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0live_tr33's review
emotional
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
clareasday's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Abandonment, and Cancer
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Sexual content and Drug abuse
chelsearose's review
emotional
hopeful
sad
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Death
Moderate: Sexual content and Cancer
lilnickie22's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Cancer
lauriereadsrom1's review
emotional
reflective
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
5.0
It's tough for me to put into words exactly how much I loved this book. It's not what I would describe as a "traditional" romance (though there is an HEA), but despite the difficult circumstances that brought them together, I was rooting for main characters Emersyn and Zach from the start. Their story broke my heart and put it back together more than once and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough.
I highly recommend "Before Us" for all fans of emotional contemporary romance and look forward to whatever this author writes next.
*Review copy provided by the author via Valentine PR. All opinions expressed are my own.
CW: Cancer/Breast Cancer; Death; Grief
I highly recommend "Before Us" for all fans of emotional contemporary romance and look forward to whatever this author writes next.
*Review copy provided by the author via Valentine PR. All opinions expressed are my own.
CW: Cancer/Breast Cancer; Death; Grief
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Death, and Grief
books4escaping's review
emotional
hopeful
sad
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
4.0
Really Liked.
The first part of the story was a solid 5 stars, but once Suzannepassed away the story fell a little flat. The self-sacrifice of Zach made no sense given he took no notice of what Emersyn feelings were, and that she still could have followed her dreams. I didn't connect with the long-distance romance aspect of the story as I watched a friendship growing between Zach and Emersyn, not a love connection.
Favourite quote
The first part of the story was a solid 5 stars, but once Suzanne
Favourite quote
I have never met a person whose greatest need was anything other than real, unconditional love. You can find it in a simple act of kindness toward someone who needs help. There is no mistaking love. It is the common fiber of life, the flame that heats our soul, energizes our spirit and supplies passion to our lives.β βElisabeth KΓΌbler-Ross
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
rereadsromance's review
emotional
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
4.0
I loved Before Us, it was angsty goodness, but I have beef with the last 10% of the story, before the sweet epilogue.
I cannot believe I am saying this, because I hate cliffhangers, but I feel this book could have been a duology. Zach and Emersyn went through so much and the ending just seemed rushed.
POTENTIAL SPOILERS AHEAD (even though all of this is mentioned in the book synopsis):
Zach is a widower and grieving the death of his wife, his marriage of convenience to Emersyn brings up a lot of conflicting feelings in him; it's understandable. However, I needed him to do a bit more groveling in the end to convince Emersyn that this time he was ready to be with her, that his love would not be overshadowed with guilt over his dead wife.
I needed Zach to do more to prove himself because Emersyn constantly put herself out there, risking her heart, and he slapped it away a few too many times. His rushed reunion with Emersyn left me feeling a bit dissatisfied in the end.
That being said, I love Jewel E. Ann's writing; it either breaks my heart or pushes me out of my comfort zone, often times both. Before Us was no exception.
Overall Ratings: Zach 3/5, Emersyn 5/5, Before Us 4/5
I cannot believe I am saying this, because I hate cliffhangers, but I feel this book could have been a duology. Zach and Emersyn went through so much and the ending just seemed rushed.
POTENTIAL SPOILERS AHEAD (even though all of this is mentioned in the book synopsis):
Zach is a widower and grieving the death of his wife, his marriage of convenience to Emersyn brings up a lot of conflicting feelings in him; it's understandable. However, I needed him to do a bit more groveling in the end to convince Emersyn that this time he was ready to be with her, that his love would not be overshadowed with guilt over his dead wife.
I needed Zach to do more to prove himself because Emersyn constantly put herself out there, risking her heart, and he slapped it away a few too many times. His rushed reunion with Emersyn left me feeling a bit dissatisfied in the end.
That being said, I love Jewel E. Ann's writing; it either breaks my heart or pushes me out of my comfort zone, often times both. Before Us was no exception.
Overall Ratings: Zach 3/5, Emersyn 5/5, Before Us 4/5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer and Death
petit_biblio's review
emotional
sad
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
Moderate: Cancer
Minor: Death of parent
fairytalefootnotes's review
emotional
reflective
sad
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Cancer, Death, Grief, and Medical content
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Abandonment
darknesslighttt's review
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
5.0
π πππ ππππππ π
π§πΏπΌπ½π²π: boss x employee, marriage of convenience, age gap, friends to lovers, slow burn
π§πΏπΆπ΄π΄π²πΏπ: death of a loved one, grief, epilepsy, cancer
I have no words to describe how much I enjoyed this book. Jewel E. Ann has officially become one of my favorite authors.
This book is about losing a loved one, grief, healing and finding a new love.
Emersyn is trying to figure out her life, but because of the student debt and all the medical debt due to the epilepsy diagnosis, she lives in her car. She met Suzanne and Zach when she agreed to clean their house. But this is not the only thing that Emersyn did, she createda special bond with Suzanne.
Before Suzanne died, Zach promised her that he would do something to change someone's life. So Zach chose Emersyn and immediately they both find themselves in a marriage of convenience. I would have liked to say more, but I really can't without involving spoilers.
After this moment, Zach and Emersyn begin a not exactly easy adventure, but a very beautiful one. Zach went through a period of healing while Emersyn was fulfilling one of her dreams. At one point, the two were in a kind of long-distance relationship, but sometimes Zach took advantage of the fact that he is a pilot and made sure to have a flight to the country where Emersyn was at that moment.
Thank you Jewel E. Ann and Valentine PR for the opportunity to read this amazing book.
π§πΏπΌπ½π²π: boss x employee, marriage of convenience, age gap, friends to lovers, slow burn
π§πΏπΆπ΄π΄π²πΏπ: death of a loved one, grief, epilepsy, cancer
I have no words to describe how much I enjoyed this book. Jewel E. Ann has officially become one of my favorite authors.
This book is about losing a loved one, grief, healing and finding a new love.
Emersyn is trying to figure out her life, but because of the student debt and all the medical debt due to the epilepsy diagnosis, she lives in her car. She met Suzanne and Zach when she agreed to clean their house. But this is not the only thing that Emersyn did, she createda special bond with Suzanne.
Before Suzanne died, Zach promised her that he would do something to change someone's life. So Zach chose Emersyn and immediately they both find themselves in a marriage of convenience. I would have liked to say more, but I really can't without involving spoilers.
After this moment, Zach and Emersyn begin a not exactly easy adventure, but a very beautiful one. Zach went through a period of healing while Emersyn was fulfilling one of her dreams. At one point, the two were in a kind of long-distance relationship, but sometimes Zach took advantage of the fact that he is a pilot and made sure to have a flight to the country where Emersyn was at that moment.
Thank you Jewel E. Ann and Valentine PR for the opportunity to read this amazing book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Medical content, Grief, and Cancer
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