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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
I received a dARC of this work in exchange for my honest review.
Before We Were Us is a sweet tale about two people that find their way to each other twice to reach a happy ending.
I enjoyed the switching between past and present and the way the story unfolds. The story as makes you think about how quickly things can change, but that doesn't have to mean things are over.
The writing is done well, the setting is vivid, and the characters are believable. This is a quick read that is easy to stay immersed in without getting bogged down in something too heavy.
If you like sweet romance and hope in your books, then this is one you don't want to miss.
Before We Were Us is a sweet tale about two people that find their way to each other twice to reach a happy ending.
I enjoyed the switching between past and present and the way the story unfolds. The story as makes you think about how quickly things can change, but that doesn't have to mean things are over.
The writing is done well, the setting is vivid, and the characters are believable. This is a quick read that is easy to stay immersed in without getting bogged down in something too heavy.
If you like sweet romance and hope in your books, then this is one you don't want to miss.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
slow-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
It was really good.I loved the premise of the book. And the ending was so good.
Content Warnings
Minor: Emotional abuse, Medical content
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
This book was very sweet. I flew through it in about two sittings, and I really enjoyed the premise of this story.
The setting of this story is beautiful, and I felt fully enveloped in it with the way the scenery and the cabins were described. I’ve never been to that area of New Hampshire, but I have been similar places, and reading a whole novel based in a place like that made me really miss the times I was also in a cabin in the middle of nowhere.
I also adored Jonah and his family. They were nothing but sweet and kind throughout the story, even if Tammy did tend to meddle a little bit. Though, I do think she was entirely justified in doing so. Jonah felt really authentic to me, and I’m not sure I can articulate why. He just felt so real, and I felt so sad for him for having to deal with constant heartbreak over and over again. Lord knows Lauren didn’t make it easy on him.
As for Lauren, she irked me quite a bit. I didn’t dislike her, and I did understand her reasoning for how she was acting at times, but I just don’t understand why she wouldn’t want any of her memories back. If I lost 4 whole months of my life, especially *important* months, I’d want to get them back??? I’d want to know why I made the decisions I did, especially if they were good enough to turn down my supposed dream job??
And not only that, Jonah deserves a medal for putting up with her antics. That man was nothing but respectful and kind and caring and loving to her even AFTER she stepped on his heart over and over, and she still didnt recognize the effort he was putting forth. Yes, sometimes she would have feelings of remorse, but then she would ignore them and go back to being rude to him and keeping him at a distance for funsies. I can’t blame Jonah for being miserable, I would be too, watching someone I planned to marry hate me from a distance.
I also felt like Lauren’s decisions (?) were a little rash, at times. I had a hard time suspending my disbelief. I just can’t understand how she would spend months *deciding* to hate her person, only to find a ring he bought for her and suddenly she loves him again? It didn’t make a lot of sense to me. I know she was burying her emotions for a while, but she never gave them enough attention for her realization and declaration of love to make sense to me. And she was so stubborn about moving back to Boston even though she clearly didn’t want to go. I feel bad for everyone involved in her back and forth on those decisions.
Overall, this book was nice. I enjoyed the time I spent with it, but I did feel that maybe Lauren’s feelings/decisions could have been elaborated upon a bit more, just because they felt a little out of the blue.
3/5 stars
This book was very sweet. I flew through it in about two sittings, and I really enjoyed the premise of this story.
The setting of this story is beautiful, and I felt fully enveloped in it with the way the scenery and the cabins were described. I’ve never been to that area of New Hampshire, but I have been similar places, and reading a whole novel based in a place like that made me really miss the times I was also in a cabin in the middle of nowhere.
I also adored Jonah and his family. They were nothing but sweet and kind throughout the story, even if Tammy did tend to meddle a little bit. Though, I do think she was entirely justified in doing so. Jonah felt really authentic to me, and I’m not sure I can articulate why. He just felt so real, and I felt so sad for him for having to deal with constant heartbreak over and over again. Lord knows Lauren didn’t make it easy on him.
As for Lauren, she irked me quite a bit. I didn’t dislike her, and I did understand her reasoning for how she was acting at times, but I just don’t understand why she wouldn’t want any of her memories back. If I lost 4 whole months of my life, especially *important* months, I’d want to get them back??? I’d want to know why I made the decisions I did, especially if they were good enough to turn down my supposed dream job??
And not only that, Jonah deserves a medal for putting up with her antics. That man was nothing but respectful and kind and caring and loving to her even AFTER she stepped on his heart over and over, and she still didnt recognize the effort he was putting forth. Yes, sometimes she would have feelings of remorse, but then she would ignore them and go back to being rude to him and keeping him at a distance for funsies. I can’t blame Jonah for being miserable, I would be too, watching someone I planned to marry hate me from a distance.
