Reviews

Before I Met You by Lisa Jewell

kbernie's review

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3.0

A good long book to keep my interest between two decades: 1920s and 1990s and their connections. I would’ve loved to have known some of the characters better, but it wasn’t drawing me in like some of her others. I really do like the narrator, Helen Duff. She has narrated a lot of other Lisa Jewell novels.

jennabuythebook's review

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3.0

While the storylines were maybe a tad underwhelming, Lisa Jewell remains one of the more talented writers I’ve read.

kelseymcg20's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

jdew4516's review

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adventurous emotional hopeful slow-paced
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.25

lemonleiapop's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

laus3012's review

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5.0

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and felt emotional at the end. I'm a Lisa Jewell fan and although this is not quite like her others (Ralph's party, one hit wonder etc) it was still very beautifully written.

waclements7's review

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1.0

DNF I have read a lot of Jewell's books, but this one is over the top in stereotyping with race and sexuality. It's to the point where it's offensive. There's also is a lot of fatphobia--oh no, the main character is getting chubby at a size 8. Weight seems to come up in a lot of her books. What kind of person lets a stranger take care of the kids and leaves them alone? And there's also the reference to one of the characters having a lisp, including dialogue where he's lisping. Just, why? There's no need to do things like that--it's just really casual ableism. Ugh.

chip8401's review

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emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

A truly glorious saga spanning generations. I could actually see this fictional account as being true. It could have happened.

alittlelou's review

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4.0

I loved this book!!!! 4.5 stars simply because this story contains so many characters (some of which who have very similar names) and it became hard at times to remember who was who with what storyline. Besides that, this book was near perfect. It felt so special in the way it bounced between the two main characters, and books with alternating chapters always keep me hooked because I’m always trying to get back to my favorite timeline. Also there are things the reader knows that the characters never find out. That detail made me love this even more, because it was much more realistic.

malexandra's review

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emotional mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix

3.5