, Line, and Sinker by Tessa Bailey A friends-to-lovers story unfolds between a film music producer and fishing boat captain in a coastal town.
Book Lovers by Emily Henry A literary agent and editor confront their past relationships and career choices while stuck together in a small town.
🤔 Interesting facts
🌟 "Things We Hide from the Light" is the second book in Lucy Score's Knockemout series, following the bestselling "Things We Never Got Over."
📚 The book reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list within its first week of release in February 2023.
💝 The romance novel features Nash Morgan, the police chief who appeared as a supporting character in the first book, and explores themes of PTSD, small-town dynamics, and healing from trauma.
🏆 Lucy Score is a self-published author who has written over twenty romance novels and consistently ranks among Amazon's top-earning independent authors.
🌳 The fictional town of Knockemout, Virginia, where the series is set, was inspired by small towns in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley region.