Some flames refuse to go out…When Ellie awakes with an epic hangover the day after she caught her boyfriend cheating, it isn’t the pounding in her head causing her to scream. It’s the discovery of the late-night message she sent to the boy she loved ten years ago. The one she hasn’t seen since their week-long whirlwind summer romance in Door County. The boy she gave her heart to and forgot to … week-long whirlwind summer romance in Door County. The boy she gave her heart to and forgot to take it back.
You know… “The Big One”.
After they reconnect online, the years apart haven’t diminished their chemistry one bit. Desperate to find out if he’s really her one true love, she lets her meddling wingmen convince her to do the craziest thing she’s ever done in her well-planned life—she hops on a plane to surprise him in Italy.
When Ellie waltzes back into his life and the sparks still fly between them, Liam is determined not to let her slip away again. He’s spent ten years trying to forget her, and now he’ll do anything to convince her to stay.
As Ellie and Liam reconnect and try to bridge the ocean between them, they soon find more than just distance can tear them apart.
Get swept away on an adventure filled with passion, romance, and laughter. This second chance romance is a standalone novel with no cliffhanger.
★★★★★ “If you’re looking for a romantic comedy that gives you all the feels, makes you laugh out loud, believe in love, and smile from ear to ear, this is the book for you. Five romantic stars!” -Goodreads Review
★★★★★ “Between the aweing and laughter from cover to cover, The Big One is the perfect summer read.” -Goodreads Review
★★★★★ “If you are looking for a well-told, romantic comedy just in time for those warmer months, then look no further than Katherine Hastings THE BIG ONE.” -Goodreads Review
★★★★★ “From a romance that will have you swooning, hilarious sidekicks, and a story that jets you off to Italy and really makes you feel like you’re there, this book had everything I needed to get swept away.” -Goodreads Review
★★★★★ “Loved this book and would highly recommend!” -Goodreads Review
★★★★★ “This sweet second chance romantic comedy is everything.” – Goodreads Reviewmore
What if we had a second chance with the one that got away? Would we take it? Would it be worth it?
Katherine Hastings gives that opportunity to Ellie and Liam in her rom-com novel The Big One.
We meet Ellie when she’s out with her best friend and sister, dancing and drinking away the pain of a cheating ex-boyfriend. After several rounds of shots, they take turns remembering the ones that got away. And there’s only one name that comes to mind for Ellie – Liam Jansen.
They’d met ten years previously and were inseparable for one magical, romantic week. But their relationship came to an end when she left for college and he returned to Amsterdam to resume his career as a professional soccer player.
She’d never forgotten Liam, and with the push of Louie and Nita, an over-intoxicated Ellie finds him online and sends him an instant message. With a decade of time – and an ocean – separating them, Ellie’s expectation of a response is low. She becomes a giddy teenager in love all over again when he answers. Hastings gives Ellie and Liam exceptional memories of and desires for one another. They are truly a match made in heaven.
Shortly after reconnecting, Ellie finds herself on a plane to Italy to surprise Liam. I had butterflies as soon as they come face to face again, and I’m not sure they ever left my stomach! Liam is sweet, sexy, and funny, and he spoils Ellie any chance he gets.
Hastings takes us on a grand adventure around Italy and we find out if Ellie’s booze-induced, half coherent message to Liam will be the best decision or biggest mistake of her life.
The complete cast of characters in this book, with the exception of the cheating ex, is incredibly lovable. Louie and Nita are the kind of friends everyone deserves. Between the awing and laughter from cover to cover, The Big One is the perfect summer read.
I received a free ARC copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The great character and storyline development kept me totally engaged throughout the entire book! This was the first book that I have read from this author and it definitely will not be the last!
