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A review by labwa_0712
Before Us by Jewel E. Ann
1.0
If I said this book was a disappointment, it’d mean I had expectations from it which I didn’t. So yeah, I wasn’t really expecting to like it. I know that JEA is a talented author and I’ve read some good books by her but all the recent ones were shit.
I’m not a big fan of books where the wife dies, they befriend another woman and the soon to be dead wife tries to set her up with her husband. That makes no sense to me. Why do you think your husband will focus on another woman while you’re dying? Zach was a loving and doting husband. Because of that, ‘Em developed feelings for him because he was the first glimpse of love and kindness from a man. Her father bolted before she was born and her mother dated all jerks. So it’s understandable. But no way I can see Zach reciprocating her feelings.
The part where they got married was fine. It was a marriage of convenience. But there was no connection between them. No feel good moments what would make me root for this couple. Yeah they understood each other but they bonded in grief. Zach should have had the time to mourn. Instead he got entangled in Em and her issues.
Speaking of which, after Em started applying for jobs, she got them and how her life is perfect while she travels the world. Could she not do this before? Before she used to live out of her car and now $100 ties are cheap to her. Most of the book she spent traveling so there less no time to establish a connection between them. It was said so many times but never showed.
There’s nothing appealing about Zack except he’s a good man and husband. Ok. That’s not enough for me to like a character when I’m reading a book. That’s just bare minimum. Other than that, he seemed like a flat character. He was confused about his feelings for Em and he just called her his wife whenever it suited him. Sometimes they’d have sex, laugh, smile together and suddenly he’s like my wife is dead. Yeah I get that. He should have time to mourn his dead wife, not starting another relationship right away just because his dead wife hoped for him. Also Em was young but she was out of her right when she created that scene at Aaron’s wedding. Also why is everyone so much nice in this book? That’s not possible. Susie loved Em, Zach married her to help her, his family loved her, Leah the influencer lady instantly became best friend with her even her boyfriend who she broke up with was nice to her. Not one bad character which is impossible.
Anyways, I just didn’t like this book.
I’m not a big fan of books where the wife dies, they befriend another woman and the soon to be dead wife tries to set her up with her husband. That makes no sense to me. Why do you think your husband will focus on another woman while you’re dying? Zach was a loving and doting husband. Because of that, ‘Em developed feelings for him because he was the first glimpse of love and kindness from a man. Her father bolted before she was born and her mother dated all jerks. So it’s understandable. But no way I can see Zach reciprocating her feelings.
The part where they got married was fine. It was a marriage of convenience. But there was no connection between them. No feel good moments what would make me root for this couple. Yeah they understood each other but they bonded in grief. Zach should have had the time to mourn. Instead he got entangled in Em and her issues.
Speaking of which, after Em started applying for jobs, she got them and how her life is perfect while she travels the world. Could she not do this before? Before she used to live out of her car and now $100 ties are cheap to her. Most of the book she spent traveling so there less no time to establish a connection between them. It was said so many times but never showed.
There’s nothing appealing about Zack except he’s a good man and husband. Ok. That’s not enough for me to like a character when I’m reading a book. That’s just bare minimum. Other than that, he seemed like a flat character. He was confused about his feelings for Em and he just called her his wife whenever it suited him. Sometimes they’d have sex, laugh, smile together and suddenly he’s like my wife is dead. Yeah I get that. He should have time to mourn his dead wife, not starting another relationship right away just because his dead wife hoped for him. Also Em was young but she was out of her right when she created that scene at Aaron’s wedding. Also why is everyone so much nice in this book? That’s not possible. Susie loved Em, Zach married her to help her, his family loved her, Leah the influencer lady instantly became best friend with her even her boyfriend who she broke up with was nice to her. Not one bad character which is impossible.
Anyways, I just didn’t like this book.