Someone I Used to Know

By: Paige Toon

Narrated by: Heather Long

In the spirit of Colleen Hoover, a heartbreaking, nostalgic story of three childhood friends, each caught in the crossfire of an all-consuming teenaged love triangle, and their homecoming years later as adults that will reveal everything.

Three best friends. One love triangle. The choice that will change their lives forever.

Then

At sixteen, George is the foster brother Leah never asked for. Beautiful and troubled, he struggles to come to terms with his circumstances even as Leah is drawn ever closer to him.

Theo’s wealthy family have mysteriously pulled him out of boarding school and he’s now enrolled with Leah and George. When their worlds collide that summer, George, Leah and Theo form a bond they believe will be unbreakable. But life doesn’t always go to plan...

Now

Shocking news brings Leah back home, baby daughter, Emilie, in tow. But Emilie’s father Theo isn’t with them, and George has unexpectedly returned. After half a lifetime, have Leah and George healed the scars of their pasts? Will coming home set their hearts in a new direction?

©2021 Paige Toon (P)2023 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“I loved it. A beautiful story about love and family and healing broken hearts. It swept me up and wouldn’t let me go—I had tears in my eyes by the end.” —Beth O’Leary, author of The Road Trip

“Utterly brilliant…I want to go back and read it all again. A book that highlights the strength of love and the importance of compassion and understanding.” —Giovanna Fletcher, author of Eve of Man

“A heartfelt, heart-breaking and heart-warming story of love, family and loss and the ties that bind us.” —Dani Atkins, author of Then and Always

Perfect blend of sweet and emotional

This is officially the first Paige Toon I’ve read that didn’t make me cry! And it was still great. Narration was excellent - I could listen to her forever. I didn’t feel the signature angst that I’m used to with her books and that’s why the 4 star rating. If you’re looking for a Paige Toon book to start with, this is the one!

This one goes into a lot of familial trauma and issues within the foster care system - so definitely know that going in. It hits a lot of hard topics in a very endearing way.

Highly recommend!

Hidden Talent!

Loved this book! In depth characters, slow burn, reality with a good dose of hope. On to her next!

Loved the characters

I loved the characters in this book. They were really well developed, flawed, and relatable. There is a slow burn romance and a plot twist I didn’t see coming.

Couldn’t quit listening.

This book gave me all the feels. Once I started listening I couldn’t stop till it was over.

Great listen but feels incomplete

This book has a lot of potential but it feels somewhat unfinished and rushed. Paige Toone does a commendable job establishing the plot and introducing the unexpected plot twist. I found it easy to connect with Leah and George, but I believe more attention could have been given to Theo as well. His character felt underdeveloped, despite having a significant presence throughout the narrative.

It would have been beneficial to explore Leah and Theo’s relationship in greater depth, particularly during the transitional phase from adolescence to adulthood when George was not present. This could have enhanced readers’ understanding of Leah's current struggles, allowing for a stronger emotional connection.

Additionally, I feel the author could enhance the emotional depth by showing rather than telling. For instance, when Leah expresses the difficulty of losing both Theo and George simultaneously, it would have been a powerful moment to paint that feeling more vividly for the readers, rather than simply stating it was, “difficult." The same applies to Leah’s love for Theo; rather than repeatedly stating her love, bringing that emotion to life through descriptive moments would have truly engaged readers and helped us feel that love more deeply.

Overall, I still enjoyed this book and can’t wait to listen to more stories from Paige Toone.