The One That Got Away

A Novel

By: Leigh Himes

Narrated by: Kristin Kalbli

In this irresistible debut novel, a freak accident allows a wife and mother to explore the alluring road not taken.

Meet Abbey Lahey . . .

Overworked mom. Underappreciated publicist. Frazzled wife of an out-of-work landscaper. A woman desperately in need of a vacation from life -- and who is about to get one, thanks to an unexpected tumble down a Nordstrom escalator.

Meet Abbey van Holt . . .

The woman whose life Abbey suddenly finds herself inhabiting when she wakes up. Married to handsome congressional candidate Alex van Holt. Living in a lavish penthouse. Wearing ball gowns and being feted by the creme of Philadelphia society. Luxuriating in the kind of fourteen-karat lifestyle she's only read about in the pages of Town & Country.

The woman Abbey might have been . . . if she had said yes to a date with Alex van Holt all those years ago.

In the tradition of the romantic comedy Sliding Doors and Lionel Shriver's The Post-Birthday World, Leigh Himes's irresistible debut novel tells the funny and touching story of an ordinary woman offered an extraordinary opportunity to reboot her life, explore the road not taken, and ultimately, find her true self -- whoever that may be.

Critic reviews

"An enchanting novel about the choices we make in life and love--by turns hilarious, poignant, and nostalgic. Himes's novel will make you revisit all the "what ifs" you've ever contemplated, from fleeting encounters to almost-weddings . . . a lively debut that will strike a chord in anyone with a romantic past."—Nicholas Sparks, author of The Notebook and See Me

"In the spirit of Lionel Shriver's The Post-Birthday World, Leigh Himes delivers a fascinating novel about the road not taken. I loved the concept and execution of this clever, thought-provoking love story."—Elin Hilderbrand, author of The Rumor

"[A] brilliantly realized wish-fulfillment scenario in the vein of Liane Moriarty . . . [Himes's] examination of how the choices we make can define who we become will resonate with readers. For anyone who ever wondered 'What if?'"—Booklist

"Himes explores what could have been in this charming debut novel."—Kirkus Reviews

"Himes takes an intriguing look at how a simple yes could change a person's entire life . . . the effort is a rewarding investigation of how all that glitters may not be gold."—Library Journal

"Himes's portrait of an outsider trying to fit into a narrow new role works well; Abbey is reminiscent of the snarky Jill Weber character on Bravo's Odd Mom Out."—Publishers Weekly

"Himes's well-constructed comic novel adds thought-provoking depth to a charming be-careful-what-you-wish-for story."—Shelf Awareness

"A fresh, creative love story."—Good Housekeeping

Not bad

It was interesting fluff and kept my attention, but was exactly what you expected--I was hoping for more originality in the story.

Puts life into perspective

Loved. It seems that so many of us suffer from "the-grass-is-always-greener" syndrome instead of appreciating what we already have. This book really put the reality of that into perspective. It left me feeling happy and grateful for the life I have, quieting the what-ifs and should-haves in my mind.

Great twist

Enjoyed the story, the plot twist, the author's imagination and the performance. Definitely worth a listen.

Loved It

I really enjoyed this book. The narrator was also excellent and achieved a natural bridge between the author and listener. I think this might be a determining factor in why I loved the book because I never could quite put my finger on why it struck me as so outstanding: however, I must also say I loved the ending, especially with the little surprise twist! Overall, I simply liked this book and didn't want to part company! I will be looking forward to hearing more from this author.

Chick lit fulfilled

This book is great for an easy listen if you are looking for quirky chick lit.
The story line was entertaining. My only complaint is that it drug on in places and could've been shorter.