I also felt like Lauren’s decisions (?) were a little rash, at times. I had a hard time suspending my disbelief. I just can’t understand how she would spend months *deciding* to hate her person, only to find a ring he bought for her and suddenly she loves him again? It didn’t make a lot of sense to me. I know she was burying her emotions for a while, but she never gave them enough attention for her realization and declaration of love to make sense to me. And she was so stubborn about moving back to Boston even though she clearly didn’t want to go. I feel bad for everyone involved in her back and forth on those decisions.
Overall, this book was nice. I enjoyed the time I spent with it, but I did feel that maybe Lauren’s feelings/decisions could have been elaborated upon a bit more, just because they felt a little out of the blue.
3/5 stars
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Before We Were Us is a quick and easy read. It's a cute and comfy romance story between two adults in their mid-late 20s (though I imagined them as recent college graduates for much of it) with a lot of pretty nature imagery. I saved a few quotes from the book that I thought were beautifully written, but overall, to me, the writing was not super engaging. I also would not classify it as a Christian romance. Faith is not really explored in the romance itself, but there were several more subtle underlying Christian themes and values in the characters and plot, which I really enjoyed reflecting back on.
Overall, it was a sweet and wholesome read (with acute ending)! I'm curious to check out more books from this author in the future <3
Overall, it was a sweet and wholesome read (with a
*ARC REVIEW!!!*
this gets 3 stars because i loved the MMC jonah, and what i felt the FMC lauren lacked in emotion and my ability to connect with her, jonah made up for. he was super sweet and filled with so much love and emotion. i loved the idyllic New Hampshire setting so much that it made me want to book a trip, and i thought the overall storyline was decent, and i did really like the epilogue; BUT i think the amnesia trope has just been done one too many times, which is a huge contributing factor to why i found it so hard to engage with this book, as well as the very basic writing style. it read very much like a hallmark movie which i normally enjoy, BUT with 10 extra scoops of sugar- so if you’re into that sweet of a romance, you’ll love this. this story was very one-note for me, and some parts of the plot seemed too rushed, or completely unnecessary.
overall not the worst book i’ve read this year, but sadly not up there with some of the best! definitely do give this one a look when it debuts on september 10th if you like:
•enemies to friends to lovers
•small town/workplace romance
•happily ever afters
•VERY sappy sweet (and clean, no spice or language) love stories
•city girl/country boy
this gets 3 stars because i loved the MMC jonah, and what i felt the FMC lauren lacked in emotion and my ability to connect with her, jonah made up for. he was super sweet and filled with so much love and emotion. i loved the idyllic New Hampshire setting so much that it made me want to book a trip, and i thought the overall storyline was decent, and i did really like the epilogue; BUT i think the amnesia trope has just been done one too many times, which is a huge contributing factor to why i found it so hard to engage with this book, as well as the very basic writing style. it read very much like a hallmark movie which i normally enjoy, BUT with 10 extra scoops of sugar- so if you’re into that sweet of a romance, you’ll love this. this story was very one-note for me, and some parts of the plot seemed too rushed, or completely unnecessary.
overall not the worst book i’ve read this year, but sadly not up there with some of the best! definitely do give this one a look when it debuts on september 10th if you like:
•enemies to friends to lovers
•small town/workplace romance
•happily ever afters
•VERY sappy sweet (and clean, no spice or language) love stories
•city girl/country boy
emotional
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This story follows couple Lauren and Jonah who work at Jonah's family resort of cabins in rural New Hampshire. Lauren has a fall and forgets the last several months. She still thinks its within the 1st weeks of arriving for the new job and her and Jonah are still at odds. She doesn't remember them falling in love. And is in no hurry to remember it cause how could she fall for this guy? The book goes back and forth from before the accident and the summer of falling in love to current time line.
The book was very cozy and reminds me of a Hallmark movie with a more sad and deep plot. The descriptions of the resort were really nice and had a wonderful feel.
I felt bad for Jonah often because it felt like Lauren was being a little too harsh on him. I also felt like the doctor Carson could have been used as a bigger plot point. It was still an enjoyable and relaxing book to read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this audio arc in exchange for my honest review.
The book was very cozy and reminds me of a Hallmark movie with a more sad and deep plot. The descriptions of the resort were really nice and had a wonderful feel.
I felt bad for Jonah often because it felt like Lauren was being a little too harsh on him. I also felt like the doctor Carson could have been used as a bigger plot point. It was still an enjoyable and relaxing book to read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this audio arc in exchange for my honest review.
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
A lakeside resort in autumnal New England, you say? Say no more!
I loved the concept of this book. Enemies to lovers, an amnesia experience, the aforementioned New England (bucket list goals)… it intrigued me.
And while there was nothing wrong with the book, it didn’t entrance me. Jonah & Lauren felt too young at times compared to their actual ages (28 & 26), and their romance was heavily focused on the physical attraction more than any sort of character development or attributes. It’s marked a Christian fiction, and it is technically, but the faith aspect goes no further than a few prayers and mentions of church.
Like I said, it wasn’t bad, just not my cup of tea at this time, so don’t let that dissuade you. :) If you’re looking for a Hallmark-y autumn contemporary romance with fluffiness & and some emotionally tense moments, you might enjoy this one.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No