'Things We Hide from the Light' is Lucy Score's follow-up to 'Things We Never Got Over,' continuing the Knockemout series with Nash Morgan, the brooding police chief, and Lina Solavega, the optimistic bartender who becomes his unexpected anchor. This is comfort food romance at its most indulgent—predictable in the best possible way for readers seeking emotional catharsis wrapped in steamy small-town charm.

Score excels at creating wounded heroes who feel genuinely broken rather than merely mysterious. Nash's PTSD from a shooting incident is handled with surprising sensitivity, avoiding the trap of making trauma feel like a convenient plot device. His journey from self-destructive isolation to accepting help feels earned, even if the timeline moves faster than reality might allow.

Lina strikes a nice balance as the sunshine character—she's optimistic without being naive, supportive without losing her own agency. The small town of Knockemout comes alive through Score's attention to community dynamics, from the meddling family members to the local diner gossip. The pacing moves briskly, though sometimes at the expense of deeper character development.

Score knows her audience wants the emotional beats hit hard and often, delivering plenty of angst, steam, and eventual healing.

However, the book's length (over 500 pages) doesn't always justify itself—certain conflicts feel artificially extended, and some secondary plotlines about Nash's family drama could have been trimmed. The dialogue occasionally veers into overly cute territory, and the small-town setting, while charming, relies heavily on familiar tropes. This book is perfect for readers who loved the first Knockemout novel, fans of Mariana Zapata's slow-burn style, or anyone seeking a guaranteed happy ending after emotional turmoil. Skip it if you prefer faster-paced plots, dislike extensive internal monologue, or want more realistic timelines for trauma recovery. It's romance comfort food—not groundbreaking, but satisfying for readers who know exactly what they're craving.