Awww if you love a sweet romantic comedy that is all about second chances then this is the story for you. Katherine Hastings writes with passion and humour making her characters, Liam and Ellie both believable and such that you love them and want them to get their HEA. I really enjoyed this story and look forward to more by Katherine.I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. Most definitely recommended
This will top your second chances list. After ten years Ellie finds Liam. Everything is lust into love again. I started wondering too….this is too happy something is missing. Bam! There it is. What’s the fun without conflict right? The locations sounded beautiful. Always a HEA though-not to worry 🙂
I totally enjoyed this book !!! This was a perfect introduction to summer books and my first for Katherine Hastings. The characters and the storyline totally kept me wanting to read more. This book is full of funny things that will keep you laughing.
What is you had a second chance for romance someone from your past? Would you do it? Read this book to find out what Ellie does?
I received a free ARC copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This was such a good story loved everything about this book it had me in tears of laughter from the first to last page . The big one would be the first one that I have read by Katherine Hastings and there would be more in my kindle as soon as possible . This is a unique second chance romance that had me falling for the characters loved the way the characters are introduced . It had me die laughing with the way the characters meet again and just the journey those two go through . Nita and Louie need a book those two secondary characters just made the book even more funny . Can’t wait to read more by the author .
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book
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hero=10 heroine=10 secondary characters=10
Chemistry=10 steam=7 romance=9
humor=10 darkness level=1 action=1 mystery=3
enjoyment=10 angst=2 story line=10 Story ending=10
character development=10 pacing=10
cover=10 Blurb =10 Stars =5
Is this part of a series =yes
Can it be read as a standalone =yes
would I recommend this book=yes
would I re read this book= yes
would I read future books by this author=yes
Getting over a cheating boyfriend requires a heavy night of drinking. Too bad Ellie wakes up with more than a headache the next day. She also discovers that in her drunken state, she’s sent a random text to the the one who got away ten years ago . . . a summer romance she’s never been able to forget!
After reconnecting online Ellie discovers they still have amazing chemistry all these years later. After another night of too many dirty martinis, Ellie lets her sister, Nita and best friend Louie talk her into booking a last minute flight to Italy to surprise “The Big One” to see if they still have something or to finally close that chapter of her love life forever.
Worrying that her impulsive trip across the Atlantic may be her worst mistake ever, Ellie quickly realizes that the boy she fell in love with is now a gorgeous man. And, he couldn’t be happier than to see her standing in his hometown of Naples, much to the delight of the audience of cafe patrons who witness their romantic reunion that literally stopped traffic!
Can Ellie and Liam make the most of their second chance at love or will the one secret Liam holds be what tears this couple apart forever?
The Big One was the perfect summer romance! It’s a really sweet story about reconnecting and having a second chance at the love that got away. Liam is crazy romantic, and I loved his grand gestures while showing Ellie all of the reasons she should stay in Italy with him. I really liked that Ellie, who is usually the voice of reason took such a gigantic leap of faith by making the unexpected trip of a lifetime. The author also does an incredible job of describing the gorgeous city of Naples and the surrounding areas so that readers feel like they are experiencing everything right along with Ellie!
Nita and Louie added the perfect amount of comedy. Honestly, every girl going through a breakup needs a best friend wingman like Louis and a super supportive sister like Nita! They are utterly hilarious . . . especially when a bit of jaeger is involved and always have Ellie’s back.
The Big One was funny, sweet, romantic and sexy as can be! 4 stars.
I really loved this book. The story line, the characters, even the angst. Ellie and Liam really kept my attention. But the humor between Ellie and her family (friends) is what drew me in and made me love this story so hard.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is a new author to me, and I will certainly be looking out for her work in the future. During a drunken evening Ellie sends a message to the one who got away two years previously, Liam. The setting for this story is in romantic Italy. This is a well written story which is sweet, steamy, humorous, and with hot chemistry and witty banter throughout. I was intrigued from the very beginning, and look forward to reading more from this talented author, whose work I recommend.
