Cobble Hill

Brooklynite’s debut novel leaves critics wanting more

Brooklyn BookBeat

March 12, 2015 Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Author and Brooklynite Bethany Chase’s debut book “The One That Got Away” will be on sale March 31. Photo by A. Pachence
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With this crackling debut of “The One That Got Away” (Random House), author Bethany Chase has grabbed the attention of some of fiction’s most beloved novelists, including Emily Giffin, Patti Callahan Henry and Marisa de los Santos.

At the core of this book is a refreshingly real, relatable woman.

Character Sarina Mahler thinks she has her life all nailed down. She has a growing architecture practice in Austin, Texas, and an impending proposal from Noah, her boyfriend. She’s well on her way to having the family she’s hoped for since her mother’s death 10 years ago.

But with Noah on a temporary assignment abroad and retired Olympic swimmer — and former flame — Eamon Roy back in town asking her to renovate his new fixer-upper, Sarina’s life takes an unexpected turn. 

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Eamon proves to be Sarina’s dream client, someone who instinctively trusts every one of her choices — and Sarina is reminded of all the reasons she was first drawn to him back in the day. Suddenly her carefully planned future with Noah seems a little less than perfect.

And when tragedy strikes, Sarina is left reeling. With her world completely upended, she is forced to question what she truly wants in life — and in love.

The One That Got Away” is the story of one woman’s discovery that sometimes life is what happens when you leave the blueprints behind. And critics have voiced praise on Chase and her debut.

“A warm, witty, and wise novel, The One That Got Away announces the arrival of a great new voice in fiction,” said Emily Giffin, No. 1 New York Times bestselling author of “The One and Only.”

“Bethany Chase is utterly charming and writes about loss with wisdom and heart,” said Allie Larkin, author of “Why Can’t I Be You.”

The book is on sale starting March 31, and Chase will present a reading at BookCourt on April 9 at 7 p.m in Cobble Hill.


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