A review by shelleys_book_nook
The Beforelife of Eliza Valentine by Laura Pearson

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This is my fourth book by Laura Pearson and I have loved every one of them. The Day Shelley Woodhouse Woke Up, I Wanted You To Know and Missing Pieces have all been four or five star reads for me and The Beforelife of Eliza Valentine is no different. This one though was utterly unique…A group of children called The Almosts watch over their mother as she decides between two men and the children she may or may not have.

Full disclosure, I do not like love triangles because one way or another someone always gets hurt. I also did not like the way Becca flip-flopped between these two young men, it drove me mad. She kept claiming she had to keep doing what was best for her son Sam but dragging him back and forth between homes and having these men in and out of his life was not a good idea. But then I considered her age and realized it was probably true to life I was the same age as Emma 17 when I had my firstborn and while I didn’t flip-flop between men I also didn’t always make the best decisions. Also like Emma, I had a very understanding parent who was also very supportive…her dad and my mom.

The almost siblings act like real siblings, there is envy and fighting and I loved the idea behind this book…family isn’t always about blood. We don’t use the term step sibling or half sibling in my immediate family. Written with love without being too saccharine this story really touched my heart. The Almosts showed very real sibling rivalry but they grew to love each other the more time went on even sacrificing for each other before they were even born. This was such a wonderful take on siblings and a perspective that was so unique I was blown away.

I can always count on Laura Pearson to mess with my emotions through her characters. Once again they were all over the place, I laughed, I cried, I cheered them on…It was a roller coaster ride of emotions. This book asked the question “What would you sacrifice for the ones that let you love the most?” Beautifully written with a concept so different than anything I’ve ever read before The Beforelife of Eliza Valentine deserves all the stars.