What a fun, cute, sweet and at times sexy second chance read from Katherine Hastings. This is my first book by this author and i thoroughly enjoyed this story. Not only do we get this wonderful second chance love story between Liam and Ellie but we also have the romantic comedy aspect from Ellie and her friends and Ellie and Liam. All of the characters just made this read so fun from beginning to end. Yes there is love and heartache but all in the best of ways. And we get to have a small in depth tour of Italy during this story. So fun to be taken on a trip while reading about Ellie and Liam. I am now ready to book my ticket to go visit!
A very enjoyable easy read.
The characters were very likeable and easy to read about. The storyline kept me interested. An overall enjoyable read and not a lighthearted (mostly) book.
What a great storyline and book from Katherine! This is my first book from her but it likely won’t be my last! Ellie has just gone through yet another breakup, and while she’s trying to forget about it, she is reminded to the one the got away ten years ago – Liam. When they reconnect online and the chemistry is still there, Ellie decides to go out on a whim and travel to Italy to see if the spark is real. After a whirlwind reconnection, with some great witty moments from Ellie’s friend Louie, she finally thinks her luck is turning around and contemplates uprooting her whole life for love. But when Ellie finds out some big things that happens during their ten years apart, it changes everything and she runs back home, and we wonder if they will end up back together for good. I was rooting for Ellie and totally related to her way of thinking and it made the book that much better. Loved this book and would highly recommend! I just wish we got an epilogue to find out what happened afterwards!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
Let me just say that if you are into Romantic Comedies that will have you laughing so hard you almost pee yourself, then this is 100% the book for you. I can’t tell you how many times I was in a public place and just started cackling because one of Ellie’s friends made a movie reference or Liam commented on his “big hard man boobs.” Katherine’s writing is so jam-packed full of humor that, in my opinion, makes it completely different and better than most romantic comedies. She will have you completely swooning over the love story of her characters one minute and then have you laughing your butt off in the middle of the public library the next.
This love story is so sweet and romantic. I have never been more envious of a couple than I am of Ellie and Liam. Their story is something that I think most women have all dreamt about at least once in their life. They met when they were young and had a week-long summer fling that they both never quite got over. Ten years later, Ellie gets cheated on by her loser boyfriend Allen and she resorts to drinking her feelings away with her favorite guy Jack. On a whim, she decides to book a flight to Italy with the intention of meeting up with Liam. When they reconnect the sparks between the two instantly come back and leave them wanting more than just another fling. But with Liam living in Italy and Ellie in the US, it’s not that easy for them to be together. And just when they begin to start figuring things out, Ellie finds out something about Liam that makes her wonder if he’s actually The Big One.
From their whirlwind summer romance to their spontaneous second chance getaway, Ellie and Liam are completely smitten with each other and determined to find a way to stay together. Their love is something that you only get once and so many people (including myself) hope and pray they get to experience in their lifetime. This book is going to take you to so many places and on so many journeys making you feel like you’re right there along for the ride. One laughter-filled, heartwarming, and completely beautiful ride.
This was my first story by Katherine Hastings and I can honestly say that I have truly enjoyed every single second of her book. The high parts are full of laughter and love and the low parts are full of Jack, Jagermeister, and jokes between friends. I couldn’t help but fall in love with the idea of finding a hot foreign guy to whisk me off my feet, make love to me on a sailboat, and join my zombie relief squad. This book will inspire you to let go, be crazy, and put yourself out there in hopes of finding The Big One.
She had caught her boyfriend cheating and she allows her friends to push her to find the only one she had ever truly loved. He had spent years trying to forget her and now she is in front of him again. Will the sparks fly again? Can you go back to a former love? Can it work? Follow them to see
This was a cute and funny second chance romance. Ten years ago two 18 year olds met had a wonderful week and fell in love, but they went their separate ways. After a bad breakup and a drunken night Ellie connects with Liam. She lives in Chicago and he lives in Italy. Another drunken night and she is in a plane to see him in person. The chemistry is still there between them and we go on a journey as these two get reacquainted. I loved the storyline and the characters. The only issue I had and this is just how I feel, I found Ellie to be a little annoying towards the end. But then redeemed herself.
I can’t wait to read more from this series.