Reviews with content warning for Drug use - Before We Were Strangers

I don’t know what to say. The beginning of the book, I thought their relationship was, well, cringy. I didn’t feel any chemistry throughout most of the book. And the concept of Matt’s perspective being 15 years future, then them back in college 15 years before, then back to the future again but with an expected twist, made the book bad. There wasn’t much of a consistent flow. And toward the end of the book, they were so hot and cold I wanted to give up on it. It was like hey, right person wrong time, but the plot just wasn’t great. Overall, I wouldn’t recommend.

Content Warnings

transreckless's review against another edition

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medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

This being the first book of the year for me was not necessarily a great thing. I really really want to enjoy this. I thought the premise of two young college students
and coming back together would really speak to and there were certain aspects that I really liked, but I also feel like there was a lot of sub plots that just felt very messy and some tropes that just really grossed me out

Things I did like

I really enjoyed seeing the development of the couple. I appreciate the author for making a backstory on how the and how they it was a pretty instant connection, feel like an Insta love type of novel.
I feel like the characters had decent chemistry. They would say really weird things sometimes but it also just made sense with their character development.
I really liked Grace‘s character, but I also just thought it was weird how her dynamic felt so important at the beginning of the book, but just was dropped out halfway through
I really liked how the author wrapped up the present chapters

Things I did not like

Matt made some of the most dumbest decisions in this book. This man absolutely infuriated me. An example that I really was triggered by that I didn’t like is how he made a bet with Tati that he would marry Grace, first I think betting on something like that is so gross, especially making his partner drunk and then marrying her just for the bet
another aspect that I absolutely hated was Grace’s teacher I thought their relationship was really weird and I didn’t like how they ended up getting married, especially after they had no chemistry in the past
I understand why she made certain choices for the past and made it dated, but it was so weird how dated she made the present tense it’s like she threw every single slang term from 2010s that she could
I found a majority of the side characters, absolutely insufferable, and especially Scott I found it weird how the author had to make everyone against the couple and make the couple only seem like they were the ones happy and everyone other than
I think the author adding how many different side plots was exhausting. I really liked that they ended up having a child and I liked watching grow but some of the side plots were so unnecessary
I think the way that Grace‘s virginity and her sexuality was discussed in the book was so weird and it made me uncomfortable that they often had sex drunk

Overall, I was extremely disappointed in this book even though I did like some aspects like the ending and the character development. I hope I did this review right this is my first review and my first book in the new year

I would love to hear other people‘s thoughts

opinions!

Content Warnings

jxox's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

Content Warnings

kelseyfontaine's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Very cute second chance romance! The story kept me hooked the entire time, and the plot twist was very unexpected. I felt very connected to Matt and Grace’s love story and it was interesting to read a different type of romance that what I normally do.

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brinkley's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

Content Warnings

grazeea's review against another edition

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emotional lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

It’s first love written in a book
It’s just felt rushed at the now part
and the twist was expected and cliché.
it’s still a good read :)

Content Warnings

nzmerchant's review against another edition

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challenging emotional sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

1.0

Already knew from the second chapter that this book would not be up my alley. Wanted to give it a fair chance but the characters really irritated me - only liked Matt’s mom and Ash. I think the characters were portrayed a bit too idealistically and there were a lot of things in their characters that I would have liked to see further developed - like Matt’s relationship with his family and how that affects his romantic relationships, and why Matt trivialised some of Grace’s valid concerns. Idk felt like everything was very surface level and mopey even in their internal dialogues. Similar miscommunication/wrong timing plot as Normal People but without the character’s self awareness and reflection lmao. I also really dislike Grace’s arc

- why did she marry Pornsake and have a kid with Matt? Surely there would have been better ways of developing the plot rather than perpetuating creepy student-teacher relationships. And I hate that Matt got to be the career guy and have a great career but Grace didn’t?

Overall, not a fan.

Content Warnings

mimo_'s review against another edition

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medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

they should’ve stayed strangers 🥱

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