Things We Never Got Over

I went into this audiobook expecting a cozy small-town romance with a side of drama, and what I got was a full-blown emotional rodeo—complete with fistfights, found family bonding over beer and barbecue, and a heroine who might be the most stubborn woman in literature. Naomi Hopson is a force of nature: a woman who flees her wedding only to stumble into an even messier life with Knox Morgan, a man who’s spent years building walls around his heart. Their dynamic is electric, fuelled by Knox’s toxic masculinity meets Naomi’s refusal to back down, and the result is a push-and-pull that never feels cloyingly romanticized. The small-town setting isn’t just window dressing; it’s a pressure cooker where secrets fester and gossip spreads like wildfire, forcing both leads to confront their pasts. The narration elevates every moment. Lila Winters nails Naomi’s journey from shattered bride to someone clawing her way back to herself, her voice laced with exhaustion one minute and fiery defiance the next. Sebastian York’s Knox is a revelation—his delivery is so dry and measured that his rare moments of softness hit like a gut punch. The chemistry between them is undeniable, especially in scenes where they’re screaming at each other (and, later, when they’re not). My only critique? Some side characters, like the town’s nosy busybodies, blend together a bit, their voices too similar in tone to distinguish easily. And while the humor is a highlight, the pacing stumbles in the middle act, where the conflict drags slightly before the explosive finale. But these are minor quibbles in what’s ultimately a satisfying, addictive listen. If you love your romances with bite, heart, and a side of mayhem, this is your next obsession.