A review by beesneysbooks
Before We Were Innocent by Ella Berman

dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

This book showcased a really interesting dynamic, mixing a good concept with a dual timeline to really bring the characters to life. The story kept shifting throughout which kept me very invested in the book. Where some parts were definitely predictable, the way they were written and reflected on made it feel like you are chasing the answer the whole book. 
I think this book is a good reminder that friendships aren’t always meant to last forever, but that doesn’t make them any less important in the moment. We exist in a world where companionship comes and goes, teaching us lessons as we move through life and they’re all valuable even if they don’t end positively. 

the ending was a bit abrupt, but in a way that made sense to me and the flow of the book.

i would recommend the audio version of this book, but I can understand how some of the emotion would be lost in a print version.